Chapter 39.2

Sister Wei unscrewed the cap of her water bottle and took a sip. From a manager’s perspective, Lu Yi was her most promising subordinate. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone out of her way to protect her when trouble arose. Lu Yi was highly capable, professional, and consistently delivered exceptional results—not out of ambition, but because she genuinely enjoyed her work.

She also knew that Lu Yi came from a well-off family and didn’t need the job for financial reasons. The salary here didn’t even cover the cost of one pair of her shoes.

The real challenge was figuring out how to persuade someone like Lu Yi to stay.

“Xiaoyi, I know this hasn’t been an easy time for you, but think about why you joined Yixing in the first place. You can still pursue the things you’re passionate about here,” Sister Wei said, clasping her hands on the desk in a negotiating stance. “How about you take a break for now and step back from the project?”

It was precisely because she had considered her original intentions that Lu Yi found the current situation even more unbearable.

She didn’t want to waste her energy and time on unnecessary people or matters.

“Sister Wei, I’ve truly thought this through. I’m incredibly grateful for the support you’ve given me during all of this. I hold no grievances against you or the company,” Lu Yi said, her gentle gaze devoid of hostility. But anyone who knew her well understood she wasn’t one to waver.

Sister Wei massaged her temples. “You know how much I value you. I’ve always thought that someday my position would be yours.”

Lu Yi smiled openly. “You know I’ve never aimed that far ahead.”

“Alright,” Sister Wei sighed. “I’ll accept your resignation for now. If you ever change your mind, you’re always welcome back.”

“Thank you.”

Lu Yi left Sister Wei’s office and returned to her workstation, where messages continued to pop up on her phone.

There were dozens of texts from Song Zhixing.

She only glanced at the last one:

Song Zhixing: [I sincerely hope Miss Lu can accept my apology.]

Lu Yi replied with just four words:

“I don’t accept it.”

Then she blocked and deleted him.

One day, Song Zhixing would likely encounter another “Miss Lu,” and she believed he would act just as he had before.

Two days later, Lu Yi officially resigned from Yixing.

Her resignation was smooth, as she didn’t have much to hand over. After submitting her letter, she left with little fuss.

Instead of immediately reporting to her family’s company, she focused on preparing for her upcoming wedding. There were countless details requiring her personal attention, and she planned to assume her new role at work only after the ceremony.

When she had free time, she stayed home to keep her mother, Mrs. Xu, company.

On the third day after her resignation, Yu Qian called with some gossip about Song Zhixing. She’d heard it from his colleagues.

Apparently, Song Zhixing had always flaunted his family’s modest wealth—his family owned a factory, and he’d often bragged about his flashy car and house, both of which were gifts from his elder brother. However, over the past few days, his colleagues noticed his luxury sports car was gone, and during phone calls, he seemed to be arguing with his family. Rumor had it that even his house had been sold off to pay debts.

Today, he hadn’t shown up at work, likely too embarrassed to face anyone.

“Karma, huh? Who’d have thought it’d come back to bite him so quickly? Feels great!” Yu Qian laughed heartily over the phone, then asked how Lu Yi was doing at home. She added that without Lu Yi at the office, work had become dull and that she, too, was considering resigning.

Lu Yi suggested they meet up sometime. After chatting a bit longer, they hung up.

Setting her phone aside, Lu Yi turned her attention to Mrs. Xu, who was instructing the housekeeper. Over the past weeks, Mrs. Xu had made an effort to familiarize herself with Lin Jinshen’s preferences. She’d taken special care to prepare his favorite dishes and had even replaced the family’s slippers and pajamas to ensure he would feel more comfortable during his regular visits.

After spending two days at their home, Mrs. Xu had grown increasingly fond of her future son-in-law.

Lu Yi brought up the past: “You didn’t like him at first. You called everyone else by their first names, but for him, it was always ‘Lin Jinshen.’”

