Falling into the Capital's Radiance - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Zhao Zonglan introduced Shen Jingni to several of his friends at the Warm Jade Pavilion.

They were all prominent figures-Crown Princes of major conglomerates, high-spirited, noble, and relaxed.

It was Song Qiyu’s first time seeing such a beautiful girl. He couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances before suddenly realizing he was smoking. Fearing he might offend her, he turned away and stubbed out his cigarette.

Just moments ago, the group had been curious about what kind of woman could possibly catch Zhao Zonglan’s eye.

The Miss Shen before them possessed a delicate grace infused with charm, her presence as radiant as clouds at dawn and as polished as fine jade.

She was truly a rare find.

Shen Jingni felt that these young noblemen were perhaps a bit too enthusiastic.

Not only did they call her “Sister-in-law,” but they had also prepared welcoming gifts-all of which were exquisite treasures and fine jewelry.

It made her feel somewhat embarrassed.

Recalling the incident at the Jinyue Club, Shen Jingni made a point to go over and thank Xie Chengsui.

Xie Chengsui had a cigarette between his teeth, but his tone was uncharacteristically gentle. “Sister-in-law, you’re too polite. Helping you when you’re in trouble is only natural.”

Hearing his words, Zhao Zonglan’s brow twitched. “It’s rare for you to have such awareness.”

At that moment, Xie Chengsui suddenly understood why Zhao Zonglan had brought her here.

Perhaps because of the Jinyue Club incident, Fifth Brother wanted to officially bring this girl into his protected circle.

Or perhaps, it was simply a display of possessiveness-he wanted everyone to know that Shen Jingni belonged to Zhao Zonglan.

No one was allowed to covet her.

Xie Chengsui felt the latter was more likely.

After all, his cousin had always been extremely controlling.

The door to the Warm Jade Pavilion was pushed open.

“Miaomiao!”

Song Yu ran toward Shen Jingni, her eyes overflowing with joy.

Coming in with her was another young woman. She was beautiful, with slightly curly long hair, wearing an apricot-colored ankle-length dress and a wool coat, paired with flat velvet boots. It was a simple outfit, but her temperament was gentle and elegant.

However, she walked slowly with a slight limp in her right leg. Even though her long skirt covered it, the abnormality was still noticeable.

Song Yanting strode forward to take her hand.

The girl placed her hand in his palm, and the two shared a look-a smile that was subtle yet deeply affectionate.

Suddenly feeling like a third wheel to their public display of affection, Shen Jingni quickly looked away.

Song Yanting was an impeccable host.

He introduced her in a refined tone: “Miss Shen, this is my girlfriend, Wen Shuyi.”

Then, he looked at Wen Shuyi. “Miss Shen is Zonglan’s girlfriend. Since it’s her first time meeting everyone, I was afraid of being a poor host. This room is full of men, so please help me look after her.”

Wen Shuyi nodded, looked at Shen Jingni, and tilted her head with a smile. “Hello, Miss Shen.”

So this was Song Yanting’s girlfriend.

Before coming here, Shen Jingni had heard Song Yu mention that Song Yanting had a girlfriend he’d been with for many years. They were very much in love, but she wasn’t accepted by his family.

Shen Jingni returned a polite smile. “Hello.”

While the two women were greeting each other peacefully, Song Yu, standing nearby, suddenly lost her composure after hearing Song Yanting’s introduction.

Her eyes widened in shock. Since when had Miaomiao become Mr. Zhao’s girlfriend?

In truth, Song Yu was only from a collateral branch of the Song Family. Aside from major events like family banquets or ancestral worship, she rarely saw Song Yanting or Song Qiyu.

To put it bluntly, they weren’t in the same social circle.

She had been wondering why she was invited on this trip to the Hot Spring Villa, but now she understood.

It was because of Miaomiao.

Song Yanting knew about her relationship with Miaomiao, so he had her come along as a companion.

In the end, it was all out of respect for Zhao Zonglan.

