Chapter 38

In the Chengxi Garden compound.
As Lu Yi unlocked the door, Puff’s anxious meows rose up. These days, now that she’d grown up some, Puff knew how to put on a show, Lu Yi opened the door to find Puff sitting prim and proper, wearing an angelic, innocent look that could charm anyone, human or cat alike.
Since Puff and Lin Jinshen had called a truce, Lu Yi could finally enjoy the “welcome home” service again.
“Miaow!!”
Puff swirled around Lu Yi’s legs once in greeting, then circled over to Lin Jinshen, making a whole grand round, even if all she got for her trouble was a brisk tap on the head as he bent to change his shoes. Puff pulled her non-existent neck even shorter, but was clearly over the moon.
If “suck-up” had a feline form, Puff would be it.
“…”
Lu Yi hung up her bag. “Be honest, have you been sneaking her cat treats on the side?”
Lin Jinshen straightened up, solid as a wall. He glanced at Puff and replied, “Isn’t she supposed to be on a diet? You said no extras.”
Even though he couldn’t tell any progress, the way she melted into her cat bed, she was basically a furry puddle.
“You didn’t give her any?”
“Did you want me to?”
Lu Yi said no. So it wasn’t cat treats that won her over. She’d wanted peace between them, just not like this, her own child, abandoned for a man who didn’t even butter her up.
He didn’t even hold her!
How could she not be jealous? She was the one who’d fed Puff into a chubby little propane tank, and now Puff was ready to pledge eternal loyalty to a guy who couldn’t even be bothered.
Lin Jinshen strode inside, long legs, two steps and he was gone, Puff trailing him eagerly on her stubby legs.
Complicated feelings.
Lu Yi stared after Puff, feeling like an overworked mother whose daughter had just run away with the first pretty-faced troublemaker offering candy.
Maybe she really was at fault. She’d been way too strict with Puff’s food lately.
Lin Jinshen headed for the kitchen island to pour water. Noticing Lu Yi watching him, he asked, “Want a drink?”
“Nope.”
Right now, all she wanted was for her little furball to stay far, far away from him.
At her words, Lin Jinshen just shrugged and finished off the half glass of water himself. He tipped his head back, the lines of his throat stretched tight, Adam’s apple shifting as he swallowed, sharp, cold, threaded with tension and restraint.
Well, maybe he wasn't just some punk after all. Lu Yi revised her earlier assessment and looked away.
Lu Yi headed upstairs for a shower. When she came back down in new clothes, Lin Jinshen was nowhere to be seen, but Puff was exactly where she always was, sprawled on her back, fluffy belly on full display, waiting for pets.
“Meow!” With her mouth parted, she flashed those tiny, fierce kitten teeth.
Lu Yi had zero resistance. For now, she was willing to forgive Puff’s betrayal. She crouched down, gave her a thorough rub, then brushed out her fur, and for once, broke her own rule and gave the cat an extra treat.
Maybe, just maybe, she could win back this wayward girl’s little feline heart.
Upstairs, Lin Jinshen was just coming out of the shower, only realizing as he started down that he wasn’t instinctively heading for the study like usual. He didn’t think too hard about why.
As soon as Puff heard someone coming, she ditched Lu Yi without hesitation and dashed toward Lin Jinshen.
She swore she saw actual flattery on a cat’s face.
Lin Jinshen bent down with one hand and easily scooped up the hefty little furball. He carried her over, then unceremoniously dumped her back onto the carpet. Puff tumbled down and then trotted right back over, only for him to toss her again. It was honestly kind of mean, but Puff was thrilled, clearly thought it was a game.
Lu Yi pinched the bridge of her nose. She’d had this cat for two years and suddenly didn’t understand her at all!
Maybe this was the difference between Mom and Dad?
Lu Yi made a noncommittal sound. What “Mom and Dad”? She had to be losing it tonight.
Lin Jinshen walked over and sat down next to her to talk about the wedding party. They’d need the same number of bridesmaids and groomsmen on each side, and for his groomsmen, he mentioned Gu Yu and Ji Changming, his childhood friends.
Things were pretty similar on Lu Yi's side, so they exchanged info.
It only took a few lines to settle. After that, there really wasn’t much else to talk about.
While they spoke, Puff scampered off, jumped onto the kitchen island, and started swatting at the faucet. Apparently, she fancied herself a plumber tonight.
