Chapter 3

The two of them finished the lady's cigarette in such intimate fashion.

As Chen Zhuo tossed the stub into the ashtray and tilted his head to seek out Lin Wu’s lips for a kiss, she dodged him.

"I'm going to take a shower," Lin Wu said, looking at him with eyes that were clear, bright, and shimmering with a liquid glow.

Chen Zhuo hummed, replying with a "go ahead" that sounded like the words of a perfect gentleman, yet his hand remained firmly on her waist.

After a few silent seconds, his hand shifted from her back to her chin. As a businessman who always gets what he wants in his professional life, he never admitted defeat; he lowered his head once more and succeeded in kissing the red lips he had been craving.

He did not go too far, nor did he push his luck; he simply tasted her briefly before letting her go.

A moment later, upon hearing the lock click in the bathroom, Chen Zhuo reached up to touch the corner of his lip—which had not been bitten today—and smiled silently.

He got up, walked to the nightstand, and dialed the number for housekeeping.

When Lin Wu emerged from the shower, the previously messy room had been completely refreshed, and the bed sheets had been replaced with crisp, clean ones.

She glanced at the broad-shouldered silhouette standing on the balcony on the phone, then bent down to check her phone on the nightstand, only to realize it was past three in the morning.

No wonder she was so sleepy.

Lin Wu stifled a yawn and pulled back the quilt to get into bed.

Just as she lay down, the person on the balcony sensed her movement and turned his head to look inside.

Three seconds later, he caught sight of the room’s spotlights being switched off.

Chen Zhuo was not surprised by Lin Wu’s childish way of reminding him that she was going to sleep and needed the lights out; in fact, he found it somewhat amusing.

"What are you laughing at?" the person on the other end of the line caught his shift in mood, her voice faint. "It’s the middle of the night, Mr. Chen, don’t go around scaring people."

Chen Zhuo gave a slight, dry laugh and retorted without ceremony, "If Ms. Meng is afraid of being scared, she shouldn't disturb others' peaceful sleep in the dead of night."

Meng Hui gave a soft "tsk." "I wasn't aware that Mr. Chen went to bed so early."

"..."

Another light went out.

Chen Zhuo lost his patience. "I’m hanging up. We’ll discuss business tomorrow."

His impatient demeanor made Meng Hui raise her eyebrows. "It seems you’re tonight—"

Before she could finish, Chen Zhuo decisively hung up and walked into the room, bringing a chill with him.

When he entered, Lin Wu had already turned off the reading lamp, leaving only a dim, warm nightlight so he could see the surroundings.

"Apologies," Chen Zhuo was always good at admitting fault when it came to disrupting Lin Wu’s sleep. "I was on a call."

Lin Wu, back turned to him, responded vaguely, "Going to sleep."

Chen Zhuo smiled. He whispered a goodnight and stood by the bed for a few minutes to let the room’s warmth wake his chilled limbs before taking off his coat, visiting the bathroom, and finally slipping into bed.

Chen Zhuo was the one who turned off the last light.

Lin Wu had high standards for her sleep environment; even the slightest light or noise made it difficult for her to fall asleep.

The room fell into silence, and before long, the sound of rhythmic, steady breathing filled the air.

***

Lin Wu had a long, deep, and comfortable sleep. She didn't wake up halfway through, nor did she have any dreams within dreams.

When she opened her eyes, she was still a bit dazed.

The room was empty. Content, Lin Wu took her time in bed before grabbing the bathrobe nearby, putting it on, and slipping into the bathroom.

After freshening up, she changed into a spare set of clothes she kept at Chen Zhuo’s place, her mind becoming clear and detached.

Suddenly, the sound of the door lock disengaging came from outside.

Lin Wu turned to see Chen Zhuo, dressed in a long black trench coat over a shirt and black trousers. He looked cold and arrogant, his frame tall and upright, carrying two paper bags in his hands.

Their eyes met.

Seeing her attire, Chen Zhuo raised an eyebrow, his voice cold. "In a hurry to leave?"

It wasn't a question of whether she was preparing to leave, but whether she was in a hurry to do so.

Lin Wu’s eyes flickered. She looked down at the paper bags in his hands and asked, "Scallion oil noodles?"

