CHAPTER 248: CARRY HER BACK TO THE SIHEYUAN (2)_1

Sister Fang nodded. "I’ll go and ask."

"Concerning the Xie family matter, has Luchen declined again?" the old lady called Sister Fang back.

Sister Fang pondered for a moment. "He didn’t agree, but he wasn’t angry either. Out of respect for Old Master Xie, he personally went to the Xie residence for a cup of tea and then left."

The old lady sighed. "I’m almost at death’s door. For their marriage, the Zhou family, from top to bottom, has already compromised to such an extent, indulging their wishes, yet they remain set against marriage."

Sister Fang said, "Think about it. Marrying someone they don’t love—isn’t that also failing the girl who’s been raised with such care? Maybe that’s what they’re thinking."

"Don’t think too highly of those two brothers." The old lady scoffed. "It’s just that they haven’t met a girl who truly astonishes them. Once they do, with their unmatched capabilities, those two brothers would resort to any shameless, relentless effort to keep her by their side, lavishing her with affection."

Sister Fang profoundly agreed. When they encountered something they wanted, they were direct and straightforward, never missing an opportunity and ensuring they controlled it by any means necessary. But for men who already possessed everything, accustomed to the world’s treasures, encountering a girl who could take their breath away was exceedingly difficult.

Sister Fang turned off the light, closed the door, and left. She headed towards Yilan Pavilion, where the Second Young Master usually stayed, and knocked on the door.

At this time, Yilan Pavilion was inexplicably locked from the inside, which gave Sister Fang a headache. It was the middle of the night, so Sister Fang turned and left.

Inside Yilan Pavilion was a quiet and elegant residence. Light scattered throughout the area, as bright as day.

The master bedroom featured a modern layout with a luxurious black-and-grey color scheme and minimalist decor. In the center stood an Italian handmade, luxurious grey bed. It seemed to be attended to daily, just waiting for him to spend a night.

Shen Jing was kneeling on the bed, arranging pillows, her long hair partially veiling her body. She turned and tossed an extra pillow to Zhou Luchen, who caught it effortlessly while sitting on the sofa.

Shen Jing turned her head, smiling brightly. "You sleep on the sofa, and you’re not allowed up here."

Zhou Luchen chuckled. "Are you shy?"

Extremely shy.

This is the Zhou family home; she dared not share a bed with him here.

"I’m not in the mood to spend a lovely evening with you." Shen Jing hugged another pillow and sniffed it. "Your pillows smell so nice. They must have been scented with sinking agarwood incense, right? So clean and elegant, way too posh. Tomorrow, I’ll ask your housekeeper where I can buy some."

Zhou Luchen’s gaze remained on her face as he responded only to her first statement, "I brought you back, and you’re making me sleep on the sofa?"

Shen Jing suddenly looked up, staring at the swaying white gauze curtains. "If we make too much noise, your family will hear."

"Who would hear?" Zhou Luchen tossed the pillow aside. "Do you know how far this place is from the main courtyard?"

Shen Jing thought carefully. It had taken seven or eight minutes to walk here; it was indeed quite a distance.

"Do you usually stay at Yilan Garden?"

"More or less," Zhou Luchen tapped the lighter in his hand before setting it down. "Do you like it here?"

Shen Jing nodded, continuing to arrange the duvet. "I like it. It has more charm than a villa, but the rules of a family like yours are too strict; I hardly dare speak aloud."

Silence suddenly fell. When Shen Jing heard nothing, she turned her head and saw Zhou Luchen had already taken his pajamas and gone into the bathroom to shower. The door clicked shut.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Jing sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the gauze curtains hanging before the terrace window.

Shen Jing put on her shoes and walked to the floor-to-ceiling glass window to watch the snow.

In the vast, snowy night, not a soul was in sight.

She really didn’t know how she had ended up here.

There were no women’s belongings here, only Zhou Luchen’s shirts. She changed into one, crawled back under the covers, and pretended to sleep.

Twenty minutes later, the bathroom door finally opened.

Shen Jing quickly hid her head under the covers.

The man lazily lifted his eyelids, a brief smile playing on his lips as he took in her subtle movements.