“Everyone makes mistakes. It’s a good thing you didn’t listen to me back then,” Mrs. Xu admitted. “But I don’t call him ‘Little Lin’ now either—that would be too distant. Besides, he’s hardly little! He’s so tall he nearly hits the doorframe. Should we consider renovating your room’s door?”

“Mom.”

Lu Yi called out helplessly, unable to keep up with her mother’s increasingly exaggerated remarks.

Mrs. Xu chuckled and told her to check when Lin Jinshen would be arriving.

That evening, both Lin Jinshen and Lu Kangcheng arrived home. After washing their hands, they sat down for dinner. Lin Jinshen’s seat was naturally beside Lu Yi.

During the meal, Mrs. Xu encouraged Lu Yi to serve Lin Jinshen food.

Obligingly, she picked up a piece of beef and placed it in his bowl. “Did you hear that? She wants you to eat more. You’ve worked hard.”

Lin Jinshen, in turn, picked up a shrimp for her and replied in the same tone, “You’ve worked harder. Eat more.”

The words sounded almost sarcastic.

Without solid proof, Lu Yi couldn’t be certain.

She narrowed her eyes at him, but his gaze, dark and bright under the light, seemed to absorb her every emotion.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Xu observed everything. Though she appeared focused on her meal, she was secretly watching every interaction between the young couple. This time, their exchanges of food were much more natural compared to their last dinner after the wedding dress fitting.

After the meal, Lin Jinshen spent some time chatting with Lu Kangcheng.

When the time came, he returned to the bedroom to sleep.

When Lu Yi entered, Lin Jinshen was seated on the edge of the bed, long legs stretched out, wearing matching pajamas with her father. However, thanks to his athletic build and sharp features, he carried the look well.

In front of him sat their cat, Puff, its round eyes wide with confusion. Lin Jinshen, with his head slightly lowered, stared back at the cat, man and feline locked in a standoff.

This tense scene was merely him teaching the kitten not to jump on the bed.

Of all the adjustments Lin Jinshen had to make while staying here, sharing a room with Puff was the hardest. But he had no choice—Puff had claimed its spot in this house long before he arrived. As the newcomer, kicking it out would feel like an intruder evicting the rightful resident.

But he had his limits—Puff was not allowed on the bed.

“Meow?”

Who, me?

Puff looked utterly bewildered.

“…”

Lu Yi wanted to laugh but held it back. Miraculously, Puff seemed to pick up on emotions. It really didn’t jump on the bed. After the “lecture,” it walked over to her, seeking comfort.

She crouched down to pet its little head, then looked up, pausing briefly before asking Lin Jinshen, “Was it you who dealt with Song Zhixing?”

Lin Jinshen had just washed his hair, and his damp bangs hung loosely on his forehead, making him look more relaxed than usual. Leaning on the bed’s edge, he met her gaze.

He responded with a quiet “Yes.”

It had been simple. A single word of instruction, and plenty of people were willing to act on his behalf.

The Song family already had issues. Their factory, barely scraping by through family connections, couldn’t withstand scrutiny. When investigated, problems surfaced everywhere. Enforcing compliance and slapping them with exorbitant penalty fees was enough. Even the densest members of the Song family would realize they were being targeted.

As they pieced together the “why,” they’d quickly trace everything back to Song Zhixing.

Late deliveries, breach of contract, a broken cash flow—the downfall of a factory can sometimes happen overnight.

Lu Yi was stunned. She hadn’t expected Lin Jinshen to go to such lengths. No wonder Song Zhixing had been so desperate to seek her forgiveness. In all his apologies, there wasn’t a shred of sincerity—he just hoped she’d spare him.

Lin Jinshen said calmly, “Don’t worry, it wasn’t overdone.”

The Song family wouldn’t go bankrupt. Shutting down the factory for renovations was inevitable, and if they couldn’t fix it, there was no need for them to reopen. If his two elder brothers remained foolish enough to coddle Song Zhixing unconditionally after this, their future wouldn’t be promising.

