When they saw the name clearly on the screen, both of them froze for a moment.
Yu Xinzhi quickly composed himself and said in surprise, “President Chen is calling you? Go take it first.”
Lin Wu immediately stood up. “I’ll step out for a bit.”
Yu Xinzhi gave a small nod.
Watching Lin Wu’s retreating figure, Yu Xinzhi sat where he was, deep in thought. Chen Zhuo calling Lin Wu at this hour—to talk about the case? But wasn’t he in New York?
“…”
Lin Wu left the private room and walked toward the quieter stairwell, phone still in hand.
She pushed open the heavy fire door and answered the call just before it hung up. “Hello.”
The person on the other end was silent for a moment before asking, “You’re outside?”
He could hear the music drifting through from her side.
Lin Wu gave a soft “mm” and asked somewhat hesitantly, “President Chen, are you calling about the case? I’m out having dinner with colleagues tonight—I might be home late.”
“…” Hearing her words, Chen Zhuo felt a faint trace of helplessness. “I’m not in that much of a hurry. Go enjoy yourself.”
Lin Wu: “…Oh.”
Chen Zhuo acknowledged with a soft sound, paused for a moment, then asked, “Planning to stay out until what time?”
“Not sure,” Lin Wu thought for a second. “Probably until eleven or twelve.”
It was already past nine, almost ten. They had only been here for about two hours.
Chen Zhuo gave a low “mm.” “I see.”
“Yeah,” Lin Wu sensed his mood wasn’t particularly high. After thinking for a few seconds, she said, “If you’re in a hurry, I can head home now.”
Hearing this, Chen Zhuo let out a very soft laugh. The sound came through warm and tingling in her ear.
“It’s not that urgent,” Chen Zhuo said after a few seconds of silence. “Just be home before twelve.”
Lin Wu quickly calculated: if she got home by twelve, it would be morning free time on his side in New York.
“Alright, President Chen,” she agreed. “No problem on my end.”
Chen Zhuo: “Have fun.”
Lin Wu: “…Thank you. Hanging up now?”
Chen Zhuo: “Go ahead.”
Lin Wu pulled the phone away from her ear, looked at the still-active call, and pressed to end it.
After hanging up, she stood in the stairwell for a while before returning to the private room.
When Lin Wu returned to the private room, He Jiayun and Li Xiang had also come back.
Seeing her appear, He Jiayun waved at her. “Wu Wu.”
As Lin Wu walked closer, He Jiayun asked, “Where did you go just now?”
Lin Wu glanced at her curious expression, then looked over at Yu Xinzhi on the other side playing games with colleagues. She lowered her voice. “Lawyer Yu didn’t tell you?”
“…” He Jiayun gave her a look. “How did you know he said something?”
“If he hadn’t said anything, you wouldn’t have asked where I went after I stepped out for just a few minutes,” Lin Wu reasoned.
He Jiayun: “…”
She choked slightly, having to admit Lin Wu’s analysis made sense.
“So,” she looked at Lin Wu, eyes sparkling with excitement, “it really was Chen Zhuo calling you?”
Lin Wu nodded.
“What did he say? Happy birthday?” He Jiayun pressed eagerly.
Lin Wu: “…Sorry to disappoint you.”
He Jiayun blinked. “What do you mean?”
Lin Wu: “He wanted to talk about work.”
“?”
Hearing this, He Jiayun froze for two seconds before blurting out, “Is he some kind of workaholic freak? Not wishing you happy birthday is one thing, but calling you on your actual birthday to make you work overtime?”
He Jiayun genuinely wanted to know why everyone around her was obsessed with work and overtime—Li Xiang, Lin Wu, and now even their business partner Chen Zhuo.
Listening to her muttering, Lin Wu couldn’t help laughing.
After thinking for a moment, she finally shared the message she had kept to herself all day: “You won the bet.”
He Jiayun didn’t react right away. “What bet?”
Lin Wu looked at her.
He Jiayun froze for a second, eyes widening. “Chen… he knows your birthday?”
