A Twisted Love Affair-Chapter 214: Do you really like children?"_1

Shen Jing laughed it off. If Xie Qinyang hadn’t mentioned it, that would have been fine; the gift was packed up and sent back to the Xie Family. Nominally, it was a present from her aunt, but in reality, her uncle was footing the bill. Xie Qinyang was frustrated.

「A long time later.」

It wasn’t dark yet when Xie Qinyang dragged Shen Jing to a clubhouse. Apparently, some wealthy foreigners were there to engage in fund arbitrage. So, there was business to discuss. Shen Jing dressed up and went along.

These two foreigners were crafty and cautious, but winning them over was hardly a challenge for Shen Jing; she had many mentors guiding her and possessed strong professional knowledge.

Ultimately, to celebrate, Xie Qinyang specially grilled lamb chops by the pool as a treat for her.

Shen Jing didn’t care for grilled food. After two glasses of wine, she lay silently on the sofa and drifted off to sleep. When she drank, she had a habit of turning off her phone; her own nerves weren’t something she could control. Having had quite a bit of red wine earlier to win over those two foreigners, she just wanted to sleep soundly before heading home.

The boisterous sounds of young men and women reveling filled the air, an atmosphere that never quite suited her. Shen Jing lay there, her long hair cascading over the edge of the sofa. She wasn’t wearing much, and warmed by the alcohol, she didn’t feel too cold. Securing two major deals with the foreign enterprises today had left her feeling content and at ease.

After drinking, the soft sofa cushions felt like a layer of cotton cradling her body. Her memories of that time grew hazy; it was probably just as dusk settled.

The once-bustling villa courtyard fell suddenly silent, as if someone of overwhelming importance had arrived.

One minute.

Two minutes.

The sound of leather shoes gradually approached—step by step—leisurely and unhurried. This must be a composed and courteous individual.

An image slowly formed in her mind: a tall, upright silhouette, a person of influence clad in an exquisite suit.

Shen Jing’s breathing grew more rapid. The alcohol tugged at her consciousness, making her too sleepy to open her eyes. She faintly sensed a shadow fall over her. As it slowly enveloped her, it carried a strong, almost aggressive presence.

A light fleece blanket, neither too warm nor too cool, was draped over her. A man’s warm fingertips brushed lightly across her collarbone. She caught the faint scent of sandalwood and pine, mixed with the sharp aroma of cold cigarettes, emanating from him.

Turning over, Shen Jing burrowed deeper into sleep, even finding herself drawn to the sandalwood and pine scent that promised a peaceful slumber.

A sense of security, her subconscious supplied the thought.

In the quiet, the clear clink of ice cubes dropping into a glass and striking its sides resonated. It seemed someone was pouring a drink—a prized vintage from Harewood House. The potent aroma of aged rum, ancient and mysterious, filled the air.

Though she couldn’t hear any conversation, she constantly felt a gaze fixed intensely on her back, as if it could bore a hole right through her. But she was truly drowsy and paid it no mind.

As the night deepened, the rich cumin scent of roasted lamb leg wafted through the air, rousing the hungry Shen Jing.

Indeed, a fleece blanket covered her. Pinching it between her fingers, Shen Jing looked up and asked Xie Qinyang, "Did you put this on me?"

"If you think it was me, then it was me," Xie Qinyang replied, placing a plate of neatly sliced lamb chops before her. "Smells great, right? I saved some for you."

Xie Qinyang wasn’t the type to gently cover her with a blanket. He’d be more likely to throw a heavy quilt over her, making her sweat until she woke up.

Yawning unconsciously, Shen Jing rubbed her eyes. She spotted the ashtray on the coffee table, recognizing the He Tianxia cigarette butts all too well—the kind in the white packaging. No one here smoked White Pack He Tianxia. In fact, those cigarettes were hard to come by, but Zhou Luchen had access to them. There weren’t many, just two stubs. Someone had smoked them quickly, finishing them in about ten minutes.

On the coffee table sat an exquisite glass filled with rum, seemingly untouched. The ice had long since melted, and condensation clung to the inside of the glass.

Perhaps someone else had He Tianxia cigarettes; it didn’t necessarily have to be Zhou Luchen.