Lu Yi nodded. She felt no pity for Song Zhixing and said earnestly, “Thank you.”

Lin Jinshen replied, “It’s what I should do. We’re a team.”

Shared glory, shared loss. She silently completed the thought.

Hearing this traditional sentiment—one even her father might not utter—come from him felt oddly fitting.

Puff, comforted, yawned and returned to its little bed, settling down for the night.

Lin Jinshen lay down on the bed. After a moment, Lu Yi got up, walked to the bedside, and lifted the quilt. Before she lay down, he reached over, suddenly holding a jewelry box in his hand.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Open it and see,” he said.

She didn’t take it. Instead, she opened the box while it rested in his hand.

Inside was a diamond wedding ring.

A pink diamond, the size of a pigeon egg, quietly nestled in the box, reflecting the light from the room.

“It just arrived by air today. Luckily, it was finished before the wedding,” he said.

Lu Yi was momentarily speechless. “Isn’t this a bit… over the top?”

It was thicker than her finger.

“My mom chose it. She said women love diamonds, and the bigger, the better.” Lin Jinshen picked up the ring from the box. “Want to try it?”

“…”

Lu Yi hesitated, removing the plain ring she’d been wearing. She’d worn it for so long that it didn’t come off easily, and she had to twist it gently.

When she slipped on the new ring, it felt heavy—she wasn’t used to its weight.

“It looks beautiful,” Lin Jinshen remarked.

Lu Yi glanced at his eyes, confirming his sincerity. After determining he wasn’t lying, she realized being complimented by a straightforward man wasn’t necessarily flattering.

Lin Jinshen noticed her thoughts and asked, “Should I say it’s ugly instead?”

“…”

He grasped her hand, his thumb gently massaging her finger as though he were toying with a piece of warm jade. “Sorry, I’m not good at lying.”

“No matter what you wear, you always look good.”

His touch made Lu Yi’s heart race. When he deliberately lowered his voice, the atmosphere shifted.

For the past two days, they’d only slept in each other’s arms, keeping boundaries intact. He had restrained himself.

For two days.

Letting go of her hand, he cupped her chin. If they couldn’t go further, a kiss was still permissible. He leaned over, his body almost entirely covering hers.

As the kiss deepened, Lu Yi found herself slowly reclining until she lay flat, her head resting on his arm.

“The ring!”

She still hadn’t taken it off.

If she lost it, she wouldn’t even know how to explain.

“You’re worried about that now?” Lin Jinshen hovered over her, his gaze locking onto hers, her eyes slightly flushed from the kiss.

A series of question marks popped into Lu Yi’s mind. Wouldn’t anyone care about something worth a whole building?

Lin Jinshen propped himself up, giving her space.

Lu Yi bit her lip and, under his watchful gaze, removed the ring and placed it back in its box. As she turned to set it on the nightstand, a fleeting thought to flee crossed her mind. But before she could act, Lin Jinshen grabbed her ankle, pulling her back in one swift motion.

She found herself once again beneath him.

Panicked, she stammered, “The walls—they’re not soundproof!”

Lin Jinshen’s hand rested on her waist, the heat signaling danger. His voice was low and intense. “That’s fine. You’re not that loud.”

“?”

Lu Yi was dumbfounded. What was he even saying?

“We don’t even have… protection!” In her room? No way. If Lin Jinshen claimed to have planned for this, she could only bow to his foresight.

He paused for half a second. That was an issue. They’d agreed not to have kids for a few years, and he had always been careful about precautions.

Lu Yi exhaled in relief, but then the lights suddenly went out. In the dark, Lin Jinshen leaned over her, kissing her lips, moving down to her jawline. As her breathing became unsteady, he asked, as if thoughtfully, “Uncomfortable?”

“There’s another way to make you feel good. Want to try?” His voice was hoarse, a devilish whisper drawing her into temptation.

At first, Lu Yi didn’t understand. But soon enough, she bit her lip hard, her eyes welling up with unbidden tears.