Falling into the Capital's Radiance - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

On the way back from Fuzesi Temple, the Maybach drove smoothly and steadily, but the atmosphere inside the car was as cold as frozen ice.

Zhao Zonglan leaned back against his seat, eyes closed as he rested.

Old Mrs. Zhao fingered her prayer beads, looking at him with a kind expression. “When I went to the main hall to burn incense just now, I saw a young girl. She was exceptionally beautiful and had a certain spiritual aura about her. She’s likely the type you’d like.”

“It’s just a pity she wasn’t seeking marriage, only fortune.”

Zhao Zonglan didn’t open his eyes, his expression indifferent.

His grandmother was always in a hurry for him to get married, and it was common for her to drop hints or nag like this occasionally.

However, he hadn’t expected her to proactively praise a stranger today.

The type he liked?

A certain person involuntarily came to mind-delicate and demanding, yet interesting.

Zhao Zonglan parted his thin lips, his tone cold. “Since you know what kind of woman I like, why are you trying to set me up with Rong San?”

“If you hadn’t lied and told me you had no one to accompany you today, I wouldn’t have come.”

Old Mrs. Zhao let out a soft chuckle. Knowing he was angry, she spoke bluntly: “Rong Zaiyi is capable, much like your mother was.”

“She is worthy of the position of Zhao Family Matriarch; she is suited to manage the household.”

In the end, it wasn’t that the old lady was particularly fond of Rong Zaiyi as a person, but rather that she valued her ability.

She was weighing the options.

The Zhao Family ultimately needed a mistress who could handle affairs, and currently, Rong Zaiyi was the best candidate.

Of course, if someone more outstanding appeared, she could be replaced.

Only then did Zhao Zonglan lift his eyelids, his gaze calm as he addressed her. “Grandmother.”

“The future Zhao Family Matriarch can only be the woman I love. Even you cannot change that.”

“Furthermore, she will be free.”

He would not force her to shoulder heavy family responsibilities, nor would he confine her to the trivialities of the inner household. She could do whatever she wanted.

As long as she didn’t leave him.

Hearing him say this, the hand Old Mrs. Zhao used to turn the prayer beads paused.

She knew very well that no one could control the current Zhao Zonglan.

Only their bond as grandmother and grandson could earn her even a shred of his compassion.

“Sigh,” the old lady sighed helplessly. “Then where is this woman you love? Are you going to make me watch you get married from up in heaven?”

Her old bones didn’t have many years left.

She couldn’t very well die without ever meeting her grandson’s wife.

Zhao Zonglan closed his eyes again, rubbing the ring on his finger. His voice was deep and certain.

“She will appear.”

***

Shen Jingni and Xu Ningwan went shopping that afternoon and bought many things.

However, her mood wasn’t very high today.

Though shopping was fun, whenever things quieted down, she would occasionally remember the scene she saw at Fuzesi Temple.

Song Yu had mentioned before that Old Mrs. Zhao liked Rong Zaiyi very much and intended to set her up with Zhao Zonglan.

While the Rong Family wasn’t as prestigious as the Zhao Family, they were still a prominent noble house with centuries of heritage. They were a perfect match in terms of social standing.

Shen Jingni felt she was acting a bit strange.

Hadn’t they agreed to just take what they needed from each other? Why was she starting to care?

This wasn’t right.

If Zhao Zonglan actually started dating Rong Zaiyi, she should be happy.

That way, she’d be free.

She hadn’t exactly been a willing participant when she first became his girlfriend anyway.

But that wasn’t right either.

If he really got together with someone else, would he still spend money on her and act as her backer?

Definitely not. Zhao Zonglan was a capitalist, not a sucker.

Wouldn’t she be losing out big time then?

Shen Jingni, who had been carefree since childhood, found herself pulled between these two emotions. She felt listless and barely ate any dinner.

She took a bath, changed into her pajamas, and lay in bed, preparing to open Douyin to look at some handsome thirst-trap influencers.

Just as she opened the app, she received a call from Zhao Zonglan.

His voice on the other end was low and magnetic. “Come out.”

Huh?

Shen Jingni stood by the bedroom window and looked down. Faintly, she saw a Maybach parked across from the Shen Family villa.

What was he doing here?

Filled with confusion, Shen Jingni grabbed a plush coat, threw it on, and headed downstairs.

Xu Ningwan was pouring water. Seeing her come down, she asked, “Miaomiao, where are you going so late at night?”

Shen Jingni told a random lie. “I ate a bit too much for dinner, so I’m going out to walk it off. I’ll be back soon.”

Xu Ningwan frowned.

Ate too much? Walking it off?

The child had barely touched her dinner.

Oh no, could something be wrong with her stomach again?

Xu Ningwan thought she should take Miaomiao to the hospital for a follow-up checkup another day.

***

Zhao Zonglan hadn’t brought a driver today, nor had he let Chang An follow him. He had driven here himself.

Ever since he was at Fuzesi Temple, his heart had felt somewhat empty. A subtle sense of loss mixed with a certain sour emotion had grown over time, and that hollow ache was tearing wider and wider.
He wanted to see her.

