Chapter 49

Lu Yi just wasn’t as thick-skinned as Lin Jinshen.
With her grandparents right there, she really couldn’t save face. She wiped at her lips with a napkin, shooting him a silent glare, What is wrong with you?
Lin Jinshen, unfazed, took her silent accusation in stride: “Is there a problem?”
Throwing a punch into cotton, no impact at all.
Aunt Fang came over to announce dinner was ready, so Grandma and Grandpa stood up, ushering them to wash their hands and eat.
Grandma was a refined little old lady, who didn’t eat much herself but was dead-set on piling food into the two of them, especially Lin Jinshen, using the public chopsticks.
The house chef’s trademark was classic local cuisine. Grandma took it upon herself to evangelize each dish: “This crispy eel with soy is our chef’s specialty. The eel is first boned and sliced, then stir-fried with ginger and garlic in hot oil until fragrant. Pour rice wine around the edge, splash in the sauce, then reduce. Go ahead, try it!”
Lin Jinshen sampled the bite. “Do you cook as well, Grandma?”
Grandpa laughed first. “She’s never cooked a meal in her life, but she loves supervising, and is a total expert in theory.”
Grandma didn’t deny it. “Your grandpa can cook. Tomorrow, I’ll have him make you something.”
“Grandma, do Grandpa a favor and spare him,” Lu Yi joked, grinning.
Grandpa puffed up his chest, insisting he was fine with it. When the time came, he could follow her step-by-step directions, how could he go wrong?
Grandma was coaxed into laughter, then focused once again on putting food in Lin Jinshen’s bowl. “Try the braised pork belly with abalone. See if it’s to your taste.”
“Thank you, Grandma.”
Lu Yi knew Lin Jinshen usually avoided heavy food at night, but he made no complaints, whatever Grandma served, he ate. There’s always a kind of hunger where Grandma decides you need to eat more, worrying you’ll starve.
“Just pile it all on your rice and dig in, the taller the boy, the more he must eat, right?”
“And you’re still too thin! Is it work stress? You young people always run yourselves ragged. You need extra nutrition.”
“Xiao Yi, don’t just sit there. Eat, or you’ll get so skinny you’ll blow away.”
“…”
Lu Yi was already struggling to keep up. She sneaked a look at Lin Jinshen’s face, he looked perfectly normal, but when he caught her peeking, she couldn’t help but grin, both of them sharing that silent, mutual suffering.
Lin Jinshen’s visit had been so sudden, he’d only packed clothes for changing, he forgot to bring pajamas.
Grandma said it was no trouble and dug out a pair of Grandpa’s brand-new, never-worn pajamas. “These are a little old-fashioned, but I hope you don’t mind. Your grandpa never wore them. The pants are a bit long.”
“I don’t mind,” Lin Jinshen replied.
Lu Yi pressed her lips together, stifling a laugh. He really didn’t mind, truth be told, with those pajamas on, she couldn’t even tell the difference from his usual ones.
“Go on now. Xiao Yi, show Jinshen where to freshen up.”
“Will do.”
Since it was an old villa, the fixtures weren’t exactly modern. Her grandparents refused to update them, no fancy tech here. She led him into the bathroom, turned on the lights and hot water, and handed him a clean towel.
When he came out, changed into his pajamas, minus the sleeves and pant legs being a touch short, he looked completely at home.
Lin Jinshen was toweling his hair dry. “What are you laughing at?”
Lu Yi lied with a straight face, “Because you look good.”
He finished with his hair and tossed her the towel, his damp hair looked darker, shinier than ever. He moved closer, the mix of steam and soap clinging to him, until their toes nearly touched.
“You’re laughing at me for looking old-fashioned, right? Like I raided Grandpa’s closet.”
Lu Yi shot back, “So you’re saying Grandpa’s old-fashioned?”
Lin Jinshen, deadpan: “But you didn’t deny the rest.”
“…”
Before she could respond, he pressed the towel, just used for his hair, over her face, plunging her into darkness, that fresh scent even stronger. Lu Yi pulled it down and saw him standing there, features clear and cool. “I’ll wait for you downstairs,” he said.
“…Okay.”
She gripped the towel, still slightly damp, ice-cold in her palm.
Lin Jinshen headed downstairs. When Grandpa saw him in that getup, he grinned. “Fits you well! You must be as tall as I was back in the day.”
