Shen Family Villa.
The car came to a stop. Lin Wanfu opened the door and stepped out. The moment she looked up, she saw Shen Huaijin waiting at the entrance.
The man was tall and slender, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit with a crisp tie. His presence was striking; simply standing there, he seemed to create an atmosphere all his own.
From a distance, he looked young, handsome, and refined.
【
Name: Shen Huaijin
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Height: 190 cm
Identity: Heir to the Shen family, current CEO of Shen Group
Interests: Collecting everything related to Lin Wanfu, becoming Lin Wanfu’s husband, extreme sports, piano
Dislikes: Shen Congyan, cheese
】
“Big Brother A-Jin.” Like a swallow returning to its nest, Lin Wanfu threw herself into the man’s arms, her voice full of grievance. “As soon as Shen Congyan came back to the country, he bankrupted my family. Now my dad and I don’t even have a place to live. He’s awful!”
Shen Huaijin caught Lin Wanfu steadily without so much as shifting his stance. His gentle, restrained gaze fell on her through his thin lenses. “Fufu, I’ve already had the servants prepare a room for you. You and Uncle Lin can stay with the Shen family without worry.”
As he breathed in the faint, distinctive fragrance clinging to Lin Wanfu, a barely perceptible trace of infatuation showed in his eyes.
In truth, he ought to thank Shen Congyan. Without him, how could he have enjoyed having her throw herself into his arms?
Shen Congyan had done what he had never dared to do. Countless times, he had imagined being ruthless and leaving her with no one to rely on; then he could take advantage of her circumstances more easily.
But there were no walls without ears. In the end, he had feared the truth would come out and she would despise him.
He was never indecisive about anything—except when it came to her. Then he was always full of reservations, unable to make up his mind.
If he hadn’t been like that, Shen Congyan would never have had the chance to become her fiancé six years ago.
Just then, Father Lin stepped forward and discreetly drew Lin Wanfu away from Shen Huaijin. “Nephew Shen, we’re imposing on you. Fufu has been spoiled by me, and sometimes she doesn’t know where to draw the line. I hope you won’t take offense.”
Shen Huaijin raised a hand to adjust the fine gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose and replied amiably, “Uncle Lin, you’re my elder. Why be so formal with me? Besides, I’ve always thought of Fufu as a younger sister. I’m delighted that she feels close to me. How could I take offense?”
His dark hair fell across his forehead, half-shading his brows and eyes. A warm, faint smile remained at the corners of his lips. Every word and gesture was impeccable, leaving no fault to find.
If Lin Wanfu hadn’t clearly seen the words “become Lin Wanfu’s husband” under Shen Huaijin’s interests, she might almost have believed his nonsense.
“Big Brother A-Jin, I’m hungry.” Lin Wanfu peeked out from behind Father Lin and blinked at Shen Huaijin.
The curve of Shen Huaijin’s lips widened of its own accord, but he quickly reined in his smile. “Uncle Lin, please come with me. The elders of the family aren’t home, so I may not be the best host. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Now that the Lin family has fallen on hard times, it’s already generous of you to help us. I’d have to be ungrateful not to appreciate it.”
Looking at Shen Huaijin, who seemed to have humility and courtesy ingrained in his very bones, Father Lin felt no reassured. Instead, his worries grew heavier.
If someone could perfectly conceal his true nature and present a face entirely opposite to it, just how deep and calculating must he be? Father Lin did not dare imagine.
Before long, Father Lin and his daughter followed Shen Huaijin into a luxurious villa in one of Jinghai City’s finest districts.
The villa’s decor was understated yet lavish. The antique furnishings and famous paintings were merely decorative, and refinement showed in every corner.
Although the Lin family could not match the generations-old heritage of a family like the Shens, it was still one of Jinghai City’s foremost elite families.
Lin Wanfu had grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth. Qin Yi, in particular, brought her boxes upon boxes of precious gifts whenever he came to see her. She had seen every kind of fine thing, so the villa’s extravagance was hardly going to impress her.
But as Lin Wanfu passed through the living room, her gaze was drawn to a piano by the window.
A prominent family like the Shens had all sorts of rules, so she had never liked visiting their home much.
The last time she’d been here was three years ago. Her memory was pretty good, though, and the living room looked exactly as she remembered it—with the addition of this piano.
Noticing that Lin Wanfu hadn’t followed, Shen Huaijin stopped and slowly turned around.
He asked gently, “Fufu, what is it?”
Lin Wanfu tilted her head at Shen Huaijin. “I don’t think that piano was here the last time I visited.”
For some reason, it looked a little familiar to her, though she couldn’t quite place it.
Shen Huaijin paused. “That’s right. It wasn’t here before. I bought it later.”
Of course, he wasn’t going to tell Lin Wanfu that he had taken it from someone else.
At first, he hadn’t had the slightest interest in the piano. The reason he had developed one was simply that he had once heard Lin Wanfu praise a celebrity, saying he played the piano like a prince.
“I’ve never seen you play.”
As she said this, Lin Wanfu lowered her gaze to Shen Huaijin’s hands.
They were beautiful: clean, slender fingers with distinct joints, like smooth, translucent white jade.
If hands like those rested on piano keys, they would be impossible to look away from.
A dream come true for anyone with a thing for hands.
Shen Huaijin lowered his lashes, his expression gentle. “I’ll play for you sometime. Let’s go eat first.”
Lin Wanfu nodded.
*
The three of them sat in a spacious, bright dining room as one exquisite dish after another was brought to the table, filling the air with their aroma.
Lin Wanfu behaved as if she were at home, happily accepting Shen Huaijin’s attentions.
She ate to her heart’s content.
But Father Lin had no appetite at all, despite the delicious dishes spread across the table. Lin Wanfu was his daughter; of course he knew her eating habits inside out.
He could tell at a glance.
Every dish was something Lin Wanfu usually liked, and none contained anything she avoided. The cook had even taken the care to mince the seasonings according to her preferences. It was obvious someone had given specific instructions.
“Dad, why aren’t you eating?” Lin Wanfu asked, puzzled by Father Lin’s unreadable expression.
When there was free food to be had, why not take advantage of it?
Father Lin sighed. “Fufu, you eat. Dad really doesn’t have an appetite.”
If Shen Huaijin, that big bad wolf, had already set his sights on his daughter and was scheming to carry her off, how could Father Lin possibly eat?
A flicker passed through Shen Huaijin’s eyes. Then he ladled a bowl of nourishing soup and handed it to Father Lin across the table.
His smile remained unchanged. “Uncle Lin, if you don’t eat, how will your body hold up? I’m sure you don’t want Fufu worrying about you.”
Father Lin took the bowl helplessly and drank a few mouthfuls.
As he drank, he muttered inwardly that the young man certainly knew how to play on people’s feelings.
Perhaps it was because he was so tired, or perhaps something else was the matter, but after finishing the soup, Father Lin began to feel drowsy.
Even so, he forced himself to eat a little. Gradually, though, he grew sleepier and sleepier.
Seeing this, Shen Huaijin asked with concern, “Uncle Lin, you don’t look very well. Why don’t you go rest in the guest room for a while?”
As he spoke, he called over a servant.
Father Lin hadn’t wanted to leave, but his body was simply too exhausted to resist. Lin Wanfu was urging him to go, too.
In the vast dining room, only Lin Wanfu and Shen Huaijin remained—the two of them, each harboring their own designs.