Chapter 53

The smile in Li Xian’s eyes faltered for a second, then he reached out. "President Lin, you do have a sense of humor. Sorry about just now, I was joking, please don’t take it personally."
"As long as you don’t," Lin Jinshen replied coolly.
Lu Yi only felt intensely awkward. Even though she knew Lin Jinshen wasn’t aware who Li Xian really was, having them in the same frame was enough to make her skin crawl.
Ning Jia took the initiative to introduce their newly established law firm, it couldn’t compete with the big domestic firms, but their fees were more affordable, and if given the chance, they’d do everything they could to repay the favor.
“Hope we get a chance to work together,” Lu Yi said with a smile.
Li Xian stepped forward to the hostess stand, ready to pay for both tables.
“Just put it on my tab,” Lin Jinshen said, glancing up from under his lashes.
The hostess apologized to Li Xian, “Mr. Lin is a member. Both tables are already covered under his account. We look forward to welcoming you again, sir.”
Li Xian kept his composure, tucked his card back into his wallet, and turned around. “Then I’ll thank President Lin. Looks like I benefited from our old classmate’s luck tonight.”
Lin Jinshen: “You’re too polite.”
The four of them walked out together. Li Xian said, “At the last class reunion, when people heard Lu Yi got married, everyone joked about how envious we were of her husband. Lu Yi’s always been the goddess of our class, super popular.”
Lu Yi frowned. “They were just joking around.”
“I’m serious. Even Fatty liked you back then,” Li Xian said softly, the kind of smile people have when they’re reminiscing. “We used to talk about it. Just never told you.”
Lu Yi: “…”
Lin Jinshen’s hand wrapped around hers, his palm warm against her chill. “I know. My wife is amazing. That’s why I never let my guard down.”
“Yeah, Mr. Lin, you’d better keep a close eye on her.”
They reached the exit in just a few steps. Li Xian stopped, stuffing his hands into his coat pockets. “Guess I’ll leave it here. Hope we meet again sometime.”
Lin Jinshen nodded. “Let’s see.”
Not likely.
“Goodbye, old classmate.” Li Xian waved.
Lu Yi: “Goodbye.”
Their cars were parked across from each other. The two pairs turned away. Li Xian lagged a step and, as he glanced back, saw Lin Jinshen slip Lu Yi’s hand into the pocket of his overcoat, keeping her close. Lu Yi looked up at the man beside her and smiled, the two pressed tightly together as they walked away, their shadows overlapping, inseparable.
Once upon a time, that had been them, too.
Back in those endless rainy days in England, Lu Yi’s hands and feet would be freezing, and no matter how he tried, he could never quite warm her up. He used to tuck her hands into his own coat pockets with painstaking care.
Now, someone else was doing those things for her.
It was one thing to know. Seeing it in person was something else entirely.
Earlier, Ning Jia had been baffled by Li Xian’s insistence on this restaurant. With their firm just getting started, time was money, and he’d gone out of his way to come here, she’d chalked it up to the restaurant’s reputation.
When she saw Lu Yi, she was suspicious, but couldn’t be sure. It was normal to be happy running into an old classmate.
But during dinner, Li Xian kept glancing at her, or rather, stealing glances at the empty seat behind her. Something was clearly off.
Ning Jia crossed her arms and strode forward. “Li Xian, you know I took a gamble leaving to start this with you, I’ve staked my whole career and every cent I have. I’m not here to play house.”
“I know. I’m not treating this as a joke,” Li Xian replied.
“Just making sure you do.” Ning Jia’s voice was light but edged with warning. “Lu Yi seems happy with her husband, you know? The past is the past. She’s married. Don’t go longing after things you shouldn’t.”
This was someone he simply couldn’t afford to get mixed up with, and it wasn’t just about him now, but their firm’s reputation on the line.
She didn’t want the firm becoming collateral damage over a personal mess.
Li Xian opened the car door for her. “I get it.”
Ning Jia hesitated, wanting to say more, but in the end just ducked into the car, silently hoping Li Xian truly understood.
Lu Yi buckled up, already nursing a headache.
She pressed her fingers to her forehead, running through the best way, what tone, what approach?, to tell Lin Jinshen that Li Xian was her ex. First time in her life dealing with this; she had zero experience to draw on.
Thankfully, she’d only ever had the one relationship, never wanted to go through this again in her life.
Maybe just say it straight: Li Xian is my ex.
