Chapter 58

Lu Yi snorted, “Don’t be so sure. My legs are attached to me, and I used to be pretty fast, you know.”
“Then I’ll put you on Puff’s leash and tie you to me.”
As he said it, Lin Jinshen took her hand, fingers winding between hers, lacing tight, like locking her in.
Lately, Lu Yi had caught herself rubbing her face a lot, smiling so much her cheeks ached. If this kept up, she was going to walk around with a permanent blush.
Lately, Lu Yi had been negotiating with a brand for a new collab launch, bringing Gan Li with her for meetings.
Talks had gone smoothly, the partnership was pretty much settled pending a few details. Near the end of the workday, as she headed back to the office, she bumped into Jiang Xun downstairs. Caught off guard, Jiang Xun glanced at Gan Li by her side, squared his shoulders, and marched up. “President Lu.”
“Something up with your boss?” Lu Yi asked, all faux-innocence.
Lin Jinshen’s life couldn’t get more routine, work and home, with the occasional business trip. Even when they were apart, it was never for long, and she’d gotten used to it by now.
Jiang Xun put on his “good boy” face. “Just wanted to go over President Lin’s schedule for the next few days.”
Lu Yi pressed, “You can’t just send an email?”
“Better in person,” Jiang Xun replied, “Besides, I’ve got nothing to do after work anyway.”
Lu Yi let out a knowing “oh.” As if she couldn’t pick up on the awkward vibes between her two companions. She let Jiang Xun finish, then slipped into her office, leaving the space for the two of them.
Their romance was fresh, still technically under wraps, but Gan Li wore every feeling right on her face, love included.
When the workday ended, Gan Li was packing up and ready to head out.
Usually the picture of sunny sweetness, today she scowled, cheeks puffed in silent protest.
The two of them ended up in the elevator together, one behind the other.
Lu Yi never pried into her subordinates’ private lives, not even off the clock. But seeing it was still early, she offered Gan Li a ride home. Gan Li slid into the car, buckled up, and couldn’t hold back anymore. “President Lu, do you and President Lin ever fight?”
“What, you and Jiang Xun have a spat?”
At his name, Gan Li gave a snort. “Sometimes, I really wonder if guys are just naturally thick or if they just don’t care enough.”
Jiang Xun had racked up a list of crimes, enough for Gan Li to keep track in her phone notes.
Including, but not limited to: “Promised to say goodnight but caught him gaming instead,” “Let my false lashes fall off and laughed at me the whole way,” “Told me to ‘drink more hot water’ during my period,” “Actually learned to talk back,” and “Posted my ugly unfiltered photo on his Moments.”
Gan Li felt her anger was completely justified and demanded an apology.
Jiang Xun blinked, totally lost. “I’ll apologize… but for which thing?”
Gan Li shot him a frosty look and told him to get lost.
Lu Yi gripped the steering wheel, laughing softly.
Gan Li tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Boss Lu, has President Lin never done anything to really piss you off?"
Angry?
She thought about it, couldn’t recall a single time.
Lu Yi said, "I don’t think there’s ever been anything worth getting angry about."
"Wow. Everyone says living together makes you bicker more, haven’t you two ever clashed?" Gan Li twisted in her seat, eyes wide, still in disbelief.
With Lu Yi's reassuring answer, Gan Li let out a dramatic sigh, green with envy. "So jealous. Are you guys just like, fated soulmates or something?"
Lu Yi replied, "Maybe it’s just that we haven’t been together that long."
After all, it was still early days. Everyone was still on their best behavior, being as patient as possible. Give it time, though, nobody could predict what might happen.
"But you guys have been married almost a year! I’ve only been dating Jiang Xun for a month and already, look at us." So Gan Li decided it was all about personality. "You and President Lin are just so mature. That’s why it’s nothing like our messy rookie relationships."
Lu Yi: "…"
Now, that, she couldn’t agree with.
Sometimes, Lin Jinshen could out-childish anyone.
Lu Yi dropped Gan Li off at her apartment. Gan Li thanked her, hopped out, walked a couple steps, then turned back waving like a happy kid. When she was out of sight, Lu Yi swung the car around and headed home.
After dinner, Lu Yi set up her laptop to work. She dove deep into the brand they were about to collaborate with, scrolling through their entire product line, trying to pin down the style for the upcoming joint collection.
