Chapter 28

Lu Yi got out of the car, resisting the urge to explain to Lin Jinshen what eyeliner was.

As a straight-laced, old-fashioned man, he probably couldn’t comprehend how a simple line on the eyelid could make someone’s eyes appear bigger.

The two entered the villa, one after the other.

Inside, the villa was brightly lit. The kitchen staff had already prepared dinner. After confirming their preferences, they plated the dishes, so by the time Lu Yi and Lin Jinshen finished freshening up, the meal was ready. On the long dining table, the candles in the candelabras were lit, and small flower arrangements added a carefully crafted ambiance.

Lu Yi had little appetite.

She only felt hot and thirsty from the weather, sipping on two glasses of sparkling wine during the meal.

Lin Jinshen also ate lightly, avoiding carbohydrates. He only had a steak and some vegetables, eating slowly and methodically, as though dining was merely a means to maintain his basic functions.

After dinner, it was only 8 p.m.

Although Lu Yi was tired, she planned to sleep by 10 p.m. Since she had nothing else to do, she remembered the villa’s swimming pool she’d seen earlier. The water looked clean, so she decided to change into her swimsuit.

Lin Jinshen still had work to do, relocating to the dining table downstairs to handle it.

Whenever Lu Yi went up or down the stairs, she had to pass by him. He caught glimpses of her passing by, her exposed back so pale it seemed to glow. He quickly averted his gaze. A few minutes later, she came downstairs again, having changed from her halter-neck dress into a bright yellow one-piece swimsuit. The outfit accentuated her slender yet curvaceous figure, revealing long, straight legs, toned arms, and a healthy, radiant physique.

She had already tied her hair up and was adjusting her swim cap as she walked.

Lin Jinshen lowered his gaze, doing his best to ignore her figure passing before him.

He had already acted out of character too many times today.

As Lu Yi tucked stray strands of hair into her swim cap, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He was staring intently at his laptop screen, his usual focused expression when working. She couldn’t help but admire how he could immerse himself in work anytime, anywhere.

He probably hadn’t even noticed her going up and down the stairs.

The pool was separated from the villa’s interior by a floor-to-ceiling glass window. From inside, the space seemed to stretch infinitely. The pool was bordered by neatly trimmed hedges, offering excellent privacy.

Standing by the pool, Lu Yi began with stretches to warm up. Once finished, she put on her swim goggles and gracefully entered the water, diving to the bottom before resurfacing when her lungs needed air.

The pool, less than 25 meters long, allowed her to swim back and forth in a single breath.

Alone, without the bustling company of others, she felt more relaxed than during the day.

Inside the villa, Lin Jinshen wasn’t feeling quite right. While attending a remote meeting via headset, his attention kept wandering, drawn to the scene outside.

Lu Yi was doing nothing out of the ordinary—just warming up, diving in, and swimming with barely a splash. She alternated between strokes and floated lazily on her back when tired.

Her face wasn’t visible, but her limbs extended and moved gracefully in the water.

It was all perfectly normal—so ordinary it was almost boring.

Yet, he couldn’t stop watching her.

From his headset came the voice of a subordinate giving a report, but Lin Jinshen, unusually distracted, didn’t register a single word. His lack of focus alarmed those on the other end, worried they’d made a mistake. He ended the meeting early.

Just then, a staff member came out from the kitchen with a fruit platter and freshly squeezed juice. One tray was set on his table, while the other was meant for Lu Yi.

“Just leave it here. I’ll take it to her.”

“Thank you, Mr. Lin.” The staff placed both trays down.

Lin Jinshen picked up one tray and walked outside. By now, the evening air had cooled, and the rippling water seemed to ease the earlier tension in his chest.

He set the tray on the side table by a lounge chair.

Lu Yi had just finished a lap and was resting by the pool’s edge, her head tilted back, water droplets clinging to her lashes.

“Have some water first,” he suggested.

