A Twisted Love Affair-Chapter 231: Your lamp is from his house"_1

Understanding his intention, Zhuang Ming skillfully maneuvered his car to block Sun Qiyan’s vehicle.

He walked up to the car window and requested, "Miss Shen, please step out. Do you want to see your sister?"

Shen Jing turned her face away. "I’ve already given up custody. My salary is nowhere near enough to support such a cat. Heavens, it costs over 100,000 a month!"

"You don’t have to pay for its upkeep," Zhuang Ming stated.

Sun Qiyan wasn’t in a hurry to leave. Since his passenger was injured, he had braked accordingly. Looking at Zhuang Ming, he asked, "Is your Second Young Master getting a divorce and dealing with child custody?"

The expressionless Zhuang Ming, like a cold-blooded robot, replied, "It was to spare Miss Shen any trouble that I chose not to ram your car."

"Indeed, I can see that," Sun Qiyan said. "It’s quite something that your Second Young Master is so law-abiding. What if he were pushed to the edge? Wouldn’t my car have been wrecked and my life forfeit?"

Zhuang Ming didn’t answer the outsider’s question, simply waiting quietly for Shen Jing to get out of the car.

Sun Qiyan added, "Besides, she’s my girlfriend. Hasn’t she already explained things to your Second Young Master?"

Zhuang Ming remained unchanged, his lips moving but his expression static. "Whether it’s true or not is obvious."

Shen Jing made up her mind and asked, "Zhuang Ming, I want to leave. Considering our past, can you let me go?"

Zhuang Ming persisted, "Have you really decided? Decided to be with Sun Qiyan? You’re here because the Second Young Master personally paid attention to your application materials and had the organizing committee approve it."

"Is there anything else?" Shen Jing retorted.

"There is," Zhuang Ming added. "The matter with Wang Dafu? The First Young Master mentioned it offhand to him, and he took care of it. And the lights in your apartment? I dismantled the ones at Taihe Middle Court for you. He didn’t object, and they still haven’t found suitable replacements for Taihe Middle Court."

So it was true. Shen Jing leaned back in her seat with a smile. "I always suspected these things were connected to him. I just didn’t want to admit it."

"I know you’re smart," Zhuang Ming said. "If you really don’t want to get out of the car with me, I won’t force you."

"Is there someone else in his house?" she asked.

Zhuang Ming, unsure if Joanna had come for dinner, hesitated for two seconds before replying, "No."

Shen Jing smiled faintly. "You hesitated again. Not very decisive."

"There’s no need for misunderstandings. You also have a man by your side now," Zhuang Ming said, ultimately loyal to his master.

"You all should head back. As for those matters, a ’thank you’ is sufficient." She looked at Zhuang Ming. "Have your cars moved. It’ll cause a traffic jam soon, which isn’t very civil."

Zhuang Ming turned his head. "Miss Shen, he doesn’t like women who betray him, whether it’s to intentionally provoke him or for other reasons. You should know Wei Wenxin’s story. That’s his bottom line. Take care. You may go."

Shen Jing pressed the button to roll up the car window. "I know."

Once Zhuang Ming left, Shen Jing was clearly deep in thought.

Sun Qiyan saw right through her. The lights, Wang Dafu, the summit invitation—all these were done by that man.

He didn’t disturb her, focusing on driving instead.

Sometimes, it really is hard to steal a woman from Zhou Luchen’s side.

Shen Jing treated Sun Qiyan to a meal as a thank you, and it passed pleasantly.

「That day, they checked out of the hotel and moved to a farmhouse.」

"We won’t stay at the hotel. It’s inconvenient, and we can’t cook there," Sun Qiyan remarked cryptically.

Knowing Zhou Luchen could have cars intercepted, Sun Qiyan was unsure what other moves he might make.

She was tired and didn’t linger outside. She returned to the farmhouse early to rest, locking herself in her room to check the bruises on her waist.

He was so vicious.

She hadn’t brought any medicinal patches.

Shen Jing supported her waist as she leaned against the sofa and flipped through her phone gallery. She had taken many photos of the light fixture at home.

He really had them dismantled for me...

A myriad of thoughts swirled in her mind.

