Chapter 54

"Honestly, I’ve never seen Young Master this happy before."
"You’re the first girl he’s ever brought home."
"Never seen him care so much about a woman, not once."
"Woman, you’ll be mine, sooner or later."
"Woman, come here. Entertain me!"
"Woman, don’t you dare challenge me."
"…"
"You’ve never heard any of these?" Lu Yi frowned in disbelief. For a second she felt like they were totally different generations, a gaping age gap between them.
Lin Jinshen’s brow furrowed even tighter, deeper than after his bite of burnt steak: "...No."
What the hell was all that?
"Those are classic CEO-romance lines! You seriously haven’t heard them?" Lu Yi gave him a look that practically screamed, See, I knew you were hopelessly offline.
She was clearly under the illusion that he touched the internet.
Lin Jinshen: "Are they that widespread?"
"Everywhere." Lu Yi grinned. "Maybe not my parents’ generation, but everyone else knows."
Even Aunt Fang wouldn’t get it.
But really, what was his excuse?
Lin Jinshen: "..."
Lu Yi took off her apron and said sincerely, "You should really study up."
These are your people’s signature lines, you know.
This last line confused him even more than all the ones before. Lin Jinshen gratefully declined, he’d honestly rather eat that failed steak again.
Lu Yi cracked up at his helpless face. Looking at her culinary disaster on the counter, she decided to spare him further suffering and dumped it all into the trash. "Let’s just order in," she said.
With Puff at home, they stayed in and called for takeaway from the nearest restaurant. Food came quick, after just forty minutes, dinner was served.
Which was already faster than it took her to ruin two steaks.
She peeled a shrimp from their plain-boiled platter and dropped it into Puff’s bowl. The cat scrambled onto a chair, munching loudly. She tossed over two more, but stopped there, too much would be overkill.
After dinner, it was the usual routine: take Puff outside for a walk.
All the dogs downstairs with any sense had been chased or swatted by Puff before. For now, none of them dared approach, fearing another beatdown, and earning Puff the title of "Boxer" from their exasperated owners.
The next morning, Aunt Fang found yesterday’s kitchen rejects in the trash.
One glance at the charred steak and she asked, stunned, "Did you grill charcoal last night?"
The burned smell still hadn’t left the kitchen. Aunt Fang wrinkled her nose.
"..."
Lu Yi winced, somehow more embarrassed by this than the burnt steak itself. She corrected, "Aunt Fang, that was supposed to be steak."
Aunt Fang took another look. Yeah, that checked out. She couldn’t help but laugh, covering her nose. "Oh dear, my mistake! It’s definitely steak. Looks… awfully complete for a failed experiment."
No need to ask to know it was a total flop. Thankfully the kitchen was still standing; apart from a scorched pan, the damage wasn’t total. Some hot water would fix that.
Aunt Fang smiled, "Next time you want something, just let me know, all right?"
"Best leave the cooking to the cook. You and President Lin are both busy as it is."
One try was more than enough for Lu Yi. She wasn’t about to attempt a second round.
When Lu Yi returned to the office, another bouquet arrived right on schedule. Different flowers from yesterday’s, those got swapped out and placed in the break area, not wasted. The fresh bouquet went to Gan Li, who refilled the vase and took charge of the arrangement.
Beautiful things just have a way of brightening your mood.
“At this rate, our department’s gonna turn into a flower shop,” Gan Li said, heading out with the bouquet and immediately getting teased by the others.
But Gan Li was positively beaming. “Honestly, if President Lin wanted, he could fill the whole place with flowers. But a new bouquet every day, what do you think that means?”
“What?”
“It means President Lin’s love for our President Lu never wilts, always fresh!” Gan Li announced, clearly hyped. Ever since she’d spotted Lin Jinshen at the office, she’d been the ultimate shipper of their CP.
It’s not like it’s wrong to stan an actual married couple, right?
That one time President Lin called Zhang Fang over and made her swear to keep it secret from President Lu, doing good for her, all quietly, never bragging, that’s a real man. Gan Li had kept her promise, never told a soul.
The colleague grinned. “You’re just a kid, honestly.”
She was at the perfect age to believe in true love.
Unbothered, Gan Li unwrapped the flowers, hummed as she refreshed them in the vase and misted the petals, gave them a quick touch-up, and carried them to Lu Yi’s office.
