Chapter 3

Lu Yi froze for a moment.
They’d only met once before; it took her a beat to put the handsome face to the name Lin Jinshen.
“Hello, Mr. Lin. I’m Lu Yi.”
“Lin Jinshen.”
The perfect real-life remake of their WeChat opener.
It was easy to leave a chat hanging online; no such luck face-to-face.
Lu Yi held her breath. Her job required constant networking, but she’d never experienced a silence this icy. She forced a smile. “How did you recognize me, Mr. Lin?”
She was hoping to break the ice by steering the conversation.
Didn’t work; Lin Jinshen’s reply only made it chillier: “I’ve seen your photo.”
“You look exactly the same as in your picture.”
His words were blunt, almost abrasive. If that was his way, she’d have to adjust.
Lu Yi found herself at a rare loss for words, was that a compliment or an insult, “you look just like your photo”?
She bit down lightly. “Sharp eyes, Mr. Lin.”
“You’re distinctive. Easy to spot.”
“…”
The conversation flatlined again, and Lu Yi didn’t bother saving it this time.
“Mr. Lin!”
The hotel manager hurried over. He’d been warned the young master was coming, was still tense from yesterday’s near-miss, and only relaxed when he learned it was just a meeting, not another incident. Still, he’d raced to double-check everything before the arrival.
“It’s after regular hours; the gallery’s closed. I’ve brought the key.”
The manager was followed by a small battalion of staff, waiting discreetly for instructions, the scene not so different from what she’d stumbled on yesterday.
“Please,” said Lin Jinshen.
“Thank you.” Lu Yi pressed her lips together.
The manager gestured. “This way, Miss Lu.”
During the month or so leading up to the opening of this exhibition, the two had already become acquainted. The manager hadn’t realized back then that the woman he exchanged daily hellos with might one day become his boss’s wife.
He did a quick self-check, silently relieved that he’d always been respectful and never let his guard down.
“Thank you.”
They took the staff elevator. In addition to the manager, a few other employees crowded in, they had no idea how long they'd tag along. If they followed them all the way, it would look less like a date and more like a company inspection.
Honestly, it felt less like a blind date, more like the boss was touring the premises.
Lin Jinshen looked distant and cool, like someone accustomed to crowds trailing after him.
Lu Yi’s nervous lip-biting made her look more like a reluctant tour guide about to introduce Mr. Lin to an exhibit, rather than some bigwig herself.
She slipped in after Lin Jinshen. The manager followed, lighting up the third-floor button. More staff filed in, leaving barely any room to breathe. Forced to the edge of the elevator, and right up against Lin Jinshen.
The breach in personal space made her uneasy. She stared at the ground and found her gaze level with Lin Jinshen’s legs. Long, perfectly shaped, tailored slacks subtly revealing the lean strength of muscle beneath.
The too-close proximity meant she caught his scent.
It was distinctive. Sharp and clean, like a sun-warmed piece of rare agarwood hidden beneath snow, cool at first inhale, then a subtle but lingering woody note blooming after.
His scent wasn’t overpowering, yet somehow it dominated the air.
It didn’t flood her lungs, it went straight to her head. She was already mentally cataloguing men’s colognes, trying to place which expensive brand it might be.
Nope. Nothing she recognized.
Instinctively, Lu Yi held her breath until the elevator opened. Air rushed in, washing away the intensity of his aura, and she took a discreet, deep breath.
They stepped into the hallway. The manager started chatting about how well the exhibition was received, a lot of guests gave glowing feedback, found the theme and experience genuinely refreshing.
“Miss Lu is both talented and inspired. Working together this time has been such a pleasure. I truly hope we get to collaborate again.”
Lu Yi recognized this as polite social grease. She smiled lightly. “You’re too kind, Manager Chen. I should thank Mr. Lin, in today’s world, not many would still make space for art.”
She glanced up and briefly locked eyes with Lin Jinshen. His gaze was glacial, unshaken by her flattery.
The manager chuckled and added, “Absolutely. Our President Lin has always placed a premium on cultural ambience in the hotel, and he holds us to those standards, too.”
The group arrived at the gallery.
The manager unlocked the door. As it swung open, Lin Jinshen told him and the other staff to go ahead with their own tasks. If he needed anything, he’d call them.
“Of course, President Lin. Miss Lu.” The manager took his cue and slipped away.
Now, it was just the two of them.
Lin Jinshen didn’t walk right in. Instead, he stood aside, offering her the lead, gentlemanly on the surface, though his height up close hinted at an almost intimidating force. He glanced her way, eyes steady. Just as she started to step forward, he spoke, voice low and resonant: “There’s something you might have misunderstood, Miss Lu.”
