CHAPTER 143: BACK OF THE JADE RULES SCRIPTURES (1)_1

Shen Jing was eating crab roe noodles at a newly opened small shop next to the teahouse, listening to Xing Fei and Chen Yao arguing.

On the other end of the call, Chen Yao was earnestly persuading her, "You’re on your period, so eat less cold food, or you’ll be complaining about stomachaches again."

Xing Fei had spotted something delicious and didn’t want to hold back. "First, tell me, how many pretty girls were you out with last night?"

"I don’t know them, I swear! I definitely don’t. I was very busy last night." Over the phone, Chen Yao insisted, "Zhou Luchen was there too. Ask him; I’m the most honest one, right?"

"Then what about Zhou Luchen?" Xing Fei turned to Shen Jing, who was leisurely eating her noodles, and was about to ask, "Did he have..."

Before Xing Fei could finish, Chen Yao cut in, "Second Young Master Zhou. He’s gone to burn incense and pray for love."

Shen Jing burst out laughing, choking on her noodles and struggling to breathe. "COUGH, COUGH!"

Xing Fei hung up and twisted open a water bottle for her. "Drink some water."

Shen Jing looked up and took a sip of water. Just then, some men from the Zhou Family walked into the noodle shop. One of them stood before her and said, "Do you have time? The Second Young Master wants you to come with me."

Refuse? Not with four burly men openly staring and surrounding her.

Shen Jing got into the car, unsure of her destination. The bodyguards didn’t speak to her.

When they arrived, Shen Jing got out of the car and looked around.

The trees were overly lush, making the ancient temple feel eerily silent and oppressive.

Several Hongqi L5 cars were parked by both the front and side entrances.

Burly men in black suits patrolled the perimeter of the ancient temple, providing security.

So, this was containment.

Such a massive operation and tight security... something must have gone terribly wrong.

Family matters were always kept strictly confidential. No wonder Zhuang Ming had refused to tell her anything.

The black-suited bodyguard who had brought her said coldly, "We don’t have the key. This is a Buddhist Sanctuary, and the main gate is a historical artifact from an ancient dynasty. We can’t break the lock and damage it. You’ll have to use the ladder. We’ll hold it steady for you."

Shen Jing looked up at the red walls and yellow-tiled roof.

Back in school, she had been the most honest and well-behaved student. She’d never imagined that one day she’d be climbing over a wall.

Climbing the wall of an ancient temple, of all things.

Just moments ago, she’d been peacefully enjoying her noodles, and now this bodyguard had brought her here.

Shen Jing tidied her hair, climbed the ladder, and scaled the wall.

As she peeked her head over the wall, Zhou Luchen was standing on the lawn below, his fingers idly twirling a string of golden Buddha Beads.

The wind rustled through the apricot trees, tugging his shirt collar open to reveal the strong lines of his neck. His entire demeanor exuded an effortless elegance.

He watched her clambering over the wall, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Shen Jing found herself smiling back, a rebellious spark igniting within her. In that moment, she felt an inexplicable urge to simply fall into ruin with him.

Their gazes met in silence. His eyes, lazy and tender, clearly held amusement, yet there was an inscrutable depth to them that seemed to melt her resolve, making her blush. It was as if he could see straight through her, to all those countless lonely nights she’d spent in Shanghai, waiting for him.

What was she to do? He was so infuriatingly charming when he smiled.

Men like him were masters at manipulating hearts, experts at playing with human nature.

Shen Jing stood atop the high wall, her figure as slender as a kite. It looked as if the autumn breeze could send her tumbling.

After taking a couple of steps down the ladder, she called out softly, "Luchen, catch me."

He smiled, his voice husky. "Come."

Shen Jing bravely closed her eyes and, with complete trust, let go, falling towards his embrace.

She wasn’t afraid of falling, not in the slightest. She knew Zhou Luchen possessed extraordinary strength; he could catch her easily, light as she was, no matter the position.

She clearly wasn’t heavy, but Zhou Luchen seemed to do it on purpose. The moment he caught her, he mischievously pulled her into his arms and leaned back, sending them both tumbling onto the lawn.

