Chapter 50

Lu Yi stood up, as stiff as a statue, her face stretched taut, ready to crack at the slightest touch.
Lin Jinshen’s acting still wasn’t great, but he was improving. The last time he’d called her “honey,” it had sounded like it was being wrenched from between his teeth. This time? Almost natural, even said it three times in a row.
If he’d said it one more time, she might’ve fainted on the spot.
“Jinshen and Xiao Yi are really something! Look how lovey-dovey they are, makes me jealous.”
“Who knew Jinshen had this side to him?”
“Well, aunts and uncles, I’ll head up now,” Lu Yi managed a rigid smile.
The aunts and uncles all smiled indulgently: “Go on, go on.”
Madam Qin smiled serenely, seeing straight through their little escape plan. She knew full well her son’s bedroom was on the first floor, and there’d be no ties for Lu Yi to find upstairs.
She chuckled, saying to Lu Yi, “No rush, I’ve got this under control.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
Lu Yi headed up the stairs. As she turned the corner, a hand reached out, pulling her close.
“Well?” Lin Jinshen was leaning against the wall, eyes fixed on her, his usually unreadable face flickering with a hint of pride, almost as if fishing for praise.
He’d hung up and jumped in to help the moment he saw her call.
That was pretty fast, right?
She glanced at him, answering with forced enthusiasm, “Not bad.”
But worried he’d take her too seriously, she added, “…But maybe next time try a different approach.”
One that didn’t make her want to die from embarrassment.
Lin Jinshen blinked. “What’s wrong with how I did it?”
He’d followed her instructions to the letter.
Lu Yi searched for a way to phrase it without killing his motivation: “For example, you could walk over to me, whisper something, and then, apologize to everyone, say we need to step out for a moment.”
Instead of publicly announcing, in front of everyone, that he couldn’t find the tie, and specifically, the one she’d given him.
“Got it.” Lin Jinshen’s eyes went deep and unreadable. He thought for a moment, then nodded.
Lu Yi couldn’t tell if the genius actually understood or was just pretending. Smart as he was, his brain sometimes worked in mysterious ways.
He left soon after, he had a phone call to take. He wouldn’t be gone long, though, and told Lu Yi to nap in the bedroom or do whatever she liked; he’d come get her at dinner.
“Okay.”
By nightfall, the last guests had finally left. Lin Yumo returned and, hearing about the infamous tie incident, nearly died of envy at missing the spectacle. All she could do was imagine the scene from the scattered gossip.
Pretending to imitate her brother, Lin Yumo put on a low, serious voice: “Honey, I can’t find the tie you gave me. Could you come help me look?”
“Babe, you’re the best.”
“…”
Her face almost split from holding back laughter, trying to do a faithful reenactment.
Lu Yi: “…”
She pressed a finger to her brow, her scalp tingling from the embarrassment.
Lin Yumo flopped against her, voice loud and teasing: “Babe, babe, why are you covering your face?”
Lu Yi warned, “Keep it up, and next time your brother asks for help, I’m leaving you to the sharks.”
“Best sister-in-law in the world! What would I ever do without you?” Lin Yumo clung to her arm, shaking it and pouring on the puppy eyes.
Madam Qin saw them and couldn’t resist giving Yumo’s arm a smack. “You and your sister-in-law, always inseparable.”
New Year’s Eve was a delirious, noisy celebration. The family dinner at the Lin house was a grand affair; chefs had been prepping for days, with extra staff brought in to help. Madam Qin organized everything to a T. Lu Yi barely had to worry about a thing.
In the whole family, the only kid at that ridiculously adorable age is Auntie's little one.
Lu Yi and Lin Yumo love to mess with him, coaxing him into reciting poetry. The kid takes it so seriously, chubby fists clenched, as if he’s performing at some grand recital.
That’s why he gets the fattest red envelopes every year.
Lin Wenyun laughs, “Children giving children lucky money, look at you two!”
The big reunion dinner is lively and easygoing, especially with the kid brother firing off blessings left and right, every offhand phrase cracks everybody up.
Madam Qin and Lin Zheng hand out red envelopes, and Lin Yumo gets one, but so does Lu Yi.
Lu Yi flushes and laughs, “You really don’t need to, I’m way too old for this.”
She’s already prepared a stack of red envelopes to hand out to the younger ones.
Madam Qin says, “No matter how old you get, as long as your parents are here, you’re always our children. Lucky money is a must.”
Lin Jinshen: “Just take it. I don’t get any.”
Lu Yi accepts and thanks each of the elders in turn.
