Chapter 8

With Lin Jinshen’s eyes boring into her, Lu Yi wisely fell silent.
The Bentley’s interior was as lavish as ever, the walnut grain gleamed, the navy and creamy leather the perfect pairing, flawlessness in every detail.
“…That’s not what I meant.” she said.
Yet her bright eyes seemed to be asking, Well, are you?
Lin Jinshen’s expression soured.
His fingers tapped twice on the steering wheel. His eyes lingered too long on Lu Yi’s open, guileless face before he yanked his gaze front. His brow seemed almost knotted tight.
He spoke, voice taut and low, “I’m not planning on a marriage of convenience with you.”
“Oh.”
She didn’t sound overly convinced.
His jaw clenched tighter. “For the record, there is absolutely nothing wrong with me. Not physically, not mentally.”
The second half of his sentence came out low and quiet. He had no idea how to explain any further.
Lu Yi, half-convinced by now, said, “I believe you.”
“…”
Lin Jinshen held back a sigh, just then, the cars ahead started to inch forward. Fifteen minutes for a measly five-hundred meters. At least, once they got past this stretch, the rest of the drive would be smooth, and they'd make it just in time for dinner.
Lu Yi remembered the gift was still in her own car. She said, “Oh, I forgot to bring the gift, I left it in my car.”
“It’s in the trunk. I had it prepared for you.” Lin Jinshen’s expression finally eased.
Lu Yi exhaled, relieved. “That’s really too much trouble for you, thank you.”
“No trouble, my assistant handled it.” The navigation chimed that the next green light was a left turn. Lin Jinshen turned the wheel, merging onto another main road.
She almost laughed, of course someone like him didn’t run errands personally.
“Still, thank you. If you want, just tell me how much it cost and I’ll transfer it to you?” Lu Yi offered politely. The price wouldn’t be beyond her means, after all.
Lin Jinshen caught her earnest expression in the rearview mirror and said, “There’s no need to keep score between us.”
“Besides, it all ends up yours anyway.”
He said it without a flicker of emotion.
Just stating a fact, not trying to say something sweet to make her happy.
Since Lin Jinshen put it that way, Lu Yi decided not to argue. She leaned back in her seat and watched the scenery slip by.
It was common knowledge in Jing City: wealth to the east, high society to the west. The Lin family was in the Western Second Ring. The closer you got, the quieter it became, all private enclaves. The neighborhood they entered was striking in its design, but surprisingly understated compared to its real value.
Before getting out, Lu Yi smoothed her dress and quietly psyched herself up the whole way.
“Nervous?” Lin Jinshen glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
Lu Yi bit her lip, a soft sound slipping from her throat: “Mm.”
Meeting the parents, who wouldn’t feel nervous?
Lin Jinshen walked beside her, voice low, “You don’t have to be.”
After a moment, he added, “My mom likes you a lot. You’ll have plenty to talk about.”
“I hope so.”
Once inside, Lu Yi found herself relaxing. She greeted Uncle and Aunt with genuine poise, surprised at how natural she felt. Before coming, she’d worried the whole Lin family would be as reserved as Lin Jinshen, but in reality, Lin Zheng and Madam Qin were warm and approachable, chatting with her easily and always smiling.
Madam Qin had only seen photos of Lu Yi before; now, seeing her in person, she couldn’t stop with the compliments: beautiful and graceful, the Lin family had truly lucked out.
“I also have a younger daughter, she’s studying in the UK and couldn’t come. When I called, she kept saying she wanted to say hi to you. If I’m remembering right, didn’t you study in the UK too, Xiao Yi?”
Lu Yi nodded. “Yes, Auntie. Which university is your daughter at?”
“…”
The more they talked, the more Madam Qin liked her. After dinner, she asked, “So, when are you two getting married?”
Lu Yi didn’t know how to answer, so she looked to Lin Jinshen for help.
Meeting her gaze, Lin Jinshen replied calmly, “No date settled yet.”
“There’s no rush.” Lu Yi quickly added.
“No rush? Of course there’s a rush!” Madam Qin turned to Lin Zheng and asked him to schedule a meeting with Lu Yi’s father as soon as possible. Once things were set, the process shouldn’t just move forward, it should be quick.
Can’t give fate too much time to change its mind.
Faced with such enthusiasm, Lu Yi grew even more self-conscious.
Madam Qin seemed to realize her overzealousness had made Lu Yi awkward, so she laughed and said, “Xiao Yi, Jinshen’s a bit shy. He always looks so serious and doesn’t talk much, might need you to put up with him in the future. If anything ever feels off, just talk to each other, okay?”
