A Twisted Love Affair
Chapter 26: Er Gongzi is looking for you_1

Chapter 26: Er Gongzi is looking for you_1

She would skillfully unbutton his shirt, her touch fervent and hot.

The first time might have been a welcome novelty, but by the second, third, and fourth, she had become a seductive calamity.

Still wanting to play with emotions? Does she even understand the game?

The Zhou family’s old butler came to open the door. "Young Master Luchen, you’re back too."

Zhou Luchen slowly pinched out his cigarette and got out of the car.

The butler closed the door, and together they walked up the steps. "The Old Madam just woke up."

Bypassing the Liuyi Sect, Zhou Luchen went straight to the Western-style building in the backyard.

The Old Madam was an early riser and was in the Octagonal Pavilion feeding the birds.

The mynah bird in the gilded cage stared intently at Zhou Luchen, then opened its small beak. "SQUEAK, can’t you wash off that rouge scent before coming back?"

Zhou Luchen paused, leaned against the railing, and glanced at the parrot. "It smells good."

The Old Madam lifted her bird-teasing stick, shooed the parrot back into its cage, and said with a smile, "Achen is just like that. It’s beyond our control, you know."

Zhou Luchen frowned. "Is this something that needs controlling too?"

The Old Madam said, "I certainly don’t want to interfere, but you should be clear about your position. Don’t displease your father. The Zhou family has only your bloodline; United Bank is meant for you."

Zhou Luchen looked up, his eyes tinged with faint mockery. "Just because it’s given doesn’t mean I have to take it."

The Old Madam continued teasing the parrot, her smile unwavering. "So many people covet this position, yet you disdain it when it’s within your grasp?"

Zhou Luchen snorted derisively.

The Old Madam warned, "I’m telling you, stop causing trouble for the Zhou family. Don’t think I don’t know about that actress you’re keeping outside, or that pipa-playing young woman. I was wondering why you suddenly took a liking to the Grand Theater for seven days straight. Were you really there just for the music?"

She had seen the photos; they were indeed enchantingly alluring.

Zhou Luchen turned his head. "Stop worrying so much about my affairs outside. I’m not serious about them."

The Old Madam naturally believed him. Those two types didn’t seem like women he would become infatuated with. He had always preferred someone like Wenxin—cold and aloof.

All day long, Zhou Luchen stayed at the Zhou Mansion, playing chess with the Old Madam.

"Stop opposing your father," the Old Madam said. "When your mother passed away, he was indeed in the wrong and handled things poorly. His world revolves around the Zhou family and United Bank; that’s his life."

Zhou Luchen focused on the chess game and did not reply.

Shen Jing cherished her appearance and accepted Zhou Luchen’s effortless favor. She traveled between two places daily for several treatment sessions, and her scars faded exceptionally quickly.

During her treatments, while idly browsing entertainment platforms, she realized she had forgotten she’d followed Lu Siyuan, and now her feed was full of posts about her.

Lu Siyuan V: I recently took on a role that was very challenging to emotionally connect with. The character is so tragic; her boyfriend cheats on her, and even though he won’t acknowledge the other woman, the mistress shamelessly clings to him. So, my dear followers, does anyone have experience with being the third party or having one interfere? I’m here to learn from you.

Shen Jing stared at the text.

And also at Lu Siyuan’s comments section.

[OMG, even if it’s a script, I totally relate! I know someone in a similar situation. She knew my boyfriend and I were together but kept making excuses to ask him out. My boyfriend refused and blocked her multiple times, but she wouldn’t give up!]

[I despise women who knowingly throw themselves at men who are already taken. Have they no shame?]

[They’re experts at playing pitiful and weak. Siyuan, you haven’t encountered someone like that, have you? We support you dating, Siyuan, but not if you’re being bullied!]

To this, Lu Siyuan personally replied, "[It’s just a script, sweetie. Of course, I don’t like people like that either, dear. We shouldn’t do bad things or interfere in others’ relationships. (head pat.jpg)]"

Liang Yingning leaned close to Shen Jing’s ear. "She’s talking about you."

"Zhou Luchen hasn’t been paying her much attention lately, so you’ve become the scapegoat," Liang Yingning stated with conviction.

