CHAPTER 260: ADD SEA SALT, MAKE ZHOU LUCHEN OVERLY SALTY"_1

Zhou Luchen had been away for a few days.

It was raining in Northern Capital City—a summer downpour. Dark clouds pressed over the towering skyscrapers, and during the evening rush hour, the roads became even more congested.

The East Third Ring was jammed as far as the eye could see, its entrances choked with a chaotic snarl of vehicles.

Shen Jing had no choice but to lean back in her seat to try and sleep. She instructed Zhuang Ming, "Turn off the music. I want to sleep."

Zhuang Ming glanced back at her. "Are you in a hurry for a social engagement?"

Shen Jing shook her head.

「The temple’s back entrance.」

A Hongqi car waited quietly.

Zhou Luchen, holding an umbrella in one hand, got out of the car and slowly ascended the steps.

The Zhou family matriarch smiled contentedly. Through the misty rain, she gazed at the spirited Zhou Luchen, her expression affectionate as she laid a hand on his sturdy arm.

Since the New Year, she had been able to see him quite often.

The matriarch spoke warmly, "I wonder which young lady’s good fortune it is that allows your Second Grandma, at her age, to see you, Luchen, so frequently."

Zhou Luchen replied cheerfully, "Really?"

It was already an open secret, but the matriarch didn’t inquire about his private affairs. "Today is the first of the lunar month," she said, "and Second Grandma made a special trip to pray for your safety."

In the rain, wary that the steps might be slippery, Zhou Luchen patiently matched the old lady’s unsteady pace, trying to synchronize their movements.

The matriarch added, "You fly all over the place. Every time you take a flight, I get anxious, just hoping you land safely. What if your plane gets hijacked while in foreign airspace?"

Zhou Luchen softly reassured, "I have armed escorts."

The matriarch sighed, "I still worry."

Zhou Luchen opened the car door. Only after ensuring the matriarch was seated inside, untouched by a single drop of rain, did he unconsciously glance back at the temple’s plaque and couplets. A subtle, poignant feeling arose in his eyes.

A bodyguard approached to take the umbrella. "Second Young Master, allow me."

Zhou Luchen impassively withdrew his gaze, his expression returning to its usual calm composure. He walked around to the driver’s seat and drove the car himself.

Throughout the journey, the matriarch had much to say, reminding him to rest well and not to become too fixated on work or his relationships.

"Just let things take their natural course. Second Grandma only wants you to be happy."

The begonias in the courtyard were in bloom but had been severely battered by the storm. Fang Jie swept several times but still couldn’t clear all the petals, constantly grumbling that they had bloomed at the wrong time, right in the middle of the rainy season.

Indeed, it was the wrong time.

Zhou Luchen saw the matriarch settled back in Cuiwei Pavilion before driving off.

The road to Taihe Middle Court was quite long. He occasionally encountered traffic, and Zhou Luchen’s patience gradually wore thin.

After an hour, he finally arrived back at Taihe Middle Court.

Zhou Luchen picked up the laptop and documents from the passenger seat and entered the house casually. A cat darted from the French-style staircase to his leather shoes. It clearly missed the master who had pampered it for many years, but unfortunately, the cat was too timid to get too close.

As usual, he remained indifferent, ignoring it completely.

Just then, from the direction of the kitchen, came the faint clinking of a spatula against a wok.

"Zhuang Ming, try this."

"I don’t have the Second Young Master’s palate; you should taste it yourself."

At the opulent, French-style, gold-trimmed bar, Shen Jing rested her chin on her hand, squinting with a smile at the housekeeper. "Ayi, add a bit more blue salt."

The housekeeper was stir-frying the dish. "No, the flavor will be too strong. The Master doesn’t like heavily seasoned food."

Shen Jing shrugged nonchalantly and laughed heartily. "Good, let it be too salty for him! How dare he just up and leave like that!"

Zhou Luchen lowered his gaze and asked the cat in an exceedingly soft voice, "Did she bring you here?"

"Miaomiao..."

"Meimei, don’t run around. It’s raining outside. You’ll get all dirty, and that Zhou Luchen might throw you out of the villa..."

Shen Jing followed the direction of the cat’s meow and turned her head. Her movements froze, and her words died in her throat.