Wen Shuyi suggested taking Shen Jingni out for a walk and a bite to eat.

For girls, wandering around and eating was an eternal joy.

Shen Jingni was naturally happy to go. She looked back at Zhao Zonglan, only to see him standing by the window, one hand tucked into his trouser pocket. His profile was cold and sharp as he listened to a phone call with an indifferent expression.

She thought she should let him know, lest he get upset and act crazy again, so she raised her voice. “Zhao Zonglan, I’m going out to have some fun!”

Hearing her crisp voice, Zhao Zonglan slowly turned around. Meeting that bright face, his eyes remained calm as he nodded.

The others present were quite surprised.

Tang Shu whispered to Xie Chengsui, “Is this how they always interact? No pet names or anything?”

Calling him by his full name seemed rather distant.

Besides, in the Capital City nowadays, there weren’t many people who dared to call Fifth Brother by his full name.

Xie Chengsui narrowed his fox-like eyes and gave a meaningful smile. “You’ve never been in love, so you wouldn’t understand.”

“It’s called flirtatious banter.”

In truth, Xie Chengsui didn’t know what their dynamic was really like either.

Zhao Zonglan was the type of person who was impossible to read, no matter the situation.

Tang Shu huffed.

He was annoyed.

He didn’t want to talk anymore; he even felt like ending his friendship with Xie Chengsui.

He had been wounded by his friends’ words several times tonight.

If he had known, he would have rather died in the Atlantic than come back.

Song Qiyu’s focus was different from Tang Shu’s.

He lit another cigarette and sighed, “Miss Shen is truly devoted to Fifth Brother. She even makes sure to report in before going out to look around.”
Beside him, Xie Jiqing patted his shoulder.

“Qiyu, you really have the potential to be a hopeless romantic.”

Anyone with eyes could see that this wasn’t a case of being deeply in love.

–

Shen Jingni and Wen Shuyi had only just met, so they didn’t have much to say to each other. Fortunately, Song Yu was there.

At the moment, Song Yu was interrogating her: “Spill it. When did you get together with Mr. Zhao? Why didn’t you tell me?”

She had been blaming herself for what happened at Wangjing Tower, but who would have thought the two people involved were already dating?!

Given Wen Shuyi’s presence, Shen Jingni didn’t dare tell the truth. She could only stammer, “The situation between us is a bit complicated… we just sort of stumbled into it.”

Song Yu crossed her arms and turned her head away. “You’re really a bad friend.”

Shen Jingni quickly grabbed her arm, trying to coax her with an apology. “Oh, I’m sorry! When we get back, I’ll take you to Fenghua Palace to see the male models.”

Song Yu hadn’t actually been angry, but her eyes lit up at the mention of male models.

“It’s a deal. I want eight.”

“That’s a tall order! Can you even handle eight?”

Listening to their conversation, Wen Shuyi couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. “You two have a wonderful friendship.”

Shen Jingni replied, “We’ve known each other since high school and were university classmates, too. We’re always bickering like this.”

“What did you major in at university?”

Song Yu answered, “Business Administration. We were both terrible students who skipped class every day. What about you, Sister Wen?”

Wen Shuyi seemed naturally ethereal and composed. Her expression remained calm from start to finish as she said softly, “Dance.”

For a moment, Shen Jingni and Song Yu fell silent.

They felt a pang of sadness in their hearts.

Most people they knew who chose arts majors did so out of passion.

Someone who should have been shining on stage was now unable to dance.

In fact, even being a normal person was a luxury for her.

Seeing their solemn expressions, Wen Shuyi smiled dismissively and comforted them instead. “I’ll be twenty-eight after the New Year. Even if I could still dance, I wouldn’t have many years left. Don’t be sad for me.”

Shen Jingni wasn’t good at hiding her emotions and felt a bit down, but she still forced herself to encourage her. “Medicine is very advanced now, and with Mr. Song around, your leg will definitely be cured.”

Song Yu chimed in beside her.