Considering they were surrounded by colleagues, He Jiayun very tactfully swallowed Chen Zhuo’s full name when mentioning private matters.
Lin Wu: “Mm. He told me last night.”
He Jiayun raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “Last night?”
Lin Wu felt a little bad telling her. “When you called me at midnight, I was on a video call with him discussing work. We were talking, and then—”
She didn’t finish the sentence. He Jiayun understood immediately.
“So… I wasn’t the first person to wish you happy birthday this year?” He Jiayun’s focus was, as always, a little different from everyone else’s.
Lin Wu gave a soft “ah,” feeling a tiny bit guilty. “Seems like it.”
He Jiayun: “…”
She opened her mouth, then after a long pause finally burst out, “Fuck, I actually lost to a man this year.”
Lin Wu couldn’t help laughing. She comforted her: “We just happened to be talking about work. It’s not your fault.”
“…You were really just talking about work?” He Jiayun snapped back to reality and stared straight at Lin Wu.
Lin Wu: “Of course.”
She said it with complete confidence—because last night, she and Chen Zhuo had genuinely been discussing work the whole time.
He Jiayun fell silent, staring fixedly at Lin Wu.
After a long moment, she couldn’t hold back and swore again. “What a scheming guy.”
Lin Wu: “What?”
A colleague was singing loudly at that moment, so she hadn’t heard clearly.
He Jiayun: “…”
She looked at the beautiful, slightly bewildered face in front of her and slowly shook her head. “Nothing.”
Lin Wu lifted her eyes. “You sure?”
“Very,” He Jiayun confirmed. “And then what?”
Lin Wu was puzzled. “Then what?”
“He just said happy birthday?” He Jiayun asked.
Lin Wu: “What else would he say?”
He Jiayun was speechless. “I mean—he didn’t do anything else?”
“He’s in New York. What kind of gesture were you expecting?” Lin Wu lowered her voice. “Besides, with the kind of relationship we have, it wouldn’t be appropriate for anything more.”
He Jiayun: “Why wouldn’t it be appropriate?”
She gave Lin Wu a sideways glance. “You always draw such clear lines. Even though you two aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend, it’s completely normal for people in an intimate relationship to exchange birthday gifts. Not giving anything is what’s abnormal.”
Hearing this, Lin Wu paused. “Is it?”
“Of course.” He Jiayun’s words landed, and she suddenly noticed Lin Wu’s slightly dazed expression. She guessed, “Don’t tell me he said he wanted to give you a gift, and you refused.”
Lin Wu gave her a sheepish smile.
He Jiayun: “…What did he say?”
Lin Wu honestly handed her the phone.
He Jiayun unlocked it and opened their latest messages. After reading the two most recent lines, for a moment she didn’t know what to say.
He Jiayun froze for a second, eyes widening. “Chen… he knows your birthday?”
Considering they were surrounded by colleagues, He Jiayun very tactfully swallowed Chen Zhuo’s full name when mentioning private matters.
Lin Wu: “Mm. He told me last night.”
He Jiayun raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “Last night?”
Lin Wu felt a little bad telling her. “When you called me at midnight, I was on a video call with him discussing work. We were talking, and then—”
She didn’t finish the sentence. He Jiayun understood immediately.
“So… I wasn’t the first person to wish you happy birthday this year?” He Jiayun’s focus was, as always, a little different from everyone else’s.
Lin Wu gave a soft “ah,” feeling a tiny bit guilty. “Seems like it.”
He Jiayun: “…”
She opened her mouth, then after a long pause finally burst out, “Fuck, I actually lost to a man this year.”
Lin Wu couldn’t help laughing. She comforted her: “We just happened to be talking about work. It’s not your fault.”
“…You were really just talking about work?” He Jiayun snapped back to reality and stared straight at Lin Wu.
Lin Wu: “Of course.”
She said it with complete confidence—because last night, she and Chen Zhuo had genuinely been discussing work the whole time.
He Jiayun fell silent, staring fixedly at Lin Wu.
