Chapter 57

Lu Yi hooked her hands behind his neck and pulled him down. She tipped up her chin and pecked his lips quick and light, three times, each one punctuated by a deliberate little pop.
It mimicked the beat of a racing heart.
Like a tiny fish blowing bubbles.
Lin Jinshen’s hand cupped her waist, his arm braced beside her; their noses grazed and their breaths mingled, close and fever-warm and dizzying.
By now, just brushing lips was far from enough.
He lowered his head and claimed her mouth, coaxing her lips apart, a slow, back-and-forth tango. For every pull she gave, he answered, hunger building in his chest until he passed the point of no return and devoured her whole.
Lips collided with teeth; a faint sting, but neither cared. They’d fallen into a sultry jungle downpour, all sound drowned out except their heavy breaths.
Lu Yi was panting, her chest rising and falling in sharp waves. Lin Jinshen wasn’t faring much better. Her palm pressed to his chest, and with a gentle shove, he let her topple him back. She rolled over, straddling his waist.
Her hands pressed to his shoulders. “I told you my answer, now you.”
“When we first met, what did you think of me?”
Lin Jinshen gazed up at her, his eyes deep and shadowed. “You were perfect. Not a single flaw.”
“?”
Lu Yi blinked at the frankly boring, borderline perfunctory, reply. “That’s it?”
She tugged his shirt from his crisp trousers, eyes locked on his, palm gliding across his abs, tracing the hard lines. “I know I’m perfect. What else?”
Lin Jinshen’s voice turned gravelly. “You’re beautiful. You’ve got class. Great personality. I liked all of it.”
Each word landed hard, like he was restraining something deep inside.
Lu Yi lifted a brow. “Oh, so you had a crush at first sight? Just going off my looks, huh?”
Lin Jinshen frowned. “I’m not that shallow. Wasn’t thinking about any of that the first time.”
“So when did you start, then?” Her hand glided smoothly, barely touching, a whisper of warmth across his skin.
Lin Jinshen replied hoarsely, “Right now.”
Lu Yi: “…”
She knelt above him, ice-queen beautiful and imperious, looking down at him like she held all the power. Snatching up his tie, she started to wrap it around his wrists. “Can you try, for once, to take this seriously?”
Lin Jinshen’s frown deepened, teetering on the edge of self-control.
“Lin Jinshen.” She called him by his full name, stern and unflinching.
He obediently offered his hands, letting her clumsily loop the tie and knot it, lips reddened from their kisses, her focus absolute.
“Now that your weapon’s confiscated, answer properly.”
Lin Jinshen: “…”
He honestly didn’t see the issue. Whatever his answer, it could wait, provided she’d let him up first.
With his hands loosely bound between them, Lu Yi pressed on, “You like me?”
“Yeah.”
“How much?”
Lin Jinshen held her gaze, voice soft and low. “Untie me and maybe I’ll tell you.”
“Your hands may be tied, but your mouth sure isn’t.” Lu Yi shifted a little; the accidental move drew a low, rough sound from his throat.
“…”
Lin Jinshen managed, “I don’t know how to put it into words. I’ve never felt it before. I’ve never liked anyone, never this much. When you’re around, I want you. When you’re not, I still want you.”
It ran counter to every rational instinct he had.
He hadn’t believed two people could even have this kind of connection.
Never imagined that, one day, he’d say something so unguarded.
Lu Yi froze for a moment, drinking him in. She knew it, but hearing him say it was something else entirely, like a spell that rooted her in place.
As she spaced out, the loose knot on his tie slipped open with no effort, letting him snatch back control. Instead of tossing it aside, he gently pulled it up to cover her eyes and bent down, lips catching hers in the dark.
Everything went black; she could see nothing. All she could feel was him, his breath, his heartbeat, so near she could taste it. Every sense sharpened.
In that moment, it was like a dormant volcano finally erupted.
They melted in the heat, fused together, inseparable.
In the dark, Lu Yi let go completely. Neither of them was rational now; they gave into their feelings, every motion raw and honest, breath and touch a feverish conversation.
Her mouth went dry, desperate as a wilting plant straining for water.
Lin Jinshen climbed off the bed to fetch water for her. He was hasty in the gloom, spilling, laughing, letting nothing go to waste as he caught it all for her.
