The two of them finished sharing that single ladies’ cigarette in such an intimate manner.
After tossing the cigarette butt into the ashtray, Chen Zhuo tilted his head to seek Lin Wu’s lips for a kiss, but she dodged it.
“I’m going to take a shower.” Lin Wu looked at him as she spoke. Her pair of shimmering, radiant eyes were clear and bright.
Chen Zhuo hummed in acknowledgment. His mouth said “Go ahead,” sounding every bit the upright gentleman, yet the hand resting on her waist did not move away.
After a few seconds of silence, the hand that had been at her waist moved to her chin. The businessman who was always determined to win in business never admitted defeat. He lowered his head again and, as he wished, kissed the red lips he wanted.
However, he did not go too far, nor did he try to take an inch after getting a mile. He merely tasted briefly before releasing her.
A short while later, when he heard the sound of the lock clicking from the bathroom, Chen Zhuo raised his hand to touch the corner of his lip, which had not been bitten today, and smiled silently.
He got up, walked to the bedside landline, and dialed the room cleaning service.
When Lin Wu finished her shower and came out of the bathroom, the originally messy room had been completely refreshed, and the bedsheets had been changed to fresh, dry ones.
She glanced at the upright figure standing on the balcony making a phone call, then bent down to pick up her phone from the bedside table. Only then did she realize it was already past three in the morning.
No wonder she felt so sleepy.
Lin Wu yawned, lifted the blanket, and got into bed.
As soon as she lay down, the person on the balcony seemed to sense it and turned his head to look inside.
Three seconds later, he noticed that the ceiling spotlight in the room had gone out.
Chen Zhuo was not at all surprised by Lin Wu’s childish way of reminding him that she was going to sleep and wanted the lights off. In fact, it almost made him laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” The person on the other end caught the subtle shift in his mood and spoke in a low, eerie tone. “In the dead of night, President Chen, don’t scare people.”
Chen Zhuo gave a faint smirk, completely unreserved. “If President Meng is afraid of being scared, then don’t disturb people’s dreams in the middle of the night.”
Meng Hui let out a soft tsk. “Since when did I know President Chen goes to bed so early.”
“…”
Another lamp went out.
Chen Zhuo lost his patience. “Hanging up. We’ll talk tomorrow if there’s anything.”
His impatient attitude made Meng Hui raise an eyebrow. “Looks like tonight you—”
Before he could finish, Chen Zhuo decisively ended the call and walked back into the room carrying a chill around him.
When he entered, Lin Wu had already turned off the reading light, leaving only a dim yellow night lamp that faintly illuminated the surroundings for him.
“Sorry,” Chen Zhuo always had an excellent attitude when it came to apologizing for delaying Lin Wu’s sleep. “I took a call.”
Lin Wu had her back to him and mumbled vaguely, “I’m asleep.”
Chen Zhuo smiled faintly, said good night, and stood by the bed for a few more minutes. He waited until the warm air in the room gradually thawed his icy cold limbs before taking off his coat, going to the bathroom, and finally lifting the blanket to get into bed.
The last lamp was turned off by Chen Zhuo.
Lin Wu had very high requirements for her sleeping environment. Even the slightest bit of light or sound would make it hard for her to fall asleep.
The room fell completely quiet. Not long after, steady, even breathing could be heard.
Lin Wu slept deeply, for a long time, and very comfortably. She did not wake up midway, nor did she have any nested dreams.
When she opened her eyes, she still felt a little dazed.
There was no one in the room anymore. Lin Wu enjoyed the freedom. She lingered in bed for a while before picking up the nearby robe, putting it on, and heading into the bathroom.
After washing up, Lin Wu changed into a spare set of clothes she had left at Chen Zhuo’s place earlier. Her thoughts became clear and cool again.
Suddenly, the sound of the door lock being opened came from outside.
Lin Wu turned her head and saw Chen Zhuo dressed in a long black windbreaker over a shirt and black trousers. His features were cold and proud, his figure tall and straight, and he was carrying two paper bags in his hand.
Their eyes met.
Seeing her dressed and ready, Chen Zhuo lightly raised an eyebrow, his voice cool and clear. “In such a hurry to leave?”
Chen Zhuo was not saying she was about to leave. He was asking if she was in a hurry to leave.
Lin Wu’s eyes moved slightly. She lowered her lashes to look at the paper bags in his hand and asked, “Scallion oil noodles?”
Chen Zhuo hummed in affirmation and placed the coffee and scallion oil noodles on the side dining table.
Lin Wu did not stand on ceremony with him. She walked over and sat down. “I’m not so busy that I don’t even have time for breakfast.”
