Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the night had already deepened into a dusky blue.
Dazzling golden neon lights connected the bustling city, spilling in and illuminating Ning Shangyu, who sat there like a quietly lurking beast of the forest, his gaze locked dangerously on his precious prey.
How did she remember it?
She hadn’t even looked closely at the pattern…
Ning Shangyu reminded her in his slow, unhurried manner, “Remember it well. Very well.”
Lin Zhishui froze for a full three seconds before she finally understood what he meant.
That one sentence sent a shock through Lin Zhishui’s chest, making her heart pound wildly again.
Her fingers and body instinctively shifted a little further away from him, her long lashes lowered as she hurriedly drained the slightly trembling cocktail in her hand, hoping to calm herself down.
Then, Lin Zhishui pressed her moist red tongue to her lips, stealing another glance at him.
Ning Shangyu stared at her with an almost-smile for ten seconds, nearly making her so flustered she didn’t know where to look.
Thanks to that box of jade ornaments he’d given her, Lin Zhishui’s body tonight was inexplicably soft and supple, like green lake water rippling outward, unable to hold it in.
The next second, she abruptly stood up.
“I need to go home for a bit.”
Lin Zhishui’s words trailed off as she looked straight at Ning Shangyu.
“I figured out what to give Mom for her birthday, but it’s at the Lin Family, I need to find it… I have to do it tonight.”
She found a reasonable excuse to cover up her real reason inside:
She absolutely could not go back to the villa with Ning Shangyu.
Why not…
Lin Zhishui was so shaken by this utterly unfamiliar and novel experience that she couldn’t settle down to think it through.
She only knew she needed to avoid him.
After stressing again that it had to be tonight, she pointed at random, her fingertips burning, as if picking a soldier, “Let him take me home.”
She happened to point at Ning Zhuoyu.
That wild streak in his bones had always loved stirring up trouble and never minded making things bigger.
He immediately grinned, expressing his great willingness to play the knight and escort Lin Zhishui back to the Gang District.
However, he glanced at his respected elder brother, the one at the top of the power chain, with a slightly provocative smile, completely acting like he’d go crazy first and kneel for punishment later if needed.
“Dear brother, may I have the honour of escorting your barely-of-age fiancée home to see her mother?”
Ahhh!
She wanted to chop off her finger.
If she’d known, she never would have picked the little troublemaker Zhuoyu!
It was too late for regrets.
Ning Shangyu’s expression was calm and unmoved, but tonight he seemed especially approachable.
He slowly removed the ring from his left hand, then took her wrist and loosely slipped it onto her middle finger.
As he released her fingertip, his voice was languid, “Wear the ring properly.”
Standing so close to the sofa, Lin Zhishui was a beat slow, lowering her gaze only to realize that the ring was heavy, carved with a lion inlaid with a ruby.
The hard texture and dazzling brilliance seemed to contain a boundless energy.
Thinking over his words again,
Lin Zhishui’s eyes widened abruptly.
Was he hinting…
Would he use this next time?
Realizing this, Lin Zhishui almost dropped the Lion Ring from her hand.
Ning Shangyu raised his chin slightly, signaling to Ning Zhuoyu, “Take her back first.”
As soon as the words fell,
Lin Zhishui was permitted to be escorted home.
She’d just reached the door when she bumped into Li Jin leading a well-dressed middle-aged man in from outside the private room.
The man wore silver-rimmed glasses, and his refined, deep-set eyes behind the lenses seemed to conceal something.
As he passed, he glanced silently in her direction.
Lin Zhishui pressed her lips together but didn’t stop.
Behind her, Li Jin maintained his impartial demeanor as he addressed the man, “Director Qin, please come in.”
It was clear that Ning Shangyu still had official business to discuss tonight.
Lin Zhishui was safely sent back to the Lin Family in the Gang District before midnight.
Her sudden return shocked A Yang and the others.
After all, in Si Cheng, the pre-wedding couple’s relationship had been going so smoothly…
Could something have changed?
