CHAPTER 261: ARE YOU SATISFIED NOW, GIRLFRIEND?"_1

Shen Jing followed the cat’s meows, turned her head, and her movements froze as her voice also halted in time.

Zhou Luchen stood between the doorways, the silvery white crystal lamps above casting light on his face, which bore an ingrained sense of cold fatigue.

After a few breaths, Shen Jing covered her face. Had she spoken ill of him? Definitely not. Even if she had, she wouldn’t admit it.

Zhuang Ming, very sensibly, stepped forward to take the document bag from Zhou Luchen’s hand.

"The main course was personally cooked by Miss Shen."

Zhou Luchen’s gaze shifted to the dining table where the steaming hot dishes had just been served.

Then he looked back at Shen Jing, who was wearing a white apron with half of her hair pinned up with a hair stick.

For no apparent reason, a picture of peaceful times emerged, as if she was specifically waiting for him to come home.

In all his life, Zhou Luchen wasn’t the type to be moved by a single meal. Yet, if he dismissed her, she’d feel aggrieved and run off hugging the cat.

The coldness around him dissipated. He walked towards her, picked her up while she was still covering her face, and set her on the bar counter. His palms braced on either side, trapping her in his possessive embrace.

Her breath was somewhat chaotic, all flustered.

With just a slight gesture from her, someone as perceptive as Zhou Luchen could easily see through her embarrassment. His lips drew close to her ear, his low, magnetic voice whispering, "Alright, I didn’t hear anything."

Shen Jing suddenly laughed, removing her hands. "Really?"

It was just her trying to sound tough. Why would he quibble with her about the saltiness of the seafood? Zhou Luchen’s long fingers rose, deftly untying her apron and ruthlessly tossing it aside.

Shen Jing’s eyes widened. "Zhou..."

Zhou Luchen’s voice was low and lazy, without any fluctuation. "Shut up."

Without giving her a chance to prepare, he quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, forcing her to straighten up, and planted a fierce kiss on her lips, biting down.

This move was both urgent and intense.

It carried the anger he hid in the shadows, with strong retribution.

Her breath was stolen as their lips and teeth pressed together. His lips were hot and thin, his temper clearly not good, as he satisfied an uncontrollable craving.

Shen Jing’s fingers clutched tightly onto the man’s suit.

The more forceful he was, the tighter Shen Jing gripped his suit, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes.

Zhou Luchen’s palm moved up, accurately finding the hair stick at the back of her head and pulling it out. Her full head of black hair cascaded freely as his kiss deepened.

Even so, she did not refuse but whimpered softly, sounding like a pitifully abused young animal.

Zhou Luchen pressed in harder, eagerly deepening the kiss.

It took a long while before he was willing to let go.

They both panted heavily.

Shen Jing touched her lips, the tearing pain returning, making her body tremble. "It hurts. You really are angry."

Zhou Luchen, without a second word, compensated her with gentle pecks on the corner of her lips, narrowing his eyes to examine her wound, his voice husky and cold. "Does it still hurt?"

Shen Jing hung her head, her eyelashes wet and clumped together; it seemed her grievance remained unsoothed.

In those silent moments, her nape was suddenly grasped by Zhou Luchen’s broad palm, pulling her closer. In the corner of her eye, she saw his upper body leaning forward. "Okay, I’ll let you off this once."

With his voice growing gentler, a kiss landed on her lips.

His technique became tender, warm breath enveloping her as he devotedly licked the wounds on her lips.

Such tender allure, when occasionally shown, was especially heartwarming.

Shen Jing raised her hand, clinging to Zhou Luchen’s neck, responding.

The kiss lasted long.

Thankfully, the kitchen was spacious enough for the maid to untie her apron, somewhat bewildered, and leave for the back garden through the kitchen door.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Ming held the cat with one arm, standing under the eaves, watching the rain fall.

There was a text message from the Zhou family in Shanghai: "Is Achen back in the country?"

Zhuang Ming typed with one hand: "Yes."

They say beauty leads one astray, but as long as he’s happy, that’s what matters.

「...」

The kiss ended.

Zhou Luchen had his arms around her. "Are you satisfied now, girlfriend?"

Looking up, she could clearly see the remnants of desire and warmth in Zhou Luchen’s eyes, diminishing his fierce possessiveness.

Shen Jing suddenly felt bold, lifting her chin high. "I haven’t agreed yet."

Zhou Luchen’s long fingers pinched her chin, tilting her face back towards him. "Whether you agree or not, you are."

