At 10:30 AM, Chu Yi came downstairs and was surprised to find Shen Jin already there, leisurely sipping coffee. Shen Jin was genuinely free this weekend.
Chu Yi admired Shen Jin’s elegant way of drinking such bitter coffee.
How can he even swallow that? he wondered.
He greeted them, “Shen Jin, Uncle Wen, I’m heading out.”
Hearing the commotion, Shen Jin set down his coffee and looked up. “Do you have a car?”
“Yes, Uncle Li is waiting outside for me,” Chu Yi replied.
Uncle Li always drove him now, and the man was incredibly patient and kind. Ever since Shen Jin’s outburst, the entire Shen Family had treated Chu Yi with utmost respect.
Chu Yi slipped on his shoes and headed for the door. “I’m off then!”
Shen Jin’s gaze followed him until he disappeared from sight.
Chu Yi wore a thick black coat, but the dark color didn’t make him look somber. Instead, it accentuated his fair skin, while the white sweater underneath gave him a youthful and lively appearance.
With his slender waist and long legs, Chu Yi was strikingly handsome, making everything he wore look exceptionally good. His relaxed and approachable demeanor stirred a protective instinct in others, making them want to take care of him.
Chu Yi arrived at the hotel hosting the social gathering right on time.
The Senior Brothers and Sisters organizing the event had reserved the entire floor. Although it was a buffet-style restaurant, the variety of dishes was impressive, and the food tasted quite good.
A large crowd had gathered for the event, and since it was a social gathering, some traditional activities were in order.
Several people took to the stage to showcase their talents: singing, dancing, playing the violin—each performance was captivating, transforming the event into a mini-gala.
Chu Yi, being an ordinary person with no particular talents, remained in the audience as a spectator.
After the talent show concluded, it was finally time to eat. Chu Yi’s stomach was already growling. While the performances had been entertaining, his mind had been focused on the food the entire time.
After glancing at Shen Jin several times, Gu Jin finally couldn’t resist speaking. “I thought you’d be incredibly busy this weekend.”
Gu Jin was well aware of the recent dramatic changes within the Shen Corporation. In fact, everyone in Lanch City’s elite circles knew about them. He had assumed Shen Jin would be swamped with work—not quite managing a thousand affairs a day, but certainly not as relaxed as he seemed now, casually dragging Gu Jin out for drinks at a bar in the middle of the day.
What Gu Jin admired most about Shen Jin was his almost inhuman self-control, even when drinking. Shen Jin never drank more than necessary and never got drunk, not even tipsy.
Sometimes Gu Jin wondered why Shen Jin bothered drinking at all. After all, wasn’t the point of drinking to experience that tipsy feeling? Yet Shen Jin never allowed himself to lose control, no matter what.
“It’s manageable,” Shen Jin replied. “Not too busy.”
Before this crisis, Shen Jin had already purged most of Shen Chunhan’s loyalists from the company. Even if Shen Chunhan hadn’t met with this accident, Shen Jin would have completely taken control of the Shen Corporation within six months. The timeline had simply been accelerated, making him slightly busier than anticipated.
But for Shen Jin, handling such situations was effortless.
“If you’re not busy, why don’t you take Chu Yi out to play?” Gu Jin asked. “I think he really enjoys going out.”
Shen Jin replied quietly, “He has plans this weekend.”
“Hahahaha!” Gu Jin couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “So that’s why you called me out! I get it now.”
Shen Jin glanced at him, and Gu Jin made a gesture to stop laughing, but the smile on his face refused to fade. “Chu Yi has plans? Why aren’t you going with him?”
Shen Jin’s gaze deepened. “He’s at a Social gathering.”
“Hahahaha!” This time, Gu Jin laughed for nearly a full minute. Chu Yi was actually at a social gathering!
Finally, under Shen Jin’s increasingly intense stare, Gu Jin managed to stop laughing, though his shoulders continued to tremble.
Shen Jin shot him a sidelong glance. “It’s a bit cold,” Gu Jin explained.
Shen Jin didn’t bother responding.
But Gu Jin had already figured it out. He cut straight to the chase: “Have you fallen for Chu Yi?”
Gu Jin knew the circumstances of Shen Jin and Chu Yi’s arranged marriage. Back then, their group of friends had all agreed that Shen Jin could never possibly fall for his marriage partner.
Shen Jin remained silent, taking a sip of his drink. But Gu Jin understood: Shen Jin’s silence spoke volumes.
Gu Jin offered him advice: “If you like him, just tell him directly. How else would he know?”
He knew Shen Jin had never been in a relationship and wouldn’t know how to express his feelings. Chu Yi was still young and probably unaware of his own feelings.
Shen Jin retorted, “I don’t need your advice. Mind your own business.”
Shen Jin was puzzled. Chu Yi had been eagerly awaiting his return, so why was he attending a social gathering on the weekend—a gathering Shen Jin himself had approved?
Seeing his friend’s flustered expression, Gu Jin knew Shen Jin was embarrassed and angry. “Alright, alright, I won’t say another word. Handle it yourself.”
If Shen Jin could manage the entire Shen Corporation, he should be able to handle his own emotions.
Gu Jin reminded him, “If you’re free later, you could pick up Chu Yi. After all, the gathering is nearby.”
