Chapter 37.2

“Who are you?” Song Zhixing demanded.

Lin Jinshen released his grip and stepped forward, completely shielding Lu Yi behind him. Their eyes met, and Lin Jinshen calmly stated, “I’m Miss Lu’s husband.”

Taking out a tissue, he meticulously wiped his hands, as if ridding himself of something filthy.

Indeed, something filthy.

Lin Jinshen had arrived a few minutes earlier, just in time to hear Lu Yi’s retort. He had stood back, observing her handle the situation with composure and precision, needing no assistance.

She didn’t raise her voice, resort to insults, or lash out emotionally. Her calm rebuttal highlighted the absurdity of her opponent.

Lin Jinshen found himself impressed by her collected demeanor, a stark contrast to the blustering incompetence of the man before her.

He had seen Lu Yi in many moods—gentle, playful, serious. Today, he saw her angry yet articulate, and it intrigued him.

As Lin Jinshen finished wiping his hands, Song Zhixing fumed at the implied insult but hesitated to retaliate. The man before him exuded an unmistakable air of wealth and authority.

Finally, Lin Jinshen spoke first. “Your name?”

“…Song.”

“Mr. Song,” Lin Jinshen said, his tone icy. “Your unprofessional and emotional outbursts don’t make you seem more capable. They just make you look pitifully inept.”

“It’s remarkable someone like you even has a job.”

Song Zhixing clenched his teeth and retorted, “Maybe you should focus on your own affairs. You might be the one getting played without even knowing it.”

Lu Yi was taken aback by the sheer shamelessness of his remarks. Some men, it seemed, were rotten to the core.

Lin Jinshen wasn’t the least bit angry as he held her hand, his gaze cold but his tone resolute. “You don’t need to worry about that. As long as my wife is willing, I’ll let her play me however she likes.”

Lu Yi felt her palm heat up from his grip.

She glanced up at him, catching a glimpse of his impeccable side profile. Under the lights, his face seemed to glow softly, as if through a gentle filter.

She knew these words weren’t meant to be taken seriously, yet in that moment, her heart thudded loudly—like an empty bottle tossed in the dark, rolling to the center of attention.

Just then, the awkward standoff was interrupted as a delivery of coffee and desserts from the downstairs café arrived.

Not knowing how many people were working overtime, Lin Jinshen had bought plenty. She watched him shift from the earlier cold demeanor to a polite and gracious one, directing the driver and staff to distribute the treats.

“Thank you for taking care of Xiao Yi. Much appreciated.”

The café downstairs leaned toward the high-end business crowd. A single cup wasn’t cheap, and the desserts even more so. This generous purchase had likely cost a small fortune.

In contrast to someone like Song Zhixing, Lin Jinshen’s image soared—handsome, thoughtful, protective of his wife, and, most importantly, extravagantly generous.

“We’ll take our leave now,” Lin Jinshen said, still holding Lu Yi’s hand firmly.

Yu Qian and the other colleagues waved enthusiastically. “Got it, take care on the way home!”

The four of them descended in the elevator together, though with the presence of others, there was little they could say. Lu Yi’s hand began to sweat in his grasp. She tried to pull away subtly, but Lin Jinshen misunderstood her intent. After a barely perceptible movement, he adjusted his grip and held her even more securely.

“…”

Exiting the elevator, the delivery staff gave a polite nod before heading back to the café.

The driver went ahead to bring the car around, leaving Lu Yi and Lin Jinshen walking side by side.

Finally given a chance to speak, Lu Yi asked, “Why are you here?”

She had only called earlier to ask him to feed Puff.

Lin Jinshen replied calmly, “To pick you up from work.”

Lu Yi didn’t have time to feel awkward before asking, “What about Puff?”

“Don’t worry. I asked Jiang Xun to feed him already.”

She nodded, her lips pressed together as she replayed the earlier scene in her mind. It had been rather unseemly. She turned to him and asked, “When did you arrive?”

