After a One-Night Stand with a Seductive Bad Woman - Chapter 25

Second-floor bedroom, balcony.

 

It was the dead of night, past midnight. In the past twenty-four hours, Sheng Shubai had only slept for about four hours, yet she felt surprisingly alert.

 

Or rather, she had been feeling somewhat tired earlier.

 

But after hearing that news and being questioned by her own sister about her feelings for Lu Jia, sleep had become impossible.

 

Leaving the study earlier, she had passed the wine cabinet on the first floor and grabbed a bottle of Sheng Shujun’s red wine. She poured half a glass into a stemmed glass, the dark liquid capturing the full expanse of the night.

 

Do I have no interest in Lu Jia?

 

Sheng Shubai asked herself honestly. Perhaps there was some interest.

 

Lu Jia’s appearance pleased her, and they were compatible in bed. Apart from the occasional naive remark that was both amusing and disarming, her sincerity seemed untainted by ulterior motives.

 

In every aspect, she was quite remarkable.

 

Even though Lu Jia was studying printmaking—a field Sheng Shubai had always avoided—her natural talent in the art form left her in awe.

 

Sheng Shubai admitted that his decision to return to Z City for the art exhibition’s opening ceremony was partly motivated—perhaps one or two tenths—by his desire to introduce Lu Jia to some senior artists.

 

Lu Jia was a genuinely rare talent.

 

Otherwise, why would he have made a special trip back to the Old Mansion, a place he hadn’t set foot in for over a decade, and even come for a charitable cause?

 

But who would go to such lengths for a casual fling?

 

Pulling his thoughts away from the past, Sheng Shubai, with his thirty-odd years of experience, saw the situation with crystal clarity.

 

He acknowledged that he might harbor some affection for Lu Jia, but it was certainly not love.

 

After all, he had never been a good person.

 

Having lost the ability to trust, he had spent over a decade drowning in bars, witnessing countless women of all types.

 

Some were beautiful, others had intriguing personalities. Occasionally, he would develop a fleeting fondness for someone, only to abruptly cut it off a split second before things turned intimate.

 

Without hesitation, he would turn away and withdraw.

 

It wasn’t that the other party had done anything wrong; they were simply naive, and Sheng Shubai just wanted to play along a little longer.

 

A few flirtatious remarks, holding hands, and perhaps a slightly more daring embrace would be enough.

 

As for what those who approached her were thinking or what their gazes implied, Sheng Shubai understood them perfectly.

 

Besides, everything was consensual. Who could possibly criticize her?

 

Lu Jia was the only exception.

 

The night they first met, Lu Jia’s youthful innocence as she sat alone at the bar was undeniably alluring.

 

When Sheng Shubai sent over a drink, she initially thought she’d encountered a student girl with more experience than she’d expected. But the moment their eyes met, she dismissed that notion.

 

She’s too innocent, Sheng Shubai thought.

 

When Lu Jia blocked her path, her words were undeniably reckless, and Sheng Shubai’s agreement felt almost like a supernatural compulsion.

 

It wasn’t until after their second night together, when she confirmed Lu Jia’s identity, that Sheng Shubai realized they would soon be colleagues in the same faculty.

 

Sheng Shubai had always disregarded such formalities.

 

Besides, as Rong Yi’s student, sleeping with her was a win-win situation.

 

As one gets older, certain natural desires and needs inevitably arise. Since there was a clean, trustworthy person right beside him, who even insisted on signing a formal contract, why not take advantage of the situation?

 

He valued Lu Jia’s docility, stamina, and occasional endearing clumsiness. He even worried she might overexert herself and suffer, often vying to take care of her instead.

 

In return, he didn’t mind introducing Lu Jia to his network or providing resources that other girls coveted—all of which he possessed.

 

Of course, Lu Jia mustn’t ever ask for anything he couldn’t give.

 

This carefully chosen little wooden figure clearly knew nothing of love.

 

Sheng Shubai took a sip of wine.

 

The smooth liquid flowed over his lips and tongue, down his throat. It poured over his steadily beating heart, dripping invisibly into the tranquil, undisturbed lake of his heart.

 

Lu Jia must never disappoint me, he thought.

 

Replacing her would be such a hassle. Where else could he find someone so perfectly suited to his desires?

 

The venue buzzed with activity as the opening ceremony began.

 

Sheng Shubai had barely slept all night, her dark circles barely concealed by a thick layer of makeup. She had been ready to leave at dawn, but her older sister forcibly dragged her out of the driver’s seat, insisting that she and her assistant take over.

