Chapter 45.1

The deep blue sailboat unfurled like a banner against the wind, its mast reflecting the dazzling sunlight.

Amidst the roaring cheers, Lu Yi felt as though her eardrums might burst. The world suddenly seemed muted, and all she could see was the sailboat cutting through the water and the man aboard it. Lin Jinshen crouched low, his body taut like a drawn bow, deftly judging the wind’s direction and strength as he adjusted his movements to steer the sailboat with precision.

Ji Changming, who had somehow acquired a pair of binoculars, stood on higher ground, providing a play-by-play of the race. “The second boat is the red one—it’s Brother Heng!”

“Brother Yu is catching up too! Seriously, can Brother Heng even keep up?”

“Hey, what’s that green boat doing? It doesn’t even know where the buoy is!”

“I officially declare Brother Shen as leagues ahead. The others can’t even catch a whiff of his trail!”

Behind the deep blue sailboat, a long, white wake stretched across the water as it crossed the finish line. Lin Jinshen stood upright, switching to a single-handed grip on the sail. His swimwear was drenched, clinging to his well-defined muscles.

“Wow, that’s ridiculously cool! Now I kind of want to learn this too,” Yu Yin exclaimed, marveling at the scene. She couldn’t believe she’d never tried such a sport before.

“It’s a serious test of physical strength,” Ji Changming remarked, stroking his chin. “You’ve got to constantly leverage the wind with your arms, keep squatting and rising—it’s a full-body workout. And look at Brother Shen, sitting in an office every day and still in top shape!”

“Does he have abs, though?” Wu Sidong asked abruptly. He didn’t, and he’d always assumed office workers were like him—a single, undefined block.

At this, everyone instinctively turned their gaze toward Lu Yi.

“…?” Lu Yi froze under their stares.

Ji Changming leaned in, his tone serious. “Sister-in-law, does Brother Shen have abs?”

Flustered, Lu Yi felt her face heat up. “I think so,” she stammered.

“‘Think so’? Either he does, or he doesn’t. What’s with the ‘think so’?”

In a quieter voice, Lu Yi said, “Then ask him yourself.”

“There’s no way I’d dare!”

“Look, he’s coming ashore!” Wu Sidong pointed to Lin Jinshen as he stepped off the sailboat onto the beach.

The crowd broke into wild cheers again, shouting praise and compliments. Lin Jinshen nodded politely and thanked them without much reaction. He made his way toward Lu Yi.

Drenched from head to toe, his face still bore traces of seawater.

Lu Yi handed him a towel and a bottle of water. “Are you tired?”

“Not really.” Lin Jinshen tilted his head back and downed half the bottle. His chest rose and fell visibly, evidence of his exertion.

Ji Changming, ever the sycophant, chimed in, “Brother Shen, you’re incredible! Still sharp as ever—Brother Heng used to be able to compete with you, but now it’s not even close!”

Lin Jinshen capped the bottle with a steady hand, his expression serious as he replied, “Thanks.”

“But I’m only 28.”

Not old at all.

Ji Changming burst into nervous laughter. “Not old, not old! Brother Shen, you’re in your prime—absolutely youthful!”

Lu Yi, accustomed to Lin Jinshen’s brand of humor, pressed her lips together to suppress a smile. The others, however, seemed unsure whether to laugh, holding back awkwardly until Yu Zeheng and Gu Yu crossed the finish line and shifted everyone’s focus.

Lin Jinshen wiped his face and neatly folded the towel.

“Everyone says you looked really handsome,” Lu Yi said, her heart still pounding from the thrill of the race. She looked up at him, her mind replaying the scene from earlier.

Lin Jinshen lowered his gaze and asked, “Everyone? Who exactly?”

“Lots of people,” she replied, teasing. “Let me count—Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Er, Wu Liu…” She struggled to keep a straight face as she listed random names.

Lin Jinshen’s lips curved in a faint smile, as subtle as a glacier cracking. “Does Lu Yi count?”

Lu Yi nodded, her answer deliberately vague. “Maybe.”

“Please thank her for me, if it’s convenient.”

Holding back her laughter became nearly impossible, her muscles aching from the effort. Finally, she gave in with a quiet chuckle and murmured, “Okay.”

“Winners get rewards. I’ll give it to you later,” Lin Jinshen said.

Curious, Lu Yi asked, “What is it?”

“You’ll find out tonight.” He placed his belongings in his bag, zipped it up, and slung it over one shoulder. With his wet, black hair and youthful appearance, he could easily pass for a college student.

Not old at all, Lu Yi thought to herself.

As with any competition, there were prizes. This time, the reward was something Yu Zeheng and Gu Yu had planned together.

Yu Zeheng wiped his face with a towel, fully accepting his loss. “Fair’s fair,” he said, tilting his chin with a satisfied smile. This loss, at least, felt worthwhile.

“I’ll handle it,” Gu Yu said, amused and resigned. Without bothering to change, he grabbed his phone to make a call. Any delay might ruin the surprise.

“What’s the plan?” Ji Changming asked, perplexed.

Yu Zeheng tossed a towel onto Ji Changming’s face. “It’s a prize for our dear Brother Shen—or, more accurately, for his wife.”

Ji Changming pulled the towel away. “What is it?”

“You’ll see. Telling you now would ruin the fun.”

The prize was unveiled at 9 p.m.

Gu Yu, leveraging both money and connections, arranged for a private jet to deliver it to the island within hours. With Yu Zeheng backing him, he spared no expense to present this extravagant wedding gift.

At the beach, Lu Yi and her friends and family waited in anticipation.