By the time Lin Jinshen got home, she’d already read through most of the materials. When the door opened, both Lu Yi and the cat looked up, locking eyes with him as he walked in.
Puff bolted over in a blur of fluffy excitement, ready for her welcome home ceremony.
Lu Yi was sitting cross-legged on the floor, wearing a loose T-shirt and a messy ponytail, wisps of hair framing her face. She looked comfortably, effortlessly fresh.
In that moment, words seemed useless. None of them were enough.
Lin Jinshen changed his shoes and came over; his gaze was as warm and soft as the light in the room.
Lu Yi held out her hands. "Wanna hug?"
"Yeah."
He crouched, slipped his arms around her waist, and lifted her into an embrace. It was as easy as scooping up Puff, really. She melted against him, and their bodies fit together just right. Instinctively, she breathed in his scent. It was addicting, she couldn’t get enough.
Turns out, loving someone meant you even loved how they smelled.
And maybe only she could catch that scent, love had its own special filter.
Puff meowed, darting all around their feet. Hello? Was everyone forgetting the cat?
Lin Jinshen noticed her laptop still open. "What’re you working on?"
"Just browsing brand info, pretty much done. You're home late. Want to watch a movie with me?" Lu Yi looped her arms around his neck. Once he nodded, she eagerly started hunting for films.
She had wild taste in movies: romance, artsy, thrillers, even B-movie nonsense. Once she started watching, she had to see it through. No unfinished business.
Lin Jinshen didn’t really care; for him, the movie was just background noise.
The AC was blasting, so Lu Yi grabbed a light blanket and draped it over her legs. Prepared for everything, she hit play. Lin Jinshen wrapped her, blanket and all, right up into his arms.
"..."
Lu Yi blinked, still not quite used to being this close all the time. Not that she minded. Actually, she kind of liked it, just hadn't gotten used to it yet.
The film was an old black-and-white comedy, ridiculous but absorbing. Eventually, she let herself relax and stretched out in his arms until the happy ending rolled around.
She tipped her head back. Lin Jinshen lowered his. Their eyes met halfway.
He was holding her, his arm pillowing her head, the perfect setup for a kiss. He pressed soft, feather-light kisses to her forehead, her nose, then her lips. Each one was gentle, unhurried.
It felt like being brushed by a feather. She closed her eyes, soaking in the warmth.
Lin Jinshen asked, "Wanna watch another?"
"What time is it?" Lu Yi groped for her phone and flicked on the screen, already 11:30 pm. She glanced at Lin Jinshen, remembering when she used to be so strict about bedtime, down to the minute. Now? Discipline: gone.
"You’re already past your bedtime. Still want to keep watching?"
Lin Jinshen: "If you want to, I’m in."
Another two-hour movie would land them deep in the middle of the night. Kind of torture, honestly, for someone who usually ran their life with clockwork precision.
Lu Yi brushed her hand along his jaw. "Aren’t you going to sleep?"
"We can stay up a little longer."
Lin Jinshen’s voice was low, just a touch gruff. "I get home late. We barely get two hours together before it’s time for bed. By the time I open my eyes, it’s already tomorrow, but you’re still asleep."
He was up by six, and she was still deep in dreamland.
On a good week, they barely got fourteen hours together, well below the average couple.
He paused, then added in a deadpan, "Though honestly, you’re pretty adorable when you’re asleep, too."
Lu Yi: "…"
That one came out of nowhere. She was completely caught off guard.
She wouldn’t be surprised if he was sneak-watching dating how-tos. These sweet lines did not sound like his usual style.
"Let’s stop watching," Lu Yi suggested.
The way he counted it out made her feel like they were wasting precious time together.
She clambered off him, feeling the lingering warmth of his kisses on her forehead. She hovered, a little lost, until Lin Jinshen caught her hand. As she leaned closer, he pulled her in and kissed her, a perfect, precise landing on her lips.
He found their angle awkward; with her arms braced on the sofa, she was struggling, so he scooped her thighs onto his lap, facing him, problem solved. Kiss, round two.
"Not wearing anything?"
Lin Jinshen's breath hitched for half a second.
Lu Yi’s face flushed a deep red. She’d already showered, of course she wasn’t wearing much.