 

Assistant Liu, a young woman in her late twenties, had been with Sheng Shujun since graduating. The car glided smoothly through the city, and Liu Zhao even reminded Sheng Shujun about her scheduled meetings for the day while they waited at a long red light.

 

Leaning back in the rear seat with her eyes closed, Sheng Shubai teased her sister, “No wonder you’re President Sheng. You can recruit such all-around talents like Assistant Liu. Unlike me back in C City, where I have to drive myself everywhere.”

 

Sheng Shujun lowered her phone and glanced at her sister. “You look exhausted. Still in the mood to tease me?”

 

Sheng Shujun’s relationship with Liu Zhao was far from platonic; they were essentially bed partners. She had taken a liking to the intern, approved her full-time employment after graduation, and gradually seduced her over time.

 

In the past, Sheng Shujun had dismissed her younger sister’s private teasing. But today, making such remarks in front of Xiao Zhao felt like a deliberate retort to Sheng Shubai’s words from the previous night.

 

“If you’d just come back, I’d arrange not just a driver, but ten of them, and guarantee you wouldn’t have to lift a finger.”

 

The woman’s voice remained steady. “Second Miss Sheng, have you considered this?”

 

“I don’t deserve such luxury,” Sheng Shujun replied. “I prefer to handle things myself.”

 

She sighed and rubbed her temples. “Alright, I’ll close my eyes for a bit. I need to be at my best for the ceremony.”

 

Sheng Shujun nodded.

 

She pressed a button, and the partition rose. The curtains on both windows had already been drawn, dimming the light. Soon, she heard the even breathing of the person beside her.

 

Originally, this trip hadn’t required her presence.

 

But Sheng Shubai’s vehement reaction the previous night had left Sheng Shujun uncertain whether her younger sister might lose control upon unexpectedly seeing Song Lan’s student.

 

After a moment’s hesitation, she instructed Liu Zhao to postpone the meeting and came here to check on things herself.

 

The villa was conveniently close to the venue.

 

By the time they disembarked, the opening ceremony was about to begin.

 

With Sheng Shujun by his side, staying low-profile was impossible.

 

The moment they appeared, a crowd gathered around them. Sheng Shubai flashed an impeccably polite smile, patiently enduring minutes of flattery and polite conversation, handling the situation with practiced ease.

 

Finally, after the greetings subsided, Sheng Shubai glanced around. His gaze inadvertently swept past Lu Jia in the distance, lingering briefly before noticing the young woman who had emerged from beside her.

 

It was Shen Zhiwei, one of Song Lan’s students.

 

Having seen her photo the night before, Sheng Shubai had to admit that Song Lan was exceptionally selective when choosing students—at least, she clearly prioritized looks.

 

The students in the group photo, though all around the same age, were uniformly beautiful young women.

 

Shen Zhiwei stood out even among them, her delicate and gentle demeanor carrying the air of a refined young lady. Yet her eyes sparkled with warmth, blending dignity with approachability, making her instantly likable.

 

Except to Lu Jia.

 

That morning, Lu Jia had just woken up when an unfamiliar young woman knocked on her door.

 

Having stayed up almost all night, she had reluctantly put down her tablet just as dawn was breaking.

 

Lu Jia mentally reviewed the exhibits she had seen during the day, then flipped through a few pages of the materials Rong Yi had given her. After only about two hours of sleep, she got out of bed, her steps feeling light and airy.

 

After briefly hearing the other woman’s introduction, Lu Jia forced herself to stay alert and politely reciprocated with her own name.

 

But why was this newly arrived foreign exchange student from Director Rong’s team sticking so close to her?

 

Was it because Senior Sister Shi was clinging to Director Rong particularly tightly, or because the two Academic Master’s students were always arm-in-arm like conjoined twins, that Shen Zhiwei had approached the lone newcomer?

 

Lu Jia was usually even-tempered when she woke up, but after such a short night’s sleep, she kept wishing she could steal a moment to rest.

 

Instead, Shen Zhiwei kept pestering her with questions, explaining that she had grown up abroad, rarely returned to China, and was unfamiliar with many aspects of the country.

 

Guided by a sense of camaraderie, Lu Jia answered every question, though she maintained a reserved demeanor.

 

She relied heavily on intuition when interacting with people.

 

Shen Zhiwei’s gaze was perfectly normal, her demeanor refined, and her appearance elegant. Apart from being a bit overly enthusiastic, there was nothing to criticize.

 

Yet Lu Jia couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

 

This feeling intensified when they arrived at the venue. Shen Zhiwei warmly took Director Rong’s arm, declaring she felt an instant connection with her.

 

An inexplicable unease surged through Lu Jia’s chest.

