Lin Zhishui lowered her eyes, meeting Ning Shangyu’s gaze, her tone cool and clear, as if offering a friendly warning.
For a moment, the arrogance that had marked his expression from start to finish shifted to something more subtle.
The corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly—it was impossible to tell if he was smiling or not.
By then, Lin Zhishui had already turned around, shuffling in her slippers, stepping through a narrow beam of golden sunlight cast onto the floor from outside the window, and headed straight upstairs.
Once inside the master bedroom, she closed the door with a soft “click.”
Lin Zhishui sat back down on the edge of the bed, slipped off her dress, and wore only a pale mint French-style lingerie set.
The delicate straps clung to her shoulders, trailing down to her parted knees and ankles pressed against the soft bedspread.
Lin Zhishui had no intention of asking for help from the person downstairs who always insisted on “upholding manly virtue.”
She would retrieve the jade herself.
Though she lacked the composed experience that Ning Shangyu had shown, compared to him, Lin Zhishui seemed more like a child—nervous yet tinged with curiosity as she carefully explored with her fingertips, feeling something soft and slippery, only able to gently pinch and tease it out.
Before long, her skin, as white as mutton-fat jade, flushed a distinct red—whether from heat or something else was unclear.
That piece of jade, perfectly embedded like a flawless gem set into a fine jade base, was finally, with great effort and the help of colorless, transparent beads of sweat trickling down the seam, slowly and painstakingly dragged out.
After kneeling for so long, her knees felt weak, and she was dizzy, seeing golden stars before her eyes.
Lin Zhishui collapsed onto her back, her whole body pink and dewy.
She instinctively buried her face in the pillow, her slender fingers dangling limply over the edge of the bed, bathed in the warm sunlight.
She didn’t know how much time had passed.
Her breathing grew heavier…
She was on the verge of falling into a confused sleep when, suddenly, the abrupt vibration of her phone jolted her awake.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she reached for the phone.
There, she saw that Lin Xiguang had finally finished her work and personally replied to her earlier question about how to deal with a love rival.
The simple three-character response flashed in her clear eyes: [Tell her to get lost.]
Lin Zhishui held the phone and seriously pondered this possibility for over ten seconds.
But her mind was clear as a mirror.
For Qin Wanyin to join the new project team and use her position as an excuse to openly approach Ning Shangyu, she must have come prepared in private. It wouldn’t be so easy to make her leave.
Lin Zhishui wasn’t the only one who thought so.
Earlier, Xi Yan, who had been sitting closest to the main seat, had sharp ears and was lucky enough to hear that “friendly warning” in full…
As for Qin Wanyin parachuting into the team, he had the clearest understanding.
After all, the list of core team members personally drafted by President Ning had been in his hands from the very start.
Before the official meeting, a call had come from the old house.
To put it simply, while Qin Wanyin was indeed capable, everyone present could see that the reason she was able to squeeze into the team was because she had the backing of Old Master Ning.
Halfway through the meeting.
Xi Yan received a call from Ning Zhuoyu.
He stepped out cautiously onto the open-air balcony to answer, clearing his throat.
“Young Master Zhuo.”
Ning Zhuoyu’s tone was harsh.
“What’s going on? Not a single one of us brothers got a spot on my brother’s new joint project with the Rong Family, but I heard that woman named Qin managed to sneak in?”
Xi Yan hesitated for a moment and said, “It was the old master’s decision.”
Ning Zhuoyu let out a derisive snort.
“Got it.”
Before Xi Yan could say anything else, he heard Ning Zhuoyu arrogantly talking to another younger brother with the same “Yu” character in his name on the other end, not bothering to lower his voice: “That Qin Wanyin is something else. Instead of contributing to her own family, she comes over to work for ours. So filial.”
Ning Ciyu was more restrained.
“Her pass will only work once.”
This wasn’t a secret in the Ning family.
Years ago, after the Qin family shifted their roots from the port district to Sicheng, they managed to cling to the mighty Ning family tree, squeezing out other powerful competitors.
This was because Qin Yi’an had privately offered the old master a mysterious bargaining chip that outsiders never saw.
Ning Shangyu’s sex addiction was hereditary.
His biological father, who died in an air crash and was the previous head of the Ning family, also suffered from this condition.
Qin Yi’an had provided the old master with a set of incomplete data.
Though not comprehensive, it was enough to be useful.
With the Ning family’s massive investment in a medical team, they developed a suppressant for sex addiction for Ning Shangyu’s father in less than half a year.
But even with all his cunning, the old master hadn’t anticipated that his eldest son would die suddenly a few years later.
Still, that didn’t stop Qin Yi’an from successfully climbing the ladder.
Like a cunning fox borrowing the tiger’s might, he had worked hand-in-hand with the Ning family business for years, never really asking the old master for anything—always saving that “bargaining chip” as a get-out-of-jail-free card to ensure his family’s continued prosperity.
