After a One-Night Stand with a Seductive Bad Woman - Chapter 30

It wasn’t until the morning of their return flight that Sheng Shubai dropped Lu Jia off at her hotel.

 

Lu Jia had been staying with Sheng Shubai for so long, she saw no need to return to her own hotel just for one night.

 

Rong Yi refused, replying sternly that since Lu Jia was her student whom she had brought to Z City for the exhibition, she should also be the one to take her back to C City.

 

Upon receiving the message, Sheng Shubai showed the screen to Lu Jia, unable to suppress a smile.

 

Indeed, she had traveled all this way for the exhibition.

 

Only, it was the Sheng Family’s private exhibition.

 

“I’m not going to squeeze into economy class with you two. Don’t you want to upgrade to business class with me? I’ll pay for it, sis.”

 

The car pulled to a stop at the curb. Sheng Shubai lowered the rear window and nodded toward Lu Jia, who was pushing her suitcase.

 

Lu Jia shook her head. “I don’t want to trouble you, Miss Sheng. Thank you.”

 

Having not seen Rong Yi for several days, Lu Jia had accumulated many questions for her mentor. The flight would be the perfect opportunity to ask them.

 

However, when she finally sat down next to Rong Yi, she found herself sandwiched between her mentor on the left and Shen Zhiwei on the right. Shi Mengxi’s seat was too far away from them.

 

As the plane leveled out, Lu Jia turned to Rong Yi with her tablet. In her peripheral vision, she noticed Senior Sister Shi glancing at them with a dark, lingering gaze.

 

Lu Jia sensed something was off.

 

Perhaps Senior Sister Shi had questions for Director Rong and couldn’t sit with her?

 

Since starting school, Lu Jia hadn’t grown particularly close to her senior sisters or classmates. At most, she had polite, conversational relationships with fellow students. Her connection with Shi Mengxi, however, felt somewhat closer.

 

This wasn’t just because Senior Sister Shi was outgoing. She often visited Rong Yi, and the latter was usually present, giving the impression of an unusually close bond between them.

 

Once, when Lu Jia and Sheng Shubai were walking back to their apartment complex together, they ran into Shi Mengxi. The woman beside them asked Shi Mengxi what it was like living under the same roof as an “old fossil.”

 

Lu Jia remembered Senior Sister Shi pausing for a few seconds, looking momentarily taken aback, before replying, “It’s fine.”

 

As they entered the elevator, Lu Jia caught a glimpse of the woman’s distinctly upturned lips in the mirrored wall. Curious, she asked Sheng Shubai why she was suddenly so interested.

 

The woman simply smiled, saying, “It’s a secret.”

 

Rong Yi’s gentle tapping on the tablet drew Lu Jia back to the present.

 

She glanced at the screen and recognized the print she had given Sheng Shubai a few days earlier.

 

The original woodblock and proof print had already been delivered to the woman, but Lu Jia habitually kept a digital copy.

 

Rong Yi lowered her gaze slightly, scrutinizing the image on the screen. When she looked up again, her expression revealed admiration. “It’s truly remarkable how much progress she’s made in just a few days. The details and techniques have improved significantly, and the linework is excellent.”

 

Though her colleague’s personality was somewhat unconventional, she had surprisingly dedicated herself to teaching Lu Jia.

 

Rong Yi’s concern these past few days hadn’t been in vain. She had worried that her diligent student might be corrupted by that woman’s influence.

 

For a rare moment, Rong Yi felt a flicker of displeasure toward Sheng Shubai. But the next instant, she heard her student earnestly explain, “This portrait is of Professor Sheng. I’ve seen her in person, so it was easier to capture her likeness.”

 

Rong Yi choked.

 

What? That woman, with her sanctimonious air, had claimed she would take her student to a private exhibition, only to lead her to a swimming pool instead?

 

She nearly rose to confront Sheng Shubai in the first-class cabin, but she restrained herself.

 

Looking around, she saw fellow students from their department and even another supervising professor nearby.

 

In such a public setting, she needed to remain calm.

 

Maintaining her professional composure and mentor’s duty, Rong Yi shifted her focus from the print to the detailed photographs Lu Jia had taken of the engraved plate, continuing to offer guidance.

