For three days in a row, Ning Shangyu steadily switched to larger jade pieces for her, putting them in before bed after her bath, and taking them out in the morning while she was still curled up and unwilling to wake, patiently observing the process.
By the time of the third piece, he took it out and left, his schedule noting he’d be leaving the Gang District soon.
Lin Zhishui was still sleeping in at the Master Bedroom on Taiping Peak, not getting up until nearly noon.
Wrapped in a silk robe down to her ankles, she basked in the golden sunlight flooding the living room sofa by the panoramic window, lazily scrolling through her phone.
Her delicate profile was beautiful even without makeup, the sunlight painting a layer of rouge as if by a master’s brush.
This picturesque scene was interrupted by the private butler stepping forward, “Lin Miss, you have a visitor.”
Lin Zhishui was just sending a message to Ning Shangyu, half complaining, half acting spoiled, asking when she could get a different reward.
At the butler’s words, her fingers paused above the screen, and she looked up in confusion:
“Here for Ning Shangyu? Have him contact Xi Yan…”
The butler replied, “They’re here for you.”
How rare.
Lin Zhishui had lived in the Gang District for years and rarely had visitors for herself, so she was intrigued, “Who is it? Let them in.”
Unexpectedly, the butler respectfully led in Qin Wanyin.
She walked in on high heels, her blue satin dress swaying lightly with every step, as if she’d put in serious work on etiquette classes.
When she stopped in the living room, her crescent-moon eyes were as gentle as last time, “Lin Miss, do you remember me?”
She still recalled how that antique pocket watch had been given as a meeting gift…
Lin Zhishui’s face remained calm, “Miss Qin, please sit.”
The next moment, she told the butler to make tea, treating her with the proper manners due a guest.
Lin Zhishui then looked up at Qin Wanyin sitting on the sofa.
As the atmosphere grew colder, it was naturally the uninvited guest who started the conversation.
“About the gift at the auction last time, it was my jealousy acting up. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Qin Wanyin apologized softly.
“I’ve thought it over these past days, and I believe only you can help me, Lin Miss.”
Lin Zhishui’s lips curled slightly, “I’m someone who stays at home all the time. How could I possibly help you?”
“You can, as long as you’re willing to break off the engagement… so that lovers can finally be together.”
Qin Wanyin spoke very slowly, afraid Lin Zhishui would resist, her voice gentle, “Don’t rush to refuse. I wouldn’t have come to you unless I was confident we could both win, instead of fighting until both sides are hurt.”
Lin Zhishui smiled.
At first, seeing Qin Wanyin visit, she had reflected on her own habits, thinking she shouldn’t let just anyone in so casually.
Now, though, she only found it novel.
After savoring Qin Wanyin’s words about “lovers finally being together,” she asked slowly, “Oh?”
Qin Wanyin confided, “Ning Shangyu’s mother was a famous musician, you know this. When I was young, I was Madam Ning’s student… and with the business ties between our families, I’ve known him for many years, and loved him for many years.”
“Is that all?”
That wasn’t enough to convince Lin Zhishui.
She even drew out her clear, confused tone, “Miss Qin, if your many years of love mean I should break off the engagement, what will you do when the next person who loves him even longer appears?”
“But what if the engagement was originally mine?”
Qin Wanyin’s tone rose slightly.
“Now I don’t know what to do. After Ning Shangyu took charge, the Ning Family patriarch urged him to stabilize the family by marrying early, and I was privately chosen… but I don’t know what role your mother, Ms. Sheng, played. Somehow, she managed to send you to the Ning Family instead.”
Qin Wanyin saw that the position was almost hers… only for Lin Zhishui to become the Ning Family’s mistress with no effort.
She didn’t care about the title of mistress.
She cared about Ning Shangyu himself.
Qin Wanyin calmed down a bit, facing Lin Zhishui, her words meant to pierce her defenses: “I came to talk peace today because I can’t bear to see you sacrificed for family interests. Your mother hid you away for eighteen years, cruelly depriving you of normal social freedom, even forcing you to spend your life with someone you don’t love… You don’t love Ning Shangyu, do you? Not even one percent as much as I do, Lin Zhishui. Are you really willing?”
Lin Zhishui lowered her eyes.
The sunlight painted her face blank, her skin so pale it carried a trace of pity.