She lost count of how many times he watered her, each sip giving her strength, each time her will unspooling and curling tighter again.
When the lights finally flicked on, she was kneeling, her abdomen crisscrossed with the scar from surgery. The wound had been meticulously stitched and slathered with scar cream; no real marks remained. New skin, delicate and pink, blending in more each week until it would all but vanish.
Lin Jinshen’s fingers brushed that patch of pale pink, shadows flickering in his eyes.
Lu Yi guessed he felt sorry for her. “It doesn’t hurt,” she told him.
It really didn’t hurt anymore.
All he answered was a soft “Mm,” and then, as she finally ran out of energy and collapsed onto the bed, he kissed her again and again. She squirmed, half-laughing, unable to resist, and finally burrowed into his arms, a pure, white-flag surrender.
Because of her surgery and then her period, they’d missed their “quota” for weeks now.
Tonight? He was here to collect.
After he’d helped her shower, Lu Yi realized her phone was still downstairs. She didn’t want to go for it herself; she didn’t want to be alone, either.
“Want me to take you down to get it?” Lin Jinshen offered, pragmatic as ever.
Lu Yi perked up. “Perfect!”
He sat on the edge of the bed and patted his shoulder. “Hop on.”
Lu Yi had been at his mercy for so long, finally it was her turn to have the upper hand, she had no plans to let this moment slip away. His shoulders were broad, sturdy enough to climb onto and feel invincible. She latched onto his arm, and when he stood up, he effortlessly lifted her, one arm securely under her hips.
“Whoa, that’s high up!” she gasped, mock-serious. “So that’s what the air up here is like, huh?”
Lin Jinshen stepped forward. “You like it? Stay a little longer if you want.”
Lu Yi let out a soft laugh.
Going downstairs like this was surreal, but Lin Jinshen’s hold never faltered. She felt no fear of falling, just the sweet responsibility of clinging to his shoulders, safe and sound.
The phone was on the balcony.
Lu Yi gave directions, he followed her lead.
As they shuffled back and forth, they roused Puff from sleep. The cat peered at them, suspicion in her bright eyes: “Meow?”
If cats could talk: “Do all you humans play this weird?”
Once they’d retrieved the phone, neither bothered to go back upstairs. All that activity had left them both hungry. Lin Jinshen asked what she wanted to eat. She looked up in pleasant surprise: “Wait, you can cook?”
“Not bad at it.”
Lu Yi grinned. “I’m not picky. Whatever you make, I’ll eat.”
Lin Jinshen set her gently on the kitchen counter. She propped herself up on her hands and watched him open the fridge, pulling out a few random ingredients. There were cherry tomatoes and blueberries, still fresh from their last grocery run. He washed them and handed them over for her to snack on.
Lu Yi popped a cherry tomato into her mouth; tangy and sweet, just the right balance.
Lin Jinshen was already working on the main course, steak. With a practiced hand, he dabbed away the surface moisture. He looked much more confident than the last time she’d watched him cook.
“Want a taste? They’re really sweet,” she offered, holding one out.
Lin Jinshen’s hands were busy, so instead of taking it, he leaned in and kissed her, a fleeting, featherlight brush. She stared, stunned. He finished, went back to his steak, and, as if reviewing a dish, added, “You’re right. Very sweet.”
There was nothing teasing or playful in his tone, just an honest, matter-of-fact observation, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Lu Yi: “…”
Who just kisses someone out of nowhere like that?
Watching him work, Lu Yi could tell he hadn’t been starving during his time abroad. His technique was almost identical to the videos she’d researched, but with a smoothness that told of experience. He wrapped the steak in foil and used the leftover oil to sauté asparagus, carrots, and the remaining cherry tomatoes. The food, plated casually, looked totally restaurant-worthy.
Compared to her last effort, his gentle praise had definitely been generous.
Lu Yi couldn’t help herself: “Chef Lin, how are you so good at this?”
“It’s been a while. No guarantees it’ll taste great.” He handed her a knife and fork. “Go ahead, try it.”
“Gladly.”
Lu Yi cut off a piece and tasted it, the flavor exceeded expectations, the steak meltingly tender, the veggies perfectly done. She devoured nearly half before letting Lin Jinshen finish the rest.