Thinking of the 10:00 a.m. meeting the next day, Shen Jing grabbed her pajamas and headed into the bathroom.

The farmhouse was large. Sun Qiyan stayed in a guest room on the east side, while she resided on the south side. They weren’t close, but not too far apart either.

Sun Qiyan seemed to have business in New York and was quite busy at night. She heard it involved his sister’s company. Shen Jing didn’t inquire about the specifics.

The second part of the summit took place without Zhou Luchen; he wasn’t there.

It made her feel as if he had vanished since the day she refused to get into Zhuang Ming’s car. Or perhaps he was just very busy.

The third part was the same, with only businesses interacting.

She, representing Sheng Peng, took the stage and thrived, like a fish in water.

Indeed, the carp had successfully leaped over the dragon’s gate.

Sheng Peng was the culmination of her older sister’s hard work. Whether by luck, her own ability, or Zhou Luchen’s support in the background, now that it was in her hands, it could only strive for the top.

「The fourth part of the summit was scheduled after New Year’s Day, a public holiday in New York.」

In this foreign land, Shen Jing found herself disliking New Year’s Eve more and more.

Mr. Blaire called to invite her. "Will you come to my house for dinner?"

"Who else will be guests at your house?"

Mr. Blaire said sincerely, "It’s the Gangcheng Group from your home country—the ones you discussed a potential partnership with yesterday."

Shen Jing took a sip of water.

"What’s the point of spending New Year’s alone?" he continued.

It felt pointless; she wasn’t in the mood to celebrate the New Year with any fanfare.

She hung up the phone.

Sitting alone on the balcony, she watched the city’s fireworks. They were too far away, the sound of the firecrackers already faint. They were probably being set off near Central Park.

She didn’t feel like describing them. Just: Oh, pretty. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

As the rocking chair swayed gently, Shen Jing drifted off to sleep.

The water glass almost slipped from her hand, but the man behind her quickly stepped forward and took it. His fingertips unintentionally brushed hers, grazing the back of her hand with a warm, gentle touch.

Shen Jing opened her eyes instantly. "Are you done with your work? I didn’t wait for you for dinner; I was too hungry."

Sun Qiyan put down the glass. "I’m finished. I’ve already eaten."

The half-hour fireworks display continued to sparkle in the sky, its light and shadows occasionally flickering across her. Her features were indistinct in the shifting light.

Sun Qiyan watched her for a long time. "Ajing, shall we go out and take a look?"

She shook her head. "I don’t know anyone out there. Besides, we can see the fireworks from here too."

Sun Qiyan whispered softly, "It’s New Year’s Eve. It might be nice to go out."

She didn’t even know what time it was.

Shen Jing turned around. "Happy New Year, Mr. Sun! May your business thrive and everything go well for you."

Sun Qiyan paused for a moment, then, against the backdrop of the fireworks, he smiled. "I thought my return might startle you."

Shen Jing sat up straight, resting her chin in her hand, her eyes curving slightly. "That cashmere sweater you’re wearing has a lovely scent—a clean, slightly bitter, verdant fragrance. It’s quite recognizable."

Sun Qiyan leaned against the rocking chair she was in, positioning himself beside her with his legs crossed. "Ajing, how about we get together? Wouldn’t it be good if what you told Zhou Luchen came true?"

He felt a slight reluctance to concede her to Zhou Luchen. Although Zhou Luchen could give her many things she needed, paving the way and providing everything for her, they operated in different industries and fields. What couldn’t he, Sun Qiyan, also provide?

Unsurprised, Shen Jing rose and walked to the edge of the balcony, quietly watching the fireworks bloom. "Asking me now, aren’t you afraid I’ll only agree to spite Zhou Luchen?"

Unexpectedly, Sun Qiyan smiled and said, "Even if that’s the case, I don’t mind."

Shen Jing turned back to look at him, and he was also gazing at her quietly.

Perhaps it was the romance of the fireworks, or the sound of a car passing below, but he suddenly grasped her shoulders and leaned in.

Shen Jing was startled and instinctively stepped back.

The headlights of a car below flashed, illuminating the balcony, throwing their almost-kiss into sharp relief.