Facing the three of them crowding around with concern and gesturing questions, Lin Zhishui stretched out both hands, gave them a quick hug, then smiled, saying, “I’m living very well at the Ning Family. I just came back to prepare a birthday gift for Mom…”
A Yang’s calm gaze swept over her still-rosy face, and it seemed she wasn’t lying.
A Man wanted to ask more.
Lin Zhishui’s fair fingers made a pause gesture, then pointed to the antique clock in the left corner of the living room, showing the late hour, pretending to be tired.
Though she hadn’t been home recently, her upstairs bedroom was cleaned several times a day.
The three of them took turns, changing the bedding and carpet daily, and the flowers in the bedside vase had just been refreshed.
Half an hour later.
Lin Zhishui finished her shower.
Too lazy even to put on a nightgown, she wrapped herself in a towel and lay down on the bed.
Whether it was the familiar mattress or the secret cold bath she’d just taken, her body finally relaxed, the lingering ripples fading.
Without realizing it, fifteen minutes had passed.
She was drowsy, about to fall asleep, when her lowered eyes happened to land on the Lion Ring she’d brought back and placed by her pillow.
Lin Zhishui jolted awake, even sitting up to pick up the ring that had been on Ning Shangyu’s hand.
You couldn’t blame her wild imagination.
Even the lion’s mane on this ring was carved with such majesty—it was far more intimidating than a thin piece of jade.
If this pressed against her skin…
Lin Zhishui’s thoughts grew nervous.
She definitely wouldn’t be able to walk properly, would she?
To test just how much her delicate body could handle, she held her breath and lifted the towel a little, first exposing her knee, then more skin, slowly lowering her gaze.
She suddenly realized that after Ning Shangyu’s patient “lesson” there—
It was as red as a jade bead.
That night, in the pitch-black top-floor bedroom, Lin Zhishui had only dared to remove the jade herself out of helplessness.
As for the ring, it was much sharper than the smooth jade.
Just miming it in the air made Lin Zhishui bite her lip, her mind blank and utterly clueless in this regard, unable to imagine how Ning Shangyu would use it.
If she kept thinking about it, she’d never fall asleep.
Lin Zhishui took a deep breath, then, blushing and flustered, quickly tossed the Lion Ring into the bottom drawer of her nightstand.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Lin Zhishui managed to calm down for the night, but little did she know A Yang still reported her late-night return to Sheng Mingying.
At five thirty in the morning, the faint light was not enough to brighten the deep silence of the Lin Family Old Residence, but the living room was brightly lit.
Sheng Mingying had rushed back as soon as she finished her social engagements after hearing the news.
She had just won a bid for a collaboration with the Ning Family, and now her schedule was so packed her female secretary had to stay with her around the clock.
A Yang brought over a glass of honey water, seeing Sheng Mingying resting on the sofa with her eyes closed.
Her makeup was still on, and her elegant dark purple gown trailed on the floor—she hadn’t even gone upstairs to change into a more comfortable robe.
As soon as A Yang set the cup lightly on the coffee table, Sheng Mingying opened her long, thick lashes, her fingers idly pressing to her forehead.
“Auntie only said she came back to prepare a birthday gift, nothing else?”
A Yang nodded, then silently shook her head.
Sheng Mingying pondered for a moment.
At this time, her secretary entered in a professional suit, speaking seriously: “Director Sheng, Qin Yian wishes to work with us to secure the Ning Clan’s pharmaceutical project. His secretary called, saying we can discuss the profit split in person.”
The implication was, they were willing to offer conditions that might truly tempt Sheng Mingying.
The secretary paused, lowering her voice: “Should we meet?”
Sheng Mingying smiled. Though no longer young, time had not dulled her flawless beauty.
Her cold smile was even more dazzling. “Discuss? Eighteen years have passed, yet Qin Yian is still so forgetful, thinking a few insincere concessions will make the Lin Family work with him again?”