"Then tell me, what exactly are you mad at me for? Did you see me with other men?"

Shen Jing knew from experience. The only thing that could make Young Master Zhou this furious and jealous was whether she had cheated on him.

Zhou Luchen’s scrutinizing gaze held a hidden fire.

That little vixen’s face, now smiling so brightly and delicately, seemed to have forgotten all about her punishment.

Fearing she wouldn’t get out of Taihe Middle Court if he continued to argue, Zhou Luchen suppressed his temper and said coldly, "Zhuang Ming."

"Present."

His voice came from some corner.

The next moment, Zhuang Ming re-entered the room and handed over the document bag Zhou Luchen had brought.

"Open it."

He ordered Zhuang Ming.

He spoke while looking at Shen Jing, his gaze direct and unveiled.

Shen Jing’s mind raced with countless ways she might be punished.

But she never imagined—

seeing Zhou Luchen pull out a small pearwood box from the bar, opening it to reveal a tiny red agate prayer bead.

Housed in such an expensive, ancient-looking pearwood box, this prayer bead was definitely no simple item.

Curious, she glanced twice at the prayer bead, which was clearly engraved with ancient Sanskrit maxims, the six-character ancient mantra.

"Grandma sought it out for me today. It’s for you."

She was stunned.

The Old Madam of the Zhou family was quite a figure. Even after retiring from the public eye to cultivate herself and practice Buddhism at home, she still wielded influence from behind the scenes.

Shen Jing shook her head repeatedly. "I can’t take it. It’s too precious."

Zhou Luchen moved his lips. "For safety."

Hearing those improbable words from his mouth, Shen Jing countered, "You believe in that?"

"I don’t," Zhou Luchen said, his tone light and indifferent.

It would be odd if he did.

Shen Jing’s eyes drooped slightly. "But I believe. I’ve prayed before; it’s quite effective."

Whenever she made prayer lamps for her family, she would invariably think of Zhou Luchen. And, as if her wishes had been answered, she had even encountered him at the temple.

The maid, who had re-entered the kitchen to resume cooking, accidentally saw the prayer bead and couldn’t help but share the story she knew. "It must have been sought from a famous old temple in the western part of the capital."

"It’s a Qing Dynasty artifact, incredibly precious. It was taken from Master Yuanqing’s personal prayer beads—that string has always been preserved in a renowned ancient temple in the capital’s western district. There are only three red agate beads in that entire string. The Abbot in his time was highly esteemed by the old emperor, a man of great virtue and prestige. Praying with them for children or for safety is said to be exceptionally miraculous."

Shen Jing turned to the maid. "How do you know this?"

The maid spoke truthfully. "I used to cook for a family living near the Summer Palace. The lady of that house was desperate for a child. She donated tens of millions in incense money to the temple—a truly sacrificial sum. In the end, the Abbot, out of compassion, gifted her one bead from the string. Now, there’s probably only one such bead left on it, impossible to obtain even with immense wealth."

The more Shen Jing heard, the more she resisted. His grandmother had sought this for his safety, and now he was giving it to her. It was too much to accept.

"It’s too valuable. I really can’t take it."

Zhou Luchen remained utterly silent.

She looked up at Zhou Luchen, who was slightly bowing his head. He reached up with his arm, unfastening the necklace around her neck.

He threaded the prayer bead onto her chain to serve as a pendant. His fingers, impeccably fine and elegant as if sculpted by a divine artist, nonchalantly secured the clasp around her neck.

The extremely fine, minimalist collarbone chain now featured a small, rather inconspicuous red bead engraved with Sanskrit. It was understated, yet it accentuated the fairness of her skin.

Zhou Luchen’s fingertips gently traced the ancient Sanskrit engraved on it, his touch exceptionally careful.

It was indeed precious.

The elderly Old Madam, braving the rain to climb the mountain, had sought this with utmost sincerity.

She kept her eyes on Zhou Luchen’s expression, attempting to find a hint of his reluctance, but alas, he hid his feelings very well.

Shen Jing could never fully understand him. Yet, whether she understood him or not, her heart had already softened and practically melted.

"Achen, this is for your safety, from Grandma."

Zhou Luchen’s voice was faint, tinged with indifference. "I don’t believe in such things. It’s of no use to me."

Shen Jing threw herself into Zhou Luchen’s arms, her face pressed against his suit. "If you give this to me, I’ll ask you for anything and everything."

He chuckled lightly. "Okay then."

Zhuang Ming turned his head and left the dining room. If they were to part in the end, how regrettable that would be.