A Twisted Love Affair
Chapter 17: Your baby has had an accident (2)_1

Chapter 17: Your baby has had an accident (2)_1

Hearing a sound, Shen Jing looked up, stunned for a moment.

The door was ajar. Zhou Luchen stood in the center of the room, looking as if he had rushed over. His pure black suit jacket was draped over his bent arm, and his short hair was styled smartly, yet with a touch of casualness. The dim light cast shadows, making his clear, distinct features appear even more profound. He, too, was looking at her, his expression unreadable. A few top defense attorneys followed behind him.

She heard one of the lawyers say, "Strictly speaking, the other party smashed the car first, but Young Master Chen directly assaulted someone. Both are at fault."

"Is that so?" Zhou Luchen’s tone was flat. "Chen Yao must come out of this unscathed."

The lawyer added, "Miss Shen Jing also sustained injuries to her arm."

Zhou Luchen’s gaze remained fixed on the small, delicate figure leaning silently and solitarily against the wall in the corner. The white-painted wall made her complexion appear even paler.

Even when she realized Zhou Luchen was looking at her, His eyes seem to be asking, ’Does it hurt?’ Shen Jing told herself she was overthinking. Just a few days ago, he was picking up that glamorous celebrity of his after work. How could he possibly care whether I live or die?

In the silence between them, only the lawyer spoke. "We suggest having Miss Shen Jing come forward as the plaintiff."

"Unnecessary." Zhou Luchen’s gaze shifted away from her. "Let the other party go to prison."

Five ice-cold words. The lawyer understood: he wanted the groom put away with the harshest possible sentence.

"I understand."

Zhou Luchen calmly walked past Shen Jing, sat down at the opposite side of the long table, and gave his instructions coolly. The criminal police quickly grasped his intentions and brought the groom directly from the detention room. He was already in silver handcuffs.

A young nobleman from Shanghai, the groom thought upon seeing Zhou Luchen. Even the bureau chief is polite to this man. His background must be formidable.

Even without Zhou Luchen uttering a single word, the groom knew he was not someone to be provoked. The young nobleman simply sat there, sipping water leisurely, yet his aura was overwhelmingly powerful. He possessed a ruthlessness and cunning that belied his age.

Just as expected, the lawyer handed over a plea agreement, pressing the groom to admit guilt unconditionally. The words were directed at the groom.

Shen Jing witnessed it all. Words like "settle things amicably" simply didn’t exist in Zhou Luchen’s vocabulary. When faced with a problem, he played rough until the very end.

The groom still tried to argue, "Chen Yao deliberately ruined my wedding! That’s why I smashed his car."

Zhou Luchen’s dark eyes were utterly calm as his fingertips pushed the agreement aside. He remained silent.

The groom picked it up. It detailed his countless past scandals and criminal records; even his various medical conditions were listed clearly. For a moment, his mental defenses completely crumbled. "You can’t do this! The past has nothing to do with the present. Clearly... Chen Yao was the one in the wrong first."

Zhou Luchen’s eyes were deep. "Are you questioning me?"

Four very calm words, delivered as if making small talk.

The other party blurted out, "No."

Zhou Luchen gestured backward. As the lawyer leaned in, he heard Zhou Luchen say, "A habitual offender. The other party has no evidence that Chen Yao caused the damage. Understand what I mean?"

The lawyer nodded.

Zhou Luchen continued, "Lu Yi is an unemployed vagrant with two prior theft convictions. This time, Lu Yi’s actions constitute malicious robbery, and he also injured an innocent victim, Shen Jing. We’ve obtained the surveillance footage. Our side will file charges to ensure Lu Yi is imprisoned. We will not accept any apology or compensation."

Hearing this, Shen Jing was stunned.

The groom retorted, "So what if you’re rich and powerful?"

Shen Jing broke out in a cold sweat for the groom.

Zhou Luchen rose indifferently and left without a backward glance. It was as if the groom before him stirred no emotion whatsoever. He showed not a hint of arrogance, only the profound confidence of guaranteed victory, a tone of voice that seemed innate to him.

He simply instructed the lawyer, "Let her leave first. Chen Yao’s matter will be dealt with later."

The lawyer nodded and turned to Shen Jing. "This way, please. The second son has already posted bail for you."

Shen Jing quietly watched the resolute figure disappear through the doorway. As the light fell on him, she silently mouthed a "thank you."

Since someone had posted bail, it would be foolish not to leave. As for what happened next, the way Zhou Luchen handled things was likely beyond what someone like her could comprehend.

Shen Jing had asked the lawyer, "Will it be difficult for Chen Yao to get out?"

"A minor issue. The second son will handle it."

A minor issue? Perhaps for someone of Zhou Luchen’s status, it truly was a trivial matter.

"Return to the hotel for now. The second son will join you once he’s finished here."

The lawyer led her to a Rolls-Royce, personally opened the car door, and watched her get in. Only after ensuring she had left did he head back to the police station.

Looking out at the night market through the car window, Shen Jing still couldn’t believe it. The whole process took less than ten minutes, and just like that... she was out? Was her testimony no longer necessary?

Is Zhou Luchen helping me? she couldn’t help but wonder. Yet, he hadn’t said a single word to her when they met. This left a sour feeling in her heart.

「That night.」

Chen Yao was bailed out by Zhou Luchen. The groom, however, was taken into custody and imprisoned. A young nobleman from Shanghai, already in the wrong—what waves could he possibly make?

After all that commotion, it was nearing dawn.

The black SUV headed towards a guesthouse in a scenic area. It was nestled in the mountains, surrounded by lush bamboo groves and dense trees. This was the best accommodation available locally, a guesthouse specifically for out-of-town tourists. The air in the mountains was fresh.

Zhou Luchen rested his bent elbow on the car window frame, remaining silent.

Chen Yao said sincerely, "Thanks. Sorry to trouble the second son to personally make a trip to Qiao County."

Zhou Luchen leaned back, his cold eyes conveying, "You kicked him too lightly."

Indeed, the kick had been light.

Chen Yao flexed his limbs. "Your darling got hurt. The cut on her arm was deep, bleeding profusely at the time. I couldn’t hold back and got out of the car to kick him." It happened because he took Shen Jing sightseeing in Qiao Town, and he failed to look after the young lady properly.

Zhou Luchen didn’t seem to be listening, his eyes half-closed, his entire demeanor somewhat detached.

"However," Chen Yao also leaned back against his seat. "That wasn’t very loyal of you. You should have gone to see her first."

Zhou Luchen let out a noncommittal hum through his nose and didn’t respond.

Chen Yao just smiled. "The young lady got dragged into this. It’s only right for our second son to show some tender affection."

The SUV drove into a secluded part of the forest.

Chen Yao looked out the window. "Where are we going?"

The bodyguard driving in the front replied, "It’s dark. We’ll stay at a hotel for tonight and then head back to Shanghai."