Chapter 63

This wasn’t Lin Shu’s first time visiting Xu Shijia’s apartment.

This time, it was clear that Xu Shijia had finally paid the property fees in full, and he confidently entered through the front door with Lin Shu.

“Isn’t the back door closer?”

“Huh? Oh?” Xu Shijia seemed a bit uncomfortable, but still held his head high and said, “I recently checked, and after comparing, I found the distance is actually about the same, maybe just a tiny bit closer through the front door.”

With a self-righteous look, he continued, “Plus, I’m bringing my girlfriend home. If we go through the back door, it’s like sneaking around, like we’re hiding something. Of course, we should walk through the front door, openly and proudly.”

Lin Shu almost wanted to laugh, but she held it in and didn’t expose Xu Shijia.

She wasn’t exactly calm herself, though. Despite her outward composure, she felt a bit anxious and her heart was racing as they approached the apartment again.

Xu Shijia seemed to be the same. For once, he didn’t have his usual ease and confidence. He was clearly a bit uneasy.

Their eyes met in the elevator, and it was like an electric shock as they quickly looked away.

Lin Shu shifted her gaze, and Xu Shijia’s eyes wandered awkwardly.

“Do you want something to eat? I bought some ingredients. I can cook.”

Xu Shijia seemed to want to break the awkwardness. Though he appeared calm on the outside, it was clear that he wasn’t as composed inside as he was trying to seem.

So this was what being in a relationship felt like—new, exciting, yet filled with nervousness, fear, and anticipation.

Lin Shu didn’t like taking risks, but if it was with Xu Shijia, it didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

This time, Xu Shijia really didn’t lie. He led Lin Shu into the apartment, only briefly holding her hand before heading into the kitchen with a serious expression, like he was preparing for battle.

After a while, Lin Shu could hear the clattering of pots and pans from the kitchen. It sounded like he was flustered, and occasionally she could hear him muttering curses under his breath.

Lin Shu couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed open the kitchen door. “Xu Shijia, are you trying to blow up the kitchen?”

In the kitchen, within just a few minutes, Xu Shijia had somehow managed to turn the floor into a mess.

His tall, slender figure seemed completely out of place in the kitchen. He looked helpless and clumsy. He was still wearing a white shirt and suit pants, but since he hadn’t put on an apron, suspicious oil stains had already splattered on his clothes. His collar, seemingly tugged in frustration, was loose, revealing a pale, attractive collarbone. His right hand, with its distinct knuckles, was visibly red, clearly having been burned from the heat.

The curses earlier were likely a reflex when his hand got burned.

However, as soon as Lin Shu pushed open the door, Xu Shijia immediately pulled his hand behind his back. Despite the pain that had made him wince and grit his teeth earlier, he now forced a relaxed expression, as if everything was under control.

“Wait a moment, it’ll be ready soon.”

Lin Shu couldn’t bear it any longer. “You should rinse a burn with cold water immediately.”

But Xu Shijia refused to admit it. “It’s not a burn.”

“Let me see your hand. What’s that red mark?”

At this point, Xu Shijia shamelessly claimed, “It’s a red birthmark.”

“…”

Xu Shijia was very persistent and ultimately pushed Lin Shu out of the kitchen.

Just as Lin Shu thought she’d have to wait until midnight to eat, Xu Shijia pushed open the sliding door and walked out of the kitchen.

He was holding a dish that, despite its appearance, looked decent enough.

“It’s done.”

He looked at Lin Shu, cleared his throat, and said, “I’ve served everything, we can eat now.”

Soon, he really brought out several dishes:

Sour soup with fatty beef, grilled fish, stir-fried peas with Chinese sausage, and baby cabbage in clear broth…

Lin Shu took a bite, and to her surprise, it tasted really good.

Seeing her reaction, Xu Shijia immediately sat down and, while eating, couldn’t help but boast:

“I’m quick to learn anything. Although I didn’t know how to cook before, I’m really smart, and I picked it up as soon as I tried. Look, I made all these dishes, and they came out pretty well, didn’t they?”

