Chapter 44.1

Something felt off. Really off.

Lin Yumou held her chopsticks tightly, her gaze shifting between Lin Jinshen and Lu Yi. She wasn’t sure if it was because she’d been abroad too long, her language skills were muddled, or if the couple’s conversation was encrypted—she genuinely couldn’t understand.

But their parents’ expressions seemed completely normal? What exactly had she missed?

“Not hungry?” A cold glance swept her way.

Instantly, everything clicked back into place. Lin Yumou straightened her posture, her ears practically perked up. “I am! I’m starving!”

Having slept through the entire morning without eating, she was famished. While abroad, authentic Chinese food wasn’t always an option. To exaggerate just a little, she felt like she could eat an entire cow right now.

Halfway through the meal, Lin Yumou asked, “Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, did you see the post my brother made on his Moments yesterday?”

“My brother posted something on Moments?” 

Lu Yi paused mid-bite, looking toward the subject in question. Lin Jinshen maintained a calm façade, even drinking half a glass of water as if nothing had happened.

“Silence during meals,” Lin Jinshen emphasized.

Lin Yumou sneakily observed her elder brother’s reaction, poking at the bottom of her bowl with her chopsticks as she nodded firmly. “Looks like the heroine isn’t aware.”

Lin Jinshen: “…”

The look he shot her clearly said: “Can’t even eating shut your mouth?”

But now that she had someone backing her up, Lin Yumou feigned innocence, her expression pure. “What? I thought everyone already knew.”

“What post? Does your brother even post on Moments?” Mrs. Qin set down her chopsticks and grabbed her phone, sharing it with Mrs. Xu in curiosity. The two fathers didn’t lag behind, squinting as they clumsily operated their phones.

“You’re all done eating?” At the table, only Lin Jinshen still held his chopsticks, his expression a mix of exasperation and disbelief.

While the parents were engrossed in their phones, Lu Yi quietly picked up hers. It didn’t take long to find it, since Lin Jinshen only had one post on Moments. Opening it, she froze momentarily at the photo. Reading the comments below, the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve upward ever so slightly.

The post had been made nine hours ago—at 3 a.m.?

So this was what he did after stressing his strict 11 p.m. bedtime?

Sneaking a glance at Lin Jinshen, she saw him still sitting upright. If not for his slightly faster-than-usual chewing, he looked as composed as an outsider.

As if someone else had made the post entirely.

“Oh dear,” Mrs. Qin exclaimed. “Who took this photo? It makes our Xiao Yi’s face look so round.”

Lin Yumou couldn’t hold back her laughter and gestured with her chin. “My brother.”

Who had been so proud just last night, boasting, “I took it.” Proud of what, exactly?

“Actually, if you look closely, it’s not bad,” Mrs. Xu chimed in to smooth things over. “The composition is quite nice.”

The photographer himself probably didn’t even know what “composition” meant. Lin Yumou nodded along. “It shows my brother has a strong sense of copyright. Even his Moments posts are exclusively his own work.”

Lin Jinshen shot her a sharp glance. “Lin Yumou.”

Being addressed by her full name instantly triggered childhood memories of discipline.

Lin Yumou chuckled awkwardly. “Silence during meals. Got it!”

After Lu Yi liked the post, she put away her phone. Just as she was about to eat a piece of green vegetable, a peeled shrimp was placed into her bowl. Turning her head, she caught a glimpse of his profile. Just like the night before, he silently peeled a shrimp and placed it into her bowl with practiced ease.

Lin Jinshen treated her very well.

Whether it was because she was Mrs. Lin or simply herself, Lu Yi didn’t mind. His kindness to her was genuine. Though she might not be able to return it completely in kind, she could at least give back 80%.

After lunch, they started preparing for their activities.

The parents had their own plans, preferring spa treatments and sunbathing. They didn’t need the younger ones to accompany them.

Half an hour later, they regrouped downstairs.

Lin Yumou carried a waterproof bag, wearing a floral one-piece swimsuit with a sun protection jacket over it. Her hair was styled into playful boxer braids, revealing her bright and pretty face.

When Lu Yi and Lin Jinshen approached, she waved energetically, her smile radiant.

Before the wedding, her interactions with Lin Yumou were limited to online chats. Her impression had been of a lively little parrot, but now that they’d met in person, she was struck by the sheer exuberance of this “e-personality.”

Open, cheerful, and full of energy.

In contrast, the person beside her was the polar opposite. The siblings were each their own person, with completely different personalities.

“Sister-in-law, sister-in-law!” Lin Yumou sidled up. She had realized one thing: staying close to her sister-in-law gave her unmatched confidence.

The three of them took the resort’s sightseeing car to the beach. They had informed the staff in advance, who had prepared the yacht for them. Although Lin Jinshen could drive, a captain and safety officer were still on board for support.

The yacht they booked was a small one, just big enough for their group. After communicating with the captain, Lin Jinshen went for a trial run. Once he got the hang of it, the others could board.

“Sister-in-law, want some water?” Lin Yumou offered her a bottle.

Lu Yi accepted it, unscrewing the cap. “Thank you.”

Lin Yumou squinted, her gaze drifting from Lin Jinshen on the yacht back to Lu Yi. “Sister-in-law, your figure is amazing! Do you work out regularly?”

Lu Yi’s figure was not overly slim but perfectly balanced—curvy where needed, slender where appropriate. Her fair skin and rosy lips added to her softness.

Her brother really had it good.

“Does playing sports count? I work out three to four times a week,” Lu Yi replied. She complimented Yumou in return.