That’d do. She waited until Lin Jinshen started the car, then said in an even voice, “There’s something I need to come clean about.”
Lin Jinshen’s fingers rested elegantly on the steering wheel. He replied, “Li Xian is your ex-boyfriend.”
Lu Yi snapped upright. “How’d you know?”
So basically, their little exchange just now was all based on him knowing who Li Xian was the whole time. No wonder his comments sounded halfway mocking, not his usual vibe at all, but obviously deliberate?
Lin Jinshen: “Last time I was in your room, I saw some books he gave you on the shelf. His name was written on the last page.”
“I got rid of almost all his stuff ages ago. Gave it to my roommate, she wanted to sell at the secondhand market.” Lu Yi scrunched her brows, thinking hard, yeah, it was entirely possible she missed a random book.
After all, they’d bought them in batches. It’d been ages. She wouldn’t even remember now.
“Got rid of” sounded way too nice.
Lu Yi asked, “Just a name, and you instantly knew he was my ex?”
Lin Jinshen: “…”
“I gotta say, you’re something else, Mr. Lin.” Lu Yi said it sincerely, one name and a single holiday text, and he’d pieced it all together? He was basically the Leuwenhoek of snooping.
Lin Jinshen’s lashes lifted. “Did you see him before I got there?”
She hadn’t looked the least bit surprised at their meeting earlier.
Lu Yi: “Yeah, I bumped into them while I was waiting for you. Just said hi.”
Lin Jinshen’s voice dropped, low and magnetic: “You never thought to tell me?”
Lu Yi: “Honestly, he’s not that important. Didn’t seem worth mentioning.”
Not that important.
Lin Jinshen’s lips quirked. “You’re absolutely right.”
Lu Yi grinned. Thank god for Puff, living with a cat had taught her, if the first round of head-patting didn’t work, keep at it. Soothe twice, and you’ll always win in the end.
Spring was here, yet there was still a lingering chill in the air, winter not quite finished letting go.
After her shower, Lu Yi went downstairs, opened her laptop, and started tackling a backlog of unanswered emails.
Puff had finally dropped the extra two pounds from New Year’s, though now she seemed stuck, plateaued, her weight refusing to budge. The vet checked her over; she was the picture of health, as sturdy as a calf. Lu Yi had made peace with it: no need to stress over her food, just encourage more exercise.
But the second Lu Yi ignored her, Puff would act out, leaping up onto the coffee table, baring her teeth at the laptop, gnawing on the screen in protest.
Before she could take a bite, she scooped Puff up first and gave her a good, thorough cuddle, rolling her around until the cat finally meowed for mercy.
Lin Jinshen came downstairs, his laptop under his arm, and sat a little to her side. He opened his computer and started working.
Lu Yi: "?"
Without looking away from his screen, as if he had eyes on his forehead, Lin Jinshen said, "According to science, a healthy married couple should spend at least forty hours a week together."
He added, "Not counting sleeping hours."
Lu Yi: "…"
Lin Jinshen: "Since we're way below the minimum, it's only right we make up that time now."
"Where on earth did you read about this 'scientific theory'?" Lu Yi had never heard of such a thing.
Lin Jinshen: "Are you doubting science now?"
Isn't it possible I'm doubting you?
Lu Yi laughed, grabbed her mouse, and opened a recent email. Meanwhile, Puff had already hopped over to Lin Jinshen, curling herself neatly into his lap.
For a while, the only sound was quiet typing as they each got on with work. Neither said much.
Every so often, Lu Yi glanced up, catching a glimpse of Lin Jinshen's face framed by his laptop, sharp features, totally absorbed in his work, a sight almost too stunning to look at.
Honestly, she could get used to working like this, side by side.
Once her last email was sent, Lu Yi shut her laptop, folded it away, and waved for Puff to come back to her. Puff, in a rare display of cooperation, strutted over and graciously allowed herself to be scooped up for some kisses and cuddles.
Lin Jinshen paused with his water bottle midair, eyes landing on the adorable duo across from him.
He froze for half a second, then asked, "So, how did you and your ex actually meet?"
"..." Lu Yi was caught mid-lift with Puff in her arms. Both she and the cat stiffened at the question; Puff's tiny legs flailed in the air.
Everyone knows, the moment your current boyfriend brings up your ex, you're literally walking into a minefield.
Lu Yi: "...What brought this up all of a sudden?"
Lin Jinshen: "I'm curious."
"Is it hard to talk about?"
