Chapter 52

“Is there a problem?”
What, normal friends can’t have problems?
Lu Yi couldn’t understand his hang-up, a single word, “we,” and he zeroed in like this?
Lin Jinshen’s brow dipped, the shadows exaggerating his deep-set eyes. “I always thought ‘we’ referred to us, an intimate bond, something you don’t say to just anyone.”
He cherished it whenever she said “we,” like they were a team. It felt closer than “husband and wife.”
Now, she tossed the word out for someone else so easily, did she even realize? Did she know they weren’t “we” anymore?
A car behind honked, urging them on. Lin Jinshen pressed ahead, his profile all sharp lines and cool shadows. His tight lips and set jaw made it obvious, he did not approve of her wording.
So precise. So demanding.
Lu Yi leaned her elbow on the window, fingers brushing her brow as she looked away. “Seems like your definition of ‘we’ doesn’t match mine, Mr. Lin. To me, it’s just a phrase. Nothing more.”
Then, letting it go: “I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Lin Jinshen grunted his acknowledgment. “I know you’re over. There’s no unfinished business. And I trust you, one text on a holiday, bumping into each other at a reunion, that doesn’t mean a thing.”
How old were they now?
Who still tries to show how deep their love runs with a few vague texts?
It’s been years. Plenty of time for two people to meet, fall in love, even have a kid crawling on the floor.
Not just enough time to send some cryptic, half-baked message.
Kind of childish, honestly.
“Holiday text?” Lu Yi lounged back in her seat, catching his slip. She remembered that “Happy New Year” message on the first. “You thought he sent that?”
Realizing he’d said too much, Lin Jinshen pressed his lips together, his expression going colder.
But his silence said everything.
Lu Yi let out a short laugh, he always seemed the straightforward type, but his imagination sure ran wild. “Probably not him. I’ve gotten plenty like that over the years.”
But what he heard was: “He’s sent them before?”
“No, I mean, ” She pressed her fingers to her brow. “Back in the day, I’d get random texts from guys who had my number. New Year, birthdays, all kinds of stuff.”
Some even bordered on creepy, especially before their marriage. Things were better now.
She’d gotten good at blocking people without batting an eye.
Lin Jinshen: “A lot?”
“A few, yeah.”
It was a little awkward talking about this with him, she just wanted to make it clear it wasn’t necessarily Li Xian. They hadn’t been in touch for ages; even mutual friends rarely brought him up anymore.
Seeing him again tonight? Pure unfamiliarity.
Honestly, it was like the boy she once dated belonged to someone else, and even the memories were starting to blur.
Whoever sent that text, it didn’t matter. What mattered was the present. Lu Yi folded her arms, interrogator-mode: “Why was your first instinct to blame my ex?”
“Lin Jinshen, you’re acting off.”
She couldn’t even explain her mood tonight. She should’ve been fine with his casual “I get it,” but it felt off, she wanted more, something besides his ever-cool detachment.
Only in bed did he ever really show another side.
Lu Yi wanted to rip away his composure, to watch him tremble with emotion, to see his usually unshakeable logic come apart at the seams. But was that really the relationship they had? Their marriage was forged by an alliance, not passion, a contract inked in black and white before they'd even said their vows. They didn't get married for love, but for mutual gain, two families binding themselves together for profit.
Nothing more than a trade.
But the boundaries blurred more and more each day.
Lu Yi refused to dwell on what Lin Jinshen's actions meant, and she refused to think about that sentence, about him liking her. That kind of thing wasn't supposed to bother her.
She knew, didn't she? Logic had always been her anchor.
But maybe it was the alcohol tonight, for suddenly she wanted something different. Tonight, her cheeks burned with color, her gaze sparkled brightly beneath long lashes, spun through with an invisible thread. The curve at the corner of her lips was dangerously alluring in a way that was nothing like her usual self.
She said, "Mr. Lin, you're acting strange."
But was he the only one acting strange?
Lin Jinshen glanced up, his eyes as dark as the night itself.
They were almost at their destination, but instead of driving straight into the Lin estate, Lin Jinshen pulled over to the side of the road. He switched off the headlights and let the darkness swallow them whole.
Inside the blacked-out car, the click of a seatbelt unfastening cut through the silence.
