A Twisted Love Affair-Chapter 92: She is different, I am serious_1

Shen Jing watched the chef leave before she tiptoed carefully towards Zhou Luchen.

It was her first time seeing Zhou Luchen cooking.

Even though he knew she was approaching, he didn’t glance at her. He remained indifferent, focused on washing his hands—those well-proportioned, remarkably privileged-looking fingers.

Shen Jing leaned close behind him, tilting her head. "What are you cooking? It smells great."

It wasn’t him cooking; the head chef had come personally. Yet, he simply said, "Porridge."

The dishes appeared particularly light and simple, but upon closer inspection, every ingredient was exquisite and rare.

Shen Jing then showed him a video on her phone. "Take a look at the trending searches. You’re on fire."

"I’ve seen it." Zhou Luchen gestured for her to get chopsticks. "Let’s eat."

Shen Jing said, "Oh," and took the utensils, following him to the dining room.

Just look at him, acting as if it was none of his business.

On the black luxury stone table, white porcelain dishes were filled with food.

Zhou Luchen casually asked, "Worried?"

"What’s there to be afraid of?" Shen Jing propped her chin with the hand holding her chopsticks. "Is it illegal to be with CEO Zhou?"

Zhou Luchen was amused by her and laughed out loud. He stood up to pour some water. "I’ll handle it."

Shen Jing turned her head, looking at his back. "Don’t. They didn’t catch your whole face. Unless they know you, no one would realize it’s the Zhou Family’s second son."

Zhou Luchen’s eyes were serene. "Such things are not worth publicizing."

Shen Jing just said, "Oh."

The Zhou Family of Shanghai was a typically prominent household. With ancestors known for their boldness, they always strived to keep a low profile, never parading their illustrious status on the public stage. Zhou Luchen was arrogant and indulged his desires in secret. However, he always disliked public exposure, shunning the flashy kind of popularity that drew widespread attention. True elites never sought the vain praise of universal recognition; they preferred simplicity and an unassuming demeanor, valuing real power above all.

Now, his side profile, his red roses, his car, and his woman were achieving an unprecedented level of popularity.

Lu Siyuan was famous enough, and he had previously been seen with her without ever being exposed. Had it not been for seeing Lu Siyuan on the 82nd floor, Shen Jing would have never imagined her to be associated with Zhou Luchen. No wonder the earlier discussions about Lu Siyuan’s financial backer had trended several times, yet the gossip accounts never got it right. Shen Jing didn’t think she was that famous either. It was just the previous influence of Mrs. Cao’s video that had made her somewhat known to netizens. My name being out there will definitely bring a lot of customers looking for me at the teahouse tomorrow. I’ve got to tidy up and get to work. Business is booming; I’ve got a lot of bonuses coming.

Shen Jing was pondering who to invite for a meal. Maybe her grandmother; she hadn’t been back in days.

Zhou Luchen leaned on the bar, his gaze on Shen Jing. He actually didn’t care about her meager salary. He would give her anything—a card, cash, whatever she wanted. Yet she insisted on keeping her job at the teahouse, working from dawn to dusk. He was content to let her pursue her own interests outside. More importantly, Zhou Luchen had never thought about getting involved in Shen Jing’s private affairs and life. Things simply hadn’t reached that stage between them.

The phone rang. It was Zhou Luchen’s.

He took his time drinking water, pressed the speakerphone button, and tossed the phone onto the bar.

"Speak."

The voice on the other end said, "Second Master, they’re asking from Beijing if the person online is you."

Zhou Luchen’s eyebrows rose slightly. "Are they blind?"

There was silence on the other end.

Zhou Luchen calmly drank his water. "Ask them, which law have I broken?"

The person replied, "You haven’t broken any. The Old Master said you were engaged in romantic dalliances right at a hotel entrance and hopes you’ll cause fewer romantic scandals. It’s truly detrimental to the upright reputation accumulated by the Zhou Family’s ancestors."

Zhou Luchen said nonchalantly, "I’m not on their Beijing Zhou Family’s register."