“I hope your words come true.” Wen Shuyi looked down at her right leg, her gaze dimming.

Ever since her leg was injured in a car accident four years ago, Song Yanting had never given up on finding a cure. He had taken her all over the country and abroad.

If not for him, her leg would likely have been useless long ago.

But this seemed to be the best possible outcome. If she wanted to be like a normal person, it was probably impossible.

A few young maids passed by the three of them.

The older one recognized Wen Shuyi and bowed her head, greeting her respectfully, “Hello, Miss Wen.”

Wen Shuyi gave a slight nod.

As the footsteps receded, Shen Jingni heard the other maid say in a disdainful tone, “She’s just a cripple who can’t even get through the Song Family’s front door. Why are you being so respectful to her?”

“What’s the use of being pretty? After all these years, she still doesn’t have a title or status. She’s probably just good in bed. In a few years, when the eldest young master gets tired of her, she’ll be nothing.”

“If she hadn’t said she liked hot springs, would we have been transferred to Yangzhou to serve her? It’s annoying enough being away from home, and seeing her makes it even more disgusting.”

Shen Jingni was already feeling uneasy after accidentally bringing up Wen Shuyi’s painful past.

The maid’s words completely ignited her fury.

Shen Jingni turned around, her face cold. “You there, stop right now.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was like shards of ice melting into the cold winter night.

The maid stopped and turned around to see a slender, elegant figure walking toward her.

She froze for a moment, her expression still showing some displeasure. “Are you talking to me?”

She didn’t recognize Shen Jingni, so naturally, she didn’t have a pleasant look on her face.

“Am I talking to a dog?” Shen Jingni’s voice rose a few notches, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips.

The maid sized her up. After confirming she wasn’t one of the few distinguished guests she remembered, her tone became even more impatient and aggressive. “Who are you? Even if you’re a guest, you can’t just go around insulting people.”

Shen Jingni sneered, her eyes sharp. “I’m not just going to insult you, I’m going to…”

*Slap!*

A crisp, loud sound rang out.

The maid took a solid blow to the face.

The force was so great that half her cheek turned red and stung with a burning pain.

She clutched her face, staring at Shen Jingni in disbelief.

Shen Jingni leaned in slightly, her amber eyes reflecting a cold light, her tone carrying a hint of arrogance. “Remember this: my name is Shen Jingni, Zhao Zonglan’s precious girlfriend.”

Today, she would use his influence to properly discipline these maids who didn’t know their place.

Hearing that, the maid’s pupils shrank violently, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Mr… Mr. Zhao!

The powerful figure that even the Song Family didn’t dare offend.

Her legs went weak, and she nearly fell to her knees.

“Miss Shen, I’m sorry… I didn’t know it was you…”
Shen Jingni shot her a cold glance. “Not only do you gossip behind your mistress’s back, but you’re also rude to guests. I thought you were someone capable, but you’re just a pathetic nuisance.”

“The person you should be apologizing to is Miss Wen.”

Wen Shuyi hadn’t expected the seemingly frail Shen Jingni to stand up for her.

Clearly, this girl looked like she needed protection more than Wen Shuyi did.

It had been a long time since Wen Shuyi had met such a righteous and straightforward friend.

Seeing the maid kneel and kowtow in apology, Wen Shuyi merely gave a faint smile and took Shen Jingni’s hand. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to get some grilled skewers to recharge your energy.”

“Yay! Let’s go. I really am hungry.”

In the blink of an eye, the arrogant and chillingly cold Shen Jingni transformed back into a delicate, soft young girl.

Watching the three figures walk away, the older maid let out a heavy sigh and said to the young maid still kneeling, “You’ll probably understand very soon why I show Miss Wen so much respect.”

***

Meanwhile, inside the card room of the Warm Jade Pavilion.

The air was thick with the mellow aroma of cigarettes and whiskey. Dark blue velvet curtains were drawn shut, sealing out the heavy night air.

On the card table, chips were stacked like mountains.

Clearly, the stakes were high today.