Chen Zhuo: “…”
He really did not want to remind her that she often got so busy she skipped dinner entirely.
Lin Wu paid no attention to Chen Zhuo. She opened the insulated container of scallion oil noodles from the paper bag on her own.
The moment the lid was lifted, a rich fragrance of scallion oil spread throughout the room, instantly awakening her appetite and making it impossible to resist.
Lin Wu really liked eating scallion oil noodles, but unfortunately in Shen City she had never found any that truly matched her taste and preferences.
She had high standards for scallion oil noodles. She accepted and enjoyed the aroma of scallion oil, but she did not like having crispy fried scallions placed on top of the noodles. She only accepted the flavor of scallions, not the scallions themselves.
In the past when she went to restaurants for scallion oil noodles, Lin Wu would remember to ask if they could serve it without putting the scallions in the bowl. Some chefs accepted her strange request, while others thought, if you don’t eat scallions, why order scallion oil noodles? They refused her odd demand.
Even those who accepted often forgot, leaving Lin Wu full of anticipation only to leave disappointed.
Over time, she simply stopped ordering the dish.
On the morning after their third meeting, Lin Wu woke up late.
When she opened her eyes, Chen Zhuo was already outside buying breakfast. He asked what she wanted to eat. Still half asleep, Lin Wu did not realize she was once again making her peculiar request to someone outside. “I want scallion oil noodles without scallions.”
After hanging up, Lin Wu came to her senses and hurriedly sent a follow up message: “If they don’t have it, anything else is fine. I’m not that picky.”
Chen Zhuo: “?”
Lin Wu: “?”
Chen Zhuo: “Not having scallion oil noodles anymore?”
Lin Wu blinked, hesitating. “…Can you find ones that taste good?”
Chen Zhuo: “You’ll try it later.”
When Lin Wu saw that reply, she did not hold much hope.
Until he brought breakfast back. She opened it, smelled the familiar fragrance, took one bite, and was completely conquered by that bowl of scallion oil noodles.
She asked Chen Zhuo where he bought it so she could go there herself in the future.
Chen Zhuo said it was in a quiet alley, a shop without a signboard.
Lin Wu had no choice but to give up. Without a signboard she would never find it. She could not possibly ask Chen Zhuo to take her there.
After all, from their second meeting onward, they had agreed that their relationship was limited to meeting in this room every Friday night, to talk, to get close, to go deeper.
Once they woke up in the morning and left this room, they were two complete strangers who did not know each other.
“…”
The scallion oil noodles Chen Zhuo brought her really tasted very good, very much like the ones she had eaten as a child.
She ate quietly, hardly making any sound.
When Chen Zhuo casually glanced sideways, all he could see were her cheeks puffing out as she chewed, bulging and relaxing, completely different from her usual capable, independent, refined, and sharp image she presented to the outside world.
Very cute.
Chen Zhuo could not help thinking.
Sensing his gaze, Lin Wu lifted her head to look at him.
Their eyes met. Chen Zhuo showed not the slightest guilt for peeking. He looked back at her openly and frankly, even curving the corner of his mouth slightly.
Lin Wu paused for a moment, then expressionlessly shifted her gaze away.
After finishing the food, Lin Wu prepared to leave.
Seeing her stand up, Chen Zhuo also got ready to go out.
Lin Wu turned her head to look at him.
Chen Zhuo changed his shoes while saying, “I have something to do at the company.”
“Looks like President Chen has indeed been quite busy lately.” She recalled last night’s dinner engagement.
Chen Zhuo lifted his eyes to glance at her, his tone carrying a trace of teasing. “Still a bit short compared to Attorney Lin.”
Lin Wu: “…”
They entered the elevator together, standing on opposite sides with enough space in the middle for two more people.
The ride down was silent all the way to the parking lot. They walked out one after the other. Chen Zhuo pressed his car key and asked knowingly, “Want me to give you a ride?”
Lin Wu raised her chin defiantly. “My car is over there.”
Looking at her proud and aloof expression, Chen Zhuo suppressed the amusement in his eyes and said in a low voice, “Attorney Lin.”
Lin Wu: “What?”
Chen Zhuo turned his head to look at her, a faint smile on his lips, his voice slow and gentle. “See you next week.”
“…”
Each got into their own car. Lin Wu started the engine but did not leave immediately.
She sat in the driver’s seat, lost in thought for a few minutes. Only after the all black G63 diagonally across from her drove away did she slowly input the destination into the navigation and drive home.
All day Saturday, Lin Wu did not step out of the house once. She curled up at home, reading documents, watching dramas, and sleeping.
