The plane touched down, and it was already completely dark outside the capital city.
Lights lined both sides of the runway stretching into the distance. The wing swept slowly past the glow before the plane settled with a slight tremor.
Passengers in the cabin rose one after another, overhead bins popping open in succession, and the once-quiet space quickly grew crowded.
Lin Jianqing stayed in his seat, unmoving.
He’d barely slept the whole flight, his mind churning over the Shen family and the fake couple arrangement. Now that the plane had actually landed, it still felt surreal.
He’d just casually followed Shen Huaixue to the capital—this core city he’d only ever heard about but never visited. The Federation government divided cities into various tiers, from dangerous, unstable border cities to core cities.
Shen Huaixue had already unbuckled her seatbelt and was smoothing down her jacket. Her movements were slow, her expression far quieter than it had been in Linzhou.
Once the passengers ahead had mostly cleared out, she stood and retrieved the small duffel bag from the overhead compartment above Lin Jianqing.
He’d meant to take it himself, but Shen Huaixue didn’t let go. She simply carried it and walked off.
The two followed the crowd out of the cabin and through the bright jet bridge. The airport’s air conditioning was frigid, and through the glass, planes and ground vehicles could be seen moving about.
Lin Jianqing walked beside Shen Huaixue, his gaze occasionally drifting to her.
Since getting off the plane, she hadn’t teased him once. Like a completely different person—if you only looked at her appearance, she gave off the impression of a cold, elegant heiress.
But Lin Jianqing knew this version of Shen Huaixue was entirely an act.
When they reached the arrivals hall, Shen Huaixue suddenly stopped. She reached up and adjusted his slightly crooked collar.
Lin Jianqing instinctively stepped back.
Her hand paused midair, then she naturally smoothed his collar flat again.
“From now on, don’t call me President Shen.”
He glanced at her but said nothing. He understood—Shen Huaixue meant they should temporarily forget their contract relationship. Playing the couple… sigh. Fine, but it’d cost extra.
***
Outside the hall exit, a black sedan was already waiting.
Two neatly dressed women stood by the car. When they saw Shen Huaixue emerge, they both stepped forward. One took the luggage, the other opened the car door for her.
Shen Huaixue didn’t get in right away. She stood in place, looking back at Lin Jianqing.
The airport’s bright lights fell across her face. Her usual lazy demeanor had completely vanished.
“Let’s go.”
Lin Jianqing looked at the car, then finally followed.
The door closed, sealing off the noise of the airport outside.
The car’s air conditioning was set low. Dark-tinted windows blocked the outside lights, leaving only a blurry glow on Lin Jianqing’s knees.
The woman in the front seat didn’t say much—once she confirmed they were settled, she started the engine.
The black sedan pulled away from the airport slowly.
Lin Jianqing leaned back in his seat, watching the buildings recede through the window. The capital’s night was far brighter than Linzhou’s.
Elevated roads interwove in layers above the city, and the distant high-rises seemed to stretch endlessly. Pale blue signs glowed atop many buildings, and the occasional patrol drone swept past midair.
The capital was a Federation top-tier core city, equipped with a complete ability monitoring system. Any unregistered ability fluctuation would be detected by the city’s security division within moments.
Once the vehicle entered the main urban area, pedestrians along the streets noticeably thinned. The surroundings grew quieter.
Neatly planted trees lined the wide roads on both sides, and light filtered through the leaves, casting scattered shadows across the car window.
Shen Huaixue sat beside him, leaning slightly against the seat back, legs naturally crossed. She hadn’t spoken the entire ride, occasionally glancing down at her phone.
Lin Jianqing noticed she’d shed all her usual casualness since getting off the plane. Even her posture and movements had become more refined.
The car continued on, finally turning onto an even quieter road.
At the end of the road stood a tall black iron gate with no visible markings. Only guards in uniform could be seen standing on either side.
The vehicle didn’t stop. A faint white light from the gate’s recognition device swept across the car, and the gates silently swung open.
Lin Jianqing instinctively straightened up.
Beyond the iron gate wasn’t an ordinary residence—it was a courtyard enveloped in darkness. Buildings hid among the trees, with only eaves and a few dim yellow lights visible.
