After a One-Night Stand with a Seductive Bad Woman - Chapter 23

Sheng Yubai: “……”

A vein pulsed at her temple. She had initially wanted to say “student,” but the words caught in her throat as she realized Lu Jia wasn’t exactly her formal student.

She couldn’t exactly call her a “fvck buddy.”

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Lu Jia politely spoke first: “Hello, my name is Lu Jia. Miss Sheng is my… landlady.”

She paused before adding, “We’re not lovers.”

Sheng Yujun was taken aback.

After introducing herself, she glanced at her younger sister with a hint of scrutiny.

Her vision was sharp, and she had clearly witnessed the intimate exchange between the two at the lounge entrance.

Could such close physical contact—far beyond social norms—truly be between a tenant and her landlady?

She doubted it.

But having been labeled “old-fashioned” by her sister since childhood, and with their infrequent meetings in recent years, Sheng Yujun cleared her throat. Feeling her age, she decided to refrain from meddling in the affairs of these young people.

“Yubai, why are you back? I thought you were out of town?” Sheng Yubai frowned, deftly steering the conversation away from the awkward topic she didn’t know how to answer.

Her relationship with Sheng Yujun was very close; she was the only member of the Sheng Family with whom she still maintained contact.

However, in recent years, Sheng Yujun had been busy expanding the family business, and Sheng Yubai refused to return to Z City, so their meetings were few and far between.

Sheng Yujun possessed striking natural beauty, with clear, refined features and a small mole at the outer corner of her right eye, a feature absent in Sheng Yubai.

Dressed in a charcoal-gray suit, she exuded an air of competence and composure. She looked less like she was visiting her sister and more like she was heading to a business conference.

Her slender waist and long legs created a remarkably balanced figure.

Lu Jia deliberately limited herself to a few extra glances, inwardly marveling at how her curves and attire seemed perfectly suited for a portrait.

Sheng Yubai cast her a subtle, unreadable glance before quickly averting his gaze.

Sheng Yujun’s lips curved into a smile. “Aunt Xie told me you’d returned to the Old Mansion, so I rushed back to see you.”

At first, she had assumed her sister had finally decided to come home.

Upon receiving the news that morning, Sheng Yujun immediately canceled her remaining appointments and flew back to Z City.

However, after landing, Aunt Xie informed her that Sheng Yubai had returned with a young woman. Not only were their interactions intimate, but he had also taken her to Sheng Ling’s art gallery, which housed the late artist’s masterpieces.

Sheng Yujun had initially suspected that her younger sister had finally found a boyfriend, but both vehemently denied it.

Undeterred, Sheng Yujun asked warmly, “Xiao Bai, are you free for dinner tonight? Come to my place.”

She then turned to Lu Jia. “Miss Lu, why don’t you join us too?”

Sheng Yubai didn’t immediately reject the offer. Instead, he turned to Lu Jia and asked, “My sister has some impressive collections. Would you like to see them?”

Lu Jia’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Amused by the girl’s reaction, Sheng Yujun replied, “Of course. Xiao Bai will show you around later. I have several guest rooms, so you can stay the night if you like.”

“We’ll pass on staying the night,” Sheng Yubai politely declined. “My mentor is expecting me to take her home. If she doesn’t see her tonight, my phone will probably be ringing all night.”

Feeling guilty, Lu Jia touched the tip of her nose. If I skip dinner tonight, Director Rong will probably lecture me endlessly tomorrow, she thought. She’ll start with a sigh and a long, meaningful look, followed by her usual lecture about keeping my distance from Professor Sheng.

Sheng Yujun’s residence was a four-story villa in the western part of the city.

The moment Lu Jia saw the interior decor, she understood that President Sheng had indeed chosen the design scheme for his villa with the pool.

The identical black, white, and gray palette made the already cool evening in Z City feel even colder.

Dinner was just being served as she entered.

The housekeeper bowed. “Eldest Miss, Second Miss, Miss Lu.”

Lu Jia returned the smile somewhat awkwardly as Sheng Yubai took her hand and led her inside.