"Why would it be!" Lu Yi put Puff down and absentmindedly stroked her head. "It's just... that's the kind of question people usually get touchy about."
"Go ahead, I promise I won't get mad." Lin Jinshen set aside his glass, but kept his hand on the cup, his pale fingers easily curling around the rim.
Lu Yi wanted to say, Well don't forget you asked for this, but she didn't really have anything to hide. "We met at the start of school. We had mutual friends, met at a group dinner. Nothing special, really."
Just your standard college romance opening.
Li Xian was impressive, among his wealthy circle, he was one of the steady, thoughtful types. They traded contact info, helped each other out here and there.
Soon, Li Xian started pursuing her. She hesitated at first, wanting to stay friends, thinking relationships were just too complicated. But he kept at it for over half a year, and in the end, she said yes.
They dated like any normal couple, both pretty level-headed, never fought. So when they eventually broke up, their friends were all shocked.
By now, Lu Yi had forgotten most of the details, and her version of events sounded rather lackluster.
But to Lin Jinshen, her hesitation and brevity only meant she was worried he'd be bothered, skipping over the bits he most wanted to know.
He wanted to hear how they'd fallen for each other, how good Li Xian had been to her... even how many times they'd kissed or hugged. Hopefully, he thought, the number was single digits.
Young people should be focused on their studies, not obsessed with romance.
Lu Yi let out a noncommittal "hmm" and said, "Honestly, I don't really remember anymore."
"Did you ever travel together?" Lin Jinshen pressed.
Lu Yi nodded lightly, then added, "Mostly with friends, road trips, weekends at the beach, stuff like that."
He scoffed under his breath.
Lin Jinshen could just picture it, teenagers, all energy and hormones, burning through every sunset. He quickly shoved that image out of his mind.
Twisting the cup in his hands, he kept going: "Ever hold hands?"
"…"
Lu Yi paused, then nodded.
"Ever...kissed?"
Okay, okay, that's enough interrogating.
Lu Yi was practically sweating bullets by now. She offered helpfully, "You know, you could just skip this part and get mad directly."
No need to drag it out, he could just jump to being jealous if he wanted.
Lin Jinshen shut his laptop, eyes still calm beneath his lashes. He reassured her, "I'm not upset."
Lu Yi couldn't help recalling that internet joke, "No, of course I won't get mad if you talk about your ex", and then, once the conversation starts, dead silence. She never thought she'd live that cliché herself.
Remind her again who'd said he "wouldn’t mind"?
Under his gaze, Lu Yi slowly nodded. Come on, no couple dates without any kissing, might as well have stayed friends.
Lin Jinshen didn't know why he was torturing himself with questions he already knew the answers to. He just nodded, told himself it was normal, then turned back to his work, though the screen glare made him wince, and he automatically lowered the brightness.
Lu Yi watched him.
When you spend enough time together, you barely even need facial expressions to tell someone’s mood.
She leaned against the coffee table, lazily tilting her head as she looked up at him. Then she asked, "Aren't you going to ask whether it was my first kiss?"
Lin Jinshen:"…"
He lifted his gaze from the computer, finally meeting her eyes. For a split second, his dark pupils seemed to go icy, like he'd just switched on the A/C for his emotions.
He was about one degree away from having "jealous" tattooed across his forehead.
Lu Yi leaned closer, tapping his frown with her finger once, twice. "Do you smell something?" she asked.
Lin Jinshen: "What?"
"It's the thick scent of jealousy," Lu Yi declared, pushing off the table, shooing Puff away, and closing his laptop, then, in gleeful slow-motion, she leaned in and tugged at his collar for a deep sniff.
"So that's where it was coming from," she grinned. "Pure, undiluted jealousy."
"..."
Lin Jinshen wrapped his arm around her, pulling her onto his lap to sit face to face.
Lu Yi smoothed his furrowed brow with two fingers, lips curving with a playful smile. "Wow, you're kind of adorable like this, you know?"
Every inch of him was screaming his feelings, and still, he tried to play it cool and pretend he wasn't jealous. Lin Jinshen like this was just plain cute.
She really did like him.
Lin Jinshen's hand pressed against her waist, neither roughly nor gently, and she could feel the tension draining from his brow under her touch. Whatever turmoil he carried tonight, it wasn't aimed at her, and that only left him feeling powerless, aimless, undone from within.
If only they'd met just a little sooner, maybe none of these other people would have mattered.
He asked, "Between him and me, who do you like more?"
