A Twisted Love Affair
Chapter 36: He’s not my dearest _1

Chapter 36: He’s not my dearest _1

He asked around. The young woman had been taken out for some amusement, and they needed to ascertain her whereabouts, just in case of a kidnapping.

Chen Yao relayed the message from the front desk, "A car with a Hong Kong license plate picked up Shen Jing. We checked; it belongs to the wife of the Cao Family from Hong Kong."

After closing the door and leaving, Chen Yao sent a WeChat message to Shen Jing: "Don’t get kidnapped."

After a while, Shen Jing replied with an emoji: "It’s work."

In Hong Kong, a certain Mrs. Cao wanted to listen to pipa and narrative singing.

Years ago, Shen Jing had come to Hong Kong to perform for this Mrs. Cao. When Mrs. Cao learned Shen Jing was nearby in Hong Kong, she was delighted and immediately paid a handsome fee to invite her over. The compensation was particularly generous.

She was out to earn money, after all.

Staying in the hotel was boring. Zhou Luchen would be out all day, only taking her along when it was time for amusement, not for business matters.

Shen Jing still remembered this teahouse in Hong Kong. The wealthy socialites of Hong Kong loved to indulge in this kind of elegant afternoon tea ambiance.

Mrs. Cao joked self-deprecatingly, "The more secluded the environment, the more prestigious it seems."

Shen Jing chuckled.

After the performance, Mrs. Cao, content and satisfied, recorded the entire event on video. She grasped the back of Shen Jing’s hand. "I haven’t seen you in so many years! You’ve become so beautiful."

As she spoke, she gave Shen Jing another large red envelope.

It felt particularly thick in her hand.

Though the two places were far apart, a short flight was all it took to get there.

Mrs. Cao held onto her, constantly praising her in front of the other wealthy ladies. "Hasn’t this been a treat for your ears today? I just adore her style; I can’t bring myself to enjoy anyone else’s."

Several of the wealthy ladies wore green jade on their necks and wrists.

One lady, with a plump, prosperous-looking face, joked, "Well, now, is Mrs. Cao looking to choose a daughter-in-law for her son? She’s certainly a lovely young woman."

Mrs. Cao smoothly deflected, "Whatever are you thinking? My son is a good-for-nothing; he’s completely unworthy of such a delicate beauty like Little Ajing."

Shen Jing simply sat to one side, listening and brewing tea. Mrs. Cao enjoyed floral tea, and Shen Jing was skilled at preparing it.

Suddenly, someone spoke up, "I feel like I’ve seen you before... at the Lisboa. Who... who was it with?"

Mrs. Cao raised her hand, interrupting them. "Ajing is my guest today. Even if you’ve seen her there, don’t bring it up."

Shen Jing smiled as she poured tea for Mrs. Cao. "I have indeed been to the Lisboa."

The person then recalled, speaking with assurance, "Everyone says you’re with the Zhou Family’s second son."

Mrs. Cao arched a delicate eyebrow. "The Zhou Family?"

The person nodded.

Shen Jing explained, "We’re just ordinary friends. Those are just rumors circulating."

Mrs. Cao put down her teacup and asked, "Are you in a hurry to return to Su City? If not, please stay in Hong Kong. I’d love to hear a few more performances."

Mrs. Cao wasn’t particularly old, but she had a fear of heights and would get dizzy on planes. So, whenever she wanted to listen to narrative singing, she had to invite performers to Hong Kong. This time, she hoped to keep Shen Jing in Hong Kong for a few more days.

Shen Jing considered Mrs. Cao her ’number one fangirl.’ It was a title Mrs. Cao had given herself, adopting the lingo of young celebrity enthusiasts.

Shen Jing replied, "Of course, I’ve already taken leave from the teahouse."

But then there was Zhou Luchen to consider. She didn’t have his phone number and wasn’t sure how to tell him. Forget it. They’d been out of contact for seventy-two hours already. Look at that, he didn’t seem to care whether she was dead or alive, nor where she had actually gone. Not a single message from him. In that case, she just wouldn’t go back. She was done indulging Zhou Luchen, even if she had been staying with him for free for quite a few days.

The circle of wealthy wives in Hong Kong was very particular about ostentation. Every time Shen Jing went out shopping, Mrs. Cao would arrange for a chauffeur and car to pick her up and drop her off.