It wasn’t until half a month after they’d last met that Lu Yi got a message from Ning Jia, they’d swapped numbers back then.
She was genuinely surprised; she’d nearly forgotten about it.
Ning Jia: [Got time for coffee?]
[I’m at the café right downstairs from your building.]
Lu Yi had a good impression of Ning Jia, so she agreed. Ning Jia quickly sent the café’s name.
She took the elevator, walked in, and spotted Ning Jia at a window seat right away.
Ning Jia was dressed sharply, the perfect picture of a boss, polished, confident. She lifted a hand in greeting and smiled, “Miss Lu.”
“Wasn’t sure what you’d want, so I didn’t order for you.”
Lu Yi picked an Americano and sat across from her.
Ning Jia, hands folded, got right to the point: she was here to talk business. Anyi’s contract with their former law firm had ended, they were looking for a new one. She thought she’d try her luck, just wrapped up the pitch, and decided to text Lu Yi on a whim. Honestly, she’d fully expected Lu Yi to turn her down.
Lu Yi grinned, “If you’d told me up front why you were here, I probably would’ve turned you down.”
Both women exchanged amused smiles.
There was a natural affinity between them, they were a little alike, in their own ways.
The barista brought their coffee; Lu Yi accepted hers with a thank you.
Ning Jia, legs crossed in a practiced, poised way, sipped her coffee and spoke slowly. “Actually, I know about you and Li Xian. He didn’t tell me, total professional, but, well, I still want every shot I can get. Landing this client would mean a lot to our firm.”
“Do you mind?”
Anyi might not pick them, but Ning Jia was confident in her skills. Still, she figured she should clear the air with Lu Yi, if she minded, that was Lu Yi’s right.
Lu Yi took a sip of her Americano, coolly replied, “If I’m here, that should tell you where I stand.”
Ning Jia was Li Xian’s business partner.
But Li Xian was Li Xian. Ning Jia was Ning Jia.
If this really bothered her, she wouldn’t have exchanged numbers, let alone come down for coffee.
She continued, “I’m sure you know Li Xian and I broke up five years ago. It was mutual, and we’re on good terms. Work is work. I don’t let personal stuff get in the way.”
“He’s doing well and I’m truly glad for him.”
Ning Jia visibly relaxed. “If we do get the contract, I’ll be the liaison for Anyi, no need to worry.”
That was ideal; with their positions, it was better to avoid any misunderstanding.
Lu Yi nodded, but a sharp pain suddenly twisted through her stomach. She pressed a palm to her abdomen, face draining of color.
Ning Jia noticed. “Are you okay?”
Lu Yi tried to steady herself. The pain eased a bit.
It had been happening on and off lately, she assumed her period was coming. She said she was fine, but left the rest of her iced Americano untouched.
“Are you sure? Want to see a doctor?” Ning Jia stood and pulled some tissues, handing them over. Lu Yi took one and squeezed it in her fist.
“It’s fine, probably just cramps.”
Ning Jia cautioned, “If it hurts this much, you should really take something for it.”
“Alright.”
But her period never showed, and the sharp pains kept getting worse, cold sweat dotting her brow. Lu Yi realized it probably wasn’t just cramps.
After wrapping things up at work, she decided to get checked at the hospital.
Gan Li was worried. “Let me come with you.”
Lu Yi had never liked troubling anyone, especially with personal matters. She waved it off. “It’s nothing, just some tests and a prescription, I’ll be fine.”
She went to a nearby public hospital and soon realized it wouldn’t be that simple. After describing her symptoms at the clinic, the doctor suspected appendicitis. Additional tests were needed, and if it was confirmed, surgery was recommended.
Lu Yi hadn’t even considered that possibility. The word “appendicitis”, and surgery, threw her for a loop. She'd always been healthy, never even set foot in an operating room.
The doctor noticed her nerves. “Don’t worry, it’s a minimally invasive procedure.”
“Okay.”
The doctor handed her a list of tests. “Have a family member pay at the counter. You go register for the tests.”
Seeing she was alone, he asked, “Did you come here by yourself?”
Lu Yi nodded.
He advised, “You should really call someone in. This isn’t a trivial thing.”
Lu Yi thanked him and pulled out her phone, wanting to call her parents, but hesitated, she knew they’d panic if they heard ‘surgery’. After some thought, she set her phone down, deciding to wait until after the test results. No use worrying them yet; hopefully it was nothing.