During the day, it was manageable. He had complicated business matters to occupy the majority of his energy, allowing him to barely maintain his restraint. But once night fell, the thought began to sprout and coil like vines, invading his every sense of reason.

Zhao Zonglan truly felt like he had lost his mind.

He rolled down the car window and smoked a cigarette, feeling somewhat irritable.

Shen Jingni was wearing a pair of thick-soled plush slippers. They were warm but a bit heavy, so she walked slowly.

From a distance, she saw that the driver’s side window of the Maybach was open.

A man’s hand rested on the window ledge. His fingers were well-defined and a cold, pale white. A slender cigarette was held between them, its crimson glow flickering in the darkness. His long middle index finger tapped the cigarette lightly, sending ash fluttering down.

As Shen Jingni approached, she saw half of his face hidden in the shadows, while his high bridge and handsome jawline were painted with a warm glow from the streetlights.

“Why are you here?”

And he was driving himself.

Zhao Zonglan took a slow drag of his cigarette and spoke calmly, “Get in.”

Shen Jingni opened the passenger door and took her time sitting down. “I can’t stay out too long, or my family will worry.”

Besides, she was only wearing pajamas.

Zhao Zonglan stubbed out his cigarette, his burning gaze landing on her.

Her small face was clean and fair. Her originally slender frame was wrapped in plush clothes, making her face look even more delicate and small.

He leaned over to kiss her.

It was fierce and forceful.

It caught Shen Jingni completely off guard.

She whimpered and tried to hide, but he pinched her chin and kissed her even harder.

The girl’s light, sweet scent intoxicated him. The moment he touched her, the indescribable sense of emptiness in Zhao Zonglan’s heart was instantly filled.

But it wasn’t enough.

He pressed his forehead against hers, his breath hot. “Shen Jingni, say you missed me.”

Shen Jingni blinked, thinking he was being very strange.

“We just saw each other yesterday.” And they had kissed for a long time then, too.

It had only been a day; what was there to miss?

Zhao Zonglan lowered his head and bit her, his eyes turning cold. “So when you said you missed me before, it was all a lie?”

Shen Jingni felt a pang of guilt.

Of course it was a lie.

Wasn’t he asking the obvious?

She had only said those sweet words back then to secure the naming rights.

Besides, she wasn’t very happy today and didn’t feel like coaxing him.

Seeing her reluctance to speak, Zhao Zonglan’s expression gradually darkened. He suddenly lowered his head and bit into her snow-white, swan-like neck.

Shen Jingni let out a pained moan and struck him a few times with her fists. But his chest was hard; hitting him through his suit and shirt was like throwing eggs against a stone. Her hands even turned red.

The capitalist wouldn’t stop until he achieved his goal.

In the end, she gave in, saying with a sob, “Wuuu… I missed you.”

His irritable mood vanished and dissipated just like that, all because of those few short words.

Zhao Zonglan withdrew the gloom from his eyes and relaxed his grip. His tongue lightly licked the delicate skin he had bitten, silently coaxing her.

“It tickles.” Shen Jingni shrank her neck to get away, cursing him resentfully, “Zhao Zonglan, are you a dog? Biting and licking like that.”

So annoying.

It was bad enough that he was moody, but he also loved to bite her.

If he wasn’t a dog, what was he?

Zhao Zonglan’s brow furrowed in slight displeasure, but in the end, he didn’t torment her further.

If she wanted to scold him, let her. It was normal for a little kid to have a bit of a temper.

He backed away slightly, his palm pressing against her soft cheek as he asked, “You rejected my invitation. Did you have fun shopping today?”

Shen Jingni hadn’t expected him to ask that so suddenly.

As expected, the old man was holding a grudge over it.

Shen Jingni had never been very good at hiding her emotions since she was a child.

She wasn’t very happy.

But it wasn’t because of the shopping.

She lowered her eyelashes and said in a small voice, “It was okay. Just a bit tiring.”

Zhao Zonglan’s warm fingers pinched her small earlobe, his gaze deep. “So you weren’t happy.”

Shen Jingni felt the back of her ears gradually heat up again.

In this enclosed space, his deep voice sounded exceptionally pleasant, and his scent was enticing her.

She couldn’t stay any longer.

“I was fine,” she denied casually, frowning as she said, “I’ve been out for quite a while. I need to go back.”

She moved to leave as soon as she finished speaking.

However, Zhao Zonglan grabbed her wrist, forcing her back into the seat.

She looked at him fiercely and asked crossly, “What are you doing?”

In the next second, a check was placed in her hand.

It was for a full one hundred million.

“Reimbursement for you.”

Zhao Zonglan’s tone was indifferent. “Cheer up, Shen Jingni.”

Shen Jingni was temporarily bought off by the money.

The corners of her mouth curled up into a beautiful arc. “Mr. Zhao, you truly are generous.”

There was no reason to refuse free money.

Zhao Zonglan’s gaze darkened.

He leaned over her, his tone dangerous and low. “What did you call me?”

Shen Jingni felt a bit scared and called out timidly, “Gege.”

And that “Gege” earned her an even more intense bout of bullying.