Chapter 13

Just as the call from Star University ended, Fu Luoyin picked up another call for Lin Shuicheng.

It was also transferred from the hotel reception, but this time it was the veterinarian inquiring about the rescheduled time for Lin Shuicheng's appointment.

Fu Luoyin replied, "I'll ask him. He hasn't woken up yet. I'll call you back later."

In recent days, the Star Central Hotel had hosted numerous high-profile individuals. To prevent espionage, all communication devices were subject to monitoring and redirection. Once Lin Shuicheng registered his number, the system would automatically forward calls to his room (313) upon detecting his ID card entry into the hotel premises.

After ending the call with the doctor, Fu Luoyin glanced at Lin Shuicheng, who was nestled in his arms—sleeping soundly with a tranquil expression that resembled an angel. So innocent and obedient, he looked irresistible, tempting one to give him a gentle kiss, yet fearing to disturb his slumber.

Lin Shuicheng slept until nine o'clock. After cuddling and being affectionate with Fu Luoyin in bed, they found themselves nearing noon before they knew it.

Informing him about the veterinarian's call, Fu Luoyin asked, "Is the Chief unwell?"

"He doesn't have much of an appetite, and his spirits seem low. It might be a cat cold," Lin Shuicheng explained.

"Instead of going to a pet hospital, just have someone come to the house for a consultation. Call Zhou Heng," Fu Luoyin suggested.

He was genuinely concerned about the Chief's health. Recalling Fu Luoyin's persistent petting of the agitated calf cat during each visit, Lin Shuicheng finally remembered why he seemed so invested. Despite being scratched every time, Fu Luoyin never seemed to get angry.

Fu Luoyin seemed to be a cat enthusiast.

After a moment of hesitation, he spoke softly, "I'll take the Chief to the doctor. The pet hospital is near Star University's Central First Hospital. I was thinking of dropping by to visit Lin Deng later."

Fu Luoyin was taken aback before he remembered that Lin Shuicheng indeed had a younger brother who, previously, had been staying in Jiangnan and needed care due to an incident.

During their two years together, they had only met a handful of times. All he knew about Lin Shuicheng's background was that his parents had passed away, and his brother was seriously ill. Fu Luoyin hadn't inquired about the transfer procedures for Lin Deng; he had simply entrusted them to Su Yu, whose mother was the head of the neurology department at the First Hospital. She had arranged a VIP ward for Lin Deng.

"I'll take you there," Fu Luoyin offered. "Where would you like to eat?"

Lin Shuicheng looked at him in surprise. "Aren't you attending a meeting today?"

Yesterday, Fu Luoyin had skipped two meetings just to indulge in a drunken stupor with him. Now, he said casually, "It's fine. I can accompany you until tonight."

Lin Shuicheng lowered his eyes and replied softly, "Okay."

Fu Luoyin drove to pick up the Chief and switched cars on the way to the hospital, letting the driver take over. The tabby cat was meekly nestled in Lin Shuicheng's cat carrier. Through its transparent cover, Fu Luoyin peered at it, and the cat stared back at him, too weak to show any aggression. It merely curled up into a ball.

Little Lin gently reached in and placed his hand on the Chief's forehead, soothing him from time to time.

The driver engaged them in conversation, "Mr. Little Lin, it's hard to tell what breed this cat is. Is it a stray?"

"Mm-hmm. We found it outside the university, very weak when it was born, almost eaten by its mother. So we took it in," Lin Shuicheng explained.

The driver sighed in admiration, "Well, that's fortunate. Stray cats are robust, they're easy to care for."

In the car, Fu Luoyin was working overtime, spending twenty minutes reviewing project reports submitted by his team while also conducting a phone call with someone else.

The person on the other end of the line spoke nervously with a forced smile, "President Fu, our entire team worked tirelessly around the clock to verify this project proposal over a hundred times. Before submitting it, we even conducted a Q&A critique. It's been two months since we initiated this topic, so the project book might be a bit lengthy. Please take your time reading it."

Fu Luoyin glanced at the Chief in the cat carrier, "I have an urgent matter here, and I'm short on time. Make it brief; please record the call, as I won't be able to attend in person."

The person on the other end hastily replied, "Of course, of course, go ahead."

Fu Luoyin was renowned for his busy schedule, often making decisions on significant projects like the opening ceremony of the Global Alliance Olympics. At a young age, his potential seemed limitless.

The Fu family was now primarily focused on their company, having transformed into corporate entrepreneurs.

Yet, no one in the entire Alliance Military Affairs Bureau or Police General Bureau dared to touch anyone from the Fu family, let alone Fu Luoyin. The reason was simple – those who operated arms factories and dealt with weaponry had a significant influence on the entire Alliance's situation.

However, this second young master of the Fu family had previously been stationed in the Jiangnan branch. Suddenly being promoted to the Seventh Bureau left many uncertain, mainly due to his young age, leaving them to wonder about the true extent of his capabilities.

Fu Luoyin spoke rapidly, "I've seen the geographical blueprint for the project. On page thirteen, the geological survey of the soil engineering weathering isn't detailed enough. I have reason to inquire how you plan to handle a foundation collapse. On page twenty-eight, the predicted natural disaster curves show that you've conducted standard assessments, but with the newly constructed dam upstream right above you, have you taken that into consideration?"

Cutting straight to the point, he listed twenty-three issues, each a critical weakness that could justify halting the project. The other side grew increasingly anxious as they listened, unable to respond to a single point, leaving them momentarily stunned.

