A Twisted Love Affair-Chapter 161: Shanghai’s Number 1 Passionate Lover_1
Walking to the parking lot, Zhou Luchen tried that number again, but to no avail—it was still temporarily unreachable. Being blocked wasn’t hard to guess, but he wasn’t in the mood for guessing. He had Zhuang Ming drive back to Night Mansion.
Zhuang Ming glanced in the rearview mirror. The Second Young Master’s craving for cigarettes was getting fiercer.
「Before they knew it, the end of the year was approaching.」
Even if Shen Jing wanted to see Zhou Luchen’s face, she realized that she couldn’t find a single photo of him, even after scouring the internet and her phone.
In her photo album, there were only pictures of the back of his hand with its protruding veins, and his Adam’s apple, snapped sneakily while he was asleep.
Leaving my umbrella at the guard station on purpose, not getting it back... it was just my way of saying, "Zhou Luchen, oh Zhou Luchen, I saw everything."
Could it be that he didn’t understand what I was really angry about?
Of course he understood; he just chose not to care.
「...」
Nie Yanzuo’s little darling was having her one-month celebration. After they had met a few times at the tea house, Shen Jing also received an invitation.
Shen Jing had originally planned to just send a congratulatory gift, but Mrs. Nie personally called, and so, inexplicably, Shen Jing attended.
The event was held at a private estate.
Oddly, she didn’t see Zhou Luchen.
Shen Jing’s eyes, however, were more drawn to the tiny baby in the stroller. The infant, small as he was, already had delicate features, resembling his handsome father.
So handsome.
Nearby, Chen Yao blurted out, "Nie Yanzuo, Modu’s most devoted man, becoming a father just a year after marriage!"
Nie Yanzuo and his wife. Theirs was a classic love story, like something out of a campus romance novel that had come to life, progressing from university sweethearts to the wedding altar. Initially, the prominent Nie family was reluctant to accept a girl from an ordinary background as their daughter-in-law.
But Nie Yanzuo wouldn’t hear of it. To him, love was love, and Zheng Xiaoshu was the only one. He defied his family’s opposition, and their relationship endured a tumultuous seven-year saga of breaking up and getting back together. This continued until the Nie family was targeted by rivals, their prominent status crumbled, and their power declined.
Nie Yanzuo even spent a few months in detention because of it, yet the two didn’t break up. Zheng Xiaoshu steadfastly stayed by Nie Yanzuo’s side. When the dust finally settled, the Nie family regained their high position. Gradually, the Nie elders, weary and resigned, stopped interfering.
They became the model of a loving couple within their circle of second-generation elites.
Just as their friends teased, Nie Yanzuo was "Modu’s Most Devoted Man."
She even heard Chen Yao joke, "No one in our circle can challenge his title as the ’Most Devoted.’"
Nie Yanzuo eyed Chen Yao up and down. "With guys like you around, I’ll be permanently welded to this top spot."
Shen Jing smiled, found a quiet corner with a stool to rest, and began peeling an orange.
Zhou Luchen, Modu’s number one scoundrel.
As Chen Yao reached for a tissue, he overheard her. He slowly backed away, looking at Shen Jing. "What’s wrong, Jing? Did some scumbag play you?"
She tossed an orange peel aside. "He did."
The party was full of familiar faces. Chen Yao, his interest piqued, said, "You’re not the first. If you’d met him sooner, he would’ve driven you even crazier."
Shen Jing offered Chen Yao a segment of her orange. He took it. "Looks like Achen’s here. Probably in the back garden. Want me to take you?"
Shen Jing looked up. How do I tell him I just want to rest for a bit?
"So, are you going or not?" Chen Yao teased, wiggling his eyebrows.
Shen Jing snatched the orange segment back from his hand and turned to leave.
No one knew exactly what had happened between them, but such occurrences were common enough. There was no need to pry into the private affairs of the Zhou family’s Second Young Master.
Shen Jing walked out onto the terrace overlooking the garden below. Several osmanthus trees filled the air with their sweet fragrance.
She overheard a bartender saying, "Mrs. Nie loves osmanthus. Mr. Nie went to great lengths to choose this venue specifically because it has sweet osmanthus that blooms year-round."