“…What is that?”
“I don’t understand art. The space we set aside at Huating wasn’t some grand gesture for art’s sake. It was strictly a matter of the hotel’s brand positioning.”
“…”
Lu Yi bit down on her lower lip unconsciously, her full mouth drawn in slightly. She’d only thrown out a line of social nicety, who knew he’d take it so literally? This wasn’t about taste; this was about business. Lin Jinshen didn’t do things for class. He did them for profit.
Huating, as a luxury hotel, prided itself on offering guests refined experiences. “Taste” was good for business.
This exhibition? Just another well-chosen piece for the collection.
His voice was even and neutral, devoid of any warmth or emotion. It was the same tone her boss used when itemizing errors in her proposals during meetings.
Lu Yi was already running escape plans through her mind for how to survive the rest of this encounter.
Fake a sudden phone call about a company emergency, maybe? Just an excuse to bow out gracefully before things got any more awkward.
Nah. Too obvious. Way too desperate.
Stepping into the gallery, the familiar space helped her relax a tiny bit.
“Shall we start now?” Lin Jinshen’s voice snapped her out of her reverie.
Lu Yi blinked. “Start what?”
He replied, “This is my first time doing something like this. I’m not sure how it’s supposed to go. Are we supposed to make small talk first, or jump straight to the point?”
“It’s my first time, too. I think we can just get started.”
The sooner started, the sooner finished.
Lin Jinshen nodded.
Standing this close, she could actually see his lashes, long, deep black, making his gaze feel all-encompassing, like nothing else existed in his world but their conversation.
“We already know each other’s basics, but to be thorough, here’s a short list: I don’t have any bad habits, smoking and drinking only when work calls for it, neither an addiction. I don’t gamble. No shady relationships. My family is close, my parents are understanding. After marriage, living separately or together is fine, whatever works best for you. I’ll do my best to be a good husband. If you have any requests, just say so. As long as it’s reasonable, I’ll make it happen.”
Lu Yi was floored. She hadn’t expected a full-on self-introduction at a blind date. She had zero experience, and zero prep for this.
“Anything you want to ask me?” Lin Jinshen finished, sounding so practiced it was almost as if he’d rehearsed the whole speech. His eyes met hers.
“…No, nothing at the moment.” That was the truth: her mind was a total blank, and besides, she’d never been nosy about other people’s business.
Her thoughts wandered, was student-era Lin Jinshen this formal, too? Did he always answer every question with textbook seriousness?
He couldn’t read her mind. He just nodded. “If anything comes up in the future, feel free to ask.”
That routine felt awfully familiar to Lu Yi, like the last five minutes of an office meeting. Maybe she’d gotten too into the corporate mindset, because she sounded even stiffer than usual: “Is there anything you want to know about me, Mr. Lin?”
“No.”
He elaborated, “Everything I needed to know was in your file.”
“Alright.”
They walked ahead and stopped together in front of an installation called "Breath" by a cutting-edge artist. It was mounted on the wall, a labyrinth of interlocking pipes with crimson liquid flowing through them, like veins pulsing with blood. Even if you didn’t read the artist’s intent, you couldn’t help but get caught in the rush of emotion it stirred.
After a moment of silence, Lu Yi spoke first. “I’ve been in a relationship before.”
“That’s written right here,” Lin Jinshen reminded her.
“So, you don’t mind?”
“Should I?” Lin Jinshen shot back, eyebrow raised.
Lu Yi explained, “Well, you haven’t dated anyone. Maybe you’d feel it was only fair if neither of us had?”
Lin Jinshen paused briefly before replying, “I don’t think fairness really applies to something like this.”
“Alright then.”
They kept going, probably going to finish the whole exhibition together.
She’d expected the conversation to shift into him talking about his career, dropping impressive jargon from his field for her to marvel at, maybe waiting for her to heap on the praise. But, no, other than the initial introductions, he didn’t mention himself again. All their talk stuck to the art on display.
If Lin Jinshen didn’t get a piece, he’d just say so. No fake wisdom, no showing off. Just like he’d said, art wasn’t his thing, and he wasn’t about to pretend otherwise.
If Lu Yi shared her thoughts, he’d sometimes nod, not necessarily agreeing, but respecting her opinion all the same.
It was much more comfortable than she’d imagined.
Honestly? Lin Jinshen was exactly her type. Striking features, deep, thoughtful eyes, he just had that quiet elite vibe. But he was understated, not intimidating, so all together, he was... easy to be around.
If their families did set them up? She thought about it seriously, she didn’t feel averse to the idea at all.