Puff, newly awakened, even got a treat out of the deal. Two people and a cat, all deeply satisfied.
Before bed, Lu Yi gazed at his face, a lingering sense of unreality tugging at her.
After a long while of her staring, Lin Jinshen asked, “What’s on your mind?”
Lu Yi replied, “Still getting used to this, I guess.”
Getting used to relying on someone, letting someone close, from the surface to her heart itself.
Lin Jinshen pulled her gently into an embrace. “That’s all right. We’ve got plenty of time. Take all you need.”
Lu Yi made a soft sound of assent. She didn’t say it aloud, but being with him already felt like they’d been married for years. She could barely remember what life was like before. It hadn’t been that long, strictly speaking, yet it all seemed so far away.
…
Lately, all the home goods projects with Lin Wenjun had wrapped up on schedule. Lu Yi visited the hotel to review the results; both sides were pleased.
The design department had been performing well, accolades and a hefty quarterly bonus were sure to follow.
Zhang Fang took the lead: “President Lu, how about a team dinner? I know a great spot!”
No sooner had he spoken than the others chimed in: “Count me in!”
Seeing their enthusiasm, Lu Yi nodded and told Zhang Fang to go ahead and arrange it.
She wouldn’t be able to join; these days she was always accompanying Lu Kangcheng to various functions.
Her father couldn’t have been happier with her joining the company. He’d always hoped for this but, having been groomed as heir since childhood, he knew the pressure. He never wanted to force that onto his daughter, choosing instead to support her in forging her own path.
If someday she wanted to do something else, he’d be happy. She shouldn’t have to carry the weight of the family name, locked into a life she didn’t choose, like he had been.
So her willingness to help out at the company genuinely pleased him. He believed in her potential, she could excel at any challenge, so he’d already started training her as his successor.
His most common refrain lately, “Keep watching. Someday, every decision will be yours.”
Whenever he said that, Lu Yi would shoot him a look and protest, “Come on, you’re still young. I’m just your right hand, not your replacement.”
Lu Kangcheng would chuckle, “Yes, yes, your old man will hang in there until I literally can’t anymore.”
He’d keep manning the ship until his daughter could take the helm solo. By then, he’d happily step aside and finally spend more time with his wife.
As the two of them chatted, their car rolled up to Qiushan Golf Course. Today’s discussion was about a plot of land in the city’s north, rumored to be the next commercial hot spot.
They were interested in building an Anyi Mall, and others were, too. Everyone traded intel like pros.
Lu Yi changed into crisp white casualwear, her slender frame topped with a hat. Striding across the green, she was a striking sight no one could ignore.
Lu Kangcheng leaned over, murmuring that most of today’s attendees were senior figures, some even older than him. He ran through introductions, including Lin Wenjun from Huayu, who’d also be there.
Lu Yi nodded her understanding.
Some guests had already arrived. Lu Yi made her way over and, standing beside her father, politely greeted each uncle and elder.
Someone teased, “I really envy Old Lu. A daughter this sharp and capable? Bet she’ll take over sooner rather than later.”
“Seriously. Not like my son, lazy brat, does nothing but party, half the time I can’t even track him down.”
“Doesn’t matter how many kids you have. I’ve got three, still not as useful as Old Lu’s one daughter.”
"…"
Lu Kangcheng waved his hand dismissively. "She's still got a lot to learn. Us uncles will have to whip her into shape."
Lu Yi smiled, joking that she’d probably just bring them more trouble in the future.
"Nonsense. You’re still the younger generation. If anything ever comes up, just let us know. We elders would never leave you hanging."
As they chatted, the golf cart rolled up.
But it wasn’t Lin Wenyun who got out. The figure was tall, too tall to mistake. Even from a distance, Lu Yi recognized him instantly. She let out a soft sound of surprise. She hadn’t expected Lin Jinshen to show up.
"Oh boy, looks like the family’s all here. I bet us outsiders won’t get a single share of the spoils."
Lu Kangcheng hadn’t realized who was coming, and just laughed, "We’re all family here! Plenty of profit to go around."
Lin Jinshen was dressed in white athleisure, same brand as hers, looking like they’d coordinated on purpose, a perfect couple’s look. He strode over, greeting everyone calmly and politely.