Shen Huaixue finally lifted her eyes.
She glanced out the window, then back at Lin Jianqing, and reached over to gently press her hand on his wrist.
The touch was light, but she didn’t let go right away.
“Stay close to me when we get out. Don’t wander off.”
Shen Huaixue spoke softly in his ear.
Lin Jianqing looked down at her hand, then finally nodded.
The vehicle continued along the stone path deeper into the courtyard.
After passing through a denser patch of trees, the building ahead came into clear view.
It was a large, old-style residence. The roof sat low, and the dark walls felt especially still in the night.
A few warm yellow lanterns hung along the corridor. Servants stood at the entrance, descending the steps as soon as they heard the car approach.
Lin Jianqing instinctively looked at Shen Huaixue.
Her hand was still on his wrist, her fingertips pressing lightly against his skin, with no intention of letting go.
Just as Lin Jianqing was about to speak, a familiar voice suddenly rang in his mind.
‘When we get out, stay close to me.’
Lin Jianqing went rigid. He whipped his head toward Shen Huaixue.
Her lips hadn’t moved.
Her expression was calm, her gaze fixed outside the window, as if nothing had happened.
‘Surprised? Don’t stare.’
The voice came again.
Lin Jianqing’s fingers tightened unconsciously, his eyes growing wary.
‘This must be Shen Huaixue’s ability.’ Truth be told, most of his memories about Shen Huaixue’s ability had already been deleted by her. He only remembered fragments.
He simply tried thinking the words in his head.
Unexpectedly, Shen Huaixue responded almost immediately.
‘Mm, more or less. I’ll tell you what to say and what not to say. Be good and listen, okay?’
Lin Jianqing was silent for a few seconds.
If she could do this all the time… then wouldn’t she know exactly what he was thinking?
‘Yes, just as you think. That’s why I don’t normally use this ability.’
Before Lin Jianqing could even ask, Shen Huaixue had already answered the question in his mind.
Having someone see completely through your inner thoughts—it was absolutely unbearable.
Shen Huaixue finally turned her face toward him, the corner of her mouth curling slightly.
‘So… can you get the hell out of my head?’ Thinking about all the thunderous sarcastic remarks he’d made about Shen Huaixue in his mind, Lin Jianqing was about to crack his composed smile.
‘You always think this rudely? I never noticed.’ Shen Huaixue didn’t answer directly, just returned Lin Jianqing a very kind smile.
‘Can… you, or can’t you?’
‘I’d rather not.’
‘What?’
‘GET OUT!!’
Lin Jianqing was about to explode with rage, but the calm surroundings reminded him he couldn’t.
‘Alright, let me explain simply. Your current identity is temporarily my boyfriend. Understand?’
‘What do you mean “cost extra”? What exactly is going on in your head?’ Before Lin Jianqing could even think of what to say, Shen Huaixue had already seen through his thoughts.
‘Shen Huaixue, don’t you think it’s rude to read someone else’s thoughts without permission?’
‘I don’t think so.’ From Shen Huaixue’s perspective, Lin Jianqing was naturally her possession.
Whatever her possession was thinking, she—the ‘owner’… well, the financial backer—naturally needed to know.
Lin Jianqing’s expression visibly stiffened. Seeing his reaction, the amusement in Shen Huaixue’s eyes grew more evident.
She didn’t keep teasing him. Just before letting go of his hand, she said one more thing in his mind.
‘Relax your face a little.’
The car door opened, and the night breeze blew in.
Shen Huaixue stepped out first, then turned around and extended her hand toward Lin Jianqing.
He looked at her, then at the people waiting by the entrance, and finally placed his hand in hers.
Shen Huaixue held his hand with the natural ease of someone long accustomed to it.
Only Lin Jianqing knew—her voice was still in his mind.
‘Well done.’
Lin Jianqing didn’t look at her.
He just tightened his grip slightly.
‘Extra pay.’
Shen Huaixue laughed softly.
Everyone around them looked up at the same time.
But she had already regained her composure, pulling Lin Jianqing toward the residence.