Chapter 25 Zhao Zonglan's Beloved Girlfriend

Zhao Zonglan introduced Shen Jingni to several friends from Nuanyu Pavilion.

They were all prominent figures, the heirs of large corporations, exuding confidence and poise, yet relaxed and dignified.

This was the first time Song Qiyu had ever seen such a beautiful girl. He couldn't help but glance at her a few more times, but then he suddenly realized that he was still smoking and was afraid that he would annoy the girl, so he turned around and put out his cigarette.

Just now, a few people were wondering what kind of person could catch Zhao Zonglan's eye.

The young lady before me, Ms. Shen, possessed a refined elegance and captivating charm, her beauty as radiant as the glow of dawn and as pure as jade.

This is truly a rare sight.

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

He not only called her sister-in-law or brother's wife, but also prepared a gift for their first meeting.

They were all exquisite jewels and jewelry.

This made her feel somewhat embarrassed.

Remembering the Jin Yue Club incident, Shen Jingni made a special trip to thank Xie Chengsui.

Xie Chengsui, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, spoke in an unusually gentle tone: "Sister-in-law, you're too kind. It's only right that I help you when you're in trouble."

Zhao Zonglan's brows twitched upon hearing his words. "It's rare to find someone with such awareness."

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

Perhaps because of the Jin Yue Club incident, Fifth Brother wanted to bring this girl into his sphere of influence.

Or perhaps it's just possessiveness at play, wanting everyone to know that Shen Jingni belongs to Zhao Zonglan.

No one can covet it.

Xie Chengsui felt the latter was more likely.

Because his cousin has always had a strong desire for control.

The door to Nuanyu Pavilion was pushed open.

"Vast!"

Song Yu jogged towards Shen Jingni, her eyes brimming with joy.

A young woman came with her.

The girl was pretty, with long, slightly wavy hair. She wore an apricot-colored ankle-length dress and a wool coat, paired with flat velvet boots. It was a very ordinary outfit, but she had a gentle and elegant demeanor.

She walks slowly and has a slight limp in her right leg; even though she's wearing a long skirt to cover it up, you can still tell something's wrong.

Song Yanting strode forward and took her hand.

The girl placed her hand in his palm, and the two smiled at each other, their expression reserved yet full of affection.

Suddenly bombarded with displays of affection, Shen Jingni quickly looked away.

Song Yanting was an excellent host.

He introduced her in a gentle tone: "Miss Shen, this is my girlfriend, Wen Shuyi."

Then, he looked at Wen Shuyi and said, "Miss Chen is Zong Lan's girlfriend. It's our first meeting, and I'm afraid I might neglect her. This room is full of men, so could you please entertain her for me?"

Wen Shuyi nodded, glanced at Shen Jingni, and smiled, "Hello, Miss Shen."

It turns out she was Song Yanting's girlfriend.

Before coming here, Shen Jingni had heard Song Yu mention that Song Yanting had a girlfriend he had been dating for many years and that the two had a very good relationship, but it was not approved by his family.

Shen Jingni returned a polite smile: "Hello."

The two greeted each other peacefully, but Song Yu, who was standing next to them, suddenly became unsettled after hearing Song Yanting's introduction.

She opened her eyes wide in surprise. When did Miaomiao become Mr. Zhao's girlfriend?

In fact, Song Yu only belonged to a collateral branch of the Song family. Apart from large events such as family banquets and ancestral worship, she rarely saw Song Yanting and Song Qiyu.

To put it bluntly, we're not from the same circle.

She had been wondering why she was invited to this trip to the hot spring resort, but now she understood.

It's because of the vastness.

Song Yanting knew about her relationship with Miaomiao, so he asked her to come and keep him company.

Ultimately, it was all because of Zhao Zonglan.

Wen Shuyi suggested taking Shen Jingni out for a stroll and grabbing something to eat.

For girls, shopping and eating are always a joy.

Shen Jingni was naturally happy to agree. She turned to look at Zhao Zonglan, only to see him standing by the window, one hand in his trouser pocket, his profile cold and indifferent as he listened to the phone call.

She thought she should tell him first, lest he get upset and go crazy again, so she raised her voice, "Zhao Zonglan, I'm going out to play."

Hearing her crisp voice, Zhao Zonglan slowly turned around, met her bright face, and nodded calmly.

The people present were quite surprised.

Tang Shu asked Xie Chengsui in a low voice, "Have they always been like this? They don't even have any affectionate nicknames for each other."

Calling someone by their full name feels too formal.

Besides, there aren't many people in the capital who dare to call Fifth Brother by his full name these days.

Xie Chengsui narrowed his fox-like eyes slightly and smiled meaningfully: "You've never been in a relationship, so you don't understand."

"That's called romance."

In fact, Xie Chengsui didn't know what kind of relationship the two of them had.

Zhao Zonglan is a person who cannot be easily understood in any aspect.

Tang Shu snorted coldly.

He was furious.

He didn't want to talk anymore, and even wanted to break off all ties with Xie Chengsui.