Qin Yi’an’s ambition to maximize his own benefit was obvious.
But no one expected Qin Wanyin to go so far as to beg the old master for help just to get into the new project…
Such favors—each time they’re asked, they become thinner.
That’s why Ning Ciyu pointed it out, then chuckled, “She traded her family’s goodwill for a pass to see my brother. I wonder what that old fox Qin Yi’an will think when he finds out his daughter is acting like a love-struck fool?”
“Who cares what an old man thinks,” Ning Zhuoyu had no respect for people like Qin Yi’an.
Suddenly, his arrogant tone grew casual, “I’d actually like to know what that little troublemaker thinks when a love rival comes knocking on her door.”
Listening in on the two young masters’ conversation through the still-open phone, Xi Yan thought to himself, Who knows what the future Mrs. Ning will think.
But judging from her actions, she’ll probably just get angry and brew ten more cups of sugar-free bitter coffee for President Ning.
It was only then that Ning Zhuoyu seemed to remember Xi Yan’s existence.
He tapped the screen with his knuckle and said, “Xiao Yan, if you’re eavesdropping, you better know how to share. If anything exciting happens, keep us brothers in the loop.”
***
After dealing with Ning Zhuoyu, Xi Yan quietly returned to the lively main hall.
He stayed until the meeting ended.
As everyone was leaving, Qin Wanyin deliberately lingered, gracefully standing not far from Ning Shangyu.
Even though his cold, proud demeanor never softened in her presence, being able to share a room with him at all was the result of so much effort and hard work on her part—just to earn the right to stand here.
Yet she hadn’t even stood there for half a minute.
Ning Shangyu, seemingly bothered by her shadow, lifted his eyelids and asked, “Something else?”
This was the first private word he’d spoken to her all meeting, and Qin Wanyin’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She shook her head.
When she saw Ning Shangyu’s indifferent expression, so starkly contrasting with her own delight, she suddenly regretted not mentioning a bit about the old master’s recent situation.
But the moment had passed.
After Qin Wanyin shook her head, Ning Shangyu handed her a sealed document.
“Take this to Rong Jiali.”
The Rong Family is in Sicheng—meaning she’d have to leave the port district overnight…
Qin Wanyin’s face turned pale, lips pressed together, but she had no choice but to accept.
She took the assignment and left.
Xi Yan deliberately avoided her to prevent a head-on encounter.
After all, delivering documents was usually his job.
If he bumped into Qin Wanyin handling it, wouldn’t he have to politely thank her?
Compared to someone from the Qin family’s fox den, Xi Yan, with his sharp instincts, still preferred Lin Zhishui’s straightforward nature.
He stepped into the spacious, quiet hall.
Just then, Li Jin appeared at the same time, holding a tablet. After sorting out the complicated official business, he brought up another matter: “President Ning, Qin Yi’an has pushed the pharmaceutical project price down to the lowest in his life. The Lin family also sent an email, which I’ve forwarded to you…”
Reminded by his secretary, Ning Shangyu suddenly remembered Lin Zhishui amid his busy schedule.
Immediately, the image of her face last night, glistening with sweat under the soft, warm orange light, with those moist, glassy eyes lifted up at him, flashed through his mind.
He mused for a moment.
Ning Shangyu reached for a cigar from the marble coffee table, lit it, and let the fragrant smoke dilute the sharpness of his handsome features.
Li Jin carefully suggested, “The old master favors the Qin family. Now that Qin Yi’an has offered more benefits than the Lin family, why not just do as the old master wishes?”
At that, Ning Shangyu’s long fingers played with the cigar with interest for a few seconds, then he smiled.
“If the old master wants to open the back door for the Qin family, that’s his business. I’m not running a charity.”
Li Jin wanted to say more but was stopped by a look from Xi Yan.
Clearly.
Xi Yan, the seasoned secretary, could better guess the boss’s intentions.
The next second, Ning Shangyu spoke lightly, decisively: “Reply with a deadline. Let both families compete fairly.”
Xi Yan shot another look at Li Jin, as if to say, See?
President Ning is already firmly seated at the head of the family.
If Qin Yi’an still wants to rely on the retired old master for profit, he shouldn’t blame anyone for being heartless.
Fair competition.
It was, in effect, a way to prevent the Qin family from using underhanded means, while giving the Lin family a chance.
***
At this moment, Lin Zhishui was still in the study, working hard to protect her future marriage.
She curled up on the sofa, holding her phone and asking Ning Zhuoyu for a history of how the Qin family rose to power.
Ning Zhuoyu was putting in equal effort for his own career: [I want to join the new project team.]
Lin Zhishui thought for a moment, [Telling me won’t help you. If you wanted cream cake, I could at least get you that.]
