Chapter 9

This subject really wasn’t going away, was it?
Choosing to ignore his previous comment, Lu Yi just answered his question about the move, she’d been busy with work and probably wouldn’t have time until next weekend.
Lin Jinshen nodded. “I’ll be away on a business trip in a couple days. You can move in first. If you need anything, talk to Jiang Xun, he’s my personal assistant.”
He slid a business card over to her.
“Alright.”
“The place is pretty bare. If you need to add furniture or buy daily necessities, just use this.” He handed her a jet-black gold-edged secondary card. “I’ve already hired a housekeeper, you’ll meet her soon. For now, just use this one. If you’re not happy with her, we’ll find someone else.”
“Okay.”
Lu Yi took the card. With everything arranged down to the last detail, it felt like all she could do was agree.
As she was about to leave, Lin Jinshen called after her. From his coat pocket, he took out a small box, a pair of rings. “The design for our actual wedding rings isn’t ready yet, so let’s use these for now.”
“You know my ring size?” Lu Yi asked.
It’d be mortifying if the ring didn’t even fit.
Lin Jinshen’s gaze landed on her hand. “I’ve seen your hands, I guessed the size.”
Her slim, delicate fingers, when his assistant had asked for the size, he’d picked a size seven.
“They’re small.”
That was always Lu Yi’s vibe, too thin, so pale you could see the veins under her skin.
“Want me to put it on for you?”
“I’ll do it myself.”
Lin Jinshen handed over the ring, his hand all lean muscle and strong bones, power seething beneath pale skin. When she raised her hand to take it, her fingers inevitably grazed his.
It was like a jolt of static, sudden and sparking.
After taking the ring, Lu Yi hesitated, then slipped it onto the ring finger of her left hand.
A perfect fit. The ring was plain and understated, just her style. When she glanced up, Lin Jinshen had already put his on. “Thank you. I like it a lot.”
Marriage certificate: done.
Wedding ring: on.
Honestly, Lu Yi still didn’t feel married. Everything felt surreal, like they were acting out a script, and the moment someone yelled “Cut!”, they could just drop the roles and go on living as Lu Yi and Lin Jinshen.
“When’s your trip, Mr. Lin?” she asked, pulling herself back from her wandering thoughts.
“Friday,” Lin Jinshen replied.
Lu Yi smiled, polite and proper. “Then enjoy your trip, Mr. Lin.”
“…”
She still had on the button-down shirt she’d worn to register their marriage, a little rumpled now, the bottom untucked, the top two buttons undone, a slim silver chain at her collarbone drawing the eye to her elegant neck.
Simple, but anything but plain.
But that concern, pure manners, really.
Not the caring of a wife for her husband.
Lin Jinshen asked, “How long are you going to keep calling me ‘Mr. Lin’?”
Lu Yi wasn’t sure, something about his face, the way he carried himself, always made her slip into respectful mode around him.
“Just call me by my name.”
He cut off any chance for her to hesitate, making the decision for her. “And quit using formalities. No more ‘sir.’”
Guess that really bothered him. Did it make him feel old?
Whatever. Lu Yi nodded.
Lin Jinshen.
She practiced it in her head, maybe next time, she’d actually manage it out loud.
…
Early weekend morning, Lu Yi was still asleep when Madam Xu entered her room, asking when she planned to move.
Lu Yi opened her eyes groggily, rolled over, and met Madam Xu’s gaze. “What time is it?”
“It’s seven already.”
“...Still early.” Her just-woken voice was soft and mumbly. “I’m not moving ‘til tomorrow. There’s time.”
With Lin Jinshen on his business trip and away over the weekend, she could get away with moving at the last minute.
She’d dropped by the Chengxi Garden apartment a few times in the past days, once to deliver things she’d bought, another time to accept something from his assistant Jiang Xun.
Jiang Xun looked young, like he’d just graduated college, easygoing and meticulous.
“Did your boss say when he’ll be back?” Lu Yi asked.
“He probably won’t make it back this weekend. Not sure on the exact date, do you want me to ask for you?” Jiang Xun answered earnestly.
“No need, just curious. His work’s the priority.”
Jiang Xun: “I’ll pass along your concern to Mr. Lin.”
“...That’s not necessary.”
Lin Jinshen’s things were nearly packed when Jiang Xun approached. “Ma’am, could I trouble you to put the rest of these away? They’re Mr. Lin’s personal items, I’m not really comfortable handling them.”
