Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Su He pushed the door open, tucking the gift bag behind his back. The rapid clatter of keyboard keys ceased as Sheng Jinyu adjusted the blue-light blocking glasses on his nose and looked up.

In Su He’s memory, Sheng Jinyu rarely appeared like this. His hair, parted casually in the middle, fell loosely on either side, with a few stray strands resting on his platinum-framed glasses. Yet, there was no hint of aloofness in his eyes.

He raised a hand towards Su He, a slight quirk to his lips. “Didn’t Auntie Ling say she was making red bean soup for you? Why aren’t you waiting downstairs? What are you doing up here?”

Su He walked over, about to speak, when Sheng Jinyu’s long arm reached out, pulling him directly into an embrace.

Stumbling, Su He landed backward on Sheng Jinyu’s lap, barely catching himself on the desk to avoid falling. The gift bag in his hand was now clutched tightly to his chest.

“I have something for you,” Su He mumbled, squirming awkwardly, trying to rise.

But Sheng Jinyu’s arm settled familiarly around his waist, showing no intention of letting him go. Su He pushed weakly but couldn’t free himself.

“What is it?”

Sheng Jinyu had already noticed the gift bag. Peering over Su He’s shoulder, he tapped the small box inside with two fingers. “This? It looks a bit familiar…”

As Su He pulled out one of the small boxes, a vague sense of dread crept over Sheng Jinyu. He distinctly remembered seeing this box—and not long ago.

“When I went to that vintage shop the other day, I was actually picking something out for you. You’re always so good to me, so I wanted to give you something in return,” Su He continued, unprompted.

Wait…

Without waiting for a response, Su He opened the jewelry box, revealing that hideous, patchwork-quilt of a brooch once more. Sheng Jinyu’s pupils dilated in shock.

Sheng Jinyu: “…”

So, after all this, the thing was meant for *him*?

Talk about being hoist with his own petard…

“Do you like it?” Su He asked, eyes shining with anticipation.

Sheng Jinyu let out a strained chuckle, his voice almost gritted. “Of course. How could I not like a gift from Assistant Su?”

Su He took one look at the forced smile and awkward expression and immediately understood. No wonder Sheng Jinyu had acted so strangely in the shop that day—no wonder he’d picked something so far from his usual taste.

“That day… did you think I was buying it for someone else?” Su He whispered.

Caught off guard, Sheng Jinyu’s throat tightened. He cleared it lightly. “Do I really seem that petty?”

*You do!*

Su He mercifully refrained from calling him out. Instead, he pulled out a second small box from the bag and pressed it into Sheng Jinyu’s hand. “Then take a look at this one.”

Sheng Jinyu blinked in surprise, opening it with one hand. Inside, a gold and red intertwined koi fish shimmered under the light—the very same koi lapel pin Su He had picked out himself!

A spark of delight lit up Sheng Jinyu’s eyes. Resting his chin on Su He’s shoulder, he nuzzled lightly and chuckled. “Do you really like koi that much? Keeping two isn’t enough—you had to buy one for me to wear every day so you can see it?”

Su He flinched at the ticklish sensation, laughing as he tried to push away Sheng Jinyu’s tousled head.

“Yeah, I really like koi. They’re adorable.”

For some reason, Sheng Jinyu laughed even harder at that, pressing kisses and playful nips along Su He’s neck.

Su He was extremely ticklish, squirming and laughing until he doubled over onto the desk.

When he lifted his head again, his own reflection stared back at him—from the computer screen.

Su He’s eyes widened. It was a video conference call pop-up window!

On one side of the screen was him, sitting in Sheng Jinyu’s lap. On the other side—a large conference room filled with a room full of suited employees deep in discussion.

!!!

Su He’s heart skipped a beat. Had he just been livestreamed this entire time?!

He jolted violently, the box in his hand clattering onto the desk with a loud thud.

Feeling Su He stiffen, Sheng Jinyu followed his gaze and immediately understood—Su He was terrified their office romance had just been exposed to the world, his face frozen in horror.

With a smirk, Sheng Jinyu pushed the laptop aside and nuzzled the tip of Su He’s ear teasingly. “What’re you scared of? The camera wasn’t on.”

Su He spun around, eyes wide with panic.

“Really? You’re not lying?”

“Since when do executives need to turn on their cameras during meetings? *I’m* the one listening to reports, not giving a presentation,” Sheng Jinyu countered logically.

Su He considered this and felt somewhat reassured. His nerves settled slightly, though he still harbored some doubt.

He leaned over the computer, scrutinizing the screen until he was absolutely certain the other side couldn’t see or hear them.

“Relieved?” Sheng Jinyu’s arm curled around his waist again as he murmured persistently, “As if I’d just let anyone see you like this.”

The words sounded oddly possessive, but Su He couldn’t pinpoint why.

A tingling sensation spread from his waist, reminding him just how long he’d been sitting in Sheng Jinyu’s lap. His face flushed inexplicably, and he quickly pushed himself up using the desk.

“Gift delivered! I’m going for that red bean soup now. You keep working!”

Before Sheng Jinyu could respond, Su He had already darted out the door, even remembering to slam it shut behind him.