He had already been deeply hurt by his brothers' words several times tonight.

I should have known I'd never come back from the Atlantic.

Song Qiyu and Tang Shu had different focuses.

He lit another cigarette and sighed, "Miss Shen is truly deeply in love with Fifth Brother. She even has to report to him before going out for a while."

Xie Jiqing, who was standing next to him, patted him on the shoulder.

"Qiyu, you have the potential to be a hopeless romantic."

Anyone with eyes can see that this is not a case of deep affection.

-

Shen Jingni and Wen Shuyi had just met and didn't talk much, but luckily Song Yu was there.

Right now, Song Yu is interrogating her: "Tell me honestly, when did you get together with Mr. Zhao? Why didn't you tell me?"

She was still blaming herself for what happened at Wangjinglou, who would have thought that the two parties involved had already started talking?!

Because Wen Shuyi was present, Shen Jingni didn't dare to tell the truth and only stammered, "My situation with him is a bit complicated, so... we got together in a muddled way."

Song Yu crossed her arms and turned her face away, saying, "That's really disloyal."

Shen Jingni quickly took her hand and apologized profusely, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I'll take you to Fenghua Palace to see the male models when we get back."

Song Yu wasn't angry at first, but her eyes lit up when she heard the words "male model".

"It's a deal, I want eight."

"That's outrageous! Can you handle eight of them?"

Listening to their conversation, Wen Shuyi couldn't help but chuckle: "You two have such a good relationship."

Shen Jingni: "We've known each other since high school and were classmates in college. We often joke around and tease each other."

What did you major in at university?

Song Yu: "Business Administration, we're both terrible students, we skip classes every day. Sister Wen, what about you?"

Wen Shuyi seemed to be a naturally indifferent person. Her face remained expressionless throughout, and she said calmly, "Dance."

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

I feel a little sad.

Most of the people around them who chose art-related majors did so because of their passion.

People who should have been shining on stage can no longer dance.

Even becoming a normal person is a luxury.

Seeing their serious expressions, Wen Shuyi smiled nonchalantly and comforted them instead: "I'll be twenty-eight after the New Year. Even if I can still jump, I won't be able to for many more years. Don't feel sorry for me."

Shen Jingni wasn't good at hiding her emotions and was feeling down, but she still cheered her up and said, "With advanced medical technology and Mr. Song here, your leg will definitely be cured."

Song Yu chimed in from the side.

"Thank you for your kind words." Wen Shuyi glanced at her right leg, her eyes dimming.

Since her leg injury in a car accident four years ago, Song Yanting has never given up on treating her leg, traveling all over China and abroad.

Without him, this leg would probably be ruined long ago.

But it seems that this is already the best possible outcome; if one wants to live like a normal person, it is probably impossible.

A young maid walked past the three of them.

The slightly older man recognized Wen Shuyi, nodded to her, and respectfully greeted her, "Hello, Miss Wen."

Wen Shuyi nodded slightly.

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Shen Jingni heard another maid say disdainfully, "She's just a cripple who can't even get into the Song family. Why are you being so respectful to her?"

"What good is being pretty? After all these years, she's still nameless and has no status. All she's good at in bed is being played with. Once the young master gets tired of her in a few years, she'll be nothing."

"If she hadn't said she liked hot springs, would we have been transferred to Yangzhou to serve her? Being away from home is already annoying, but seeing her makes me even more disgusted."

Shen Jingni was already feeling down because she had inadvertently brought up Wen Shuyi's painful past.

The maid's few words completely ignited her anger.

Shen Jingni turned around, her face cold, and said, "Hey you, stop right there."

The sound was not loud, yet it was like ice shards, melting into the cold winter night.

The maid stopped in her tracks and turned around to see a slender and graceful figure approaching her.

She paused for a moment, her expression still somewhat displeased: "Are you calling me?"

She didn't recognize Shen Jingni, so naturally she didn't give her a friendly look.

"Am I barking at a dog?" Shen Jingni's voice rose several octaves, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The maid stared at her, scrutinizing her closely. After confirming that she wasn't one of the distinguished guests she remembered, her tone became even more impatient and menacing. "Who are you? Even if you are a guest, you can't insult people indirectly."

Shen Jingni scoffed coldly, her eyes sharp, "I won't just insult you, I'll also..."

With a crisp and loud "snap," it made a clear sound.

The maid received a solid slap across the face.

The force was so strong that half of my cheek turned red and burned.

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

At this moment, Shen Jingni leaned forward slightly, her amber eyes reflecting a coldness, and her tone carried a hint of arrogance: "Remember, my name is Shen Jingni, Zhao Zonglan's beloved girlfriend."

Today, she'll take advantage of his influence to properly punish these unruly servants.

Upon hearing this, the maid's pupils constricted sharply, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Mr. Zhao!

That important figure whom even the Song family couldn't afford to offend.

Her legs went weak, and she almost knelt down.

"Miss Chen, I'm so sorry... I didn't know it was you..."