Something about it made Lu Yi think of a beast being unleashed in an arena, chains falling away, a pair of gleaming predatory eyes emerging from the shadows.
Lin Jinshen asked, "Strange how?"
Without the seatbelt keeping him in place, he leaned in. They were suddenly, achingly close; she could smell the faint scent of alcohol mingled with fruit on her own skin.
Like berries overly ripe, fermented on the ground,
Sweet enough to make a man addicted.
Lu Yi unfastened her own seatbelt and locked eyes with him. "You mind, don't you?"
His voice came dark and low: "You mean, that you're so happy?"
He caught her wrist, slender as if it might bruise with the slightest pressure. His fingers traced lightly, not rough, not soft, a tempered heat against her skin. His breathing grew heavier.
"I don't know," Lu Yi exhaled in a daze, her eyes uncertain. She didn't know what she was doing, why she was saying these things, why she even cared.
"How about this, why don't you mind and make me happy for a change?"
Those predatory eyes closed in, each line of his face carved sharper with danger, gentle one second, wild the next.
"You should be glad we're not in the bedroom right now." Lin Jinshen drew even closer. The darkness didn't stop him from finding her lips with startling accuracy.
Lu Yi's heart jumped and stuttered, and in a flash she remembered that day in the snow, the way he kept testing her boundaries, realizing, with a start, that things could go so much further.
Lost in thought, her lips were caught, gently bitten.
Lin Jinshen finally tasted those fermented berries.
And just like some hapless beast, he let intoxication wash over him, no holding back.
His answer was all action, yes, he minded. He minded a lot. Just the idea of her with someone else made jealousy course through his veins.
Lu Yi could barely catch her breath, chest heaving as if she really were in a gladiator's ring, the two of them locked together, fierce, frenzied, unable to tear apart, forgetting the world outside.
In the passionate scramble, Lin Jinshen's tie half-unraveled and hung haphazard on his neck, lips stained dazzling red with her lipstick. He muttered, "I mean, the car could work, but it's cramped. It'd be rough on you."
Lu Yi: "…"
Was she supposed to thank him now, thank him for being so considerate?
He clearly didn’t think anything was strange about making out in the car, he was genuinely just worried about her comfort. Lu Yi stared at him, realizing he’d always seemed so put-together, yet beneath that proper exterior hid nothing but unfiltered desire.
"It'd be better to switch to a larger car," he said, his hand cupping her jaw, radiating heat that made her skin burn. He seemed utterly serious about ordering a custom car for this specific purpose.
A business van, stretched limo, whatever could be modified. He could design it to order.
Lu Yi choked, "Don't even think about it!"
Not in this lifetime.
Lin Jinshen asked, full of "concern," "Don't think about what?"
Thank god it was late and there weren't many cars on the road. Otherwise, Lu Yi would have wanted to disappear from sheer embarrassment. She knew nobody could see through the tinted glass, but still, what if someone passed by?
Even just imagining it made her want to curl up and die from shame.
Lin Jinshen, on the other hand, seemed immune, lost in his own world, focused only on savoring the moment. Who cared what other people might think?
All Lu Yi could do was grip his arm tight, feeling the muscle flex beneath his shirt.
As they calmed down and readjusted their clothes, another car rolled slowly past, headlights sweeping over Lu Yi's side of the vehicle.
She instinctively turned her face away, even though they weren't doing anything now, she could still feel herself flush with leftover guilt.
Once the other car had gone, her coat off and crumpled on the back seat, she started to straighten her shirt, yanking it free from her skirt. She fumbled inside her sweater for her buttons, two had been ripped off and were now missing. Her cheeks were still flaming red, her skin tingling from the memory of his hands.
Lin Jinshen smoothed out the creases in his shirt, retied his tie, and suddenly looked once again like that perfectly composed golden boy, clean, sharp, utterly unruffled. No one would have guessed what he’d just been up to.
"Ready?" he asked.
Lu Yi nodded softly. Her lips still tingled, her tongue half-numb.
Lin Jinshen finally started the car and drove them home.
Inside, Madam Qin and Lin Yumo were in the living room. Lin Yumo was sipping a bowl of soup, pausing mid-slurp the moment the two of them walked in side by side. She asked, "Big bro, sis-in-law, did you guys stop at the gate just now?"