Grandma, savage as ever, cut in: “Were you ever six-foot-three?”
“Close enough, close enough,” Grandpa laughed it off, then asked, “Work must keep you busy, huh? It’s good of you to make time to visit Xiao Yi.”
Lin Jinshen replied, “It’s alright. I had a bit of free time, figured I’d come by.”
He made it sound casual, but when someone cares, you can always tell. When they first heard about their granddaughter’s arranged marriage, neither grandparent approved, if Xiao Yi had to get married, it should be for love.
They’d argued with their daughter and son-in-law over it.
Grandpa had grilled Madam Xu: “Did we ever force you into an arranged marriage? Didn’t you fall for someone yourself, insist on marrying a Lu? Even if it meant moving far away, we agreed because you were sure.”
Madam Xu said, “It’s different, Xiao Yi offered herself. She wanted this.”
Grandpa huffed, “That’s just our Xiao Yi being considerate. She never thinks of herself. I can’t talk to you. Get your husband on the phone.”
With Lu Kangcheng, Grandpa didn’t hold back, delivered a scolding, full blast, and nearly regretted marrying off his daughter. Now his granddaughter was about to be married off to a stranger, too.
But after meeting Lin Jinshen, things didn’t look so bad.
Now, seeing him here, coming to see both Lu Yi and the two of them, forgetting pajamas but remembering gifts and every courtesy, most importantly, seeing the two genuinely fond of each other, their worries were put to rest.
Grandpa liked Lin Jinshen more and more. “Want to see Xiao Yi’s old photos?” he offered.
He vanished into the study and emerged with a mysterious cardboard box. Lin Jinshen took it, it was pretty heavy, and peeked inside. There were photo albums, little knickknacks, all sorts of memories.
Lin Jinshen had already seen some childhood photos of Lu Yi in her bedroom, but Grandpa had hoarded even more, this girl really did grow up surrounded by love.
Grandpa went through the photos, remembering exactly how old she was in each one.
“Our Xiao Yi was a beauty from the start,” he boasted. “So many little boys adored her! Every morning, her mailbox was stuffed full of love notes and flowers and goofy gifts.”
Grandpa kept all her old love letters.
He opened one up and handed it over, written on a scrap torn straight from a workbook, hardly formal at all. The clumsy, oversized handwriting screamed elementary school.
The letter started off officially: Hello, classmate Lu Yi.
“You probably never noticed me, but every time you had swimming class, I was there. When I was too scared to jump in, your smile gave me courage, even though I totally choked on water after. I’m so grateful for you! Maybe we can hang out sometime? I really like you...”
Grandpa squinted, remembering. “After summer break, Xiao Yi went back to school, but that kid kept showing up anyway. One day, he finally asked why he never saw Xiao Yi around anymore.”
“Then there’s this one, can’t even read half the characters, has to use pinyin. This was from a little guy who took sketching with Xiao Yi.”
After high school, the letters slowed down, but there were always folks lingering near their front door, asking Grandpa about Lu Yi, hunting for her number.
“Just a pack of silly boys.”
“…”
When Lu Yi came downstairs, she saw Grandpa chatting with Lin Jinshen. She figured they were discussing current events, Grandpa never missed the evening news, and he liked to chat with young men now and then.
In the kitchen, Grandma was telling Aunt Fang to make bird’s nest porridge for Lu Yi. She came out, complaining, “Your grandpa is a traitor! As soon as he starts liking someone, he’s out here waving your photos around and showing off all your old love letters.”
“I’d never do that. Us women deserve to have a few secrets, don’t we?”
Lu Yi just made a noncommittal noise. The two men looked way too serious, she realized they were actually talking about her. She hugged Grandma, then called out, “Grandpa!”
Grandpa was caught in the act. He just chuckled. “Our Xiao Yi, pretty as a picture since she was tiny, right, Jinshen?”
Lin Jinshen’s hand rested on the arm of the sofa, body turned toward Grandpa. “That’s true, Grandpa,” he answered, completely straight-faced.
Lu Yi: “…”
“Let’s not make a habit of this, Grandpa.”
“No next time! I’m putting these away for good.” Grandpa clapped the lid on the box. Lin Jinshen offered to help, but Grandpa waved him off. “No need, I can still handle a box or two.”
Grandpa hustled away, leaving Lu Yi and Lin Jinshen facing each other.
