Financial Independence through Cracked Apps-Chapter 126 - 118: Helping Each Other Out

Floor 53, the Ritz-Carlton suite.

The living room lights detected someone entering and automatically switched to night mode.

Dim, warm light spilled from the edges of the ceiling, complementing the glittering neon cityscape outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The atmosphere was tranquil and beautiful.

This was exactly why so many wealthy people loved staying in high-rise luxury hotels.

They loved the feeling of looking down on everything.

"It’s so beautiful."

Gazing at the dense forest of skyscrapers outside the window, Qin Yuenan suddenly realized that all the top-tier services she had been enjoying these past few days were thanks to Lin Shen.

"Nan, is red wine okay?"

Lin Shen walked over to the semi-open bar and took a bottle of pre-aerated red wine from the cooler.

A Bordeaux blend.

It was from Chateau Lynch-Bages in France, a classic example of a Bordeaux wine.

Lin Shen brought the wine and glasses to the living room, sat on the sofa, and poured them each half a glass.

The deep purple liquid filled the air with a rich, refreshing fruity aroma.

Lin Shen took the initiative to wrap an arm around Qin Yuenan’s soft, slender waist. He handed her one of the glasses, clinked it against his own, and smiled.

"Cheers."

Lin Shen eagerly tilted his head back for a small sip.

The chilled temperature made the Bordeaux blend’s flavor even more mellow and complex.

However, it lacked a certain spark.

"It’s all right."

Lin Shen smacked his lips and asked Qin Yuenan, who had just taken a small sip herself.

"What do you think?"

"It’s good, but it’s been aerated too long. There’s a slight astringency."

As a wine connoisseur, Qin Yuenan easily identified the wine’s shortcomings.

Fortunately for him, her mind wasn’t on the wine tonight.

"Do you know why I asked you out for a drink?"

Qin Yuenan glanced at Lin Shen. Dressed only in a silk nightgown, she had shed her usual cool and aloof aura, leaving only charm and sexiness in its place.

Her long, crossed legs; the large expanses of exposed, fair skin; the delicate straps tracing her neck and collarbones; and that deep, tantalizing cleavage.

It was all a temptation to sin!

Lin Shen’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He knew exactly what Qin Yuenan was after, but he still played dumb.

"Why?"

"Still playing dumb?"

Qin Yuenan’s fine brows shot up. She glared at Lin Shen, clearly seeing through his act, and sneakily reached over to pinch his thigh.

"Tonight is our last night in Jinling."

"Mm."

"We’re going back to Modu tomorrow."

"Mm."

"I have a new boss, and we don’t get along. I’ll probably have to be busy for a while to keep up appearances. After all, I’ve taken too much time off lately."

"Mm."

"So I might not have much free time to spend with you."

"Mm."

"Mm, mm, mm! Is ’mm’ the only thing you know how to say?!"

Qin Yuenan couldn’t hold back her frustration and pinched Lin Shen’s thigh again. Her red lips pouted, a perfect picture of coquettish anger.

"Aren’t you going to do something tonight?"

"Nope."

Lin Shen said frankly, leaving Qin Yuenan stunned.

Late at night, alone together, slightly tipsy...

’The mood is perfect, and you’re telling me you have no plans?’

Qin Yuenan was instantly annoyed. With a cold huff, she struggled out of Lin Shen’s embrace, moved to the far end of the sofa, crossed her arms, and turned her face away.

"Fine, don’t then!"

’As if I was the one who wanted to do something!’ 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Nan."

Seeing this, Lin Shen scooted closer, wrapped his arms around her again, and leaned in to whisper an explanation in her ear, trying to soothe her prickly mood.

"You know me. I’m a decent guy. I’d never do anything to hurt a girl."

"If you’re not sure about your safe period, you’d have to take the pill. Once might be fine, but a second time would definitely be bad for your health."

’Decent?’

’You call this decent?’

’Like hell I believe that!’

Although she was highly suspicious of his self-praise, his gentle words were very comforting. Her chaotic mood instantly calmed, and a slow warmth enveloped her.

’So Lin Shen is holding back because he cares about me.’

’That must be it.’

If taking the pill was just bad for her health, she could probably overcome that.

But what if it affected her fertility and she couldn’t have children in the future?

The thought made Qin Yuenan worried, and her desire began to fade.

However, Lin Shen’s misbehaving hands made her face flush, and the dormant heat in her body was stirred to life once more.