Lu Yi whipped out her phone, filming the crime in progress, lips curved, her heart melting. Nothing soothed a messy workday like an adorable cat. Suddenly, everything that went wrong at the office felt like no big deal.
Lin Jinshen didn’t move, his gaze drifting from the cat on her phone screen to her profile.
Half a minute slipped by.
The faucet, under Puff’s relentless attention, twisted open and sent a trickle of water out. She gleefully tried to catch the stream with her paw.
Lu Yi’s first instinct was to rush over and turn it off.
Lin Jinshen stopped her with a gentle press to her hand, keeping her in place. “Let her play for a bit.”
The way he said it, like some doting parent. Lu Yi was about to explain, “Cats don’t realize they’ve done something wrong unless you catch them in the act.” But as she turned, she realized how close they were.
Nighttime. Warm light. Their breaths tangling together.
The vibe was basically screaming kiss me.
Lu Yi looked up through her lashes, gaze landing on his maddeningly kissable lips. A rush of Lin Jinshen memories flashed through her head: him appearing out of nowhere to stand in front of her, holding her hand, teasing her, muttering about their phones being connected… She grinned, leaned in first, and brushed her nose gently along his jaw.
Like two animals, meeting for the first time, testing each other’s scent.
She tipped her head up and kissed him. Given their height difference, it took effort, she had to climb onto his shoulders to reach.
At some point, she didn’t even know when, Lin Jinshen pulled her all the way over, settling her face-to-face on his lap. He leaned back slightly, one hand bracing himself, the other planted firmly at her waist.
Her waist was so small his hand could span it easily.
The difference in their sizes was obvious: in Lin Jinshen’s arms, she was all delicate, small angles and curves.
Lu Yi cupped his jaw and kissed her way down, savoring the shape of his bones. From above, it looked like she was in control, but really? She was the one being thoroughly kissed, the tip of her tongue numbed from his teasing, breath stolen away until her cheeks flushed scarlet with the lack of oxygen.
She could practically feel the predator waking inside him, dangerous energy coiling all around her.
The water was still running. The splashy sound filled the room.
Face burning, teetering on the edge of melting in his arms, Lu Yi collapsed against his shoulder just to breathe. It was just a kiss, but her whole body felt slick with sweat, skin buzzing with static.
She could only latch onto two of his fingers through his shirt, gasping for air. Finally, she managed, “We can’t go further.”
“Period.”
“...”
She sounded so breezy it was almost ridiculous, like a leaf caught in the wind.
His body went tense beneath her, she didn’t even need to look to imagine the expression on his face. She hid a grin, completely and utterly satisfied, nothing was more delightful than watching Lin Jinshen get shot down.
If she’d started the fire, she definitely wasn’t planning on putting it out. Lu Yi smoothed her dress, preparing to get off his lap.
But Lin Jinshen held her fast, palm to her lower back, pressing her against his chest. His voice was low and rough, amused and resigned. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Nope.” She grinned. “It was just a kiss. How was I supposed to know it’d end up like this?”
“Mm.” Lin Jinshen’s arms tightened, like he was trying to ground himself. His voice dropped. “Just let me hold you a little longer.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything.”
So Lu Yi stayed, draped over his shoulder, letting him hold her.
The AC kept the room cool, but he was burning hot, hugging him was honestly more comfortable than she’d expected, like snuggling a giant plush bear.
But holding wasn’t quite as innocent as it sounded. All it did was wind them both tighter and tighter. By the end, Lu Yi wasn’t feeling very steady herself. Hormones, what a menace.
Lin Jinshen eventually went upstairs and took another cold shower.
By the time he came back and slipped under the covers, cold air was still radiating off him.
Lu Yi suddenly felt a little guilty. “You’re not going to get sick, are you?” She remembered the last time he caught a cold. Sure, he worked out and ate healthy, looked tough enough, but in reality, he was more delicate than he let on.
Lin Jinshen: “I’ll live.”
“Really? You said that last time and then, ”
“Last time was three showers.” Lin Jinshen was trying to protest, it wasn’t like he was so fragile that one cold shower would knock him out.
"???"
Lu Yi froze for a split second. Wait, wasn't it a cold shower that made him sick last time, too? Curling her lips in a mock-serious tone, she teased, "Young man, you’ve gotta learn some self-control, you know!"
Didn't he say he was never that into this kind of thing?
They'd gone through several boxes of condoms already, she couldn't recall a single time they'd held back.