She paid at the counter and went to queue up for her tests.
Lu Yi sat in the waiting area, still clutching her abdomen against the pain. The hospital was a noisy sea of people, even on a weekday. The cramps grew worse, cold sweat breaking out on her brow. She bit her lip, and the taste of pain was sharp as a razor, shredding her nerves, relentless.
She thought she could tough it out, just like all the times before.
But this time, it was as if her body was set on sabotaging her, the pain wouldn’t let up. Curled in on herself, head bowed, she clenched her jaw and just tried to endure.
“Lu Yi.”
The voice was rough, broken by quick breaths.
Through her blurred vision, a dark figure materialized in front of her. His deep, low voice cut through the background noise and found her ear. Clutching her stomach, she looked up and saw Lin Jinshen, as if he’d appeared out of thin air.
He must have rushed over in a hurry, hair still windswept, a strand brushing his forehead. His lips were pressed tight, his face drawn and tense. He looked worse for wear, his sharp features and deep eyes casting shadows darker than midnight.
Lu Yi stared, dazed. “What are you doing here?”
“Your assistant told me.”
Gan Li, after a lot of internal debate, had reached out to Lin Jinshen when Lu Yi went to the hospital. She’d seen Lu Yi in pain before and worried it might get out of hand, this wasn’t something she could handle alone.
The moment Lin Jinshen got the call, he came running. He was so anxious, he forgot to call ahead, almost lost his mind there for a minute. He tracked down a nurse, found out where Lu Yi was, and dashed over to find her waiting for tests.
Before he saw her, he was fuming, wanting to ask if she ever planned to tell him at all if her assistant hadn’t stepped in.
But when he spotted her, all curled up, small and helpless, the anger drained away instantly.
Nothing left but worry.
Lin Jinshen crouched down, bringing his eyes level with hers, so she wouldn’t have to strain her neck. Covering her shaking hand with his, he gently asked, “Is it hurting here? What did the doctor say?”
Lu Yi looked into his eyes. Just seeing him made all the pain she’d held at bay come flooding back. Now that he was here, tears stung behind her nose, and she almost felt wronged by her own body.
Being sick makes everyone feel vulnerable, doesn’t it?
The heavy burden pressing down on her chest finally slipped off. She wasn’t alone anymore.
Lin Jinshen brushed the cold sweat from her forehead. She glanced at him, eyes glassy with unshed tears, and he lost every ounce of his temper.
Lu Yi said, “The doctor thinks it might be appendicitis. If so, I’ll need surgery. But don’t worry, it’s minimally invasive. The kind where you can go home later the same day.”
She spun the doctor’s words to comfort him, instead of the other way around.
Lin Jinshen nodded quietly. “Can you walk? Do you need me to carry you?”
“Where to?” Lu Yi asked.
“We’re switching hospitals.”
The public hospital was bursting at the seams, and everything took forever. On the way out, Lin Jinshen was already making calls to a private hospital, lining up doctors, tests, and a private room.
Lu Yi sank back into the car seat, eyes closed, letting him handle everything.
She didn’t have to worry about a thing.
At the private hospital, Lu Yi was sent for tests right away. The diagnosis was confirmed: appendicitis that had to be removed, and soon. The doctor recommended laparoscopic surgery under full anesthesia.
The surgery was booked for the next morning.
“You don’t have to stay tonight,” the doctor explained. “Just no food or water for six hours before surgery.”
“We’ll stay the night,” Lin Jinshen replied.
Lu Yi wanted to say he didn’t need to make it such a big deal, but Lin Jinshen’s tone was unwavering as he grilled the doctor for every detail. The doctor reiterated over and over that it was a minor operation, if all went well, she’d be out in under an hour.
“No need to be nervous.”
The doctor glanced at Lin Jinshen. “Mr. Lin, you don’t need to be nervous either.”
Lu Yi pressed a hand to her stomach, almost laughing, though the pain made her regret it. After thanking the doctor, she let herself be helped back to her room. It was just as fancy as the one where he’d once gotten an IV.
The nurse brought her a roomy hospital gown and reminded her she’d need to prep her skin soon.
“Prep my skin for what?” Lu Yi asked.
The nurse, brutally efficient, told her it meant hair removal, and pointed out what area needed to be prepped.
