Falling into the Capital's Radiance - Chapter 13

Zhao Zonglan owns many private residences all over the country.

Whenever he comes to Hong Kong, he never stays in a hotel.

The mansion at the top of Victoria Peak occupies a prime location. It was purchased at a price of over one million per square meter, offering a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour. The environment is tranquil, the air is fresh, and it is far removed from the noise and bustle of the mundane world.

Chang An led Shen Jingni into the residence.

Shen Jingni hadn’t expected Zhao Zonglan’s occasional place of stay to be so luxurious. Anyone who can buy property in this location is a major figure in Hong Kong, someone whose name is known by all.

Rare as it was, she had no mind to appreciate it at the moment.

She walked quickly, her high heels making a soft sound on the marble floor.

Chang An led her to the second floor and stopped in front of a heavy, intricately carved wooden door. He bowed slightly and pushed the door open, speaking with calm respect, “Mr. Zhao is waiting for you inside.”

Shen Jingni stepped inside.

The room was unlit; the only source of light was what filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, dim and hazy behind the curtains.

It made people inexplicably nervous.

In the dim light, she saw Zhao Zonglan sitting on a dark green sofa not far away. His handsome face was hidden in the shadows, revealing no emotion.

One hand rested on the armrest, a cigarette between his fingers, the crimson ember especially striking. His posture was lazy and relaxed, but the aura around him was chillingly cold.

Shen Jingni felt a surge of retreat, an invisible pressure forcing her to stop in her tracks.

But she had seen her share of big scenes; no matter how intimidating, she wouldn’t turn and run.

Shen Jingni pressed her dry lips together, tilted her head, and called softly, “Mr. Zhao?”

Zhao Zonglan lifted his eyelids, brought the cigarette to his lips, took a shallow drag, his voice low and cold, “Come here.”

It was a command that brooked no refusal.

The atmosphere was oppressive, the air tinged with faint tobacco and woody scents.

Shen Jingni shuffled forward and stopped in front of the man.

When she left home today, she’d chosen a fitted dress to match her new high heels, throwing a wool coat over it.

She wasn’t wearing much, yet now she felt a bit hot.

Shen Jingni didn’t want to waste time. In front of Zhao Zonglan, she saw no need for any roundabout games.

She decided to get straight to the point: “Why did you ask to see me?”

Just days ago, everything had been fine. Now, out of nowhere, he was making things difficult, and she couldn’t guess the reason.

Given Zhao Zonglan’s usual style, if he wanted to hold her accountable for what happened at Wangjing Tower, he wouldn’t have waited until now.

Zhao Zonglan didn’t answer her question. He simply brought the cigarette to his lips again, inhaling slowly before exhaling.

The smoke blurred his brooding eyes. He gazed at her in silence, then his gaze dropped to his own lap, his voice low and magnetic, “Sit here.”

The implication was unmistakable.

Shen Jingni didn’t dare move.

Although she had indeed sat in that spot at Wangjing Tower before, and it had felt fine, but… the timing was wrong, and the atmosphere was strange.

In just a short moment, her palms were already sweaty. She forced out a few words from her throat: “N-no, I’d rather not. Standing is fine.”

Zhao Zonglan seemed to have endless patience for this standoff. He leaned back on the sofa, his long fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. “For every minute you waste, the Shen Family loses another five million.”

He curled his lips in a cold smile, his tone amused: “I’m curious to see how long your Shen Family can hold out.”

Outrageous.

Far too outrageous.

He must be crazy.

Shen Jingni clenched her fists, biting her molars in secret, wishing she could leap forward and bite him to death.

But he was handsome, rich, and powerful.

A wise person doesn’t take losses in front of them; patience now avoids bigger trouble later.

She took a deep breath, put on a professional fake smile, walked over in a few steps, and sat squarely on the man’s strong thigh without any hesitation.

“Our Shen Family’s little workshop really isn’t worth your personal attention. Please, leave my parents some retirement money, will you?”
Shen Jingni rested both hands on his shoulders, her voice soft, her smile sweetly ingratiating.