It’s never really about the money, it’s the vibe, the feeling that no matter how old you get, there’ll always be someone treating you like a kid.
After dinner, Lin Yumo, emboldened because Lu Yi is present, bravely holds out his hand to Lin Jinshen: “Wishing big bro and big sis a love as sweet as ever, a lifetime side by side, forever and always!”
Lin Jinshen’s expression is cool as ever, silent for a couple of seconds, turns out, he’s actually prepared envelopes. Two of them, one for Yumo and one for Lu Yi.
“Wow, this is heavy. What’s inside?” Lin Yumo weighs the envelope in his palm. Feels like a brick.
Opens it and, damn, it’s a gold bar.
Lin Yumo nearly dies laughing, not sure if she’s surprised or not somehow. She swallows back the ultra-cheesy thank you she had planned. “Bro, seriously, you’re on a whole new level.”
Red envelope with an actual gold bar? Not even parents do stuff this old-school.
Lu Yi laughs, lips pressed together. She glances at Lin Jinshen, then down at the gold bar in her hand. Marrying anyone else, she’d never have had this kind of fun. She tries not to laugh out loud, but can’t help it; a giggle bursts out anyway.
Lin Jinshen watches her with practiced calm. “You don’t like it?”
Lu Yi shakes her head, still smiling. “Honestly, getting lucky money from you feels like I’m scamming you.”
They’re the same generation, who gets lucky money from their peer?
Lin Jinshen: “Correction. If the price for lucky money was calling me ‘brother,’ then maybe I’d be winning here. But right now? I’m just a guy accused of a crime.”
She took the money…
But didn’t call him ‘bro.’
Who’s scamming who here?
Lu Yi: “…”
Her first instinct is to look for a witness.
But Lin Yumo is long gone, busy snapping a pic of her hardcore red envelope and posting it to her feed, just a hint of gold showing: [When it’s big bro’s gift, you know it’s quality.]
Her comment section lights up with “hahahaha,” New Year wishes, and “share the wealth!”
All her attention is on her phone, not caring in the least what the others are saying.
Lu Yi chokes on her words, realizing she’s the one who never learns. The way Jinshen comes out with these lines lately, she really can’t keep up.
That night, she video-chats with her parents and checks in with her cousins. It’s her first time not being home for New Year’s, and it still feels a bit weird.
The plan is, she and Lin Jinshen spend the Spring Festival at the Lin family every other year. This year: Lin’s place. On the third day, head over to Lu’s. Not perfect, but as close as it gets.
They celebrate late into New Year’s Eve.
With the sky just turning gray, Lin Jinshen gets up right on time. Years of habit made his body clock precise. He changes into track clothes for a morning run, the snow’s been cleared to the sides, and every breath tastes cold and sharp with winter.
The streetlights are still on at this hour. By the time he finishes, dawn is properly breaking.
He heads back in, greets the auntie, then slips into the bedroom. The person in bed is still sound asleep, curled into a little ball.
He shrugs off his jacket, showers, and comes back out.
Lu Yi has already heard him, rolling over with her body arched, small and soft, most of her face hidden in the sheets. At first, he just looks, doesn’t intend to wake her up.
When Puff wakes up, he puts a finger to her lips: shhh, don’t make noise.
Puff gets it, and, equally lazy, puts her head back down and drifts off again.
Lin Jinshen walks over. Her cheeks are flushed, black hair spilled over the pillow, she looks straight out of a painting. He leans down, just wanting to squeeze her cheek. It’s even softer than he expected, so he pinches her again.
And again. There’s no stopping after the second time.
He lies down, thinking he’ll stay just five minutes.
But Lu Yi senses his presence, instinctively turning over and burrowing into his arms. Eyes closed, clearly still asleep, but in the middle of it all, she even rubs her head against his chest.
Lin Jinshen once read somewhere that pets grow more like their owners the longer they’re together.
Maybe that’s junk science, but watching Lu Yi and Puff, it kind of makes sense.
Lu Yi drifts in and out, half-lost in sleep. She remembers the heater being way too much, getting squeezed awake by all that body heat. She’d tried to escape his arms and failed, so she kicked off the covers. Then, with the warmth gone, she felt a little cold, not used to it. Eventually the heat came back, so she snuggled in close, and then, surprise, too hot again.
She tries to move away, feebly, but it’s no more than a tickle. She grumbles twice in protest, only to feel something pressed to her lips. When she’s nearly out of breath, she opens her eyes and locks stares with Lin Jinshen, so close they’re almost touching.
