Falling into the Capital's Radiance - Chapter 5

Zijing Sandalwood Court covered a vast area. Upon entering the main gate, what greeted the eye were red plum blossoms and camellias flanking the stone steps.

Over the past two days, most of the accumulated snow had melted. The vivid red blossoms dotted the landscape, adding a touch of vitality.

A faint floral fragrance mingled with the chill in the air, wafting gently toward her.

Passing through the long corridor, one could see pavilions and waterside gazebos-a classical Chinese garden style, spacious in view, grand yet elegant.

Shen Jingni was lively by nature and took the initiative to chat with Chang An. “Are you Mr. Zhao’s assistant?”

This young man looked steady and reliable, gentle and refined-he seemed easy to talk to.

“Yes, Miss Shen, I am Mr. Zhao’s personal assistant. My name is Chang An.”

Shen Jingni pressed her lips together, then asked tentatively, “What kind of temper does your master have?”

She had come today for two reasons: first, to apologize and avoid implicating the Shen Family. If her parents found out she had offended Zhao Zonglan, it would surely be another storm of fury; second, to retrieve her hairpin, which her grandmother had left her-she had to get it back no matter what.

Since Zhao Zonglan had agreed to see her, there must still be room for negotiation.

But at their first meeting, he had left her with a rather fierce impression.

Shen Jingni felt a little afraid.

Chang An led her into the reception room and said mildly, “I’m sorry, Miss Shen, but I dare not speak out of turn.”

Well, fine.

Shen Jingni sighed; she had already guessed it would be this way.

There were many rules in prominent families, everything was restrictive, and the staff would never dare to comment on their masters in private.

All the more so when the master was Zhao Zonglan.

“Miss Shen, Mr. Zhao is still in a meeting in the study. Please rest here for a while and enjoy some tea and refreshments.”

After giving these instructions, Chang An turned and left.

The reception room was spacious and elegant, with the heating set just right. Shen Jingni took off her coat and scarf and sat down on a Taishi Chair. The cushion was soft and very comfortable.

A moment later, a servant brought in hot tea and pastries.

The pastries were exquisitely made-seasonal plum blossom cakes, with a flaky crust and soft filling, leaving a lingering fragrance after tasting.

Shen Jingni was not a glutton by nature.

She had a weak stomach since childhood and rarely ate such hard-to-digest sweets, but the taste was indeed excellent, far better than the popular pastries in Jing City.

Unable to resist, she ate another piece.

Thinking of Chu You still waiting for her in the car, Shen Jingni considered packing a few pieces for her later.

She wondered what kind of meeting Zhao Zonglan was having, making her wait so long.

Bored, Shen Jingni looked around, glanced at her phone for a while.

Her cold still hadn’t cleared up, and now her throat felt a bit itchy. She covered her mouth and started coughing again.

At that moment, the study was dimly lit, cold and solemn.

Zhao Zonglan sat in a leather chair, the computer screen before him glowing as he attended a video conference.

On the side wall hung the surveillance display for Zijing Sandalwood Court.

He held a cigar between his fingers, glancing sideways at the monitor. The interplay of light and shadow made his expression as indifferent as ever.

The Group CEO had just finished reporting next year’s strategic plan and was waiting for Zhao Zonglan’s final decision, but after a long silence, he still hadn’t heard a response.

“Chairman Zhao, is there a problem somewhere?”

On the other end of the screen, the CEO looked anxious and uneasy.

This strategic plan had been drafted by him and the group’s senior management. Knowing Chairman Zhao’s high standards, they had revised it several times before daring to present it today.

After all, as CEO, he was just a high-level employee, still needing to earn his keep under the capitalist’s hand.

Zhao Zonglan did not answer immediately.

The tip of his cigar glowed red. His long fingers tapped lightly on the desk as he called Chang An in.

–

Shen Jingni had been pampered since childhood, but her weak health meant she was often ill.

Now, as she coughed, it seemed endless.
But she was on someone else’s turf, a guest after all, and such frequent coughing was actually impolite.

Shen Jingni took a sip of tea to soothe her throat, forcing down the irritation in her throat.

There’s a book that says, “There are three things a person cannot hide: a cough, poverty, and love.”

The more she tried to suppress it, the worse her coughing became.

In just a few minutes, Shen Jingni’s cheeks were flushed and she’d broken out in a light sweat from coughing.

Fortunately, she finally managed to calm down.

At that moment, an older maid came in carrying a porcelain bowl.

“Miss Shen, this is freshly brewed lily and fritillaria tea. It should help with your cough. Please try it.”

The maid spoke gently, looking at her expectantly.

Shen Jingni suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

She was too shy to refuse, so she thanked the maid and picked up the white porcelain spoon to drink.

The tea had a faint medicinal fragrance, mellow and soothing, comforting her throat. It wasn’t bitter-there seemed to be honey added.

After a few sips, her throat did feel much better.

Freed from the torment of that annoying cough, Shen Jingni began to feel drowsy again.

When Zhao Zonglan entered the reception room, he saw the young lady on the Taishi Chair, propping her head up with one hand, her body slouched to the side, eyes closed-she had fallen asleep.

She wore a pale blue sweater, a creamy white plush long skirt, and warm boots. Her feet were tucked in neatly, her breathing light, her sleeping face serene.

He walked closer, his cold, stern features utterly impassive.

Perhaps sensing someone approach, Shen Jingni frowned slightly and lazily opened her eyes.

The moment she saw Zhao Zonglan, her sleepiness vanished.

The man was tall, dressed in a black shirt and trousers, standing with the light behind him, casting a shadow before her.

It seemed the Creator had shown him special favor.

His features were deep and well-defined, his jawline sharp, the top button of his shirt undone, slightly open, his skin a healthy white, the outline of taut muscles visible.

“M-Mr. Zhao.”

Seeing him again, Shen Jingni couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

She was about to get up when Zhao Zonglan suddenly leaned down, his distinct, jointed fingers once again gripping her chin, the callused pads of his fingers brushing her fair cheek.

His expression was indifferent, his eyes cold, his voice low: “Miss Shen, you’re quite bold.”

To be able to fall asleep in a completely unfamiliar environment.

He wondered if she was foolish, or simply raised too naively by the Shen Family.

This was the second time he’d told her she was bold.

Shen Jingni turned her face away, breaking free from his hold.

Knowing what he meant, she explained a bit aggrieved, “I waited for you a long time, and after taking medicine I got drowsy, so I accidentally fell asleep.”

Her words were a subtle complaint against him.

Less than an hour’s wait wasn’t long at Zhao Zonglan’s place.

Others who wanted to see him often waited for months on end, yet she felt wronged.

Seeing Zhao Zonglan remain silent, Shen Jingni stood obediently before him, making herself look as docile and well-behaved as possible. “Mr. Zhao, I came today to apologize to you.”

“There was a misunderstanding that night, and I… offended you.”

“You’re generous, please don’t take it to heart.”

Shen Jingni had prepared herself mentally before coming.

She needed to properly placate this big shot, so he wouldn’t vent his anger on the Shen Family.

Then, she’d try every trick to get the hairpin back.

After all, she was the one at fault, and when you make a mistake, you should apologize and accept the consequences.

The key was to be flexible.

Zhao Zonglan didn’t seem very satisfied with her apology.

“Offended?” He let out a cold laugh, lowering his gaze as he took out a cigarette, a hint of mockery in his fathomless eyes. “So Miss Shen does remember.”