After a long moment, she couldn’t hold back and swore again. “What a scheming guy.”
Lin Wu: “What?”
A colleague was singing loudly at that moment, so she hadn’t heard clearly.
He Jiayun: “…”
She looked at the beautiful, slightly bewildered face in front of her and slowly shook her head. “Nothing.”
Lin Wu lifted her eyes. “You sure?”
“Very,” He Jiayun confirmed. “And then what?”
Lin Wu was puzzled. “Then what?”
“He just said happy birthday?” He Jiayun asked.
Lin Wu: “What else would he say?”
He Jiayun was speechless. “I mean—he didn’t do anything else?”
“He’s in New York. What kind of gesture were you expecting?” Lin Wu lowered her voice. “Besides, with the kind of relationship we have, it wouldn’t be appropriate for anything more.”
He Jiayun: “Why wouldn’t it be appropriate?”
She gave Lin Wu a sideways glance. “You always draw such clear lines. Even though you two aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend, it’s completely normal for people in an intimate relationship to exchange birthday gifts. Not giving anything is what’s abnormal.”
Hearing this, Lin Wu paused. “Is it?”
“Of course.” He Jiayun’s words landed, and she suddenly noticed Lin Wu’s slightly dazed expression. She guessed, “Don’t tell me he said he wanted to give you a gift, and you refused.”
Lin Wu gave her a sheepish smile.
He Jiayun: “…What did he say?”
Lin Wu honestly handed her the phone.
He Jiayun unlocked it and opened their latest messages. After reading the two most recent lines, for a moment she didn’t know what to say.
As she went downstairs, Lin Wu couldn’t help thinking: the Fengxing case isn’t even that urgent—why is Chen Zhuo pushing so hard? Does he have to stay so fixated on one case even after going to New York?
Lost in thought, Lin Wu stepped out of the elevator and absentmindedly walked toward the parking area.
Her parking spot wasn’t right by the elevator exit—she still had to walk a short distance forward.
As she strolled slowly ahead, Lin Wu suddenly sensed something keenly.
She instinctively raised her head and looked forward—
The lighting in their parking garage was well designed, very bright—not like some neighborhoods where the underground lot is pitch black.
Because of that, when she lifted her eyes slightly, there was no obstruction at all as she clearly saw the person who had supposedly still been in New York last night, now standing right in front of her, travel-worn and dust-covered.
“…”
Was this an illusion?
Lin Wu stared at the figure not far away and thought, then unconsciously pinched her own hand hanging at her side.
There was pain. Not a hallucination.
Lin Wu stopped in her tracks and looked dazedly at Chen Zhuo—and at the bouquet of flowers draped over his arm.
Their eyes met.
After a moment, Chen Zhuo lifted his foot and walked toward her, letting his figure gradually fill her entire field of vision.
“What?” When he was still three or four steps away, Chen Zhuo also stopped. He raised his brows lightly as he looked at her, his tone slow and relaxed, carrying a touch of ease. “After just one week apart, Lawyer Lin doesn’t recognize me anymore?”
Lin Wu’s long lashes trembled. His voice pulled her wandering thoughts back. “You…”
“You what?” Chen Zhuo leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them.
Lin Wu tilted her face up, lips parting slightly. “When did you come back?”
“Just now,” Chen Zhuo answered her very frankly.
Hearing his reply, Lin Wu’s breathing hitched. Her heartbeat became uneven.
She looked at the man in front of her, opened her mouth wanting to say something, but for a moment couldn’t find the words.
Suddenly, Chen Zhuo raised his hand to glance at his watch. Then he fixed his gaze on her, gave a very light smile, and said softly, “Lin Wu.”
Lin Wu: “Mm?”
“Happy birthday.” Chen Zhuo lowered his lashes and gazed at her. Tenderness seemed to spill out from those beautiful eyes. He handed her the bouquet and explained, “You said you didn’t want a birthday gift, so I didn’t take it upon myself to prepare anything. As for these flowers—”
He paused, as if worried she might refuse again, searching for a reason to convince her to accept them.
