CHAPTER 269: 268 MUST BE HELD BY HIM_1

At that time, Shen Jing believed what Zhou Luchen said.

She believed that Zhou Luchen had no particular fondness for them; if he did, he wouldn’t hide it.

He always seemed indifferent to who was around him, treating every girl with the same attitude—neither rejecting nor excluding, and similarly unconcerned.

For Young Master Zhou, with his status and captivating charm, women’s advances were all too common. He could casually smile at their overtures, then turn around as if it were none of his concern; if anyone got hurt, it was their own doing.

That was just his nature, such a proud person.

"Your father keeps an eye on you only because he fears who you might marry. Can your temperament easily change? Is it simple for you?"

"Zhou Luchen, I’m just another commoner when it comes to relationships. I want exclusivity, trust, openness, and for you to choose me over others. I know it’s not easy for you to change, and you won’t explain every little thing. I understand how important United Bank is to you. I’ve never demanded that you be perfect or especially caring in a relationship. I only ask that you don’t hide things. Just like what happened a moment ago, as long as you speak up, I will believe you."

This trust came from her understanding of Zhou Luchen’s way of doing things—it was straightforward: yes meant yes, and no meant no; no beating around the bush.

Zhou Luchen’s expression was calm as he said, "What about your childhood sweetheart, that ’older brother’ of yours? Am I not human, Shen Jing? Don’t I have a temper?"

He was prone to anger and held grudges. Shen Jing didn’t dare give him a chance to dredge up the past. "You do. I can’t afford to provoke you, alright? I was wrong, okay?"

Zhou Luchen lifted his head from her shoulder, his palm pressing against her lower abdomen tightened. "I don’t forgive you."

Shen Jing pressed her hand against the back of Zhou Luchen’s, her voice gentle. "Really, I am truly sorry. Besides, we had already broken up back then."

She knew how to feign weakness, whether it was genuine or not.

Zhou Luchen spoke harshly, "Apologies are useless. I don’t trust that mouth of yours."

In the past, she always said she loved him the most, that her heart and eyes were full of him. Yet, when her childhood friend beckoned with a finger, she had gleefully gone to him and accepted red roses.

That’s something I really can’t dwell on, he thought. It makes me lose my temper too easily.

Shen Jing was also one to bring up old grievances. "Miss Song is quite outstanding, isn’t she?"

Zhou Luchen’s palm could easily encircle her slender waist, but he only said, "Don’t get a fountain pen that’s too fancy; pick one within a price range your little treasury can handle."

He deliberately avoided her question, deftly changing the subject with an air of calm composure.

Shen Jing stepped on his foot. "I said, Miss Song is outstanding."

"Indeed, outstanding." Zhou Luchen intentionally stared at Shen Jing’s face as he slowly uttered these words. Seeing her eyes dim and lose their luster upon hearing him, Zhou Luchen’s lips twitched slightly. "My treasure."

Hearing the word ’treasure,’ Shen Jing knew he meant her. The previous night, he had constantly whispered ’treasure’ in her ear. At that moment, Shen Jing’s expression brightened considerably, yet she pressed her lips together tightly, suppressing a smile and feigning nonchalance.

Her face, when she’s jealous of me, is so vibrant with life, he mused. That’s her, as pure as when I first met her.

Shen Jing tilted her head. "Is this how you used to coax your female confidantes?"

He gave a sheepish grin. "They were the ones who coaxed me."

Without exaggeration, that statement was the truest and most apt description of Zhou Luchen.

Shen Jing turned to look directly into Zhou Luchen’s eyes.

As long as he wasn’t angry, a slight lift of his eyelids would reveal deep, dark pupils that seemed to swirl with a vernal mist—an innate quality, an unbridled spirit from his lofty perch atop Gao Tai that no one could imitate.

He smiled.

Shen Jing smiled back.

That whole day, he had finished his work early in the morning and didn’t let Shen Jing go to Sheng Peng for work.

She truly didn’t know what it was, but whether it was bringing up the past or his general demeanor, she could never suppress Zhou Luchen in the slightest.

However, sleeping with Zhou Luchen was actually quite a gain. One night, her close female friends video-called, asking her to join them for drinks, and they all remarked on why her face looked so rosy and flushed.

Even cosmetic medical treatments couldn’t achieve such an effect.

