Chapter 31

“What do you want to touch?”

Lu Yi froze at the unexpected question. She didn’t really want to touch anything—her earlier comment was just a playful jab, inspired by those secretive teenage moments when everyone has their own unspoken secrets. Her intention had been to tease, hinting at the awkwardness of possibly stumbling upon something inappropriate and shattering his always-composed image.

But when those words came out of his mouth, why did they suddenly carry a deeper, more suggestive meaning? As if she was the one trying to take advantage of him.

“I was joking,” Lu Yi explained seriously, forgetting past lessons: Lin Jinshen doesn’t understand jokes.

Lin Jinshen didn’t bother asking where the joke lay. He turned on the lights, and the room’s style and setup became immediately clear—a minimalist suite consistent with the aesthetic of the Lin family home. Clean and simple. A two-meter-wide bed sat in the center, flanked by a glass wardrobe neatly arranged by color. Besides these, the room was devoid of any extra decorations or personal touches.

It was no different from a hotel room.

No wonder he could live in hotels for extended periods—staying anywhere must feel the same to him.

His room was just as dull as he was.

Lu Yi opened her suitcase to take out her pajamas and tomorrow’s clothes. When she reached for her skincare products, Lin Jinshen reminded her that the bathroom already had some prepared by Mrs. Qin, including pajamas hung in the wardrobe. They were a matching set with his—white and black couple’s outfits.

Apparently, these had been purchased right after they registered their marriage. At the time, Lin Jinshen hadn’t known what she used, so Mrs. Qin had simply bought the best available, ensuring their visits to the family home would be comfortable.

“Mom is really thoughtful,” Lu Yi remarked.

She went to shower first.

When she came out, Lin Jinshen wasn’t in the room. He must have gone to another room to wash up. She sat cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through her phone and watching the photos and videos Aunt Fang had sent of Puff.

This was her fifth day away, and she hadn’t hugged the little fluffball in so long.

Aunt Fang described Puff’s recent behavior—eating well, sleeping well, but in the mornings, sitting pitifully at the foot of the stairs, clearly missing her.

Lu Yi’s heart softened, her eyes growing misty, especially when Aunt Fang sent a photo of Puff patiently waiting by the stairs. The side profile was so exquisite, so heartbreaking.

Her longing for Puff reached its peak.

When Lin Jinshen opened the door, he saw Lu Yi’s slightly red eyes. Unaware, she glanced at him, her expression unguarded and a little dazed.

His breath hitched. A strange, unnameable feeling stirred in him again.

He could only voice the obvious: “…You’re done showering?”

“Mm. You haven’t?”

“I was just talking to Dad about work.”

Lu Yi nodded, running out of conversation topics. “Then go wash up.”

Lin Jinshen hummed in response, grabbed his clothes, and entered the bathroom. By the time he finished showering, Lu Yi had shifted positions, now leaning against the headboard while watching more videos of Puff. In one, the cat pricked its ears at the sound of a food bag rustling, then darted like lightning toward it.

“What a little pig!” she laughed softly.

The bathroom door opened.

That was fast.

Lu Yi glanced up and was immediately greeted by the sight of pale, cool-toned skin.

Lin Jinshen had only put on pajama pants, carrying the rest of his sleepwear in his hand as he stepped out. His bare torso bent slightly as he slipped his arm into a sleeve, and her casual gaze lingered involuntarily on his narrow waist. His taut, defined abs looked deceptively soft—though she knew firsthand they were as hard as stone.

“…”

What was she thinking?

Lin Jinshen quickly finished putting on his shirt, pulling it over his head. As he ran a hand through his slightly disheveled hair, he noticed her looking at him.

Her expression was a mix of bewilderment and surprise.

He tilted his head slightly, silently asking: Is there a problem?

Lu Yi wanted to ask: Is this really okay?

On the first night, he insisted on buttoning his pajamas all the way to the top, wrapping himself up tightly. Now he was strolling around half-dressed after a shower.

Then again, he hadn’t made her put on extra clothes over her slip dress recently, either.

Lu Yi chalked up Lin Jinshen’s change as progress—him adapting to new things after being exposed to them.

“What are you looking at?” Lin Jinshen climbed into bed and noticed the faint glow of her phone screen, along with the subtle smile lingering on her lips. He wasn’t interested in the content but was curious about what made her smile.

Lu Yi generously showed him her phone. She was more than happy to share Puff’s cuteness. “It’s from Aunt Fang. Puff’s becoming so clever—she even tried to open the snack cupboard to sneak herself a treat!”

The video showed Puff’s futile attempts to open the cupboard. Finally, using her paw, she managed to nudge it ajar and snuck out a stick treat before fleeing the scene like a thief.

Aunt Fang had caught the entire escapade on camera, eventually apprehending the “criminal” and returning the treat to the cupboard. Puff, like a tiny clip, followed Aunt Fang around, meowing pitifully.

…

Lin Jinshen glanced at the screen over her shoulder and watched the video.

Not bad. Not completely idiotic.

“Isn’t she adorable?” Lu Yi felt like a proud mother showing off her child.

Lin Jinshen gazed into her sparkling eyes and replied, “Mm, very cute.”

Lu Yi, satisfied, put away her phone. Sooner or later, they’d learn to coexist harmoniously.

Lin Jinshen turned off the lights.

In the dark, their shoulders brushed briefly, a fleeting moment of awkwardness. Lin Jinshen stretched out his arm, and she looked up, cooperating with a surprising degree of coordination.

But his firm arm wasn’t exactly comfortable. Lu Yi tentatively asked, “Doesn’t your arm go numb like this?”

She was trying to appear considerate. If he said yes, she could immediately suggest they stop.

“No,” Lin Jinshen replied curtly.

Lu Yi closed her eyes. Fine. She accepted her fate.