“Bought from a roadside stall,” Chen Zhuo said. “Nothing expensive.”
Lin Wu lowered her eyes and looked at the fresh flowers in front of her.
Roadside stall.
She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took them. “Thank you.”
Chen Zhuo raised an eyebrow and gave a light curve of his lips. “You’re welcome.”
At that moment, her phone dinged in her pocket.
Lin Wu took it out and glanced—twelve o’clock. Her birthday was officially over.
She put the phone away. Chen Zhuo spoke at just the right moment: “What do you need to get? Do you want… help?”
He hesitated slightly.
Under normal circumstances, Lin Wu would have refused without a second thought.
But right now, the word “no” circled on her tongue again and again, yet she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“Aren’t you in a hurry to go home and rest?” Lin Wu asked indirectly.
Hearing this, Chen Zhuo gave a very soft laugh. “Lin Wu.”
Lin Wu looked at him.
Chen Zhuo spoke slowly, “I’m not in a hurry.”
“…” Lin Wu gave a small “oh,” pressed her lips together a little awkwardly, and finally said, “Then… I’ll have to trouble President Chen.”
Chen Zhuo murmured softly, “My pleasure.”
The two walked together toward her car not far away.
Lin Wu opened the trunk. Chen Zhuo glanced inside and raised an eyebrow. “Birthday gifts?”
“Mm…” For some reason, Lin Wu instinctively added, “From my best friend. I don’t really accept gifts from other people.”
Chen Zhuo tilted his head slightly. “Miss He?”
Lin Wu nodded.
Chen Zhuo tactfully didn’t ask more. He reached in and took out the bags from her trunk, speaking in a low voice: “Let’s go. I’ll walk you to the elevator.”
The two headed toward the elevator together.
The underground garage at this hour was very quiet. Their footsteps echoed clearly.
Lin Wu held the bouquet in her arms; all the other things were in Chen Zhuo’s hands.
She kept her lashes lowered, occasionally glancing at him. Only now did it fully sink in—Chen Zhuo was wearing a full suit. Had he flown more than ten hours in formal attire? Or had he arrived in the afternoon, gone to the office for meetings, and then come straight here?
Lost in thought, they reached the elevator.
Chen Zhuo pressed the button.
The elevator came down from the first floor. In just a few seconds, the doors opened.
Chen Zhuo gestured for Lin Wu to enter first, then set the things down and turned to leave. “Rest early.”
Lin Wu instinctively pressed her floor button. As Chen Zhuo fully stepped back and the elevator doors began to close, she suddenly came to her senses and reached out to block the slowly closing doors.
Noticing her dangerous move, Chen Zhuo reacted very quickly. He blocked one side and looked up at her. “What’s wrong?”
Lin Wu steadied herself, lifted her face to look at him. Her emotions hovered in midair, with nowhere to land.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly said, “Chen Zhuo.”
Chen Zhuo: “Mm?”
“Are you tired?” Lin Wu asked.
Chen Zhuo paused, restrained his expression as he looked at her. “No. Are you?”
Lin Wu shook her head. “I usually don’t get sleepy until two or three.”
Chen Zhuo: “Is that so?”
Lin Wu gave a soft hum. With some difficulty, she parted her lips. “You—”
Before she could finish asking, Chen Zhuo spoke first. “I’m a little thirsty.”
His gaze burned as he looked at Lin Wu. “I’d like to go to Lawyer Lin’s place for a glass of water. What do you think?”
Lin Wu didn’t answer. She simply reached out and pulled him into the elevator.
The elevator rose steadily, arriving smoothly at her floor.
Lin Wu stepped out first, unlocked the door, and turned on the indoor lights. She stepped aside to let Chen Zhuo in before finally answering his earlier question: “As long as it’s just for water—”
The word “water” hadn’t even fully left her mouth when the flowers in her arms were taken by the man in front of her. A warm palm closed around the back of her neck, forcing her head up.
At the same time, Chen Zhuo lowered his head and kissed her lips.