---

19. Secret Crush

◎ You have an unresolved feeling… ◎

The entire island trip was arranged by Cheng Jinghe. Lu Shiyin didn’t get involved at all—she had been fully dedicated to her project and was still handling work matters right before boarding the plane.

Cheng Jinghe knew how important the project was to her and didn’t disturb her. Just before takeoff, Lu Shiyin turned off her phone. She caught Cheng Jinghe’s gaze and felt a bit guilty. “I won’t check work stuff anymore.”

Cheng Jinghe shook his head. “It’s okay. I know how much this project means to you. You don’t need to feel sorry toward me. I support all your decisions.”

He said it seriously. Lu Shiyin blinked, feeling struck by his words, and thanked him.

He replied, “No need to thank me. I’m just fulfilling my duty.”

Lu Shiyin asked, “What duty?”

He smiled slightly. “A husband’s duty.”

Lu Shiyin sat up straighter, was silent for a while, looked at him, and wondered—how come she never noticed before how steady and reliable he was?

She leaned a little toward him. “Still, thank you.”

Cheng Jinghe was slightly stunned, recalling what she’d said before. He echoed her words: “Mm. Good manners are important—your words.”

Lu Shiyin realized he was teasing her for always being so polite. She often said thank you to him. But she truly was grateful—he had arranged everything for this trip, and she hadn’t looked over any of it.

So she had no idea where the hotel was or what the daily itinerary would be.

The plane landed smoothly. The airport was bustling with people. With so many Chinese faces around, it didn’t feel much different from not having left the country.

A Chinese man came to pick them up, addressed Cheng Jinghe as “President Cheng,” and called Lu Shiyin “Mrs. Cheng” as if he already knew them.

In the car, Lu Shiyin asked, “You have business here too?”

“A small investment. Having someone pick us up is no problem,” he nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes.

Lu Shiyin noticed and smiled. “Alright, alright, you’re amazing.”

The hotel was in a more remote location, not near the bustling city center. Lu Shiyin had casually mentioned to him that she wanted somewhere quiet—just a simple vacation, sleeping in, sunbathing, walking.

So this hotel was chosen for its beautiful scenery.

The hotel manager personally welcomed them, escorted them to their room, and wished them a happy honeymoon before leaving.

After the manager left, Lu Shiyin looked around the room. There was a large terrace with a private pool, which she loved, and the bedroom offered a direct view of the ocean.

The only drawback—there was just one bed.

She couldn’t really blame him for not booking a room with two beds, but it was an awkward situation. At home, they slept in separate rooms.

Lu Shiyin stood at the door, staring at the big bed, hesitating.

Cheng Jinghe came up beside her. “Satisfied?”

She nodded. “Yes… but, um… how will we sleep tonight?”

Cheng Jinghe leaned against the doorframe. “How do you want us to sleep?”

She glanced at the bed, then at him, then looked back at the sofa behind him. It was big enough for someone to sleep on.

“I’ll take the sofa, you can sleep on the bed,” she said and went to grab her suitcase.

Cheng Jinghe stopped her. “How could I let you sleep on the sofa? I’ll take it.”

He went to the sofa, unfolded it—it was a large, soft sofa bed. He sat down and looked at her. “This works fine.”

Lu Shiyin felt a bit guilty. The bed was clearly more comfortable. She hadn’t contributed much to the trip, and now this. But insisting on switching would feel overly sentimental, so she let it go.

After a short rest, Lu Shiyin started to sweat. Seeing the shimmering pool outside, she wanted to swim and asked Cheng Jinghe to join.

He waved it off. “I’ll pass.”

She changed into a forest green bikini. Her fair skin made the color pop. She walked out to the terrace.

Cheng Jinghe, sitting on the sofa reading, caught a glimpse of her as she walked past. All he saw was her graceful back heading to the pool.

She swam several laps. At one point, she raised her head and caught Cheng Jinghe’s gaze—he was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows inside, still holding the book, watching her.

Lu Shiyin smiled and waved at him to come out. He set the book down and walked over, squatting by the pool. “What?”

“You should swim too. Isn’t it boring just reading alone?”

Cheng Jinghe smiled, eyes drifting away from her curves. “Reading isn’t boring.”

Lu Shiyin nodded. “Right, I forgot—you’ve loved studying since you were a kid.”

Cheng Jinghe’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked out at the sea. “Not really—just during school.”

Seeing he wasn’t interested in swimming, she didn’t push. “Got it. Go on, keep reading.”

She dove back into the water.

Cheng Jinghe quickly turned away from her pale figure in the water and exhaled as he returned to his seat. But this time, the words on the page didn’t stick.

