A Twisted Love Affair
Chapter 124: Gift_1

Chapter 124: Gift_1

The aunt asked, "The pajamas in the bathroom and..."

Shen Jing’s face flushed. "Throw them away."

The aunt nodded. Working as a nanny for wealthy families, she naturally recognized expensive brand logos. Those sleepwear items and personal articles were valuable, and although torn, she dared not discard them carelessly.

During dinner, Shen Jing watched the aunt in the staff area tidying up the tattered, seductive nightgown—washing it clean, drying it, folding it, and storing it in the utility room.

Tens of thousands? She had used Zhou Luchen’s card at the time and didn’t recall the exact amount. All she remembered was that he liked her to wear red, sexy, provocative sleepwear. He wanted her to be as obedient and compliant as a blank sheet of paper, yet he was obsessed with her myriad charms and allure.

"Auntie," her voice was both coy and hoarse, "had Mr. Zhou left when you arrived?"

Just as the aunt was about to speak, the luxurious, reinforced golden door swung open.

Shen Jing turned her head to look.

Zhuang Ming entered carrying a security case, quietly placing it on the living room coffee table.

Shen Jing picked up her small bowl and, while sipping porridge, moved closer.

Zhuang Ming explained, "It’s your Valentine’s Day gift. It was just delivered from the auction. The weather was bad over there, and to ensure flight safety, the private plane’s arrival was delayed."

The moment he unlocked the security case, her eyes were met with a dazzling array of expensive jewelry, each piece exquisite and of collectible-grade luxury.

A rustic saying came to mind: they were dazzling enough to blind her.

There was a velvet flower brooch, crafted with an intangible cultural heritage technique from the Qing Dynasty; sapphire and diamond bracelets; emerald bangles; and pricey Rongjin and Xiangyunsha fabrics, enough for her to commission a master tailor to make several cheongsams.

She suspected Zhou Luchen had simply bought out all the jewelry on the auction list. His way of placating women was certainly direct. Always spending money to make up for things, but never truly offering his heart. Having stayed by Zhou Luchen’s side for so long, sinking into the intoxicating whirlpool of power and glamour, she feared she wouldn’t be able to extricate herself.

Thinking this, Shen Jing closed the security case. "Sell them all and transfer the money to my account."

Zhuang Ming didn’t move but looked at her, asking, "These were carefully chosen for you. Are you sure you don’t want to even look at them?"

The beautiful and elegant jewelry was incredibly eye-catching. To say she was unmoved would be a lie. Happiness was actually simple.

In the end, Shen Jing only picked out a delicate peace-knot bracelet, telling Zhuang Ming to do as he pleased with the rest.

She examined the bracelet on her wrist; it was a fine chain adorned with small blue crystals. She didn’t know the material, but it was pleasing to the eye.

"The rest are too flashy; I’d be an easy target for robbery if I wore them out."

Zhuang Ming felt she preferred understated things: white roses, small animals, a simple dinner, or even just a direct bank transfer. She also had a good eye; the most inconspicuous piece happened to be the most valuable—a blue diamond from a European queen’s ring, dating back to 1839. To the uninformed, it looked like a trinket from a street stall worth a few dozen yuan. But to a connoisseur, it was a unique piece with a century of history.

"Okay," he agreed. Since they were gifted to her, she had the right to decide their fate.

Shen Jing returned to the dining room to finish her dinner, scrolling through her phone. She saw a screenshot of a financial news report sent by Liang Yingning.

Shen Jing’s eyes caught four prominent words that felt wrong: Miss Wei Family.

#Heir of United Bank and Miss Wei Family#

Liang Yingning messaged: 「I saw your photo with Zhou Luchen this morning; it’s already been taken down.」

Shen Jing already knew; there was no need to guess who had taken it down. She understood the Zhou Family’s intentions. They had never liked her. Spoiled, willful, causing their Zhou family’s second young master to carry her away from a trade conference mid-event. The Zhou Family’s conduct and prestige placed them at the pinnacle of the elite. To put it bluntly, such behavior was highly improper.

Zhuang Ming noticed her contemplation and reminded her, "You don’t need to worry. The boss has already removed the picture. If these matters were to cause a disturbance in Beijing, it would be even worse. You’ve been there; you should understand."