While washing her hands in the guest bathroom, she finally couldn’t resist and whispered to Sheng Yubai with a mischievous grin, “Second Miss, can I call you that again?”

Sheng Yubai shot her a sidelong glance. Lu Jia instinctively raised her hand to cover her face, trying to prevent her from pinching her cheek.

Instead, Sheng Yubai lightly tapped her forehead, the sound crisp and sharp.

Sheng Yubai slowly withdrew her hand, wiped the water droplets with a tissue, and glanced at the faint water mark on Lu Jia’s forehead. “Naughty. This will teach you a lesson.”

She didn’t say Lu Jia couldn’t call her that.

Lu Jia resolved to use the nickname again—next time, in bed, when… when she was feeling particularly bold.

The conversation at the dinner table flowed harmoniously.

Sheng Yujun, knowing Lu Jia was a printmaking major at C University, deliberately steered the conversation toward printmaking.

With her rich experience, refined demeanor, and graceful gestures, Sheng Yujun exuded a warmth that put people at ease.

Compared to the two seasoned printmakers, Lu Jia was a novice, her strength lying in her fresh and unique inspiration.

When the conversation turned to specific works, Sheng Yubai pulled out his phone to show his sister Lu Jia’s pieces.

Sheng Yujun paused several times while scrolling through the images. Her gaze softened considerably as she looked at Lu Jia, and she switched from addressing her as “Miss Lu” to “Xiao Lu.”

She began inquiring about Lu Jia’s plans to develop her career in Z City.

Such a promising talent, she thought. After lamenting about not finding a suitable student this year, here’s one right in front of me.

Having managed the family business for years, Sheng Yujun was first and foremost a shrewd businesswoman. She immediately began weighing the pros and cons.

Beyond the obvious, the fact that her younger sister had brought Lu Jia to the Old Mansion—a place she hadn’t set foot in for over a decade—suggested a deeper connection between the two “tenants.”

If I can lure Lu Jia to Z City, Sheng Yujun mused, how could I possibly miss seeing my sister again?

Lu Jia hadn’t planned her future that far ahead and wasn’t tied to any particular city. Even her decision to attend C University had been a matter of chance, a roll of the dice among several equally appealing institutions.

Noticing Sheng Yujun’s warm and encouraging demeanor, Lu Jia asked if she had considered pursuing a doctoral degree.

She thought for a moment. “If Director Rong gets promoted to doctoral supervisor in a couple of years, I’ll probably stay and continue studying with her.”

Rong Yi’s research interests aligned perfectly with hers, and she always pinpointed her weaknesses with remarkable accuracy, making her an excellent mentor.

“You’re only a first-year graduate student,” Sheng Yujun said patiently. “There’s no rush. Z City is also a great place. You can take these next two years to consider where you’d like to develop your career. Xiao Bai can give you some recommendations when the time comes.”

Sheng Yujun glanced casually at her younger sister, noticing the strange look Sheng Yubai shot her. Her smile grew even warmer. “Or you could come to me. Even though I haven’t taught at the university in recent years, I still know quite a few professors.”

Lu Jia nodded and exchanged contact information with Sheng Yujun.

The woman glanced at the message. “The printmaking collection is on the fourth floor. Let Xiao Bai show you around. I have some urgent matters to attend to.”

The printmaking collection here consisted mostly of modern and contemporary works.

Several pieces were by Sheng Yujun herself, ranging from last year’s to works from over a decade ago. There was even a piece by Sheng Yubai, prominently displayed near the center.

Remembering the Sheng Family exhibition from earlier that day, Lu Jia asked, “Miss Sheng, will your paintings… be included in the exhibition hall as well?”

Sheng Yubai hummed in agreement.

However, only her works from before she turned eighteen were included. Apart from the required assignments and graduation project from her time in the Printmaking Major, she had discarded all the rest.

The only exceptions were a few prints that Sheng Yujun had taken with her during her visits to C City, claiming them as birthday gifts.

“Do you want to see them?” Sheng Yubai asked, noticing Lu Jia’s hesitation.

