Falling into the Capital's Radiance - Chapter 1

After receiving a call from Song Yu, Shen Jingni went straight to Wangjing Tower.

Looking up, she saw the ancient-style pagoda towering into the clouds, silently overlooking the myriad lights of Jing City.

Because an important guest was visiting today, Wangjing Tower was closed to the public. A line of plainclothes bodyguards in suits stood on the stone steps at the entrance.

Lanterns hung high under the eaves of the pavilion, their bright lights dazzling.

Several luxury cars were parked in the square. Judging by the license plates, both business and political circles were represented.

Shen Jingni glanced at the beautiful hostesses at the entrance before saying to Song Yu on the phone, “This is quite the spectacle. Are you sure Zhao Siyuan will really show up?”

A young master exiled to Shanghai, without any real power, yet able to stir up such a scene-truly impressive.

Song Yu replied, “He should come. According to what I heard from my cousin, Zhao Siyuan does have this event on his schedule today.”

She added, still worried, “Don’t underestimate him. After all, with the Zhao Family behind him, plenty of people are eager to curry favor.”

Shen Jingni didn’t know much about the Zhao Family.

Although both families were in Jing City, the Shen Family and the Zhao Family were not of the same class, and she rarely encountered anyone surnamed Zhao in her circle.

All she had heard was that the Zhao Family was unimaginably wealthy, unlike ordinary wealthy families. They were a true century-old clan, wielding enormous influence in both politics and business…

But none of that interested her. She just wanted to get her hands on that batch of Song Brocade as soon as possible.

Shen Jingni was twenty-two this year. After graduating from university, she used her family’s startup funds to launch a bridal wear brand. From bridal departure dresses, main wedding gowns, and toasting dresses to phoenix crowns and hair accessories, everything was custom-made, blending Chinese and Western styles, catering to the upper-class circle-and naturally, the prices were steep.

Currently, Song Brocade circulating in the domestic market was extremely rare. Shen Jingni’s business was all about this unique product.

But this time, luck wasn’t on her side. She ran into an unexpected obstacle.

She had rushed to Suzhou for a silk auction, but the Song Brocade listed in the catalog never appeared. Only after asking the organizers did she learn that Zhao Siyuan had already bought it.

If the Zhao Family wanted something, no one dared refuse. That was the organizer’s reply.

This matter had given Shen Jingni a headache for days.

Her designers were waiting to start work. If this batch of bridal wear wasn’t completed on time, she would face a huge penalty for breach of contract.

On the phone, Song Yu tried to persuade her: “I’ve heard that Zhao Siyuan is good-looking, but he’s a notorious playboy. Maybe you shouldn’t go.”

“It’s just a penalty, right? If you ask, your dad and brother will definitely help you out.”

“That won’t do.”

Shen Jingni couldn’t accept that.

Her family didn’t support her entrepreneurship to begin with. Besides, her brand was just getting started. If she defaulted now, her reputation would never recover.

After all, this circle was only so big.

Business is all about integrity.

As a longtime friend, Song Yu knew how strong-willed she was. “I’m just worried you’ll suffer. Never mind, I’ll call Zhou Zhiyao and have him find someone to get you inside.”

Shen Jingni was not someone who would suffer in silence; she knew her limits.

Since she dared to come, she had her own ways of handling things.

The Zhou Family was on good terms with a senior executive at Wangjing Tower. Zhou Zhiyao was pursuing Song Yu, so he naturally did as she asked and arranged for someone to lead Shen Jingni in through a side entrance.

The tallest ancient building in the city, Wangjing Tower’s interior was understated yet luxurious.

Shen Jingni changed into a light blue satin cheongsam for female attendants, her jet-black hair pinned up with a white jade hairpin. Carrying a white porcelain wine bottle, she blended in effortlessly.

Entering a private room, separated by a carved wooden screen, she heard a director surnamed Yuan giving instructions.

“Mr. Zhao is resting upstairs. Tell your people to be careful and don’t go to the seventeenth floor. If you disturb that gentleman, neither of us will be spared.”

“Understood, don’t worry. I’ve already given the orders.” The reply came from Lu Wengao, the manager of Wangjing Tower.

They were all smooth operators, handling things with care.

The seventeenth floor?

Shen Jingni’s glassy eyes flickered, suppressing the upward curve of her lips.

It really was effortless.

She had been to Wangjing Tower before and was fairly familiar with the layout, though she’d never been to the seventeenth floor.

Rumor had it that it was reserved for a certain distinguished guest.

Fortunately, there was no guard at the entrance, so the way was clear.

The building was truly vast, with corridors stretching as far as the eye could see.

A carved wooden door in the middle of the hallway bore a gilded plaque reading “Lounge.”

