Chapter 74: Moonlight Enchantment, Jealousy Aflame

Father Shen’s face flushed red, then pale, then green, then blue—clearly furious beyond words. His trembling finger pointed, but after a long moment, he still couldn’t utter a single word.

Mother Shen was even more aghast. “Tingxiao, how can you speak to your father like that? Even if you turned the tide that year, you’re still a member of the Shen family. This is what you ought to do!”
“Apologize to your father right now!”

Leaning lazily against the upstairs railing, Shen Tingxiao said with utter boredom, “I’m terribly sorry, Father, but please don’t point your finger at me—it’s rather rude.”

“Oh, by the way, my fiancée will be staying here tonight. Butler, please arrange to have the attic on the top floor tidied up; that will be her room from now on.”

“And make sure she has a full set of keys to the entire castle. Give them to her. She’s welcome to come and stay anytime she wishes.”

“She is the mistress of this house.”

“And as for you, Mistress, please don’t trouble yourself with any concerns, because the ownership of this house was already transferred to your fiancé’s name a week ago.”

At those words, not only was Jiang Yunzhu stunned, but the Shen couple’s faces drained of all color.

“What have you done?!”

“Shen Tingxiao, you’ve gone too far!”

“We should never have taken you back. We should have let you die out there!”

Shen Tingxiao replied coolly, “That’s truly a pity.”

With that, he extended his hand toward Jiang Yunzhu across the space. “The night is short, don’t waste your emotions on those who aren’t worth it. Come, my fiancée.”

Jiang Yunzhu felt a tingling numbness all over. Looking up, the warm golden glow blurred the man’s features; she could only make out his form, lounging against the railing, beautiful and aloof like a nonchalant god from a classical oil painting.

She couldn’t help but walk toward him. The marble staircase was long and hard, but the butler supported her, whispering softly in her ear, “Young Madam, we can take the elevator.”

Jiang Yunzhu wasn’t sure what possessed her, but she replied almost instinctively, “I want to see him.”

How foolish.

Back in the room, her face was burning red. She buried her head in the crook of her arm, too embarrassed to look up.

Shen Tingxiao leaned in, peeking into her arm, “So you think I’m good-looking too? Smitten enough to lose your way, aren’t you?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Jiang Yunzhu spread her hands in surrender. “I admit it, I’m completely infatuated with you. Satisfied?”

But Shen Tingxiao wasn’t ready to let her go. “And compared to Shen Ruizhang?”

“You’re better looking.”

“What about that little blond one?”

“You’re better looking.”

“And that new actor you just signed, what’s his name—”

Jiang Yunzhu cupped his face and kissed him on the lips. “You’re the best looking! No one compares to you, alright?”

“Not enough.” Shen Tingxiao’s gaze suddenly turned dangerous, like some great beast locking onto its prey. “Are you trying to leave?”

“It’s already so late, and you’re still injured—” She didn’t finish before her words were swallowed.

A warm, lingering kiss, breathing heavy with deep, intense desire… Jiang Yunzhu was pressed against the wall, her waist tightly held, one hand cupping the back of her head.

Her breath was completely stolen away.

Her whole body trembled, tingling with a shiver, entwined with the faint scent of cologne and medicine.

Gradually, the tang of blood filled the air.

Jiang Yunzhu returned to her senses from the haze, exclaiming, “Oh no, your wound—it’s opened up!”

“I don’t care.”

He seized her wrist, moving her onto the bed. Moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating the inner room as if a delicate flurry of crystalline snow had fallen.

Strands of crimson bloomed on the bed.

Only after a long while did their breathing slow.

Jiang Yunzhu’s hair and clothes were a mess, her cheeks flushed as if she’d drunk deep of wine.

Bathed in moonlight, she suddenly asked, “Have you ever heard the story of the Snow Queen?”

“What about it?”

His bandages were soaked in blood; indulgence had left him in agony. Shen Tingxiao, ever proud, would never grimace, so he forced a stoic expression, holding Jiang Yunzhu close. “Isn’t it a bit strange to think of fairy tales at a moment like this?”

Jiang Yunzhu chuckled. “No, I just suddenly thought—the Snow Queen’s palace must be beautiful. Standing inside, looking at the moonlight—maybe it’s a bit like here?”

“How could it be the same?” Shen Tingxiao tapped her nose. “Come, let’s see your new room. That’s where the real beauty is!”

“Your wounds…”

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s look first.”

The attic on the top floor required climbing another flight of stairs.

As soon as they entered, even with Jiang Yunzhu’s privileged upbringing and broad horizons, she was stunned.

It was like stepping into another world—an icy wonderland, brimming with the magic of a fairy tale.

She didn’t know what Shen Tingxiao pressed, but the ceiling above them slowly opened, revealing the entire galaxy and moon in all their glory.

No, it wasn’t just the stars and moon—it was the whole Milky Way, the universe itself.

As if gazing at the sky through a giant telescope.

There was no need for lights; moonlight flooded the entire room.

Jiang Yunzhu’s breath caught in her throat.

“How… how did you do this?”

“The ceiling was custom-designed. Six layers of aerospace glass simulate a telescope’s effect. Not bad, right?” Shen Tingxiao’s tone was as proud as a peacock displaying its tail.

Not bad? It was far more than that. Although Jiang Yunzhu had been pampered since childhood, she had never seen such thoughtful and intricate design.

A ring of antique bronze keys swayed before her eyes. Shen Tingxiao spoke gently, “Don’t go. Stay with me for a while, will you?”

Dizzily, Jiang Yunzhu agreed.

…

Shen Ruizhang had come to discuss a business deal with Shen Tingxiao.

The contract was already in process; if not for the incident on the yacht, it would have been signed long ago.

This delay had lasted half a month. Shen Ruizhang’s main company wasn’t overseas, and after so long, it was time for him to return.

Only—

He stared fixedly at Jiang Yunzhu, sitting beside Shen Tingxiao, and when he saw the red mark on her neck, the documents in his hand nearly crumpled.

“Uncle, are you feeling better? Wasn’t it too soon to be discharged? Isn’t that bad for your health?”

A cup of coffee was set before him. The latte art wasn’t professional, but it was a swan—his familiar favorite.

Zhuzhu had learned this especially for him, indulging his peculiar preferences, and he hadn’t tasted it in a long time.

His hand trembled slightly as he lifted the cup. Shen Ruizhang pressed his lips together, forced down the dull ache in his chest, and the first thing that came out was a reproach, even he hadn’t expected.

“How long have you been staying here? Are you not planning to marry, not caring about your studies or your company anymore?”

Jiang Yunzhu looked surprised, her innocent eyes blinking. “I’m just working remotely.”

“Cousin, isn’t it rather rude to speak to your cousin-in-law that way? Her affairs are for me to worry about. Don’t you think so?” Shen Tingxiao spoke languidly, his gaze full of provocation.