On Sunday, He Jiayun, who had just flown back from Hawaii the night before and had rested one night to adjust to the time difference, personally came to her door and dragged her out of the house.
“My great Attorney Lin, such a beautiful weekend, and you finally have a little free time. You’re just going to waste it away at home?” He Jiayun could not understand her habit of staying indoors during holidays. “We’re young people. We should go out more and let the sunshine cleanse us.”
Lin Wu was pulled into the car, her expression helpless. “How is staying home wasting time?”
He Jiayun gave her a sideways glance. “How is it not?”
“…” Lin Wu slowly fastened her seatbelt and muttered under her breath, “It just isn’t.”
The two of them argued back and forth like they were reciting tongue twisters.
In the end, He Jiayun surrendered. “I just want to drag you out for a walk. The season is changing, come with me to stroll around the shops and buy some clothes.”
Hearing this, Lin Wu did not remind her that she had just returned from shopping in the United States. She understood what He Jiayun meant. The main purpose was to buy clothes for her.
Thinking of this, Lin Wu tilted her head and smiled. “Fine. Wherever President He wants to go is fine.”
He Jiayun drove straight to the commercial district in the city center. Several tall buildings stood there, with malls and shops densely packed below, and countless people coming and going.
After parking the car, He Jiayun pulled Lin Wu along and slipped into the brand store with practiced ease.
“Miss He is here.” He Jiayun was a VIP at all the major luxury brands, and the staff in these luxury stores almost all recognized her.
He Jiayun gave a slight nod. “Yes.”
She glanced around. “Have the latest new arrivals come in?”
“They arrived this morning,” the sales associate who was attending to her said with a bright smile. “We were just about to notify Miss He when you walked in.”
The sales associate gestured. “Miss He, Miss Lin, this way please.”
The two entered the VIP lounge for members. The staff brought out the newly arrived clothing and accessories and displayed them in front of the pair.
He Jiayun stood up to take a look, picked up a white strapless dress with clean, sharp tailoring that balanced sensuality and sophistication, and turned to Lin Wu. “This one is pretty nice. Want to try it?”
He Jiayun had been attending major fashion weeks for years. Her taste was famously sharp and distinctive.
If she thought something suited Lin Wu, then it definitely did.
Lin Wu considered for a moment and nodded.
There were still two months until the end of the year, and the law firm would have quite a few events toward year end. This dress would have occasions to be worn.
Besides the white dress, He Jiayun also selected several other coordinated sets of tops and bottoms for her and pushed them into her arms to try on.
Lin Wu had a tall, slender figure with graceful curves. She could always make ordinary clothes look distinctive and special.
Let alone the pieces He Jiayun had chosen.
When she came out of the fitting room wearing the first dress, He Jiayun’s eyes lit up, and so did the eyes of the two sales associates standing nearby. “Miss Lin, you’re truly beautiful.”
Lin Wu gave a faint smile and looked toward He Jiayun. “How is it?”
“Gorgeous,” He Jiayun said, a little smug as she raised an eyebrow. “I knew you could wear it exactly the way the designer intended.”
Lin Wu smiled to herself.
He Jiayun urged her. “Go try on the other two sets too.”
Lin Wu agreed and changed into the second outfit. It was a slightly vintage inspired coordinated set: a black short blazer over a small round collared shirt, paired with flowing wide leg trousers.
It was a style Lin Wu often wore to work.
“Handsome!” When she walked out in it, He Jiayun exclaimed in delight. “This look is stunning.”
Lin Wu tilted her head to check herself in the mirror and somewhat agreed with He Jiayun’s comment.
“Are the trousers a bit big?” He Jiayun asked.
Lin Wu hummed. “The waistband is a little loose.”
The sales associate immediately said, “We have a very unique metal belt that would go perfectly with it.”
He Jiayun turned her head. “Bring it over to try.”
Once the belt was added, Lin Wu’s slim waist was perfectly accentuated. The whole look became sharper, more dashing, elegant, and strikingly handsome.
“Oh my god…” He Jiayun reached out to touch her waist and teased, “Too handsome. I hate that I’m into men.”
Lin Wu was amused by her and teased back, “It’s not too late for you to switch sides now.”
He Jiayun gave her a sideways glance, then stepped back a couple of paces to take her in fully. “You should wear this exact set to the firm next Monday. I’m certain all those little fangirls who worship Li Xiang will defect to your side in an instant.”
At that, Lin Wu raised an eyebrow with a touch of arrogance and adjusted her collar. “Even without wearing this outfit, don’t I already have more admirers at the firm than Li Xiang does?”
He Jiayun choked for a second, then seriously thought about it. “You know what… you’re right.”