"OOF!"

They both let out a soft groan simultaneously.

She landed on top of him, her forehead knocking squarely against his chin.

She cried out in pain, but Zhou Luchen seemed unfazed.

She looked up at him. They were so close their breaths mingled. Their skin, separated only by two thin layers of fabric, pressed together, warming her.

"Did you miss me?"

Zhou Luchen’s lips curled. "I did."

"Let me see if your eyes are lying." Shen Jing peered into his eyes, seeing her own reflection shimmering with a starlit glow. "So full of affection."

At her comment, Zhou Luchen’s smile deepened.

Did he really miss me? Yes, he really did, and his loneliness was real too. Shen Jing believed.

"If you missed me, why didn’t you come find me?"

Zhou Luchen tightened his embrace. "What was there to find when all you did was send me sticker packs all day?"

Shen Jing nipped his neck. POP. It was a playful sound, like a fledgling vampire who wanted to drain him dry but didn’t dare to suck too hard. What was she up to? Zhou Luchen wondered, closing his eyes.

It was just like her temperament: cautious and tentative with love, and with him. Even her kisses were hesitant.

"Get up," Shen Jing urged. "It’s not good to lie on the grass."

Instead, Zhou Luchen’s arms tightened around her, then tightened again, trapping her like a cornered animal. Their bodies pressed closer, and he teased with relish, "I don’t want to get up."

If he didn’t want to get up, then so be it. Shen Jing was utterly at his mercy; he always had to be in control.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

Zhou Luchen seemed extremely weary. His eyes were lightly closed, and he looked very uncomfortable.

"Copying scriptures."

"Why were you punished?" Her lips parted slightly as she spoke. "What terrible, irreverent thing did you do?"

There was a hint of mischief in his tone. "I did it."

Shen Jing was delighted to hear he was punished, her eyes twinkling.

"So, even the strict rules of the Zhou Family can produce a rebellious son. No wonder your elder brother returned to Shanghai. It must have been because you messed up." She continued, "Were you punished in Beijing too?"

Zhou Luchen volunteered, "Grandfather had the whip out, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to strike me."

She cupped his neck, examining him from side to side. "Let me see. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Nothing to see." Zhou Luchen pressed her waist, pulling her back down. "Help me copy the scriptures."

Shen Jing’s eyes curved into crescents. "I want a reward."

Zhou Luchen grazed her nose with the back of his finger. He never understood why the tip of her nose was always so pink. "What do you want?"

Shen Jing thought for a moment. "I want a million."

Zhou Luchen was always generous. "Done. It’s all yours."

It was autumn, and the ginkgo leaves in the Buddhist Sanctuary had turned golden yellow.

A gust of wind sent them falling in large swathes.

Zhou Luchen held her, and they lay on the ground for a long time. His expression was weary, his eyes closed as if he didn’t want to open them.

What was wrong? Was he unhappy? Why would he be unhappy? Or perhaps the meetings these past few days had exhausted him.

Shen Jing picked up a ginkgo leaf and silently, gently, brushed it against his thin lips, teasing him.

He pinched her waist, his tone deceptively casual. "Keep causing trouble, and I won’t let you off, not even in this Buddhist Sanctuary."

Few would dare to provoke the Second Young Master Zhou when he was in a temper. Shen Jing, however, gently cradled his head, her fingers running through his soft, clean hair as she coaxed him warmly, "Whenever you’re punished in the future, I’ll help you copy scriptures."

Zhou Luchen sounded half-exasperated, half-amused. "Are you looking forward to me being punished?"

"You’re too self-indulgent," Shen Jing assessed. "You’ll definitely be punished again sooner or later."

"I was tricked by a woman," he scoffed.

Zhuang Ming discreetly stepped further away, not daring to look at the amorous couple on the lawn.

That germaphobe, Second Young Master Zhou, actually enjoys flirting on the grass now? He doesn’t mind getting dirty anymore?

With this thought, Zhuang Ming left to prepare a change of clothes for him and for his bath of purification.