She stared at them, looking genuinely puzzled, not having the faintest clue why they'd parked at the entrance.
Lu Yi: "…"
She froze, caught red-handed like some misbehaving kid.
"I even told Mom when I came in, said I saw your car. Mom thought I was seeing things, said you’d definitely just drive straight home. Why stop outside?"
Lin Yumo hadn’t actually seen either of them, just glanced out, noticed the make and last digits on the license plate, and suddenly realized it was the family car.
But it only takes two minutes to get inside, why not just go straight home instead of stopping by the road?
Lu Yi honestly had no idea how to answer that.
She threw a pointed look at Lin Jinshen, signaling: Your mess, you handle it.
Lin Yumo, spoon in hand, grew curious. “So, what were you two doing out there? Running some kind of errand?”
Lu Yi: “…”
Lin Jinshen’s face was unbothered, eerily calm. He slipped off his coat and fired back, “What about you? Why are you getting home so late?”
Lin Yumo’s eyes went wide, clearly feeling guilty. “I was out with friends! Fu Yanli was there too!”
To Lin Jinshen, none of her friends had ever been as reliable as Fu Yanli. Mentioning him was her go-to way to prove credibility.
“Out this late? Did you even check the time? Or is this how you partied in England too?” Lin Jinshen’s tone was even and flat, but three rapid-fire questions later, the pressure level was crushing.
Lin Yumo: “…”
Wait, wasn’t she the one interrogating just now? How’d it become her on trial?
Lin Jinshen pulled out the chair beside her and sat down at a diagonal, asking, “I never really got the chance to chat with you about your year in England. How about we sit and talk?”
“Talk about what?” Lin Yumo’s hands shook around her spoon.
Lin Jinshen: “Your dissertation, your professor’s feedback, the bag you bought last month, your monthly spending…”
Lin Yumo sprang up from her seat, not even pretending she wanted soup anymore. She raised both hands in surrender. “Mom, big bro, sis-in-law, goodnight! Suddenly, I’m exhausted and have to sleep!”
Without another word, she bolted upstairs, fleeing like her life depended on it, terrified if she hesitated for a second she’d be dragged into her own put-on-trial night.
Madam Qin was unfazed by this, sighing, “She didn’t even finish her soup. You could’ve waited until she finished at least.”
She turned to Lu Yi, voice gentle. “Lu Yi, do you want some soup?”
Lu Yi: “No need, Mom. I just finished a dinner party.”
Lin Jinshen tapped his fingers on the table and stood up. “Mom, you should get to bed early too.”
“Go on, then. Goodnight.”
On his way out, Lin Jinshen glanced back at Lu Yi, a look that said: Mission accomplished.
Lu Yi only felt more guilty. She hadn’t meant for things to go down like this. She made a mental note to take Yumo shopping for a new purse tomorrow, trying to heal whatever psychological scars tonight had left.
With Lunar New Year over, work went back into full swing.
Lin Jinshen had actually gotten back to work even before the official return. And once things really got going, he was busier than ever. Lu Yi was no slouch herself, they both had their hands full, barely crossing paths except after work.
Puff moved back to Chengxi Garden and immediately started zipping around, so excited she even sprinted up to the second floor.
Lin Jinshen was cool with it. The cat could bounce around to her heart’s content, only the bed was off-limits. Luckily, Puff was pretty well-behaved, and anyway, covering 500 square meters was enough to wipe her out. After a couple rounds, she’d conk out immediately.
Lu Yi weighed her, yep, one more pound gained over the holiday.
Time for another round of the weight loss battle.
After the class reunion, the group chat stayed lively for a few more days. After Lu Yi left, everyone else went off for karaoke, sent some videos around, but Lu Yi never watched them. By now, her phone buried the chat in new notifications and the group quieted down again.
After some time, a new message pinged in the group.
This time, it was news that Li Xian had opened a law firm in China, he really did it, put down roots and upgraded from corporate grunt to business owner. The chat was full of congratulations. Li Xian jumped in, inviting everyone to the grand opening party.
These messages flickered by, gone in a flash, ephemeral as smoke.
