A Twisted Love Affair
Chapter 73: Achen_1

Chapter 73: Achen_1

He chuckled. Zhou Luchen’s smile, lips curved, was exceptionally charming, reaching deep into her heart every time.

"You’re so bad, President Zhou," she pouted coquettishly. So bad she was helpless against him.

President Zhou ignored her.

Shen Jing grew nervous again and suddenly raised her voice. "Let me explain! I’ll tell you everything! He was a childhood neighbor. We just met for dinner. His grandfather often took care of my maternal grandmother; it’s a debt of gratitude. They’re a very good family."

Zhou Luchen wasn’t listening. His dark, distinguished brows lifted slightly. "So eager to get married, are you?"

His words, barely audible, brushed against her ear, a silent torment to her eardrums.

"I am," Shen Jing tilted her head slightly.

"Why don’t you marry me? Take me home, make me Mrs. Zhou, and add my name to your family’s ancestral records. Wouldn’t that be nice?"

As she spoke, a bright glitter appeared in her eyes.

Zhou Luchen’s fingertips pressed into her waist, kneading gently. His gaze was casual, his brows lifting with a hint of mockery. "You’re getting ahead of yourself, Shen Jing."

Even as she said it, Shen Jing felt it was a pipe dream.

Second Young Master Zhou was known for his philandering ways.

They both collapsed onto the bed, the white duvet sinking beneath them.

「Six hours later.」

That bed was a wreck.

Knowing she had recovered, he always became unrestrained.

Provoking him only resulted in him ’disciplining’ her.

He carried her out of the bath, and they moved to the guest room next door.

Shen Jing hooked her arm around the man’s broad, solid back, her fingertips lightly tracing the lines of his muscles. Her eyes misted over. "Still angry?"

"Can you do me a favor?"

Zhou Luchen supported himself on either side of her and looked down. "What favor?"

Shen Jing began, "My stepfather..."

Zhou Luchen hummed in acknowledgment, without hesitation.

Shen Jing was curious why he’d agreed so quickly. "You’re not going to ask why? You’re just agreeing like that?"

He said lightly, "Find Zhuang Ming. He’ll take care of it."

Zhuang Ming. Shen Jing remembered him—the Zhou Family’s bodyguard.

"I knew you could handle it," Shen Jing said, kissing his cheek. "My stepfather is always asking for money and harassing me. My name has already been removed from his household registration, but he claims he raised me, so I can’t get rid of him."

Zhou Luchen seemed pleased. "He won’t bother you anymore."

Shen Jing looked puzzled. "You knew about my stepfather’s issues?"

Zhou Luchen did not explain.

The phone on the bedside table lit up. She thought it was hers and reached for it, but Zhou Luchen was a step ahead and snatched it. It was his.

He tossed it straight into the trash can.

In that instant, a flash of light caught Shen Jing’s eye—it looked like a text message.

"Achen..."

Shen Jing didn’t see the rest.

Shen Jing withdrew her hand. "I thought it was my phone."

He just hummed.

Remembering the text message, Shen Jing softly called out, "Achen."

The atmosphere grew charged. Zhou Luchen paused, chuckled lowly, his hand tightening on her waist. "Why are you calling me that all of a sudden?"

Shen Jing drew circles on his chest with her finger. "It sounds nice."

Zhou Luchen caught her mischievous hand, pinning it above her head. He gazed at her intently for a moment. "It doesn’t sound nice."

Fine, she wouldn’t call him that anymore.

Zhou Luchen finally released her hand. "I have to go back for a bit."

Curious, Shen Jing lifted her head. "Back to the old family home?"

He got up, buttoned his shirt, and turned to leave, giving a perfunctory hum.

He left Zhuang Ming with her; Zhuang Ming had been staying in the apartment downstairs.

「The next day.」

Shen Jing woke up and checked her phone, intending to arrange her return to work with her troupe leader.

Her driver was now Zhuang Ming.

Zhuang Ming glanced in the rearview mirror. Shen Jing was still dozing. She must be exhausted. He’d heard many people loved her Pingtan performances. Did she really have to work even when she was just recovering?

Shen Jing rubbed her eyes, sensing Zhuang Ming had something to ask. "What is it?"

Zhuang Ming asked, "Regarding Feng Jian, what outcome do you wish for?"

The words ’turn over a new leaf’ felt too awkward for Shen Jing to even say. Someone like him was beyond saving.

Shen Jing looked down. "Send him to a factory to tighten screws. Give him room and board, and make sure he doesn’t come out to bother people again."

Zhuang Ming nodded. "Understood."

Shen Jing rested her hand on the armrest. "What does Zhou Luchen intend to do?"

Zhuang Ming said succinctly, "Nip it in the bud."

Shen Jing didn’t understand.

Zhuang Ming explained, "Second Young Master instructed to nip the problem in the bud. Feng Jian owes thirty million. Sooner or later, his creditors will come looking for you. Those people might do terrible things. But rest assured, Second Young Master will handle it. And I... I will also be your driver."

Thirty million? Feng Jian was certainly something. To Shen Jing, that sum wasn’t astronomical, but who would be foolish enough to take on a thirty million debt for someone like him? That would be utter stupidity. Feng Jian had no children. Besides her, who else could the creditors go after?

As for how Zhou Luchen had instructed his men to resolve it, Shen Jing didn’t inquire about the details.

She only knew that Feng Jian had indeed been sent to tighten screws. The Zhou Family’s intervention had ensured he was thoroughly ’re-educated’ and became docile. Unsavory methods must have been used; polite words were often useless with someone like Feng Jian.

Shen Jing took a deep breath of fresh air, feeling truly at ease for the first time.

Previously, she could never produce evidence to prove Feng Jian hadn’t raised her. The relationship couldn’t be severed, and she had been stuck in this predicament for over a decade.

But she still hadn’t figured out how to properly thank President Zhou.

「On the 5th.」

Shen Jing received a salary notification on her bank card. She had taken a lot of leave this month, so her pay from the teahouse had shrunk.

At least it was money she had earned herself.

Thinking about what had happened with Feng Jian, Shen Jing personally drove to the parking lot of the CBD Building to wait for Zhou Luchen after his meeting.

She sat in the car, staring blankly for a while. Then, timing it just right, she called him. "Can I treat you to a meal? I just got paid today."

He hummed softly, which she took as an agreement.

Shen Jing wanted to ask if he was coming down. But he had already hung up.

Actually, she disliked waiting for people more than anything. All the exceptions and patience in her life had been reserved for Zhou Luchen.