"Then why are you still touching me?"

Qin Yuenan glanced back at Lin Shen behind her.

"You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you!"

"Nope."

Lin Shen held Qin Yuenan tightly and chuckled softly in her ear.

"I am not!"

Qin Yuenan immediately retorted, her face flushing with embarrassment and anger.

Lin Shen wore a wicked smile, his deep, magnetic voice seeming to have the power to bewitch the soul.

Qin Yuenan murmured, and the next second, Lin Shen pulled her onto his lap, making her straddle him with her back pressed against his firm chest.

He then took her chin, turned her face to the side, and kissed her deeply.

*

*

「Ten minutes later.」

Qin Yuenan had gone limp in Lin Shen’s arms.

"Lin Shen!"

"You did that on purpose, didn’t you!"

"Could it be... that you’re just not very good at it?"

Lin Shen’s words made Qin Yuenan flush with shame and anger, and she decided to just give up.

"Then you can finish by yourself! I’m going to bed."

"Oh no, you don’t."

Lin Shen pulled the escaping Qin Yuenan back into his arms.

"How can you give up halfway through?"

Qin Yuenan imagined it, and her face instantly turned crimson.

"No way!"

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Lin Shen was now at a loss, his expression one of utter speechlessness.

"You can’t just leave me hanging like this, can you?"

"..."

Qin Yuenan bit her soft lip. After a long moment of mental preparation, her love for Lin Shen finally overcame her sense of shame.

"O-Okay... fine."

"Nan, you’re the best!"

Lin Shen stood up excitedly. Qin Yuenan placed her clenched fists on her thighs, her shy gaze averted as she couldn’t help but mutter to herself.

’Is this... really okay...?’

*

*

「Ten minutes later.」

Qin Yuenan was back in the bathroom.

"Jerk!"

Qin Yuenan cursed viciously.

She rarely ever cursed, but this time she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She mentally branded Lin Shen a "jerk" and began ranting furiously in her head.

Because he had gone way too far!

Recalling the indescribable scene from just now—one that would have to be censored if it ever got out—Qin Yuenan felt utterly mortified.

’Next time, I can’t let him get his way like this!’

Qin Yuenan swore to herself.

Though she thought this every time, she could never follow through.

Whenever Lin Shen asked for something, her heart would soften, and she would agree.

’But I guess that’s how it should be, right?’

’After all, I’m his girlfriend...’

Qin Yuenan turned on the shower, letting the warm water wash away the soap suds.

As for the first man she had ever labeled a "jerk," Lin Shen was currently lounging on the bed, hands behind his head and legs crossed, leisurely savoring the memory of the recent romantic scene.

’So wonderful!’

A faint smile played on Lin Shen’s lips, and the restlessness in his heart only began to subside after a long while.

He took out his phone and saw that the beautiful young woman, Lin Ping, had suddenly sent him a flurry of messages.

[Lin Ping: Boss, the Cat Cafe is almost done with renovations.]

[Lin Ping: Photo*6]

[Lin Ping: What do you think?]

Lin Shen opened the photos and browsed through them, finding that the overall interior design of the Cat Cafe was quite similar to the initial reference images he had provided.

There were some minor differences in certain areas, but overall, it was quite good.

Lin Shen was quite satisfied.

[Lin Shen: Looks good. I’ll drop by when I have time.]

[Lin Shen: By the way, schedule a time with Shen Mingchuan and have him come to the Cat Cafe. I need to discuss something with him.]

[Lin Ping: Okay, Boss.]

Now that he had over six million in startup capital, Lin Shen could finally start spending freely.

He drew up a preliminary plan for allocating the funds.

First, he would set aside one million as an emergency fund for employee salaries or inventory payments.

Next, he would allocate one million for marketing and advertising.

The remaining four million would go entirely into real estate!

Lin Shen did a quick calculation. The commercial storefront in the community where the Cat Cafe was located cost around thirty thousand per square meter.

Including the warehouse, the total area was 62 square meters, which would cost just under two million.

At that rate, four million could buy two storefronts!

Of course, this was just Lin Shen’s initial plan. The actual allocation of funds would require a more detailed proposal after he returned.

While silently pondering, Lin Shen opened Douyin to check how many followers he had.

After all, an artistic photo like "sunset" should have attracted a lot of fans.

However, when Lin Shen saw the number "5" next to his follower count, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Huh?