Who wants to eat that sweet stuff? Ning Zhuoyu dismissed her: [You think you can bribe me with cake? Sorry, go try Ning Shuyu, that beagle—he loves anything with a milky flavor.]
Lin Zhishui’s eyes widened as she stared at the screen, thinking back to the last time at the auction house—Ning Shuyu’s brown hair and super friendly personality really did remind her of some kind of dog breed.
But she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
So Ning Zhuoyu was this kind of doting brother in private.
She was distracted for a while before replying: [But beagles are super loud… I’m afraid Ning Shuyu would get all enthusiastic and tell the whole story, saying I wanted to see it.]
Ning Zhuoyu: [……………] That could actually happen.
Her worries weren’t unfounded.
Last time, she’d already noticed that the simple-minded Ning Shuyu got along well with the Qin family.
She wanted to protect her future marriage by learning more about the tangled relationship between the Qin and Ning families.
It wasn’t about satisfying idle curiosity or peeking at the secrets of wealthy families.
She furrowed her brow for a while, then slowly typed: [Fine, I’ll mention it for you.]
Though she had no idea if the new project team needed a tea-serving Xiao Zhuo secretary.
Ning Zhuoyu: [I’ll give you a little sincerity up front.]
Lin Zhishui: [……]
Ning Zhuoyu: [That Qin family young lady has had a crush on my brother for years. She used her musical talent to scheme her way into being my uncle’s student through the old master, sat in on a class or two, and has called him her mentor ever since.]
Lin Zhishui’s eyes fixed on that line.
This time, Ning Zhuoyu didn’t set the message to self-destruct…
And Lin Zhishui more or less guessed that Qin Wanyin was favored by the elders, but she didn’t feel any sense of crisis.
After all, doesn’t everyone have to win their family’s favor?
At home, she was well-liked by Aunt Yang and the others.
Seeing as Ning Zhuoyu had shown some sincerity, Lin Zhishui turned off her phone and decided to help him out first.
She swung her legs off the sofa.
***
Nighttime.
The master bedroom lights were still on, though the heavy curtains were tightly closed.
Lin Zhishui had finished her shower, changed into pajamas, and returned to the neat, comfortable bed.
This would be her last night here.
Tomorrow, Ning Shangyu’s business in the port district would end.
As Lin Zhishui prepared to turn off the lights, she decided to ask Ning Shangyu in the quiet of night if he needed more people.
After all, with past experience, the more proper the business talk under the bed, the harder he was to deal with—and as a businessman, he was always sensitive to “benefits.”
But in bed, that was just pillow talk between husband and wife.
Lin Zhishui lay down neatly, her fair fingers curled slightly atop the quilt, patiently waiting… but after a long while, the lights were still on.
Her eyes fluttered as she glanced at the man beside her, lazily reclining at the edge of the bed, reading.
Her gaze traveled up from the silver-black satin hem of his robe.
Ning Shangyu’s belt was tied, but the exposed forearm was pale and cold, and the long tattoo, like an imprint burned into his veins, was even more distinct in the light. His fingertips turned a page.
Lin Zhishui couldn’t tell if it was his presence that made her feel overheated or if it was the glare.
She raised her hand slightly to shield her eyes, then suddenly asked in confusion, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Ning Shangyu lifted his eyelids, “Reading.”
Lin Zhishui still had a stomachful of secrets she wanted to share with him, so she pressed her lips together and asked, “What are you reading so late at night?”
Ning Shangyu turned his head, quietly gazing at her.
“A Man’s Chastity.”
Lin Zhishui abruptly lowered her hand, her clear, water-like eyes widening as she finally read the title of the book he’d been holding all along.
There was no way to have a normal conversation.
Even in bed, Ning Shangyu was impossible to talk to!
In the slightly awkward atmosphere, Lin Zhishui took a deep breath and chose to close her eyes.
Let him appreciate the profound literature on his own.
Maybe Ning Shangyu took too long appreciating it, or maybe Lin Zhishui was just always quick to fall asleep—she soon drifted off into a light, hazy doze.
No sooner had her head touched the pillow than she felt a familiar breath brush past her ear.
Her eyelashes trembled.
She heard Ning Shangyu’s voice, low and slightly muffled, “Tonight, you can… three times.”
The ending was very soft, but Lin Zhishui heard it clearly.
The heat from her neck and ears quickly spread across her snow-white skin, as if something had brushed by, turning her red.
Her eyelashes fluttered again, and she was instantly wide awake.
At that moment, the light went out.
In the darkness, she looked straight at Ning Shangyu.
Her gaze traveled from the man’s distinct knuckles to the abstract painting not far away, where three fingers pointed upward.
Suddenly, Lin Zhishui’s mind flashed with the image of the long black tattoo on his arm—its length, its width…
She drew in a sharp breath.