A Twisted Love Affair
Chapter 39: By chance, where is the second young master going to?

Chapter 39: By chance, where is the second young master going to?

Liang Yingning smiled, her eyes crinkling. "You always know the right thing to say." Then, she wrapped her arms around Shen Jing’s shoulders and whispered in her ear, "It’s Zhou Luchen who doesn’t deserve you."

During those days, Liang Yingning was particularly wild, taking photos with all sorts of handsome men and posting them on her social media. She even bragged, "Feels good, huh? Letting off some steam." But she was the only one feeling good—no one else cared how many handsome men she took photos with. After drinking, she would also become unruly, incessantly sending voice messages to Chen Yao.

"Was it you who cornered me at the stairwell in fifth grade and called me ’little braids’?"

"Are you looking down on me? As if you’re the only one who knows how to have fun. I might just have to march into the Chen Family’s home, destined to boss you around every day, and you’d still have to be home by midnight."

"Nuh-uh-uh... If I don’t marry you, my dad will cut off all my cards. I’ll be broke, not a penny to my name. Running into you is just bad luck."

"My dad even scolds me for being immature. If you just behave, muddling through life together wouldn’t be out of the question. Even if it’s not you, my dad would force me to marry someone I don’t like anyway. You have a pretty face; at least you’re more pleasant to look at."

She even hiccuped from the alcohol.

When Shen Jing took Liang Yingning’s phone, she found that after the first voice message, all the others were marked with red exclamation points. Chen Yao probably hadn’t even listened to them before blocking her. The line had been drawn very clearly and distinctly.

Suddenly, Shen Jing could understand why the Chen Family liked Liang Yingning—her innocent and pure personality could indeed keep Chen Yao in check. Unfortunately, Liang Yingning was thoroughly scolded by her family.

"Can’t you be a little more dignified? Do you think taking risqué photos with men in public is something to be proud of? As a young lady, you should be less childish, you know."

Liang Yingning threw her phone and dashed into the bathroom to vomit. Shen Jing grabbed her purse and followed, taking care of her and washing her face. Liang Yingning was distressed and clung to Shen Jing, bursting into tears with a loud "WAH!"

"I’ve known him for twenty years. Absolutely no one understands Chen Yao better than I do. He’s utterly despicable."

"He just wants to provoke the Chen Family," Shen Jing patted Liang Yingning’s back. "Who would want to have their marriage arranged? Especially someone as rebellious as Chen Yao. Everyone wants to marry the person they love."

"Him? Love?" Liang Yingning leaned close to Shen Jing’s ear. "Let me tell you, they don’t love anyone but themselves. They’re only after power and benefits. Please believe me, Shen Jing."

Shen Jing patiently comforted the drunkard, saying she believed her.

Liang Yingning said, "When I registered my company, I couldn’t find any partners. They thought the Liang Family was going under and didn’t trust me. I put all my personal savings into it. With my career in shambles, my love life is also a mess."

Shen Jing really had no energy left, and Liang Yingning wasn’t sober enough. Shen Jing was utterly exhausted. It was a freezing day, yet the effort had made her sweat. If she could do it over, she definitely wouldn’t have opened the door or greeted Liang Yingning that night.

They barely managed to leave the restaurant and hail a taxi. As soon as they got in the car, Liang Yingning collapsed onto her lap, clinging to her like an octopus. The reek of alcohol made Shen Jing frown, and she unceremoniously pushed Liang Yingning away.

Liang Yingning pouted but still clung to Shen Jing, refusing to let go. "I’m not stinky! They may not like me, but you like me, don’t you?"

Shen Jing pulled out a tissue to wipe Liang Yingning’s drool. "Yes, yes, I like you."

Liang Yingning asked, "Your last name is Shen. So, where are your parents? Where is your family?"

Shen Jing glanced at the drunkard in her arms. It was the first time she had spoken to anyone about her family’s origins. "They’re in Beijing."

Liang Yingning’s questions came thick and fast. "Then why do you live in Su City and not go home?"

Her household registration wasn’t with the Shen Family. Why would she go back? Back then, she hadn’t wanted to see her mother alone and had insisted on leaving with her. Shen Jing didn’t respond. Instead, she wondered how she was going to get the drunkard into the hotel.

