freenovelworld Chapter 1672 A Light Rainy Night
Chapter 1672 A Light Rainy Night
Chapter 1672 A Night of Light Rain
Amidst the drizzling rain, a tranquil and soft warm light flowed through a spacious and luxurious apartment in Tomson Riviera.
Outside the balcony, the Huangpu River transforms into a flowing ribbon of dark jade, with the dazzling lights on both banks creating hazy clusters of light in the rain, like scattered stars.
Zhao Ruxue curled up barefoot on the sofa between the balcony and the living room entrance; the Italian Minotti sofa was as soft as a cloud.
A light pink Suzhou-embroidered cheongsam hugged her 1.66-meter-tall, graceful figure, her snow-white hair slender and elegant. A few strands of her coiled black hair fell lazily against her snow-white neck. She swirled the crystal-clear Petrus red wine in her glass, smiling as she looked at Zhou Shiqing, who was leaning against the balcony railing.
Zhou Shiqing is 1.71 meters tall, slender and graceful. Her white silk T-shirt and black silk midi skirt accentuate her cool and charming temperament.
The night breeze, carrying damp moisture, brushed against the stray hairs on her forehead. She gazed at the river view through the rain, a layer of melancholy veiled between her brows.
"Shiqing," Zhao Ruxue's voice was soft and gentle, carrying the unique tenderness of the Jiangnan water towns, "You got your graduation certificate from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, right? You should be happy, shouldn't you?"
She took a sip of wine, and the full, natural curves of her 34-inch breasts, outlined beneath her silk cheongsam, rose and fell gently with her breath, incomparably sensual in the night. There was no deliberate flaunting, only the natural radiance and charm of a beautiful young woman.
Zhou Shiqing turned around, leaning against the cold glass railing. The river breeze lifted the hem of her clothes, revealing a glimpse of her pale waist. She sighed softly, "Yes, I got it."
Zhao Ruxue stepped barefoot onto the slightly cool floor, took a few steps closer, took her arm, and said with a smile, "Then what are you worried about? Are you reluctant to leave the entertainment industry?" The sleeve of her silk cheongsam brushed against Zhou Shiqing's arm, bringing a soft touch.
Around noon today, Jing Gao asked Shi Qing to leave the entertainment industry and take over the Zhou family's wealth fund. She was listening in from the side.
Zhou Shiqing is a rising star in the entertainment industry, a promising actress with the potential to become a leading lady. With her beauty and temperament, she is highly regarded by many people both inside and outside the industry. In short, she has many fans, especially those who admire her looks, and has a bright future in acting.
On the contrary, managing the Zhou family's wealth fund offers little future, as the lion's share of the family wealth fund has already been withdrawn by Jing Gao—specifically, assets plus cash totaling 3 billion yuan, accounting for 80%. Currently, the Zhou family's wealth fund has only 20% remaining, approximately 750 million yuan.
It can be said that it suffered a severe blow.
Her sister-in-law had already learned about this from her brother-in-law, Peng Jinghua. Because she had played cards with them at Peng Jinghua's house before, Peng Jinghua considered her a trustworthy member of the family.
Zhou Shiqing shook her head, her dark eyes reflecting the shimmering light on the river: "No, not at all. What's so memorable about the vanity of the entertainment industry?"
She was pampered from childhood by her adoptive parents and two older brothers. Coming from a family of billionaires, how could she possibly envy the glamour of the entertainment industry? Especially since her eldest brother, Zhou Mingjian, who is now incarcerated, was once the owner of a well-known entertainment company.
On the contrary, she knew that the film and television industry was like a concubine in the face of capital.
She entered the entertainment industry partly to avoid suspicion: she had no interest in inheriting her adoptive parents' business or connections!
Zhao Ruxue lightly tapped the back of her hand with her nail polished fingertips and smiled, "Then why is the Worry Well so high, with three thousand concubines in the harem, worrying about a lonely life ahead?"
With so many women in Jinggao, it's obvious he can't possibly manage everything, and he can't possibly give them all the attention. That would be exhausting! If it weren't for the two "concubines" keeping things under control this afternoon, someone would probably have already started a commotion!
Moreover, even if Igao can manage now, what about as he gets older?
