Shine on Me

The breakfast at the five-star hotel was actually quite ordinary, but the small wontons were unexpectedly delicious. Unfortunately, the portions were too small, so I ended up eating two bowls and still wanting another.

The man across from me had already finished his meal, looking energetic and nothing like someone who had almost pulled an all-nighter yesterday. Holding a cup of coffee in one hand and scrolling through digital news with the other, he still found time to question me, "If you eat so much now, will you still have room for the banquet later?"

Eating more gives me energy—what do you know?

I waved my hand at him. "You'll see what I'm capable of later... Oh, you're not eating your bread anymore? Then I'll help you finish it."

I immediately speared it with my fork.

After taking a bite, I noticed the other side was unusually quiet. I looked up to find Lin Yusen staring at me with a somewhat speechless expression.

"What?" I mumbled with my mouth full. "You weren’t going to eat it anyway. Can’t let it go to waste, Mr. Lin."

"Nothing." He set down his coffee cup. "I was just calculating the cost... um, expenses. Seems like they might increase a bit."

"Can you not be such a workaholic?" Talk of costs and expenses was giving me a headache. I quickly finished the bread and commented, "It’s a bit dry and not very tasty. Do you prefer Western-style breakfasts?"

"Western-style is more convenient when living alone. I’m not particular about it—it can be adjusted."

"Oh, right." I nodded. "Adjusting it to be more varied would make the nutrition more balanced."

As soon as I said it, I remembered that the person sitting across from me was a genuine medical Ph.D. Spouting such things felt like showing off in front of an expert. Just as I was feeling a bit embarrassed, Lin Yusen gave a quiet "Mm."

"Noted."

He was still looking at his digital news, as if his response had been casual. "Finish your soy milk, and then let’s go. No more eating—too much is bad for your stomach."

"Okay."

The snow outside had stopped. Sitting by the window, the morning sunlight streamed in warmly. The man across from me was reading the news, while I held my cup, unconsciously slowing down as I drank the soy milk.

After finishing, we checked out at the hotel front desk and headed to the underground garage to get the car.

Seeing the unfamiliar vehicle, I was surprised. "You changed cars?"

Lin Yusen usually drove an ordinary BMW, but this one... "I don’t think I’ve seen you drive this before."

"It was sent back to the factory for repairs last year. After getting it back, I haven’t driven it much. But your standards are too high, and I couldn’t meet them, so I had to make up for it in other ways."

"What standards?" I was confused.

"You forgot?" He sighed. "'Be a little more handsome.'"

Pfft! I burst out laughing.

Couldn’t be any more handsome...

Mr. Lin, just how narcissistic are you?!

"Alright, glad I could amuse you. Get in the car."

"Okay!"

I ran to the passenger side and opened the door but then paused. Looking up at the man across the car, I said earnestly, "Actually, today you..."

I had intended to compliment him openly, but the words caught in my throat, and I suddenly felt too shy to say them.

He stood on the other side of the car, his gaze intense as he looked at me. "Actually what?"

Actually...Although he usually dressed with great care, his demeanor was always understated, but today it seemed he held nothing back, dazzling to the eye. Earlier, when I came downstairs and saw him standing in the lobby—tall, upright, and strikingly distinguished—I was momentarily stunned at first glance. Walking toward him under everyone’s gaze, I even felt a twinge of vanity.

“Actually, you look even more handsome today!”

I finally blurted it out, though my face grew a little warm.

He gazed at me, then slowly smiled.

“Worth trying several ties then. Get in, Miss Nie. I’m happy to be your chauffeur today.”

Mr. Lin’s “even more handsome” car was utterly useless against Shanghai’s formidable traffic. The road from Pudong to Puxi was jammed the whole way, but luckily we’d left early. By the time we reached the hotel, the bride and groom were already at the entrance greeting guests.

As usual, Lin Yusen dropped me off at the door and went to find parking.

The moment the bride saw me, she lifted her gown and ran over without a shred of restraint, punching my arm. “Hey, what’s the deal? You dress up this pretty for my wedding? And what kind of car was that your boyfriend just drove?”

“…Can you not be so violent on your wedding day, boss? Of course I’d dress up a bit for your banquet.”

“Besides~” I blinked at her and grinned, shifting my gaze to Zhuang Xu and Rong Rong. “With a bridesmaid this beautiful and a groomsman this handsome, I thought you weren’t afraid of being upstaged!”

