This was Yu Xi’s first time spending the night at Shen family’s house, and to say she wasn’t nervous would be a lie.

Whenever she was nervous, her shower time would always stretch longer. While Shen Shu waited for her, he came over and knocked on the door. “Yu Xi, are you okay? If you’re fine, knock and let me know.”

Was he worried she had passed out?

She turned off the faucet and tapped on the door, quickly wrapping herself in a towel.

When she stepped out, she saw that Shen Shu was already in bed, wearing his pajamas. She guessed that he must have taken a shower in the bathroom outside.   

When he saw her come out, he put down the materials in his hand, removed his glasses, rubbed his brow, and patted the space beside him, signaling for her to come over.

Yu Xi carefully walked over and lay down beside him.

But as soon as she lay down, Shen Shu pulled her into his arms. “Why are you lying so far away from me?”

Yu Xi frantically shook her head, trying to push his hand down, refusing to let him get his way.

They were in his house, and his parents were around.

“They’re asleep upstairs. They can’t hear us. And we’re married. What’s the problem?”

She still shook her head.

Shen Shu didn’t force her, but just turned off the light and hugged her to sleep. “Have you heard any stories? Should I tell you one?”

Yu Xi looked up at him, seemingly curious about what kind of story he would tell.

“The Little Mermaid.”

Yu Xi gave him a look of disdain. She thought he would tell her some kind of interesting story, but this one was so cliché.

Shen Shu was taken aback, embarrassed. “Well… how about The Wild Swans?”

Yu Xi ignored him.

Shen Shu was well-versed in many things, but it seemed he had no talent for storytelling. He didn’t know what kind of story girls would like.

He hadn’t expected to be rejected so outright.

“What kind of story do you want to hear?” He gently caressed her hand, holding it in his, and rubbing it softly.

He seemed to enjoy playing with her fingers. As she watched him intertwine his long fingers with hers, she didn’t know why, but it felt oddly suggestive.

Especially when his fingertips lightly moved across her palm as if teasing her. The sensation was so tingling that it seemed to ignite a fire deep in her heart.

As he held her from behind, it felt like he wanted to pull her into him completely, his breath warm against her ear.

Yu Xi felt embarrassed but also strangely immersed in the tenderness, slowly drifting off to sleep…

Although she was in an unfamiliar environment, she slept more soundly than ever before.

The next morning, the sun had already risen high in the sky.

Yu Xi quickly scrambled to get ready, almost in tears.

She had slept in so late. She had no idea what Shen Shu’s family would think of her.

Shen Shu tried to calm her down. “Take it slow. Don’t worry, my mom just got up, and my dad went to the elderly’s center.”

Yu Xi didn’t relax at all. She rushed through her morning routine and followed Shen Shu downstairs.

The aunt had already prepared breakfast, and Jiang Ci hurriedly invited them to sit. Looking around, she noticed Shen Shu’s father wasn’t there, which relieved her a little.

“Here, try this,” Jiang Ci placed a bowl of wontons in front of Yu Xi. “Ashu told me you like these, so I made them for you.”

Yu Xi paused and looked down at the wontons.

Wontons with such thin wrappers weren’t common around here. She had only eaten them once during a gathering, and to her surprise, Shen Shu had remembered.

Yu Xi silently ate, her heart unsettled.

…

After the holiday, Yu Xi went back to work.

The year-end was a busy time, with an increase in interpretation work. Many written translation tasks were piling up on her desk, and she had to work overtime to catch up.

Finally, when she had a free weekend, she went to the welfare center where she used to work part-time to teach the kids dance.

Although the pay wasn’t much, it was still a decent source of income.

In the large classroom, Yu Xi, dressed in a dance outfit, spread her arms wide, demonstrating the moves to the children. She didn’t speak much, but her eyes seemed to speak volumes, always warm and gentle. She patiently demonstrated for the children, her pure white dance outfit accentuating her fair skin.

Sunlight streamed in from the window, casting her figure in a bright, dazzling glow, so bright it was almost blinding.

At that moment, standing outside the glass window, Xiao Lin thought he had seen an angel.

The children didn’t speak, but dozens of pairs of eyes were focused on her.

The classroom was silent, yet there was an indescribable sense of harmony and understanding.

“Miss Yu is very patient and skilled at teaching the children. She’s been working with me for almost four years now,” the director said with a cheerful smile. “That’s why I keep her around. Even if she can’t speak, it’s no big deal.”

Xiao Lin pulled at the corner of his mouth.

He was paying her so little every month, who else would work for him?

Anyone a little more perceptive wouldn’t have stuck around.

He was really inflating his own worth.

But, despite thinking this, his expression remained impassive, as he watched Yu Xi finish her lesson and walk over.

She wiped sweat off her forehead, tilting her head slightly. Her snow-white skin was covered with a light layer of sweat, like dew on a water lily in summer—fresh and graceful. Yet, inexplicably, it felt like she had set a fire in his heart.