“?”
He kisses her, no awkwardness at all, almost gentle as he says, “Good morning.”
Well, all right then.
A good morning kiss it is.
And she’s the one who hasn’t even brushed her teeth. Clearly, she’s getting the better end of this deal.
“Morning.”
Lu Yi yawns, then suddenly pops up like she’s just remembered something, and asks what time it is.
“Mom told me to go to the temple with her this morning,” she remembers, thinking she’d set an alarm, but it never went off.
Lin Jinshen doesn’t check the time. “Mom knew you wouldn’t wake up, so she said never mind, let you sleep.”
“Really?”
Lu Yi’s half-upright struggle pauses, and she flops back onto the bed. The feeling is exactly like being told school’s canceled right after you finally manage to drag yourself out of bed.
“Guess I’ll just lie here a while longer,” she says, as if it’s a big sacrifice.
Lin Jinshen wrapped her in his arms, watching every flicker of emotion on her face; he felt an impossible hollowness in his chest. He pinched her nose and bent down to kiss her again, this time much deeper, fuller than before. With her nose still pinched, she couldn’t draw a breath except through him, and when the kiss finally broke, her face was flushed scarlet and her whole body had melted boneless in his hold.
He rested his hand on the curve of her waist, soft under his touch.
Her nightdress had long since been ruined by the previous tussle, bunched carelessly around her waist and creased beyond recognition.
Lu Yi’s eyes flew open in sudden realization, if this kept up, they’d definitely need to break out at least one more ‘little umbrella.’ She seized a gap between kisses, calling time: “Let’s go see a movie!”
Lin Jinshen paused, his motion freezing. “What do you want to watch?”
“It’s Spring Festival season, there are a ton of movies out and a few of the trailers looked amazing. Let’s go see one together!” Her gaze was a radiant plea.
“Alright.”
Lin Jinshen added, “We have a theater at home. Which film do you want?”
“No, let’s go out to a real cinema, feel the holiday vibe!” Lu Yi blinked at him, slyly tugging his arm until he let her go.
Lin Jinshen: “Alright.”
Lu Yi: “Then I’ll get the tickets now.”
She asked Lin Yumo if she wanted to tag along, but got no reply, clearly still asleep. So Lu Yi picked the movie she was most interested in and booked two seats, smack in the center.
After all that, sleep was out of the question. Lu Yi got up, washed up, and started on her makeup; Lin Jinshen pulled the bedroom door shut behind him, giving her all the time she needed.
New Year’s meant her phone was buzzing non-stop with greetings and well wishes.
Lin Jinshen was used to it by now. Ji Changming tagged him in their group chat, so he clicked in.
Ji Changming: [Jinshen, you and your wife free today? Let’s hang out.]
They were planning a New Year’s yacht party with only friends who really knew each other, card games, champagne, and no shortage of shenanigans. Way better than staying home listening to your entire extended family nag you about marriage and kids.
Gu Yu: [I can’t take it. The moment I say I’m not getting married, I’m the villain of the century, apparently I’m single-handedly ending the Gu bloodline.]
Ji Changming: [Misery loves company. They’ve already forced me to add five girls on WeChat. What am I, an octopus? I can’t handle this many conversations.]
Yu Zeheng: [Jinshen, bring that bottle of ’07 Heidsieck with you.]
Lin Jinshen: [Not coming.]
He tossed those two words in the chat, instantly triggering a wall of question marks.
He was never much of a party animal, but at the start of the year, everyone got a little bored. He usually joined for a bit just to show his face; rejecting an invite this directly was rare.
Ji Changming: [What’s up, Jinshen? Got plans?]
Lin Jinshen: [Going to a movie.]
Ji Changming’s brow furrowed into three lines: [That’s your excuse? Seriously?]
It’s not like movies run away, you can watch anytime. But to brush them off this casually… At least come up with a better reason.
Lin Jinshen: [Going to an actual theater.]
Ji Changming was baffled. Why was that worth announcing?
Only Yu Zeheng caught on, it wasn’t about the place, it was about who he was going with: [Why’d you go and fall for a lovesick puppy?]
The rest of the group got it instantly. This wasn’t “watching a movie”, it was 100% a couple date.
Ji Changming & Gu Yu: [Respect, respect, we withdraw our complaint.]
Lin Jinshen just glanced over the chat and, perfectly deadpan, put his phone away.
Lu Yi stepped out of the bedroom, makeup done, wearing a sleek black dress under a fitted coat, her waist cinched by a belt that made her look all the taller. Her hair was loosely pinned up, a few wispy strands escaping at her temples.