“Thank you.”

Lu Yi climbed out of the pool, water streaming down her arms like transparent pearls. Her skin, moistened by the water, appeared even paler, almost dazzling. Lin Jinshen looked away as she bent to grab a robe and draped it over herself. She then sat on a lounge chair, holding the glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

“Want to swim? The water’s cool and much more refreshing than staying in an air-conditioned room.”

“I’m fine. Enjoy yourself.” Lin Jinshen said this but didn’t immediately leave. After a pause, he added, “You’re a good swimmer.”

Lu Yi speared a piece of fruit with a fork and popped it into her mouth.

Her swim cap hid all her hair, leaving her small, fair face with its large, bright eyes. She wasn’t stunning, but there was an undeniable vitality to her, a liveliness that felt free and unrestrained.

Perhaps it was the endorphins from the exercise, but Lu Yi smiled. Unlike her usual reserved demeanor, she nodded cheerfully and said, “I think so too.”

Her tone was light, a genuine recognition of her own skill.

After speaking, she chuckled softly, realizing she sounded a little boastful.

Lin Jinshen watched her serene profile, his lips twitching slightly.

Lu Yi looked up again and continued, “Did you know? I was actually on a swim team once. The coach thought I had potential and recruited me. I loved swimming and trained consistently. My results were among the best on the team. Unfortunately, I injured my back during practice and had to stop. It’s a shame, really.”

“I didn’t know. My parents never mentioned it.” Lin Jinshen frowned slightly.

“Right, not many people know,” Lu Yi sighed. “You’re actually the second person I’ve told.”

“…”

“…?”

From his face, Lu Yi saw the most expressive reaction she’d ever seen from him. Realizing she’d fooled him, her previously indifferent gaze gained a hint of playful scrutiny.

“You didn’t seriously believe me, did you?” she asked with a grin, leaning on her arm.

“…How childish.”

Lin Jinshen averted his gaze, telling her to eat the fruit before it spoiled in the heat.

Lu Yi couldn’t help but laugh, replaying his earlier reaction. It was a pity she didn’t have a camera to capture it—showing it to Mrs. Qin would’ve been delightful.

As he turned to leave, the sound of splashing water made him pause. He turned back to see Lu Yi diving into the pool again, her slender, agile figure like a fish in the water.

That vitality of hers, so abundant, reminded him of the dense vegetation in tropical climates.

He turned away, his lips curving slightly.

—

After swimming for an hour, Lu Yi rinsed off and was in bed by 10 p.m.

The bed was softer than the one at home. When she lay down, it felt like sinking into a cloud. Stacking two pillows, she figured she wouldn’t fall asleep right away and decided to watch a movie on her tablet.

But as the opening scenes played, her eyes closed, and she drifted off into a light, hazy sleep.

Lin Jinshen entered the room to find her in this state: the movie on the tablet was still playing, but her eyes were closed, head tilted to the side, deeply asleep.

He paused the movie and carefully removed the tablet from her hand. She stirred slightly, groggily opening her eyes, and murmured, “I’m still watching.”

“Really? Then tell me, what’s the movie about?” Lin Jinshen asked.

“…”

She had no idea.

Realizing she had fallen asleep, Lu Yi let go of the tablet. Lin Jinshen placed it on the bedside table, lifted the covers, and got into bed. The warmth she had left beneath the blanket lingered as he inched closer to her side and turned off the light.

Yawning, Lu Yi’s eyes glistened faintly with the haze of sleep.

In the darkness, her shoulder brushed against Lin Jinshen’s. It was unclear who crossed the line first, but she mumbled, her voice muffled, “The mattress is too soft, so I keep sliding to the middle.”

It was meant as an explanation, not an excuse for being so close to him.

When she tried to scoot away, Lin Jinshen grabbed her arm and said, “Just stay like this.”