Being a woman in a well is actually quite easy. You get paid but do little work.
"Sister-in-law~, you're not thinking about things between men and women, are you?" Zhou Shiqing's ears turned slightly red as she pinched her waist. "You really have the mindset of a young married woman!"
Zhao Ruxue was her eldest brother's fourth wife. Her beauty was undeniable; she possessed first-rate looks and figure. She was also peaceful and never quarrelsome. Ironically, her relationship with Zhao Ruxue was the best among her brother's four wives.
In addition, Zhao Ruxue is an excellent cook.
Zhao Ruxue giggled and dodged, her ample bosom trembling slightly beneath her cheongsam: "Hey, I'm serious! He probably won't be able to keep it up by the time he's forty." She leaned close to Zhou Shiqing's ear, "But, a beauty like you... he probably wouldn't want to leave you hanging. I'm in a bit of a predicament."
The little girl doesn't understand adult matters. She's been lonely for a long time. Zhou Mingjian is more than a decade older than her and hasn't touched her in ages. Whenever she wants to, she makes excuses to avoid it. Meanwhile, Zhou Mingyang, who's been supporting her, has higher moral standards and doesn't touch his brother's women.
The last time she finally managed to have a decent meal with Jing Gao, he was truly impressive. How could she not think about that, how could she not think about him?
Zhou Shiqing suppressed her smile and looked at the rain: "I feel heartbroken for my second brother and sister-in-law's separation."
Who knows how many years it will be before my second brother gets out? His legacy and hard work have been swallowed up by Jing Gao.
My second sister-in-law is having a tough time too. Maintaining such a large family business requires a lot of money each month. The Zhou family's wealth fund has shrunk so much, and Jing Gao has still appointed me to manage it. I'm determined to follow my second sister-in-law's instructions.”
Zhao Ruxue chuckled, shaking her head inwardly.
Silly Shiqing, do you know how your second sister-in-law secretly tries to curry favor with Jing Gao? She actively begs Jing Gao to get her involved. How could she possibly cooperate with your two-faced idea?
On the surface, however, he gently advised, "Shiqing, I think Jing Gao still trusts your second sister-in-law quite a bit, and he should have other arrangements for her. He has expressed more than once that he is short of people in various industries. Putting you in charge of the Zhou family's wealth fund is probably to give you something to do and to develop your abilities."
Suddenly changing the subject, she winked mischievously and put her arm around Zhou Shiqing's slender waist: "Instead of thinking about this, you should be thinking about him saying he wanted to come to my place for dinner. Then, hehe, don't be shy."
She doesn't need anyone's help to cook, but what does Jing Gao do after eating? He must be out having sex with his wife.
Zhou Shiqing's face flushed crimson instantly, her complexion radiant. She picked up her wine glass and drank red wine to conceal her feelings.
My sister-in-law's opinion might be correct. But then I heard the second half of her sentence, which made me blush.
My sister-in-law is a really smart person; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to beat out so many competitors to successfully marry my brother. Keep in mind that my brother was a multi-millionaire at the time, while my sister-in-law's family was only middle-class.
Looking back now, it seems that my sister-in-law doesn't usually show it; she appears to be peaceful and unassuming.
However, her sister-in-law probably doesn't know about her experience of going to Beijing to apologize to Jing Gao. Sigh, what's playing cards compared to what she witnessed firsthand—the industry veteran, the ethereal Liu Yifei, being pinned against the floor-to-ceiling window by him. Judging by the timing, Sister Qianqian got pregnant during that time at the Gubei Hotel in Gubei Water Town.
Recalling the scene from that time, Zhou Shiqing quickly composed herself and changed the subject, "Sister-in-law, are you happy being with Jing Gao? How long do you plan to stay with him?"
Zhao Ruxue leaned back on the sofa, her delicate feet crossed: "Why should I think so far ahead? I don't care who I follow, as long as I can be financially secure for the rest of my life. The most important thing in life is to live happily."
Zhou Shiqing advised, "Sister-in-law, why don't you find something to do? Even something simple and easy, that way you'll have another source of income and something to do, so you won't be bored every day."
“Hmm, you’re right. How about I take a position at the Zhou family’s wealth fund?” Zhao Ruxue said with a smile.
Zhou Shiqing was speechless: "."
