CHAPTER 266: DOES THE PRESIDENT NEED A PLASTER"_1

Shen Jing couldn’t remember how she managed to go upstairs to shower that night; it was pitch dark, and the security guard had been unhelpful, only fixing the electricity at five in the morning.

The air conditioning kicked on automatically, raising goosebumps on her skin. How cold did he keep it when she wasn’t here? Shen Jing awoke feeling chilly. She pulled the blanket over her entire body, only for Zhou Luchen to roll her, blanket and all, back into his arms. "Don’t wake it up," he murmured.

Understanding, Shen Jing lightly tugged the blanket and looked at him. "I know, I’ve helped you before."

The young master, with his eyes closed and half-conscious, murmured, "It’s not the same."

Shen Jing wriggled under the blanket, trying to distance herself from him a bit, but Zhou Luchen brought her head back to his.

"Use my arm as a pillow."

Shen Jing moved her head to the innermost part of his arm, found the most comfortable position, and lay still, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Suddenly recalling a question Xie Qinyang had asked her—if she feared the Zhou Family—Shen Jing pulled the covers over her head. Fear? What was there to fear? It wasn’t as if she was borrowing their young master for a mere romantic escapade, was it? This is a society ruled by law; the Zhou Family prized their reputation too much to do anything shady to her, like in those TV dramas. Still, what if they handed her a check? Would she take it or not?

She closed her eyes. Awake at this hour, she still couldn’t fall back asleep. She felt slightly hungry and craved the beef noodle soup from the alleyway. Decisively, she waited until Zhou Luchen’s breathing became gentle, then decided to drive to the alley for breakfast.

Downstairs was quiet; the housekeeper hadn’t risen so early. Just as her Audi was leaving the garage, in the third-floor bedroom of the villa, the white gauze curtains were lightly lifted at the corners by the wind.

Zhou Luchen, wearing only a bath towel around his waist, sat on the couch facing the floor-to-ceiling window, squinting slightly as he watched the Audi A6 leave the villa complex with a languid gaze.

His bare arm, veins and tendons prominent, rested on the armrest. As he retracted his hand, the pulse in his strong arm throbbed noticeably.

Zhou Luchen’s gaze fell to the back of his hand, fixating on a deep bite mark that had turned a dark purplish hue.

She had bitten him.

They were clearly in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, but Shen Jing only occasionally stayed over and had no intention of living with him.

He wondered if he was addicted to the chase, opting not to return to New York and instead lingering here with her. Was it a way to make up for past debts?

In those three years, he had truly focused only on his succession at United Bank.

In the morning, as he fastened his wristwatch, Zhuang Ming handed him a tie and accidentally caught a glimpse of the conspicuous bite mark on Zhou Luchen’s outstretched hand.

If it had been on his wrist, the suit cuff might have covered it, but it was on the back of his hand. Going out for business meetings today, it was inevitable that many corporate leaders would see it.

And indeed. Business leaders were seeking loans for financing. Some, perhaps even worried if he would affix his seal to their documents, inquired with concern, "Mr. President, do you need some ointment? I was bitten by a fish last time; it healed after a couple of days."

Zhou Luchen signed silently without responding.

The savvy Director Dong, sensing the mood, steered the conversation to the contents of the document, avoiding the topic of the bite mark.

During the meeting, Zhou Luchen answered a call, placing his phone on the table and putting it on speaker.

It was Chen Yao on the other end, drunk in broad daylight and pouring out his heart to whoever would listen. "Feifei is getting married, to a guy from Su City, an architect."

Rarely, Zhou Luchen continued signing documents while idly listening. "Congratulations," he commented.

It wasn’t clear whom he was congratulating.

Evidently, Chen Yao’s next sentence revealed he had dialed the wrong number: "Shen Jing, help me send her a wedding gift. Just wish her... just wish her a happy marriage."

Zhou Luchen had intended to hang up but patiently replied, "Stop with the heartfelt act."

The heavily intoxicated Chen Yao became agitated, asking who it was.

Regardless of what Chen Yao said, Zhou Luchen had no time to listen and ended the call.

He had plenty of his own messes to deal with; he didn’t have time for Chen Yao’s love stories.