Fortunately, a security guard was there to help. Even he seemed to despise the drunkard. Even in her sleep, Liang Yingning didn’t forget to curse Chen Yao. When she woke up, she didn’t even take her luggage, just bought a ticket and flew back immediately.

「Shen Jing’s last day in Hong Kong.」

Mrs. Cao sent someone to pick her up for dinner at the Cao family villa. Mrs. Cao looked her over for a long while, then suddenly said to her earnestly, "I knew the Second Young Master’s mother. We were very good friends when we were young. More than twenty years have passed, and we’ve all aged.

"His mother passed away young, and his father has always been in Switzerland. I can’t even remember how many years it’s been since I’ve had any contact with the Zhou Family.

"His mother was a singer and dancer with the Capital Central Troupe in her youth, strikingly beautiful. Her singing voice was as clear as a phonograph, and she performed classical dance as if she’d stepped out of a painting—a true beauty. But beauty is often a precursor to a tragic fate, and the vibrant world couldn’t hold onto her. The more I think about it, the more regrettable it is."

Shen Jing fiddled with the hazelnuts and only asked Mrs. Cao why she liked making chocolate. Mrs. Cao just smiled and didn’t answer.

"Do you like chocolate?"

Shen Jing shook her head.

Later, after the chocolates were made, a servant packed them to be sent off. Mrs. Cao had a servant go upstairs to fetch an old photograph. It was a photo from the nineties, showing a beauty with delicate eyebrows and exquisite features. Even without makeup, her elegance was undeniable.

Mrs. Cao asked Shen Jing, "Beautiful, isn’t she?"

Shen Jing nodded. It was a beauty one would remember at first sight.

Mrs. Cao said, "Yes, beautiful. And the son she bore is also incredibly handsome."

As people age, they tend to become nostalgic. The more Mrs. Cao spoke, the more she sighed, then slowly made her way upstairs, steadying herself with the banister.

Afterward, Mrs. Cao was busy with the wedding preparations for her son and daughter and had no time for leisure like enjoying music. She had her driver take Shen Jing to the airport for her return to Su City.

The plane took off.

Shen Jing rested her chin in her hand, glancing out the window.

There really were a lot of arranged marriages in Hong Kong. Would Zhou Luchen also have an arranged marriage in the future? she wondered. Perhaps he would. The Zhou Family, with its prominent status, would surely be even more particular. And with a temperament like Luchen’s, it was hard to say if he would obey. Dating was one thing; dragging marriage into it was taking it too far. If every relationship was aimed at marriage, how boring would that be?

Shen Jing put the straw into her juice and took a satisfying sip to quench her thirst.

Upon landing in Shanghai, it was still raining.

Shen Jing took a taxi back to the alley, feeling weary the entire way. She felt a bit gloomy, perhaps due to the incessant rain. Resting her cheek on her arm, she silently watched the traffic flow outside the window.

A blanket of grey covered the city sky. Its prosperity felt cold and indifferent. Luxury cars and advanced technology were everywhere—a mix of clamor and solitude that fueled endless desires. But what had left the deepest impression on her about this city was, most likely, Zhou Luchen.

In the oncoming lane, beyond the white divider, a matte black Lamborghini suddenly flashed past her eyes, moving at extreme speed. Its silhouette appeared cold and profoundly dark. It was the only limited-edition model of its kind in the city.

Shen Jing’s gaze sharpened, following the rear of the car. It seemed that after the letter A on the license plate, there was a sequence of consecutive numbers.

Then, several identical black SUVs appeared behind the Lamborghini, following at a discreet distance. Shen Jing recognized them; they were most likely the bodyguards the Zhou Family had assigned to him. Where could he be going?

Zhou Luchen’s hand was resting on the center console when, BEEP, his phone screen lit up.

Shen Jing: "Saw you."

Zhou Luchen gripped the steering wheel with both hands. After a moment, he braked and pulled over to the side of the road, then picked up his phone to type.

Zhou Luchen: "Where are you going?"

Shen Jing: "I have something to do."

She had actually planned to visit her maternal grandmother before returning to Su City.

Zhou Luchen sent her a location pin.

Zhou Luchen: "Get out of the car and wait for me."