Liang Yingning was naturally familiar with their circle.

Everyone knew Lu Siyuan was often seen with Second Young Master Zhou; all that was missing was his declaration, "She’s my girlfriend." But that declaration never came.

Until Shen Jing appeared. After that, Lu Siyuan immediately fell out of favor.

As for the specifics, Liang Yingning couldn’t possibly know—who would dare ask Zhou Luchen directly? No one in their circle dared to gossip about his affairs.

Shen Jing swiped on her phone and unfollowed Lu Siyuan.

Liang Yingning hugged Shen Jing’s arm. "Alright, let her say what she wants. She only dares to make veiled criticisms online. She definitely wouldn’t dare to confront you in person. If Zhou Luchen found out, forget about staying in Shanghai, she wouldn’t survive in the entertainment industry."

Shen Jing wasn’t one to readily assume accusations were about her.

"I’m getting an IV," Shen Jing said, indicating the drip on the back of her hand. "Be gentle when you hug me."

"I know you’re delicate," Liang Yingning giggled. "Today’s the last treatment."

Later that afternoon, Lu Siyuan’s Weibo post was deleted, replaced by a gracefully feigned update: "[Found the feeling, thanks, my treasures.]"

Ostensibly, it was about a script issue, so who would overthink it? Lu Siyuan had vented enough.

Shen Jing couldn’t be bothered with Lu Siyuan.

That day, a Rolls-Royce stopped at the corner of the teahouse alley.

The middle-aged driver wore white gloves. Shen Jing recognized him; he was Zhou Luchen’s driver.

It was this man who had driven the car at the Grand Theater.

He said politely, "Excuse me, are you Miss Shen Jing? The Second Young Master asked me to take you somewhere."

Shen Jing got in the car. Apart from opening and closing the door for her, the driver said nothing superfluous.

The driver never met her eyes.

It seemed that in the driver’s eyes, a woman who took the initiative to present herself to Zhou Luchen was met with disdain and prejudice. Having seen all sorts of people, how could he not be adept at sizing them up and treating them accordingly?

She felt an urge to get out. Looking out the car window, she saw they had already entered the Shanghai urban area. The misty, rainy atmosphere of the ancient teahouse town was gone, replaced by a ceaseless flow of traffic on high bridges and skyscrapers that pierced the clouds.

Every now and then, she saw promotional photos for Lu Siyuan’s movies.

This reminded her of Lu Siyuan.

Every time she met Lu Siyuan, even if Lu Siyuan never overtly showed malice, their words always carried an undertone of irreconcilable conflict.

Who had time to play mind games with her?

The car stopped near a private airstrip.

The drive had been so smooth that Shen Jing had almost fallen asleep.

Until the driver spoke, "The Second Young Master said he has arranged your leave; Hongtan won’t be listing your services for the next few days."

Shen Jing looked up. "Where are we going?"

She didn’t get a precise answer.

The driver maintained his composed demeanor. "You’ll know when you get there. I’m not entirely clear on the itinerary myself. Young Master Chen is also very eager to see you. He said he owes you 1,000 meters."

Shen Jing didn’t ask further.

On the plane, meals and snacks were prepared for her. Even the blanket provided to cover her was a very delicate shade of pink.

Two hours didn’t warrant such meticulous preparation.

Having come directly from the teahouse, the cabin crew couldn’t help but glance at her a few extra times. She ate extremely slowly, nibbling bit by bit.

They’d heard she performed narrative songs at a teahouse, yet she appeared even more graceful and refined than ladies from prominent families.

A true Jiangnan beauty—gentle and delicate.

Shen Jing didn’t know what her destination or purpose was. She simply ate some food and flipped through a magazine.

Even the magazine she picked up featured a glamorous photo of Lu Siyuan on its cover.

Maintaining her composure and elegance was essential.

Often, the less one seemed to care, the more frustrated the antagonist would become, their provocations landing as harmlessly as if striking cotton. She definitely wouldn’t let Lu Siyuan have her way.

Shen Jing closed the magazine, pulled up the blanket, and settled in to catch up on sleep.

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