’Who downplays their own achievements like that?’

’So... everything Lin Shen has achieved, he built it all with his own two hands...’

Qin Yuenan found herself sinking deeper.

She was captivated not just by his handsome face and powerful physique, but also by his extraordinary capabilities.

At twenty-five, he had become a multi-millionaire through his own efforts, without relying on any family resources.

’Can someone really start from scratch and become this successful?’

It was a story so fantastical Qin Yuenan could hardly believe it, yet the living legend was right before her eyes.

An irrepressible infatuation crystalized in her slightly narrowed, beautiful eyes.

She had never considered herself someone who was only attracted to power. She had her own opinions and a strong sense of right and wrong.

She was supremely confident in herself, believing she was more capable than most men and didn’t need to rely on one to live a full life.

And in truth, she was.

But meeting Lin Shen had turned all of that on its head...

Qin Yuenan, who had always been so cool and proud, now felt as if she had been completely conquered by Lin Shen, body and soul.

"You’re incredible,"

Qin Yuenan murmured from the heart.

"Lin Shen, I think I’m falling in love with you."

"You mean you hadn’t already?"

Lin Shen asked with a smile. He pulled Qin Yuenan around from behind him and saw that the cool beauty’s eyes were now hazy with a glistening film of moisture, her cheeks flushed with a faint blush.

It was as if she were drunk again, only this time the cause wasn’t wine—it was Lin Shen himself.

"Let’s go back to the room."

Qin Yuenan wrapped her arms around Lin Shen’s front. At 173cm barefoot, she had to stand on her tiptoes just to reach his lips for a kiss.

Lin Shen wrapped his arms around the beauty’s killer slender waist and lowered his head, nuzzling against her ear.

"Why go back to the room?"

Lin Shen lowered his head to kiss Qin Yuenan’s flushed, passionate face, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk.

’Huh?’

Qin Yuenan’s hazy mind cleared for an instant. By the time she realized what was happening, Lin Shen had spun her around 180 degrees.

’Eh?’

Qin Yuenan’s hands instinctively found the cool glass of the floor-to-ceiling window for support. The dim view before her was suddenly replaced by a panorama of dazzling, light-streaked skyscrapers.

"So beautiful..."

Qin Yuenan murmured. Only when she felt the heat of a body press against her from behind did she realize something was wrong.

’Don’t tell me... he wants to do it here?’

"No!"

Qin Yuenan struggled to escape from Lin Shen’s warm embrace, her flushed face growing impossibly hot.

She could accept the living room, even the bathroom, but the balcony was out of the question!

With these completely transparent floor-to-ceiling windows, if anyone outside saw them, she might as well kiss her life goodbye!

"No one will see."

As if hearing her inner thoughts, Lin Shen wrapped his arms around her slender waist, his body pressing flush against her smooth back and shapely bottom. He lowered his head and whispered softly in her ear.

"Who do you think is going to see us on the 21st floor?"

"But..."

’What if there’s a drone?’

’What if someone has binoculars?’

’What if...’

Qin Yuenan was about to argue, but Lin Shen firmly tilted her chin, forcing her to turn her head and meet his kiss.

「Late at night.」

「Zhonghai Mansion·Jiuxu.」

The ground-floor hall of a detached villa was brightly lit.

TWANG—!

The bright, powerful chord of an electric guitar would ring out unexpectedly, followed by a fast, rhythmic melody.

A girl of about seventeen or eighteen sat on the sofa, fiddling with the electric guitar in her hands.

This was the scene that greeted Shen Yun when she came downstairs.

She placed a glass of warm milk on the table in front of the girl and spoke with gentle concern.

"Nuonuo, it’s so late. Aren’t you going to sleep? You have things to do tomorrow."

"You can go to bed first if you’re tired."

Xia Nuonuo said quietly, not even looking up. Her eyes were fixed on the electric guitar in her lap.

Seeing her daughter so obsessed with music, Shen Yun felt a headache coming on, but there was nothing she could do.

Before, she had been quiet and reserved, but her personality was exceptionally sweet and obedient. She would even flash a pretty, faint smile from time to time.

However, ever since Shen Yun and her ex-husband divorced, it was as if Xia Nuonuo had become a completely different person.

She became even more withdrawn, her grades plummeted, and she even threw herself into music.

In her own words:

"You can go chase your own happiness, so I can live the life I want."

The words had struck a deep chord with Shen Yun, leaving her speechless. In the end, all she could do was quietly support Xia Nuonuo’s hobby.

Fortunately, she seemed to have a real talent for music and was eventually accepted into a music conservatory.

This gave Shen Yun a much-needed boost of confidence, and she began to unconditionally support Xia Nuonuo’s passion for music.

After all, she harbored a sense of guilt toward her daughter, even though the divorce clearly hadn’t been her fault.

It was just...

"You know, I can’t really sleep when you’re playing."

Shen Yun smoothed the hem of her nightdress, sat down beside Xia Nuonuo, and gently ruffled her hair.

"Is something on your mind?" she asked softly. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"..."

When Xia Nuonuo remained silent, Shen Yun couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

"You don’t want to see your father tomorrow, do you?"

VMMMM—!

Xia Nuonuo struck a chord on the electric guitar again, as if trying to convey her dissatisfaction through sound.

Of course, Shen Yun understood perfectly. She explained gently,

"You’re leaving for school soon. Letting him see you one last time will put his mind at ease, and it’ll stop him from coming to pester us again."

"Also... there’s someone else I’d like you to meet tomorrow."

A faint blush, like that of a young girl, appeared on Shen Yun’s face, and the sharp-eyed Xia Nuonuo did not miss it.