“Lin Shu, you’re really lucky to find me. I’m like a rare, all-around man that’s almost extinct in today’s world.”

“A capable man can show dominance in every aspect…” he continued, full of self-praise.

Lin Shu, however, put down her chopsticks and, with a flat expression, asked, “Which restaurant did you order takeout from?”

“…”

Xu Shijia’s face immediately dropped.

“I followed a video tutorial step by step, but for some reason, it just didn’t work. I don’t know where I went wrong.” His voice was full of grievance. “I even simulated it several times in my head beforehand, and I memorized all the steps for each dish. But once I put it in the frying pan, it just exploded!” He gestured with his hand. “The flames were so high! I thought there was going to be a fire.”

“And you burned your hand?”

“Well, fortunately, I had a backup plan and ordered takeout in advance…” Xu Shijia’s voice grew quieter. “I really wanted to cook it myself for you.”

Now, Xu Shijia looked a bit dejected, his hair damp with sweat from the heat of the kitchen. The elite aura he usually had was gone, replaced by a more disheveled appearance. The once pleasant scent of his cologne had been replaced by the smell of grease from the kitchen.

Lin Shu had seen many versions of Xu Shijia—arrogant, cold, playful, confident—but she found that the sight of him now, looking disheveled and defeated, stirred something in her as well.

She walked over, cupped his face, kissed him, then held his head.

“Xu Shijia, you really are like a dog.”

She ruffled his hair. “A hardworking little dog.”

“Even though you didn’t succeed, you still tried, so no one would blame a little dog.”

Although Lin Shu took the initiative, she felt a little embarrassed herself. She blushed and quickly looked away, only to see the grand piano in the living room. “Weren’t you going to play the piano for me? After dinner, can I listen?”

Clearly, playing the piano was where Xu Shijia truly excelled.

He looked like an obedient puppy, fully trusting his owner. Whatever Lin Shu asked him to do, he did without hesitation.

After cleaning up from dinner, Xu Shijia sat down at the piano.

His eyes brightened as he looked at Lin Shu. “Sit next to me.”

Lin Shu complied without a word.

She had originally thought that Xu Shijia’s piano skills might only be average. But once his hands touched the keys and the music flowed effortlessly from the piano, she realized that playing the piano was not just a comfortable zone for him—it was his domain.

Xu Shijia seemed to want to redeem himself, picking a flashy piece that would showcase his skills.

Lin Shu didn’t know much about the piano, but just watching Xu Shijia’s hands move fluidly across the keys, listening to the perfectly timed notes, and feeling the rhythm, she could tell that he was quite skilled.

She sat beside him, watching him seemingly weave magic with the piano.

His profile was close, his posture straight, with his long legs hidden beneath the piano, and his hands dancing on the keys with precision. His expression was relaxed and carefree, an effortless grace that seemed to come from a life of privilege, nurtured by his background.

Although it appeared effortless, Xu Shijia’s hands pressed the keys with different levels of strength, and Lin Shu noticed the muscles in his hands slightly bulging, revealing a wild and untamed energy that contrasted with the elegance of the music.

He hadn’t had time to change his clothes, and was still wearing the same white shirt from the kitchen. The chaotic heat and frantic activity in the kitchen had left him a bit messy, and sweat beads clung to his body. Gravity had caused the sweat to trickle down his body, gathering at his waist and soaking into his shirt.

Lin Shu hadn’t intended to look.

But when she happened to glance, the thin white shirt, now almost transparent from being soaked, caught her eye.

The fabric clung tightly to his skin, revealing the lines of his sculpted abs beneath.

Despite having been sick as a child, which had caused him to fall behind in terms of age and experience, Xu Shijia had clearly surpassed ordinary people in terms of physical fitness. It was evident that he paid great attention to maintaining his body shape.