Shen Jingni glanced at her, "Not only did you gossip and spread rumors about the hostess behind her back, but you were also rude to the guests. I thought you were so capable, but you're really unlucky."

"The one you should apologize to is Miss Wen."

Wen Shuyi never expected that Shen Jingni, who looked so frail, would stand up for her.

This girl clearly seems to need protection more than she does.

She hadn't met such a loyal and open-minded friend in a long time.

Seeing the maid kneel down and kowtow to admit her mistake, Wen Shuyi just smiled lightly, took Shen Jingni's hand, and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to eat some barbecue skewers to replenish your energy."

"Yay, let's go, I'm really hungry."

In the blink of an eye, Shen Jingni, who was just moments ago arrogant and chilling, transformed back into a delicate and soft-spoken young girl.

Watching the three figures disappear into the distance, the older maid sighed heavily and said to the younger maid who was still kneeling, "You will soon understand why I respect Miss Wen so much."

Inside the Nuanyu Pavilion at that time.

The air was filled with the aroma of cigarettes and whiskey, and dark blue velvet curtains hung down, blocking out the heavy darkness of the night.

On the poker table, the chips were piled up like a mountain.

Clearly, we went a bit too far today.

Xie Jiqing didn't participate; he was going back to tell bedtime stories to his children at home.

Zhao Zonglan sat in the main seat, sinking into the large leather sofa. He held an unlit cigarette between his fingers, while his other hand casually toyed with a 500,000 yuan chip, his eyes calm.

"Add another five hundred."

His voice was low and flat.

Sitting across from him, Tang Shugang had just lost a big game. He tilted his head back and gulped down half a glass of wine, half-jokingly saying, "Fifth Brother, your luck is too good today. You're not leaving us any way out."

Xie Chengsui crossed his legs, leaned back on the sofa, and smoked, dragging out his words in a lazy tone: "Shu, when have you ever seen him lose at the card table?"

When it comes to playing cards, Zhao Zonglan has always been the best among them.

Even Xie Chengsui, who runs a casino, can't beat him.

Song Qiyu had the worst luck today. He closed his cards, shook his head, and said, "What a terrible hand, I pass."

Song Yanting remained as gentle and refined as ever. He picked up his teacup and took a sip when Nanfeng hurriedly entered.

"Young Master," he called out, then bowed to the people at the card table to express his apology before leaning close to Song Yanting and whispering something in his ear.

Song Yanting's face gradually darkened.

After Nanfeng finished reporting, he expressionlessly ordered, "Punish him according to the rules and then throw him out."

“When disciplining someone, let all the servants see it. The Song family does not raise unruly children.”

"yes."

Song Yanting then looked at Zhao Zonglan, who was in the main seat.

"Miss Shen is a kind and righteous person."

"Oh?" Zhao Zonglan twirled the cigarette in his hand, raising his eyebrows slightly, as if he had become interested.

Chang An came over and lit a cigarette for him, then silently stepped aside and stood next to Guang Lin.

This wasn't a private matter, so Song Yanting didn't try to hide it.

-

After being shown around by Wen Shuyi, Shen Jingni finally realized just how big this manor was.

They walked around for over an hour and still hadn't finished.

There were also outdoor hot springs, ski resorts... but I didn't go to see any of them.

The three gluttonous girls went to Wangyuetai to eat barbecue skewers and drink some wine.

After eating and drinking their fill, they went back to rest.

After Shen Jingni went back and took a shower, she saw Zhao Zonglan return as soon as she came out of the bathroom.

He took off his suit jacket and casually hung it on the coat rack in the outer room. His black shirt underneath was slightly open, revealing his sexy Adam's apple, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and composed, ascetic demeanor.

Shen Jingni pursed her lips. She was already full, but her cravings were being rekindled.

She forced herself not to be swayed by his good looks and broke the silence first: "How did you hurt your leg, Sister Wen?"

She didn't dare ask Wen Shuyi directly, fearing she would upset her.

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

Shen Jingni jogged up to him, the hem of her red nightgown draped above her calves. As she walked, the hem swayed freely, revealing a section of her snow-white legs.

Her face was naturally both innocent and alluring. Having just taken a shower, her porcelain-like skin was flushed with a light pink from the water vapor, making her incredibly captivating.

Zhao Zonglan put his arm around her waist and pulled her into his arms.

She always seemed to carry a light floral scent, with both the top and base notes being sweet—one pure, the other alluring.

Shen Jingni had gotten used to his hugs.

Zhao Zonglan seemed to really enjoy hugging and kissing her.

"Answer me quickly!"

She shifted unhappily in his arms, clutching his shirt and tilting her head back.

Zhao Zonglan was so tall, with broad shoulders and long legs. She was already thin and had a small frame, so she looked tiny in his arms. Without high heels, her presence was significantly diminished.

"Car accident."

He spoke in a flat tone, seemingly unwilling to say more, and pinched her chin before lowering his head to kiss her full, red lips.