Lin Jinshen clearly realized he’d slipped up, but just rolled with it. Pulling her into his arms, he breathed in the scent of her hair and mumbled, "I am very controlled, actually."
He hadn’t broken any rules.
So, technically, it wasn’t indulgence.
The next day, Lu Yi returned to work as usual.
She hadn’t checked the company group chat after leaving yesterday, so who knew what drama she’d missed. After dropping her bag at her desk and heading to the break room for water, Yu Qian and two other coworkers sidled up with conspiratorial grins.
Apparently, after Lu Yi left last night, Song Zhixing went from pale to thunderous with rage. With Lu Yi setting the precedent, no one else put up with him either. The group ate, drank, then packed up and bailed.
No matter how bossy Song Zhixing acted, there’s no holding back a dozen people ready to bounce.
In the end, all he could do was grudgingly call it a night and suggest they continue tomorrow, face completely lost.
Yu Qian scoffed, "Since when did Yixing change its name to ‘Song Corp’? The audacity on that guy, really acts like he owns the place!"
"And Xiao Yi, your hubby yesterday was honestly a hero. So handsome! The way he shut down Song Zhixing… chef’s kiss."
You don’t realize how tragic the comparison is until you see someone better, Lin Jinshen stepped in and, boom, Song instantly looked like trash. On every level, even!
Lu Yi popped a teabag in her mug and poured steaming hot water.
One coworker looked worried, though. "I'm still a little anxious. That bastard Song seems like the type to hold a grudge. What if he tries to make trouble for you? He’s got ‘petty little man’ written all over his face."
After all, Song Zhixing was still the client. If he made a fuss, Yixing wouldn’t be dumb enough to antagonize the moneyman over just one staffer.
"Yeah, seriously, Xiao Yi, keep your guard up," another chimed in.
Lu Yi nodded, already having guessed as much. She reassured them with a soft smile, "Don’t worry. I’ll be fine."
At ten, Sister Wei called Lu Yi into her office. As Lu Yi stood up, coworkers shot her nervous looks, everyone could guess, the odds were grim.
"Sit."
Sister Wei leaned back, pen in hand, a polite smile still lingering as Lu Yi entered. "About last night, I’m aware of the situation. The other side is furious and wants to terminate the partnership."
"I’m sorry," Lu Yi said.
"No need to apologize. The contract’s clear, we haven't broken any terms. They can’t just end things because they feel like it."
Sister Wei continued, "My suggestion is for you to withdraw from this project. Yixing’s got other projects you can help with, or you could take a break, clear your head, try something new. Think of it as a breather."
Lu Yi had expected to be fired, so stepping back from the project caught her off guard. Clearly, Sister Wei had gone to bat for her.
"I know how capable you are. Don’t let this get to you. Keep up the good work, okay?"
"Thank you, Sister Wei."
"Alright, get back out there."
Lu Yi stood and left the office.
Her coworkers gathered around to ask what Sister Wei said, and Lu Yi filled them in honestly.
"Wow, I can’t tell if that’s a punishment or a reward. Honestly, getting pulled off that nightmare sounds amazing, you don't have to deal with that jackass anymore," one coworker sighed, equal parts relieved and jealous.
Every single extra day on that hellish project probably took a year off your life.
Lu Yi couldn’t fault HR’s solution, this was the best possible outcome.
Only now she felt a little... hollow inside.
Lu Yi loved curating, brainstorming with teammates, making good ideas come alive, actually putting her skills to use. But work always seemed to get derailed by nonsense unrelated to the job.
Meanwhile, Song Zhixing finally got a response from Yixing about the fallout. He wasn’t thrilled that Lu Yi was only being booted from his project, he’d wanted worse, but it was still satisfying. He replied, hoping that in the future, Yixing staff would at least demonstrate some basic professionalism.
["Of course, sir, we understand. This incident has been a wake-up call, and we’ll remind our team to be mindful of their workplace attitude."]
Song Zhixing closed the chat window.
That afternoon, his family called and asked him to come home.
After work, he drove over; both his older brothers and their wives were there. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, he asked dryly, "What day is it? Everyone’s here."
The Song family had their hands in both politics and business. The two older brothers ran successful companies, they owned several factories, pulling in nine-figure annual profits. Song Zhixing, not exactly the family pride, still never wanted for anything thanks to his siblings' success.
"Why are you all so serious? What happened?" Song Zhixing asked.
Their mother answered first. "Your brothers' factories were inspected today."
