Chapter 035: Would You Like to Try My Peach Lipstick?

The two of them entered the elevator, one after the other. Wen Ni stood obediently beside Zhou Jingyi, wearing a blue dress adorned with a starry night theme.

Inside the elevator, their reflections appeared side by side. Wen Ni quietly shuffled a bit closer to Zhou Jingyi and said contentedly, “Little Uncle, don’t we look like we’re on our way to get married?”

Zhou Jingyi remained silent, but his body spoke for him as he moved a good few dozen centimeters away from Wen Ni.

Wen Ni was left speechless.

When they reached the first floor, Butler Song reported, “Master Wu, Second Young Master and Second Young Madam are still getting ready.”

Wen Ni inquired, “Did Shen Xuening bring in a makeup team?”

Butler Song nodded slightly and smiled, “Second Young Master arranged for a team especially for Second Young Madam. If First Young Madam would like, you’re welcome to join them.”

Wen Ni shook her head. She tapped her flawless, rosy cheek with a finger; her skin was naturally delicate and luminous.

She was already blessed with a perfect appearance.

Butler Song smiled and quietly withdrew.

Wen Ni gazed at Zhou Jingyi with her clear, bright eyes. “I was born beautiful and can hardly help it. How do you suppose I ended up looking this good?”

Zhou Jingyi picked up a newspaper and lowered his eyes to read. The old master still preferred the traditional way of reading; two newspapers were delivered punctually to their doorstep every day.

Zhou Jingyi browsed through them absentmindedly.

Wen Ni propped her chin in her hand. “Zhou Jingyi, are you not going to say a word to me all day?”

Zhou Jingyi’s ears twitched with annoyance at her chatter. “Could you try talking a bit less?”

Wen Ni pursed her lips and tilted her head, peering at Zhou Jingyi’s newspaper. There was nothing of interest—just news she could easily find online.

How dull.

She leaned closer to Zhou Jingyi, her face nearly touching his. “Zhou Jingyi, do you think my makeup looks nice today?”

Zhou Jingyi, without hesitation, pushed Wen Ni’s face away.

Just as she was about to “pester” him further, the elevator doors slid open.

Shen Xuening appeared, dressed in a high-fashion gown not yet released to the public. Zhou Mingfan followed closely behind, lifting the train of her dress.

Shen Xuening’s makeup was impeccable. She blushed, slightly embarrassed. “Little Uncle, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. I didn’t realize you’d be here; my hair and makeup took a bit longer than I expected.”

Zhou Jingyi rose in silence and strode outside.

Wen Ni followed half a step behind him.

Shen Xuening and Zhou Mingfan trailed one step behind Wen Ni.

Wen Ni remarked to Shen Xuening, “Your dress is quite lovely—and rather magical, too.”

Caught off guard by the compliment, Shen Xuening paused before responding with a smile, “Thank you, Wen Ni.”

Wen Ni glanced sidelong at Zhou Mingfan, who was bending over backward to please Shen Xuening. She quipped, “This dress has even turned your fiancé into your servant—if that isn’t magic, what is?”

With that, Wen Ni spun around and strode off briskly, not bothering to look at the dark expressions that flickered across both Shen Xuening and Zhou Mingfan’s faces.

Zhou Jingyi got into the car.

Shen Xuening said, “Wen Ni, there are only two drivers left at home today. Little Uncle has one car to himself—why don’t you ride with us? We can’t just leave you to take a taxi.”

Zhou Mingfan retorted irritably, “Why do you care? With her sharp tongue, she could probably slide all the way there on her words alone.”

Wen Ni turned back, her laugh cold. “Listen to yourself. With such poor eyesight, it’s a wonder I haven’t sent you to walk the guide path for the blind. Have you swallowed too much medicated oil, spewing nothing but bitter words?”

Zhou Mingfan steadied Shen Xuening and said, “See? She’s like a dog biting a kind hand. Let’s just leave her and go.”

