Chapter 35.1

Lin Jinshen refrained from scrolling further. Respecting Lu Yi’s privacy, he stopped at the video where someone had called her “Big Sister.”

So this was what her friends called “a treat”? While he refrained from judging her friends’ character, he concluded that one of them might need to visit an ophthalmologist. Using a pale face and the gimmick of undressing to draw attention, paired with a half-squint and a coy “Big Sister”—how was this good?

For a moment, he considered whether Lu Yi needed a new phone.

It felt… tainted.

The kind of thing that made you want to wash your eyes after seeing it.

The phone’s volume was low, and Lu Yi, focused on driving, didn’t hear it. She had no idea what was going through Lin Jinshen’s mind as she kept her eyes on the road. Without turning, she asked, “What did Mom say?”

“…It’s not from Mom,” Lin Jinshen replied.

“Then who is it?” Lu Yi asked.

Her social circle was simple—aside from colleagues, she only had a few friends. Most of them were out partying today, and she had muted the group chats, so she ruled that out immediately.

“It’s not anything important. Focus on driving,” Lin Jinshen said as he turned off the phone, his voice steady but his expression darkening by the second.

That haunting “Big Sister” echoed in his mind, refusing to dissipate.

Lu Yi didn’t dwell on it. She was still in the excitement of driving her new car. Among Bentley’s models, she thought the Continental GT had the most beautiful interior: elegant linen white, refined and tasteful.

While waiting at a long red light, she started exploring the car’s features. When another notification popped up, Lu Yi instinctively glanced toward her phone.

Lin Jinshen’s voice broke in unexpectedly, cool and commanding: “If you want to check now, I suggest pulling over first.”

His tone was so sharp it felt like a stern teacher had suddenly appeared.

Lu Yi withdrew her hand and returned it to the steering wheel. “I know. Safe driving is important. No phones while driving, no driving while on the phone.”

Lin Jinshen gave her a deep look. “It’s not about safety—it’s because the red light isn’t long enough for you to finish.”

Lu Yi asked, “Are there that many messages?”

He didn’t respond, which only made her more aware of the odd atmosphere that had started when she asked him to reply to her messages. It wasn’t from Mrs. Qin, so who else could it have been?

And what exactly had they sent?

“I should check,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. Once the light turned green, she drove to a safe spot and parked by the side of the road.

Lin Jinshen didn’t object.

Lu Yi unlocked her phone and was immediately greeted by a message from the group “Shh! Adult Only”:

[Yu Yin]: “Babe, ahhhh! Can’t you plan a single night like this too?”

Clicking into the message, her heart sank.

She knew these friends well enough to have preemptively muted the group, and they, knowing her just as well, had tagged her to ensure she saw it. This was mutual commitment, she thought grimly.

As she scrolled further, she found a collection of photos Yu Yin had sent—shots of male models from every possible angle. These friends were truly out of control. The photos featured things like a 6’2” man kneeling on a coffee table, pulling at the strap of his black tank top, oozing sensuality. One picture even showed water dripping down the lines of his muscles. As for the videos? She didn’t dare open them.

The level of audacity fit the name of their group chat.

What would Lin Jinshen think of all this?

His conservative mindset was so rigid that even premarital physical contact was a no-go. A slightly revealing outfit could make him blush and frown.

He’d probably feel the world was spiraling into chaos.

Yet a sliver of hope remained in Lu Yi’s mind. Perhaps his lack of immediate reaction meant he didn’t think it was a big deal. Maybe he understood that young people liked to joke around online.

Her thoughts were interrupted as their eyes met. She hadn’t figured out what to say yet, but Lin Jinshen spoke first, his voice low and commanding:

“Eighteen plus?”

“…”

“This is what you and your friends talk about privately?”

“…”

“Do you find it entertaining?”

“…”

Oh, she was wrong.

Lin Jinshen hadn’t reacted earlier only because he was being considerate of her while she was driving.

Though his voice didn’t sound angry, his naturally serious expression carried an oppressive weight. Those three questions were enough to transport Lu Yi back to school, as if she were a student caught breaking rules by the dean.

Lu Yi braced herself and explained, “The group wasn’t always named this. They just changed it temporarily because of today. We don’t usually talk about things like this. Everyone’s pretty decent, actually.”

They were her friends, after all, and she felt the need to defend their reputations.

But Lin Jinshen immediately honed in on her choice of words. “Decent?”

His tone was calm, but the sarcasm was cutting.

“They are! And they paid for professional models,” she added, her voice growing smaller under his serious gaze. “They still have boundaries…”

In other words, nothing illegal or truly outrageous had been done.

“Boundaries?” Lin Jinshen raised an eyebrow. “Does that include taking off their clothes in public?”

Lu Yi felt like a construction site was opening up in her brain. She had little experience handling situations like this. If she wanted to salvage her dignity, she’d probably need to erase his memory.

She hesitated to tell him that this kind of event was actually common nowadays, even a marketing gimmick for some places. But she knew he’d just frown harder and see the world as an increasingly incomprehensible mess.

The world had moved forward, but it seemed to have forgotten to bring Lin Jinshen along.

“They’re all single,” she said finally, as if that somehow justified everything.

“Being single makes it acceptable?” he countered.

Lu Yi was at a loss for words.

“Is this the first time?” he asked.

She nodded earnestly, almost swearing it. “Yes, absolutely.”

Lin Jinshen raised an eyebrow, seemingly satisfied. It was messy, but not irredeemably so.

For a moment, silence filled the car.

The light from a passing vehicle illuminated his face, revealing his still, statue-like composure.

After a long pause, Lin Jinshen spoke again. “Have you considered getting a new phone?”

The sudden change in topic left Lu Yi momentarily stunned.