「At the end of the month.」

Zhou Luchen accompanied Shen Jing back to Shanghai. As soon as she landed at the airport, she headed straight to Su City to attend a wedding as a bridesmaid.

「At the InterContinental Hotel.」

By his thirties, Chen Yao had dated two women; now, both former girlfriends were married.

And Shen Jing had been present at both weddings.

When he was younger, the young master was full of youthful vigor. When his first ex got married, he recklessly drove his Mercedes to a small county town to cause a scene, all over a petty sum of money.

Times had changed. The young master was no longer just a young master—he had long since taken over the Chen Group, becoming its new leader.

The Chen Group’s businesses encompassed real estate, building materials, public facilities, and finance. Even when Chen Yao was young and leading a hedonistic lifestyle, he had amassed countless connections within the wealthy circles he frequented. After taking the reins, armed with these connections and the backing of the Chen Family, he had achieved great success.

In their Shanghai circles, how could it all be just about friendship? It was an exchange of benefits. Look at him; he even made a profit by casually buying a ski resort in Switzerland.

Occasionally, he indulged in the "pleasures of the mundane world," playing the part of an affectionate simp for a while, but he could also walk away from it all just as easily.

Was Chen Yao truly affectionate? Shen Jing didn’t really know. In any case, he wouldn’t be coming to cause a scene at this wedding.

Not fighting for her when she was single, then trying to snatch her away after she was married—that would be unreasonable.

During the lead-up to the wedding, Shen Jing didn’t see much joy on Xing Fei’s face. It seemed more like reaching a certain age, finding a suitable person, and getting married as a way to appease their elders.

The wedding itself looked lively and grand, but Shen Jing still felt that a certain atmosphere was lacking, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what was amiss.

Sometimes, Shen Jing really wanted to ask why they hadn’t discussed it more beforehand, or at least given it more thought.

The bride-to-be, in her wedding dress, forced a smile in the mirror. Seeming to see through Shen Jing’s concerns, she admitted, "I’ve been considering it for two years."

Shen Jing didn’t press further, not wanting to bring up anything sad on such a joyous occasion.

Shen Jing leaned against the vanity, bent down, and personally applied lipstick for Xing Fei.

Xing Fei looked at her for a long time. "Ajing," she said, "it’s been three years, and you’re walking the same old path again. Is it worth it?"

Shen Jing replied calmly, "What counts as ’worth it’? A promise? Doesn’t it still come down to what you yourself want? Even without Zhou Luchen, I might not necessarily get married and have children."

"Then what do you want?" Xing Fei asked.

Shen Jing rested her eyebrow pencil on her chin. "I don’t believe a prodigal son can truly change, yet here I am, foolishly hoping for it."

Xing Fei was amused by her statement. "Your grandmother’s flowerbed—he bought that. He even called me about it at the time."

Shen Jing, focused on touching up Xing Fei’s makeup, said, "I know. His bodyguard mentioned it. He’s always singing Zhou Luchen’s praises, spilling everything to me, whether Zhou Luchen allows it or not."

Xing Fei burst out laughing. "He’s well-paid."

Suddenly, Shen Jing felt that when a girl from the Jiangnan Water Town laughed, it was like the morning mist rising from the surface of a river—graceful and ethereal.

No wonder Young Master Chen had been so bewitched by her.

The wedding ceremony ended early. Xing Fei hadn’t put much effort into planning it; only Shen Jing’s bridesmaid dress had been meticulously prepared by her.

Everything else was left to the wedding planner, to do as they saw fit.

Chen Yao’s wedding gift was promptly tossed into the trash by Xing Fei after she received it—perhaps out of respect for her new husband, or perhaps because she didn’t dare to open it.

Shen Jing didn’t stay long in Shanghai. Zhou Luchen had matters to attend to, and she didn’t want to wait for him.

In Shanghai, besides staying at a hotel, she didn’t know where else to go. In the evening, she took a flight from Hongqiao and left.

As soon as she landed at the Beijing airport, Zhou Luchen called. "What’s your hurry? Did Shanghai offend you or something?"

The nerve of this guy! He had a private jet; was she supposed to buy a ticket and then wait for him?

"I have work. If I don’t return to Beijing, am I supposed to camp out in front of your house and watch you?"

Zhou Luchen softened his aggressive tone slightly, his voice somewhat nasal. "Just wait for me obediently."