The secretary, though she’d joined Lin Family’s pharmaceutical tech group late, had heard the rumors: back when the Qin Family was based in the Gang District, they and the Lin Family had almost monopolized the biopharmaceutical sector through their partnership.
Then, the two families suddenly split, and for years had no business dealings at all.
Since they’d ended things back then, and now that Sheng Mingying held all the power in the Lin Family’s boardroom and was famous for her vindictiveness, there was no way she’d let the Qin Family try to make peace in private.
The secretary considered another point: “Just worried the Qin Family, to protect their long-standing partnership with the Ning Family, might be forced to make huge sacrifices to please the Ning Family.”
That meant Lin Family would have to raise their own offer.
And even with the engagement as a link…
Ning Shangyu, as the head of a top financial conglomerate, had countless ambitious eyes on him within his family’s core management.
Outside, he was known for his ruthless, unyielding style.
There was no way he’d let personal feelings make him favor any side too much.
Everyone knew this.
Sheng Mingying, however, had already made her decision.
She raised her hand for A Yang to bring the honey water, took a slow sip, and said nothing more.
Lin Zhishui went to bed late, so she woke up late.
She missed the rare chance to have some mother-daughter time with Sheng Mingying.
On the third day, she heard from A Yang that her mother had come home to sleep after working late into the night.
Even her favorite fresh pastries in the morning had been bought by Sheng Mingying herself on her way home.
A Yang also passed on some news:
Rumor had it Sheng Mingying was so busy, only able to rest for an hour or two and rushing between two places, because the Qin Family was greedily fighting the Lin Family for business.
Lin Zhishui curled up on the sofa, flipping through a jewellery catalogue.
After reading A Yang’s silent message, she traced a thoughtful circle on the pearlescent cover.
The spot she circled was a Ruby Watch.
She’d spent a long time choosing, but still decided to give a gift that represented time.
Truth was, what Lin Zhishui disliked most was Sheng Mingying’s habit of sacrificing sleep and meals for her career.
Now, hearing this news made her frown slightly, and after a moment, she picked up her phone.
Lin Zhishui messaged Ning Zhuoyu, who’d driven her home that night: [All-powerful little Zhuoyu, can I ask you a little question?]
Two or three minutes later, Ning Zhuoyu lazily sent a voice message: [Don’t think you can butter me up with fancy titles and get me to talk. …Fine.]
Lin Zhishui’s finger hovered over the glowing screen for a few seconds, then she typed: [In my humble opinion, among all the younger brothers with ‘Yu’ in their names that night, you’re the one Ning Shangyu values most and the one with the purest character.]
Ning Zhuoyu: [You’re not that shallow, after all.]
A second later, he replied again: [Ask, what is it?]
Lin Zhishui had been waiting for this.
She pressed the voice button and asked, as if casually: [That night when I left, wasn’t there a Director Qin who came in? Was he there to talk business with Ning Shangyu?]
Ning Zhuoyu: [Trying to pry into business secrets?]
Lin Zhishui: […innocent little lamb.jpg]
Ning Zhuoyu: [Leaking secrets will get me a slap from dear brother. I’m so delicate and weak, can’t you pick a more noble brother to ask?]
A moment later, Ning Zhuoyu sent her a screenshot of Ning Shangyu’s work schedule for that night, his deliberately drawn-out tone full of mischief: [He’ll be at the top of Taiping Hill in the Gang District tonight. Go ask him yourself.]
Lin Zhishui zoomed in to check the time, hesitating.
Then, Ning Zhuoyu messaged again: [Back then, Qin Yian won the top spot in front of the old man with an unbeatable card. Don’t say I’m heartless—here’s a leak: Now that Ning Shangyu is in charge, if your mother wants to push out the Qin Family, it won’t be easy. She’ll have to get past the old man first.]
Ten seconds later,
Ning Zhuoyu quickly withdrew the message, leaving the chat window clean.
Lin Zhishui stared at her phone for a long time, but she’d already made up her mind to go to Taiping Hill the moment she’d finished reading.