She had no idea how enchanting she was. Her eyes were so pure and clear that it seemed almost sinful to look at her too long, as if even a glance might be considered sacrilege.

In his 27 years, Xiao Lin had always been self-willed, proud, and never cared about anyone. But in this moment, he was struck by a feeling of taboo—“I’ll never dare look at the Goddess of Mercy again.”

When Yu Xi came closer, she realized Xiao Lin was there. She paused for a moment and instinctively smiled faintly at him.

Xiao Lin nodded slightly, his attitude as cold as usual, and asked, “Are you working part-time here?”

Yu Xi nodded and, feeling a bit awkward, subconsciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She wasn’t familiar with Xiao Lin, who was her superior. She wasn’t good at communicating with people, so she could only smile, but after a while, her face would feel stiff.

Fortunately, Xiao Lin only asked a few questions before turning back to continue chatting with the director, gradually walking away.

Yu Xi let out a small sigh of relief, patting her chest.

The next day at work, she noticed the atmosphere in the office seemed different. She quietly sat down and observed Liu Pingping and Xu Weiwei, who were chatting nearby.

Liu Pingping leaned over to her and said, “I didn’t realize that Director Xiao Lin was so good-looking! You think, why did he go for that yellow hair look?”

Before she could finish her sentence, the entire office suddenly went quiet. This usually meant an important person had arrived. Yu Xi quickly shrank back, glancing up.

Xiao Lin, in a suit, stood at the entrance with one hand in his pocket, smiling at everyone. “Good morning.”

His hair had been dyed black again, neatly combed, and the earrings were gone, making him appear neat and refreshing. He was a typical handsome man with strong features, and his fair skin, now with black hair, had an almost shocking impact. Even with a stoic expression, he still looked incredibly handsome.

Moreover, he was smiling slightly.

…The sun must have risen in the west today, Yu Xi thought.

Normally, Xiao Lin was always cold at work, rarely this warm.

She guessed her superior was in a good mood today.

After greeting everyone, Xiao Lin went back to his office, seemingly just passing through. The whispers only started again after he left.

Xu Weiwei was already holding her face, saying, “Wow! How did I ever think he looked like a non-mainstream guy with yellow hair? He’s so handsome! It turns out even handsome guys need some grooming.”

Liu Pingping replied, “I’ve always thought Xiao Lin was good-looking, but not to the point of stunning me. Today, though, I was completely blown away. He’s so handsome, I can’t even close my legs!”

Even though Xiao Lin had only been at the company for less than two months, General Manager Gu Yuan seemed to be pushing everything onto him.

Xiao Lin was very capable. Describing him as sharp and formidable wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Although somewhat hot-headed, his unstoppable momentum was not something just anyone could challenge.

In such a short time, he had already established his authority in the company, and when it came to strategy, his word was final.

Yu Xi didn’t think too much about this moment but lowered her head to continue her work.

She had a lot on her plate, and leaving work on time was a luxury.

However, this busy life also gave her a fulfilling sense of purpose.

Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, it was evening. Most of the office had already left, and only she remained.

“Why aren’t you leaving yet?” a low voice suddenly came from behind.

Yu Xi was startled. She hadn’t expected him to still be there. She instinctively put down her work and stood up.

Xiao Lin walked over to her side, picked up the document she was translating, glanced at it, and then slammed it back onto the table. Is this your job? She couldn’t do it, so she gave it to you? Where is she?”

Yu Xi didn’t understand why he was so angry, so she quickly typed on her phone: [Sister Meng had to leave early for something.]

Xiao Lin asked, “What about you? Did she pay you or offer you any benefits? Why is she passing her own work onto you?”

Yu Xi was left speechless by his pointed questions. Under his mocking gaze, she felt her face burning, but a part of her also felt some resistance.

This job was hard to come by. She didn’t have a powerful background like him, so she couldn’t afford to act recklessly.

And in life, taking a little bit of a loss wasn’t the same as truly losing—it was just part of gaining work experience.

Yu Xi stayed silent for a moment before Xiao Lin picked up the phone and called Meng Xia.

Having just stepped out of the building, Meng Xia received the call and rushed back immediately.

When she entered the office and saw Yu Xi with Xiao Lin, she paused for a moment. She smiled and said, “Director Xiao, is there something you need from me?”

Xiao Lin directly threw the document back onto her desk. “Did you pay her or ask her to work overtime? Why did you pass your work onto someone else? If it’s not your work, how much can you understand or know about the content when it’s formally translated?”

Meng Xia’s face immediately turned red, but she wasn’t the only one doing this. She stubbornly retorted, “I’ll look at it before I officially translate it.”

Xiao Lin smiled instead, seemingly surprised that she dared argue with him. “If something goes wrong, are you going to take responsibility? Then write me a letter of guarantee now.”

Meng Xia stopped talking.

While things generally didn’t go wrong, if they did, she would definitely push it onto Yu Xi.