After a moment’s thought, Gu Jin continued, “The gathering is probably at a hotel. If anyone meets someone they like, they can just get a room right away. Young people these days are much more open than we were. Your Chu Yi is so handsome and good-looking—he must have plenty of admirers. And he seems so innocent.”
Gu Jin noticed Shen Jin’s brow furrow slightly.
At the hotel, Chu Yi was thoroughly enjoying the buffet. The food was genuinely delicious, and he was determined to get his money’s worth.
As the meal was winding down, Chu Yi received a call. “When are we leaving?”
Chu Yi glanced around. Everyone had mostly finished eating, and the activities were wrapping up. “Probably in about half an hour.”
Shen Jin’s voice was calm over the phone. “I happen to be out right now. I’ll come pick you up.”
“No need,” Chu Yi replied. “I can just have Uncle Li come get me.”
“He’s busy and can’t make it,” Shen Jin said.
Misunderstanding Shen Jin’s meaning, Chu Yi chuckled. “No worries, I can take a taxi. Don’t bother coming if you’re busy.”
“I’m not busy,” Shen Jin insisted.
For some reason, Chu Yi sensed a hint of displeasure in Shen Jin’s tone, especially in the way he emphasized “I’m not busy,” as if gritting his teeth. Chu Yi scratched his head, trying to understand. “Then… should I come find you later? We can go home together?”
“I’ll be passing by your place soon,” Shen Jin replied.
“Okay, I’ll wait for you here.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Chu Yi couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Jin’s before hanging up had sounded strangely gentle, almost unsettlingly so.
As soon as he ended the call, his senior sat down beside him. “Want to catch a movie with us later?”
Chu Yi was surprised. “A movie? I didn’t know that was part of the plan. I thought we’d just eat and then head home.”
The senior chuckled. “You’ll be free anyway, right? Might as well join us for the latest blockbuster.”
Chu Yi shook his head. “I’m not going.”
The senior seemed disappointed. “Really? Several people here have taken a liking to you today. They were hoping to get to know you better.”
Chu Yi’s eyes widened. “Senior, I’m not going to the movies. I’m heading home soon.”
Seeing that Chu Yi couldn’t be persuaded, the senior relented. “Alright, maybe we can hang out another time.”
Chu Yi had been reluctant to come in the first place, and the senior had hoped he’d change his mind once he arrived. But since Chu Yi was set on leaving, the senior didn’t press the issue.
After the meal, some people, like Chu Yi, opted to head home or attend to their own affairs instead of going to the movies. Of course, there were also those who had fallen for each other at first sight and slipped away for private dates.
As Chu Yi left the hotel, someone called out his name from behind.
A young man hurried after him. “Let’s exchange contact information,” he said.
The senior brother had been right—several people at the social gathering had taken an immediate liking to Chu Yi. The young man had planned to introduce himself during the movie, but when Chu Yi skipped the film, he had no choice but to ask for his contact information directly.
A luxury car glided to a stop nearby, its occupants overhearing the young man’s request.
Chu Yi was so focused on rejecting the young man that he didn’t notice the car slowly pulling up beside him.
“I’m sorry,” Chu Yi said. “I only came here for the meal.”
The message was clear. Understanding Chu Yi’s meaning, the young man reluctantly left, his disappointment evident.
Shen Jin, sitting in the car, witnessed the entire scene. Chen Ye, also in the car, couldn’t resist glancing at Shen Jin through the rearview mirror. He had to admit, Chu Yi’s striking looks made it easy to understand why people were drawn to him.
Only after rejecting the young man did Chu Yi turn around and notice the car parked beside him. *When did Shen Jin arrive?*
The weather was bitterly cold. After standing outside for just a few minutes, Chu Yi began to feel chilled.
As he got into the car, Chu Yi rubbed his fingertips together, noticing how icy they were.
Shen Jin noticed his gesture. “Are you cold?”
Chu Yi nodded. “It’s a bit cold outside.” But the car was warm, and his fingers would warm up soon enough.
Just as he said this, his icy fingers suddenly felt a surge of warmth. Shen Jin’s large hands had enveloped Chu Yi’s.
Chu Yi’s hand looked small in Shen Jin’s grasp, completely enclosed by his.
Chu Yi stared in astonishment, looking down at their joined hands before glancing up at Shen Jin.
Shen Jin’s expression remained unchanged. “Still cold?”
The heat from Shen Jin’s palms contrasted sharply with Chu Yi’s icy fingertips. Chu Yi felt the warmth slowly spreading from his fingertips to his chest.
“No longer cold,” Chu Yi said. “It’s very warm.”
And so, Shen Jin continued to hold Chu Yi’s hand. The car was warm, and Chu Yi was wearing a thick coat. Before long, he felt his palm growing slightly damp.
Chu Yi glanced at Shen Jin, who showed no signs of letting go. Worried that his palm would soon become sweaty and that it would be impolite to leave his sweat on Shen Jin’s hand, he said, “Shen Jin, I’m getting a bit hot. Can you let go now?”
Shen Jin released his hand without a word. Perhaps due to the excessive warmth, Chu Yi’s fingertips had turned a faint pink.
Chu Yi took off his coat, feeling that the car’s temperature was indeed too high.