 

Zooming in on specific areas, she praised the smooth, fluid strokes of the carving.

 

“Professor Sheng guided me through the carving process,” Lu Jia said earnestly. “I’m so grateful for her help in finding the right angles.”

 

Rong Yi felt like she was about to explode with anger.

 

In all her years teaching printmaking, she had never seen a professor guide a student by physically carving alongside them.

 

She was furious not only at the woman for her inappropriate behavior, but also at Lu Jia for being so easily manipulated and remaining completely oblivious.

 

Yet when she saw the girl’s clear, innocent eyes, and heard her matter-of-fact tone as she recounted these details, Rong Yi paused. Lu Jia spoke as if she were merely mentioning a casual observation.

 

Rong Yi fell silent for a moment.

 

She pulled out her phone and typed a message, then held the screen up for Lu Jia to read, carefully watching the student’s reaction: “Besides this, did she say anything strange to you, or do anything that made you feel uncomfortable?”

 

*

 

Rong Yi had seen her share of bookish students who were completely clueless about romance. As a fellow woman, she feared Lu Jia might be taken advantage of without even realizing it.

 

When Lu Jia shook her head firmly, Rong Yi breathed a sigh of relief and resumed typing.

 

“Try to avoid interacting with professors outside your major as much as possible. Focus your energy on your artwork. I’ll reimburse you for the exhibition tickets.”

 

Lu Jia nodded obediently.

 

The tension eased. Rong Yi, still puzzled, waved her hand and closed her eyes.

 

She needed to calm down.

 

As for the play, they needed to discuss it again.

 

After hearing Sheng Ling’s story, she firmly believed that the perpetrator deserved to pay the price. Helping was the natural choice for any decent person. Moreover, simply sharing Shen Zhiwei’s usual class schedule was a trivial favor, hardly deserving of any reward.

 

Later, Sheng Shujun approached her, explaining that Lu Jia would also cooperate, arranging for her and Shen Zhiwei to be together as much as possible during campus activities.

 

Rong He entered the room.

 

Having consulted with Lu Jia, he learned that her decision was entirely voluntary, driven by the same reasons as his own. Rong Yi thus allowed Lu Jia to proceed.

 

The seating arrangement on the plane today had been chosen during check-in, with Shen Zhiwei being moved to sit beside them.

 

During their quiet conversation lasting over ten minutes, Shen Zhiwei remained quietly beside them, her head bowed as she doodled on a tablet.

 

Lu Jia was usually adept at observing others, but recalling her recent conversation with President Sheng, she couldn’t help but glance at Shen Zhiwei.

 

She had never been one to judge people by appearances.

 

Objectively speaking, Shen Zhiwei possessed a refined and elegant beauty. Dressed in traditional attire, she could easily pass for a demure and cultured noblewoman from a historical drama.

 

What truly surprised her was the forced and awkward manner Shen Zhiwei had displayed when approaching her—it hadn’t been her imagination.

 

Now that she knew Song Lan’s true nature, Lu Jia couldn’t help but see hidden currents beneath every smile and gesture of Shen Zhiwei’s.

 

The moment Lu Jia glanced over, her eyes met Shen Zhiwei’s, who had just looked up.

 

Uncomfortably, Lu Jia shifted her gaze. A moment later, she felt a light tug on her right sleeve, the force barely perceptible.

 

“Lu Jia,” Shen Zhiwei called softly, “may I call you that?”

 

For the past few days, Lu Jia had been shuttling between the Sheng Family Mansion and Sheng Shubai’s residence, making no further appearances at the printmaking exhibition. Consequently, she hadn’t seen Shen Zhiwei again.

 

Shen Zhiwei had inquired about Lu Jia with Rong Yi, but the woman only said Lu Jia was busy, revealing nothing else and appearing visibly displeased.

 

Hearing their conversation just now, Shen Zhiwei finally understood: Sheng Shubai had been giving Lu Jia private lessons.

 

The Sheng Family…

 

Shen Zhiwei mused for a moment, her eyes flickering slightly.

 

Before coming here, Song Lan had specifically warned her that the Sheng Family held extraordinary influence in Z City. If she encountered them at the exhibition, she should avoid them at all costs to prevent being targeted.