Personal as in, his underwear. Lu Yi recognized them all as Zimmerli, that Swiss brand: sea island cotton, soft and high-end.
He really was dedicated to his brands, ties, and even underwear.
Were all conservative men like this?
Jiang Xun gave her a pleading look. With a faint, polite smile, Lu Yi thought: like she was any more “comfortable” with this. But she still took them. “Sure.”
Forcing herself, she neatly stacked dozens of pairs of men’s underwear into the wardrobe drawer.
Even if her mind stayed blank, her eyes couldn’t help but dart over that, um, prominent part in the middle. Her ears burned; she moved faster, closed it up in record speed.
...It did look pretty big.
How did these even fit?
That thought circled back, she curled up in bed and let out a low, frustrated groan.
“Moving isn’t a small thing.” Madam Xu walked to her bedside. “You’ve got a lot of stuff. No one else knows what to pack for you, so get started early and let someone send it over.” Spotting Puff the cat on the bed, she frowned.
“How many times do I have to tell you, cats do not belong on the bed.”
Puff, sensing her cue and catching that note of distaste, hopped nimbly off the bed and padded back to her own little nest.
Lu Yi rubbed her eyes, arms flopped helplessly over her head. “Wow, my own mom throwing her daughter out, so heartless. Aren’t you even a little sad to see me go?”
“Of course I’m sad.” Madam Xu chuckled. “But you’re married now. If I still kept you here, people would say I didn’t raise you right.”
“If I’d known getting married meant all this hassle, maybe I’d have skipped it.” Lu Yi’s mood was tangled, a messy knot of unease about the future, sorrow at leaving home, and a definite lack of excitement.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“...”
Jolted out of bed, Lu Yi ate a quick breakfast before packing up her things.
Madam Xu and the housekeeper lent a hand. She’d already checked what needed to go and what could be left behind.
Spotting Lu Yi gathering the cat’s toys and food, Madam Xu glanced out at Puff, curled up like a little furball on the windowsill. “You’re even bringing your cat?”
“Of course.”
Puff had followed her ever since she’d rescued her; wherever Lu Yi went, Puff came too.
A new place, she wasn’t sure if Puff would adjust.
She’d already carried over half the toys with Puff’s scent, so the new home wouldn’t feel quite so foreign when the cat arrived.
Madam Xu said, “Why don’t you leave the cat with me? I’ll look after her.”
She knew just how obsessed Lu Yi was with Puff. Moving in, all her attention would go to the cat, hardly ideal for newlyweds trying to foster some chemistry.
“No way. You don’t even like cats. Besides, there’s no way I could give up Puff. Isn’t that right, Puff? You’d miss your mom, wouldn’t you?” Lu Yi scratched Puff’s tiny head.
Puff rubbed back into her palm with a lazy meow.
“What a little dope.”
Madam Xu, a true Southerner, had settled in Jing City after marrying Lu Kangcheng. Her accent had softened over twenty-odd years, but the local slang always slipped out when she got annoyed.
Lu Yi, insulted but amused, wrinkled her nose with a smile. “Once I move out, there’ll be no one left to scold me like that.”
“You dummy. It’s not like you’ll never come back.”
Then, more seriously: “Does Jinshen even know you’re bringing Puff?”
Only then did Lu Yi realize, she’d totally forgotten to mention it.
“What if he doesn’t like her?”
“Mrrrow~” As if on cue, Puff let out a soft, tinny mewl.
“Even if he doesn’t, I’m never abandoning Puff.” Lu Yi stood up and started boxing up the rest of the toys. She’d never paid much attention before, but now she saw how much she’d spoiled the cat, she filled several boxes, easy.
The stuff Puff had gotten bored of, she just left behind in her room.
Madam Xu only said, “If he really, truly can’t handle her, just send her back here. I might not love cats, but I won’t let her starve.”
“We’ll see.”
The night before the move.
Almost everything was packed.
Lu Yi took one last look around the room she’d called home for over a decade. This time, she really was leaving. Bundled up in her quilt, she felt like a crab shedding its shell, hoping the new one would fit, but knowing it’d never feel the same.
Ahead of her waited a brand-new chapter.
“Puff.”
Lu Yi cuddled Puff close. “Baby, from now on, it’s just you and me against the world.”