Sheng Jinyu couldn’t help but chuckle, replaying Su He’s flustered expression in his mind over and over before shaking his head with amusement.

Honestly, waiting for this blockhead to figure things out on his own was hopeless. If Su He’s affections were directed at anyone else, they’d probably never get anywhere in this lifetime.

But then again, maybe only *he* had the patience to put up with this fool.

His phone pinged suddenly—Executive Assistant Fang had sent over a design draft. Sheng Jinyu zoomed in on the design with two fingers, examining the gem-encrusted bands on the screen. Scrolling further revealed the final rendering: a ring, its central diamond surrounded by sapphires, like cresting waves against pale, slender fingers.

It would look stunning.

Sheng Jinyu smiled faintly at his phone. It was about time he started considering these things seriously.

---

A few days later, autumn in Guanghzou deepened, the air growing crisper. A fresh batch of plump, fresh seasonal perch arrived at Xiaoxie Garden, and Su He asked Auntie Ling to pick the fattest one for a slow-simmered soup.

Two hours later, the rich aroma of fish stew filled the entire kitchen.

Having eaten his fill at dinner, Su He set aside just one bowl for himself and carefully packed the rest into a thermal container for the driver to deliver to Sheng Jinyu.

Sheng Jinyu had been swamped with back-to-back meetings at the company these past few days, barely catching a break. By the time the fish soup arrived, he had just wrapped up a shareholders’ meeting, his body stiff and his stomach empty.

The steaming soup sat on his desk, and Sheng Jinyu was already smiling before even taking a sip—right on cue, Su He’s WeChat message popped up: *Did you get to eat yet?*

Sheng Jinyu opened the camera and took a perfect 360-degree shot of the fish soup.

Assistant Fang was tidying up documents nearby. The mouthwatering smell in the air was too irresistible, and he couldn’t help but glance in Sheng Jinyu’s direction. Though he couldn't really see the soup, he did catch the smug smile on his boss’s face, eyebrows raised high.

It was as if that bowl of soup was some rare delicacy, something no amount of money could buy.

Noticing his gaze, Sheng Jinyu waved generously. “Nothing else for now. Go home and have your meal.”

Assistant Fang hid his confusion, adjusted his glasses, and nodded. Just as he was about to slip away, his phone rang. He stepped aside to answer, exchanged a few words, then returned with the phone in hand. “Boss, it’s the manager from Xuan’s. It seems Mr. Su made a reservation there.”

Sheng Jinyu had just selected a few photos to send to Su He and was typing a message when he took the phone, replying coolly, “Speak.”

Xuan’s was a fancy old-school Chinese restaurant in the eastern part of the city, and its owner was an old acquaintance of Sheng Jinyu’s. The manager on the other end jumped right into apologies.

“President Sheng, I sincerely apologize. The staff didn’t realize that Mr. Su was your assistant. With Valentine’s Day next week, the restaurant is fully booked, and they turned him down without knowing. It’s entirely our fault for messing up your plans.”

“How about we reserve your usual VIP room for next Saturday?”

Sheng Jinyu understood—Su He had tried to book a table at Xuan’s but was refused due to the Valentine's rush. The manager assumed Su He was making the reservation on his behalf and was now calling to make amends.

Why would Su He book a table at Xuan’s?

And on Valentine’s Day, no less?

The manager, eager to make up for the mistake, continued explaining, assuming Sheng Jinyu was planning a date night. He even began detailing the special Valentine’s Day promotions.

As Sheng Jinyu listened, his attention drifted. His fingers tapped absently on the desk. Su He had secretly tried to book a table on Valentine’s Day—could it be that he was planning to…

Confess his feelings?

A slow grin spread across his face. He was kinda relieved that he’d ordered the ring early. The finished piece would be in his hands in just a few days, just in time.

That evening, when Sheng Jinyu returned to Xiaoxie Garden, he ran into Su He in the living room. Wearing cozy off-white pajamas, Su He was playing with a cat wand under the glow of the wall lamp, playing with the kitten.

It was obvious he’d been waiting for Sheng Jinyu to return. The moment Sheng Jinyu stepped into the living room, before the door even closed, Su He was already hurrying over with the cat wand in hand.

The little calico kitten waddled after him on tiny legs, only to trip over his slipper in its haste.

It was nearly midnight by then, the moonlight cool and the streets empty.

Sheng Jinyu had driven home in silence, cutting through the darkness. When he opened the door and saw that warm, dim light—and the person smiling as he ran toward him—something in his chest ached sharply.

Like fruit picked too early, sweet yet tinged with sourness, it nearly brought tears to his eyes.

Su He kept talking, asking him this and that, and eventually, almost casually, asked if Sheng Jinyu had any plans for the following weekend. Sheng Jinyu immediately perked up.

Next weekend—the exact time Su He had tried to book at Xuan’s.

His conviction grew stronger. With a smug look, he said he had no plans. He felt the urge to blurt it out, but he suppressed it after a moment.

If only he had the ring now, he might have pulled it out right then. He wanted to see Su He’s eyes light up with surprise and excitement.

He wanted it now, couldn't wait.

Now, more than ever, he regretted not ordering it sooner. If he had, he could have carried it in his pocket today.