CHAPTER 243: SHE’S JUST A SLAG GIRL (5)_1

At this moment, Shen Jing felt bold. "Long-term development is exhausting and thankless. A few one-night stands can just be part of adult nightlife, right?"

He just laughed. "You really know how to play."

How would she know? Wasn’t this exactly what he wanted? Each taking what they needed, no messy entanglements afterward. Shen Jing whispered, trying to divert the topic, "Did you come from the large courtyard near the Second Ring Road? You... aren’t staying with your family?"

Zhou Luchen raised an eyebrow. "Trying to find out about my family, are you?"

Shen Jing flinched slightly. "I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I wouldn’t dare provoke any imperial relatives with the Zhou surname in Beijing."

Zhou Luchen observed her physical reaction. Even though her body was honest, her words were still stubborn. "But didn’t you come here to provoke me?"

She laughed. "You were the one who initiated it."

"Me?"

A low laugh rumbled from his throat, his voice slightly husky.

He raised his hand from his trouser pocket, leisurely extending a finger to toy with the chain of her earring. The diamonds glittered brightly. Zhou Luchen caressed it gently, now and then, and laughed as well. "Player."

She really was a player. Getting her fill and then returning to her country without a word.

How could she admit it? Admit to being a player with the Second Young Master of the Zhou Family?

With a charming smile, Shen Jing retorted, "How am I a player? It was mutual. Second Young Master, you clearly enjoyed yourself. You said I was beautiful, that I was the best. But when dawn came, your shadow was nowhere to be found by my pillow..."

"Be reasonable. You tell me, who’s the real player here?" she added, her eyes fixed on Zhou Luchen, brimming with a pitiful, pleading look.

She was so good at playing the victim, yet she could also say things that cut deep. How was she not a player? Flirting with him, leading him on, then turning around to live under the same roof with Sun Qiyan, their relationship ambiguous. Worrying about Sun Qiyan, and now worrying about him too. What on earth did she want from him? Why did she have to seek him out for some kind of explanation? Zhou Luchen couldn’t understand. "Do you still love me, or not?"

Shen Jing’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "No."

Zhou Luchen’s fingers clamped her chin, pressing down hard and forcing her to look up.

"No? You damn well ran off to Chicago for me!"

From his tone, it was clear he was angry.

Shen Jing deliberately rubbed her body against Zhou Luchen, her fingers hooking around his neat tie and twirling it.

"In my memory, the Second Young Master of the Zhou Family is indifferent to others’ sacrifices. He’s heartless. Even if someone died for him, he wouldn’t bat an eye, not moved in the slightest."

Zhou Luchen’s gaze darkened. He lowered his head, pressing her against a pillar. Her strength was always overwhelmed by his.

"Shen Jing, you seem to know me quite well," he remarked.

But she didn’t, not really. At least not at this moment. She couldn’t guess what Zhou Luchen was thinking, what he intended to do, or how to appease his anger. After all, he truly wasn’t someone easily moved.

Ultimately, it was Zhou Luchen who pinned her against the pillar, rendering her immobile. The pillar’s base was solid enough; otherwise, given Zhou Luchen’s forcefulness, it might have swayed.

The light and shadows did seem to waver for a moment.

In a corner of the long corridor, amidst the flickering lamplight, a beauty’s swaying waist, two bodies intimately close, sharing an illicit, ambiguous moment.

His fingers pressed into her side, his face buried in her shoulder, his full weight pressing down on her delicate frame.

His voice was muffled. "Are you envious of them?"

He was referring to the young Song couple.

Shen Jing didn’t move and spoke truthfully, "Quite envious. All the good men under the Imperial City Root belong to someone else. As for me... everyone knows I’ve been with you. You’ve scared off all my romantic prospects. Forget good men, any man with two legs stays clear of me now."

Zhou Luchen asked nonchalantly, "Am I not richer and more powerful than them?"

If anyone else had said that, it would have sounded arrogant and boastful, but coming from Zhou Luchen, it didn’t seem like an exaggeration at all. In fact, it was the kind of confidence that came from wielding great power and having an illustrious family background, ingrained in his very being, allowing him to say such things with ease.

Shen Jing tilted her head, looking at the man now nestled deeply against her shoulder. He seemed indescribably quiet and serene, like a lion that had been pacified.

"You have..."

Someone passed by, tactlessly interrupting the atmosphere. "Second Young Master Zhou, when did you arrive?"

Zhou Luchen shot him a look, his eyes darkening, but he didn’t reply.

The person made an apologetic gesture and then turned away.

Seizing the opportunity created by the interruption, Shen Jing hastily pulled away and quickly walked into the room.

Near the screen, the banquet was already set. Judging by the arrangement, Zhou Luchen was likely to be at the main table.

Indeed, the main table seat next to her was empty. Just as she picked up her chopsticks, Zhou Luchen sat down beside her.

During the meal, Zhou Luchen remained his usual taciturn self.

Shen Jing understood this. Even if she wasn’t hungry, she focused on eating her own food. She did, however, quite like the congee served here. It was made with dried scallops, shiitake mushrooms, and abalone—deliciously savory.

The young Song couple were constantly displaying affection. With Shen Jing seated near the wife, their intimate displays of care were right beside her.

Throughout the meal, Shen Jing was so focused on the couple next to her that she didn’t eat much.

Fortunately, Xie Qinyang noticed and asked, "Is there something you don’t like? Everything on this table is the best Northern Capital City has to offer."

He’s quite forward.

Unconsciously, Shen Jing blurted out, "My stomach’s not feeling well."

The man in the main seat beside her, Zhou Luchen, visibly paused but said nothing.

Xie Qinyang asked curiously, "Did you eat something bad, or have you been too busy lately?"

Shen Jing said, "It’s nothing serious. The congee is nice."

She continued to eat her congee.

It was a simple dinner. With Zhou Luchen beside her, among these young men from privileged backgrounds, Shen Jing felt less reserved and ate with a calm and easy manner. Perhaps it was because Zhou Luchen always gave her a sense of confidence.

Naturally, no one mentioned her history with Zhou Luchen.

They merely asked Zhou Luchen about the financial markets from time to time.

If he was in the mood, he would reply; if not, he would simply drink his tea.

Later, Xie Qinyang organized some activity, but Shen Jing had lost interest. She just wanted to go home and sleep.

As she was about to leave, she realized she couldn’t find her phone. Thinking back, she seemed to have left it on the dining table. Just as she turned her head, a black suit jacket was draped over her face.

Then she heard Zhou Luchen’s voice, his tone completely casual. "Your phone’s with me."

Shen Jing pulled his suit jacket off her face. "You picked it up?"

Brushing past her, Zhou Luchen walked down the steps and uttered two words: "Obviously."

Shen Jing followed him. "In your pocket?"

He just grunted an affirmative "Mm."

Shen Jing quickly rummaged through Zhou Luchen’s suit jacket and found it. Before she could even unlock the screen, her wrist was seized.

He pulled her over and practically tossed her into the passenger seat before slamming the door.

At this display, even the security guard who had driven the car over respectfully deferred to the Second Young Master of the Zhou Family.

Since Shen Jing hadn’t driven, she wasn’t particular. She neatly folded his suit jacket and tossed it onto the back seat.

Zhou Luchen’s gaze lingered on the jacket for a moment before he started the engine without a word.