After inspecting the place, the very first thing Lu Yi did was get Puff all set up.
The little bed went into the bedroom, not much of a window seat here, so she tucked it into a cozy corner close to the bed. Next came the cat tree, she was handy enough to build a whole feline paradise. Nearby: the litter box, automatic feeder, and a bin packed with treats.
This was unfamiliar territory. Puff sniffed her way slowly around the room, taking it all in.
Lu Yi hung up her own clothes, putting everything away in the walk-in closet.
Compared to her, his things were minimal, already sorted and arranged neatly by his assistant. Suits in mostly dark neutrals, even his loungewear all in the same color scheme.
Her own wardrobe might not be vibrant, but next to his, she looked practically decked in rainbows.
Evening.
The doorbell rang. It was the housekeeper Lin Jinshen had arranged, not quite fifty, with a friendly, kind face.
“My surname’s Fang. You can just call me Aunt Fang, miss. Mr. Lin explained my general work hours, but told me to check the rest with you.”
Lu Yi welcomed Aunt Fang inside. “Please, just call me Lu Yi. Only real requirement: I have a cat, so I’d appreciate if you could keep an eye on her during the day.”
“Mr. Lin never said anything about a cat. What breed is she? I’ve heard these cats of rich folks are insanely expensive, and I’ll be honest, I have zero experience. Wouldn’t want to mess anything up.”
“She’s not some fancy breed, just a calico. Not fussy at all, actually, a bit chubby and on a diet. As long as you don’t give her snacks outside of her three meals, she’ll be fine.”
Aunt Fang nodded. “Understood, I’ll remember.”
That settled, Lu Yi led Aunt Fang around to get familiar with the house.
Apparently, they didn’t eat at home much. Cooking wasn’t a big deal, cleaning was the main thing.
After Aunt Fang left, Lu Yi curled up on the couch, head resting on her arm, gazing out the window at the city, neon lights twinkling through the high-rises like a sky full of stars, keeping this sleepless city glowing well into the night.
Lu Yi’s first night in the new place, she couldn’t sleep. She ended up clutching Puff for company.
Puff gave a luxurious yawn.
Lu Yi tapped her damp little nose. “So, little one, what do you think of our new home?”
“Mrow?”
“I guess I’m… okay.” She hugged her closer. Puff didn’t squirm or run, she just let Lu Yi cuddle her as much as she liked. “With you being this adorable, who could ever throw you out?”
Not that she was entirely convinced.
Lu Yi still hadn’t mentioned the cat to Lin Jinshen. One reason: every time she opened their chat, all she saw was the record from the day they got their marriage certificate. Not a word since. She really didn’t want to make the first move. On the other hand, maybe, just maybe, he’d meet Puff, somehow like her, and let her stay.
Would he?
She pictured Lin Jinshen’s face, serious, rigid, definitely not the type who seemed to care about pets.
There was no telling when he’d be back.
She hadn’t asked, and he hadn’t told her.
Lu Yi spent a few days living alone in her new place. Perks of being closer to the office: she could clock an extra thirty minutes of sleep in the morning, and made it home early after work. Most nights, she'd let Aunt Fang head home early too.
Word about her marriage had already made the rounds at the office.
Yu Qian thought it was just another of her jokes, right up until Lu Yi strutted in with a sparkling wedding band. Then, naturally, the whole crew demanded wedding candy.
Lu Yi gave in and treated her colleagues to dinner, which eventually turned into a night of drinks and lazy chatter at a nearby lounge bar.
"You actually got married?" Yu Qian grabbed her hand, squinting at the ring as if it might be fake. Confirming it was both real and very much not cheap, she could only stare, half-amused and half-exasperated. "You just handed yourself off like it was nothing."
She'd only known the guy for a few days, after all.
Lu Yi just laughed it off, tracing a finger around her chilled wine glass. "Oh, it's real. Nothing casual here."
"So, what about a wedding?"
"We'll do it later."
Yu Qian rolled her eyes so hard she almost found the back of her own skull. "Come on, you’ve got everything going for you, still so young, endless options. And you settled for...that guy?"
Since the deal was sealed, she held back from calling the man "cheap." But still.
"…He’s not as bad as you think."
"You’re in too deep to see straight!"
"…"
The other coworkers, not wanting to kill the mood, raised their glasses. "No gloomy words tonight. Come on, cheers! To Lu Yi and her happily-ever-after."
