Chapter 55: Sweet Interactions?

After many years, Ji Ya returned to the competition arena, and inevitably felt a bit out of practice. As she rounded a corner, skating low to the ice, there was a fleeting moment when the glare from the ice dazzled her eyes. That instant of dizziness nearly cost her dearly.

Lin Yu, unaware that his boss was struggling, passed smoothly through the curve. Noticing from the corner of his eye that Ji Ya hadn’t kept up, he slowed down, waiting for her. Ji Ya’s refusal to admit defeat drove her to quickly adjust her speed and regain her rhythm. Yet Lin Yu expertly controlled the order of the race, and despite Ji Ya’s efforts, she could not surpass him.

The push and pull between them, one ahead and one behind, was thrilling and seductive.

“Boss, are you sure you’re not out of your depth?” Lin Yu’s taunt instantly ignited Ji Ya’s determination to win, making her grit her teeth in frustration, wishing she could charge over and punch this arrogant guy right then and there.

Three laps quickly passed. Approaching the last corner before the finish line, Lin Yu suddenly eased up, letting Ji Ya overtake him with ease. He smiled, turning towards her.

It was a rare outing for the boss, after all; he couldn’t let her leave empty-handed. Ji Ya seized this opportunity, overtook him at the curve, and was the first to cross the finish line!

Lin Yu followed leisurely to the finish, watching Ji Ya look at him with a triumphant air. She tossed her hair, poised and spirited, her demeanor tinged with pride.

“I told you, I never lose.”

Lin Yu grinned broadly, his smile harder to suppress than AK’s, and gave Ji Ya a thumbs-up, both surrendering and acknowledging her. He was nothing if not socially adept.

“The boss is the boss! Incredible!”

The livestream exploded with comments.

“Who can understand? The best livestream for studying for civil service exams!”

“My god, Dog Yu didn’t just dash to the finish to take first place? You’ve changed, Dog Yu!”

“Hilarious, the amount of slack cut here could raise a whale!”

“Honestly, someone who’s so good at making girls happy—having a boyfriend like this would never be boring.”

“Huh? Somehow I feel Dog Yu did it on purpose?”

“So, Miss Ji won the race, and Dog Yu has to give her a massage?!”

“My god, the real clown is us after all!”

“...”

The two, like a pair of immortals, raced across the skating rink, laughing freely, coordinating perfectly to perform countless flawless pairs dance movements.

“Lin Yu! I want to play the flying act!”

Lin Yu lifted her up, holding her flat in midair, transforming her into a noble, graceful swan. Ji Ya spread her arms, laughing recklessly, posing with elegance.

Noon arrived, and the two indulged in their brief moment of joy until Ji Ya began to tire and sat aside to watch Lin Yu perform.

Since taking over the company as an adult, she’d devoted almost all her time to work, rarely engaging in entertainment. Her focus was entirely on her career, and the challenges within her circle left no room for relaxation.

Watching Lin Yu enjoy himself so freely, she felt a pang of envy, yet didn’t know how to emulate his carefree manner.

Even if it was a fleeting memory, it would be etched deeply in her mind. Looking back, it would fill her with nostalgia, unconsciously bringing a smile to her lips.

Lin Yu finally relaxed, his body suffused with the lingering exhilaration after letting go.

“Boss, are you feeling a bit better?”

Ji Ya blinked, not expressing her feelings outright, but the smile she struggled to suppress made her mood clear.

“When the show’s over, let’s come back here for the company team-building. We’ll all race together then.”

“That’s a must!” Lin Yu said playfully, leaning on Ji Ya’s shoulder. He teased, “But the boss might have to shell out quite a bit.”

Ji Ya raised an eyebrow. The expense was no concern; she was a wealthy woman worth hundreds of millions. No matter how wild her employees got, they couldn’t bankrupt her in a single night.

“All right, let’s go for lunch.”

The surprise had to be kept for later; revealing it now would spoil the fun. She and Lin Yu headed onto the street, which was now bustling with people. The lunchtime crowd from the nearby skyscrapers were out searching for food.

As soon as the electric scooter started, Ji Ya volunteered, smiling as she placed her hands on the handlebars.

“Don’t fight me for it—I’m riding.”

Let you ride?

Lin Yu mused that he hadn’t bought insurance. With the streets so crowded, if she randomly hit someone, wouldn’t that mean paying out a fortune? For Lu Ren’s safety, Lin Yu politely declined.

“Boss, riding isn’t fun at all. Next time, let’s go skating!”

Ji Ya rolled her eyes, ignoring him. She assertively took the front seat and tapped the back, signaling Lin Yu to hop on.

“You won’t listen to the boss?”

She adopted her boss persona, leaving no room for argument—she was determined to drive.

Lin Yu was exasperated, looking at the congested crowd ahead, momentarily speechless. But with his own driving skills, he didn’t need to let Ji Ya have full control; he could still assert himself a bit, though the challenge had certainly increased.

“Don’t accelerate; it’s crowded and dangerous.”

He warned her, then took the back seat, hands ready for action, prepared to assist her with the scooter at any moment.

If they lost focus for a second, wouldn’t that be a recipe for disaster?

Ji Ya saw through his thoughts, considered for a moment, and hatched an idea. Worried, was he? Well then, time to show him what she could do! Driven by lifelong competitiveness, she started the scooter and suddenly accelerated—only to forget to release the brake. The scooter pitched forward, jerking wildly.

Lin Yu reacted swiftly, releasing the throttle, but didn’t notice his hand landing directly on Ji Ya’s. That accidental touch made the woman in front flush bright red.

“Serves you right for saying I’m not up to it.”

Ji Ya’s face was ablaze, but her stubbornness remained. If her hundred pounds were cremated, probably ninety-nine would be stubbornness, and just one would be ashes.

Lin Yu withdrew his hand, raised an eyebrow at her. “All right, all right.”

To avoid being thrown off again, he wrapped his arms around her slender waist. Although he still felt a bit indignant, he could only put on an awkward smile, aiming his teasing at the staff behind them.

“Isn’t it exhausting to chase us like this? Where’s the camera car?”

Ji Ya noticed that his arms were strong and solid, and the soft curves of her body paired with his masculine presence made her cheeks grow even warmer.

With arms like these, wouldn’t it be perfect for warming her abdomen during those painful days?

“Charge, charge, charge!”