“…”
Awkward as it was, it came with the surgery territory.
She changed in the bathroom. Always on the slender side, she looked even more fragile drowning in the hospital gown, her face was unnaturally pale, the very picture of a sick girl. She eased herself onto the bed, moving slow.
Lin Jinshen asked, “Should we let your parents know?”
“Let’s not,” Lu Yi replied. “It’s just a minor operation. Besides, you’re here, aren’t you? If anything happens, there’s already a family member to sign off.”
She didn’t want to scare Madam Xu out of her wits over a small thing.
Yeah, he counted as family when it came to signing those surgery consent forms.
Lin Jinshen moved to her bedside, lashes dipping low, and his voice dropped to a murmur. “You can lean on me, you know.”
Lu Yi tilted her head up to look at him, and nodded.
“I mean it.”
Lu Yi nodded again, this time steady and sure. “I know.”
Lin Jinshen wished she really did believe it. If she did, she wouldn’t have kept him in the dark and come to the hospital alone, but he let it go, at least for now.
“Does it still hurt?” he asked.
Lu Yi shook her head. She said even the smell of disinfectant was making her feel better, but truth be told, she was still exhausted. She leaned back against the bed, closing her eyes again.
The room was quiet, just the two of them, the sky already black outside. “You should go home,” she said at last. “There are nurses here. I’ll be fine on my own.”
He could come back in the morning for the surgery.
“I’m staying,” Lin Jinshen replied.
“You’re going to sleep in the hospital, too?”
He shot back, “You don’t want me here?”
It wasn’t that. Sure, a private room was nice, but it still couldn’t compare to home. She was stuck with no choice, but he could leave if he wanted.
Lu Yi said, “I’m just worried you won’t sleep well.”
“I can’t sleep at all when you’re not beside me.” Lin Jinshen’s lashes cast faint shadows over his cheeks. He said it like it was nothing, just plain truth.
Lu Yi: “…”
Her ears went hot. She tugged on her earlobe, and gave in. “Fine.”
“Get some rest. I’ll tell Aunt Fang to feed Puff before she leaves.”
“Okay.”
Lu Yi picked up her phone. Gan Li had messaged to ask how bad things were, and whether she’d run into Mr. Lin. She also confessed to telling Lin Jinshen the truth herself.
Gan Li: [Sorry, Boss. That was my call, hope you’re not mad.]
Lu Yi: [It’s all good. Saw him already. Surgery’s tomorrow, so I won't be at the office.]
Gan Li: [Boss, make sure you get some rest tonight. Can I come visit you tomorrow?]
Lu Yi, smiling: [Just focus on your work. See you at the office.]
Gan Li: [Don’t worry, Boss! I’ll stay at my post and do my absolute best!]
She followed up with a burst of cutesy stickers, utterly adorable.
Partway through, a nurse came in to prep the surgical area, and Lin Jinshen excused himself with a phone call. Lu Yi pressed her lips together, cheeks tinged red, there was no real pain, just embarrassment.
Even when it was over, Lu Yi’s face still carried a faint blush.
Lin Jinshen had his assistant bring over a few items. Once Lu Yi had drifted off, he set up his mini-office right there in the hospital room.
Whenever Lu Yi glanced his way, she’d see him sitting upright, quietly immersed in work. If he needed to make a call, he always stepped out so as not to disturb her.
They shared what would be their last proper dinner for a while, she’d have to fast for the surgery, and then afterward, even water was off limits. It was all down to IV nutrition from there.
So Lu Yi savored every bite.
Lin Jinshen didn’t seem the slightest bit inconvenienced, as if he’d done hospital stints plenty of times before. Steady, reliable, he even remembered all the tiny pre-op details.
After dinner, Lu Yi lay on the hospital bed, scrolling absently through her phone. Bored out of her mind, she put it down and finally said, “Tomorrow, can you find a female nurse’s aide for me?”
Even though it was a minimally invasive procedure, she’d looked up the details online, during surgery, they pump gas into your body, and until it’s cleared out afterward, it could get pretty uncomfortable.
Her real concern was about using the bathroom.
With a female aide around, it’d be a lot less awkward.
“That’s not necessary. I’ll stay with you tomorrow,” Lin Jinshen replied.
