Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Would Lin Qingshi view him a bit more favorably after that tearful apology? As humiliating as the crying was, if it could dissolve even a fraction of the resentment lingering in the young master's heart, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. From their first meeting, he’d left nothing but a terrible impression, and afterward, he’d only made things worse… He hoped this might narrow the distance between them, even just a little.

He hadn’t thought much while crying, nor had he cared about his image. Would Lin Qingshi judge him for it? Probably not—after all, he’d managed to make him laugh just now.

He should ask Uncle Li whether the other gardens had been renovated yet. Being confined to the room wasn’t healthy; they needed to go out for a walk.

All his recent tests had come back stable, so there shouldn’t be any issues. But if… No, there couldn’t be any “ifs.” He’d call another meeting with the doctors tomorrow morning—the plan needed constant adjustments based on Lin Qingshi’s condition.

Sheng Lian let his thoughts wander, trying to keep his attention away from his hands.

Right now, while Lin Qingshi was uncomfortable, if he got any improper reactions, he’d be downright beastly! He had to distract himself!

Luckily, Lin Qingshi, lying on the bed, was equally tense and didn’t notice the odd expression on his face.

Lin Qingshi tensed at the contact when those hands touched his chest.

Unlike his own perpetually cool body temperature, Sheng Lian’s palms were almost scalding, as if they would sear him like a brand. He instinctively shifted but had nowhere to escape—and making a fuss would be undignified. So he stiffened, letting Sheng Lian’s hands press gently against his chest.

“Relax a little,” Sheng Lian coaxed softly. Despite the room being temperature-controlled, Lin Qingshi felt the heat rising, as if he were being slow-roasted over coals. How could he possibly relax under these circumstances?

Though he thought he couldn’t relax, it didn’t take long before his body completely softened.

Partly because holding himself rigid took effort, and he was already weak—he couldn’t keep it up for long. The other reason was… Sheng Lian hadn’t been exaggerating. He really had learned a bit about massage.

His movements weren't practiced, but they were careful, attentive to Lin Qingshi’s comfort.

It still hurt a little, but perhaps because those hands were warmer, the pain was milder than when he did it himself—barely tolerable for Lin Qingshi.

He bit his lower lip, choking back any whimpers, eyes tightly shut as he tried to ignore the hands on him, enduring silently. The soreness gradually faded; this bizarre treatment would be over soon.

His mind drifted to work—the quarterly reports he hadn’t reviewed, the upcoming major project… Sterile business matters were the best way to cool down any rising tension. Lin Qingshi quickly steadied himself.

This was just a normal massage. Sheng Lian hadn’t crossed any lines. Was it the hormonal changes messing with him? Or maybe it had just been too long since they’d… He was a healthy man, after all, with normal needs—otherwise, he would’ve thrown Sheng Lian out of the room long ago. It must be the extended dry spell making his thoughts run wild.

Later, he’d look for that meditation verses. The family library had it… He’d send someone to fetch it. He didn’t want to see his parents.

Lost in these thoughts, Lin Qingshi didn’t notice Sheng Lian’s hands had stopped.

Until Sheng Lian’s thumb brushed over his lips.

Sheng Lian’s touch was surprisingly gentle, the force light, almost lingering, tracing his lips in a way that felt dangerously intimate. His tightly pressed lips parted slightly, and the sound he’d been holding back nearly escaped—

Lin Qingshi’s eyes jolted open as if electrocuted, and he slapped Sheng Lian’s hand away with a sharp *smack*. The sudden shock sent him into a violent coughing spell.

Sheng Lian startled, reaching out to pat his back, but was pushed away—Lin Qingshi’s slender arm lacked strength, but Sheng Lian didn’t dare move closer. He could only watch as Lin Qingshi coughed until his ears turned red, slowly calming down, eyes watery but gaze glacial.

“What… *cough*… were you doing?” Lin Qingshi demanded hoarsely.

Sheng Lian affected an innocent tilt of his head. “Huh? I just saw you biting your lip too hard—it was bleeding. I didn’t want you to hurt yourself… I thought you were asleep and didn’t want to wake you, so I acted without thinking. Did I hurt you?”

He sounded so earnest, as if he’d been nothing but all business during the session, without a single improper thought. Lin Qingshi narrowed his eyes skeptically, studying Sheng Lian’s carefully blank face before scoffing. “Never mind. That’s enough for today.”

The ache had mostly subsided anyway.