"...Are you seriously asking me that?" Lu Yi felt another headache coming on. Why was everything in this guy's brain just a contest?
Lin Jinshen arched a brow. "Hard question for you?"
Lu Yi had to laugh. "It's not hard, it's painfully obvious. How do you not see it?"
"Then who?" he pressed.
"Give me your hand." Lu Yi took his hand, spreading his fingers wide, so big it could cover her whole face. She guided his hand palm-up near her and began tracing strokes across his skin with her fingertip.
His palm tingled, a rush like a live wire skimming through him. He swallowed, almost imperceptibly, but didn't pull his hand away.
When she finished, she let go, but he kept his hand in the air, as if holding something precious.
Lin Jinshen asked, "What did you write?"
Lu Yi blinked at him, not sure if he was genuinely clueless or just playing dumb. She mock-glared. "Puff! It's Puff, you dork."
Puff, of course, assumed she’d been summoned, springing up between them and tilting her head: "Meow?"
Lin Jinshen reached down, ruffling the cat’s head, a smile deepening on his face.
He knew what he'd felt written in his palm.
You.
…
The meeting in the Design Department had just ended when Lu Yi laid out the upcoming workloads. Zhang Fang and the rest of the team leads responded with enthusiasm.
No sooner had she finished assigning tasks than the company's private group chat lit up. Everyone was gushing about how their department was finally in the spotlight: afternoon tea two or three times a week, occasional treats from HQ, and some days you'd get milk tea and coffee twice. Even collabs with other departments went smoothly now, no more unnecessary roadblocks.
And Lu Yi? She stayed late but never made her team do it. If they chose to, the overtime pay was generous, plus dinner and taxi reimbursements. Her motto: don’t burn out your crew, burn yourself out first.
Basically? Royal treatment.
[Apologies for what I said before. I was dead wrong about Boss Yi. What was I thinking!]
[Same here. Now my only hope is that Boss Yi stays with our department forever.]
[I said from the start, Boss Yi means business, for real.]
[...]
On a perfectly ordinary afternoon, Gan Li accepted a bouquet from the delivery guy and knocked on Lu Yi’s office door. “Boss Yi, flowers for you.”
Lu Yi looked up. “For me?”
“Yup, but there’s no name on the card. It's probably from President Lin, right?” Gan Li’s eyes sparkled. The bouquet, tulips and gladiolus, plus some other flowers she couldn’t name, was wrapped in green-printed paper tied with a bow, crisp and lovely.
Lin Jinshen? Really?
Lu Yi struggled to imagine it. It didn't feel like his style. She accepted the bouquet, confirming there was, indeed, no note. The delivery guy hadn’t said who sent them either.
Still, the flowers were gorgeous. She brushed a finger across the fresh, open petals.
“Just leave them here.” Lu Yi instructed.
Gan Li: “Okay.”
Lu Yi grabbed her phone, dialing the likely suspect. “Did you send me flowers?”
His voice on the other end was low and steady. Yes, he did. Did she like them?
"What made you suddenly want to send me flowers?" Lu Yi bent down to inhale their faint fragrance. “Did I forget a special date?”
She thought for a second, no, it was way too early for their anniversary.
Lin Jinshen replied, “I just passed by a flower shop and thought they'd look beautiful in your office.”
"Oh? Just happened to pass by?" she teased.
Lin Jinshen: “...Yeah.”
To be fair, he had to walk a whole extra block and cross the street, but sure, just passing by a flower shop.
He couldn’t remember ever sending her flowers before. He lowered his voice. “I haven’t given you flowers before, but you’ll have them every day from now on.”
The word “every day” never failed to make anyone’s heart flutter. Her lashes quivered; dewdrops clung to the petals, shimmering in the sunlight.
Lu Yi thought for a moment. She wasn’t sure how to return the favor. “Then I’ll repay you, with dinner tonight. I’ll cook.”
"Not some kind of elaborate revenge, right?" Lin Jinshen deadpanned.
Lu Yi toyed with the ribbon, her voice feather-light. “You’ll just have to wait and see. Promise you won’t be disappointed.”
How hard could cooking be? Recipes were meant to be followed.
She’d never actually cooked before, but she was nothing if not confident.
Lin Jinshen loosened his tie and chuckled, his voice silky. “All right, I’m very much looking forward to it.”
The moment the call ended, Lu Yi was already dreaming up the night’s menu. Western food seemed simpler, so she settled on steak and pasta. She messaged Aunt Fang in advance, asking her to pick up the groceries.
