A Twisted Love Affair-Chapter 82: Where is my woman? (1)_1

「Meanwhile.」

In Beijing, far away from Shanghai, the temperature plummeted, and a light drizzle fell.

In the courtyard of an old-fashioned, red-brick building, two men sat behind a screen adorned with an upside-down character for "fortune," watching a shadow play under the high eaves of a red and blue veranda. They had been invited over to put on a show for the elderly matriarch of the Beijing Zhou Family.

In a woven basket, freshly fried dough sticks were neatly placed, along with a bowl of clear porridge. The air around them was tranquilly frozen in time.

Zhou Luchen sat across from Zhou Xiangqun.

Zhou Xiangqun held a bowl of porridge in his left hand and a freshly fried dough stick in his right, taking bites. He didn’t care for a fancy dinner of rich meats and fish. When he was really hungry, he preferred simple dough sticks—their taste plain, his style understated.

He passed a dough stick wrapped in white oil paper to Luchen. "Want one? The old man fried these."

Luchen accepted it.

Zhou Xiangqun watched him; at least he was willing to eat the local fare.

Second Young Master Zhou has a delicate stomach, yet he’s actually joining me for a late-night snack of dough sticks. This is quite an honor.

Zhou Xiangqun was in Beijing. Zhou Luchen was in Shanghai; the places they were raised were never the same.

"A 20 billion acquisition of the Wei Family... What am I supposed to say about you, Second Young Master?"

Zhou Luchen’s expression remained unreadable, his voice extremely soft. "I have a say in whatever they do."

Zhou Xiangqun turned slightly, still eating his dough stick as he eyed him. "I won’t cover for you if real trouble hits. I’d give my life for you, *good brother*."

The words "good brother" rang unpleasantly in Zhou Luchen’s ears.

Zhou Xiangqun picked up his official robe from the seat, draped it over his arm, patted Zhou Luchen’s shoulder, and stepped away. "I’m off to Sijin Courtyard to chat with someone. Stay here at the house if you like; I have things to attend to tonight."

Zhou Luchen held the dough stick in one hand, silently scrolling through his phone with the other.

A photo in the group chat looked all too familiar. He clicked on it.

A red rose hairpin securing her hair, a delicate pink cheongsam, lips like glistening glass, and a haughty posture, leaning against the doorframe.

Just like a stunning beauty from an old matchbox cover.

An ethereal fairy and a seductive demon embodied in one—this was Shen Jing.

Finally, he dialed Shen Jing’s number.

BEEP. BEEP.

"The user you are calling is busy. Please try again later."

Zhuang Ming, standing ramrod straight behind him, understood perfectly. The Second Young Master had just been hung up on.

She’s in a nightclub, so ’the user is busy.’

Amusing scenarios flashed through Zhuang Ming’s mind, but he maintained an expressionless face, standing as if he understood nothing.

The Second Young Master had never been to a nightclub in his life. This gentleman was a libertine, yes, but he preferred secluded places with fewer people. The kind of places where phones weren’t allowed, and whatever crazy, unspeakable things happened there remained unknown to outsiders. The bill at checkout was always hefty.

The flames from the atomizing fireplace cast flickering shadows on Zhou Luchen’s face, making his expression seem profound and cold. He casually turned his phone over in his hand, silent and reserved.

The shadow play on stage depicted the amorous Emperor Liu Xun and Xu Pingjun.

"Your Second Grandma enjoys this play the most. What do you think, Brother Chen?" The speaker was the old lady of the Beijing Zhou Family—the Second Madam. The First Madam was the matriarch living in Shanghai.

Zhou Luchen smiled languidly, his tone teasingly indulgent. "Why the change of heart? Don’t you like ’Three Attacks on the Bone Demon’ today?"

The old lady flicked her Buddha Beads. "What, is there another vixen by your side? That vixen you brought over for the festival last time—I was tempted to stage ’Three Attacks on the Bone Demon’ just for her."

Zhou Luchen actually laughed out loud, propping his chin on his hand on the mahogany tea table, the picture of lazy nonchalance.

The old lady kept her eyes fixed on the shadow play. "That Wei Family, what makes them think they can climb the ladder by borrowing the Zhou Family’s influence?"

"Borrowing from *you*?" Zhou Luchen shot a sidelong glance at the old lady, who then fell silent.

The old lady knew perfectly well: this noble young master of theirs was fiercely protective of that Wei girl, like she was a precious treasure.

Just then, his phone buzzed with a text message from Shen Jing: a picture.

Zhou Luchen looked at the photo, his expression grim.

Some brute had Shen Jing cornered against a wall, his large hand gripping her cheek. It looked painful enough to bring tears to her eyes, a sight that would evoke pity in anyone.

He frowned.

Zhuang Ming, ever perceptive, bent down and offered his own phone. "I couldn’t reach Miss Shen. Liang Yingning answered. Here you go, sir."

Zhou Luchen freed a hand, took the phone, tossed it onto the table, and pressed the speakerphone button. A drunken "Hello?" slurred from the other end, the speaker clearly oblivious to who was calling.

Zhou Luchen watched the shadow play absently, his voice surprisingly patient. "Where’s my woman?"

Hearing his voice, Liang Yingning froze for a long moment, then sobered up instantly.

"She was just at the door putting on lipstick a moment ago!" Liang Yingning hastily slipped on her shoes and jumped off the couch. "Wait, where’s my Jingjing? She’s gone!"

Zhou Luchen rose coldly to his feet. "You motherfucker."

He swore at Liang Yingning.

The old lady beside him rolled her eyes at Zhou Luchen, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Hardly the image of a noble young master, are you? Cursing all the time. Brother Chen, you really have spent too little time kneeling in the ancestral hall." frёewebηovel.cѳm

Zhuang Ming bowed politely. "Apologies, Second Madam, but we must be going."

The old lady was clearly displeased. "Go where? Back to Shanghai? Didn’t he say he would accompany me to watch the shadow play?"

Zhuang Ming had already excused himself, striding ahead of Zhou Luchen to fetch the car.