 

Professor Sheng, who taught at C University, was also a key figure in the dossier Song Lan had provided.

 

On the night before her departure, Song Lan leaned against the balcony railing, gazing out at the boundless sea.

 

The estate stood on a remote island in Country A, owned by Song Lan, and accessible only by her private yacht.

 

Having just emerged from the basement, Shen Zhiwei washed the brown bloodstains from her hands as usual and slowly ascended the stairs.

 

“It’s only been a month, but the new ‘Muses’ in the basement are already well-trained, Zhiwei. You’ve worked hard.”

 

Song Lan didn’t turn around, her voice calm and detached. “I’ll take over their training from now on. I have other tasks for you.”

 

Paper documents lay on the desk behind the woman. Shen Zhiwei lowered her head to read them, scrutinizing each word and phrase.

 

“Xiao Bai always had such a clear sense of right and wrong. I wonder if his return will cause you any trouble.”

 

Song Lan chuckled softly, turning to pick up the documents.

 

The flame from a lighter licked the bottom edge of the paper, instantly turning it from scorched brown to jet black before it crumbled into ash, drifting into the sea below.

 

“Zhiwei, you are my most valued student.”

 

The woman’s slender fingers clamped around another cigarette. The thin wisp of white smoke, like her emotionless voice, was dispersed by the night wind. “You’ll bring that girl back for me, won’t you?”

 

Shen Zhiwei smiled with unwavering confidence. “Of course, Teacher.”

 

She was also very interested in the subject of the file.

 

Just then, the girl whose sleeve she had tugged tensed visibly, awkwardly averting her gaze.

 

The startled fawn was truly endearing.

 

It made a skilled hunter want to draw their bow and nock an arrow. Would the panic in those pupils deepen as warm, crimson bl00d trickled down the arrowhead?

 

So beautiful.

 

Lu Jia grew even more uncomfortable under her gaze, subtly shifting her arm to free her sleeve.

 

“…It’s fine.”

 

They saw each other often, so addressing each other as classmates was perfectly normal.

 

Shen Zhiwei’s eyes curved into a smile. “I was too forward the other day. I just felt we had a special connection and really wanted to be friends. I’ve been painting a picture as an apology. Would you accept it?”

 

Though raised abroad, Shen Zhiwei spoke flawless Mandarin. Her voice was soft, with a hint of the Jiangnan water town accent reminiscent of Sheng Shubai’s, and her demeanor was sincerely earnest.

 

Even if Lu Jia had wanted to refuse, she feared disrupting Sheng Shubai’s plans. She remembered her mission: to forge a close relationship with Shen Zhiwei.

 

After a pause, she agreed, “Alright.”

 

Shen Zhiwei seized the opportunity. “Then let’s exchange contact information so I can send you the painting draft.”

 

Fortunately, the plane had Wi-Fi. They added each other as contacts, and soon a file popped up in their chat window.

 

Meeting Shen Zhiwei’s expectant gaze, Lu Jia had no choice but to open the file preview right in front of her, inwardly feeling like this drawing was a hot potato.

 

It was a lightly colored line drawing.

 

Shen Zhiwei had captured their first encounter—that brief morning meeting at the hotel room door.

 

After all, no art student could lack basic drawing skills.

 

The lines were simple yet dynamic, with only a few pale base colors, yet the portrait was remarkably lifelike.

 

Even the small bow on the side of her pajamas had been included.

 

Lu Jia herself had barely noticed it until Sheng Shubai tugged on it once and remarked how cute it was.

 

“It’s beautiful, thank you,” Lu Jia said.

 

Just as she finished looking over the drawing, a new message popped up, prompting her to exit the interface.

 

Shen Zhiwei discreetly averted her gaze.

 

It was a message from Sheng Shubai: “Why are you suddenly online?”

 

Though neither woman was looking at her, Lu Jia straightened her posture.

 

She cradled her phone in both hands, her palms partially obscuring the screen, and dimmed the brightness slightly.

 

“Shen Zhiwei just sent me a file,” Lu Jia replied, sending a screenshot of their chat history, including the drawing. “She said it’s an apology for her rudeness the other day. From her tone, I think she still wants to be friends.”

 

The woman quickly replied, “The drawing is mediocre. It doesn’t compare to my work from ten years ago.”