"You’d lost weight last time," Lin Jinshen said, still pressed against her mouth. His voice was rough, low. "Now you’ve filled out again."
He gave an honest review.
Lu Yi: "…"
Their combined weight had the sofa cushions sinking. His shirt was nearly ripped open, just two buttons hanging on to modesty, her fingertips caught hints of his lean, cut muscles beneath. Neither of them had the patience to go further. Instead, it all just hovered, simmering, somehow even more electrifying.
Forgotten for who knows how long, Puff let out a meow, crouching at the edge of the sofa, those big round eyes fixed on them.
The two were wrapped up in each other, breathless, completely forgetting there was a “child” present.
Lu Yi had to choke back a laugh. Lin Jinshen held her tight, cocooning her in the blanket, getting ready to carry her upstairs. In the process, he accidentally switched off the living room lights, and they both seemed to fall into darkness at once.
It was a truly chaotic case of hurry making things worse.
Lin Jinshen reached to turn the lights back on, but Lu Yi stopped him. Then he paused, suddenly realizing, and asked, “Are cats nocturnal?”
“Yeah.”
Finally, her nerve gave out. Lu Yi said, “Go ahead, turn it on.”
After all, it was them who couldn't see, and them who were behaving shamelessly.
But Lin Jinshen left the lights off. Lu Yi, facing his chest, recalled their ridiculous antics just now and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He held her close, lips quirking up in a resigned smile.
Their first instinct after Puff caught them: run for it. If they’d slipped up just a bit more, they’d have actually corrupted this poor “kid.”
After calming down, Lu Yi straightened her clothes, turned the lights back on. Puff had already padded over to her feet. She crouched, scooped her up, smothering her with kisses: “Puff, Mom and Dad weren’t doing anything bad.”
She covered the kitten’s fuzzy head, as if she could erase the memory from both their minds.
“But who’s ‘Dad?’” Lin Jinshen voiced the real question.
Lu Yi looked up at him. “You, obviously.”
Who else could it be?
Dad.
Lin Jinshen repeated the word to himself, a silent chuckle escaping. He’d never imagined he’d end up a “Dad” to a cat, yet weirdly, he didn’t mind it at all.
Before bed, Lin Jinshen asked if she was free Saturday. Lu Yi offered a vague answer, she was just as busy as he was these days, doing everything she could to ease her father’s burden.
He wanted to say more, but Lu Yi yawned, sleepy: “Can we talk about it tomorrow?”
Lin Jinshen: “Alright.”
By morning, the question was forgotten. Saturday arrived in a blink. Lu Yi was buried in work all afternoon. It wasn’t until Lin Jinshen called that she even glanced at the time.
Oh, Saturday already.
They had a ritual: one meal together every week, just the two of them.
The rules they’d set at the start of their marriage were now mostly broken, except for this one shared meal. But clearly, Lu Yi was overwhelmed. Phone in one hand, she said, “Can we move it to next week?”
“I’m still tied up. Might be really late.” She paged through documents as she spoke, signing her name at the end of each when she finished.
“Are you sure you’ll be free next week?” Lin Jinshen pressed.
Lu Yi gave an absentminded “Mm”, sounding as if she barely cared.
“Lu Yi.”
Lin Jinshen’s tone suddenly cooled, using her full name: “Last month I was away on business. You said you’d video call at night, you never did. I was the one who called first, and there was nothing the next night either.”
“And now, you leave my messages on read, don’t even bother to reply?”
“You said you’d come pick me up after work. I waited for half a month. Not once did you show up.”
“So now even our one weekly meal is getting canceled?” Lin Jinshen’s voice was steady, almost neutral: “Just because we’re married, it doesn’t matter anymore?”
Every word was a quiet accusation, laced with disappointment.
Lu Yi froze with her pen in hand, jerked out of her paperwork haze. Everything he’d listed, she had, indeed, promised offhand and forgotten the next moment.
Hearing him lay it all out, she hadn’t realized it was so much.
She’d been making him empty promises, never keeping a single one.
Unlike Gan Li, who needed reminders, Lin Jinshen’s memory was razor sharp, he didn’t need any app to remember. He recalled everything, down to the exact day.
Lu Yi let out a rueful laugh. At this point, anything she said would only sound like an excuse.
“I was wrong.” She leaned back, then asked, “Where are you now?”