“No worries, Auntie.” Lu Yi glanced away, but couldn’t help meeting Lin Jinshen’s calm, deep eyes. She pressed on, “Men who are steady are much more attractive, anyway.”
“…”
Lin Jinshen’s dark gaze seemed to say, “Alright, no need to go that far.”
Lu Yi kept up her perfect smile, but inside she was about to collapse.
Anyone can say polite things, it’s just, saying them straight to someone’s face is something else. Especially when said person is totally unfazed, almost superior about it, watching her act it out.
“You’ll have to be the patient one, Xiao Yi. If he ever steps out of line, just tell us, Auntie and Uncle will absolutely have your back.”
“We’ll all have to be patient with each other.”
Lu Yi said, “Thank you, Auntie, Uncle.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lin Jinshen sitting ramrod-straight and expressionless, like a knight in armor, sword in hand, straight out of some ancient castle.
The comparison was uncannily accurate.
Lu Yi looked down and smiled quietly to herself.
Lin Jinshen caught the little expression. He tilted his head with a puzzled, “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” She pressed her lips together, hiding the curl of her smile.
After lingering briefly once dinner was over, Lu Yi politely turned down Madam Qin’s invitation to stay the night. Her car was still at her office, so Lin Jinshen grabbed his keys to drive her there. Once they were back in his car, and she buckled her seatbelt, she said, “Auntie seemed a little anxious.”
“Mm.”
Lin Jinshen said, “Maybe she’s worried.”
“Worried about what?”
“Afraid you’ll run away.”
“…”
Lu Yi’s feelings were complicated. If Lin Jinshen weren’t sitting here, alive and clearly in perfect health, she’d honestly doubt if something was wrong with him, maybe that’s why the family was so desperate to secure anyone they could.
Well, something was wrong.
Totally indifferent to women…
Lu Yi processed that a moment, then couldn’t help asking, “Have you ever had anyone actually run off before?”
At least, according to what she’d heard, no.
Lin Jinshen replied, “If you bail now, you’ll have the honor of being the first.”
“?”
Was that... a Lin Jinshen brand deadpan joke?
The temperature in the car seemed to drop ten degrees instantly. Lu Yi pulled her jacket tighter. Whatever. The night was finally over.
Near her office, Lin Jinshen parked, got out with her, and offered, “It’s late. I’ll walk you to the parking lot.”
“No need, it’s just a couple minutes.”
But Lin Jinshen was already coming over, head down, saying, “In reality, it’s not uncommon for women out alone at night to be harassed or followed, even attacked.”
"…"
She hadn't thought much of it before, but now, fear crept in. She said, "Thank you."
Lin Jinshen's gaze grew even more complicated, it was clear she couldn't change the way she addressed him so quickly.
They walked to the parking lot, stopping beside Lu Yi's little Mini. When she tried to thank him again, she caught the slightest furrow in his brow as he looked at her car, as if trying to figure out why she was driving a toy.
"Want me to drive you upstairs?" Lu Yi asked.
"No need."
Lin Jinshen politely declined, still clinging to his old-fashioned ways: "Text me when you get home, so I know you’re safe."
"Alright. Goodbye, Mr. Lin."
"Mhm."
Lu Yi got into the car and buckled up. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lin Jinshen's towering silhouette walking away. She glanced over at her passenger seat, sure enough, there was no way those endless legs would fit comfortably.
…
Their parents decided to meet over the weekend. Lin Zheng and Lu Kangcheng already knew each other; the moms had met a few times too. They weren't close, but things weren’t awkward either.
Over one meal, laughing and chatting, the wedding date was set.
The wedding itself would take time to plan, rushed affairs weren’t an option, Lu Yi deserved the best. But they could register the marriage and move out to live together early, give the newlyweds a chance to develop some actual feelings.
From meeting the parents, to engagement, to getting the license, it all sped by as if someone hit fast forward. Before Lu Yi even had a chance to process it, everything was set.
The day they registered was perfectly ordinary, a workday. Both had jobs. He was stuck in meetings, she was at an expo. Her schedule was a bit more flexible, so after he finished, he called her.
Yu Qian saw her tidying up her makeup, white shirt and jeans, clean and crisp. Then she answered a call, said she had to rush out. Yu Qian joked, "What, heading out to get hitched or something?"
Ever since that last blind date, her friends had been teasing her about marriage.
Lu Yi didn’t bother hiding the truth. Facing the mirror, she smoothed her lipstick and said, "Yeah, that's right."
"?"