Elegant and stunning.
But what he liked best was yanking that hairpin out, watching her silky-black hair tumble down so he could mess up that perfect poise and see her cheeks go pink, her eyes bright and dewy with embarrassment.
He wondered if seeing the movie was really necessary right now.
The thought passed as quickly as it came.
Lin Jinshen’s eyes lingered on her slender, exposed neck, nothing hiding it, leaving it vulnerable to the chill.
Lu Yi noticed his gaze and tapped her neck, preempting his next move: “Not wearing a scarf!”
Lin Jinshen: “?”
“If you don’t take care of yourself when you’re young, you’ll pay for it when you’re older.”
“It’s just once. Besides, it’s from the car to the cinema, barely any time to catch a cold.” Lu Yi sounded determined. Her look was set, and she wasn’t about to let him add any unnecessary accessories.
Lin Jinshen gave in: “Fine.”
It was already midday by the time they headed out. Outside the car windows, the world was all ice and snow, the storm had passed, just a few snowflakes drifting on the wind.
The cinema was busy. Lu Yi used her phone to pick up their tickets. Lin Jinshen, totally at sea in a movie theater, tried to take her to the front desk out of habit.
Lu Yi grinned: “How many years has it been since you last came to a theater?”
These days, everyone bought tickets online.
Lin Jinshen admitted honestly, “Never been.”
He’d had a private home theater from the time he was a kid. Besides, movies were never really his thing, his life had always been packed with other priorities.
Lu Yi stared at him, realization dawning. “Lin Jinshen, has your life always been this... barren?”
Nobody had ever described his life as “barren” before.
But Lin Jinshen didn’t mind. He’d had plenty; what he’d missed out on just didn’t seem important. He held her hand and let her have her say.
Which fired Lu Yi up all the more, channeling goddess-of-charity energy, she steered them toward the concessions. Popcorn, yes; Coke was vetoed on the grounds of too much sugar, so they ended up with two coffees instead.
At the ticket check, the staff handed them a figurine as a New Year’s gift: “Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year!”
The figurine was a chubby little boss in glasses and a suit, the mini version of the movie’s hero.
Lu Yi glanced at Lin Jinshen. It reminded her of him in a way, so she popped it into her bag. Later, when they got back to Chengxi Garden, she’d put it on the bookshelf.
Spring Festival movies were mostly family comedies, everyone wanted a happy ending for the holidays, Lu Yi included. Today’s movie followed an ice-cold lawyer, ruthless for profit and hated in the industry, who was forced by an unexpected inheritance to return to his hometown, where utter chaos and comedy ensued.
It was a by-the-book, no-surprises comedy movie.
The theater was pitch black, the only light flickering from the screen, sometimes bright, sometimes dim.
Both of them were drawn in by the atmosphere, fixated on the film. Lu Yi let herself relax, laughing at the jokes and munching on popcorn, feeling entirely at ease.
Every so often, she’d glance at Lin Jinshen,
wondering if he’d find the movie’s tone too light, maybe not to his taste. But he just stared ahead, the darkness sharpening the angles of his face, his thin lips pressed together. He might not find it hilarious, but he wasn't bored enough to fall asleep, either.
The movie ended.
Hand in hand, they followed the crowd out.
On New Year’s Day, most of the mall shops were closed. Lu Yi checked the time, it was still early, so she dragged Lin Jinshen off to the claw machines, swapping three hundred tokens with the air of a big spender. “Go wild. My treat.”
She’d committed to “lifting him out of poverty,” and she intended to see it through.
Lin Jinshen eyed the claw machine, his first try ending in failure. He frowned, just a little.
A kid nearby noticed and started gesturing, “That’s not how you do it! When you grab, you gotta shake the machine, make it dizzy, then you’ll win!”
Lin Jinshen kept trying. Second attempt, fail. Third, still no luck.
“I already gave you the secret! Uncle, you’re kind of an idiot!” The kid turned to Lu Yi. “Hey, do you know how? Watch me, I can do it!”
Lu Yi ruffled his hair. “Maybe later, okay?”
Lin Jinshen shot her a sideways look, then slid another token into the machine. This time, based on his previous failed experiments, he aimed for the plushies with their feet up instead of their heads, swung the claw as wide as it would go, and tapped the button several times.
He grabbed his first prize.
Lu Yi clapped. “Impressive, Mr. Lin.”
The little boy was unimpressed. “That’s nothing! You just have to try a few times and you’ll get it!”
