CHAPTER 251: WOW, THE ZHOU FAMILY CAN RAISE A LOVESICK FOOL?

She hurried over to Zhou Luchen’s side with the birdcage.

"Taking a walk without his feathered treasure?"

"Feathered treasure?" Zhou Luchen smoothly pulled her to his side, his palm settling on her waist as they began to walk.

He whispered softly, "For Xiaozhang."

Xiaozhang turned around and took Queque.

Shen Jing watched Xiaozhang walk away. "How come your elder brother is such a loner, always by himself? During his time off, he’s either taking walks or playing chess."

Zhou Luchen explained, "Aside from work, he doesn’t socialize with friends from our circles."

While scions of aristocratic families squandered their days in revelry, Zhou Xiangqun had garnered countless achievements. Among his contemporaries, he was always the standout. It seemed unlikely that Zhou Xiangqun had no admirers. Perhaps he did, but the girls certainly knew better—a man like him couldn’t be tamed without considerable cunning.

At this point, Shen Jing asked no more.

By noon, Shen Jing was ready to leave.

The black sedan roamed from the West District to the Eastern District before Zhou Luchen finally dropped her off at the Shen Family home.

The car stopped in front of the gate.

Seeing her unbuckle her seatbelt and step out of the car without a backward glance, Zhou Luchen leaned back in his seat and chuckled nonchalantly. "I’m off to New York."

Shen Jing was stunned for a second.

After closing the car door and turning back, she smiled faintly. Master Zhou indeed wasn’t known for his patience in pursuit. A few days of play, and he’d be over it. True to form, he loved to wield absolute control, seeing no reason to share power with others. His domineering nature pervaded all aspects of his life, naturally keeping him busy with work.

"Bon voyage," she replied.

Zhou Luchen’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, then loosened. He sounded somewhat helpless as he said, "Our Jingjing, it seems, has no intention of seeing me off."

Standing by the roadside, Shen Jing shrugged. "What can I do? I happen to have plans tonight. It’s the New Year, after all."

Zhou Luchen glanced over at her as she swept her hair behind her ear. Her exquisitely manicured fingers lifted, revealing clear, bright nails—pure and pristine. Her movements were unintentionally seductive.

For such a vivacious and young woman, Zhou Luchen’s tone was laced with a light chuckle. "Planning on picking up guys at GT while I’m away, huh?"

"Yes. Do you object?"

She had gone to GT with Xie Qinyang before but had no interest in picking up guys. There were plenty of attractive men, but none were her type. Besides, everyone in their circle of friends had a serious girlfriend. Only Second Master Zhou liked to use ’female companion’ as an excuse. He offered only material perks and never took any girl’s feelings seriously. He had his own principles; whether the other party chose to play along was up to them.

Shen Jing leaned forward, resting her arms on the car window and inhaling the faint, upscale car fragrance. Then, turning to Zhou Luchen inside the car, she smiled lightly. "I’m single. Healthy competition, Second Master Zhou."

Their eyes met, his gaze unhurried and carrying a hint of disdain. "Who could possibly compete with me?"

The more he spoke, the deeper the smile lines at the corners of his lips seemed to become.

He was rich and confident, and his status often gave him dominance. Shen Jing tilted her head. "How long do you plan to pursue me this time? Can the Zhou family even produce someone capable of such devotion?"

Take his grandfather, for example. He and his first wife had an arranged marriage, typical of a bygone era. Ultimately, they both prioritized their careers, and the marriage ended in an amicable divorce. Then his father... Then his elder brother. Then him. The men of the Zhou family, without exception, were not known for being devoted fools.

Busy and not one to argue with her, Zhou Luchen pressed the ignition button, starting the car. He said faintly, "Wait for me. I’ll be back in three days."

Then, he withdrew his gaze with a smile.

"Safe travels, Second Master Zhou. Don’t forget to bring back a little sister for us," Shen Jing waved casually at Master Zhou in the car.

He always drove fast, and the sleek black rear of his car soon vanished around the corner.

Turning to enter the house, she saw that distant relatives of the Shen Family had come for New Year visits, so she didn’t disturb her grandfather in the living room.

She went upstairs to change, then drove out for a leisurely ride, pondering how to spend the red envelope money she had received this year.

The days Zhou Luchen was absent stretched until the fifth day of the New Year.

Yet, during the festive season, the situation had changed.

The four-way balance among the Zhou, Song, Min, and Cheng families had shifted to a three-way power dynamic.

It was simply because the younger generation of the Cheng family was too ostentatious and impractical, forcing them to retreat and maintain a low profile.

The logic was simple: when dividing a cake, the fewer people, the better.

It was just like Zhou Luchen’s management style at the conglomerate: he needed every decision in his own hands to feel comfortable. He didn’t even trust executives within the company who shared the Zhou surname. He would only ever trust himself.

During dinner, Elder Shen remarked casually, "You think the Zhou family are pushovers? When have the members of the Zhou family not been humble, polite, and reclusive? Yet, turn your back, and they could chew your bones clean."

Not fully understanding the matter, Shen Jing did not respond. If the Cheng family didn’t have some dark history or hadn’t crossed the bottom lines of the other three families, they wouldn’t have been pulled down from their high position. Who would idly indulge those who don’t play by the rules?

This time, regardless of familiarity, she sided with the Zhou family.

Picking up her phone, she started up the stairs.

Elder Shen called out to her, "Are you two talking again?"

Shen Jing answered, "We haven’t gotten back together."

Elder Shen asked again, "Is that Zhou fellow reluctant to let you go?"

Heaven only knew what Zhou Luchen was thinking. With composure, Shen Jing brushed it off. "I don’t know. I have work tomorrow. I’m off to bed now, Grandpa."

Just then, her phone rang. It was Zhou Luchen. Her grandfather’s words still echoed in her mind as she hesitantly brought the phone to her ear.