Volume One, Chapter 19: More Than Sincere—Utterly Irresistible

One really shouldn't get too carried away, or one might lose one's head.

Lin Yuxia was laughing so hard she was rocking back and forth, and in a moment of carelessness, her finger brushed against the scorching barbecue grill. She jumped up in pain. A blister formed on her fingertip instantly.

Fei Xun said coldly, "Can't laugh anymore?"

Lin Yuxia, eyes welling up with tears from the pain, looked down at her finger pitifully.

Fei Xun sighed, set down the meat skewer in his hand, and led her by her uninjured hand toward the house.

Lin Yuxia asked, "Where are we going?"

Fei Xun didn't answer. He strode ahead, walked straight across half the room, and pulled her into the bathroom. He grabbed her burned finger and pressed it under the faucet, letting the cold water run over it.

As the constant flow of cold water hit the bright red skin, her fingertip cooled down, but the side of her body pressed against Fei Xun’s began to heat up for no apparent reason.

Lin Yuxia stole a glance at the man in the mirror. Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a high brow bone, and a sharp bridge of the nose. Even the thin bathrobe couldn't hide his defined muscular lines; in terms of looks alone, he could absolutely crush most male celebrities.

He was focused on her injured finger, his lashes lowered. Illuminated by the overhead light, they looked even thicker and longer.

Lin Yuxia’s thoughts began to wander: Tsk, tsk, tsk, for a man to have such long lashes... his hair is quite dark too, as are his eyebrows. He must have naturally thick hair, right?

—Wait, no, what is wrong with me? Why am I letting my imagination run wild?!

Just as she was wavering, caught in an internal struggle, Fei Xun suddenly shouted toward the door, "Auntie Sang—"

Lin Yuxia jumped in shock. "Why are you so jumpy!"

Fei Xun stared at her flushed cheeks, a rogue smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "My magnificent beauty is quite something, isn't it? Have you seen enough? If not, I can let you look a little longer."

Called out on her thoughts, Lin Yuxia splashed water at him and retorted, "Who was looking at you! You narcissist!"

The middle-aged maid known as Auntie Sang appeared by the bathroom door and said respectfully, "Young Master."

"Where is the burn ointment? Help me find it."

"Very well, Young Master." Auntie Sang turned and left, returning shortly with the medicine. She asked, "Would you like me to apply the ointment for the young lady?"

"No need." Fei Xun took the medicine and sat down on the large sofa in the living room. Seeing Lin Yuxia sitting at the other end, he tapped the seat next to him impatiently.

Lin Yuxia had no choice but to move over. Seeing him scoop a small amount of translucent gel onto his fingertip, she said quickly, "I can do it myself."

Fei Xun’s movements paused. He wiped the gel from his fingertip onto his own lips, then tossed the tube into Lin Yuxia’s lap. "Don't be ridiculous, did you really expect me to apply it for you?"

With the ointment applied, they both sat there with their own thoughts, neither speaking first, and the atmosphere grew somewhat awkward.

Lin Yuxia cleared her throat. "Um, are you still eating barbecue? Should I finish grilling it and bring it in for you?"

Fei Xun: "I'm full."

Lin Yuxia: "..."

Another eerie silence.

She looked at the clock, stood up, and said, "Well, it's getting late. I should head back."

Fei Xun stood up as well. "I'll take you."

Lin Yuxia waved him off politely. "No need to trouble yourself. Just have your driver take me."

Fei Xun’s expression darkened. "He's off the clock."

Lin Yuxia: "Huh?"

Fei Xun explained impatiently, "Off the clock. My driver finishes at ten in the evening. I’m a boss who doesn't like to occupy my subordinates' private time."

Lin Yuxia: "...Then I'll just call a taxi."

Fei Xun: "How unsafe is that? You said the exact same thing two hours ago."

Just as Lin Yuxia was about to find another excuse, the young master lost his temper. "You’re so troublesome. Are you trying to overstay your welcome at my house?"

Left speechless, Lin Yuxia had no choice but to follow Fei Xun to the garage.

The journey was silent. Lin Yuxia stole glances at Fei Xun beside her. Perhaps because of the impression he made during their first meeting—that he was unscrupulous—she had almost forgotten the rumors about him: that the man beside her was, in fact, a cold-blooded CEO who had defeated his uncles and taken over a multinational conglomerate from his grandfather at a young age.

When he wasn't smiling, he looked very serious, even a bit sinister.