Lu Yi said, “If you didn’t want to look at those, you could’ve just told Grandpa. He wouldn’t have minded.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to.” Lin Jinshen stood and crossed over, his tall frame casting her entirely in shadow. “I was getting some pointers from the competition.”
Lu Yi: “?”
“So? Did you learn anything useful?”
Lin Jinshen: “Not yet. But there sure were a lot to learn from.”
First time truly realizing just how in-demand his wife was.
“Those were all ancient history. Grandpa just likes keeping stuff like that.” Lu Yi’s lips curled up. “Though I guess… there were quite a few.”
Modesty turns to pride if you push it too far. She was just being honest.
That night, Grandma suggested cards, just four people, perfect for a table. Lin Jinshen could count cards, so he spent the whole game feeding Grandpa and Grandma wins, making them laugh nonstop.
“Jinshen, is your luck in the dumps tonight? You’ve been giving away points the whole time.” Grandma threw down a tile, grinning.
Lu Yi had no luck and less skill, so she simply lost alongside Lin Jinshen.
Lin Jinshen said, “I’m not very good at this.”
Grandpa chuckled, “That’s fine. Couple more games, you’ll pick it up.”
Lin Jinshen nodded, drew a seven of characters, tossed it out. Grandpa’s face lit up as he slapped his winning hand on the table. “Ha, won again!”
After two hours, cards, snacks, another bowl of bird’s nest, it was time to head upstairs to bed.
Lu Yi wasn’t great at cards, but she was observant. She saw that Lin Jinshen was losing on purpose, hustling just hard enough to let Grandpa and Grandma rack up their trickiest wins. All to make them happy.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Lin Jinshen glanced over. “For what?”
He was being cagey. Lu Yi didn’t push. “Just… thank you. For everything.”
Upstairs, the window stood open to let in the night breeze. The curtains billowed out, carrying the green scent of the plants outside.
There was a crabapple tree planted out front, it’d grown tall enough to reach the second floor, branches stretching past the window. When Lu Yi went to close up, she paused, gazing out.
Lin Jinshen came to stand beside her, following her eyes into the dark.
Moonlight hung on the branches, beautiful as a painting.
Lu Yi said softly, “My grandpa planted that tree the year I was born. It’s gotten huge. Right now it’s not blooming, but come April, May… it’ll be covered in pink and white flowers. It’s lovely.”
Crabapple blossoms meant calm, beauty, and resilience.
“Your grandparents really love you,” Lin Jinshen told her.
He hadn’t spent much time with them, but it was obvious in every little thing.
Lu Yi nodded. “When I used to squabble with my cousins, Grandpa and Grandma always took my side, told me I could never be the one at fault.”
Her cousins still joked that she’d always been the favorite.
Lin Jinshen laughed, hugging her from behind. “That’s because you can do no wrong.”
Lu Yi opened her eyes, turning to grab his arm. “You sound just like them, you know.”
“There’s something else I have in common with them.”
“What is it?” She looked up, curious.
Lin Jinshen slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her, no words, just warmth and promise trading between their lips.
With moonlight pouring in, it was the perfect time for quiet kisses.
He’d never dated before, and everyone around him had terrible role models. All he could do was trust his instincts and give her everything he had, every ounce of his singular affection.
…
Lin Jinshen stayed in Shanghai for two days. He had some work, but nothing heavy, so he came home on time to join Lu Yi and her grandparents, dinners, walks, card games every night.
On the third day, Lin Jinshen headed back to Jing City.
After things wrapped up in Shanghai, Lu Yi said her goodbyes and ended her business trip as well.
This time, she sent Lin Jinshen her flight info too. A few minutes later, his reply came back, practically instantaneous: [I’ll pick you up.]
Lu Yi wasn’t about to make a fuss: [Okay.]
Stepping back into the house, she was hit by a strangely nostalgic feeling, as if she hadn’t been home in ages.
“Puff!” As soon as she changed her shoes, Lu Yi scooped up her so-called 'Mom Stone,' lavishing the fluffy cat with kisses. The sensation was just too good; she couldn’t help kneading Puff’s plush fur, earning herself a round of clingy meows. Lu Yi had to bury her face in the fluff for a couple more smooches.
A hard-earned fix for her cat obsession.
Aunt Fang was already used to cooking for two. She always left work before they got back, nailing the timing so the food stayed perfectly warm.