Lin Wu had bright, vivid features and a graceful, alluring presence. Her personality and way of handling things were also crisp, straightforward, and bold. As a result, both the men and women at the law firm liked her.
He Jiayun had once summed it up with her: at least half of the single young men at the firm secretly had crushes on her, while the female staff both respected and admired her.
Without surprise, He Jiayun decided to take all the sets she had selected.
She rushed to pay the bill, saying it was a reward for the law firm employees who had been working hard lately. Lin Wu had no choice but to let her have her way.
The two of them shopped for several hours and bought quite a lot, big and small items alike.
Lin Wu offered to treat He Jiayun to a spa session, which finally made her stop spending more money. Together they went to the familiar spa place they often visited.
After the massages at the spa, they had dinner before heading home to rest.
Before going to bed, Lin Wu prepared the materials she would need for the office the next day, then picked up her phone and lay down. She did not particularly enjoy playing on her phone, but to avoid becoming completely disconnected from society, she would occasionally browse current entertainment news and the like. Sometimes she would also peek into the female staff group chat at the law firm to see what gossip everyone was talking about.
As soon as she opened the women’s gossip group, Lin Wu saw 99+ unread messages.
Before she could read them carefully, she first noticed the message He Jiayun had sent: “This back view does look pretty good. He must be a real handsome guy. I’ll go to the firm tomorrow to check him out. Someone please post a front facing photo when you see him.”
Lin Wu was surprised and scrolled upward to understand the context.
They were once again discussing the handsome boss who had parachuted in on the twenty ninth floor. An intern lawyer who went to the firm to work overtime over the weekend said she had seen him in person, and he really was very handsome.
Knowing that ninety nine percent of the women in the entire law firm were curious about how handsome this investment bank boss was, the intern had secretly taken a photo of his back view.
Lin Wu glanced at the blurry, candid shot and somewhat agreed with what they were saying.
From the back alone, the man’s presence was indeed quite impressive, tall and straight, with the air of a true elite.
While she was looking, another message came from He Jiayun: “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 me. What do you want for lunch tomorrow? I’ll have Auntie make it.”
Lin Wu laughed quietly. “Anything is fine. I like everything Auntie cooks.”
He Jiayun: “okok then see you at noon.”
Lin Wu: “See you at noon.”
After making plans with He Jiayun, Lin Wu set her phone aside, took the melatonin she had prepared on the bedside table, swallowed it, and picked up the book she had been reading halfway to continue flipping through the pages.
When a faint trace of sleepiness finally crept in, she quickly turned off the light, closed her eyes, and struggled to fall asleep.
As always, even after taking the medication, Lin Wu still could not sleep well.
She lay there with her eyes closed, counting sheep for nearly an hour before she gave up, opened her eyes, turned on the light, got out of bed, and went to the study to review case files.
It was not until four in the morning that Lin Wu finally felt a little drowsy again.
The previous night she had not slept well, so Lin Wu was in low spirits.
When she went out, she hesitated for a moment but still decided to take a taxi.
Xianghe Law Firm was located in an excellent area, right in the business center of the city, surrounded by several office towers standing tall.
Lin Wu took a taxi to the building, bent down to get out.
She walked into the bright and clean lobby and swiped her card to enter.
While waiting for the elevator, she ran into colleagues from the firm and her own assistant.
“Attorney Lin, good morning.”
Lin Wu responded, “Morning.”
“Attorney Lin, good morning. Have you had breakfast?”
Lin Wu nodded with a slight smile. “I have. How about you all?”
A few people were chatting when Lin Wu suddenly heard the conversation from a few girls standing beside them, also waiting for the elevator.
“Why did you put on makeup to come to work today?”
“…I just felt like it.”
“Stop pretending. You used to show up looking like a mess with bed head.” One of them complained. “This makeup is for the new boss, isn’t it?”
“Can you not call me out?” The girl with makeup adjusted her hair, her face blushing. “Yes, exactly.”
She said a little shyly, “I asked around. President Chen doesn’t have a girlfriend right now. I have to seize this chance.”
“For real? He’s that age and so handsome, and he really doesn’t have a girlfriend?”
“No, I asked his assistant.”
“Then is he maybe—”
Before the person could finish, the elevator they were waiting for arrived.
The silver elevator doors slid open from the middle. Lin Wu withdrew her “eavesdropping” ears, lifted her head, and was holding back a laugh as she prepared to step in when she first heard the surprised gasps from the girls beside her.
At the same time, she saw the man standing inside the elevator, dressed in a high quality black suit with exquisite tailoring.
It was Chen Zhuo.