“During the day, filming felt awkward. I think it’s because neither of us is used to close contact. Maybe we should try to get more accustomed to it, starting now.”

Was that really it?

Lu Yi was too drowsy to process his words deeply. They sounded reasonable enough, so she agreed with a faint “okay.”

Half-asleep, she rested her head on his arm, which felt much firmer than a pillow and not particularly comfortable. As the moments passed, her sleeping position shifted. At some point, she turned from her right side to her left, nestling against his solid chest as if drawn to it, as though it was the inevitable endpoint of her slow descent. Half-lying on him, she found a strange sense of stability and familiarity.

Lin Jinshen’s hand tightened around her wrist, his touch radiating heat.

As soon as she got close to him, her body seemed to lose all tension, melting into a soft, pliable state. Above her, his breathing grew heavier, like a beast lurking in the shadows, its presence palpable but unseen.

Before she could react, Lin Jinshen turned and kissed her—a slow ignition of a dormant fire, the smallest spark igniting a consuming blaze.

One hand cupped her jaw, guiding her to tilt her head back. His lips pressed against hers, coaxing her mouth open, their kiss deep and consuming.

The memory of that night flashed in her mind.

She had been the teacher back then, patiently explaining how to kiss.

Lin Jinshen, ever the dedicated student, had mastered every detail. Now, he applied his lessons with a mix of fervor and precision, devouring her, tracing her lips, pulling her into the kiss, and drinking her in completely.

Out of breath, Lu Yi felt as though she might faint from lack of oxygen. He gave her a moment to catch her breath, exhaling into her lungs before resuming, but she was already spent. She clutched his shirt feebly, her grip weak, like a fish flung onto dry land, gasping desperately.

His lips brushed hers again, persistent.

Lin Jinshen was unrelenting. His kisses grew fiercer, pressing along her lips and the corners of her mouth, even grazing her nose. Then his touch softened—gentle and damp, almost tender—landing on her eyelids, a stark contrast to the intensity before.

Lu Yi’s body was slick with sweat. From the moment his lips met hers, her body had responded instinctively, a sticky, overwhelming sensation leaving her uncomfortable.

Lin Jinshen wasn’t in much better shape. His arms tightened around her, holding her closer. She could feel the tension coiling in him, and her cheeks burned red-hot. But she was utterly exhausted.

“Lin Jinshen,” she called his name, unable to help herself.

His face was buried against her neck, his breaths warm against her skin. There was a barely restrained fervor in his breathing, as though he were intoxicated by her scent. He nuzzled her skin inch by inch, as if addicted to it.

When he heard her voice, he raised his head. In the darkness, his eyes shone, bright and piercing.

Lu Yi propped herself up on her elbow and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. In a quiet, worn-out voice, she murmured, “Can we just kiss? I’m too tired to do anything more.”

She truly had no energy left.

Kissing was fine, but anything more? She didn’t even have the strength to contemplate how long that might take.

For half a second, Lin Jinshen froze. Then he dipped his head and kissed her again, his fervor undiminished, leaving her tongue numb and her senses overwhelmed. It felt like swallowing a glowing ember, with the sound of water bubbling fiercely.

Clutching his shirt, Lu Yi called his name, her voice soft and light, lacking any real authority. “Lin Jinshen!”

Her words lacked bite, and Lin Jinshen released her. His lips trailed along her cheek, brushing against her ear. His voice was hoarse and restrained as he murmured, “If you keep talking like that, I can’t make any promises.”

“…” What did he mean, talking like that?

His breath swept into her ear as he spoke, his voice reverberating close enough to feel, sending tingling currents coursing through her. Lu Yi let out a faint whimper, trying to move, but her hands were pinned, leaving her no choice but to let the sensation wash over her.

From head to toe, she felt unbearably tense.

Lin Jinshen paused for half a second and asked, “Is it here?”

Lu Yi understood his meaning instantly, biting her lip and snapping, her voice low, “Shut up.”