Chen Zhuo gave a hum of affirmation and placed the coffee and the scallion oil noodles on the side table.

Lin Wu didn't stand on ceremony, walked over, and sat down. "I’m not so busy that I don't have time for breakfast."

Chen Zhuo: "..."

He didn't want to remind her that she was often so busy she skipped dinner entirely.

Ignoring him, Lin Wu opened the insulated scallion oil noodles.

As the lid came off, the rich, fragrant aroma of scallion oil wafted through the room, making it impossible to resist.

Lin Wu loved scallion oil noodles, but she had never found any in the city that truly suited her taste.

She had high requirements for the dish; she loved the scent of the scallion oil, but she hated the fried scallions themselves. She only accepted the flavor, not the vegetable.

In the past, when she went to restaurants, she would remember to ask if they could leave the scallions out. Some chefs accepted this strange request, while others felt that if you didn't eat scallions, you shouldn't order the dish.

Even those who accepted it often forgot, leaving Lin Wu to go from high hopes to disappointment.

Over time, she stopped ordering it.

One morning, during their third rendezvous, Lin Wu had overslept.

When she woke up, Chen Zhuo was out buying breakfast. He asked her what she wanted. Lin Wu, still groggy, didn't realize she was making her odd request again: "I want scallion oil noodles, no scallions."

After hanging up, Lin Wu realized what she’d said and hurriedly added, "If you don't have them, anything else is fine. I'm not that picky."

Chen Zhuo: "?"

Lin Wu: "?"

Chen Zhuo: "Don't want the noodles anymore?"

Lin Wu blinked and asked tentatively, "...Can you find a good one?"

Chen Zhuo: "Try it later."

When she saw that message, Lin Wu didn't hold out much hope.

But when he brought the breakfast back, she opened it, smelled the familiar aroma, and after one bite, she was completely conquered by the bowl of noodles.

She asked him where he bought them so she could go herself later.

Chen Zhuo said it was in a quiet alley, and the shop had no sign.

***

Lin Wu had to give up; without a sign, she couldn't find it, and she certainly couldn't ask him to take her there.

After all, they had agreed during their second meeting: their relationship was limited to meeting in this room every Friday night to communicate and deepen their bond.

Once they woke up and left this room in the morning, they were two strangers who didn't know each other.

***

The scallion oil noodles Chen Zhuo brought were truly excellent, very much like the ones Lin Wu had eaten as a child.

She was very quiet when she ate, rarely making any sound.

When Chen Zhuo glanced over, he could only see her cheeks bulging as she chewed, a stark contrast to her usual capable, independent, and sharp professional demeanor.

*Very cute,* Chen Zhuo couldn't help but think.

Sensing his gaze, Lin Wu looked up at him.

Their eyes met. Chen Zhuo felt no guilt at being caught staring; he looked back at her with open, calm eyes and even curled the corner of his lips.

Lin Wu paused, then looked away with an expressionless face.

After eating, Lin Wu prepared to leave.

Seeing her rise, Chen Zhuo also prepared to go out.

Lin Wu turned to look at him.

"Have to go to the company for something," he said while changing his shoes.

"It seems Mr. Chen has been quite busy lately." She recalled the dinner party from last night.

Chen Zhuo glanced at her, his tone playful. "Still not as busy as Lawyer Lin."

Lin Wu: "..."

They entered the elevator together, standing at opposite ends with enough space for two more people between them.

The silence lasted all the way to the parking lot. As they walked out one after the other, Chen Zhuo pressed his car key and asked, knowing the answer, "Want a ride?"

Lin Wu lifted her chin, refusing to be outdone. "My car is right there."

Watching her cold, proud demeanor, Chen Zhuo suppressed the smile in his eyes and said in a low voice, "Lawyer Lin."

Lin Wu: "Yes?"

Chen Zhuo looked at her sideways, a faint smile lingering on his lips, his voice soft and slow. "See you next week."

"..."

***

Once in their respective cars, Lin Wu started the engine but didn't leave immediately.

She sat in the driver's seat, dazed for a few minutes. Only after the all-black G63 across from her pulled away did she slowly enter her home address into the navigation and drive away.

