Falling into the Capital's Radiance - Chapter 10

Shen Jingni finally made it home. As soon as she stepped through the door, she sensed something was off.

It was eerily quiet.

Shen Zhuoyuan sat on the sofa in the main hall, his face stern and silent.

Her mother, Xu Ningwan, also wore a worried expression.

Could they have found out about what happened at Wangjing Tower?

Shen Jingni tiptoed, hoping to slip away before they noticed her, but Shen Zhuoyuan called out to her.

“Miaomiao, we want to talk to you about something.”

In front of Shen Jingni, Shen Zhuoyuan always played the strict father.

To be precise, he was pushed out by Xu Ningwan to play the bad cop.

“What… what do you want to talk about?”

Shen Jingni was forced to sit on the sofa, anxiously watching their expressions, her heart in her throat.

Shen Zhuoyuan picked up his tea, took a sip, and cleared his throat. “It’s about your business.”

Shen Jingni let out a sigh of relief.

“Miaomiao, you were sick a few days ago. The doctor said you need to rest well.”

“You’ve always been frail since you were little. You can’t handle running around outside every day.” He paused here, his gaze sharp. “Besides, I checked your shop’s cash flow for the past few months. The net profit isn’t much, only a few million in total.”

“Luckily, you haven’t invested too much yet. You’ve experienced entrepreneurship. Starting tomorrow, just stay at home and stop messing around.”

Naturally, Shen Jingni refused.

She frowned deeply, anger flashing in her eyes. “No.”

“Father, how can you go back on your word? You clearly agreed before.”

“Besides, it’s normal for profits to be low in the early stages of a business. You have no right to interfere with my personal freedom.”

Shen Jingni didn’t want to stay at home every day, idling her life away.

For the first twenty years, her family protected her too well. She had everything she wanted, lived in luxury, but always felt like a glass doll trapped in a castle-no freedom, and even less sense of self-worth.

Although work kept her busy now, she found it meaningful.

Doing what she loved, witnessing the beautiful moments when lovers finally came together, and making money at the same time-she didn’t find it hard at all.

Faced with Shen Jingni’s strong protest, her father felt a bit guilty.

In fact, his daughter was right, and he didn’t know how to argue back. He could only cast a pleading look at Xu Ningwan beside him.

Xu Ningwan shot him a glare.

She silently cursed him for being useless.

Shen Zhuoyuan gave a fake cough and sullenly took another sip of tea.

Xu Ningwan sat down next to Shen Jingni.

She smiled gently, playing the emotional card. “Miaomiao, we’re just worried about your health. It’s not easy for a girl to make her way out there. What if you run into some difficult people or situations and get bullied?”

That was actually quite true.

Shen Jingni had felt this deeply lately.

But she believed she could handle it.

“Mom, no one’s bullying me. You don’t need to worry.”

Xu Ningwan had always played the role of the loving mother and could never win against her. Suddenly, she noticed the red marks on Shen Jingni’s neck and frowned, asking, “Miaomiao, what happened to your neck?”

Shen Jingni’s heart jumped into her throat again. She instinctively covered the marks and blurted out a lie, “Bug bite.”

Shen Zhuoyuan leaned in to look, his tone worried. “Was the bug poisonous? Did you kill it?”

The two questions in a row left her flustered.

“No, not poisonous. I didn’t dare to kill it.”

She certainly didn’t dare to hit Zhao Zonglan.

Xu Ningwan glared at Shen Zhuoyuan. “Why would she kill it? Miaomiao’s been afraid of bugs since she was little.”

“Oh, right, right.”

Shen Jingni could only force a laugh on the side.

Fortunately, they didn’t press further.

As for work, Shen Zhuoyuan was very firm and ruthless.

He said he wouldn’t invest another cent in her company and told her to make it on her own. If she couldn’t hold on, she should come home.

Of course, they were hoping she wouldn’t be able to hold on.

But Shen Jingni was full of fighting spirit and didn’t compromise at all. “I will definitely make it. I don’t need your investment.”

When Chu You heard about this, she became even more afraid of being fired.