Shen Xuening hesitated. “We can’t really leave Wen Ni behind. Why not ask Little Uncle if he can give her a ride?”

Zhou Mingfan lowered his voice. “Do you really think Little Uncle is that easy to persuade?”

As she climbed into the car, Shen Xuening asked, “So you mean, he won’t give Wen Ni a ride?”

Zhou Mingfan snorted, “Only if Wen Ni gets absurdly lucky.”

A flash of satisfaction glimmered behind Shen Xuening’s light brown eyes. She got into the car, Zhou Mingfan beside her, and told the driver to start.

Their car passed so close to Wen Ni that it nearly brushed her. Zhou Mingfan called out, “Don’t be late, Wen Ni. Don’t embarrass the Zhou family.”

Wen Ni walked up to Zhou Jingyi’s car window, clutching the glass with both hands. “Little Uncle, you know, I lost my mother when I was very young. Later, my grandmother fell ill. My childhood friend abandoned me at my own wedding, and my husband died while doing extreme sports. Isn’t that pitiful?”

Her eyes, full of tears, stared wide at Zhou Jingyi. She pressed her hands together in a pleading gesture. “Please, I beg you, just give me a lift.”

Zhou Jingyi swung the car door open.

Wen Ni’s face lit up with joy as she climbed in, beaming. “Thank you, Little Uncle, you’re a good man. May you be blessed with eighteen sons.”

Zhou Jingyi told the driver to set off.

Wen Ni immediately pulled out her phone, her slender fingers dancing rapidly across the screen, chatting with someone.

Zhou Jingyi closed his eyes to feign sleep.

Suddenly, Wen Ni shook Zhou Jingyi’s arm, curiosity in her voice. “Why is Jiang Shaozhang invited to the Shiyi Banquet? Isn’t his family in heavy industry and intelligent manufacturing?”

Zhou Jingyi frowned, his voice deep. “Jiang Shaozhang?”

Wen Ni nodded, waving her phone. “He said he’ll be at tonight’s banquet and told me to dress up beautifully—so dazzling I might blind him.”

Zhou Jingyi was silent.

Wen Ni took a lipstick from her delicate handbag, opened her phone’s front camera, and began applying it with great care—first to her inner lips, then blending with soft, pink dabs.

When she finished, she flipped her hair, turned, and asked, “Little Uncle, does this shade suit me?”

Zhou Jingyi shot her a brief, indifferent glance.

Wen Ni said, “Your lips look a little pale—makes you seem unwell. Want me to put some lipstick on you?”

Zhou Jingyi rejected her coldly.

Just then, the partition in the car automatically descended.

Zhou Jingyi frowned. Did the driver notice something?

Wen Ni twirled her lipstick, her tone like a wolf tempting a child. “This is peach-flavored. Are you sure you don’t want to try it, Zhou Jingyi?”

A vein throbbed sharply on Zhou Jingyi’s forehead, and regret overwhelmed him. He should never have let Wen Ni into the car.

Suddenly, the vehicle jolted.

Wen Ni was lifted right off her seat and landed squarely on Zhou Jingyi’s lap.

His gaze turned glacial, like a winter chill. “Get off.”

Wen Ni replied innocently, “The car made the first move, not me.”

Zhou Jingyi ground out her name between clenched teeth. “Wen Ni.”

She smiled sweetly. “Just look at you—when you get angry, your lips look even paler. You’re starting to look like you have some serious deficiency. Let me help you.”

She leaned in, lips soft and inviting, closing in on Zhou Jingyi’s, as if about to kiss him.

Her gaze lingered on his lips, which seemed to twitch ever so slightly.

Wen Ni suddenly burst out laughing. On a whim, she raised her lipstick and teased, “Zhou Jingyi, what are you thinking? Could it be you thought I was going to put lipstick on you with my mouth? Or is that what you wanted…”