Who would write something like this? It’s better to be safe than sorry.

“From now on, do all this work yourself. If I catch you messing up again, pack your things and get out. The company doesn’t keep idle people. Every task must be handled with dedication. Not a single detail can be overlooked. Understand?”

Meng Xia nodded obediently, no longer daring to argue with him. She grabbed the documents and walked out, looking defeated.

“Let’s go, I’ll drive you home,” Xiao Lin said.

However, Yu Xi refused.

To be honest, she wasn’t grateful to Xiao Lin. In fact, she found him somewhat arrogant.

Though it seemed like he had helped her, in reality, he had only placed her in a more awkward position.

Everyone has their own way of handling things. He couldn’t expect her to act like him. At least she didn’t have influential relatives like him, so she couldn’t afford to act so recklessly.

Xiao Lin reflected on her cold, indifferent figure as she walked away without a second glance, and he felt uneasy.

But at the time, he merely sneered, dismissing it as unimportant.

When he got home, however, he began to think differently.

It felt like there was a string in his heart, pulling at him, leaving him restless.

During a dinner gathering, his friend Ji Chaoyang asked, “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve just been dumped.”

Xiao Lin, who had been lost in thought, snapped out of it, then scoffed, “Are you blind?”

Ji Chaoyang elbowed Wen Ze, who was pouring drinks next to him, and said, “Don’t believe him? Ask old Wen.”

Xiao Lin paused, turning to Wen Ze.

Wen Ze maintained his usual poker face but nodded honestly, “This time he’s right. You really do look like someone who’s been dumped.”

Wasn’t it obvious? Since they met, Xiao Lin hadn’t said a word and looked completely absent-minded.

Xiao Lin’s face darkened. He sneered but didn’t say anything further.

At first, he thought they were just imagining things. But after returning home and looking at himself in the mirror for a while, he fell silent.

It really did look like… the face of someone who was unfulfilled and heartbroken.

He spent several days at home, agonizing over it, before finally making up his mind.

…

Yu Xi didn’t have a good impression of Xiao Lin, especially after he interfered with her work that day. Her view of him became even worse.

However, her opinion started to change that evening after an incident.

She had left work late, feeling a little hungry. She stopped by the usual cake shop downstairs to get a slice. As she reached for the bread with tongs, a woman suddenly rushed up and bumped into her, causing the cake to fall on the floor.

When the store clerk arrived, the woman immediately insisted that it was Yu Xi’s fault and demanded she pay for it.

Yu Xi tried to explain, but there was no way to argue. The woman kept talking, not giving her a chance to speak.

“If you say it’s unclear, you can check the surveillance footage,” Xiao Lin said as he stepped forward, blocking the woman’s way.

With his tall frame and cold expression, he looked intimidating.

The woman fell silent, and after paying for the cake, she left in a hurry.

Xiao Lin crouched down and began picking up the items that had fallen on the ground.

From that moment on, Yu Xi began to see him in a different light. She thought he must have a sense of justice.

When he offered to drive her, she didn’t refuse.

She waited on the steps, and before long, his blue Porsche pulled up in front of her.

Yu Xi took one look and recognized the car. It was a limited edition, worth over 15 million yuan. She had seen a similar one in Shen Shu’s garage before. Only six of these cars had been released globally.

Driving such a car to work?

Yu Xi didn’t know what to think, but she had no right to judge him.

It wasn’t that she disliked rich people or looked down on them; she just found it a bit awkward. At least Shen Shu would never do something like that. He always drove a more conservative car to work, one that didn’t give off an unreliable impression.

In the past, she might have silently criticized him, but today, since he had helped her, she didn’t feel right about it.

“Get in,” he said, pulling up the car.

Yu Xi thought he meant for her to get in on her own, but to her surprise, he got out and opened the door for her.

She paused, not used to it.

Xiao Lin calmly said, “Also, you don’t need to type when you talk to me. I know sign language.”

Seeing her surprised gaze, he looked away and added casually, “I have relatives who can’t speak. I learned it when I was a child.”

Yu Xi nodded and gestured to thank him.

Xiao Lin smiled suddenly, his features softening.

His smile was like a clear moon in the breeze, giving him a youthful air.

Standing together on the steps, with one tall and one short, they made a harmonious picture.

Handsome man, beautiful woman. They truly looked like a perfect couple.

A silver Bentley Mulsanne had been parked under a tree nearby for a while.

The car window was half-open, and Shen Shu was on an international call, his gaze on the busy street ahead. “…Got it, send me the documents later. I have other matters, we’ll talk later.”

After hanging up, he noticed Wei Ling had been staring at him. Shen Shu frowned. “What’s wrong? Do you need something?”

That day, the driver had been unavailable, so he had asked Wei Ling to drive him temporarily.

Wei Ling hesitated, glancing sideways.

Shen Shu raised an eyebrow, following his gaze.

Then, his gaze stopped, and the phone in his hand lowered instinctively.