Downstairs at Jinse Technology Company.
Su Jin hung up the phone and stared dazedly at the three characters of Lin Luan’s name on her phone.
Leaning against the cold body of the Bugatti Veyron, she subconsciously reached into her handbag for a pack of cigarettes.
Her fingertips touched the empty bottom of the box, and only then did she remember that she’d finished the last cigarette just now, smoked in anxious anticipation while waiting for Lin Luan to answer.
“Miss, should I contact someone to bring more back from England?” Song Li, standing nearby, immediately noticed and quietly asked, preparing to arrange someone to deliver the cigarettes.
“No need.” Su Jin cut her off, squeezed the empty cigarette box flat, and tossed it into a roadside trash can.
She watched the arc the cigarette box traced as it flew, her mind wandering a little.
She’d picked up this habit back in the early days of starting the company, during those most stressful times, when she’d forced herself awake and suppressed her anxiety with nicotine.
Now… perhaps it really was time to quit.
She gently let out a breath.
“It’s not a good habit,” she said, half explaining to Song Li and half to herself, her tone tinged with relief, “It’s fine, I’ll take the opportunity to quit.”
“Yes, Miss.” Song Li looked at the trash can, momentarily stunned.
Miss is actually quitting smoking for that man?
“What are you daydreaming about?” Su Jin opened the passenger door, bracing herself on the car roof with one hand, and said to Song Li, “Let’s go to the hospital, then head to Lin the Puppy’s place.”
Song Li snapped back to her senses.
“Alright, Miss.”
***
At five in the afternoon, Lin Luan turned the key and opened his front door.
The room looked just as he’d left it. Draft paper from Lin Wan’s homework still sat on the coffee table, and the houseplants hadn’t been watered.
There weren’t many dirty dishes piled up in the kitchen sink—Lin Wan was quite well-behaved. Even without her brother around, she’d clean up after herself.
Still, two of her jackets were casually draped over the sofa.
Lin Luan smiled dotingly. His little sister was very sensible, but she still relied on him a bit too much; there were always small things lacking in her day-to-day life.
He carefully folded Lin Wan’s jackets and put them back in her room, gathered up the draft paper, and wiped the coffee table and dining table with a rag.
He had to tidy up a bit, after all—Su Jin would be here soon.
As he cleaned, Lin Luan’s back wound was pulled, sending a sharp wave of pain through him.
“Ah—” Lin Luan grit his teeth and endured it.
Damn, it really hurt—he couldn’t even clean up comfortably.
***
Just then, steady footsteps sounded outside and stopped in front of his door.
Next, there were two clear knocks.
“Knock, knock.”
The guest had arrived.
Lin Luan took a deep breath, composed himself, and went to open the door.
Outside stood Su Jin.
She wore a relatively casual, yet still undeniably elegant, light gray cashmere knit dress, layered with a cream-colored trench coat, and on her feet, black stockings paired with beige high-heeled boots.
Song Li quietly stood half a step behind her, holding a paper bag emblazoned with a high-end health brand’s logo.
Inside appeared to be some medicine, and several obviously expensive fruit baskets and gift boxes.
“Su—” Lin Luan reflexively tried to use a formal address.
“Aren’t you going to invite us in?” Su Jin interrupted him.
Lin Luan froze for a moment, then stepped aside to welcome Su Jin in: “Please, come in.”
Su Jin walked inside, her heels making crisp sounds on the clean but slightly aged floorboards.
Song Li placed the items in a corner by the wall and quietly retreated to wait outside the door.
“Miss, I’ll wait for you in the car.”
She gently closed the door, leaving the space to just the two of them.
Lin Luan seemed a little flustered—he’d never had a guest like Su Jin in his home before.
“Miss Su Jin, please have a seat. I’ll get you some water.”
He pointed to the living room sofa—a very ordinary, slightly low, family sofa with plain fabric.
Su Jin hesitated a moment before sitting. Because she was wearing heels and the sofa was low, once she actually sat down, her knees were almost higher than her chest.
That pose was less “sitting” and more like squatting—truly awkward.
She tugged at her skirt, trying to cover up what ought not be exposed.
Su Jin let out a quiet sigh.
Had she known, she wouldn’t have worn a dress today.
Lin Luan didn’t notice her little movements. He turned to the kitchen, took a clean glass from the cupboard, washed it several times, poured some warm water, and returned to the living room.
“Miss Su Jin, have some water first…”
As Lin Luan walked back with the water and was just about to reach Su Jin, a sudden sharp pain shot through his back.
“Hiss—” He groaned, head aching, his wrist suddenly going limp, and the whole glass of water spilled uncontrollably forward.
“Crash—”
The water landed precisely on Su Jin’s chest and thighs.
Her light gray cashmere dress was instantly soaked, clinging tightly to her body and outlining Su Jin’s graceful curves.
“S-sorry! Miss Su Jin! I didn’t do it on purpose!” Lin Luan snapped back to himself, hurriedly set down the cup, and instinctively reached out to help—but halfway, his hand froze.
That was definitely not a spot a man should touch.
Su Jin looked down at her drenched dress, stunned.
“Lin! Luan!” Her voice was both shy and angry.
Lin Luan dared not look again. Since things had come to this, all he could do was try his best to make up for his mistake.
“Sorry! I’ll go get you something to change into right away!” He rushed to his room, searching for anything she could wear.
His heart was pounding wildly as he rummaged through his closet.
He didn’t have many clothes—mostly basic T-shirts and jeans. The few dress shirts were only for job interviews. Finding something for Su Jin to wear, even as a stopgap, was proving difficult.
While Lin Luan was searching for clothes, Su Jin sat in the living room, her mind a chaotic mess.
She had just promoted Lin Luan in her heart from “puppy” to “boyfriend,” and on her first visit to his house, he clumsily doused her in water—right in those spots… Her affection points definitely took a hit.
Su Jin looked toward Lin Luan’s back as he searched in the room. The bandages on his shoulder had been revealed in the process.
When she saw the bandages, Su Jin paused. Only now did she recall that, when Lin Luan accidentally spilled water on her earlier, he’d winced—was it because his wound still hurt?
So… was it that the injury he got saving her hurt, causing him to spill water on her? And now he was trying to make up for it?
He really does love me.
Su Jin thought of what Lin Luan had said to her in the hospital—how that little puppy had told her, no matter what, he’d do his best to catch up to her.
And now, looking at Lin Luan’s clumsy back as he searched for clothes—he really was like a silly puppy doing everything he could to catch up to her.
He really does love me.
Affection points increases.