CHAPTER 242: SHE’S JUST A SLAG GIRL (4)_1

After more than a dozen hours, she landed at Capital International Airport, where Uncle Liang was waiting to pick her up.

He greeted her cheerfully, carried her bags, took her coat, and diligently served Xiaosi, who had just made a great contribution to the Shen Family.

He opened the car door and drove her back to Xihe Bay.

All the way, Uncle Liang kept praising her.

"The old master is very satisfied with Xiaosi’s trip this time. He’s been talking about you for a long time and is so glad to finally have you back. Our Xiaosi is truly outstanding, leading Sheng Peng to greater heights each day."

Shen Jing just smiled without explaining anything.

It was natural for the Shen Family to prepare a family banquet.

Elder Mr. Shen thought her ability to attend the summit was already impressive, yet his Xiaosi seemed to be blessed with incredible luck. "How did you manage to acquire contacts from major corporations and secure consultancy from overseas investment teams at the summit?"

Was the proposal she brought really that powerful?

While eating, Shen Jing said, "Tomorrow, we’ll be raking it in."

Elder Mr. Shen served her some dishes with the communal chopsticks and asked, "Did Zhou Luchen help you?"

Shen Jing nodded slightly, not hiding anything. "He built a bridge for me, but Sheng Peng and I crossed it ourselves. I made sure not to acknowledge him at the summit. He didn’t even glance my way, sitting there like a local emperor, keeping everyone at arm’s length."

Although Elder Mr. Shen scolded her sternly, his gaze was full of affection and indulgence when he looked at her. "He’s busy with work. Why would he be looking at you? Are you more important than the speech in his hand?"

Shen Jing giggled foolishly. That was true.

Elder Mr. Shen had a strange feeling that this girl secretly loved to complain about Zhou Luchen. It was a private matter, so he wouldn’t pry.

Recently, Sheng Peng was on the verge of a major transformation.

Firstly, while securing bank loans for financing was quick, she chose to sell Sheng Peng equity and collaborate with large overseas enterprises.

After attending the summit, Sheng Peng had gained some renown in the investment industry.

Her title changed from "Fourth Miss Shen" to "Manager Shen."

Shen Jing found it a bit difficult to get used to.

Before the Lunar New Year, Sheng Peng successfully secured cross-border financing, finding top-tier resources and influential financial backers for the company.

Sheng Peng’s new backers were the major foreign commercial investment banks from the summit.

After several busy days, Shen Jing finally let out a sigh of relief.

She had been so tired recently that she didn’t even remember the date, only that today was the Little New Year.

「Evening.」

Xie Qinyang had specially arranged a banquet for her.

The car drove to the Second Ring Road in the West District.

Tucked away in a hutong was a traditional Chinese cultural club, a place she would never have found without a guide.

Passing through a winding, secluded path, she saw the plaque hanging above the courtyard entrance: "Golden Zhao Yurong," inscribed in the handwriting of a Qing Dynasty emperor.

Was this place even on the map of the West District? It seemed unlikely. It was quiet all around.

The people inside were mostly from influential families with connections to the old courtyard residences. Shen Jing had never been here; in the past, Xie Qinyang had invited her, but she hadn’t wanted to integrate into that circle, lest she inadvertently offend someone.

She was just a businesswoman; it was best to keep her distance.

Take that Cheng fellow, for instance. It had been a while since she’d seen him. Rumor had it he was now seriously focused on his business, and the Cheng Family was strictly vetting any potential girlfriends for him.

At such a dinner party, she felt a little reserved from the moment she walked in.

These people were Zhou Luchen’s friends and naturally knew her, but they weren’t familiar enough for easy conversation.

These scions of influential families treated her with perfectly polite, yet distant, etiquette.

They weren’t in a hurry to start the meal.

Xie Qinyang, who had organized the gathering, was leaning back on the sofa, chewing on a candy twist. "Not everyone’s here yet. Let’s amuse ourselves for a bit."

She had no idea who else hadn’t arrived.

Feeling bored, Shen Jing went behind a folding screen to look at some books.

The decor everywhere retained a Qing Dynasty style.

The bookshelves held classical texts, such as *Lüli Zhengyi*, compiled by Emperor Kangxi, and a Qing Dynasty manuscript of *Wanling Baisui*. No wonder this place isn’t open to just anyone, she thought.

Without touching the books, Shen Jing, still chewing on a candy twist, walked out and leaned in a corner of the long corridor, fiddling with the candy sticks one by one.

Xie Qinyang had quit smoking and chewed on these to satisfy his oral fixation, so he’d given her some to alleviate her boredom.