The reflective surface of the piano revealed Lin Shu’s distracted and drifting gaze.

Lin Shu accidentally made eye contact with Xu Shijia through the reflection on the piano.

It felt like being caught red-handed, and Lin Shu’s heart skipped a beat, flustered and unsure.

She didn’t know how much her expression had revealed about her emotions.

In any case, Xu Shijia stopped playing.

His voice was low: “Want me to teach you how to play?”

He phrased it as a question, but it was clear he wasn’t genuinely asking for Lin Shu’s opinion.

Lin Shu didn’t need to look up; she could already feel Xu Shijia’s burning, focused gaze on her, almost as if he were forcing her to confront it, making it impossible for her to escape.

Before she could even respond, Xu Shijia took her hand and guided her fingers to the piano keys.

Lin Shu let him lead her hand, helping her tap out one note after another. His fingertips brushed lightly against hers—calm, measured, and graceful. His fingers were long and beautiful. They say the length of a man’s fingers is correlated with certain other lengths…

Stop!

What on earth am I thinking?!

Stay elegant, Lin Shu! This is a piano lesson!

Xu Shijia’s voice was deep and pleasant as he explained patiently and in detail, like a responsible teacher. Unfortunately, Lin Shu was clearly a mediocre student, not paying much attention. The words of the teacher and the movements of his hands barely registered for her, her mind wandering off, her face flushed.

Her distraction didn’t go unnoticed.

“Lin Shu, you’re not focused.”

The music ceased.

Xu Shijia put his hands down and stared at Lin Shu.

Huh? Ah…

Lin Shu instinctively lowered her head.

She was the boss, the one who usually scolded Xu Shijia. But now, the roles were reversed. She felt like the student who was slacking off in a piano class, and Xu Shijia had become the strict piano teacher.

“What were you distracted by?”

Lin Shu felt guilty, biting her lip in silence.

What was she even thinking about earlier?

“Forget it,” Xu Shijia sighed. “Sometimes, people get distracted because of temptation. The best way to overcome temptation is to get closer to it, experience it, and truly understand it to break the spell.”

“Want to touch it?”

Huh?

Lin Shu looked up, but Xu Shijia no longer resembled a serious piano teacher. Instead, he looked like someone with a clear intention to lead Lin Shu astray.

He grabbed Lin Shu’s hand, and before she could react, he pressed it against his abs.

“I’ve been practicing for a long time,” Xu Shijia’s voice became husky. “Only for you.”

Xu Shijia smiled at Lin Shu, his voice lowered, like a seductive fox trying to lead her down a dangerous path. “Want to touch?”

Lin Shu felt like she should pull her hand back, but her hand seemed to have a mind of its own, moving toward Xu Shijia’s chest.

Whatever, it’s just a few touches. What’s the harm?

He invited her, after all!

Lin Shu considered herself a decent person, but in this moment, it wasn’t about wanting to touch. It was more about not wanting to hurt Xu Shijia’s pride by rejecting him. He was sensitive, easily offended, and often fragile.

A quick touch wouldn’t hurt.

She could just pretend she was helping a poor, stray dog.

But as soon as her hand touched him, Xu Shijia pulled her into his embrace, and this troublesome subordinate began an inappropriate piano lesson.

“If you want to play an arpeggio, you have to do it like this…”

At that moment, Xu Shijia seemed to revert back to being a responsible teacher, guiding her fingers to play the keys. But the piano keys beneath her hand felt different—solid, warm, and unlike the cool, stiff black and white keys.

Lin Shu couldn’t shake the feeling that the room was too warm, and her fingers felt like they were on fire, her face flushed.

She tried hard to focus, imagining Xu Shijia as just another piano key, following his guidance to trace the lines.

Xu Shijia’s voice was ragged as he asked, “Are you satisfied with these keys?”

“Yeah,” Lin Shu feigned calmness, but inside, she was convinced that Xu Shijia had brainwashed her with his ‘piano keys’ analogy. She almost absent-mindedly tapped out the “keys” with her own fingers.