"I’m not worried," Shen Jing said calmly.

Liang Yingning had been busy setting up her company recently. With her status as the future young mistress of the Chen Family, her business as President Liang was booming. She had even asked Shen Jing if she wanted to invest. The Liang Family had built its fortune on docks, shipping, and service industries; their game was all about connections and resources. Exceptional skills and technology were hardly worth mentioning in comparison. Without connections, no one would know Liang Shipping. Her father, seeing her independence, didn’t interfere, wanting her to forge her own path. She spent her days socializing and negotiating deals with foreign manufacturing companies. When she got drunk, she would call Shen Jing to take her home.

「That night.」

It just so happened that Zhou Luchen was busy.

Shen Jing got ready and drove out to pick up Liang Yingning. The location was a drinking party at a private mountain estate.

Shen Jing entered the mountain estate and called Liang Yingning, but there was no answer, so she had to search on her own. She eventually found people in the rear courtyard. Her eyes fell upon Chen Yao, standing behind a woman, watching with cold indifference as the woman retched and vomited into a trash can, his face expressionless.

After a long pause, Chen Yao finally extended his refined, fair hand as if bestowing alms, "Liang Yingning, let me help you." His voice was relatively gentle.

Liang Yingning waved him away, refusing his help. She preferred to stumble and lean heavily against the ornate carved railing.

Chen Yao scoffed coldly and stepped aside. The young master, a known germaphobe, coldly rebuked, "Have you no manners? Vomiting everywhere."

Liang Yingning shouted back, "I’m puking in the damn trash can! Did I puke on you?"

She reeked of alcohol, which made Chen Yao recoil. "If you can’t hold your liquor, don’t drink. Are you touched in the head?" His words were cold, yet they held no real concern.

Liang Yingning, drunk as she was, still noticed him stepping back and mocked, "Don’t try to manage me. You’ll make me misunderstand and think you actually like me."

The man’s retort was as cold-hearted as a villain’s, "I’m afraid you’ll drink yourself to death before you even marry into the family. That would bring me bad luck."

"Dog!" A drunken Liang Yingning pointed at Chen Yao, her flushed cheeks dimpling with a smile. "Jingjing, there’s a mad dog here, help me chase it away."

Shen Jing leaned against the rockery, fiddling with her car keys. "Young Master Chen, if you don’t intend to help, don’t feign concern. It’s easy to give people the wrong idea that you’re compassionate and righteous." She added, "Playing both sides isn’t wise; the boat could capsize and you’d drown."

Ultimately, out of consideration for Zhou Luchen, the typically arrogant Chen Yao didn’t retort. He turned to Shen Jing. "I’ll trouble you to take care of her."

Shen Jing nodded.

Liang Yingning, still holding onto the railing, wanted to kick Chen Yao a couple of times to vent her frustration. "Chen Yao, if you don’t like me, stay away from me!"

Chen Yao didn’t look back. "Don’t overthink it. That was merely a friend’s concern."

After Chen Yao had completely left, Liang Yingning suddenly squatted on the ground, crying inconsolably.

It must be the alcohol. The workload has been too exhausting and busy lately, she explained to herself, but Shen Jing didn’t believe her, nor did she call her out. Liang Yingning’s feelings had long since strayed beyond her control. It was plain to see.

Around the corner by the flowerbeds, Chen Yao silently smoked, listening to her sobs for a while. When his cigarette burned down to the filter, he finally turned and left. He had warned her; his conscience was clear.

Shen Jing helped Liang Yingning into the car, adjusted the air conditioning, and drove her away from the mountain estate.

Liang Yingning asked, "Are they truly so in love? Chen Yao goes to Su City every day."

Shen Jing didn’t hide the truth. "Yes, every day."

Liang Yingning propped her forehead with her hand. "He’s probably eagerly awaiting his father’s retirement so he can inherit the family fortune and get a new bride."

Did Liang Yingning hate Xing Fei? It wasn’t that she hated Xing Fei; they just weren’t well acquainted. She didn’t blame Xing Fei. It was all arranged by their families; what could they do?

Shen Jing comforted her, "Our President Liang’s career is flourishing. Why should we care what he does?"

Liang Yingning managed a faint smile, closed her eyes to sleep, and said no more.