In private, Yu Yin chatted with her a little longer. “Li Xian’s honestly pretty interesting. Swore up and down he’d never move back, set on settling in the UK, now five years later, he’s suddenly back and running a law firm, without a word to anyone.”
Back then, she really didn’t get it. As a friend, Yu Yin always tried to patch things up, not split people apart, but both of them were so stubborn, neither willing to compromise.
Li Xian mapped out his future meticulously, every age had a goal, every goal a timeline.
Yu Yin had asked, “If Lu Yi isn’t part of your long-term plan, does that really not bother you?”
Li Xian just went quiet.
That’s when she realized, no use trying to talk them into it anymore.
It just wasn’t that deep, when someone’s plan barely cares who’s standing by their side, love’s not the priority.
“Guy must’ve taken leave of his senses. Why would he drop his grand plan out of nowhere? Maybe it’s for someone, just don’t tell me who, seriously, that would ruin my whole mood.”
Lu Yi let out a sound. “Well, then it’s definitely not something I lose sleep over.”
As for why Li Xian came back, what he’s doing here, and who he’s dating, it had nothing to do with her anymore.
“True. My bad, last time I’ll bring it up,” Yu Yin promised. Lately, one of her videos had blown up and her followers were approaching a million, so she’d been busy with events for all the big brands.
And she’d even worked in a plug for Anyi, not that she needed to, since most of her apartment’s furnishings were from them anyway.
Lu Yi thanked her for real. They chatted about random things for a while, then hung up.
At lunch, Lu Yi ate with Lu Kangcheng, her dad. They talked shop, company business. Being around her dad so much, Lu Yi’s focus had long since expanded beyond the design department. She’d started going to social events with him, negotiating partnerships on the golf course, taking management courses, networking with all kinds of people to broaden her connections.
Like she’d said: she was busy, her and Lin Jinshen barely squeezed in time to see each other, let alone anyone else.
After a busy streak, the two finally cleared an evening for dinner together.
Restaurant booked. Lu Yi finished up work and headed over first. On the way, Lin Jinshen texted, an emergency had come up and he’d be half an hour late. Given his tone, it sounded truly unmovable.
Lu Yi understood, work never waits. “Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you at the restaurant.”
Lin Jinshen: “Sorry, it won’t happen again.”
“No big deal! At this rate, I’ll be scared to be the one late next time.” Lu Yi sent a meme of petting a dog, saying “all good.”
Lin Jinshen couldn’t help but laugh. He was still a rookie at using stickers and memes, before, it was all dry texts, no warmth at all. Now he realized how cold that used to feel.
He hesitated a moment before replying with an emoji.
Kiss.jpg
It was a little dog, pressing its nose to the screen for a smooch.
Lu Yi: "…"
He'd probably swiped that picture from some obscure corner of the internet. Just imagining his serious face, long-pressing to add an emoji, made her feel almost as torn as that sticker dog.
Times really were changing, Mr. Lin had finally mastered the art of memes.
Even if it didn't quite fit his image.
She chuckled, put her phone away, and headed into the restaurant. The staff led her to her reserved seat by the floor-to-ceiling windows, with a view of glittering city lights. Sipping her tea, she let her gaze drift outside, letting her mind go blissfully blank.
"Lu Yi?"
A man's voice cut in out of nowhere.
Lu Yi turned. Just a few steps away stood Li Xian, soft lamplight smoothing the angles of his face. He wore a pale, impeccably tailored suit and looked even more mature than before. Beside him stood a tall, elegant woman, strikingly beautiful with effortless poise.
Months without crossing paths, and now she ran into him tonight.
Lu Yi couldn't decide if that was fate or just really poor luck.
"I thought I recognized you from behind. Honestly just chanced it by walking over, but it really is you." Li Xian smiled. He had those eyes that tricked you into thinking you were the only one in the world he cared about.
"We didn't get a chance to talk at the last alumni thing. Lu Yi, long time no see."
Lu Yi nodded. "Yeah, it's been a while."
"Ning Jia, my business partner," Li Xian introduced, gesturing to the woman beside him, eyes lingering on Lu Yi for half a beat. "Lu Yi, my, uh, college classmate."
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too."
Lu Yi shook hands with Ning Jia.
Li Xian said, "Kind of wild running into you here. Are you…" Alone?