At precisely nine, Gu Yu raised his hands in a signal.

Hundreds of fireworks lit up the night sky, cascading like a galaxy’s waterfall. For a moment, the brightness rivaled daylight. Minutes later, vibrant colors filled the sky, forming dazzling nebulae and floral patterns, as though the universe itself had come alive. Finally, as the smoke faded, the grand finale scattered starbursts across the heavens, turning the night into a twinkling sea of light.

The display lasted nearly half an hour.

“This firework display has a name,” Yu Zeheng announced. “It’s called Full Moon and Blossoming Flowers. May your lives be vast as the stars, bright as the fireworks, and filled with love until the end of your days.”

Ji Changming muttered under his breath, “…Why can’t I ever come up with lines like that?”

“Thank you.”

“We’re brothers, no need to be so polite.”

Lu Yi watched the fireworks silently, her eyes reflecting the brilliance of the night sky.

She had seen many fireworks before—grand, magnificent displays. But this one was different.

This one was for her.

“That’s so beautiful,” Lu Yi said earnestly, her eyes growing warm.

Lin Jinshen held her close. As he lowered his gaze, he could see the fireworks reflected in her eyes. “There are still over three hours left in today. Any plans?”

“Yes.”

Lu Yi looked up at him, a gentle smile on her lips. “I want you to do nothing at all. I want you to just rest.”

I want you, for now, to simply be Lin Jinshen.

Lin Jinshen quietly gazed at her.

From the moment he was born, he carried the weight of expectations—be exceptional, be independent. And he always lived up to those expectations, never faltering. It became second nature, just what he was accustomed to doing.

No one had ever told him that a simple “do nothing” could make someone feel so deeply softened.

—

The wedding officially concluded, and guests began to leave the island.

Life gradually returned to its usual rhythm.

During her time away from work, Lu Yi thought deeply about her future. After learning about how Anyi Furniture grew from its roots to becoming an industry leader and considering her own expertise and interests, she decided to join the design department.

Her initial intention was to start as a regular employee. However, Lu Kangcheng insisted on appointing her as the Design Department Director. His reasoning was twofold: first, she had already worked as a regular employee elsewhere and understood the helplessness of being constrained by limitations. Second, no one is naturally suited for any position, and as someone young, mistakes are part of growth.

Lu Kangcheng sincerely said, “Having you join me is already a joy. Honestly, I feel like announcing to the whole company that you’re my daughter. Forget the idea of hiding your identity and starting at the bottom.”

Convinced, Lu Yi joined Anyi as the Design Department Director.

The news of her appointment was quickly announced internally.

The director position had been vacant for some time, temporarily handled by Deputy Director Zhang Fang. When the company began renovating the director’s office a month prior, rumors spread about a new appointment. Among the candidates, Zhang Fang was naturally the frontrunner. It was practically a done deal, with colleagues even urging him to treat them to a celebratory meal.

At thirty-something, Zhang Fang was considered a veteran at the company. While telling everyone not to jump to conclusions, he casually quipped, “What do you all want to eat? Pick a place—how about this Saturday?”

“Sounds great!”

But when the appointment was officially announced days later, the entire design department was stunned. The new director was the boss’s daughter.

Zhang Fang, unfazed, joked, “See? Told you not to jump the gun. Now you’ve embarrassed yourselves. Alright, let’s not mention it again. Better behave yourselves around the new director.”

Still, some voiced their dissatisfaction on his behalf. It had seemed like he was next in line, only for the position to be taken by a “princess.”

“Well, what can you do? Hard work can’t compete with the luck of being born into the right family.”

“Princesses like that usually just go through the motions to please Daddy. The real work will still fall on Zhang Fang.”

“Clearly, you don’t know anything. She just married the heir of Huayu Group! She’s hardly short on pocket money.”

“Who knows what’s really going on? Do you think she’s actually here to work?”

Another sighed, “It’s Zhang Fang I feel sorry for. A figurehead princess holding the title while he does all the work. Everyone should tread carefully—offend anyone but her.”

Zhang Fang waved it off, saying, “Alright, back to work. No more gossiping.”

—

On Monday, Lu Yi officially reported to work.

For the first time, father and daughter entered the office building together. Lu Kangcheng personally escorted her to the design department and her new office. He had overseen every detail, ensuring the best.

The office, with its clean white theme, featured linear light fixtures and furnishings exclusively from Anyi Furniture. The overall style was simple and efficient, softened by elegant lines, striking a balance between strength and grace.

“Well? You’re the expert—what do you think of your dad’s taste?”

Lu Yi nodded approvingly. “It’s amazing. This is the office I’ve always dreamed of.”

“See? Your dad knows you best. Alright, get to work. Let’s have lunch together later.”

“Okay.”

After the door closed, Lu Yi leaned back in her chair, taking in the entire office. Earlier, she had clearly sensed a subtle resistance from the design department—not outright hostility, but certainly some rejection.

It was understandable. She was an outsider, a second-generation “princess” parachuted into a senior role. It would be strange if people didn’t doubt her.

Lu Yi had anticipated this to some extent and wasn’t discouraged. What mattered most was quickly familiarizing herself with the work.

The office door knocked. She straightened. “Come in.”

Zhang Fang entered, carrying a stack of documents. Smiling warmly, he said, “These are for Director Lu. It’s quite a bit, but I’ve sorted them by urgency.”

Lu Yi stood to take them. “Thank you.”

“They’re heavy. I’ll put them on your desk.” Zhang Fang placed the files down. “I’ve been handling these temporarily, and now that you’re here, I can finally breathe easy.”