When he reached Lu Yi, her cap was pulled low, shadowing half her face. She stretched out her hand first. "President Lin."
Lin Jinshen: "…"
Business is business, marriage is marriage. Even as husband and wife, you had to draw the line in public.
He hesitated for a split second, then took her hand. "President Yi."
Their handshake was strictly professional, but he adapted to the role quickly, moving with casual, almost old-school poise.
Still, as they let go, he felt a fleeting, lingering warmth in his palm.
A flicker of awkwardness flashed across Lu Yi’s otherwise composed face. She glanced at Lin Jinshen, but he’d already withdrawn his hand, serene as ever, turning to the others. "Sorry for being late."
Such a perfect act!
"No worries at all! We’re the ones who arrived early. President Lin, what brought you here today?"
Lin Jinshen explained, "President Wen had something urgent crop up, so she sent me instead."
Lu Kangcheng said, "Makes no difference. Shall we begin?"
"Sure thing. It’s been days since I’ve played, I’m probably rusty. Don’t laugh at me," joked Chairman Xie as he got up and loosened his joints, eyes squinting towards the fairway.
Lu Yi’s assigned golf caddy looked not much older than a college student, gentle-mannered, with a fresh-faced, delicate appearance and a soft voice. He handed her the club right on cue.
The whole experience was first-rate.
In a good mood, Lu Yi asked, almost by accident, if he was a student working part time here.
The caddy reddened and smiled. "I just graduated this year. I only look young for my age, people even mistake me for a minor sometimes."
"Fair enough," she nodded.
From the corner of her eye, she felt someone watching her quite blatantly, but feigned ignorance, tilting her cap lower and focusing on the game.
Lu Yi had only just picked up golf, and compared to the older hands, her skill level was practically a joke. She was here as the cheer squad, clapping enthusiastically every time one of the seniors made a good shot.
Lin Jinshen, on the other hand, played circles around all of them, including the veterans. His swing was measured to the tiniest angle, every shot landing with cold precision. He scored the highest, by far.
"The new generation’s something else! Our time’s almost up. It’s the start of their era," Chairman Xie proclaimed, beaming and clapping, both pleased and a little wistful about being outdone.
Lu Kangcheng grinned too, clearly bursting with pride over his son-in-law.
Bathed in sunlight, Lin Jinshen looked practically radiant, his concentration fierce as he swung, sharp jawline cutting through the light. As he tracked the ball’s arc, his eyes narrowed, the very picture of striking confidence.
Lu Yi silently admired the whole show, though her face remained neutral. Even her applause was politely reserved.
Lin Jinshen glanced back, scanning the crowd, his gaze stopping somewhere else entirely.
Lu Yi wasn’t looking at him. She was chatting with her caddy about who-knows-what, while the student’s smile just kept getting brighter.
Despite her lousy game, Lu Yi managed to make a couple of shots. Her caddy cheered her on, shamelessly laying it on thick: “That was amazing, President Yi! Huge improvement from earlier!”
She knew he was just flattering her, but who doesn’t enjoy a compliment or two? Naturally, she rewarded him with a token red envelope.
Lin Jinshen appeared by her side before she realized. His shadow fell over her, and when she looked up, there he was.
They’d barely spoken a word to each other all day. Everyone knew they were husband and wife, and there had been plenty of jokes at their expense, but in public, they kept any private gestures strictly off-limits.
Lu Yi looked up and told her caddy coolly, "You can take a break."
"Alright, President Yi. I’ll be right over there, just call if you need me," he said, shooting her another perfectly wholesome smile.
Do service workers have to smile that much?
"President Yi, how's the game going?" asked Lin Jinshen.
"Not bad," Lu Yi replied.
"Is your game good, or is it just that you enjoy the caddy’s service?"
Lu Yi shot him a look, catching his drift about the kid’s constant grinning. "That’s called service with a smile, President Lin. Or don’t your hotels follow the same rule, make guests feel at home?"
"It’s not just my hotel," Lin Jinshen corrected, "You’re a co-owner too."
"And our brand is about guests feeling welcomed, not creeped out by people grinning non-stop at them."
"I never said I was creeped out."
Lin Jinshen: "Well, I was."
