Chapter 05

“I…”

Lu Yi blinked, unsure how to respond under his sincere gaze, feeling a hint of guilt?

As if she had let him down?

“Miss Lu, would you mind if we continue talking for a bit?” Lin Jinshen asked.

“…Sure.”

Someone entered, breaking their eye contact. Lin Jinshen stepped closer, halting about half a meter away from her after three steps. He was much taller than her, so when he looked at her, his gaze inevitably looked down. She instinctively straightened her narrow shoulders, trying to appear more confrontational.

“As far as I know, the Zhong family started with the shipping business, and the third son of the Zhong family, Zhong Wenlun, is independent and doesn’t manage the family business.”

In the dim light of the night, Lin Jinshen’s facial features became more pronounced, with sharp brows and intense eyes.

He briefly analyzed the pros and cons of the marriage between the Zhong and Lu families. Zhong Wenlun’s status wouldn’t benefit the future mutual interests between the two families. An objective, rational analysis showed that the Zhong family, who worked in shipping, had a less direct connection to the hotel and home goods industries, whereas the Lin family had a stronger competitive edge.

The Lin family, in fact, was the better choice.

Lin Jinshen himself was also superior.

What Zhong Wenlun couldn’t achieve, he could.

“Like what?” Lu Yi crossed her arms, curious about this line of questioning.

Lin Jinshen’s lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze dark and focused. After a moment, he spoke: “I will only have one wife.”

This implied that if they married, there would be no possibility of divorce—or if they did divorce, he would never remarry?

“I don’t quite understand. Are you saying that once I marry you, divorce won’t be an option?” Lu Yi asked.

Lin Jinshen corrected her: “I won’t divorce, but I respect the other party’s right to divorce.”

This would be his only marriage—once he had done it, he wouldn’t do it again.

Lu Yi understood now. She furrowed her brows and asked, “How do you know Zhong Wenlun can’t do the same?”

“He’s had several girlfriends. Forgive me for saying this, but he lacks loyalty to his partners.”

“…”

When he said this, his brows furrowed, and his tone wasn’t condescending but more of a critical observation, as if seeing multiple girlfriends was a lapse in character, with a giant question mark attached.

Lu Yi let out a small, dry laugh. “I didn’t expect Mr. Lin to talk badly about someone.”

“Stating facts isn’t speaking ill of others.”

“…”

Lu Yi found herself unable to retort.

After a brief silence, Lu Yi’s phone rang. She picked it up and said, “My designated driver has arrived.”

Lin Jinshen nodded, his lips still straight, but he didn’t say anything.

After talking to the driver, Lu Yi said, “The driver’s almost here. Mr. Lin, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Okay.”

Lin Jinshen replied, but he didn’t make any move to go inside.

Lu Yi looked confused and glanced at the restaurant, asking, “Mr. Lin, aren’t you going inside?”

“No rush.”

“Then, goodbye, Mr. Lin.”

Lu Yi saw the designated driver riding toward her. She raised her hand to signal and started walking down the stairs toward the car.

Maybe because she’d been standing in high heels for a while, she twisted her ankle as she took the first step down the stairs. In a quick moment, a hand rested lightly on her wrist, steadying her, but then swiftly withdrew, all within a few seconds.

Lu Yi’s back stiffened.

Her thin summer clothes made the touch more apparent—it wasn’t a full palm, but rather fingers lightly gripping her hand, brief but careful.

“Sorry.”

It was an apology for the accidental touch.

The deep, magnetic voice added, “Be careful.”

It was a reminder to watch her step in the dark.

Lu Yi lowered her head, her throat tight and dry. She softly said, “Thank you.”

“Are you the owner of the car ending in 0257? Is it you who ordered the designated driver?”

The middle-aged man asked.

“Yes, thank you,” Lu Yi responded.

Before she could hand over her car keys, Lin Jinshen spoke again, asking, “How long will it take to get to your house from here?”

Lu Yi didn’t know why he was asking but instinctively replied with the time shown on her navigation: “About forty minutes, if there’s no traffic.”

Lin Jinshen didn’t answer right away. He raised his wrist, glanced at the time, and then said, “It’s 8:43 PM now. I’ll call you at 9:25 to confirm you’re home safely.”

Confirm her safety?

Was he serious? The timing was almost unnervingly thoughtful, adding two extra minutes.

Lu Yi was taken aback, unsure how to respond.