His long fingers tied the belt of his bathrobe. He opened the bedside drawer, took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, his movements casual from start to finish.

At the foot of the bed, her small sweater, hair clip, and bracelet lay quietly on a bench.

Under the white silk quilt, she squirmed slightly. "I borrowed your shirt. It’s late; I’ll go to sleep first."

Zhou Luchen responded with a low, husky "Mm." Tapping the cigarette in his hand, he walked to the balcony and pushed open the glass door.

When all was quiet, Shen Jing peeked her head out. She looked outside. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows and a few steps across the wooden deck, stood an octagonal pavilion, open on all sides. Several lamps cast a warm, soft glow. Snowflakes fluttered down.

The man sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and with his free hand, poured some warm water. The frigid air and falling snow seemed to soften the sharp intensity of his melancholic brow and features.

Subsequently, he lowered his head and quietly exhaled smoke from his mouth, the plumes undisturbed, seeming to drift and settle around her heart.

Shen Jing was stunned for a second.

All the Zhous had this magical sense of loneliness about them.

Sometimes she wanted to ask him what, exactly, he felt so lonely about late at night.

It probably stemmed from standing too high, having everything one could wish for, then suddenly feeling the loneliness of having no more desires.

Yet their position was one countless people longed for but could never attain.

But the ordinary life that common people cherished, those named Zhou would never step down from their pedestals of power to experience such worldly, everyday pleasures.

Zhou Luchen didn’t look over, yet he accurately sensed her movement and asked faintly, "Can’t sleep?"

She nodded. "Mm." Being in an unfamiliar bed at the Zhou residence, she simply couldn’t sleep.

"Do you know how to make tea?" Zhou Luchen asked, putting down his cup.

Shen Jing draped her clothes on and approached him.

She sat opposite Zhou Luchen.

He pulled out a cake of aged Hongyan tea and tossed it in front of her. "This here is the lake. It’s frozen."

Shen Jing said, "Oh," and, lowering her head, began to brew the tea earnestly.

Zhou Luchen leaned back on the sofa, watching her movements. His lips moved slightly, and in a hoarse voice, he called her name, "Shen Jing."

She looked up. "Hm?"

Zhou Luchen didn’t continue, instead snuffing out the cigarette after only a couple of puffs.

Tonight, Shen Jing felt his habits had changed. When a craving for a smoke hit him, he would only take a couple of puffs before either throwing it in the trash or snuffing it out.

After preparing the tea, she pushed it towards Zhou Luchen. "Drinking tea at night will keep you awake even longer."

Picking up the White Jade Teacup with his long fingers, Zhou Luchen gazed at the brown tea within for a long moment. "I drink it precisely because I don’t want to sleep."

Shen Jing tidied the tea tray, arranging everything neatly. "Are you annoyed that I’m hogging your bed?"

Then she heard him say, "Stay with me for New Year’s, then I’ll send you home."

Stay?

Shen Jing scoffed coldly, pulled her feet up onto the sofa, hugged her knees, and watched him.

When he said that, a trace of a smile had appeared in his eyes, a smile that could daze a person.

While the heavy snow fell outside the pavilion, it was warm inside thanks to the floor heating. Watching him drink tea and open his laptop to browse international news, listening to the soft rustling of the snow, her heart felt surprisingly warm.

"Spending New Year’s at your place, huh? Makes sense, the Second Young Master already paid for it with that red envelope."

Zhou Luchen’s busy movements paused. He patted his thigh. "Come here."

Looking at the man in the white bathrobe that stretched over his sturdy frame, she thought, Perhaps he’s wearing nothing underneath.

Shen Jing’s fingers suddenly tensed. She quickly put on her shoes and stood up. "You take your time with work. I’m going to sleep now."

Zhou Luchen lifted an arm. His bare palm decisively grasped her lower abdomen, pressed down, and then with a single, strong pull, he dragged her back into his embrace, giving her no chance to breathe.

Her eyes, however, were filled with cold disdain as she rebuked him, "What do you mean by this? Bringing me home just to grope and cuddle me?"