As for Lin Qingshi’s dismissive attitude, Sheng Lian obediently withdrew his hands. Despite his hulking frame, he played the role of obedience convincingly. While Lin Qingshi lowered his head to adjust his clothes, a predatory gleam flashed in Sheng Lian’s eyes.

He’d noticed Lin Qingshi’s flushed skin—unlike his own, that fair, translucent complexion made every slight change glaringly apparent, especially against the contrast of his hands…

Touching Lin Qingshi’s lips hadn’t been intentional, but seeing him bite until he bled, those pale lips stained crimson, Sheng Lian couldn’t look away. There was concern, but also something darker, more visceral. By the time he regained his senses, his hand had already been smacked away.

Like a starved man gulping ambrosia, the softness was gone in an instant. Sheng Lian curled his hand into a fist, trying to preserve that fleeting warmth.

They’d been fighting before, then came the pregnancy news… Counting the days, it had been nearly a month since they’d last…

Sheng Lian shook his head, forcing those thoughts away.

Thinking was pointless. He wasn’t an animal. The difference between humans and beasts was self-control!

“Does it still hurt? Should I massage it a bit more?” Sheng Lian composed his features into one of pure concern. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. If it hurts, don’t hold back—”

“It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Lin Qingshi found no fault in his words but remained suspicious, interrupting curtly. “It’s late. Let’s sleep.”

Though he hadn’t been awake for long, the day had drained him. Exhaustion was evident on his face. Sheng Lian abandoned all rogue intentions, carefully helping Lin Qingshi out of bed to prepare for bed, only leaving after ensuring he was comfortably settled.

Then Lin Qingshi shut the door in his face.

In some ways, Lin Qingshi was uncannily sharp.

Sheng Lian obediently retreated to the adjacent room to sleep.

***

The next morning.

Sheng Lian pushed the door open cautiously. It wasn’t locked—meaning Lin Qingshi wasn’t angry. Relieved, he stepped inside with a smile.

As expected, Lin Qingshi was already awake. Unusually, instead of his usual loose homewear, he was buttoning up a button-down shirt.

Noticing Sheng Lian’s entrance from the corner of his eye, Lin Qingshi tilted his chin up slightly, signaling for him to come adjust his collar.

Sheng Lian approached without hesitation, meticulously smoothing out every detail.

“Going out today?” he asked as he worked.

Lin Qingshi checked the time, distractedly thumbing through his phone. “Mm. Need to visit the company.”

Even after taking a backseat post-marriage, Lin Qingshi had never stayed away this long.

The rumor mill was probably churning again, and certain veterans in the company were probably getting restless. Lin Qingqing, after all, was only an interim stand-in—she couldn’t fully suppress those wily veterans. With a major project on the horizon, if they made waves, the company could face setbacks. He needed to step in and crush their delusions at the root.

Besides, this pregnancy had been precarious. If anything happened later… He had to smooth the path for Lin Qingqing, ensuring a decade’s efforts wouldn’t go to waste.

The doctor had also said some fresh air would do him good. Staying indoors for too long, though seemingly harmless, could affect his mood over time.

After sleeping all day yesterday and with the massage easing his discomfort, he was unusually well. After careful consideration, Lin Qingshi decided to visit the company—while his stomach was still flat, he’d lay the groundwork and draw the noose tighter.

Lin Qingshi got into the car.

Sheng Lian followed.

“Don’t you have work today?”

Pretending not to hear the unspoken order to leave, Sheng Lian grinned. “One day off won’t hurt. Speaking of which, we’ve been married almost a year, but your people have never met the ‘company spouse,’ right? I should show my face—stop anyone from getting any funny ideas…”

Seeing the teasing glint in his eyes, Lin Qingshi fixed him with a withering look. “Be normal.”

Sheng Lian instantly snapped to attention. “Right, right. I’m just worried. I should be there to have your back.” If someone was this keen to wait on him, Lin Qingshi wouldn’t refuse. He wordlessly acquiesced to the explanation.

Lin Qingshi's reappearance after a month stirred hidden tensions throughout the Lin family, from top to bottom.

Some breathed a sigh of relief, while others hid in the shadows, gnashing their teeth in resentment.

"That sickly bastard is still alive! How the hell is he not dead yet?"

"What do we do? Will we be exposed...?"

"If we're found out, it's all over! He's a heartless freak—he won't care about blood ties when the time comes!"

"...We'll have to act in advance."

In the darkness, several pairs of eyes fixed on Lin Qingshi with hatred.