Lin Jinshen focused, moving on, second one, third one, fourth… Soon there were so many plushies he couldn’t carry them all. A staff member wheeled over a shopping cart and filled it to the brim.
It turns out a straight-A student’s knack for learning can be applied to anything.
Lu Yi hadn’t expected much, just wanted him to try it out for fun, but who’d have guessed he’d end up showboating like this?
The little boy gaped. He’d gone from doubter to die-hard fan, his applause and cheers growing louder, flailing his arms and legs until everyone at the arcade was watching.
Lu Yi shielded her face.
“Uncle, can you win one for me? I’ve got tokens, I didn’t win a single plush today!”
Lin Jinshen looked down at him from way above, the kid didn’t even reach his knee, and corrected, “It’s ‘big brother.’”
Lu Yi: “...” She hadn’t known he was so touchy about his age, that even “uncle” would get to him.
The kid instantly switched, “Big brother! You’re so cool!”
Instead of winning one for him, Lin Jinshen let the kid pick two toys out of the cart. He picked his favorites, thanked them profusely and laid on the “big brother, big sister” charm way too thick.
They could also trade in the prizes for something bigger at the counter. With their haul, Lu Yi swapped for a giant capybara plush, a deadpan, Zen-faced capybara she figured Puff the cat would adore.
The staff smiled. “Your boyfriend’s got skills.”
Lu Yi returned the smile. “Thanks.”
“Not boyfriend,” Lin Jinshen corrected her. “Husband.”
“…” Lu Yi shoved him away, completely mortified, mumbling apologies as they left.
By the time they stepped out of the mall, it was night. Snow was starting to fall in thick, gentle flakes, erasing any trace of the day, like stepping into a brand new snow globe.
Lu Yi gazed out the car window, soaking in the tranquil view.
“Want to go take a look outside?” Lin Jinshen noticed her gaze, voice soft.
Lu Yi turned back. “Can we?”
“Sure.” Lin Jinshen pulled over. The road was deserted, shops dark with only streetlights illuminating a plush, snowy carpet.
Lu Yi would be the first to step out and break the perfect surface.
Lin Jinshen got out first, tall in his crisp overcoat and checked scarf, broad-shouldered, looking every bit like a model caught in a magazine spread. He unwound his scarf, wrapping it twice around Lu Yi’s neck, traditional and snug.
She stood quietly, upright and obedient, waiting for him to finish.
She watched the snow fall onto his black hair, onto his shoulders, disappearing in an instant.
Finally her eyes lingered on his face, the elegant bridge of his nose, pale with cold, lips standing out, redder than usual.
It all played out, frame by frame, as if in slow motion.
Lin Jinshen was good, a level of good that made her feel like she’d used up a lifetime’s worth of luck by choosing him.
After he’d finished with the scarf, Lin Jinshen lifted his chin. “Go ahead.”
It felt like letting Puff out for a run, open the door, let her loose, and stand back, pretending not to take part in anything so childish himself.
Lu Yi tugged her scarf down, ignoring his tone, then turned to stomp into the untouched snow. Her foot came down, crunch, crisp and clear.
The mark of her boot left a perfect imprint.
She kept going, one step after another, each footfall satisfying.
When Lu Yi was thoroughly immersed and finally looked back, Lin Jinshen hadn’t moved. He was still leaning against the car, snow falling like something out of a dream, white dusting the shoulders of his black coat.
His eyes followed her, unwavering, for as long as she looked, he’d be right there, watching.
Lu Yi paused in the snow. Lin Jinshen asked, “Getting tired?”
“A little.”
He stepped toward her, landing his boots where she’d walked before, then reached for her hand. “Just follow my footprints.” His strides were so big that Lu Yi couldn’t even reach the edges.
Together, they half-sank, half-skipped back through the snow.
Back at the car, they shook snow from their coats and hair.
Lin Jinshen brushed off her hair, made sure she was clear, then circled around to the driver’s seat. The car’s heater blasted away the chill, and once they were both warm, he drove them home.
Only once they got inside did they notice, their socks and shoes were soaked, snow having melted to water. Lu Yi grabbed her pajamas and darted off for a hot shower.
Lin Jinshen followed, shutting the door behind him. As he undressed, a notification chimed, ding.
He glanced over on instinct, noticing his phone screen lit up with a notification. Planning to hand it to Lu Yi, he saw the message expand slightly, an unsaved number had texted.
A text message: [Yi, Happy New Year!]
His gut instantly told him, only an ex-boyfriend would pull something like this.