CHAPTER 256: VERY OPEN-MINDED_1

"I’m hungry."

Shen Jing rarely pretended to be demure in front of Zhou Luchen; she couldn’t keep up the act. She opened the car door and let him take her to eat.

Zhou Luchen didn’t respond; he just pressed the accelerator.

He had known Shen Jing for a long time—from Luo Yuanping to Cheng Jinchuan, and then to Sun Qiyan. Her appearance, vulnerable and meek like a little white rabbit, was highly attractive to scumbags.

While waiting at the traffic light, she leaned close to Zhou Luchen’s ear. "Zhou Luchen, I want to go to Zhao Yurong for porridge. Will they be open today?"

That private club, nestled deep by the lake in the Imperial Capital, catered exclusively to the elite of Northern Capital City year-round. If she wanted it open today, it had to open.

Zhou Luchen handed her his phone from the center console. "If there’s something you want to eat, call the owner yourself."

Watching his slender fingers pass the phone to her, Shen Jing couldn’t quite describe her feelings at that moment. It wasn’t the first time she had touched Zhou Luchen’s phone, but previously, she’d only played a round or two of some casual game; she hadn’t seen any other apps.

"You’re just handing me your phone like this? Aren’t you afraid I’ll check?"

Zhou Luchen turned the steering wheel with one hand, unperturbed. "I’m not afraid of what you might find."

Sure enough, she accidentally clicked on a message and saw his chat with Joanna. There was only a picture from a Paris fashion show; no other chat content. The supermodel had an amazing physique, perfect leg proportions, and was young and beautiful, able to pull off clothing of various styles and attitudes. Setting aside everything else, Shen Jing couldn’t help but mentally drool over such a beauty.

Her hand resting against the car window, she scrolled down with her finger. Seeing no reply from Zhou Luchen to the message, she exited the chat, too lazy to look further.

"Behave yourself, Zhou Luchen."

Zhou Luchen turned his head, his handsome face, at that moment, dazzling with a smile.

During those few days they spent together, Zhou Luchen’s way of pursuing her could be described as both wild and forthright. Late at night, in the hotel, by the floor-to-ceiling windows, Zhou Luchen always seemed to have endless energy. With burning passion, he nearly crushed her into his very being, asking sensually by her ear, "Will you call me husband or not?"

Amidst the white sheets, dishevelled, her lips trembled as she stammered, "No... I won’t... You’re not even my boyfriend."

Zhou Luchen pinched her chin and kissed her deeply. "You’re playing with fire, Shen Jing."

...

Zhou Luchen was a man of his word, which resulted in Shen Jing having to take two days off work.

Whenever Shen Jing stayed overnight at Taihe Middle Court, the cat, emboldened by its owner’s presence, would audaciously sleep on his bed, accompanying Shen Jing in the bedroom. Zhou Luchen, quite the neat freak, would carry Shen Jing to the adjacent study to sleep at night.

March arrived, and with it, the warmth of spring. Shen Jing, who always prioritized her comfort, woke up in a bedroom at Taihe Middle Court; Zhou Luchen was nowhere to be seen. She got out of bed, bent over, picked up the pajamas from the carpet, and went to take a shower. The bathroom here was stocked with her favorite sweet pear-scented shower gel and shampoo.

He’s quite good at hiring housekeepers. So attentive. No wonder they’re paid well.

Shen Jing scooped a pea-sized dollop of face cream and rubbed it on her hands. Casually exiting the bathroom, she mused that she had only been to Taihe Middle Court four or five times and barely knew her way around; she had no intention of actually living here. Still, she paused to admire the new chandelier in his living room. It had been replaced with a natural ice crystal chandelier shipped from Paris, reportedly worth tens of millions.

More beautiful than the Baccarat crystal chandeliers at Lane Crawford.

The cat crouched by her feet, occasionally rubbing against her slippers. Shen Jing crouched down, picked up the cat, and went downstairs. "You really are something, just a little cat, *sigh*, still being dragged along with us through all our wanderings."

Asia, Europe, America, Shanghai, the Northern Capital City—they had bickered their way through an ambiguous romance all over the world, and the cat they’d adopted had moved everywhere with them.

After eating, Shen Jing drove away with the cat.

Naturally, the food the cat ate at the Shen Family wasn’t as expensive as what Zhou Luchen fed it. But by Old Mr. Shen’s side, it was exceedingly happy; with people to dote on and pamper it, Jinwu wasn’t needed anymore.

The cat had gone with her, and Zhou Luchen hadn’t asked for it back; it had been his gift to her, after all. After they broke up, she had abandoned it at Yunding. He truly couldn’t understand it. A heartless woman, and a cat that shed constantly and was so timid—how had it ended up staying by his side for so long?

Zhou Luchen knew he wasn’t a good man, nor was he particularly compassionate.

That his ex-girlfriend’s cat could be cared for so well—plump and white—once the news leaked from Xie Qinyang’s big mouth, it truly overturned the perceptions of those around him. Young Master Zhou raising a cat was a rare sight indeed.

At a social gathering, Xie Qinyang leaned close to Zhou Luchen’s ear. "Brother Luchen, have you charmed my aunt yet?"

Sitting in the carved redwood chair, Zhou Luchen had his eyes closed, resting, and didn’t respond.

Alright, it seemed he hadn’t succeeded. No wonder he’s been so moody during international conferences lately.

Xie Qinyang went off to play games by himself, not daring to ask further.