Yu Qian's eyes went wide. "Come on, really? You’re actually registering to get married? Who with, the stingy guy from your last date?"
Lu Yi just smiled, saying nothing, waving goodbye as she left.
Yu Qian stood frozen in shock.
No matter how she spun it, she couldn’t figure out why Lu Yi would turn down a promising guy like Li Chengming, only to whirlwind-marry someone her family found.
Lu Yi wasn’t the type to lose her mind.
Unless there was something extra special about this one?
Lu Yi arrived at the registration office right on time. Lin Jinshen was waiting, and they walked in side by side. It was quiet that afternoon. Everything went smoothly, her signature was neat and careful, but there was still something unfamiliar tugging at her heart. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Lin Jinshen sign, decisive, assertive, every movement confident.
"All set,"
The clerk handed over two bright red marriage booklets.
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
Each took their own booklet.
The clerk had been watching them for a while, and after offering congratulations, added, "You know, most newlyweds seem close, but you two… honestly, you look like you barely know each other. It’s kind of cute, actually."
She’d worked here for years. Never had she seen a couple collect their certificate without so much as a glance, let alone a touch. The politeness between them felt more fitting for hotel staff than newlyweds.
"…"
For a second, Lu Yi choked, she genuinely didn’t know how to respond.
Lin Jinshen stood, utterly unfazed. "Don’t worry. We’ll get used to each other."
Lu Yi felt her cheeks burn. She didn’t dare look at the clerk again, mumbling a thank you before fleeing.
Get used to each other? One day?
Lu Yi remained skeptical.
They walked out, one after the other. Both had only snuck away from work to get this done, marriage license in hand, they each left, back to their own lives, business as usual.
As they were leaving, Lin Jinshen called out, "Are you free tonight?"
Lu Yi paused, thinking he was suggesting a celebration, but that didn’t sound like him. "Is something up?"
The afternoon sun was already fading. He hadn’t put his suit jacket back on since the photos, a white dress shirt, one button undone, a glimpse of his collarbone, all sharp lines and dark eyes. He looked good, she couldn’t deny.
"Want to go see the Chingxi Garden apartment? You’ve never been, right? Figure you should get familiar, easier when you move."
He’d already sent her photos before, but back then nothing was set in stone; she had said there was no rush.
A few days ago, Lin Jinshen had her name notarized for the property. She hadn’t gone in person, but the place was officially under her name now.
She clutched the little red booklet, its hard edge biting into her palm.
"Sure."
Lu Yi said she’d just drive over herself.
Chingxi Garden was her pick, an upscale duplex in the east district, not a villa, just a sprawling two-level apartment. The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows swept across the whole city. Central location, not far from her office.
They met downstairs and took the elevator up.
The place was originally done up for Lin Jinshen himself. But after he finished decorating, he just kept living at the old family house, never got around to moving in. If it weren’t for this shotgun marriage, it probably would’ve stayed empty forever.
Before going in, he set her fingerprint in the lock system.
Lin Jinshen switched on the lights and the whole space unfolded before them.
Her first impression: bright, wide open.
Over 500 square meters across both floors, the designer didn’t need to worry about space efficiency, Lin Jinshen had told them to knock down every non-load-bearing wall. The kitchen was open, and the wall next to the stairs was turned into a library, every inch stacked with books.
Panoramic windows, full 360-degree views, nothing blocked.
It would look stunning at sunset.
No one had ever lived here. The place was spotless, like a showroom made for tours.
"The bedrooms are upstairs," Lin Jinshen reminded her.
Lu Yi walked up, noticing that even the upper floor had been opened up, just two rooms: a huge master bedroom and a study. No guest rooms.
The master suite was exactly her style: minimal, but with clever details. And the walk-in closet was massive. The bathroom: a platinum-trimmed tub, oversized, roomy enough for two without crowding.
Frankly, Lu Yi loved the whole design, couldn’t find a single thing to nitpick.
She left the study and nearly walked straight into Lin Jinshen. He was leaning on the railing, tall and broad, suddenly the once-spacious apartment felt closeted and close.
He straightened, towering over her by half a head, looking down with an air of cool detachment.
“Is there really only one bedroom?” Lu Yi asked.
“Yes.”
Lin Jinshen added, “I figured you wouldn’t mind sharing a room, or a bed, from now on.”
Before Lu Yi could even process her shock, he continued at a steady, unhurried pace, calm and matter-of-fact.
“Because I definitely would.”
“…”
For a second, Lu Yi was speechless, so this is what it felt like to get hit by your own boomerang.
Lin Jinshen went on, “So... when are you planning to move in?”