At almost the same moment, Xu Shijia let out a curse, pulling her hand away a bit more roughly than necessary. He stood up abruptly.

“Lin Shu!”

The atmosphere had shifted dramatically. Not long ago, it was still flirtatious, but now Xu Shijia stood with a look of frustration and anger, gritting his teeth.

The playful demeanor he had earlier was now gone, replaced by frustration as he glared at her.

His voice was thick with frustration as he snapped, “What the hell are you doing touching like that?”

This guy is unbelievable!

Wasn’t he the one who encouraged Lin Shu to touch in the first place? How was he now blaming her?

Lin Shu looked up, about to argue, but she saw that his posture was awkward, and no matter how he tried to cover it up, their close proximity was causing some physical reactions that couldn’t be hidden.

She almost caught a glimpse, but immediately looked away.

What…?

Xu Shijia, are you a dog?

Lin Shu’s face turned red as she bit her lip. “Xu Shijia, I just touched it, that’s all!” And it was just his abs!

“I don’t fucking know!”

Xu Shijia was clearly flustered. “Saying I’m like a dog? Well, you’re right, I am just like one.”

He ran a hand through his hair in self-disgust before looking away. “Every time I see you, I turn into a dog in heat. What can I do about it?”

“I’m going to take a cold shower.”

With that, the piano lesson abruptly ended. Xu Shijia left the room, heading toward the bathroom.

“Xu Shijia.”

Lin Shu grabbed his hand the moment he turned around. “Take a hot shower.”

“Huh?”

“The piano lesson… can we continue?”

Lin Shu was certain that it was the oppressive atmosphere in the air that had fried her brain into making such an invitation.

“Do you want to play the piano on me?”

She glanced at the still noticeable part of Xu Shijia. “You can try it out.”

Xu Shijia, almost immediately realizing what Lin Shu had said, turned the tables and pulled her into an embrace. He kissed her lips passionately, as if savoring a ripe peach, not wanting to waste a single drop of its sweet juice.

Lin Shu could hear Xu Shijia mumbling between kisses, his voice full of desire, “I’ll be good.”

It was just a kiss, but Lin Shu still felt parched and breathless.

Now, Xu Shijia was the one playing the piano. Lin Shu felt the skillful touch of his fingers tapping the “keys,” expertly handling even the most difficult and hidden ones. It felt like he was a master thief, sneaking into the owner’s forbidden base without permission.

Lin Shu felt like a poor peach thrown into a juicer, helpless against the high-speed machine, unable to escape its fate. The rich juice was squeezed out, dripping everywhere.

She pushed Xu Shijia away.

Lin Shu, blushing and gasping, glared at him with feigned anger and frustration. “Shower! Shower first!”

Xu Shijia reluctantly released her, but just as he was about to turn toward the bathroom, the doorbell rang.

“Who is it?” Xu Shijia, though trying to control his irritation, was clearly frustrated by the interruption. His face was full of anger as he prepared to check the door.

However, when he looked at the screen on the smart door monitor, Xu Shijia stopped talking.

Who was it?

Lin Shu leaned over to take a look.

Xu Mingmei?

Why was Xu Mingmei here?

She seemed certain Xu Shijia was home and kept ringing the doorbell persistently.

Xu Shijia huffed, annoyed. “Don’t open the door. She’ll think no one’s home and leave.”

How could they not open the door?

What if Xu Mingmei came here for something urgent?

Besides, after everything that had just happened, it felt as though the atmosphere had shifted completely, like suddenly switching from an adult channel to a teaching channel. The mood they had been in was completely gone.

Lin Shu glanced at Xu Shijia, where the situation still hadn’t settled. She bit her lip and glared at him. “You, handle your own situation quickly.”

“When you’re done, you open the door.” She paused, covering her flushed face. “Just say I came to get some files and discuss the case.”