"Isn’t that normal? Doesn’t Uncle always tip us off? My brothers fake compliance, and everything blows over. Hasn’t that worked every time?"
His mother’s face had darkened. "This check was a surprise inspection, your uncle didn’t know about it, either. And this time, they found real problems. Big ones. We might be forced to shut down and overhaul the whole place."
Zhixing’s hand froze on the bottle cap. "It’s that bad?"
"It gets worse," his mother went on. "Your brothers just signed a massive contract. If we can't deliver because of this shutdown, the penalty fee will be astronomical." She looked right at him: "Zhixing, have you pissed off anyone you shouldn’t have lately?"
Suddenly, every pair of eyes in the room spun toward him.
"You know what I do for work, who could I possibly offend?" Zhixing hedged, voice shaky. He thought of Lu Yi, but quickly dismissed it. She was just some mid-level employee. Her husband might be rich, but no way he was that influential.
Impossible. This wouldn’t all blow back on him, right?
His second brother saw right through him, gaze sharp and accusing. "Listen, Third. Big bro and I both know this isn’t just bad luck. Someone’s deliberately coming after the Song family. You sure you haven’t messed with the wrong person?"
Zhixing slumped into a seat, eyes blank. "I... I honestly don’t know. Maybe it wasn’t even me."
"Well, if we can’t figure out who’s targeting us or what they actually want, the whole Song family could go down for this," his second brother warned.
And make no mistake, this was not the end.
This is only the beginning.
…
As the wedding date drew closer, Madam Xu was even more on edge than Lu Yi, she checked every detail obsessively, even went to the bank to bring out the family heirloom bracelet. She pressed it into Lu Yi’s hand, voice thick with tears, saying it was from her own mother.
Madam Xu had always been sentimental, but now she was really about to marry off the daughter she’d raised all these years.
Lu Yi decided to come home for a few days. She mentioned it to Lin Jinshen, who didn’t mind at all.
She brought Puff home too, cat supplies were all there already, so all she needed was the cat itself.
Back home, all that office fatigue evaporated. She headed straight to her old room, finding it spotless, just the way she’d left it.
“Didn’t touch a thing. I’m the only one who cleans in here.” Madam Xu leaned against the door, waving her out for dessert.
The family of three sat in a neat row at the table, each sipping sweet soup.
Lu Kangcheng shot his daughter a sly look. “Ever since you moved out, your mom still goes into your room three times a day.”
“That’s funny. When I was living here, you barely glanced at me,” Lu Yi teased, swirling her spoon and flashing Madam Xu a grin.
“What’s there to look at? You know how it is, distance makes the heart grow fonder.” Madam Xu kept a straight face. “You’re only allowed to crash here a few days, any longer and I’ll kick you out myself.”
“Then I guess I’ll stay until you’re fed up enough to really throw me out!”
Lu Kangcheng smothered a chuckle behind his bowl. “So she’ll never be able to get rid of you, huh?”
Madam Xu feigned annoyance, but behind the bluster she couldn’t hide her smile. She threatened to toss both father and daughter out for conspiring against her.
After dessert, they went for a walk. Lu Yi slipped a leash on Puff. The little cat was wary at first, trembling at the unfamiliar world, but once they hit the sidewalk, Puff darted ahead, nose to the ground like a curious puppy.
They chatted about the wedding venue, Lin's family had booked an old seaside castle on an island.
Madam Xu thought the whole thing was ridiculously extravagant; the wedding budget alone made her want to faint. But the Lin family insisted, saying only the best would do.
“Honestly, I was against the Lins at first, but looking back, you chose well.” She glanced sideways at Lu Yi. “So, how are things with you and Jinshen?”
Lu Yi gave her usual answer: “We’re good.”
“That’s all you ever say, ‘good’! You’ve been living together two months now. Surely you have an opinion?” Madam Xu pressed.
“He’s good.”
“Very good.”
Lu Yi caught her mom’s skeptical stare and broke into a laugh. She meant it, but honestly, if asked to articulate why Lin Jinshen was “good,” she’d be at a loss for words.
Finally, she offered an example: “Actually, he really doesn’t like Puff. Or, to be precise, he really doesn’t like cats. The first day, he even wanted to toss her out.”
The image was still fresh, Lin Jinshen’s sheer horror at seeing Puff, grilling her on whether the creature was even alive, acting as if he’d toss Puff out the window wrapped in a blanket if she blinked.