She even silently brought along the Lion Ring that had been locked away in her upstairs drawer.
Arriving at the magnificent villa,
She first saw Xi Yan and Li Jin, the two secretaries, and knew Ning Zhuoyu’s intelligence was reliable.
She swept her gaze over the spacious, bright living room and asked, “Where’s Ning Shangyu?”
Xi Yan: “Upstairs.”
“Then I’ll go find him.”
With her legitimate fiancée status, Lin Zhishui headed upstairs.
The secretaries and others averted their eyes and didn’t stop her.
Even though Ning Shangyu’s severe cleanliness was acting up, and he’d gone straight to shower and change after getting off his business jet.
The master bedroom door was gently pushed open.
When Lin Zhishui entered, Ning Shangyu was at the foot of the bed, taking off his suit jacket and tie.
The white shirt made his whole person seem less unapproachable than usual.
He heard the faint sound and glanced over, “Found the birthday gift?”
He didn’t even bother with basic politeness.
After a few days apart, his first words were laced with teasing.
Lin Zhishui, equally at ease, nodded and opened her palm, revealing the ring she’d been holding.
Her voice and steps were slow and lazy: “I found it, so I finally have time to ask Mr. Ning how to use this?”
She deliberately lingered on the word “use,” letting it roll off her tongue.
Ning Shangyu raised an eyebrow, “You don’t even know how to wear it?”
Lin Zhishui thought, that depends on how you want it worn.
In Ning Shangyu’s hands, even normal things could be used in special ways…
She walked up, raising her lashes and letting her real intentions show in her eyes: “I want to talk business with you on behalf of the Lin Family. This is my way in, okay?”
Hearing her open with business talk, Ning Shangyu was briefly surprised, his face calm.
But the next second, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer, the atmosphere becoming unreadable: “Business is for adults. You’re exempt.”
Lin Zhishui was about to protest his condescension.
But Ning Shangyu’s hand slid to her fair cheek, and the amber eyes in the dark deepened, his voice slow, “Do you know why I gave you this?”
Lin Zhishui said, “Isn’t it just for me to wear?”
She pretended to be honest, having already planned her countermeasures before coming.
She thought he’d be too busy tonight anyway.
She expected Ning Shangyu to go along with her, but unexpectedly, he simply said, “Yes.”
He’s serious?!
Before she could react, Ning Shangyu lifted her into his arms and brought her to the wide floor-to-ceiling window in the master bedroom, overlooking the most dazzling part of the Gang District’s nightscape.
“I…”
Lin Zhishui felt the air in the room was boiling under his pressure. She tried to speak, but something cold and metallic was pressed between her lips. It took her a moment to realize it was the ruby-inlaid Lion Ring.
Behind her, Ning Shangyu reminded her with double meaning, “Bite down with your teeth.”
Caught off guard, Lin Zhishui’s eyes trembled and reddened, and she noticed how clearly the glass reflected their figures.
The next second—
Lin Zhishui instinctively tried to look at him, but the shifting lights reflected from the glass only cast deep shadows over his sharp, handsome features, making it impossible to read his true expression.
It also blurred the familiarity she’d developed with him during their pre-wedding days.
Ning Shangyu pressed in closer.
Lin Zhishui froze, feeling certain sensations and thinking he was about to start something before marriage.
Suddenly, with the ring in her mouth, she mumbled, “You—you… we can’t, it’s not safe.”
She was, after all, very safety-conscious.
But Ning Shangyu gave a low laugh, “No need.”
And then, Lin Zhishui finally understood why there was no need, and what he truly intended.
First, she felt her slender wrist being gripped, then her palm was smacked hard with a crisp “pop.”
Before the warmth faded, suddenly, to her shock, he punished her even more pitifully somewhere else.
All with that fierce hand of his!!!
The veins on Ning Shangyu’s hand had already bulged from the back of his hand to his forearm.
Holding her in place, his tone was calm and unhurried: “Spanking your hands and backside doesn’t need—