On Saturday, Lin Wu didn't step outside once, curling up at home to read documents, watch shows, and sleep.

On Sunday, He Jiayun, who had just flown back from Hawaii and spent a night adjusting to the jet lag, showed up at her door personally and dragged her out.

"My dear Lawyer Lin, on such a beautiful weekend, you have rare free time, and you plan to waste it at home?" He Jiayun was baffled by her habit of being a homebody on holidays. "We’re young, we need to go out and bathe in the sun."

Lin Wu sat in the passenger seat, looking helpless. "How is staying at home wasting time?"

He Jiayun shot her a look. "How is it not?"

"..." Lin Wu slowly fastened her seatbelt and muttered softly, "It just isn't."

They argued for a bit, like reciting tongue twisters.

Finally, He Jiayun conceded. "I just wanted to take you out for a stroll. The season is changing, come shopping with me for some clothes."

Hearing this, Lin Wu didn't point out that she had just returned from shopping in the U.S. She knew what He Jiayun meant; her primary purpose was to buy clothes for her.

Thinking of this, Lin Wu tilted her head and smiled. "Fine, wherever Ms. He wants to go."

He Jiayun drove straight to the commercial district in the city center, where skyscrapers stood tall, malls and shops were packed together, and crowds flowed endlessly.

After parking, He Jiayun dragged Lin Wu into a brand-name store with practiced ease.

"Ms. He is here." He Jiayun was a VIC (Very Important Customer) of major luxury brands; the staff almost all recognized her.

He Jiayun nodded slightly. "I'm here."

She glanced around. "Have the new arrivals been delivered?"

"They arrived just this morning," the sales associate said with a smile. "We were just about to notify you, Ms. He, and here you are."

The associate gestured. "Please, Ms. He, Ms. Lin, this way."

They entered the VIC private room, and the staff laid out the new clothing and accessories before them.

He Jiayun stood up, looked around, picked up a white strapless dress with clean, sharp cuts that balanced sexiness with intellect, and looked at Lin Wu. "This one is not bad. Want to try it?"

He Jiayun spent all her time at major fashion weeks; her taste was notoriously sharp. If she thought it suited Lin Wu, it definitely did.

Lin Wu thought about it and nodded.

It was two months until the end of the year, and there would be many events at the law firm. She would have the chance to wear it.

Besides the white dress, He Jiayun found several pant suits for her to try on.

Lin Wu had a tall, lithe figure and could always make ordinary clothes look extraordinary.

Not to mention the ones He Jiayun picked.

When she stepped out of the fitting room in the first dress, He Jiayun and the two staff members’ eyes lit up. "Ms. Lin, you look truly beautiful."

Lin Wu gave a faint smile and looked at He Jiayun. "How is it?"

"Beautiful," He Jiayun said, raising her eyebrows with a hint of pride. "I knew you could pull off exactly what the designer intended."

Lin Wu laughed to herself.

He Jiayun urged her on. "Go try the other two."

Lin Wu obliged and changed into the second set. It was a suit with a retro design: a short black blazer over a small round-neck shirt, paired with flowing wide-leg trousers.

It was a style Lin Wu often wore to work.

"Cool!" Seeing her step out, He Jiayun exclaimed, "This looks good."

Lin Wu looked at herself in the mirror and agreed.

***

"Are the pants a bit too big?" He Jiayun asked.

Lin Wu hummed. "The waist is a bit loose."

The sales associate immediately said, "We have a very unique metal belt that would go perfectly with it."

He Jiayun turned. "Bring it over, let's try it."

With the belt added, Lin Wu’s slim waist was accentuated, and she looked even more heroic, sharp, and elegant.

"My god..." He Jiayun reached out and touched her waist, joking, "You’re too cool; I regret that my orientation is toward men."

Lin Wu was amused and teased back, "It’s not too late to change."

He Jiayun shot her a glance and stepped back to look her over. "Wear this to the firm on Monday. I bet all those little fangirls who worship Li Xiang will defect to your side."

Hearing this, Lin Wu raised her eyebrows with a hint of pride and straightened her collar. "Even if I don't wear this, don't I have more fangirls than Li Xiang?"