But that smile was too indulgent, too fake.

Zhao Zonglan calmly stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. He wrapped an arm around her waist, his gaze unreadable and dark.

Suddenly, his strong hand pressed down on the back of her neck.

Shen Jingni trembled at once, thinking he was about to bite her again.

But to her surprise, the next second, he captured her lips.

The man’s lips, hot and soft, ground fiercely against hers, urgent and aggressive, giving her no chance to catch her breath.

The scent on Zhao Zonglan was simply intoxicating.

A cool and mysterious woody incense, mingled with the aroma of his hormones, drawing her in, deeper and deeper.

Shen Jingni was forced to tilt her head back.

His kiss was too intense. The fingers pressing her nape were firm, the cold ring digging into her skin just enough to hurt.

“Mmm… Zhao Zonglan.” She truly couldn’t take it anymore.

Her voice softened further, tinged with a pleading seductiveness.

Tears welled at the corners of Shen Jingni’s eyes as she pushed against him, struggling.

His black shirt was slightly unbuttoned, letting her fingertips feel the heat of his skin-where their bodies touched, it made her tremble all over.

The disparity in strength between man and woman was simply too great. Clearly, she was no match for him at all.

Fortunately, this tyrant seemed to still have a trace of mercy.

Zhao Zonglan pulled back a little, but did not let go. His perfectly shaped, thin lips brushed against the curve of her ear, his voice hoarse: “Call my name again.”

Shen Jingni’s lashes fluttered lightly.

By now, her mind had stopped working entirely.

Her body had long since been taken over by the man’s beauty and her own desire.

“Zhao-Zhao Zonglan.”

As soon as the words left her lips, he covered her mouth with his again, letting her utter only the tiniest whimpers.

Shen Jingni was completely drained of the strength to resist.

A sharp pain radiated from her nape, the ring on his hand pressing in.

He was using too much force.

“Zhao Zonglan, it hurts~”

She struggled in his arms, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes, and in desperation, she parted her lips and bit him.

Zhao Zonglan was bitten, hard enough to feel it.

But she was weak, and dared not bite him for real. It wasn’t even a threat-it was more like some kind of playfulness.

After who knew how long, he finally let her go, suppressing the raging desire in his eyes.

In the dim light, her small face was flushed crimson. Stray locks clung to her sweaty cheeks, and she glared at him through tear-filled, hazy eyes. Her long, curled lashes were wet with tears, making her look utterly pitiful.

The next moment, those tears started to fall as if they were worthless, streaming down in torrents.

Her thin body trembled with sobs. In the vast room, only the broken sounds of her whimpering remained.

Shen Jingni had always lived a charmed life, never really suffered.

But ever since meeting Zhao Zonglan, he bullied her every time. She never even had the chance to fight back.

She had brought this on herself, so there was little point in complaining.

Shen Jingni was angry at her own powerlessness, her misfortune.

The Song Brocade and luminous pearls she wanted had all been intercepted by the Zhao Family. Her father no longer invested in her; she’d have to pay the breach-of-contract fee herself. Qin Muhuan came every day to bother her and steal her business. And now she had provoked Zhao Zonglan, dragging the Shen Family down with her.

It was just too miserable.

When the emotions surged, she simply couldn’t hold back her tears.

Zhao Zonglan saw her crying so pitifully. He frowned slightly and let out a soft scoff. “So delicate?”

He hadn’t even done anything, and she was already in tears.

The more Shen Jingni thought about it, the worse she felt. Tears kept falling, her eyes growing red, her voice choked with sobs. “Zhao Zonglan, you’re bullying me.”

Accusing him again.

Zhao Zonglan noticed the red mark on the back of her neck, his gaze flickering. So delicate-just a touch and she reddened.

But looking at her tear-streaked face, so like pear blossoms in the rain, he finally felt a pang of pity.

“Cry any more, and your parents really won’t have money to retire.”