Leaning against the railing, Shen Jing recalled the old mansion in Changning District and its lamentable story. In bygone days, a tycoon had transferred his affections to an actress, and his wife had gracefully stepped aside for the other woman. Later, the tycoon, consumed by regret, had tried to win her back, planting 600 osmanthus trees in a grand gesture.
But how could that possibly win her back?
Shen Jing idly tossed pebbles into the lake below, seemingly enjoying herself.
Behind her, the banquet buzzed with chatter. Suddenly, a deferential voice drifted from the crowd.
"Mr. Zhou, are you leaving already? With so many guests, please forgive us if our hospitality has been lacking."
The Mr. Zhou being addressed merely hummed, his response faint. Yet, even amidst the lively atmosphere, she instantly recognized the owner of that ’hmm.’
A pang of acidity stung Shen Jing’s eyes, and she turned around involuntarily.
Amidst the crowd, Zhou Luchen, in his suit and tie, possessed the most commanding presence. He exuded an innate aristocratic air, a blend of debonair charm and reserved understatement perfectly suited to formal occasions.
Across the sea of faces, she watched him in silence.
Zhou Luchen’s gaze swept over her. His deep-set eyelids creased with a hint of languor, revealing the cold indifference in his eyes. After a mere two seconds, his gaze shifted away, as if he were looking at something utterly insignificant. His composure was glacial.
A cigarette was pinched between his fingers, unlit.
With unhurried steps, he walked past her side and descended the stairs to leave.
A faint scent of Bai Qinan wood clung to him. The fragrance exuded pure, unadulterated luxury.
Downstairs, the chauffeur, wearing white gloves, opened the car door with a respectful bow—a gesture that instantly underscored the chasm between their worlds. He got in the car and left without looking back.
So cold and arrogant now, yet the way he became utterly undone by passion at night... both were intoxicating.
Not until the Maybach had completely vanished from sight did Shen Jing hurriedly wipe a wine stain from the corner of her mouth. She then turned and walked in the opposite direction, towards the restroom.
My current state... and he chose to ignore it.
This whirlwind romance... the young master just wanted to play, afraid I’d take it seriously.
Knowing his temperament, what right did I have to cause a scene in front of him?
I wanted to vent too, but how? I’m not a child anymore.
Zhou Luchen probably thinks I’m just throwing a tantrum. He’ll let me stew, and when I’ve had enough, he’ll try to smooth things over. If it’s something that can be smoothed over, it will be. If not, he won’t be the one to back down.
Doesn’t he remember who he held? Or who he’s grooming to be the matriarch of the Zhou Family, the wife of the allied CEO?
Shen Jing turned on the tap, splashed water on her face, and looked at her reflection, exhaling. "Shen Jing, Shen Jing," she murmured, "he really won’t play along with your drama."
"When he’s not annoyed, he’ll do anything for you. But once he’s tired of it, bored by it, the more you make a fuss, the more he’ll want to pull away."
She murmured this to herself.
She looked down again, her fingers flying across her phone screen. She hesitated for a long time, typing, deleting, and rephrasing many times before finally hitting send.
「Are you going back to Yunding tonight? Let’s talk.」
After sending it, she immediately deleted the message history, then clutched the phone to her chest, leaning quietly against the wall.
Why am I reacting so strongly? Maybe it’s because I insisted on sending a message I knew would vanish without a trace, sacrificing the last shred of my dignity.
Another face appeared in the mirror—elegant and gentle, not strikingly beautiful, but very pleasant to look at.
Their eyes met. Zheng Xiaoshu showed a hint of surprise. "Miss Shen, I’m truly surprised to see you. It’s been a long time."
Shen Jing replied calmly, "Mrs. Nie, it has indeed been a long time." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Zheng Xiaoshu lightly touched up her lipstick. "Are you enjoying your meal? I thought you had already left."
Shen Jing replied, her expression unchanged, "I’ll be leaving a bit later."
"You haven’t been to the tea house in ages. Are you free to come in the next few days?" Zheng Xiaoshu turned to look at her.
"I might not have the time," Shen Jing said.
Zheng Xiaoshu put away her lipstick and said softly, "Fighting with him again? Every time I see you two, you seem on the brink of a cold war. He’s actually very good to you, you know."
Shen Jing just gave a soft, dismissive laugh, not answering the question.