“Let me think…” Lin Jinshen paused thoughtfully, as though recalling. Then he said, “From the moment you told him, ‘If you can’t organize your thoughts, take some time to reflect.’”

“…”

“That early?”

Which meant he had seen everything. She couldn’t remember her exact expression or tone back then.

In front of so many people, she hadn’t felt particularly self-conscious. But knowing her unfamiliar husband had witnessed her sparring with someone else left her feeling awkward.

She didn’t quite know how to describe this sensation—like being unprepared and suddenly thrust into the spotlight, disoriented at first, then wondering if she had walked onto the wrong stage entirely.

Their marriage had been decided based on mutually presented A and B sides. But now, post-marriage, he had stumbled upon her C side.

Her friends always described her as gentle, and others likely saw her the same way. Yet she knew herself better than anyone—she wasn’t always so calm and kind.

Once outside the office building, they walked to the curb where Lin Jinshen opened the car door for her. Seeing the confusion lingering on her face, he added, “I think it was impressive.”

Lu Yi settled into the back seat, half of her figure bathed in light and half in shadow. She tilted her head, still puzzled.

Lin Jinshen looked down at her and said, “It was so impressive that I didn’t feel the need to intervene. Even without me, you handled it perfectly.”

Their gazes met briefly before Lu Yi smiled faintly, accepting his remark.

Closing her door, Lin Jinshen circled around to get in on the other side.

Lu Yi received a message from Jiang Xun with photos of Puff’s feeding session. The before and after pictures showed a carefully prepared dish and an empty bowl, indicating Puff had eaten every last bit.

Another photo captured Puff lounging in its little nest, belly full and content, looking utterly at peace.

Jiang Xun: “Madam, Mission Accomplished!”

Looking at the pictures, Lu Yi’s smile softened. She replied with a five-star emoji.

Lu Yi: “Thank you.”

Jiang Xun: “No trouble at all! Call me anytime!”

Putting her phone away, she noticed the car entering a tunnel. The window reflection caught Lin Jinshen’s side profile. His sharp features—long lashes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips—were flawless. The sharpness of his profile gave it an almost aggressive edge.

“Thank you for tonight.”

For arranging Jiang Xun to feed Puff and for standing up for her earlier.

Leaning against his seat, Lin Jinshen looked at her. “It’s what I should do.”

Before their marriage, she hadn’t imagined they’d reach this point. She had expected a marriage of convenience, where they’d act like strangers outside and maintain appearances at home.

But now, they were clearly veering off course.

What surprised her most was that she didn’t mind it. Despite her initial fear of entanglements and complications, she found this development unexpectedly bearable.

“Is he your boss?” Lin Jinshen asked.

Lu Yi shook her head, explaining briefly about the client, their project, and the cause of tonight’s conflict.

“Do you need my help?”

This wouldn’t end tonight; the matter was bound to escalate.

Lu Yi shook her head. “You’ve already helped enough. It’s not a big deal.”

If she truly couldn’t stand it, she could leave. Jobs were everywhere, and she worked for passion, not obligation.

“Alright.” Lin Jinshen respected her decisions regarding work.

As they conversed, the physical distance between them seemed to close, intentionally or not.

Lu Yi suddenly recalled Lin Jinshen’s earlier jab at Song Zhixing—“an incompetent and enraged fool.” She only now processed that he had actually used the term “incompetent rage.”

Smiling, she teased, “You know about ‘incompetent rage’?”

It sounded like something from internet slang, oddly fresh coming from someone as composed as him—like discovering her typically reserved mother reading a novel titled The Tyrant’s Overwhelming Love.

The car’s interior lights remained off, with only streetlights outside casting intermittent beams of light on his face. His prominent brow bone gave him a sharp, striking look.

He quipped, “Want to check my phone?”

Lu Yi blinked, confused. “Why would I check your phone?”

“To see if it’s connected to the internet,” he replied coolly.

It took her a few seconds to process. When she did, her lips curved into a smile, which soon turned into a light laugh.

What a terrible joke.

But it was his way of saying he wasn’t as out-of-touch as she might have thought.