"Congratulations!"
By the time the laughter faded and she said her goodbyes, it was already past ten.
Puff, her cat, darted down the stairs the moment he heard her, vying for pets. She scooped him up with a smile, carried him upstairs, and let him loose in the bedroom before she went to shower.
The warmth and buzz from the drinks lingered, her cheeks naturally flushed as she stepped out.
Feeling at ease for the first time in a while, Lu Yi dried her hair, slipped into pajamas, and opened the bathroom door. The smile on her face froze mid-step.
Lin Jinshen was there, quietly occupying the bedroom. She hadn’t heard him come back at all.
He'd just come off a flight. Jacket draped over his arm, his shirt was more rumpled than she’d ever seen, crease lines stark against a lean waist that suggested muscle beneath the fabric.
Their eyes met, both caught off guard in the quiet aftermath of her return.
Lin Jinshen, acting on pure reflex, looked her over, from head to toe, in a heartbeat. It was impossible to time, but his mind, efficient as ever, logged every detail in perfect clarity.
Those narrow shoulders, long legs, almost blindingly fair skin; hair still damp, trailing over her back; delicate straps resting on her collarbones; lips rosy, gaze startled and unguarded, searching for his.
The air held the crisp scent of her shower, still laced with that faint sweetness he'd noticed in the car.
"..."
Awkward, he let his gaze fall past her, examining the intricate patterns on the cream-colored wall instead.
Lu Yi had zero expectations of seeing Lin Jinshen tonight.
A beat of awkward shock. She let go of the bathroom doorknob. "You, you’re back."
"Yeah. Done with your shower?" His voice was deep and a bit rough, his jaw tight, Adam’s apple bobbing as he spoke.
Lu Yi was so out of her element that she barely knew what to do with her limbs. They barely knew each other, and now she had to share a bedroom with him? Desperately trying to act natural, she edged aside. "You should go shower. It’s late. Get some rest after."
"Alright."
As Lin Jinshen set his clothes down, his attention snagged on something else, a tuft of yellow and white sitting on the deep blue sheets. He looked closer. First impression: two little ear shapes? A plush cat bed?
He assumed, even as self-possessed and grown-up as Lu Yi seemed, she’d held on to her fondness for stuffed animals. No big deal, as long as it stayed on her side of the bed.
Lu Yi traced his gaze and, seeing Puff on the covers, her expression flickered with embarrassment. This was way too sudden, she struggled for words. Walking over, she started, "So, um…that's Puff, "
Puff lifted his round head, insatiably curious about this stranger.
"It’s alive?"
"...Yeah. She's moving, so, pretty sure she’s alive."
Lin Jinshen's brows knitted as he turned to Lu Yi. "Your cat?"
"Yeah. Her name’s Puff. She’s really chill, a total softie. Doesn’t even meow much. I’m sorry, I didn’t think you’d be back tonight."
Everything was happening so fast that Lu Yi barely knew what to say.
One man, one cat, locked in a silent stand-off.
Lin Jinshen had zero interest in little fluffballs. To him, all that fur just promised extra trouble.
Sensing his hostility, Puff let out a cautious meow and retreated to Lu Yi’s feet for backup, fixing Lin Jinshen with a downright solemn stare now that he was safe.
"I’m not sharing a room with that thing," Lin Jinshen said, gaze hard as he looked up at Lu Yi, leaving no room for negotiation.
Lu Yi hadn’t expected him to be so adamant. "But there’s only one room in the whole place. Just for one night, can’t you put up with it?"
Lin Jinshen’s scowl deepened. "So you want me to sleep on the couch?"
"Lu Yi?"
He called her name, shock clear in his voice. For as long as they’d known each other, she’d never seen him so genuinely ruffled.
Lu Yi shook her head quickly. "No, I mean, I’ll sleep on the couch. I’ll take Puff with me."
"?"
"Why not make the cat go instead?"
"Puff’s slept with me since she was tiny. If I’m not around, he can’t settle down."
"…"
Lin Jinshen narrowed his eyes, clearly holding back frustration, jaw clenched so hard his words came out through his teeth. "So, first night living together and I’m the one booted to the couch? What does that make me?"
"It’s really fine."
"It’s not fine."
Lu Yi blinked, unsure, voice a tentative whisper. "So…are you volunteering for the sofa?"