 

She sensed that Shen Zhiwei was the kind of person everyone wanted to befriend—a “hot commodity” who made others regret not meeting her sooner. Without betraying her discomfort, Lu Jia subtly withdrew her hand from Shen Zhiwei’s grasp and excused herself to the restroom.

 

She splashed a handful of cold water on her face, hoping to clear her head.

 

Bending over, she closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, a familiar, tall figure stood beside her reflection in the mirror.

 

Sheng Shubai crossed his arms and glanced at her. “What were you doing last night? You look exhausted.”

 

How could someone so young look even more drained than me, who stayed up past midnight reviewing exhibition materials?

 

Lu Jia dared not reveal the truth.

 

She feared that if Shen Zhiwei learned she had been secretly studying photos of the exhibits late at night, she would refuse to let Lu Jia take any more pictures for reference during her upcoming visits to the Sheng Family’s museum.

 

As the opening ceremony approached, most attendees had gathered on the first floor of the venue, leaving only the two women behind.

 

Sheng Shubai didn’t press further. Instead, she tapped a few times on her phone and handed it to Lu Jia. The screen displayed their chat window, with a message lingering in the edit box, the cursor blinking at the end, unsent.

 

Lu Jia glanced at the contact name at the top: “Xiao Sheng.” She paused, then continued reading:

 

Why was Shen Zhiwei with you earlier?

 

Lu Jia was about to reply when she paused for a beat, took Sheng Shubai’s phone, and typed a response:

 

We just met this morning. She knocked on my door early, saying she’s a graduate student from abroad studying under Director Rong for the time being and wanted to introduce herself. Do you know her too, Miss Sheng?

 

Know her? Sheng Shubai lowered her gaze, silently pressing her lips together.

 

She forced down the words she wanted to say, took back her phone, and typed, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the edges.

 

Lu Jia leaned closer, watching Sheng Shubai slowly type:

 

She’s Song Lan’s student.

 

Lu Jia’s head snapped up, meeting the woman’s meaningful gaze.

 

The opening ceremony concluded.

 

Sheng Shubai turned back, spotted Lu Jia in the crowd, and walked straight toward her.

 

Rong Yi nodded slightly. “I’ll take the people with me. They should all be in the Fourth Exhibition Hall by morning. If you need anything, just text me. Lu Jia will make sure you see it.”

 

Rong Yi had barely acknowledged her when Shen Zhiwei, standing nearby, spoke up: “Professor Sheng, what a coincidence.”

 

She knows, Sheng Shubai thought.

 

Sheng Shubai’s brow furrowed coldly. As a senior scholar, she couldn’t publicly embarrass a junior. “Hmm,” she replied curtly.

 

A lingering hope that this girl might genuinely want to return to China, without Song Lan’s interference, vanished completely.

 

“I didn’t expect to run into you so soon. My professor told me to send his regards if I saw you at C University.”

 

A mouse wishing the cat a happy New Year, Sheng Shubai thought with a derisive snort. “I’m doing perfectly well. As for your Professor Song, I wonder how he’s been sleeping these past few years. Is he getting a good night’s rest every night?”

 

She deliberately drew out and emphasized the last words, but the girl’s smile remained unwavering, as if she hadn’t grasped the veiled meaning. “My professor has been in excellent health, thank you for your concern.”

 

I wish that were true, Sheng Shubai thought.

 

She said nothing more, beckoned Lu Jia over, and took hold of the girl’s slender wrist.

 

As Lu Jia prepared to leave with Sheng Shubai, Shen Zhiwei’s voice drifted over, tinged with feigned curiosity: “So Professor Sheng and Xiao Lu are quite close.”

 

The exhibition hall was sparsely populated, and their group stood near the center, though not in a particularly secluded corner. Given their striking appearances and Sheng Shubai’s presence, they had already attracted considerable covert attention.

 

Sheng Shubai turned, her gaze toward Shen Zhiwei growing colder. “What are you implying?”

 

As fellow faculty and students from the same department, offering assistance wasn’t inappropriate. Yet Shen Zhiwei’s tone twisted the situation, suggesting an unspoken intimacy between them.

 

Art exhibitions drew a diverse crowd. While Sheng Shubai herself didn’t care about rumors, Lu Jia’s career was just beginning.

 

Shen Zhiwei smiled innocently. “Nothing at all. Xiao Lu was the first friend I made after returning to China. I’m just pleased she gets along so well with Professor Sheng. She’s truly likable.”

 

“Didn’t we just meet?” Lu Jia interjected abruptly.

 

She looked earnestly at Shen Zhiwei, her voice filled with genuine confusion. “I don’t think we’re really friends, Classmate Shen.”