Puff, hearing her name, paused, looked back with a confused “Meow?”, What now?
Lu Yi continued, “But now, he actually pets her! They get along fine these days.”
Madam Xu nodded, understanding instantly.
The world doesn’t really make perfect couples, most people grow into it together. When you care, you’re willing to change.
“Maybe it’s not perfect now,” she said gently, “but I think it’ll only get better.”
That was Lu Yi’s whole hope. They still had a long, long journey ahead, together.
And sure enough, people always have a hard time letting go.
After their walk, as they headed home, Puff suddenly lunged forward, tugging the leash tight. Lu Yi looked up and froze, a tall, unmistakable figure stood just steps away.
“Jinshen’s here? Weren’t you going to stay for a few days?” Madam Xu was surprised, thinking Lin Jinshen had come to whisk Lu Yi back already.
Lu Yi thought the same, maybe she hadn’t communicated this clearly to him?
“Hi, Mom.”
Lin Jinshen greeted Madam Xu politely.
He had just gotten out of the car, jacket draped over his arm, posture crisp and sharp under the golden streetlights, looking every bit the elegant young professor just finishing a lecture.
Puff rubbed against his pant leg, happily welcoming him.
The driver unloaded his suitcase from the trunk.
Lu Yi and Madam Xu exchanged identical startled looks. Was he staying?
Madam Xu chuckled, teasing, “I thought you were coming to rescue our little princess.”
Only Lu Yi stiffened at the “little princess”, her mom only called her that in private, never in front of others.
Lin Jinshen said, “Not at all. I hope it’s okay if I stay with Mom and Dad for a couple of days?”
“Come in, don’t stand out there in the heat,” Madam Xu snapped out of it and ushered him inside. Lu Kangcheng emerged from his study, curious.
“Dad.”
“Hey, when did you get here?”
“Just now. Ran into Mom and Lu Yi outside.”
“…”
“Lu Yi didn’t even warn us you were coming, that girl.” Lu Kangcheng realized he’d made zero preparations.
Lin Jinshen said, “I should’ve told her first.”
In truth, he hadn’t said a word, not exactly a communication error.
As they changed shoes, their shoulders brushed. Lu Yi shot him a puzzled look; seeing it, Lin Jinshen took it in stride and replied calmly, “Didn’t I tell you last time? Whenever you want to come home, I’ll come with you.”
“…”
She honestly didn’t remember that at all. Even if he had said it, she would’ve thought he was joking.
“Have you eaten? Want some sweet soup?” Madam Xu sent the housekeeper to prepare it. “Lu Yi, why don’t you take Jinshen upstairs to drop off his stuff and wash up before dinner?”
“…Okay.”
The parents lived downstairs; Lu Yi’s room was upstairs. Aside from the study, the whole second floor was hers, sleek, elegant, with just the right amount of girlish charm.
Lu Yi led the way. “This way.”
Lin Jinshen rolled his suitcase beside her. He didn’t have much; it was easy to carry it up.
At her door, Lu Yi reached for the handle, just as Lin Jinshen, unhurried, asked, “So, anything I should know before entering the princess’s chambers? For example, what’s off-limits?”
“…”
She shut her eyes. Sure enough, he’d actually listened to that whole “little princess” bit from last time and remembered every word.
Not only remembered it, he even parroted her original teasing, from the exact moment she barged into his room.
Lu Yi let go of the door handle and turned to face him. Her cheeks were burning, but she kept her expression stern, standing her ground. “Yeah, some things are off-limits. Anyone who reeks can’t come in.”
Lin Jinshen gazed at her, his eyes dark and bottomless, like they could pull you right in if you weren’t careful.
He let out a low hum, edging closer, their eyes locked, until he was right in her space. “Then take a whiff, do I make the cut?”
Turning the tables and tossing the question right back at her.
Lu Yi’s face flushed bright red. The air between them spiked a few degrees, stealing the breath from her lungs.
Downstairs, Madam Xu waited a beat before calling up, “Are you finished yet? Want me to bring it up for you?”
“!”
Lu Yi, still red-faced, shot back, “No, it’s fine, I’ll be down in a sec!”
She looked so flustered; it was almost comical. Lin Jinshen, utterly unbothered, dipped down and stole a peck from her lips, calm and collected, just like when he’d corrected her at the banquet:
“We’re a real, married couple, not some secret fling.”
“So relax, okay?”