She was Fan Ya’s woman, and he was Tian Yu’s husband.

So, could he even entertain inappropriate thoughts about her? Did he dare?

He was almost certain that her words carried a provocative tone.

She was asking him—did he dare?

Did he?

Standing amidst the opulent decor of the Hongjing Group’s cocktail party, Lu Bochen felt unusually unsettled.

Yin Tianyu had arrived at the venue a moment before him. When she saw him, she smiled sweetly, happily walking toward him. As always, she linked her arm with his affectionately and elegantly.

He returned her smile, but it was absentminded. The corner of his eye silently followed the fiery red figure in the distance.

Sure enough, she was standing with Yin Fan Ya, handing him a gift. Yin Fan Ya gave her a gentle smile, his deep gaze fixed on her.

Were they exchanging affectionate glances?

Lu Bochen couldn’t see clearly.

“Let’s go congratulate my brother, Bochen,” Tianyu said.

“Mm,” he nodded, and, arm in arm with his wife, walked toward the main man of the evening—and toward the alluring woman who had captivated his mind.

“Brother, congratulations!” Reaching Yin Fan Ya, Tianyu let go of her husband’s arm, hugged her brother, and looked up at him with a sweet smile.

Yin Fan Ya’s eyes shone like stars, his brows relaxing into a smile full of affection. “I heard that, Tianyu. You gave a wonderful speech at the charity gala not long ago!”

“It wasn’t that great, just passable, I think.”

“Just passable?” Yin Fan Ya turned his gaze to Lu Bochen.

Catching on, Lu Bochen laughed heartily. “It was exceptional! If I were to score it, I’d give it at least ninety-five points.”

“It wasn’t that good! I almost forgot my lines!” Tianyu blushed, embarrassed.

“Everyone says you did well, so stop being modest,” Yin Fan Ya said, smiling at his sister.

“If I did okay, it’s thanks to Bochen. He helped me practice the speech,” Tianyu gave the credit to her husband.

“Is that so?” Yin Fan Ya turned again to his brother-in-law. “Then thank you, Bochen.”

The two men exchanged a meaningful glance.

Lu Bochen smiled slightly as a distant memory flashed in his mind: the time when Yin Fan Ya found out his sister was determined to marry a poor man, and personally came to size him up. He had even issued a stern warning, demanding that Lu Bochen ensure Tianyu’s happiness for life, or he wouldn’t hesitate to chase him to the ends of the earth.

Thinking of this, a trace of self-mockery appeared on Lu Bochen’s handsome face, while a quiet flame burned in the corner of his eye.

“By the way, let me introduce you,” Yin Fan Ya suddenly announced. “This is my special assistant, Li Xiangsi. Xiangsi, this is my sister Tianyu, and her husband, Lu Bochen.”

“Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, I’ve heard so much about you,” Li Xiangsi greeted them with a soft voice, her mesmerizing eyes only lingering on Tianyu.

“Miss Li, you’re very beautiful,” Tianyu extended her hand and shook hers. “To be able to work alongside my workaholic brother as his assistant, you must be very capable. It’s no easy feat; I’m sure it’s been tough on you,” she added playfully, her smile carrying a hint of mischief.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Yin Fan Ya pretended to be displeased. “Are you implying that I mistreat my employees?”

“I didn’t say that at all! I was simply expressing my admiration for Miss Li,” Tianyu blinked innocently, but her smile said otherwise. “Right, Bochen?”

“Bochen?” Noticing her husband’s lack of response, Tianyu turned her bright eyes toward him in confusion.

Lu Bochen snapped back to attention, quickly regaining his composure and offering a clear laugh. “Yes, for Miss Li to have earned Fan Ya’s trust, she must be very capable. Both professionally and personally, she’s undoubtedly a great partner.”

“Exactly,” Tianyu caught the implication in her husband’s words and glanced at her brother. “Brother, Miss Li is so beautiful—aren’t you tempted to keep her all to yourself?” she teased half-jokingly.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Yin Fan Ya’s smile faltered slightly, a hint of displeasure creeping in. Though his lips were still curved in a smile, the look he gave his sister was tinged with a warning.

Lu Bochen raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

Why wouldn’t Fan Ya admit to being in a relationship with Li Xiangsi? Did he think the timing wasn’t right yet? Or was the so-called “girlfriend” just a claim made by Miss Li herself?

He glanced at Li Xiangsi, and as if on cue, she looked back at him, her gaze shimmering strangely, with a barely-there smile tugging at her lips.

He felt momentarily dazed, but Yin Tianyu’s gentle voice brought him back to reality.

“Bochen, didn’t you also buy a gift for my brother?”

“Yes.” He quickly handed the gift box he had been holding to Yin Fan Ya. “Congratulations, Fan Ya. The future of ‘Hongjing’ rests in your hands.”

“Thank you.” Yin Fan Ya accepted the gift and passed it to Li Xiangsi.

Li Xiangsi understood. “I’ll go put these away.” She smiled faintly, excused herself to Lu Bochen and Tianyu, and gracefully walked away.

Lu Bochen watched her elegant figure disappear.

There was an ambiguous atmosphere between her and Fan Ya—not a simple superior-subordinate relationship, but also not quite that of lovers…

“Bochen, let’s go greet the others,” his wife’s soft voice once again called him back from his confusion.

He composed himself and nodded.

—

He was captivated by that woman.

Throughout the night, his eyes had been chasing after that beautiful red figure—it was so obvious that even if she wanted to convince herself it was just her imagination, she couldn’t.

The day she feared most had finally arrived.

Yin Tianyu sat in the piano room, staring blankly at the ivory grand piano before her.

This piano was a wedding gift from her brother, custom-ordered from Vienna—an exquisite Bösendorfer that had brought much joy to her married life.

In her spare time, she would often sit at the piano and play a few pieces, while Lu Bochen would sit on the nearby sofa, reading documents while listening to her music.

He loved listening to her play. The passionate, dramatic pieces suited his taste, and the gentle, lyrical melodies he loved because of her.

He once said that she was made to play soft, tender music because it best expressed her heart.

He was wrong. Her heart wasn’t always calm and gentle—sometimes it stirred, and at times, a violent storm would erupt, stirring waves within her.

Li Xiangsi was that storm.