Limited-Time Attachment - Chapter 26

The massive cruise ship sailed across the sea, its blade-like hull cutting through the waves. Under the starlight, the ocean appeared as deep, undulating dark jade. The waves on either side of the deck reflected shimmering, colorful lights, a scene of decadent luxury.

A party was in full swing on the top deck. Music thundered as colorful lights swirled overhead. A beautiful woman with a wolf cut hairstyle and blue-dyed tips stepped one foot onto the railing of the open second floor and popped a bottle of champagne. Foam and streamers sprayed everywhere, drifting down to the dance floor below as a roar of cheers momentarily drowned out the music.

At the peak of the atmosphere, the wolf-cut woman set the bottle aside and laughingly pulled a girl next to her into an embrace. Just as she was about to speak, her gaze caught a figure sitting quietly in a corner, and she couldn’t help but click her tongue.

“Look at President Song,” the woman said, gesturing for the girl to look toward the corner. “We invited her out to play, but she’s not having any fun at all.”

Song Ming occupied a corner by the dance floor alone. An ivory leather rounded sofa was placed in a prime location; it offered a view of the entire top floor while maintaining a private atmosphere.

A long glass coffee table sat before the sofa, lined with wine bottles and fruit platters. A single wine glass and an ashtray sat at the very edge.

Song Ming sat with her long legs crossed, her elbow resting on her knee. A slowly burning cigarette was held between two fingers. Her eyes looked through the window toward the deck where round tables were set; men and women in formal attire were strolling about.

Even though men and women were letting loose in the nearby dance floor, where desire and schemes sparked in the air. Song Ming’s corner remained quiet, possessed by a jarring sobriety. The hazy, flirtatious atmosphere seemed blocked by an invisible wall at the edge of the long table. Song Ming had sat there alone for a long time, yet not a single person dared to approach her.

Song Ming was thinking about Zhou Jibai.

When Lin Yu had come to discuss the partnership earlier, he mentioned that the second son of the Zhong family had been sent away to handle foreign trade. At the time, she simply thought there was another internal shift within the Zhong Corporation, she hadn’t realized it was because Zhou Jibai was returning to the country.

Currently, the youngest son of the Zhong family had not yet formally taken over corporate affairs, and the other nephews were only handling insignificant tasks. Only Zhou Jibai, upon returning, immediately retook control of Jiaxin.

From that perspective, the most capable junior in the Zhong family was once again Zhou Jibai.

Had that old muddle-head of the Zhong family actually changed his nature?

No, it wouldn’t be that easy. Song Ming appeared to be looking at the people on the deck, but her gaze had no specific focus.

Even if Zhong Zhengcheng were willing, Zhou Jibai wasn’t someone who could be easily brushed off.

As she was thinking, a figure wearing a short skirt that ended at the top of the thighs, fabric tightly hugging her curves burst into Song Ming’s line of sight.

“President Song, let me pour you a glass,” the girl said with a smile.

Song Ming merely looked up. Before she could say anything, two or three more girls walked over, giggling.

With several pairs of legs swaying in front of her, Song Ming frowned and looked toward Jing Lie, who was standing a few steps away, grinning foolishly.

“Why so gloomy?” Jing Lie walked over and threw herself into the sofa, draping an arm over Song Ming’s shoulder. “There are so many beautiful girls here; you can find any type you want. Look, doesn’t that one look like her?”

Jing Lie pointed to a woman dancing on a raised platform in the middle of the dance floor. She wore a black sequined dress, had a slim waist, long legs, red lips, and wavy hair.

Her figure did, indeed, look a bit similar.

Song Ming turned her head to look at Jing Lie and said flatly, “Piss off.”

Jing Lie burst out laughing and cheerfully placed the drinks the girls had poured in front of the two of them. “Here.”

Being pulled back and forth by Jing Lie’s boisterous arm, Song Ming closed her eyes and took a slow breath to suppress her irritation. She picked up her glass with one hand and clinked it against Jing Lie’s.

“Hey, I’ve been wanting to ask for a long time.” Jing Lie didn’t drink her own wine, instead staring at Song Ming.

Song Ming took a sip and looked at her out of the corner of her eye. “What?”