Lin Jinshen looked at her and said, “There’s one thing I should clarify up front, Miss Lu. I’m extremely busy with work, constantly traveling. I won’t have much time at home, and I may not fulfill all the traditional roles of a husband.”
Lu Yi’s eyes sparkled a little. This was the most appealing thing she’d heard all night.
Plenty of money, never underfoot, a husband who’s rarely home? That basically lets her keep her life exactly as it is. Honestly, marriage would just be a formality at that point.
When Lu Yi didn’t answer, Lin Jinshen assumed she was wary of this. After a pause, he added, “Of course, after we’re married, I’ll try to balance things and make more time if I can...”
“No need,” Lu Yi cut in, a rare move for her. Realizing it sounded a bit too blunt, maybe even rude, she quickly explained, “Really, I prefer it that way. Focus on work, I get it.”
“And you?” Lin Jinshen asked. “Any requests of your own?”
Lu Yi had already thought this through when she’d agreed to the family’s plans. She said, “After getting married, I’d like us to live apart. I want my own place.”
Lin Jinshen nodded. “That’s fine.”
“I have a job I genuinely love. I’m not planning on changing careers anytime soon, and sometimes I’ll be just as busy as you are, so I can’t really play the stay-at-home, do-it-all wife.”
“Alright.”
“I’m not into the whole networking, high-society scene either. So, I probably won’t go with you to events unless they’re really family-related.”
“Sure.”
“…”
Lin Jinshen asked, “Anything else?”
Lu Yi gave him a quick smile. “Last one: I don’t want to have kids for at least five years.”
“Can I ask why?” Lin Jinshen’s brows drew together. This one clearly hadn’t been on his bingo card. In his mind, marriage and kids went hand in hand, done together, naturally.
Lu Yi replied, “No special reason. I just don’t feel ready yet, not ready for pregnancy, not ready to raise a child.”
She looked up at him. “If that’s something you can’t accept, I understand.”
“Okay, no problem.”
Lin Jinshen thought for half a beat, then answered, “Your body, your choice. I respect that.”
Lu Yi was a little surprised, he’d agreed so fast, so casually, for a second she wondered if he hadn’t really processed her meaning, or simply didn’t care.
Lin Jinshen seemed to catch her confusion and said, “If you don’t feel tonight’s conversation was totally clear, we can have the lawyers put everything into a prenuptial agreement, whatever your conditions, we’ll put them in writing.”
A prenup?
Already this official?
There was way too much to process, Lu Yi’s mind was still spinning.
After they’d finished the exhibition, Lin Jinshen draped his suit jacket over his left arm and thanked her, saying he’d really learned a lot tonight.
The way he said it, Lu Yi couldn’t help recalling the time she’d taught her own grandpa to use a smartphone.
Grandpa used to say: “I learned something!”
Lu Yi kind of wanted to laugh.
Just before leaving the exhibit hall, Lin Jinshen offered her a ride home. She explained she’d driven herself, so he arranged for someone to retrieve her car from the parking lot.
Lu Yi took the moment to check her phone.
A new friend request had popped up.
Message: Hello Miss Lu Yi, this is Zhong Wenlun.
Zhong Wenlun, youngest son of the Zhong family, they’re in shipping, and also one of the guys her parents had lined up for her to consider marrying.
Lin family or Zhong family, in the end, the choice was hers.
Xu Shuyi sent a message: [I asked Xiao Zhong to add you, go ahead and chat a bit.]
Lu Yi replied: [That’s not necessary. I already met Lin Jinshen today. Let’s just go with him, no need to complicate things.]
Xu Shuyi: [When you shop, you always compare options. How can you only check out one candidate for marriage?]
Xu Shuyi: [I still think Xiao Zhong is the better pick.]
Xu Shuyi: smile.JPG
“…”
Xu Shuyi didn’t seem to realize this kind of smiley emoji looked more like a threat than a greeting.
Lu Yi gave in and replied, Okay.
A green Mini was parked by the entrance. She took her keys, said goodbye, and got in.
As the car rolled away, Lu Yi glanced in the rearview mirror and caught a glimpse of his tall figure, not leaving yet. He was talking to his people, probably work stuff, head dipped in that polite, businesslike way of his.
Before tonight, their paths had never crossed.
After tonight… would anything really change? Even Lu Yi didn’t know for sure.
She hadn’t even left the roundabout when her phone chimed, a new call, number unknown. Lu Yi hesitated half a second, then answered, switching it to speaker and resting it on the center console.
“Hello?”
“Lu Yi.”
“Drive safe.”
His voice, deep and steady, every word measured, filled the car.