Qin Wanyin pressed on, “You majored in marine studies, but could only stay home with private tutors, only allowed out for exams, with no classmates or friends… You clearly have ambition, so why sacrifice yourself for your mother’s ambitions? If you break off the engagement, I’ll sign an agreement with you—once the engagement is mine again, the Qin Family will never compete with the Lin Family in the pharmaceutical business.”
But Lin Zhishui didn’t answer right away.
She picked up the white porcelain teapot, slowly poured a cup of water, then pushed it across the tea table, “Miss Qin, after saying so much, you must be thirsty?”
Obviously, when Lin Zhishui’s voice softened, it was even more disarming.
Qin Wanyin was distracted for a couple of seconds before picking up the cup and taking a sip under her gaze.
From everything Qin Wanyin had revealed, Lin Zhishui had already guessed that she’d come here to “negotiate,” and had clearly investigated her whole life thoroughly.
She was a qualified negotiator, always trying to find the sharpest angle to break her defenses.
Miss Qin, annulling the engagement can reduce the Lin Family’s competitiveness in business, and would also save me from being sacrificed for my family. On the surface, it sounds like a good deal.
Lin Zhishui finished her sentence kindly.
Qin Wanyin relaxed a little inside, “Lin Miss, if I were your sister, I’d protect you in this cutthroat world. They say sisterhood is thicker than water, not cold-bloodedly watching you suffer…”
She was trying to claim some sisterly affection.
Little did she know.
“Did you know?” Lin Zhishui interrupted, rising from the sofa and walking toward Qin Wanyin.
Her long, cool fingers slowly lifted Qin Wanyin’s mask of false gentleness, as if she could tear it off with a tug.
She smiled, “If Lin Xiguang were here listening to your nonsense, she’d have already made you drink a whole pot of tea the moment you said ‘break off the engagement.’”
As for Lin Zhishui, she considered herself already kind enough.
She only poured tea.
Just to rinse her mouth.
Qin Wanyin suddenly met Lin Zhishui’s glass-clear eyes, so clean they were like mirrors, reflecting all her desires.
She was speechless.
She even forgot to dodge.
“Let me tell you a secret.”
Lin Zhishui released her, putting some distance between them, as if about to declare her claim over Ning Shangyu.
But instead, she softly said, “Lin Xiguang loves me the most.”
Ten minutes later.
Qin Wanyin, face pale, was escorted out by the butler the way she came.
Lin Zhishui had always understood one thing since childhood.
Everything comes at a price.
The Lin Family had provided her with eighteen years of resources and a comfortable, clean life.
Naturally, after growing up, she had the duty of a Lin daughter—to offer up her marriage freedom for the family, just as Lin Xiguang once did.
Qin Wanyin’s self-deceiving words during her visit
weren’t enough to move her heart.
Lin Zhishui sat on the sofa for a long time, head bowed, then took out her phone to message Lin Xiguang, far away in Jiangnan: [Mmm… Someone treated me like a fool today.]
Then,
She shamelessly asked: [Tongtong, how do you usually deal with those singing and dancing love rivals? Please don’t say anything about sinking them to the sea or burying them underground, thanks.]
After sending it, Lin Zhishui stretched lazily, then, brain on strike, decided to go upstairs for a nap.
When she reappeared, it was already completely dark outside.
The luxurious living room was aglow with lights, and Ning Shangyu, the man whom others had longed for so much, had returned from outside.
He’d thrown his suit jacket over the leather sofa arm and was sitting there in a lazy pose, marble coffee table covered with documents and a notebook.
Lin Zhishui hugged a book as she walked over, lightly kicking his expensive pant leg with her toe, “Can I sit here and read?”
Ning Shangyu lifted his eyes slightly, his calm gaze falling on her.
Lin Zhishui had just finished a fragrant bath, wearing only a thin satin garment tied with ribbons, exposing a large expanse of snow-white back, barely covering her chest.
When she saw Ning Shangyu’s silent acquiescence, she didn’t hesitate to snuggle into his arms.
This
was one of the few benefits of their size difference.
At least, it felt even safer than her usually super-comfortable sofa.
She lowered her lashes, leisurely placing the book in front of her.
Ning Shangyu’s gaze followed the line of her freshly washed, glistening shoulder downward.
Then, he saw the book she’d been holding tightly to her chest—
The title was: [A Man’s Chastity.]