Zhao Ruxue giggled sweetly, her voice like a silver bell. She took out her phone and called Chen Qingshuang first. When the call was connected, her voice was as sweet as honey, "Sister Chen, I want to talk to President Jing about something. Is it convenient for him to take the call now?"
Chen Qingshuang had a good impression of Zhao Ruxue's calm and collected nature, and said, "Ruxue, Brother Jing is always available, but also always available. How about I ask him for you?"
"Okay, thank you, Sister Chen."
A moment later, Chen Qingshuang called, "Ruxue, you should call Brother Jing yourself."
Zhao Ruxue agreed, hung up the phone with Chen Qingshuang first, and then called Jing Gao.
The call was answered a dozen seconds later. Jing Gao, panting, said, "Xiao Zhao, what's up? If you're inviting me to your house to... you'll have to wait a while."
Xiao Zhao is a very interesting woman. He talks to her very casually in private, and she can handle anything he says.
Zhao Ruxue's pretty face flushed crimson, like it had been painted with rouge, and she said coquettishly, "Brother Jing! Shiqing is here!" The snow-white skin beneath her silk collar rose and fell rapidly with her breath. Don't be so direct, my brother.
She quickly changed the subject, "Brother Jing, I want to take a temporary position at the Zhou Family Wealth Fund to earn some pocket money."
Zhou Shiqing, listening nearby, blushed deeply, her earlobes turning a deep, blood-red. She also heard two other breathing sounds on the other end of the call, though she couldn't tell who they were. It was clear, however, that he was already past the point of tender intimacy; she knew this all too well.
"Xiao Zhao, if you put your pocket money into your Zhou family's wealth fund, the Zhou family will talk about it. Put it into my Fudan Flower Fund instead, and I'll give you 100 million yuan in pocket money every year."
"Ah?" Zhao Ruxue's eyes sparkled with joy as she squealed, "Good brother, your little sister loves you. Loves you to the point of obsession."
Jing Gao laughed and hung up the phone.
Zhou Shiqing listened to the busy tone on the phone, looked at her sister-in-law whose bright eyes sparkled with pure joy and gratitude, and then looked at the light rain outside the building.
The night rain remained gentle, and the cruise ships on the river trailed long, hazy trails of light as they slowly sailed into the depths of the misty rain.
The lights of the Huangpu River shimmered and flowed in the humid air, reflecting in her clear eyes and also revealing a figure that quietly emerged in her heart.
Thinking about his undisputed victory today, and recalling the beautiful women, both young and old, who filled the room at noon, I suddenly missed his favor.
Zhou Shiqing's legs were intertwined and pressed together beneath her black silk skirt. This complex and indescribable feeling, like the lingering night rain, silently permeated her heart.
Perhaps, without realizing it, she had already fallen for him. She was just being stubborn.
...
...
Every night, countless parties are held along the Bund in Shanghai. It's a scene of information and money flowing freely.
The Waldorf Astoria's ballroom was filled with elegantly dressed women, their opulent attire reflected in the crystal chandeliers.
This was a cocktail party to express financing intentions for a capital project. In the shadows of a corner, Shen Nanpeng and Xu Xin clinked glasses, the amber liquid in their glasses swirling gently.
"In the end, it was President Jing who swallowed up Mingyuan Group." Shen Nanpeng said to his friend with emotion as he drank his wine, his gaze falling on the dazzling lights of Lujiazui outside the window, a symbol of the pinnacle of capital.
Sequoia Capital and Capital Today have collaborated on many projects, but they also compete with each other. The two individuals have a good personal relationship.
As I always say, work is work, and life is life.
Xu Xin took a sip of wine, his eyes filled with complex emotions, which finally turned into a very soft sigh: "Fortunately, I listened to your advice that day."
Hillhouse Capital, which ignored the advice, got nothing and now faces retaliation from Jing Gao. With the dust settled, Jing Gao is now free to deal with Zhang Lei, and nobody knows how he will handle the situation.
Shen Nanpeng smiled and raised his glass.
Outside the hotel window, the Huangpu River flows silently. Thousands of lights are reflected on the river's surface, and beneath each light lies desire, ambition, and a silent, turbulent undercurrent.
(End of this chapter)