Lu Jia nodded slightly, turning her head to examine the print before her. The engraving technique and conceptualization were remarkably mature, far surpassing the quality of her own student work.

Calculating the year indicated on the print, she realized it was Sheng Yubai’s final project from her freshman year of college.

She genuinely wanted to see Sheng Yubai’s earlier works.

But having just heard the story of her past and understanding her current attitude toward printmaking, Lu Jia feared that such a presumptuous request might reopen old wounds.

To her surprise, Sheng Yubai responded decisively, “Tomorrow… or the day after if I don’t have time. Oh, I almost forgot, there’s an opening ceremony tomorrow.”

Lu Jia paused.

In the months they had spent together, Sheng Yubai had never refused her anything. Even this seemingly presumptuous request was granted without hesitation.

Lu Jia swallowed her questions, knowing she wouldn’t hear the answer she wanted.

But what answer did she even want?

Lu Jia herself wasn’t sure.

Unfortunately, the print Sheng Yujun had was only a proof copy, lacking the original woodblock. Lu Jia’s gaze returned to the artwork, tracing its details inch by inch.

After thoroughly admiring all the treasures on the fourth floor, it was nearly nine o’clock by the time they descended.

“Xiao Lu, have you finished looking around?” Sheng Yujun asked, having emerged from the kitchen and now seated on the sofa, sipping coffee with leisurely grace. She glanced up at the pair on the stairs. “If any piece catches your eye, feel free to take it as a belated welcome gift.”

Lu Jia quickly waved her hand. “Thank you so much, but it’s already an honor to have seen these treasures. I couldn’t possibly accept such a generous gift.”

Sheng Yujun smiled. “We’re all… you and Xiao Bai are from the same school, no need for such formality.”

As it was getting late, Lu Jia bid farewell to Sheng Yujun and initially planned to take a taxi back to her hotel. However, Sheng Yubai insisted on driving her.

“If your mentor found out I dropped you off but didn’t pick you up—leaving a young woman to take a taxi to the outskirts of the city late at night—she’d give me a tongue-lashing I wouldn’t soon forget!” Sheng Yubai joked, then turned serious. “Besides, I wouldn’t feel right letting you go alone.”

After dropping Lu Jia off at the hotel, Professor Sheng Yubai wasn’t surprised to spot a familiar figure in the lobby lounge area.

Just as Lu Jia stepped into the hotel, Rong Yi glanced at her watch, a stack of documents beside her.

“Professor Sheng, finally willing to return my student?” Rong Yi’s tone was cool and detached. “It’s only an hour until midnight. Certainly early.” She deliberately emphasized the word “early.”

Sheng Yubai shot her a sidelong glance, surprisingly refraining from a sharp retort. She merely nodded slightly. “Since Lu Jia is safely back, I’ll be going now.”

“Xiao… Professor Sheng, it’s so late. Are you really going to drive all the way back?” Lu Jia tugged at her sleeve, asking softly, “Why don’t you stay here tonight?”

The woman had looked tired since morning, and after spending the entire day with Lu Jia looking at printmaking, she now had to drive back.

Rong Yi glanced at them, rustling the paper documents in her hands as she gathered them.

Sheng Yubai smiled faintly. “I still need to discuss some matters with my sister. Get some rest early. See you at the opening ceremony tomorrow morning.”

After seeing the woman off, Lu Jia turned to her mentor. “Thank you for bringing me back, Professor.”

Rong Yi had arrived in the lobby early.

She had received a message from one of her students that evening, saying they would be dining with the Sheng sisters and visiting President Sheng’s collection later that night.

A sense of crisis immediately washed over her.

She knew Sheng Yubai avoided printmaking like the plague, yet his elder sister was quite renowned in the field.

Even though Sheng Yujun had shifted her focus to managing the family business, she still occasionally exhibited a few pieces over the years.

If Rong Yi hadn’t known President Sheng personally and been certain of his integrity, she would have suspected the sisters were deliberately using their collection as bait to poach her students.

This couldn’t be allowed to happen!