But she was still loyal. “Boss, if you’re having a hard time, I can give up my bonus this month.”
Bonus?

Shen Jingni let out a cold laugh. “That apology plan you came up with is completely useless, and you still want a bonus?”

“Huh? That can’t be. How could it be useless?”

“Those are the most popular and common ways to pursue someone these days.”

Shen Jingni sighed helplessly. What kind of assistant had she hired? Too naive. “Zhao Zonglan isn’t some guy in his early twenties. Those things won’t move him at all.”

Chu You: “So we won’t send them anymore?”

“Mm.” Sending more would just be a waste of time.

Because Chu You was often absent-minded, as her boss, Shen Jingni couldn’t help but remind her again, “We’re going to Hong Kong for the auction the day after tomorrow. You’re coming with me. Remember to book the tickets.”

“Yes, boss.”

–

9 p.m.

Zhao Zonglan walked out of Fenghua Palace, accompanied by several executives.

With his status and position, he naturally disdained most social gatherings, but today he happened to be free, and since it was Xie Chengsui who invited him, he came.

But he generally never stayed too late.

That was Zhao Zonglan’s habit-no one dared break the rule.

The winter night wind was biting; it was rather cold outside.

Chang An handed Zhao Zonglan the coat draped over his arm and reported in a low voice, “Sir, Miss Yueling has returned to the country, and… she brought a man with her.”

Zhao Yueling was Zhao Zonglan’s biological younger sister, twenty-seven this year.

Spoiled by the family, she idled away her days, playing around everywhere, never having had a proper relationship, though she changed men frequently.

“Let her be,” Zhao Zonglan couldn’t be bothered to interfere.

As long as she didn’t cause trouble, she could squander as she pleased-the Zhao Family could afford it.

The night view of Jing City was always bustling, and now was the liveliest time.

A lavishly dressed lady passed by Zhao Zonglan, holding a cat in her arms.

The cat’s fur was as white as snow, curled up in its owner’s embrace, only its round head exposed, sapphire-like eyes observing its surroundings-gentle and adorable.

Zhao Zonglan suddenly thought of someone.

But she wasn’t as docile as she appeared.

Adorable, though-that was true.

He really wanted to lock her up and tease her.

His gaze darkened, something base stirring within him, that familiar restlessness gradually gnawing at his nerves, and his craving for a cigarette followed.

“A cigarette.”

At his words, Chang An hurriedly handed over a cigarette, found a lighter, and bent to light it.

Sitting in the car, Zhao Zonglan’s sharply defined face was half in shadow, his eyes unreadable.

He glanced out at the city lights, smoke curling between his fingers, nicotine filling his lungs, but it still couldn’t suppress that restless feeling.

“Chang An, where’s the letter?”

Chang An, sitting in the front passenger seat, was stunned for a few seconds before reacting.

He rummaged through his briefcase for a while before producing a pink envelope and handing it to Zhao Zonglan. “Miss Shen sent this over this morning. The other letters are stored in the locker at Zijing Sandalwood Court.”

Chang An silently wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

He’d thought sir wouldn’t read them.

Good thing he hadn’t thrown them away.

Zhao Zonglan held the cigarette between his fingers and unhurriedly opened the envelope.

There was even a smiley face sticker on it-childish.

He unfolded the letter. The handwriting was neat and graceful, yet strong.

Reading through, there was no real logic-just a bunch of apologies, mostly nonsense, but… not entirely.

Zhao Zonglan stared at the letter, and after a moment, a low chuckle escaped his throat.

Chang An found it unbelievable.

Sir was actually smiling at Miss Shen’s apology letter.

Just a few days ago, he had seemed so impatient.

What was going on today?

As he pondered, he heard Zhao Zonglan give a deep order: “Go back and find the rest of the letters.”

Chang An straightened up. “Yes, sir.”

Zhao Zonglan leaned back in his seat, the tip of his cigarette glowing faintly. He parted his thin lips, exhaling a thick ring of smoke. The restlessness in his body had eased considerably, but in its place was a strange, indescribable feeling.

May I be as the stars, and you as the moon; shining together, night after night.

Heh.

The little thing really knew how to coax him.