Lin Jinshen stepped down from the stairs with a stern expression, asking the driver for his license. The driver, stunned, handed it over, and after Lin Jinshen took a picture of it, the driver seemed to realize something.

“Boss, I’m a good guy.”

“Really, you can check my platform profile. I have a high rating, 4.9, all good reviews.”

“Last time, I even helped a drunk boss get home when he couldn’t find his place. He was so grateful he wanted to buy me dinner.”

The driver was earnest, his attitude so upright it could make him eligible for a party membership.

“…”

Lu Yi cleared her throat and said, “I’ll call Mr. Lin when I get home.”

“Okay.”

Lin Jinshen returned the license and said “thank you.”

The driver breathed a sigh of relief, turned, and placed his car into the Mini’s trunk.

“Goodbye, Mr. Lin.”

“Goodbye.”

Lin Jinshen nodded, turned, and started up the stairs. With his long, tight legs and broad shoulders, his physique was well-proportioned. Without looking at his overly serious face, his silhouette, supported by his mature body, was striking, resembling a male model on the runway.

Moments later, he had entered the restaurant.

“Let’s go,” Lu Yi turned away, her gaze moving from him.

The night was cooler, so she opened the car window to feel the breeze. The street was bustling with people, and the lights blurred into dazzling halos as the car sped by. Her hand rested on the window, her fingers slightly curved, delicate and long, her pale skin feeling the wind pass through her fingers.

Her lashes shielded her eyes, and she seemed lost in thought.

After the events with Lin Jinshen earlier, the driver drove carefully, taking shortcuts wherever possible, so the expected 40-minute trip was completed in just over 30 minutes.

Without saying much, he retrieved his car, turned around, and quickly left.

At home, as usual, Mrs. Xu asked her how the meeting went, whether she was satisfied, boasting that she had chosen carefully, her eyes gleaming with pride. “He’s better than that Lin Jinshen, right?”

She referred to Zhong Wenlun as “Xiao Zhong” and called Lin Jinshen by both his first and last name, making her preference more obvious.

Lu Yi, having exhausted her social energy for the day, quickly reassured Mrs. Xu with a few words and sent her to bed. She was about to change for bed herself when Mrs. Xu reached the door, and her phone rang.

“Who’s calling this late?” Mrs. Xu raised an eyebrow, guessing, “Is it Xiao Zhong? It must be him. He’s so considerate. You should pick up.”

Lu Yi gave a helpless look.

Mrs. Xu smiled. “I won’t disturb you. Answer it.”

With that, she closed the door behind her.

Lu Yi turned around, picked up her phone, and saw that it wasn’t Zhong Wenlun calling—it was Lin Jinshen. She hadn’t saved his contact yet, but she recognized the number.

She hesitated for a moment but then answered the call. Holding the phone to her ear, she asked uncertainly, “Mr. Lin?”

“It’s me.”

His voice sounded even deeper than in person. He said, “You didn’t call.”

“…”

Lu Yi realized the time—exactly 9:25 PM—and that she had forgotten to call him after arriving home safely.

Feeling guilty, she tried to make up for it. “The platform’s regulation is pretty strict these days, Mr. Lin. Don’t worry, I’m home safely.”

After saying that, she frowned, slightly embarrassed by how seriously he took it.

“Good, as long as everything is fine.”

His tone was still cold. “I’ve sent a document to your WeChat. Please take a look.”

“…Okay.”

Though she had no idea what the document was.

What kind of document did they need to send to each other?

After hanging up, the serious, icy profile picture popped up.

Pioneer: [This is the draft of the prenuptial agreement. Please let me know if there’s anything that needs to be changed.]

Lu Yi paused. She opened the document and skimmed it, finding that all the requirements she had mentioned previously were included. She had only said those things offhandedly, and he hadn’t reacted much at the time, yet he had remembered them all.

Putting down her water cup, she replied: [It feels a bit early to discuss this.]

Neither side had committed yet.

Pioneer: [Until you’ve made up your mind, I still have reason to pursue this.]

Lu Yi asked: [Are you like this in business too, Mr. Lin?] Relentlessly pursuing and never letting go?

Pioneer: [Depends on the project.]

Selene: [So, what kind of project am I?]

Pioneer: [A unicorn, worth the investment.]

A unicorn—a term referring to something rare, valuable, with high growth potential and vast market prospects.

Was that a compliment?

Lu Yi couldn’t help but laugh. She had met all kinds of men—eloquent, smooth talkers, those who charmed with sweet words, or blunt ones who sang their own praises. But Lin Jinshen was in a league of his own.