Lu Yi suppressed a laugh and nodded. "Maybe President Lin should teach a class sometime."
As they spoke, they’d fallen far behind Lu Kangcheng’s group. Everything important had already been discussed; the rest of today was just for show. Whether they caught up or not didn’t really matter.
Lu Yi tilted her head, the brim of her hat creating a little pool of shadow that made her face look even smaller and more flushed. Their eyes met, silent, and whatever sourness Lin Jinshen had been feeling dissolved into nothing.
He reached out and pulled the brim of her cap down over her eyes, playfully obscuring her view like it was some private game.
By the time Lu Yi pushed her cap back up, Lin Jinshen was already striding away, just his tall, straight back receding as he headed towards Lu Kangcheng, all business, as if nothing had happened.
Lu Yi: "…"
What a good actor.
Once the round ended, everyone returned to the clubhouse to shower and change.
Lu Yi headed to the ladies’ room. She moved slowly, and by the time she’d changed and stepped out, there was no one in sight. Reflexively, she sent a message, and right then, her phone rang, Lin Jinshen’s name flashing across the screen.
Lu Yi answered, raising her phone to her ear, and heard his low, quiet voice: “Look to your left.”
She turned automatically. There he was, leaning against the car, tall and distractingly handsome. He added, “Dad and the others have already left.”
He had to call her when they were this close?
But somehow, hearing his voice so close to her ear felt more intimate, like a secret, more private than words spoken face to face.
Still holding her phone, she fixed her gaze on him and teased, “So you stayed behind just for me?”
She did move kind of slowly, but there were no missed calls or texts on her phone. He really had just waited, with no urge to rush her at all.
Lin Jinshen gave a quiet “Mm,” then turned the question back: “You sound disappointed.”
“Not gonna lie, I am a little disappointed.”
Lin Jinshen let out a soft snort, imitating one of her little gestures. “If it’s just me left and that’s so disappointing, why haven’t you come over yet? Waiting for me to invite you?”
“You offer that kind of service?” Lu Yi shot back, all innocence.
Lin Jinshen: “Plenty more services where that came from.”
Lu Yi: “…”
Wasn’t this conversation perfectly normal just two sentences ago? No wonder her mind immediately ran off in another direction.
She walked over, only to realize he’d changed cars, it wasn’t his usual Bentley, but a stretched limo instead. Way more space in there. Vivid images flashed through her mind, not that she wanted to overthink it, but he did say last time he’d swap cars.
“?”
Lu Yi asked, “You got a new car?”
Lin Jinshen opened the back door for her. “Just picked it up today. You’re the first to try it out.”
Lu Yi grinned. “What kind of ‘trial’ are we talking about?”
By now, the sky blushed with the last rays of sunset. Evening was almost here.
Lin Jinshen shot her a look. “What else could I possibly mean?”
Lu Yi handed him her bag and didn’t push her luck. She slid into the backseat, interior just her style.
Lin Jinshen got in after her. Even with all that extra space, his presence made it feel strangely close.
The driver asked for the address and started driving. They were out by the suburbs; getting back to Chengxi Garden would take about an hour. As soon as they started talking, the driver quietly raised the partition, splitting the front from the back.
The world seemed to shrink even further.
After last time, Lu Yi didn’t believe for a second that his aunt suddenly had urgent business elsewhere. For an event this important, there was no way she’d just skip out.
Lin Jinshen let out a soft “Mm,” then admitted, “Just pushed off a pointless meeting. Nothing major.”
Lu Yi chuckled, amused.
She kept staring at Lin Jinshen until he grew self-conscious. When he shot her a suspicious look, she sighed dramatically: “What am I going to do with you?”
Lin Jinshen swallowed, voice unconsciously softer. “What do you mean?”
“I’m starting to think, for a CEO, you’re a little too lovesick.” Lu Yi leaned closer, eyes sparkling. “So, want to admit it right now? Be honest, are you already addicted to me?”
Lin Jinshen dropped his gaze. “Yeah. Can’t quit you.”
He said it so bluntly that Lu Yi, caught mid-joke, froze and slowly turned red.
This guy, did he always have to go straight for the kill?
“So you’d better get used to it, President Lu. You’re stuck with me for life,” he added, calm as could be.