The next morning, Lin Jinshen opened his eyes to find half his body numb. He was already used to it. Lu Yi, like a little sloth, had draped herself over him, her legs sprawled across his.

He couldn’t understand how someone as poised and gentle as Lu Yi during the day could sleep like this.

Moving carefully, he shifted her leg aside, pulled his lifeless arm free, and got up to wash and go for his morning run.

When Lu Yi woke up, as expected, she was alone.

Not wanting to oversleep in the Lin family home, she got up on time. Leaving the bedroom, she found Mr. and Mrs. Lin already awake. They greeted her warmly, asking if she had slept well.

The housekeeper brought breakfast to the table.

Lin Jinshen returned from his run, still in workout clothes, his hair tied back, looking as composed as ever.

The family sat together for breakfast, and Mrs. Qin spent the entire meal doting on Lu Yi. She loved the feeling of a family eating breakfast together. Ever since Lin Yumo went off to college and Lin Jinshen got married and moved out, the house had been too quiet. She hoped they’d visit and stay over more often.

Lu Yi smiled and agreed.

After breakfast, they returned to Chengxi Garden. Lin Jinshen had work and went back to the office, while Lu Yi, still on her vacation, planned to unpack her suitcase and enjoy a relaxing day.

Puff, who hadn’t seen her in days, nestled in her arms, meowing pitifully. In the cat’s world, they were equals, and Lu Yi’s absence was like going on a dangerous hunt. Now that she had returned safely, Puff whimpered and acted spoiled.

Holding Puff in one arm, Lu Yi struggled to fetch the gifts she brought for Aunt Fang.

“I even have a gift? Thank you, that’s too much!”

It was a bag—not overly expensive, but perfectly suited to Aunt Fang’s taste. She tried it on repeatedly, smiling with pursed lips. “I can’t possibly carry this to the market, can I?”

The gifts for the elder family members had been prepared as a couple. Lu Yi planned to visit in the afternoon to deliver them. She also packed some for her friends. Sorting out all the gifts was no small task.

Puff stayed by her side throughout the process.

Whenever Lu Yi noticed it, she reached out to scratch its neck. Puff squinted its eyes, utterly content.

That afternoon, on her way back home, Lu Yi received a private message from her supervisor, Sister Wei. While she was away, the company had secured a major project in collaboration with the city museum. The project involved numerous types of exhibits, requiring someone with a certain level of expertise in the field. Since Lu Yi had done well with the art museum project before, the client had requested her specifically.

However, history was not Lu Yi’s strong suit—though it was an area she found intriguing. After replying to Sister Wei, she received some preliminary documents.

Energized by the prospect of work, Lu Yi had the driver detour to the library, where she borrowed a dozen history books, planning to start cramming that evening.

Lin Jinshen returned home at 8 p.m. Upon entering, he saw Lu Yi sitting cross-legged on the carpet near the sofa, typing on her laptop. Surrounding her were stacks of books. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and perched on her nose was a pair of rectangular glasses. The reflection from the screen glimmered in the lenses.

Her focused demeanor, paired with her clean-cut appearance, made her look like a student working on a thesis.

“You’re back,” Lu Yi said, glancing at him from the corner of her eye, her hands not pausing.

To his surprise, Puff, instead of dashing off to its nest as before, stayed put. It even meowed—a tone strikingly similar to its owner’s.

Lin Jinshen gave a faint hum, draped his jacket over his arm, and changed his shoes. “You could work in the study.”

“No need. I’m used to working here.” Lu Yi finished typing a sentence, paused, and adjusted her glasses. She had mild myopia, which didn’t interfere with her daily life, but staring at the screen for too long had blurred her vision.

Lin Jinshen approached.

Puff, uncharacteristically, didn’t flee. It sat in place, blankly staring at him as he moved.

When Lu Yi wasn’t looking, Lin Jinshen stopped in his tracks, hesitated briefly, then crouched down and lightly tapped Puff’s head with his finger. The cat responded with a short meow, almost like the squeak of a toy.

The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile, but by the time he stood up, his expression had returned to its usual calm. He headed upstairs.

After reviewing some materials, Lu Yi knew she couldn’t absorb it all in one evening. She closed her book and shut down her laptop. It was still early, so she decided to make some tea and watch a movie.

As the water boiled, the aroma of tea began to fill the air.

Lin Jinshen, catching the scent, came downstairs. Lu Yi leaned against the counter and, like last time, asked if he’d like a cup of tea. This time, though, she wasn’t just being polite.

She had forgotten to remove her glasses, which added a scholarly air to her demeanor.

“It’s not ready yet, so you’ll have to wait a bit.”

Lin Jinshen walked over. Puff was at her feet, and as they both looked down, they only saw part of her face. Her long, curled lashes were visible beneath the lenses.

Lu Yi, delighted, said, “It seems like Puff isn’t afraid of you anymore! I guess the cat treats from last time worked.”

Since Puff had accepted him, could he try accepting Puff in return?

With that thought in mind, Lu Yi looked up, smiling. She was about to ask if Lin Jinshen wanted to hold Puff, emphasizing how soft it was.

But before she could speak, a shadow crossed her vision. Lin Jinshen leaned against the counter and gently removed her glasses. He placed them on the counter behind her and, as her lashes fluttered in surprise, he leaned in and kissed her.

The sound of bubbling water came from the kettle.

The scent of black tea filled the room.

Lin Jinshen deepened the kiss, tracing the curve of her lips before exploring further, tasting the sweetness there.

Puff tilted its head in confusion. “Meow?”

The kiss didn’t last long. When he pulled away, Lin Jinshen met her wide-eyed gaze, a faint trace of nervousness visible. His voice was husky as he spoke.

“It feels like a crime.”

It felt like he had just kissed a straight-A student.