At the mall, she encountered a major celebrity doing a promotional event. The fans were incredibly enthusiastic. Shen Jing, wanting to buy some hand cream, almost couldn’t find the store entrance. This top-tier celebrity was just so immensely popular.

The delicate Miss Shen squeezed through the crowd for a while before finally making it to an exit. Buying a bottle of hand cream had been such a hassle. She cherished her hands the most; even Mrs. Cao had praised their skin as being whiter and more tender than a baby’s, as if they were boneless.

Just as she was about to reflect on this, several security guards cleared a path, followed by a loud shout.

"Lu Siyuan, you’re my goddess! I love you—"

Shen Jing stepped aside and looked in the direction of the voice. Lu Siyuan, dressed in a haute couture gown, was graciously greeting her fans, her smile and demeanor radiant.

Suddenly, Lu Siyuan stopped beside Shen Jing. "What are you doing here?"

Shen Jing replied, "Shopping."

At that moment, the chauffeur waved at Shen Jing.

Lu Siyuan glanced at the Rolls-Royce waiting for Shen Jing outside. That car didn’t look like it belonged to Zhou Luchen, but rather to the Cao Family of Hong Kong. Lu Siyuan looked Shen Jing up and down, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

"No way. Which member of the Cao Family? The old one or the young one? Have you switched hunting grounds to hook a new sugar daddy? Does Zhou Luchen know?"

Indeed, the Cao Family’s Rolls-Royce was ostentatiously conspicuous.

Shen Jing said calmly, "Whether he knows or not, you can just ask him yourself. I’m not his heart and soul."

A smile touched Lu Siyuan’s lips as she whispered, "I only found out later that he dealt with Yilian for profit, but the rumors always claimed he did it all for you."

Shen Jing’s eyelashes fluttered. She replied unhurriedly, "That’s not hard to guess. I see him working every day; I understand everything. I knew he used that opportunity to eliminate Yilian, to uproot them completely."

She made it sound so easy. Lu Siyuan felt she might have underestimated Shen Jing. The very fact that Zhou Luchen was willing to keep Shen Jing by his side meant she wasn’t simple.

Shen Jing continued, "As for your uncle, he’s the one who needs to seriously reflect on his actions."

Lu Siyuan’s expression changed. "Are you trying to make an enemy of me?"

Yes, that Weibo post had been born out of frustration that Shen Jing had so effortlessly captured Zhou Luchen’s attention before she could. Lu Siyuan didn’t understand where she had lost out. Was it because Shen Jing was younger? Or that air of purity she had?

Shen Jing turned to look at her. "I’m really not in the mood for this. It’s pointless."

"You don’t actually think my Weibo post was about you, do you?" Lu Siyuan asked.

Shen Jing answered quietly, "I don’t make a habit of assuming such things are directed at me."

Lu Siyuan’s lips curved into a smile. "You’re rather amusing."

Shen Jing gestured to the screaming fans nearby. "Your fans are waiting for autographs. Don’t keep them waiting."

Lu Siyuan started to walk away. "Goodbye. I have other commitments. Enjoy yourself."

"You too," Shen Jing replied, then also got into her car and departed.

The chauffeur started the car. "Miss Shen, is there anything else you’d like to buy?"

"No."

The car window rolled down, and the chilly night wind poured in. Shen Jing raised a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear.

"Are there still puppet shows in Hong Kong?"

"Well..." The chauffeur, quite enthusiastic, replied, "As for that, not at the moment. But during festivals, the cultural center might host some. Are you very fond of them?"

Shen Jing rested her chin on the window frame, watching the luxurious cruise ships pass by in the harbor, becoming increasingly lost in thought.

"Yes, I do."

She cherished the memory of dragging Zhou Luchen to sit beside her in the audience, watching a puppet show together. Back then, they were often the only two people watching. He wouldn’t say much and didn’t seem to enjoy puppet shows, but he would always indulge her, readily paying for whatever she wanted.

During that half-month she spent with Zhou Luchen, he always had a way of calmly, unperturbedly, luring her into shared indulgence, only to become cold and distant afterward. How many days had it been now? Six days. He hadn’t contacted her at all. It was as if she were merely a pet he kept—unimportant, free to wander wherever she pleased. The wind gusting into the car grew colder. Zhou Luchen was so infuriating; she didn’t even know how to begin to forgive him. Was it because of the large balance on her card? Why did wealthy men like him always think they could solve everything with money?