The car turned a corner, and they were almost at the hotel where Lin Yuxia was staying. She breathed a sigh of relief, having already drafted several versions of a farewell and thank-you speech in her mind, when Fei Xun spoke first:

"My company is missing a legal director. Are you interested?"

Fearing she might have misunderstood, Lin Yuxia stared at the man’s stern face. "Interested in what? Interested in the position?"

Fei Xun’s answer was a single word: "Yes."

Lin Yuxia’s eyes widened in surprise. Could she be mistaken? She had always assumed Fei Xun didn't care for her much; why would he invite her to join Shengyue?

Fei Xun continued, "As far as I know, an intern lawyer’s monthly income is less than ten thousand. A new employee at Shengyue starts at thirty thousand, and a director’s annual salary is eight hundred thousand after tax, not to mention the various benefits. This income should exceed that of many lawyers who have been struggling in Shanghai for ten years."

Fei Xun’s words were true; such terms were indeed very tempting. Lin Yuxia pressed her lips together and said nothing.

The car stopped right in front of the hotel. The sign for the Ruyi Express Hotel was lit, but unfortunately, the two characters for "Ruyi" were burnt out, leaving only "Accent."

Fei Xun looked at the ridiculous and shabby sign and added one more bargaining chip: "For unmarried single directors, the company can provide a free ninety-square-meter studio apartment. These terms are sincere enough, right?"

It was more than sincere—it was incredibly tempting. Lin Yuxia closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and as if she had made a decision, she looked up and said, "Mr. Fei, I’m afraid I cannot accept your offer."

Fei Xun looked at Lin Yuxia in silence for three seconds, then suddenly shifted back to his indifferent expression, switching the subject smoothly. "Since you accompanied me for barbecue tonight, and I always keep my word, the remaining two hundred and fifty-five thousand in debt is wiped clean."

Lin Yuxia was stunned, struggling to keep up with his erratic train of thought. "Then, thank you, Mr. Fei."

Fei Xun glanced at her sideways. "A girl doesn't lose anything by having a sweet mouth."

Lin Yuxia changed her address in a low voice: "...Brother Fei Xun."

Fei Xun looked satisfied. "Go on then."

She jumped out of the car, waved at him, and skipped up the stairs like a bird, disappearing into the narrow hallway.

*

After her seven-day break, Lin Yuxia gathered her resolve and returned to the law firm, full of energy.

Han Xuejuan’s case had been resolved properly. Lin Yuxia wrote a case report and prepared to send it to the archives.

Director Wu called her into his office again. Thinking he was about to assign her a new case, she sat on the sofa, full of vigor.

Director Wu placed a cup of hot tea in front of her, smiling even more politely than last time. "Lawyer Lin, you really are young and promising!"

Lin Yuxia thought to herself, is he praising me for how well I handled the Han Xuejuan case? She hurriedly replied with humility, "You flatter me."

Director Wu seemed to be on a different wavelength. "This is the first time our firm has handled legal advisory business for a multinational corporation."

Lin Yuxia was confused. Was this the opening line for assigning her a major case?

Director Wu continued, "President Chen of the Shengyue Group has already called me to notify us that we can go over today to sign the legal advisory contract, and he specifically requested you as their dedicated service representative! The annual retainer alone is one million! Lawyer Lin, you are truly a model for young lawyers!"

In his excitement, Director Wu grabbed Lin Yuxia’s hand and shook it.

Hearing the name "Shengyue," Lin Yuxia finally understood. To think she had rejected his job offer, yet he still insisted on binding her to Shengyue?

She really was finding it harder and harder to understand Fei Xun...

The news that an intern lawyer had landed a million-dollar contract spread through the firm quickly. Some praised her, some envied her, and naturally, some were jealous and couldn't help but gossip behind her back.

When Lin Yuxia went to the breakroom to make coffee, she ran right into a group of gossips.

"Don't let her innocent and harmless look fool you. You know whose connection she is, right?"

"Tell us, tell us, don't keep us in suspense."

"Young Master Shen! She calls Shen Yan 'brother'!"

"My god, that’s such a powerful connection!"

"Naive. Do you really think it’s just a simple brother-sister relationship? These 'brother-sister' things are always that kind of relationship, you know what I mean?"

The group was so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice Lin Yuxia standing behind them.

She sneered and placed her teacup heavily onto the marble table.

"What kind of relationship? Do tell."