Jing Lie pointed to the corner of her own mouth. “Here… who bit you? It looks pretty intense.”

Several days had passed since the cocktail party where she met Zhou Jibai, but the wound on the corner of her mouth hadn’t healed yet. Jing Lie’s words dragged Song Ming back to that quiet, deserted balcony…

Still saying you don’t love me?

Zhou Jibai’s voice echoed in her mind at that moment, drowning out the inexplicable feelings rising with the memory.

Song Ming closed her eyes and crushed the cigarette butt into the ashtray. Her words were spoken through gritted teeth: “Just an insignificant person.”

After Zhou Jibai’s return, the first advertisement supervised by Jiaxin began its rollout, the very one where the female lead had been changed at the last minute.

Although there had been constant turmoil in the early stages and many industry insiders predicted failure, the final result of the advertisement was unexpectedly good. The brand was extremely satisfied and publicly expressed their intent for a stable partnership.

This was arguably not the first time Zhou Jibai had saved the day, but no matter how excellent she was, there were always those who chose to turn a blind eye.

The Zhong family’s main residence was located in a villa district near the old city. Red brick walls were topped with black iron fences, and meticulously maintained ivy climbed the walls. The flowers in the garden were in full bloom.

The Aston Martin drove into the villa and pulled into a parking spot in the front yard. Zhou Jibai pushed open the car door and ran straight into Zhong Xingzhou.

“Yo, Sister?” Zhong Xingzhou saw Zhou Jibai and sized her up with a frivolous tone. “What are you doing here?”

“Spend some time paying attention to what Dad is doing,” Zhou Jibai said calmly as she turned to close the car door. “There’s a family dinner today. Your brother is coming back too.”

Zhong Xingzhou shrugged indifferently. “Whatever.”

Zhong Xingzhou had always been cynical and lacked any sense of propriety, he wasn’t particularly bright either. Zhou Jibai had no interest in speaking further with him, so she locked the car and headed toward the house.

Zhong Xingzhou trailed a few steps behind, staring at Zhou Jibai’s back for a moment before suddenly catching up. He said with a grin, “Sister, I heard that since you took over Jiaxin again, the performance has been great? Even the CEO of Huanyu wants a stable partnership with you?”

“In business, we only look at contracts,” Zhou Jibai replied, not even glancing at him as she stepped up the stairs. “Intentions don’t count for much.”

“Sister, don’t be like that,” Zhong Xingzhou said, his tone suggesting he felt entitled. “You’re the most successful one in our family when it comes to business. You should teach me. Since I’m going to enter the group to work anyway, learning early is just helping you and Dad share the burden.”

Zhou Jibai paused and turned to look at him. “You’re entering the group?”

Meeting Zhou Jibai’s eyes, Zhong Xingzhou instinctively leaned back and retreated one step down the stairs.

In his memory, Zhou Jibai was always quiet and bland. She didn’t say much and simply did whatever their father told her to do. Getting involved with a woman and making it a city-wide scandal was the most and only outrageous thing she had ever done, and she had been sent abroad to reflect shortly after.

Zhong Xingzhou never thought this sister, who had talent but seemingly no temper, could have such a sharp edge. At that moment, he was startled by her gaze and stammered, “…Isn’t that just a given?”

Zhou Jibai didn’t respond. They stood in a silent standoff. Facing Zhou Jibai’s slightly furrowed brow and displeased gaze, Zhong Xingzhou actually felt a hint of nervousness.

“Xingzhou.”

A soft, gentle woman’s voice came from behind. Zhou Jibai’s eyelashes flickered slightly, and her expression returned to its usual calm.

Zhong Xingzhou felt an inexplicable sense of relief. Unwilling to face Zhou Jibai any longer, he ran to the door in two steps. “Mom.”

The elegant woman dressed in a long dress and a light shawl patted Zhong Xingzhou’s arm. She then looked at Zhou Jibai and said softly, “I guessed you were arriving soon. Why haven’t you come in? What secrets are you two siblings whispering about out here?”

“It’s nothing, just small talk,” Zhou Jibai turned around, her expression fully restored to normal. “Aunt Lin.”