Looking at the man showering inside the glass-walled shower, Shen Jing replied to her friends on the video call, "I just got a new beauty device. It’s long-lasting and it’s a 22."

"22 dollars?" Her friends insisted on getting the link, but Shen Jing, unable to provide it, hung up.

「Those few days.」

Zhou Luchen had to go to Manhattan, and he insisted on taking her with him. Initially, Shen Jing was unwilling.

But with his coaxing and a smile, her heart softened.

Zhou Luchen is going to Huadalas, she thought. And according to reports from abroad, there will be fireworks during that time to celebrate some festival. Maybe I can go to Huadalas to see the fireworks. She grabbed her passport, stood before him, and declared, "I’ll go. I want to see the fireworks."

Zhou Luchen genuinely couldn’t understand what was so appealing about fireworks.

Anyway, she went with him, though not solely to accompany him.

Zhou Luchen was in Huadalas for work. Shen Jing didn’t know the details. She stayed by his side, sitting in a surveillance room watching some sort of high-stakes game. It was said that a foreign tycoon intended to launder assets by deliberately losing money, and that kind of currency absolutely could not enter United Bank. At that moment, Shen Jing truly felt that Zhou Luchen’s position wasn’t just about high status and the spotlight it brought, but also about being responsible for every bill and ensuring it was acquired cleanly.

Shen Jing looked up from his embrace. "Aren’t you tired?"

Zhou Luchen chuckled as if he’d heard an amusing joke, a perplexed curl to his lips.

Shen Jing received no answer. Perhaps he inherently cared more about power and business; since he cared, how could he feel tired?

Perhaps it was the Euro-American influence, but in such a place, Shen Jing felt somewhat dependent on Zhou Luchen’s embrace, always nestled in his arms as she watched him work.

Even while conversing with others, he would hold Shen Jing, her hands tenderly wrapped around his waist. What else could she do?

No matter how intimate their interactions, these blond, blue-eyed foreigners didn’t find the female companion brought by the president of United Bank improper; they even considered it normal.

Shen Jing couldn’t understand their business discussions. Unwittingly, she fell asleep in Zhou Luchen’s arms. She didn’t know what he ultimately did, only vaguely aware in her drowsy state of several sets of footsteps coming and going, back and forth.

This made her even sleepier.

Amidst casual conversation and tea, Zhou Luchen had a bodyguard bring a blanket, gently draping it over Shen Jing and softly tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Zhou Luchen... have the fireworks started yet?" she murmured in her sleep.

The business tycoons present merely smiled faintly.

Someone asked, "Your girlfriend?"

Zhou Luchen nodded slightly.

The person exclaimed genuinely, "She’s adorable—thinking of you even in her sleep."

It wasn’t until Zhou Luchen had finished his business that he left the surveillance room, still holding her by the waist.

Shen Jing was unaware. I’ve been in Zhou Luchen’s arms for so long. It must be dark by now, probably around 9 o’clock.

She heard Zhou Luchen’s unhurried voice near her ear, "Do you still want to see the fireworks?"

Shen Jing was clearly drowsy, but Zhou Luchen’s low, intoxicating voice was like a drug that stimulated her consciousness. In his arms, she lifted a hand, resting it on his shoulder. "Mm."

His voice was very low. "Turn around."

Following his voice, Shen Jing turned, unaware of when Zhou Luchen had brought her to the TRUMP Building.

High up on an upper floor, a section of the panoramic floor-to-ceiling window suddenly slid open, and a cool breeze rushed in.

Not far away, fireworks dazzled in the sky, predominantly purple and blue, and very beautiful. They must have been custom-made, as a single burst was enough to illuminate half the night sky. One after another ascended, each successive burst boasting even more stunning colors.

She was held by the waist by Zhou Luchen, standing high up in the building, watching the fireworks.

His calm, steady voice, mingled with the distant sound of the fireworks, resonated softly in her ear.

"My identity prohibits me from doing many things domestically. Can you understand that, Jingjing?"

Shen Jing watched the fireworks, then turned her head to look at his face. "I understand."

The surname Zhou was a shackle. Being the president of United Bank was yet another layer. But even these layers upon layers of shackles could not restrain his inherently wanton nature.

Shen Jing turned her head back to watch the fireworks.

"Zhou Luchen, the fireworks are beautiful."