Lin Jinshen replied coolly, “Downstairs at your company.”
Lu Yi put down her pen. “So if I apologize properly, does that earn me a lighter sentence?”
Lin Jinshen: “Depends on your performance.”
“Parking lot, right? Give me five minutes.” Lu Yi checked the time. By the time her call ended, she was already grabbing her bag and heading out. Counting the elevator ride, she made it in just under three minutes.
She was a bit out of breath from jogging. The elevator display ticked lower and lower until it hit single digits.
Finally, B1.
The doors slid open, revealing a tall, broad-shouldered figure in a sharply tailored suit, hardly matching the takeout bag in his hand. His eyes, always cool and composed, softened the moment he spotted her.
“You…”
Lu Yi’s words caught in her throat.
Lin Jinshen stepped into the elevator, making the space feel almost claustrophobic. He pressed the button for her office floor. The doors closed, carrying them upward.
“Aren’t we eating out?” Lu Yi asked.
“You’re busy. I can come to you.” Lin Jinshen replied earnestly, “President Yi, could I have half an hour of your time?”
His baritone dipped low, and every time he called her 'President Yi,' it never failed to make her ears flush.
Lu Yi shot back, “Is half an hour really enough?”
Lin Jinshen lowered his gaze and replied, “Enough for a meal, at least.”
Enough for a meal.
For anything else, he made no promises.
The design department was empty. She’d already turned off the lights on her way out; now, she led him in, switching on the lights as they went, finally reaching her office. He’d been here before; he knew every detail.
On her desk, a bouquet of flowers.
He had someone deliver them every day. She kept them in a vase, fresh and beautiful.
Lin Jinshen placed the takeout on the coffee table, unpacked the boxes, and set out two portions of the lunch he always ordered, the place was good, so he’d brought some along.
Lu Yi hadn't eaten dinner yet, and the smell instantly set her mouth watering. She grabbed a piece of sweet-and-sour pork rib and asked, “Did you already expect I’d bail on dinner plans?”
Lin Jinshen opened a container of soup for her, handing it over with a cool tone: “Did you forget about your little assistant?”
Gan Li.
Lu Yi nearly forgot all about her.
Gan Li’s friendship with Jiang Xun was more strategic than personal, just a convenient front for exchanging intel, reporting back to their own bosses.
Lu Yi took a sip of soup. With something warm in her stomach, the discomfort lessened a little.
Lin Jinshen barely touched his own rice, as always, sticking to his usual meal routines. He spent more time waiting on her: passing napkins, refilling her glass. The two of them finished their late dinner right there in her office.
Once they were done, he sent her off to handle her work and quietly gathered the leftovers, cleaning up and bagging it all to take out later.
“So, are you pulling an all-nighter with me?” Lu Yi felt a little guilty. They hadn’t even eaten properly together, and now she was making him stick around for her overtime grind.
Lin Jinshen pulled out a tissue, wiping his fingers. “Mm. So in honor of tonight, President Lu, I’m begging you, spare me a few empty promises, will you? I can’t handle any more sweet talk.”
Lu Yi laughed and couldn’t resist: “Wait, you actually know the term for ‘making empty promises’?”
“Did your employees complain about you behind your back?”
Lin Jinshen looked at her, deadpan: “I’ll have you know, spinning fantasies isn’t my specialty. That’s your department, President Lu, maybe reflect on that?”
Lu Yi just smiled archly and went back to her work.
Maybe having Lin Jinshen near gave her extra motivation; she got everything wrapped up in under an hour. When she finally looked up, Lin Jinshen was lounging on the sofa, long legs crossed, lost in a book.
“Ready to go?” Lu Yi stood up.
Lin Jinshen glanced up: “You’re finished?”
“Yep.”
Together, they headed out, the car gliding from the garage. Night wind tangled her hair as Lu Yi turned to glance at her driver, eyes narrowing with a satisfied sigh: “The moon is gorgeous tonight.”
At the same time, Lin Yumo was celebrating her university graduation in the UK, with Madam Qin and Lin Zheng flying in to see their little princess walk. When the ceremony ended, they all came home together.
The return flight was set for Friday, they’d booked it weeks in advance.
Lu Yi had reserved a restaurant for the welcome dinner. She’d called ahead, so the place was festooned with balloons and flowers, everything done up as beautifully as possible in a short time.