So they were still the bridesmaid and groomsman…

Rong Rong was busy greeting other guests, seemingly not noticing me. Zhuang Xu stood quietly behind the groom, and when his calm eyes met mine, I somehow managed to keep my smile unchanged.

The bride gritted her teeth and growled my name: “Nie! Xi! Gua!”

Laughing, I dodged her reaching claws, silently giving myself full marks.

Her husband soon came over to greet me before hurrying off to attend to other guests.

The bride pulled me aside to a quieter spot.

“It’s all my husband’s fault. He said back when we graduated, everyone was drinking in the dorm, and Zhuang Xu got drunk and said he didn’t know how long he’d have to struggle before he could marry—definitely the last among them—so he promised to be his groomsman… As for me, Rong Rong was so eager… You think I wanted to pick such gorgeous attendants?”

She whispered this long explanation in my ear, then made another half-hearted attempt to punch me.

“Don’t bully her.”

A voice laced with amusement spoke up as someone pulled me aside, narrowly avoiding the bride’s fist. I looked up to see Lin Yusen had returned, my coat draped over his arm.

He handed it to me. “So careless, leaving your coat in the car.”

“Ah, I left it there on purpose. It’s not cold inside the hotel, and carrying it is a hassle.”

Lin Yusen nodded. “You’ll need it when we leave later. I’ll hold it for you.”

With that, he turned to the newlyweds with a smile and presented a red envelope. “Congratulations on your marriage.”

Huh? He prepared a red envelope too?

I protested beside him, “Why are you giving her one? Didn’t I say I was bringing you along to freeload? Now we’re giving double!”

The bride’s glare instantly shot my way.

Lin Yusen chuckled. “It’s not double. Shouldn’t the gift be from me?”

“…But this is way too thick. Boss, consider this covering your next baby’s gift too. May you have a child soon!”I could tell our boss was really about to hit me this time, so I quickly took out the red envelope I had prepared from my pocket and handed it to her. "He gave his, but that has nothing to do with me. Boss, this one’s from me. I wish you happiness."

"Xiguang..." Boss seemed a bit sentimental from the wedding and looked like she was about to tear up. She stretched out her arms and gave me a bear hug. "You should grab your own happiness too. Don’t be silly."

The last sentence was whispered softly into my ear.

I patted her back and gave a quiet "Mm."

Boss let go of me and ran back to grab her husband. "Honey, tell someone to seat those two blindingly dazzling people in the corner. I don’t want to see them."

Of course, we weren’t actually seated in the corner. The seating had been arranged long ago, with two tables reserved for our university classmates attending the wedding.

Naturally, I sat at the same table as Xiaofeng and Siliang. There were still two empty seats beside me even as the banquet began. Siliang said they were reserved for the bridesmaid and groomsman since there wasn’t enough space at the main table.

I froze for a moment but then continued chatting with them.

The bridesmaid and groomsman probably wouldn’t even have a chance to sit down and eat.

The wedding ceremony soon began.

Although Boss had claimed she wanted everything simple, it was still quite grand.

The bride and groom, accompanied by the bridesmaid and groomsman, walked into the banquet hall to the wedding march, passing through floral arches before stepping onto the stage.

I overheard people at the next table whispering.

"The bride and groom make a good match."

"Wow, that groomsman is so handsome."

Yeah...

Zhuang Xu...

Only now, with so many people looking at the stage together, did I dare to gaze at him so intently.

He...

was different.

Thinner than during our university days, with an air of sharpness about him. Dressed in a well-tailored suit, his expression and posture were like a sword with its edge fully exposed...

What had he gone through to become like this now?

How unfortunate that I hadn’t witnessed his transformation step by step.

Amid the joyful and noisy atmosphere, my gaze must have been too obvious. His eyes, which had been fixed absently in the distance, suddenly locked directly onto mine.

I hastily turned my head away.

My heart nearly leaped out of my chest in panic. Once I finally calmed down, I started regretting it—had my abrupt reaction been too telling?

Lin Yusen suddenly placed a chopstick-full of food into my bowl, his tone exceedingly gentle. "Xiguang, steady your nerves."

"Oh, thanks." Distracted, I lowered my head—and was instantly shocked.

Where had he found such a huge chunk of fatty meat to give me?