After dinner, Lu Yi, by habit, started playing with Puff. It was going great at first, but the second Lin Jinshen came downstairs, Puff defected to the 'enemy camp' without a second thought. With all that cozy nuzzling, you’d never guess these two used to be mortal enemies.
Lu Yi almost choked on air.
It felt like swallowing a whole lemon, sour, so very sour.
Lin Jinshen walked over and sat beside her, Puff trailing close behind. If he didn’t pick the cat up, Puff pawed insistently at his leg, angling for a spot in his lap.
Lu Yi grumbled, “Why do I get the sense she likes you better now?”
Lin Jinshen glanced down at her. “Maybe because you’ve been away on business trips so much lately, and it’s been me keeping her company.”
“But I’m her mom! I raised her from a tiny kitten, and I’ve definitely spent more time with her.” The sight of their little “father-daughter harmony” was seriously stabbing Lu Yi in the heart.
Suddenly, she understood how moms felt when their daughters ran off with any guy who tossed them candy.
Never mind that Lin Jinshen was the polar opposite of some sketchy street punk.
At the end of the day, it was Puff who had no loyalty.
Lin Jinshen fought back a laugh. “You’re right.”
Lu Yi huffed, “Stop picking her up.”
Her idea was simple: if Puff got the cold shoulder from Lin Jinshen, she’d come crawling back to her. Okay, it was a slightly pathetic backup plan, but beggars can’t be choosers.
Lin Jinshen hummed an acknowledgment.
Puff was persistent, but those stubby little legs just couldn’t make the jump.
Lu Yi was torn between laughing at the sight and feeling sorry for herself, not that the cat ever had a change of heart. After a few minutes with no feline redemption arc in sight, Lu Yi gave up and stood to get a glass of water from the kitchen island.
She’d barely stood up when someone grabbed her wrist.
Lin Jinshen gave a gentle tug, making her topple sideways, right onto his lap. Even through the thin fabric, she could feel just how warm he ran.
She froze in place, perched rigidly on his legs, the rest of the world shrinking down to fit into this impossibly small space.
Lin Jinshen braced a palm against her back to steady her, feeling the delicate line of her spine through her shirt.
“This works too.” He leaned in, chest pressing lightly against her arm, then reached around her to scoop Puff into her arms.
From a certain perspective, all three parties had gotten exactly what they wanted.
Lu Yi hadn’t seen that coming, but if she had, she doubted she’d have made herself look so desperate. Her blood was practically boiling, she could feel her temperature rising by the second.
It was ridiculous. They’d done plenty of intimate things, but sitting on his lap like this somehow made her unravel.
Sure enough, Puff settled into her embrace and immediately got to kneading her with those chubby little paws.
Lin Jinshen stroked Puff’s head. “Good girl.”
“…”
Lu Yi desperately tried to adapt to the situation, she had no idea if the tips of her ears were red as blood, but she was definitely in no state to pet a cat. She felt herself being slowly swallowed by the couch cushions.
She just couldn’t adapt. Muffled, she said, “I should get up. I’m heavy.”
Lin Jinshen answered with a clear gaze, “Don’t worry, you’re not.”
Lu Yi: “…I meant Puff’s heavy. My arms are about to give out.”
Puff: ?
Lu Yi slid off his lap, still holding Puff, feeling like the ghost of that warmth clung stubbornly to her. Not nearly as cozy as the carpet, honestly, sitting on him was as solid as stone. Off his lap, she felt a pang of frustration at herself for giving in so easily.
If she’d just thrown her arms around his neck…who would’ve been blushing then?
But that was a dangerous road to take.
It could easily lead to eighteen-plus-rated consequences.
Lu Yi tried to steady her breathing, pretending everything was normal. She was definitely not acting normal.
…
Autumn slipped by in a blink, and before she could catch her breath, winter crept in without a sound.
The end of the year was looming.
Festive decorations started appearing everywhere, even the company was busy prepping for the annual party. After that came the holiday break and Spring Festival, a year closing out, a brand new one starting.
Lu Yi’s spot as design director was all but locked in. Everything in the department was ticking along, the final designs for Huayu wrapped up, and Lin Wenjun had already signed off. Next stop: factory, then just a matter of waiting for the finished product.
This would also be Lu Yi’s first Spring Festival since getting married.