Lu Yi kept her expression blank, chewing her lip in embarrassment as she muttered, “It’s... just easier for girls to help, when I need the bathroom.”
Lin Jinshen’s brow furrowed in confusion. “I’ll just carry you. Problem solved.”
He added, “No female aide could carry you like I can.”
“Absolutely not!” Lu Yi winced at the thought, mortified. “It’s really no trouble for you, okay?”
Especially since, after surgery, there’d be the... air-release issue.
If she accidentally let out a noise with Lin Jinshen right there, she squeezed her eyes shut, wishing the earth would swallow her whole.
Lin Jinshen, oblivious to her mortification, seemed completely unfazed. “It’s really fine, Lu Yi. No need to stand on ceremony with me.”
Lu Yi: “...”
But she absolutely did need to!
His tone grew a bit stern, as if she was refusing treatment itself: “Didn’t you just say you’d trust me, rely on me? You nodded like you understood, so what exactly did you understand?”
Lu Yi thought, No way are we taking it that far.
But Lin Jinshen looked so serious; she decided to just let it go. If she had to lose a little dignity, so be it. She was the patient here.
At bedtime, a nurse brought in a fresh, unused blanket for the guest bed.
Lu Yi looked at the towering man preparing to squeeze onto a too-short sofa. He looked so cramped, there wasn’t even room for his legs. She relented: “Why don’t you just take half the bed?”
The hospital bed was a little bigger than most, and while it was more than enough for one, squeezing two adults on there would be a tight fit, but doable for one night.
One night wouldn’t kill them.
Lin Jinshen looked up, eyelashes flickering.
Lu Yi emphasized, “Just sleeping.”
“What else would we be doing?” Lin Jinshen looked genuinely puzzled.
Lu Yi: “...Nothing.”
Truthfully, he much preferred sharing a bed with her, but he hesitated, mindful that she was still recovering. “If it’s uncomfortable, I can sleep on the sofa,” he offered before lying down.
“Let’s try it.”
The truth was, Lu Yi sort of wanted him close, especially tonight.
“Alright.”
Lin Jinshen got up, his tall frame casting a broad shadow over her. He settled onto the bed, and she scooted to make room. Once he’d lain down, she pressed up beside him, snug and warm, their bodies fitting together perfectly, like two puzzle pieces finally slotting into place. Surrounded by his familiar scent, Lu Yi felt a tightness in her chest and a surge of overwhelming gratitude.
Part of her was thankful he was here, right now.
She’d become so self-reliant while living abroad, always doing everything herself, never wanting to trouble anyone else.
Even when she’d been with Li Xian, he’d said she didn’t need to be so independent, that he’d be happy to help out now and then, but she’d still never actually asked him.
But maybe things could be different now. Lin Jinshen was her husband, someone she was finally allowed to lean on.
Maybe just this once, she could try it out.
Lin Jinshen took her hand, his voice reassuring: “You’ll be under full anesthesia tomorrow, it won’t hurt, I promise. It’s just a minor procedure. The doctor is very experienced, nothing to worry about. You’ll go in healthy and come out just as healthy.”
“I’ll be waiting for you outside the operating room. The moment you open your eyes, I’ll be right there.”
Lu Yi nodded. She wasn’t really scared, not with his arms around her. It felt like drifting off for a short nap, when she woke up, that broken piece inside her would finally be gone.
She wasn’t worried, but she sighed softly: “I might get a scar.”
Even though it was minimally invasive, there’d be incisions, three little holes, three new marks. It made her a little sad.
Lin Jinshen paused. “You won’t have a scar. I promise.”
“But what if I do?” Lu Yi rolled over, tilting her head up to look at him. From her angle, she could see his sharp jawline as he leaned down to meet her gaze.
After a moment, he said, “Then I’ll take responsibility.”
Lu Yi frowned. “That doesn’t help, it’s on my stomach, not yours.”
Bikinis, crop tops, was she just supposed to throw out half her wardrobe?
“Even with a scar, you’ll still be gorgeous.” Lin Jinshen’s voice was soothing, gentle. “It’ll be a medal of honor.”
Lu Yi asked, “A medal for what?”
Lin Jinshen, awkwardly sweet, coaxed her: “It’s an award for Lu Yi, for being brave.”
Lu Yi: “...”
She couldn’t hold back a soft laugh. Did he really see her as a little kid? Still, he made it sound so easy to believe.