Lin Yumo hopped out of the car and beelined straight for Lu Yi, flinging her arms around her: “Sis-in-law!”
“Congratulations!”
Lu Yi patted her on the shoulder.
Lin Yumo giggled, eyes sparkling: “Thank you, sis-in-law!”
When it was Lin Jinshen’s turn, she even straightened her posture and schooled her grin: “Hello, big brother.”
Lin Jinshen nodded and lifted his eyes. “Let’s head in.”
Lu Yi went to greet Madam Qin and Lin Zheng. Madam Qin noticed the special decorations in the private room and couldn’t stop complimenting her: “No one has taste like you, Lu Yi, this is amazing! It’s so full of ceremony.”
If Lin Jinshen had planned the dinner, the family would probably just grab a meal and call it a day. No frills, certainly no fuss.
Over dinner, everyone had a little to drink, even Lin Zheng, famously quiet patriarch, got up for a toast: celebrating his daughter’s graduation and raising her allowance another notch.
“Dad, for that alone I’ll always be your precious girl!” Lin Yumo couldn’t raise her glass fast enough.
Lin Zheng huffed a laugh. “Oh? So if I take it back, you’re not my sweet girl anymore?”
Lin Yumo clung to Madam Qin’s arm, protesting: “Then I’ll just be Mom’s little darling!”
“Stop being a brat.”
Madam Qin playfully swatted her arm.
Lin Jinshen asked, “Any plans now that you’ve graduated?”
Lin Yumo blinked: “Are you my nemesis? I literally just graduated! Can I please just take a break?”
“Weren’t you already on a permanent break?” Lin Jinshen asked with zero sympathy.
Lin Yumo: “…”
She looked two seconds away from clapping her hands over her ears: selective hearing, activated. (Review: 0/10, would not recommend this brother.)
Lu Yi listened from the sidelines, quietly amused. Growing up an only child, she found their sibling dynamic endlessly fascinating. Lin Jinshen was strict, always threatening to withhold allowances, but he never actually did. In fact, he gave more. All bark, secretly soft-hearted. Classic.
After dinner, the whole group headed back to the Lin family estate.
Lin Yumo latched onto Lu Yi’s arm with no intention of letting go, tipsy and babbling about how nice Lu Yi smelled and how soft she was.
At home, it took both Madam Qin and Lu Yi together to wrangle her into her room, coax her into the shower, and tuck her into bed. Suddenly, Lin Yumo sat bolt upright: “Sis-in-law, sleep with me tonight!”
“This girl is out of her mind.” Madam Qin laughed, tapping her forehead and gently pushing her back down, smoothing blankets in place before heading out with Lu Yi.
Downstairs, Lin Jinshen was deep in conversation with his father. When they saw the women emerge, he asked, “She asleep?”
Lu Yi nodded.
Madam Qin smiled fondly. “Still such a kid. She hasn’t changed a bit since we sent her abroad.”
Still loves to make a fuss, the polar opposite of her son. Honestly, she wondered how anyone put up with that boy’s brooding.
The housekeeper appeared with tea. Lu Yi accepted her cup, sipping slowly as Madam Qin settled beside her. “Why don’t you stay over tonight, Lu Yi?”
Lu Yi: “Sure.”
Madam Qin struck up conversation, asking how she was doing these days. Hearing how busy work had gotten, she offered gently, “You know, why don’t you two move back home? I can help out whenever you need.”
“It’s really okay, Mom.”
Madam Qin smiled, “I just worry about you, sweet girl. Lu Yi, you’re wonderful, truly. I’ve been happy with you from the very start. Jinshen’s just quiet and reserved, doesn’t talk much… I hope you can be patient with him.”
Quiet and reserved. Doesn’t talk much.
Lu Yi could hardly believe anyone still saw Lin Jinshen that way.
She couldn’t help glancing over at him. Even at home, Lin Jinshen sat ramrod straight in his single-seater, every line of his face proper, every expression exactly the stereotype.
A teasing glint sparked in her eyes.
Lin Jinshen caught her look with a faint, questioning gaze: What, something wrong with that?
Ha.
What an actor.
“Quiet” wasn’t the word, try “quiet, but secretly hopelessly flirtatious.”