The Lin family had been established in Jing City for generations, their roots sprawling far and wide; their extended family probably even outnumbered the Lus’.
If dealing with her own relatives already made Lu Yi’s head spin, now throwing the Lin family into the mix, getting married was hardly the finish line, it was the starting gun for a new round of “When are you having kids?”
Lin Yumo volunteered, “Don’t worry, sis-in-law. I’ll stick by your side, block any weird questions, chase away nosy aunts and grandmas, if they get pushy, I’ll do the talking for you.”
Lu Yi laughed. “In that case, thank you in advance.”
“Hey, any time. As long as you help shield me from my brother, we’re even.” She was fearless around just about anyone, except Lin Jinshen.
“Deal.”
Lin Jinshen was mercifully unaware of the private pact the two women made. Even so, Lu Yi still wasn’t reassured, so before moving back to the Lin estate, she told Lin Jinshen about her nerves, and the backup plan she’d devised.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lu Yi declared seriously, “If things get out of hand, I’ll call you. That’s my plan B, since Yumo can’t stick to me twenty-four-seven.”
Lin Jinshen took in her furrowed brows and found her strangely adorable. “Don’t worry, I’ll step in first. If anyone pushes, I’ll answer for you.”
Lu Yi knew his style, one or two sentences, and he could verbally slam-dunk an entire room.
But it was the holidays. Best to keep things cordial. If they asked, she’d dodge.
Lu Yi corrected him, “No, you just need to make an excuse and whisk me away. That’s all.”
“That’s it?”
“Yup,” Lu Yi reminded him, just to be safe. “Whatever you do, don’t answer if I call. Just come get me.”
Lin Jinshen nodded. “Alright.”
In the lead-up to the Lunar New Year, the Lin residence was a revolving door of guests. Business partners, distant relatives, hopeful acquaintances, people from every walk of life came calling, from morning till night; hellos and goodbyes blending together.
As the daughter-in-law, Lu Yi had to be present at all these social parades.
And just as she’d expected, the moment everyone sat down to chat, someone asked when she and Jinshen were planning to have kids. She was still young, but they all insisted it was best to have a baby before thirty.
Lin Yumo, having just returned to China, was already out the door, she’d made plans to meet friends ages ago.
“It’s always better to have kids young, the body bounces back quicker! Don’t wait past your prime, or you’ll only run into problems later.”
Madam Qin smiled, ever gentle. “Xiao Yi and Jinshen just got married. No need to rush those things.”
“Oh, there’s no such thing as too early! Getting pregnant isn’t always as easy as you think, plans and reality don’t always match up. It’s better to get started soon, just in case.” Someone turned to Lu Yi, “How many do you want? Two is best. Only children get lonely.”
Another chimed in, “We’re not exactly short on cash, you can easily afford two. Best would be a boy and a girl, just like Jinshen and Yumo. Perfect pair!”
“Still, money isn’t everything. Kids need your attention, not just money and a squad of nannies. Even just one can be plenty.”
Lu Yi hadn’t even answered before the discussion devolved into a heated debate about ideal child quantity.
Lu Yi: “…”
She had zero interest in this kind of conversation. She grabbed her phone and called Lin Jinshen for backup, but he hung up as soon as he saw her calling.
The conversation circled right back to her. A cluster of aunts and uncles fixed her with expectant eyes: “Xiao Yi, when exactly are you and Jinshen planning to start a family?”
Lu Yi gamely replied, “I’ll go with whatever Jinshen wants.”
“That’s not how it works, dear, don’t always let your husband decide! It’s normal to enjoy yourselves while you’re young, but this is something you have to take charge of yourself…”
“Honey.”
A deep baritone cut through the chit-chat, not loud but perfectly clear to everyone in the room.
Lu Yi looked up, rescued at last, finally spared from further discussions about babies and parenting theories.
Lin Jinshen was on the second floor, hand on the railing, eyes sweeping down at them all. He met the curious stares of a dozen relatives and calmly said, “Honey, I can’t find that tie you gave me. Mind giving me a hand?”
Lu Yi: “…Sure.”
She had wanted him to bail her out, but maybe not with quite so much public spectacle.
Lin Jinshen smiled faintly. “Thanks, honey.”
The relatives froze: What on earth was going on?
Was this really the taciturn Lin Jinshen, the same guy they’d barely heard speak a word, acting like this after marriage?