Chapter 12

No matter how strong she was, she couldn’t possibly lift an adult man. 

“The Zhou family is just bullying people with their power! I’m calling the police! I’ll have you arrested ah!” Before she could finish speaking, a loud slap nearly knocked her to the ground. 

“Shut up!” Mr. Wang scolded angrily. “You have the nerve to call the police? Isn’t it you who spoiled him, letting him cause trouble everywhere?” 

The woman was stunned by the slap and collapsed on the floor, crying loudly, “I can’t live like this anymore! You’re siding with an outsider! My son and I are so unlucky to be stuck with you.” 

Old Mr. Shi waved his hand in annoyance, and Mrs. Shi, along with the second sister-in-law, stepped forward to calm her down and firmly escorted the mother and son away. 

Mr. Wang was full of regret. He never should have brought his clueless wife and useless son to the Shi family banquet. His company desperately needed a loan from Hengtai Bank to survive, and now that he had offended the Zhou family, his chances were doomed! 

Mr. Wang forced a smile, apologizing with a servile tone, “Second Young Master, Second Madam, it’s our fault for not disciplining the child. Please, don’t hold it against us. When we get home, I’ll make sure to teach him a harsh lesson!” 

“It’s fine, he’s still young,” Lin Yuxi replied more politely than Zhou Yanjing, handing back the water gun. 

“Children are fragile; don’t punish him too harshly. A few light hits will do.” 

Mr. Wang:  

The spectacle by the pool finally came to an end. The troublesome family left, and the onlookers dispersed. 

Ling Yaqiong scolded Zhou Yanjing in frustration, “How old are you, and how old is he? Bullying a child aren’t you embarrassed?” 

“Why would I be embarrassed?” Zhou Yanjing’s lips curved into a lazy smile. “It’s not like it’s my first time bullying someone.” 

Ling Yaqiong initially wanted to reprimand Lin Yuxi, as the whole drama had started because of her.  

But before she could, Zhou Yanjing raised his hand and called over one of the Shi family servants, giving instructions, “Bring Yuxi’s coat.” 

Lin Yuxi’s shawl was almost completely soaked, and in the cold outdoor temperature, it was no different from jumping into the pool. 

The servant quickly brought her coat along with a hand warmer. 

Seeing this, Ling Yaqiong refrained from saying more, “Alright, you two should head home early.” 

Lin Yuxi had always had cold hands and feet. Wrapped in a cashmere coat and holding a hand warmer, she sat in the car with the heater on, slowly beginning to feel warm again. 

But the warmth was only superficial. As soon as she stepped out of the car and entered their home, the few steps from the car to the house were enough for the wind to chill her hands once again. 

When they entered, Zhou Yanjing took her coat and, upon touching her cold fingers, frowned. 

“How are you still this cold after warming up for so long?” 

Before Lin Yuxi could respond, her hands were wrapped in his warm, dry palms. 

She looked at his hands holding hers and remained silent. 

Zhou Yanjing called for the housekeeper to prepare a hot bath and some ginger tea for Lin Yuxi, then turned back to her. 

“That hand.” 

Lin Yuxi raised her head to meet his gaze. 

Seeing her lack of movement, Zhou Yanjing took her other hand as well, holding both in his palms to warm them. 

“You let people bully you and don’t even know how to fight back?” He glanced at her nonchalantly. “If I hadn’t been there today, were you just going to let them push you around?” 

Lin Yuxi lowered her eyes. “If you hadn’t been there, I would’ve pushed him into the pool myself.” 

Zhou Yanjing found her strategy as simple as a child’s playground fight, lacking any real technique. “And what if his parents had come after you? How would you get out of that?” 

“I’d push him in, then call for help. Once people showed up, I’d pretend to save him. Would they really scold me for being a good Samaritan?” 

Zhou Yanjing smirked. “You’d hurt yourself more than him. His body can take it better than yours.” 

“What else could I do?” Lin Yuxi asked. “Hang him upside down like you did? I can’t even lift him.” 

“If you can’t handle it yourself, why not call for backup? I’m not dead yet. Do you think I’d just let someone bully you?” 

Even though Lin Yuxi knew how good Zhou Yanjing was at sweet-talking, she couldn’t help but feel touched by his words. 

After soaking in a hot bath, Lin Yuxi felt much better. When she came out, the housekeeper had already made ginger tea. 

The strong ginger smell made Lin Yuxi turn away in distaste, but the housekeeper insisted, “Just drink a little.” 

“I’ve already taken a hot bath. I won’t catch a cold,” Lin Yuxi protested. 

Zhou Yanjing approached, having already removed his jacket and loosened his tie. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, giving him a relaxed and casual air. 

“What’s going on?” 

The housekeeper immediately tattled, “I made the tea, and now she won’t drink it…” 

Zhou Yanjing glanced at Lin Yuxi, who reluctantly picked up the bowl and drank a few sips, her expression growing more pained with each sip, as if she were drinking poison. 

“Is it really that bad?” Zhou Yanjing raised an eyebrow. “Let me try.” 

The housekeeper quickly offered, “There’s more in the pot, I’ll get you a bowl.” 

“No need.” Zhou Yanjing leaned down and took a sip from Lin Yuxi’s spoon. “It’s just ginger. It’s not that bad.” 

Lin Yuxi couldn’t understand how he could so casually dismiss the taste of ginger, which she saw as public enemy number one. 

“Then you drink more.” 

“It’s made for you. If I drink it, will my immune system benefit you?” 

With that, Zhou Yanjing reached out and pinched her cheek. 

Lin Yuxi had just bathed, and her face and lips were a healthy pink. Her skin was soft and smooth, making it pleasant to touch. 

Zhou Yanjing, finding it quite satisfying, didn’t stop at one pinch. After he did it again, Lin Yuxi seemed stunned. 

It had been a long time since such intimate gestures had passed between them. 

She raised her eyes and found herself meeting Zhou Yanjing’s gaze. 

Was it just her imagination? 

Or was it the warm lighting in the room that made her think Zhou Yanjing was looking at her with such tenderness? 

“Zhou Yanjing…” Lin Yuxi started to speak. 

But Zhou Yanjing didn’t pull away after pinching her. His fingers brushed against her smooth jawline, slowly trailing downward. 

She had changed into her pajamas after bathing, revealing her slender neck, the elegant curve of her collarbone, and her fair shoulders. 

His voice was casual, “Hmm?” 

Zhou Yanjing’s gaze, following the path of his fingers, moved inch by inch over her delicate skin, the slow motion causing Lin Yuxi to shiver slightly. 

In that moment, the air grew thick with a sense of intimacy and tension. 

He was close, the woody fragrance of his cologne lingering around her. 

Suddenly, memories of those heated, chaotic nights flashed in her mind the well-dressed man shedding his suit to reveal a primal, raw masculinity, both wild and intense. 

In those moments, Zhou Yanjing, who usually appeared carefree and roguish, would become commanding and fierce, holding her tightly in his arms, allowing no space between them. 

He would whisper tenderly in her ear, “Xi Xi…” 

And sometimes, with teasing cruelty, he’d urge her, “Be good, call me ‘husband,’ and I’ll give it to you.” 

But looking at the man before her, with his handsome and deep-set features, a wave of unfamiliarity washed over her. 

It had been so long since Zhou Yanjing had touched her. 

No one knew how much Lin Yuxi missed this kind of closeness. 

Zhou Yanjing brushed her still-damp hair behind her neck, his dark brown eyes half-lowered, asking softly, “What do you want to say?”