The two began exchanging praises. With Lin Yumou around, there was no chance of awkward silence. Taking advantage of the moment, she removed her sun protection jacket and did some stretching to prepare for diving later.

Lu Yi gazed into the distance, watching as Lin Jinshen completed his first trial lap on the yacht. He was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, wearing black sunglasses. Standing at the helm with his hands on the wheel, his posture was upright and his gaze steady. He exuded a cool, confident aura.

The yacht sliced through the water, churning up white waves as it sped away.

This version of him—so different from the suited man seated at a desk—was equally captivating.

What was he like in college? Surely a person couldn’t have lived such a dull life from childhood to adulthood.

“Wow!” Lin Yumo, always the life of the party, was the first to exclaim, “So cool!”

She then turned to Lu Yi to complain. “Sis-in-law, can you believe this? I’ve been his sister for so many years, and I didn’t even know my brother could drive a yacht!”

Lu Yi replied, “Looks like he’s good at keeping secrets.”

“No, it’s just that he never joins us for fun. This time, it’s all thanks to you.” As she said this, Lin Yumo became even more curious. “By the way, why is he following all your instructions today? Did you catch him in some scandal?”

If she could uncover this secret, maybe her pocket money wouldn’t be docked so casually in the future!

Lu Yi was too embarrassed to admit she had spent a million yuan to “rent” Lin Jinshen for the day. She stiffly replied, “No, he’s just joking around.”

“What? My brother knows how to joke now?” Lin Yumo looked utterly flabbergasted.

Lu Yi chuckled quietly.

Lin Jinshen returned from his test drive. He hadn’t forgotten anything, familiarizing himself with the yacht’s controls and cruising steadily after getting a feel for it.

One by one, the two women boarded the yacht.

Lin Yumo, climbing aboard last, happened to see Lu Yi’s back. Without the cover of her rash guard, her skin was exposed, revealing faint red marks scattered like stars across her fair skin. At first glance, they resembled an allergic reaction. Lin Yumo almost called out to warn her, but then she realized…

She might not have seen a pig run, but she’d definitely eaten pork before. This wasn’t an allergy—it was…

Beastly behavior! Pure beastly behavior!

How could someone be so rough with something so soft and delicate?

Earlier in the day, she’d questioned whether her brother had been “possessed.” Now she wondered whether he was secretly a dog in human form. The answer remained unclear.

Unaware of Lin Yumo’s thoughts, Lu Yi found the idea of steering the yacht intriguing. Lin Jinshen reached out, guiding her to the co-pilot’s seat and handing her a life vest.

“Is driving a yacht hard?”

“It’s not. It’s actually simpler than driving a car. The main difference is that yachts don’t have brakes, so you have to factor in water currents and wind speed.”

Lu Yi nodded, her gaze wandering over the yacht’s dashboard, which was filled with buttons and dials, making her feel dizzy.

“These dials are symmetrical, corresponding to the left and right engines. And this,” Lin Jinshen explained, pointing to the throttle, “controls the engines.”

“…”

Lin Yumo felt completely unnecessary but didn’t mind. Instead, she was thrilled, pulling out her phone to record a video to show their parents later.

Putting everything else aside, the two of them looked amazing together.

Lin Jinshen’s broad back and tall frame were as steady as a mountain, while Lu Yi’s figure was slender and elegant. The contrast in their physiques alone was enough to make her gush over their chemistry.

She edited a short clip, uploaded it to her social media, and captioned it: Out to sea!

Lin Jinshen took them for a lap around the area before heading to a nearby cove where they could jump into the water and dive. Accompanying them were two other yachts with lifeguards and diving instructors on board for safety.

Captain Lin docked the yacht, left the controls, and lowered the rope ladder.

Lin Yumo wasted no time diving into the water. She stayed within the permitted area, as the waters beyond were too unpredictable to guarantee safety.

She surfaced with an OK gesture, then quickly dove back under to enjoy her vacation. A moment later, she popped back up like a prairie dog. “Sis-in-law, come on in!”

Lu Yi couldn’t help smiling at her unrestrained joy.

Lin Jinshen walked up behind her and asked, “Aren’t you going in?”

Lu Yi had planned to. She’d warmed up onshore, but seeing him now made her reconsider. “What about you? Aren’t you getting in?”

Lin Jinshen replied, “No, you two go ahead and play.”

“And who was it that promised to follow my orders all day today?” Lu Yi remembered her million-yuan investment. If she was going to spend that much, she at least wanted to hear the sound of him splashing into the water. With a sly grin, she whispered, “Now’s the real test of going ‘all in.’”

Lin Jinshen unscrewed a bottle of water, his sunglasses obscuring his expression, but Lu Yi could tell he was looking at her.

Sitting down, she coolly taunted, “Mr. Lin, you’re not planning to back out, are you?”

“…”

He glanced at her briefly before tilting his head back to drink half the bottle. The muscles in his neck moved as he swallowed, and his jet-black hair glistened in the sunlight.

Bending slightly, he pulled off his shirt in one motion, revealing a lean upper body. His skin was pale and cool-toned, his waist and abs faintly defined. As he removed his shorts, a pair of black swim trunks came into view, snug against his narrow hips.

“!”

This million yuan was turning out to be an excellent investment. Lu Yi hadn’t expected Lin Jinshen to have such great value for money.

Catching her gaze, he smirked faintly as she gestured toward the water in mock politeness. After a brief stretch, he donned his goggles and dove in, sending up a cascade of water.