But at least they were no longer discussing whether the male models were leading decent lives or whether she and her friends were “decent people.” Grateful for the diversion, she quickly shook her head. “No, this one’s still pretty new.”

“It’s a bit slow,” he said, adjusting his seatbelt.

“Slow?” she questioned. She’d never felt it lag. In fact, she was quite satisfied with its performance.

“I’ll have Jiang Xun bring you the latest model tomorrow,” he said.

“…Alright.”

Lu Yi didn’t argue. As he had said, they were married, and their assets were shared. There was no need to overthink something so trivial.

At least this topic was finally closed.

Lu Yi shut off her phone and stuffed it into her bag. Even if Mrs. Qin sent her a message now, she decided she wouldn’t check.

Following the navigation, Lu Yi drove back to Chengxi Garden. Everything in the car, from the steering wheel to the handling, felt incredibly premium. But for workdays, she’d stick to her little Mini. After all, she just wanted to do her job, not become the center of attention.

Receiving gifts always brings joy, but after the happiness subsided, Lu Yi started to worry. She hadn’t prepared a gift herself. She had assumed people like them didn’t need to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Troubled.

It wasn’t what she had imagined.

When they got home, Puff was already waiting at the entryway. Sitting obediently, the cat meowed sweetly at the two of them.

Lu Yi took off her shoes and rubbed her ankle, still feeling a little uncomfortable. Lin Jinshen, following behind her, caught a glimpse of the redness on her fair ankle. Both changed into their house slippers and simultaneously walked past Puff.

Puff sounded doubly aggrieved, “Meow, meow, meow?”

Lu Yi had no choice. She was still wearing her evening gown and would need to shower and change before holding the cat.

“Wait for Mommy.”

Soothing the cat with words, she climbed upstairs in her slippers. Entering the room, she reached back to unzip her dress. Her first attempt failed, so she lifted her left hand to steady the neckline.

Just as she managed to unzip part of it, a hand gently pulled the zipper all the way down, stopping at her hips.

Her snow-white, delicate back was revealed, as smooth as peeled lychee flesh. The air seemed to fill with a subtle sweetness, tugging at one’s emotions.

Lu Yi’s back instinctively tensed for a moment before she relaxed—what hadn’t they already done? There was no need to be overly sensitive.

If she were alone, she would’ve simply let go and let the dress fall to the floor, slipping out of it with ease. But with Lin Jinshen there, she had to clutch the fabric in front to keep it from sliding off completely.

“I’ll shower first,” she said, making her claim since she was the one undressing first.

Before she could step forward, the room was plunged into darkness with a sudden “click.” The lights went out, enveloping the room in shadow. Instinctively, she looked up, only to find her arm gently grasped. The grip wasn’t tight, but it was firm enough to pull her to the side. Before she could react, her back was pressed against the cold wall.

The coolness of the surface made her shiver slightly.

Lin Jinshen loomed over her, like a beast lying in wait in the dark, suddenly pouncing on its prey. His tall figure towered over her, trapping her securely within his reach.

The two of them were so close their breaths mingled.

Lu Yi knew exactly what was about to happen. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but it had caught her off guard. “Wait, I haven’t showered yet!” she reminded him softly, her voice already tinged with the quickened pace of her breathing.

Lin Jinshen didn’t move, replying with a low hum from his chest. “Neither have I.”

Then, he added, “Should we shower together?”

The memory of their last shared shower was still fresh in her mind—hasty and chaotic, with no real enjoyment. She had every intention of refusing. Beds were much more suitable.

“No!”

Before the word was fully spoken, her lips were captured. Lin Jinshen lowered his head and kissed her, transitioning from light to deep with surprising intensity.

Hovering near the corner of her lips, his voice came in intervals. “Let’s kiss for a bit first.”

Mmm.

Even just a kiss left Lu Yi feeling utterly drained, her limbs weak and powerless.

The kiss was fierce and overwhelming. Her hands were pinned above her head, pressed against the wall. With nothing holding it in place, her dress slipped down like petals falling to the floor, pooling around her feet.

“Lin Jinshen, my dress!”

Now it was just lying on the floor, destined to be trampled.

Lin Jinshen’s breathing was uneven and warm against her skin, like a sudden tropical storm drenching her all over. Already flustered, she bit down on his lips in frustration.

At this point, who cared about a dress?

His voice came out hoarse, “I’ll buy you a new one.”

She released his lips but only to have him take control again. His tongue traced carefully over where she had bitten him, as if administering medicine, leaving no part untouched.

Her head spun, and her muffled sounds were soft and pleading, like someone battling a heavy cold.

At first, in the darkness, she couldn’t see him. She could only confirm his presence by touch and scent. As her eyes adjusted, she began to make out faint details. Her already flushed face grew even hotter.

Though Lin Jinshen was the instigator, he appeared composed—clothed, upright, and maintaining a façade of propriety, even as he did the most debauched things.

Hypocrite!

Especially when he knelt to grip her ankle and began massaging it, asking if the pressure was okay and if she felt better. She looked down at the man kneeling before her, and her thoughts wandered. Wasn’t he the one feeling better right now?

Who massages ankles in the middle of such moments?

She started to suspect Lin Jinshen had some unusual preferences.

Thankfully, the lights were off, and in the dark, their expressions were hidden. This emboldened her. Otherwise, there was no way she’d allow him to hold her ankle like this.

His palms were warm, and his strength was just right. The soreness from standing too long earlier began to ease.

After finishing, Lin Jinshen stood up again. Once more, she faced his towering figure, now cast back into darkness. In a low voice, he said, “Go shower.”

It wasn’t a suggestion but a reminder. The appetizer was over; it was time for the main course.