Lu Yi said, "I'm waiting for my husband."
"Ah, then we won't intrude. Wouldn't want to third-wheel your romantic dinner," Li Xian said with a polished smile, offering his arm as he led Ning Jia to their table.
Ning Jia: "Goodbye, Miss Lu."
"See you."
Lu Yi returned to her seat, propped her chin in her hand, and glanced at the time. Calculating he’d need a few more minutes, she messaged: [If you’re busy, we can just skip tonight.]
Honestly, it probably was best if present and former boyfriends didn’t cross paths. But changing the restaurant just for that would be too suspicious.
Lin Jinshen: [Sorry, are you mad?]
Lu Yi: [Nope, not mad.]
Lin Jinshen: [Five minutes. I'm already on my way.]
Lu Yi: [Okay.]
She didn’t say more. When it came to exes around your current partner, it’s best to pretend they’ve faded from memory, practically dead and buried.
Lin Jinshen’s timing, as always, was impeccable. He promised five minutes and not a second more. He arrived right on cue, sweeping in with the wind in his black coat, as if he’d just stepped off a runway, an absolute sight for sore eyes.
"Kept you waiting?"
"Twenty minutes isn't long."
Once they’d ordered, Lin Jinshen looked up to meet her laughing eyes. "What’s so funny?"
"Just feels like we’re sneaking out behind Puff’s back to spoil ourselves." Poor Puff was mid-diet lately, and all her snacks were strictly off-limits.
Lin Jinshen rested a hand on the table, eyebrow raised. "Sneaking around on this level?"
"?" Lu Yi cursed herself for immediately catching his drift, silently begging him to please keep his jokes PG. You're in a restaurant, could you at least pretend to be wholesome?
Lin Jinshen looked unbothered. "I just meant, not to say, if we're going to be this sneaky, shouldn't we hit that spot in West City with the killer Beijing cuisine? This place hardly counts as a cheat meal."
But here they were. Two busy people settling for a conveniently located, so-so place in the middle.
He shot back, "So what were you just imagining?"
Lu Yi: "…"
Closing her mouth, forced shutdown.
Dinner was so smooth she nearly forgot all about the earlier encounter. They paid, went home, played with Puff, bathed, went to bed. A perfect evening, except fate had other ideas. On their way out, they bumped right into Li Xian again.
He and Ning Jia had just finished dinner too and were heading to pay, chatting casually. Li Xian was the first to spot Lu Yi and stopped, Ning Jia following his gaze.
Li Xian and Ning Jia greeted Lu Yi first.
With Lin Jinshen silent, he came off as completely unapproachable, all ice and distant cool. At first, he figured they were just acquaintances of Lu Yi’s, but Li Xian set him on edge.
Still, since it was Lu Yi’s friend, he kept his feelings to himself.
"This must be your husband?" Li Xian’s eyes landed on Lin Jinshen, his gentlemanly smile unwavering. "Nice to meet you, I’m Li Xian. I went to college with Lu Yi."
Li Xian. The ex. The one who’d signed his name on the last page of that book.
Not that Lin Jinshen gave much away, a barely-there frown flickered and vanished, his gaze shaded by those dark lashes, impossible to read.
The guy seemed all right, probably held a regular job, no wedding ring, clearly single. But his smile was pure surface, fake as can be, not an ounce of real warmth.
And men always know. A look exchanged was enough to see straight through each other.
"Yes, my husband, Lin Jinshen." Lu Yi jumped in, linking her arm firmly through his.
"Nice to meet you."
Lin Jinshen extended his hand, his gaze giving nothing away.
They shook hands with all the forced politeness of a photo op.
Their handshake was a shade too firm, tense smiles barely holding up.
Li Xian said, "I just got back to China and opened a law firm. Here’s my card. If President Lin ever needs advice, I specialize in marriage and family law."
Might as well have "Expert in Divorce" tattooed on his forehead.
Lin Jinshen took back his hand, accepting the business card with the barest nod, not even glancing at it, already holding it like a flyer he was ready to toss. "Appreciate it, but I doubt I'll ever need it."
"But now I'm curious. Do lawyers like Mr. Li handle their own divorces?"
He didn't pause for a reply. "Sorry, I forgot, Mr. Li isn’t married yet, is he?"