What kind of league? She couldn’t yet define.

Exiting their chat window, she pressed her phone to her chin, mulling over her next move before messaging Yu Yin later.

Before bed, Lu Yi sent a message to Yu Yin.

Lu Yi: [If I choose Lin Jinshen, will you cut ties with me?]

A few seconds later, Yu Yin bombarded her with voice messages, too furious to even bother typing.

Yu Yin: [Ahhhhhhh!]

Yu Yin: [Tell me honestly—what kind of spell did Lin Jinshen put on you?!]

Yu Yin: [What’s so special about a nearly 30-year-old man who’s never dated anyone?!]

Yu Yin: […]

Her voice messages came in waves, clearly demanding a proper explanation before anyone could get any sleep.

Lu Yi chuckled, amused.

She didn’t know exactly why, but in this choice between possibilities, she leaned toward him.

She wanted to give it a try.

—

The engagement between the Lin and Lu families was practically set in stone.

Lin Wenjun first heard about it from her sister-in-law, Qin Ruyun. It had been over a week since the two families confirmed a meeting for the couple, during which Lin Jinshen’s expression had shown nothing but impatience.

And now, just days later, it was already finalized?

Lin Wenjun had watched Lin Jinshen grow up and knew his personality well—a typical Capricorn man. As the eldest son, he dutifully fulfilled his responsibilities step by step, even agreeing to marry a woman he had barely met to appease the family’s wishes.

She knocked on the door to Lin Jinshen’s office.

“Come in, Auntie,” Lin Jinshen greeted, looking up.

“KS’s acquisition—go ahead boldly. Apart from a few stubborn holdouts, the rest have switched sides,” she informed him.

With this, whether those few agreed or not, the acquisition would proceed as planned.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s not hard, just tough,” Lin Wenjun sighed. Over the past few days, she had been mediating nonstop, saying all the right things while enduring the board members’ egos.

“Sorry. If it weren’t for you, this wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”

“I’ve done all I can. Whether or not you can secure the acquisition now depends on you. Don’t waste my effort,” she said, sitting on the sofa in his office, turning slightly to lean her arm on the armrest as she looked at him.

“Rest assured, Auntie,” Lin Jinshen replied.

“With business out of the way, let’s talk about your engagement to the Lu family. Have you thought it through?” She remarked pointedly, “Marriage isn’t like business. Efficiency isn’t always reliable.”

“I just think it’s suitable.”

“Do you mean the person or the family?”

“Both.”

His answers were so precise and formal that they left no room for intrigue.

Hearing this, Lin Wenjun concluded that he felt indifferent about the engagement and asked, “Where will you live after the wedding? The family home or separately?”

Lin Jinshen replied, “Separately.”

“That’s good. Young couples need their own space. Have you decided on where? If you’re getting married, you’ll need a decent house.”

These were things that needed to be prepared early.

“Not yet.”

“Well, plan ahead. There’ll be plenty to deal with after marriage, so it’s better to be early than rushed. Let me know if you need anything,” she advised.

Having said her piece, Lin Wenjun saw no need to linger. Beyond work and family matters, it was difficult to find common ground for conversation with her nephew.

She couldn’t help but wonder if this Miss Lu might regret her decision someday.

“Alright, I’ll leave now,” she said, standing.

Lin Jinshen stood as well to see her out. Her remarks reminded him that he should decide on a marital home.

He owned several properties under his name, all with ample space and prime locations, more than enough for two people.

To settle the matter, he messaged Lu Yi, asking for her company’s address.

Lu Yi received the message while retrieving coffee from the pantry. Setting down her cup, she read the out-of-context question and hesitated briefly, wondering what he was up to.

Was he planning to show up with coffee like Zhong Wenlun once did?

Half a minute later, she sent him her company address.

Minutes later, Lin Jinshen replied—not with an explanation but with a property listing.

Lu Yi recognized the place. It was in a prime location where every square meter cost a fortune, and the property was close to nine figures in value.

Pioneer: [When are you free to process the title transfer?]

Selene: [What do you mean?]

Pioneer: [Our future marital home. It’s close to your office—15 minutes by car—convenient for your commute.]

“…”

Lu Yi carefully processed his message, leaning her head against her hand. Then she remembered a clause in their prenuptial agreement, one added by Lin Jinshen:

Their marital home would be registered under her name and transferred as her personal property before the wedding.