After a few more laps, Lu Shiyin came out, wrapped a towel around herself, and went inside to drink water.

Cheng Jinghe asked, “Done swimming?”

Lu Shiyin replied casually, “A little tired. Taking a break.” She went to shower and change.

Then, holding a book, she sat beside him.

Cheng Jinghe was surprised. “What are you doing?”

She smiled and glanced at him. “Learning from the class genius.”

He chuckled, didn’t reply. They sat on opposite ends of the sofa, reading. Lu Shiyin was quickly absorbed in her suspense novel.

But Cheng Jinghe struggled to focus. She was too hard to ignore. Wearing shorts, her long legs curled up beside her, her book resting on her knees, brow furrowed in concentration. Her skin glowed.

After sitting like that for too long, Lu Shiyin shifted and caught him staring.

She touched her face. “Is there something on it?”

Cheng Jinghe said, “No.”

“Then…” She hesitated. She was going to ask what he was looking at but realized it was pointless. His gaze wasn’t exactly innocent.

Cheng Jinghe closed his book and glanced at the sunset. “Want to go eat?”

With the moment broken, she folded the page and nodded. “Let’s go.”

They had dinner at the hotel. Afterward, they walked slowly outside. Cheng Jinghe asked what she wanted to do that evening.

She was just about to answer when a newlywed Chinese couple interrupted them, asking her to take a photo.

Lu Shiyin gladly helped. The couple posed in all kinds of playful, affectionate ways—hugging, kissing, teasing each other. Watching them made Lu Shiyin feel shy.

After handing the camera back, the woman was thrilled and thanked her.

Lu Shiyin smiled, said “no problem,” and continued walking with Cheng Jinghe. But the newlyweds’ laughter behind them suddenly stopped. Lu Shiyin looked back.

They were deep in a kiss.

Cheng Jinghe noticed too. He casually remarked, “They seem very in love.”

Lu Shiyin: “Yeah…”

They reached the hotel elevator when she remembered she hadn’t answered his question. “Want to walk along the beach?”

“Sure.”

The sky wasn’t fully dark yet. The sea still glowed with the remnants of sunset. They walked in silence for a while until Cheng Jinghe asked, “Did you ever date when you were overseas?”

Lu Shiyin smiled. “Take a guess.”

“You did. And he was probably outstanding.”

She shook her head. “Wrong. I never dated.”

He was surprised. “Why?”

She thought back to why she went abroad, how she transferred from a bad school to a good one, how she stayed up late studying…

She said, “No reason. I never met anyone I liked. Didn’t feel qualified to fall in love.”

Cheng Jinghe looked at her. She always carried a trace of sadness, but also incredible resilience.

He teased her, “That’s not true. You’re beautiful and smart. How could you not be qualified?”

Lu Shiyin laughed. “Then how about you? You talk so smoothly—did you date in college?”

Cheng Jinghe shrugged. “Unfortunately, ‘smooth talker’ doesn’t apply to me. Only with you. I was quiet back then.”

“I heard from your sister that you were super popular, lots of girls liked you.”

“Really? I don’t remember that. Cheng Jingzhi must’ve been exaggerating.”

“How could she? Girls love quiet guys.”

“All girls?” he echoed. “Including you?”

Lu Shiyin narrowed her eyes and answered honestly, “Yes.”

“Then I count as a quiet guy?”

“You do. You hardly ever talk.”

Cheng Jinghe smiled softly. “Mm.”

Lu Shiyin suddenly remembered something Cheng Jingzhi had once said. She tugged his sleeve. “Your sister said you had an ‘unresolved feeling’ for someone…”

Cheng Jinghe looked puzzled. “No, I don’t.”

“She said she overheard it—once she came to your school and saw a girl confessing to you. You told her you already liked someone. Had liked her for a long time.”

Cheng Jinghe froze.

Waves crashed on the shore and retreated again. He looked into Lu Shiyin’s warm eyes and smiling lips. “She made that up. That girl was really persistent, so I just said something to brush her off.”

“Too bad,” Lu Shiyin said. “I wanted to hear the details of your secret crush…”

Cheng Jinghe replied, “Well, I can pretend I had one. Ask me, and I’ll make it up for you.”

“You can make up something like that?”

“Sure. It’s like writing a novel. I can make one up—fulfill your curiosity.”

“Alright then,” Lu Shiyin said. “Tell me. Let’s hear your ‘secret crush’ story.”

Cheng Jinghe thought for a moment. “Where do you want me to start?”

“From the first time you saw her,” she said. “What did you feel?”