This wasn’t the first time Zhou Luchen had appeared online; previous instances were on the international business stage. This time, however, it was tabloid gossip. One could fool around, but it had to be done discreetly. For a young master from an aristocratic family to have such matters openly displayed was considered unseemly.

Zhou Luchen left after the phone call. Around the time he departed, public attention gradually shifted to other major celebrity scandals.

Netizens still remembered Shen Jing’s name. They dug up her social media account, causing her followers to skyrocket overnight. Shen Jing usually liked to post about her kittens and ask professionals about the Macedonian murals on her wall; this time, she didn’t even have the chance to delete them.

「Those few days.」

The Hongtan Teahouse became incredibly popular, and its profits exploded.

Such good fortune! Shen Jing started fantasizing about how much of a bonus she would receive on the 5th. Zhou Luchen really was a good luck charm; it seemed like everything associated with him turned to gold. Unfortunately, the online hype had already died down. It was as if, apart from Shen Jing, no one remembered specifically who that man was.

Chen Yao also came to the teahouse, but not to listen to the storytelling.

Xing Fei immediately changed her clothes and left. Two hours later, Xing Fei returned with red eyes, locked herself in the makeup room, and wouldn’t open the door for anyone. Chen Yao kept knocking, but Xing Fei never opened up.

「At the stairway on the second floor.」

Shen Jing was eating pastries to fill her stomach, looking at Chen Yao. "The customers downstairs haven’t all left yet. Don’t try to be like Zhou Luchen, who could dominate trending topics with just half his face showing."

Only then did Chen Yao’s aggressive demeanor lessen considerably.

Shen Jing offered Chen Yao a pastry. He didn’t take it. Shen Jing couldn’t be bothered to offer again.

Sometimes, Shen Jing felt Chen Yao was one of those types too—someone who didn’t truly love anyone, just followed their feelings. If the feeling was right, they’d give it a try; if not, they’d treat the person with cold indifference. A young couple’s quarrel. Shen Jing couldn’t care less. It was none of her business. As long as they didn’t damage the teahouse door, she was fine with it. frёewebnoѵēl.com

However, Liang Yingning then arrived to pick her up from work, her footsteps light as she climbed the stairs.

"Jingjing, are you done with work? You promised to accompany me to pick out a dress tonight."

And just like that, on the stairs, Liang Yingning ran into him.

The scene was instantly, extremely awkward.

Honestly, Shen Jing saw Liang Yingning become so nervous she didn’t know where to put her hands, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

No one spoke.

Chen Yao, dressed in a dark blue suit, stated frankly, "It’s exactly as you see."

Liang Yingning forced a smile, trying to appear calm. "Oh, congratulations then. One leaves, and another arrives."

Chen Yao looked at her. He truly disliked that forced smile of Liang Yingning’s, and her stubbornness, which he found somewhat irritating. After a long pause, he looked away. "She’s different. I’m serious about her."

Liang Yingning clenched the order form in her hand—an appointment with a designer boutique for a custom-made wedding dress. In an instant, she crumpled it in her palm and hid it behind her back.

"I know. Miss Xing has a great personality and is beautiful, just like Himeji Mizuki from a manga. She’s a perfect match for you."

Liang Yingning suddenly remembered Chen Yao’s status on his social media feed: ’The pinker the hair, the wilder the ways, the harsher the curses.’ She also remembered that after she’d been kicked out of the group chat, someone mentioned Chen Yao had added an account with a pink avatar to the group. So, the account Chen Yao had suddenly acknowledged and added to their social circle’s group was Xing Fei’s. He was acknowledging her as his girlfriend.

"Thank you."

Those two words were uttered by Chen Yao with excessive coldness.

Liang Yingning maintained her smile. "We’ve known each other for nearly ten years. Saying ’thank you’ is too formal."

Chen Yao still maintained his aloof demeanor. "How much funding does your company need for its cash flow? I’ll find a way to lend it to you, as compensation for the trouble I’ve caused, and also to prevent others from mocking you later."

A few million might be manageable, but sums in the hundreds of millions were a different story. A young master like Chen Yao, without real power within his family, couldn’t easily produce funds in the realm of hundreds of millions on short notice.