Xie Jiqing wasn’t participating; he had to go back to tell his little one a bedtime story.

Zhao Zonglan sat in the seat of honor, his body sinking into a large leather sofa. He held an unlit cigarette between his fingers, while his other hand idly toyed with a five-hundred-thousand-dollar chip, his eyes calm and deep.

“Another five hundred thousand.”

His voice was low, devoid of any fluctuation.

Sitting opposite him, Tang Shu had just lost a big round. He tilted his head back to drain half a glass of liquor and said half-jokingly, “Fifth Brother, your luck is too good today. You’re not leaving us any way out.”

Xie Chengsui sat with his legs crossed, leaning against the back of the sofa while smoking. He spoke in a lazy drawl, “Shu, when have you ever seen him lose at the card table?”

When it came to cards, Zhao Zonglan had always been the most formidable among them.

Even Xie Chengsui, who ran a casino, couldn’t beat him.

Song Qiyu had the worst luck today. He folded his cards and shook his head. “My hand is terrible. Pass.”

Song Yanting remained as refined and elegant as ever. He picked up his teacup and took a sip just as Nanfeng hurried in.

“Young Master.” He called out, then bowed to the others at the table in apology. Only then did he lean down close to Song Yanting and whisper a report in his ear.

Song Yanting’s expression gradually darkened.

Once Nanfeng finished his report, he gave a cold, expressionless order: “Punish her according to the rules and throw her out.”

“When the punishment is carried out, make sure all the servants watch. My Song Family does not keep undisciplined trash.”

“Yes, sir.”

Song Yanting then looked toward Zhao Zonglan in the seat of honor.

“Miss Shen is a kind and righteous person.”

“Oh?” Zhao Zonglan twirled the cigarette in his hand, raising an eyebrow slightly as if his interest had been piqued.

Chang An stepped forward to light his cigarette, then silently retreated to the side, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Guanglin.

This wasn’t a private matter, so Song Yanting didn’t hide it.

***

After being led around by Wen Shuyi, Shen Jingni finally realized just how massive the villa truly was.

They had been walking for over an hour and still hadn’t seen everything.

There were outdoor hot springs, a ski resort… they hadn’t even visited those yet.

The three hungry girls went to the Moon-Viewing Terrace to eat skewers and share some drinks.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, they headed back to rest.

Shen Jingni took a shower after returning. Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, she saw that Zhao Zonglan had returned.

He had taken off his suit jacket and hung it casually on the coat rack in the outer room. His black shirt was slightly unbuttoned, revealing a sexy Adam’s apple. With his broad shoulders and narrow waist, he exuded a steady, stoic aura.

Shen Jingni bit her lip. She was clearly full, but her appetite was being stirred again.

She forced herself not to be seduced by his looks and was the first to break the silence. “How did Sister Wen’s leg get injured?”

She hadn’t dared to ask in person earlier, fearing it would make Wen Shuyi sad.

Zhao Zonglan slowly took off his wristwatch and signaled for her to come closer.

Shen Jingni trotted over to him. The hem of her red nightgown rested just above her calves; as she moved, the skirt fluttered playfully, revealing a glimpse of her snowy-white legs.

Her face was naturally a mix of innocence and allure. Having just finished her shower, her porcelain skin was flushed a faint pink from the steam, making her incredibly captivating.

Zhao Zonglan wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.

She seemed to always carry a light floral scent-sweet from start to finish, one note pure, the other seductive.

Shen Jingni was already used to his hugs.

Zhao Zonglan seemed to really enjoy holding and kissing her.

“Hurry up and answer me.”

She shifted restlessly in his arms, gripping his shirt and craning her neck to look up at him.

Zhao Zonglan was too tall, with broad shoulders and long legs. She was already thin and small-boned, making her look tiny in his arms. Without high heels, her presence shrank by a whole level.

“A car accident.”

His tone was flat, as if he didn’t want to say more. He pinched her chin, lowered his head, and kissed those rich, red lips.