This wasn’t steadying my nerves—it was giving me a fright!

The wedding ceremony on stage had ended, and Boss and her husband began making rounds to toast each table. Rong Rong, dressed in her bridesmaid gown, returned to the banquet. Of course, she didn’t sit next to me, leaving an empty seat between us.

As soon as she sat down, without greeting anyone, she smiled and immediately turned her gaze to Lin Yusen.

"I know who you are."

Everyone except Lin Yusen looked at her in surprise. Rong Rong lifted her chin slightly, her expression carrying a hint of haughtiness. "Yesterday, I thought Mr. Lin’s name sounded familiar. Later, I remembered—Mr. Lin is the grandson of our company’s chairman, isn’t he?"

Lin Yusen smiled faintly. "You work at Shengyuan?"Before Rong Rong could answer, Xiaofeng had already exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, Xiguang, no way! Your boyfriend is from that legendary wealthy family?"

I didn't respond to her, instead looking directly at Rong Rong. Rong Rong's smile was strange, her eyes filled with obvious disdain, as if she found Xiaofeng's words utterly ridiculous.

Without waiting for others to ask how she knew Lin Yusen, Rong Rong volunteered, "I'm the second assistant to Manager Sheng in the marketing department. I've heard him mention you."

"Xingjie?"

Rong Rong nodded primly.

Lin Yusen smiled slightly and said, "So you're Xingjie's secretary," before falling silent.

Rong Rong, seemingly unwilling to let it go, continued, "What a pity I never had the chance to meet Mr. Lin at headquarters. I'd only been with the company for a few months when I heard Mr. Lin was assigned to a subsidiary branch."

I might have imagined it, but I felt she particularly emphasized the words "subsidiary branch," her expression carrying an indescribable nuance.

"And now you're in Suzhou, at the same company as Xiguang. By the way, Xiguang, why did you go to Suzhou? Although it's developing well, the opportunities there can't compare to Shanghai's."

What was she trying to imply? To tell everyone Lin Yusen had been squeezed out of Shengyuan's core? Hinting that he held no significant position in Shengyuan and wasn't worth mentioning?

What business is it of yours!

A surge of anger rose in me. Looking at Ye Rong, I deliberately said in a light tone, "Suzhou is wonderful. That company is a joint venture between my family and Shengyuan, so it's more comfortable working there. Shanghai does have better opportunities, but those kinds of opportunities you mentioned probably aren't necessary for me."

"Oh, right—the Sheng family is quite close with mine. Rong Rong, if you encounter any problems at Shengyuan, feel free to come to me. Don't hesitate—friendship from university days is the most precious. I'll help however I can."

Ye Rong's face darkened instantly.

Lin Yusen glanced at me. He never showed obvious emotions in public, so I couldn't tell what his look meant. Nervously, I leaned closer and whispered, "Was that too much?"

Lin Yusen chuckled.

Annoyed, I asked, "What are you laughing at?"

He leaned in as well, mimicking my whisper, "I'm laughing at someone strutting around in a paper tiger's skin, while the real little tiger beside me only dares to show kitten claws, carefully afraid of being too sharp and hurting someone."

...What did that mean?

Don't mock me like this!

Siliang, probably sensing the awkward atmosphere, habitually tried to smooth things over. "Rong Rong, how do you have time to eat as a bridesmaid? Don't you need to help collect red envelopes?"

It took Ye Rong a while to reply, "The bride's mother is handling it. I came over to take a break."

"You must be tired—eat quickly." Siliang then seemed to remember something and asked me, "Xiguang, the bride mentioned you have gifts for us. Why didn't you bring them today?"

"Oh. I meant to bring them today, but I didn't return to Suzhou yesterday. Next time I—"

Before I could finish, the chair beside me was suddenly pulled back. From the corner of my eye, I first saw a black suit sleeve, then felt a long-missed presence... right beside me.

The groomsman who had just been on stage had abruptly taken the seat next to me.

I froze instantly.Siliang was already teasing me, "Oh, what did I just hear? You didn't go back to Suzhou last night? Could it be you stayed in Shanghai? Where did you stay?"

Her suggestive gaze darted between me and Lin Yusen. "Mr. Lin must have a place in Shanghai, right?"

Lin Yusen glanced at her and replied calmly, "My place is very close to Xiguang's hotel, so it was convenient to pick her up in the morning."