"What’s so special about this liquor? You could offer a bottle worth 80,000 to some bigwig, and he might not even bother to drink it," Xie Qinyang said, handing her a strip of capsules. "Here, hangover pills. Head home early; Old Liang is here."

Shen Jing lowered her head. Her pale, slightly chilled fingers peeled open the capsules, and she swallowed two with water. Xie Qinyang said a lot more, but she couldn’t quite piece together who "he" was referring to.

She had a feeling she knew the answer, but she didn’t intend to uncover it and cause herself unnecessary trouble.

"Which ’he’ are you talking about? Didn’t you say a while ago that people had to wait in long lines just to see this VIP? How come he came to see you so easily?" Shen Jing asked, her tone casual.

Xie Qinyang smiled, faint laugh lines crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Are you dreaming again?"

Dream or not, Shen Jing knew the truth in her heart.

She hadn’t touched the lamb chops.

Shen Jing picked up her bag and left.

She’d heard that the Zhou Family’s second son was in Beijing recently, meeting with top-level leaders from Gao Tai, likely discussing confidential matters. She hadn’t pried into it.

「Later that night.」

At 9 p.m., the late autumn air was heavy with dew.

Elder Shen, leaning on his cane, waited by the main gate. Finally, he saw Old Liang’s car pull up.

Xiaosi had been coming home late recently. Today, she supposedly went to the Xie Family to visit the new baby. Of course, Elder Shen knew this was all Xie Qinyang’s side of the story.

Smelling the alcohol on Shen Jing, Elder Shen figured that Xie boy must have taken her drinking again. A flicker of anger rose in him, but he didn’t voice his displeasure. Those two had ganged up to deceive him again so she could go out drinking!

"Grandpa, why aren’t you inside?" Shen Jing asked.

His anger instantly deflated by the sight of the young woman’s eyes brimming with laughter, Elder Shen found himself smiling. "So, tell me, where were you coming back from today?"

She offered a weak defense, "I really did go to Eldest Sister’s place to play. I even saw the baby."

Knowing she was putting on an act and lying, Elder Shen just hummed, stroking his beard, and changed the subject. "So, you like children?"

Shen Jing stepped forward and linked her arm through Elder Shen’s. "I love them."

Now that she was an aunt, she’d been filled with joy lately.

"Have you thought about finding a partner? If you have, Grandpa will respect your decision. It’s not that I insist you stay with the Shen Family forever. Your eldest and second sisters have both married and left. If you leave too, Grandpa will be all alone," Elder Shen said, trying to phrase it gently.

Shen Jing gave an embarrassed smile. "Grandpa, you seem torn. On one hand, you’re afraid I won’t be able to marry, and on the other, you’re afraid I will. So, what is it? Do you want me to stay home, or do you want me to get married?"

This question stumped Elder Shen. When his late wife passed, she had repeatedly implored him to take good care of Xiaosi. He had once believed that Xiaosi, their little crybaby, would be content just being cherished by the family. But life is short, only a few decades; one always hopes to find someone to love, to spend a lifetime with. It wasn’t as if he would forbid her to marry just because *he* was unwilling for her to leave.

"Well, look at you. Has someone caught your eye then?" he teased.

Shen Jing playfully placated him, "I have no such plans at all."

Elder Shen breathed a sigh of relief. "I saved dinner for you. I had someone stew a whole chicken today. I waited and waited, but you didn’t come home, so I came out to intercept you. You’ve lost too much weight lately."

Shen Jing started to speak, but Elder Shen’s sharp, all-knowing gaze silenced her. "Don’t give me that excuse about dieting. If you lose even another ounce, starting tomorrow, you’ll be home by six-thirty sharp."

"Yes, Your Majesty—" Shen Jing chirped.

They continued on, merry and full of laughter. Uncle Liang, following behind with the gifts, couldn’t help but smile along.

Throughout Beijing, Miss Shen the Fourth, as she was known, was considered the most stunning and gentle presence in their social circle, especially when she smiled.

Shen Jing had once believed she would be able to watch her grandfather and grandmother live out their peaceful, tranquil twilight years for a long, long time to come.