The scenery of the siheyuan courtyard was quite beautiful, and the cross-breeze in the corridor was cool.

Suddenly, a young woman in a chic dress flounced across the threshold into the courtyard. She headed towards a group of young gentlemen who were brewing tea and chatting idly. It wasn’t clear whose girlfriend she was, but she was complaining and pouting about not being invited to the gathering.

The young woman was quite petulant. "You never take me with you when you go out to gatherings! I’m going to get angry."

A young man in a blue shirt raised his hand as if taking an oath and smiled indulgently at her. "Darling, I promise I won’t dare do it again next time. You’re the Empress Dowager, so please don’t be angry. When we get home, I’m all yours to command."

From their conversation, Shen Jing gathered that they were a newlywed couple.

His surname was Song; he was the youngest son of the Song Family and had just gotten married this year.

The young man was clearly doting on his new bride. He patiently pulled out a chair for her, personally poured her tea, and then stood behind her, gently massaging her shoulders.

So incredibly doting, so utterly devoted to his wife, Shen Jing mused.

At this, some of the others whistled and teased, but the young man continued to attend to his beloved wife, clearly relishing the task.

For a young nobleman of such distinguished status to act so humbly was truly a rare sight.

"Envious?"

A familiar, low, husky voice sounded from behind her. The directness of the question made Shen Jing’s heart jolt.

But then again, it was perfectly normal for Zhou Luchen to return for the Lunar New Year to be with his grandmother. Besides, a gathering of the West District’s elite sons in such a secluded courtyard wouldn’t be a proper event without Zhou Luchen. His status dictated it; if Zhou Luchen wasn’t present, the dinner wouldn’t even begin. If Zhou Luchen wasn’t here, the Jin Zhaorong Hall probably wouldn’t even open its doors.

Collecting her thoughts, Shen Jing turned her head.

She saw the vermillion-lacquered corridor with its antique relief carvings.

Behind her, the man’s tall, imposing frame stood silhouetted against the light. He was dressed in a formal suit of deep, richly textured black, looking as if he had just come from a meeting in a CBD skyscraper.

As their gazes met, Zhou Luchen’s eyes were dark and inscrutable, like a bottomless abyss.

In such an environment, his physique and proportions were striking. His broad back completely blocked the light, casting him in shades of deep, imposing darkness that seemed to convey an indifferent, emotionless temperament.

Feeling somewhat intimidated, Shen Jing suppressed her apprehension, and a smile touched her red lips. "What a coincidence, Second Master Zhou."

Zhou Luchen gave a nonchalant smile, his voice drawling slowly from his throat. "Oh? And how coincidental is that?"

His condescending air made Shen Jing feel timid. Her fingers twisted the hem of her clothes as she fell silent, her mind racing.

She didn’t expect him to suddenly lean in closer. "Speak."

Goosebumps rose on Shen Jing’s skin. She put on a pitiful act. "I was wrong... I should have informed you when I came back."

Zhou Luchen always had a way of asking questions with a hint of mockery. "Find it fun to string me along?"

A wave of guilt washed over her. Shen Jing knew what he meant. Indeed, she had to admit she had partly left Manhattan intentionally and deliberately kept him in the dark.

The truth was, she found Zhou Luchen’s incredible physique irresistible. But staying in that decadent, luxurious manor, indulging with a hedonistic young nobleman who treated life as a game... she feared she’d die of exhaustion.

"Six days living together was enough," Shen Jing said, meeting his gaze.

He barely lifted an eyelid. "So you don’t want to reconcile, just sleep with me?"

Although Zhou Luchen’s voice sounded calm and steady, his eyes held a suppressive weight.

Summoning courage from somewhere, a dazzling smile spread across Shen Jing’s face. "Reconcile what? Second Master Zhou, are you dissatisfied with a one-night stand? Do you want to keep me around for a long-term relationship?"

He didn’t utter a single word in response. Knowing Zhou Luchen—so stingy with his words, so quick to anger—this was clearly his dissatisfaction at being abandoned by her in Manhattan for no reason.

He seemed to give a slight laugh, his expression unnervingly calm as he watched her.

He was laughing at her audacity, at her little games. Indeed. When had Zhou Luchen ever been the one to be used and then discarded? He was always the one doing the discarding. Once he got serious, she doubted she’d have any chance of gaining the upper hand.

But at that moment, Shen Jing felt bold. "A long-term relationship is too much effort for too little reward. A few nights of passion? Let’s just call that adult nightlife, okay?"