Aunt Fang, who knew nothing about steak, still gathered everything listed in the recipe, down to the last sprig of rosemary.
After work, Lu Yi headed straight home. Aunt Fang walked her through how to start the burners, adjust the heat, and where all the kitchenware was kept. Apron on, long hair tied up, Lu Yi moved with the grim determination of a woman facing battle.
Aunt Fang, worried, asked, "Sure you don't need my help?"
"No need."
Lu Yi nodded and smiled. “Seriously, it’s getting late, Aunt Fang. Head home early tonight.”
"All right, but if you can't find anything, just call me." Aunt Fang left, her “deep concern” barely disguised, hoping the kitchen would survive the night.
Lu Yi had already queued up the video tutorial and set her tablet out, ready to follow every step.
First up: pat the steak dry with paper towels, season both sides with black pepper and salt, then brush with olive oil. Get the pan nice and hot, sear each side for a minute, then prop up the meat to crisp the fat...
She recited it in her head, should be easy, right?
But the reality? Couldn’t have been more different.
The second the steak hit the hot pan, it sizzled so aggressively she stumbled back in alarm. Once she realized no oil had spat everywhere, she edged forward to flip the steak, only to find it was already burnt.
"…"
From there, chaos only increased. Determined to stick to the recipe, she wrapped the steak and rosemary in foil, “let the meat rest,” as the video called it.
Next up: pasta. She timed it meticulously, throwing ground beef into the pan and stirring until every last crumb was browned and perfect.
Lu Yi held her own plate up next to the example photo. The comparison was so pitiful it was almost laughable. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, half amused, half exasperated with herself.
No way she had time to redo anything, but seriously, was this edible?
Meanwhile, Puff heard the commotion and scampered to squat guard by the door. A moment later, the click of the lock, then the handle pressed down, and Lin Jinshen stepped inside.
"Meow?"
Dad's home!
Puff obediently padded over to sniff at his shoes.
As Lin Jinshen opened the door, an odd smell hit him. He entered coolly, his eyes meeting Lu Yi’s as she leaned on the kitchen island, elbows propped up.
Lu Yi tried to keep her cool. "How about we just eat out instead? My treat!"
"Already finished?" Lin Jinshen slid off his jacket, hung it on the coat rack, unfastened his cufflinks, and rolled his sleeves up a couple of turns, revealing a clean wrist as he walked toward her.
Lu Yi: "Yup."
She brought out the steak, still wrapped in foil, and motioned for him to open it.
Lin Jinshen washed his hands first, then unwrapped the foil. Inside lay a piece of... beef, maybe, but half of it was worryingly black. "Grilled?"
Lu Yi strained two words through gritted teeth: "Pan-seared."
"There's pasta, too."
She turned to set the plate before him. The pasta looked bone-dry and thoroughly unappetizing. She poked her brow, baffled, she’d followed every step exactly. How had it ended up like this?
Lin Jinshen lowered his gaze, studying both dishes as if they were a puzzle to solve.
He picked up the knife and fork, carefully avoiding the blackened parts, and cut off a small corner of steak. Calmly, and under Lu Yi’s anxious eyes, he chewed. "Not bad, actually."
"Really?" Lu Yi’s eyes lit up with hope.
"Mm." He took a sip of water, conveniently swallowing. "The flavor’s... fine."
Lu Yi pushed over a plate. "Try the pasta."
"..."
The taste of steak still lingering in his mouth, he set down the knife, twirled two strands of the pasta, and took a bite. Raw. He immediately grabbed a napkin, wiping his lips as he discretely spit it out.
If it were even a bit cooked, he could have swallowed. But raw pasta? That was a one-way ticket to the ER.
Lin Jinshen: "Not bad."
Lu Yi narrowed her eyes, zeroing in. "Are you serious? Look me in the eyes when you say that."
Did he think she didn’t see him spit it out?
Lin Jinshen glanced up and met her stare. One second, two seconds, three, until, finally, neither could hold it anymore and both burst out laughing.
He pressed a hand to his forehead. He’d lied more tonight than in his entire life. His smile creased at the corners, warm, genuine, and way too delightful for her heart.
Damn, he looked good when he smiled.
He barely ever laughed like this.
Lu Yi’s gloom was blown away by his rare laugh. She teased, "Young Master, I haven’t seen you smile like that in ages."
Lin Jinshen: "?"