He Jiayun choked, thought about it seriously, and said, "Actually, you’re right."

Lin Wu was bright and stunning, and her personality and working style were both sharp and decisive, which was why everyone at the firm liked her.

He Jiayun had once summarized that at least half of the single men at the firm were secretly in love with her, while the female employees feared and adored her.

Unsurprisingly, they took all the sets He Jiayun had picked.

She rushed to pay, calling it a reward for the law firm staff’s recent hard work. Lin Wu had no choice but to let her.

They shopped for several hours and bought quite a bit.

Lin Wu offered to treat He Jiayun to a spa, which finally stopped her from spending more money, and they went to their usual spa.

After the massage and dinner, they finally went home to rest.

***

Before bed, Lin Wu prepared the materials for the next day at the firm and then picked up her phone. She didn't enjoy using her phone much, but to keep up with society, she would occasionally check entertainment news or peek at the gossip in the firm’s female staff group chat.

Just as she opened the chat, she saw 99+ messages.

Before she could read them, she saw a message from He Jiayun: "This silhouette really does look good, definitely a handsome guy. I’ll go to the firm tomorrow to check him out and then I’ll post a photo of his face."

Lin Wu scrolled up, surprised, and learned the reason for the message.

They were discussing the handsome boss who had "parachuted" into the 29th floor. An intern had gone to the firm on the weekend to work overtime and claimed to have seen him in person—he was truly handsome.

Knowing that 99% of the women in the firm were curious about how handsome this investment banking boss was, someone had secretly taken a photo of his back.

Lin Wu glanced at the blurry photo and had to agree with their assessment.

From the back, his temperament was indeed good—upright, tall, and every bit the elite professional.

As Lin Wu was looking, a message from He Jiayun popped up: "I’m going to the firm tomorrow."

Lin Wu: "To see the handsome guy?"

He Jiayun: "...To work."

Lin Wu: "Oh."

He Jiayun: "Don't doubt it. What do you want for lunch? I’ll have the auntie make it."

Lin Wu laughed. "Anything. Whatever she makes, I like."

He Jiayun: "Okay, see you at noon."

Lin Wu: "See you at noon."

After confirming with He Jiayun, Lin Wu put down her phone, took the melatonin she kept on the nightstand, and continued reading the book she had started.

When a hint of drowsiness hit, she quickly turned off the light, closed her eyes, and struggled to fall asleep.

As usual, even with the medication, Lin Wu didn't sleep well.

After counting sheep with her eyes closed for nearly an hour, she accepted her fate, opened her eyes, turned on the light, and got up to read case files in the study.

It was four in the morning when she finally felt a bit sleepy again.

Having not slept well the night before, Lin Wu felt drained.

When she left, she hesitated for a moment and decided to take a taxi.

Xianghe Law Firm was in a prime location in the city’s business center, surrounded by skyscrapers.

Lin Wu took a taxi, bent down to get out, and entered the bright, clean lobby.

While waiting for the elevator, she ran into her colleagues and her assistant.

"Morning, Lawyer Lin."

Lin Wu responded, "Morning."

"Good morning, Lawyer Lin. Have you eaten breakfast?"

Lin Wu nodded, smiling slightly. "I have, how about you?"

As they were chatting, Lin Wu suddenly heard some girls waiting for the elevator nearby talking.

"Why are you wearing makeup to work today?"

"...Just felt like it."

"Don't lie. You usually look like a mess when you come to work," one of them teased. "You put this makeup on for the new boss, didn't you?"

"Stop exposing me, okay?" The girl who wore makeup straightened her hair, blushing. "Yes, that’s right."

She added, a bit embarrassed, "I’ve asked around. Mr. Chen doesn't have a girlfriend right now. I have to seize this opportunity."

"Really? At his age and looking that handsome, he doesn't have a girlfriend?"

"Nope, I asked his assistant."

"Then could he be—"

Before the person could finish, the elevator they were waiting for arrived.

The silver doors opened. Lin Wu stopped "eavesdropping" and looked up. As she prepared to step into the elevator, she heard a gasp from the people beside her.

At the same time, she saw the man standing inside, dressed in a high-quality, impeccably tailored black suit.

It was Chen Zhuo.