Shen Jingni took a deep breath and grasped the door handle.

The door was unlocked and opened easily.

The room was dimly lit, with only a horn-shaped lamp on the rosewood table casting light.

She looked up to see a tall man standing by the window, smoking.
He was tall, about 1.9 meters, dressed in a bespoke black suit, the tailored trousers accentuating his long legs. On his feet were black leather shoes, and his ankles, wrapped in long socks, showed smooth, ascetic lines-exuding a sense of restrained nobility.

Perhaps he had heard the door open, for the man turned around unhurriedly.

Smoke curled slowly between his slender fingers, drifting before his strikingly handsome face, blurring those deep, cold eyes.

He raised his hand leisurely to take a drag, looking toward the unexpected visitor at the door. His eyes narrowed dangerously, and the chiseled profile of his face appeared even more austere in the light.

This man’s aura was overwhelming.

Shen Jingni felt a bit nervous under the sharp scrutiny of his gaze.

She pretended to be calm, closed the door, and walked toward him. Her beautiful eyes looked straight at him, her tone poised and gracious: “Mr. Zhao Siyuan, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“It’s not easy to meet you, I had no other choice.”

There was no deliberate flattery; her voice was naturally soft and sweet, like a Jiangnan folk tune, the ending gentle and tender.

The girl’s skin was fair as porcelain or jade, her qipao outlining a graceful figure, her slender waist seemingly fragile, her bright eyes sparkling.

He raised an eyebrow, and a hint of interest flickered in his otherwise impassive eyes.

Seeing his silence, Shen Jingni stepped closer and simply spoke up: “Could you resell that batch of Song Brocade to me?”

A pampered heiress, she had always asked for what she wanted without reservation.

Her gaze was clear, her amber eyes pure as the moon. When she looked up at him, her elegant neck was long and flawless.

Zhao Zonglan sat on the nearby leather sofa, his long legs lazily crossed. He flicked away the ash with a bent finger, then looked up carelessly, his voice low and cold: “Song Brocade?”

Shen Jingni hadn’t expected that not only was the man before her handsome, but even his voice was so deep and sexy.

Song Yu’s taste was questionable-very questionable.

Calling this top-tier appearance just ‘okay’?

It was clearly more than okay.

Someone like him, even if he was a bit of a flirt, had the capital for it.

She certainly didn’t mind playing along.

“Yes, the batch of Song Brocade from the Suzhou Silk Auction.”

Shen Jingni’s lips curved slightly, her face radiant and beautiful. Her peach blossom eyes arched gently as her slender hand tugged at the man’s tie, boldly closing the distance between them-so close, she could feel his breath.

Clearly a seductive fox, yet her eyes remained impossibly pure, her voice soft and sweet: “If you agree, the price is negotiable.”

“Of course, Mr. Zhao, you can add other terms if you wish.”

She said the last sentence lightly, a smile blooming on her makeup-free, delicate face-pure, yet enticing.

But the man before her kept his face cold throughout, his gaze indifferent, as if watching a theatrical performance.

A sense of defeat rose in Shen Jingni’s heart.

Wasn’t Zhao Siyuan supposed to be a flirt?

She’d gone this far, yet he remained unmoved-truly difficult.

Zhao Zonglan took in her disappointment completely.

Over the years, he’d seen too many women with impure motives-most were bland and uninteresting.

But this one before him…

The hand holding the cigarette gripped the girl’s chin, rough and forceful.

He leaned in, a fierce glint in his eyes, his tone languid: “You want to negotiate terms with me?”

It had been a long time since anyone dared to negotiate with him.

How novel.

The cigarette in his hand was very close to her face.

That crimson heat made her afraid to move. The bluish-gray smoke curled to her nose, making Shen Jingni cough, her delicate brows furrowing in discomfort, her lashes trembling.

But in the next moment, like a tempting enchantress, she smoothly sat on the man’s lap.

The hard fabric of his suit pressed against her satin qipao. His leg muscles tensed, like a beast lurking beneath a refined exterior, ready to lose control at any moment.

Shen Jingni wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her voice sweet enough to drown: “What terms are there to negotiate?”

She met his dark eyes without fear, lips curving: “I’d rather date you, brother.”

Reading Guide:

Heiress x Emperor, Beijing circle micro-ensemble, double clean, Mary Sue sweet romance, absolutely no melodramatic abuse of the heroine;

The heroine is a sunny, radiant heiress-the most beautiful and delicate in the whole book; the hero is very doting!

The hero and his friends are not good people in the traditional sense; the hero smokes, and as everyone knows, cigarettes in novels are different from reality. If you can’t accept that, you don’t need to read further.

Just arrived, open to all kind criticism;

Wishing all the fairies reading this great fortune.