Seeing their confusion, Fu Luoyin paused and said, "Here's what we'll do. I'll provide you with some modification proposals later. Adjust one-third of your proposal according to my suggestions and submit it to me at the Seventh Bureau next week."

Believing themselves to be facing a death sentence, they were nearly overwhelmed with relief, "Of course, of course! We don't need until next week, we'll definitely deliver it to you this week!"

...

Sitting beside him, Lin Shuicheng remained quiet. Traffic congestion on the road caused him to fall asleep again while listening to Fu Luoyin's phone call, leaning against the seat back.

Noticing that Lin Shuicheng had drifted off, Fu Luoyin lowered his voice.

The Chief emerged from the cat bag, gently tapping his hand with its claws. Although the cat's nails had been trimmed, they still left faint white marks on his skin.

Fu Luoyin waved his hand dismissively, shooing away the chairman's mischievous fingers, then gently pulled Lin Shuicheng closer, allowing him to lean on his shoulder.

The traffic jam today was due to a meeting at Star University, resulting in roadblocks and random security checks. Fu Luoyin's car didn't have the necessary clearance from Department Seven, so they had to abide by the rules.

By the time they reached the hospital, Fu Luoyin had finished his urgent work. He kissed Lin Shuicheng awake before guiding him out of the car.

The chairman's condition wasn't severe, as Lin Shuicheng had predicted – it was just a cat cold. The doctor prescribed medication, and afterward, Lin Shuicheng went to visit Lin Deng.

As Fu Luoyin accompanied him, they happened to encounter the department head making rounds. Su Yu's mother was named Yan Zi, a beautiful and efficient woman.

Lin Shuicheng recognized her: "Hello, Doctor."

"Little Lin came to visit his brother? Oh, isn't this Little Fu? What have you been up to lately? Do you two know each other?" Yan Zi was one of the parents who had watched Fu Luoyin grow up and knew about his past relationship with Xia Ran. Seeing Lin Shuicheng and Fu Luoyin together surprised her.

Unfazed, Fu Luoyin replied, "He's my friend."

Then, addressing Lin Shuicheng, he said, "Go in first."

Lin Deng was three years younger than Lin Shuicheng. When Lin Shuicheng graduated high school, Lin Deng completed junior high. Tragically, during a car ride with their father, they were involved in a severe accident. Their father didn't survive, and Lin Deng fell into a coma. Whether he would awaken was uncertain, depending on fate.

Lin Shuicheng spent half an hour in the ward before he came out, his expression as usual.

He asked softly, "Doctor Yan, you knew each other before. Thank you for helping Xiaodeng with the transfer procedures."

"It wasn't me, it was Su Yu – you've met him. Doctor Yan is his mother, so it was just a simple favor," Fu Luoyin said. "The facilities here are better than those in the Jiangnan branch. With improved rehabilitation conditions and gentle targeted neurological stimulation drugs, he might wake up soon. Don't worry too much."

Lin Shuicheng nodded slightly.

Looking at him, Fu Luoyin's heart softened for some reason. He ruffled Lin Shuicheng's hair. "If only you had met me a few years earlier. You wouldn't have had to suffer so much or give up studying at the Star University's main campus for Jiangnan."

Lin Shuicheng smiled and pursed his lips, not saying anything.

But Fu Luoyin suddenly remembered something. "By the way, a student from Star University called you this morning, saying they were stuck with their thesis defense and needed your help."

He had been too focused on the leader's condition and had forgotten about it.

Lin Shuicheng was taken aback for a moment before responding with an "oh". He didn't react much, only asking for confirmation, "They called this morning? It's almost evening now."

At this moment, he looked a bit absent-minded. Fu Luoyin glanced at him and asked, "Did I interrupt something important?"

Little Lin snapped back to reality and shook his head. "No, it's already been delayed for so long. A little more won't make a difference."

In a low voice, Fu Luoyin inquired, "Were you bullied at school, perhaps?"

Lin Shuicheng replied softly, "No."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure."

After sending the leader home, Lin Shuicheng started cooking, preparing a pot of spicy crab and stir-fried rice noodles. It wasn't until nine o'clock that he noticed his phone had been ringing off the hook.

There were over seventy missed calls from classmates, along with countless unknown numbers. The latest text message was from Wang Pinyuan: "Little Lin, come to the 3rd conference room at the college as soon as possible."

While Lin Shuicheng read the text, Fu Luoyin held him in his arms, tenderly kissing the nape of his neck. Holding onto his phone, Lin Shuicheng trembled slightly under the kiss, hurriedly whispering, "I... I need to step out for a while."

"Still going?" Fu Luoyin's voice was hoarse. "You ignite your husband's passion and then run away?"

"I'm sorry, husband." Lin Shuicheng apologized obediently, his voice filled with sorrow. "My advisor asked me to go over..."

"Ask me."

"Please, husband..." The moment Lin Shuicheng said that, Fu Luoyin knew he was in trouble. He had ignited a fire within him, nearly snapping Lin Shuicheng's waist in half. Eventually, remembering that Lin Shuicheng had an important task at hand, he reluctantly let him go.

He always suspected that Lin Shuicheng's gentle and submissive nature might make him appear vulnerable and easily bullied. There was a chance that he truly had been mistreated. Thus, he insisted on accompanying Lin Shuicheng.

Still simmering with anger, he saw this as an opportunity to clear his mind.

Lin Shuicheng was unsure of Fu Luoyin's purpose, but the latter held his hand without any change in expression. "I want to see how my subordinates are handling their tasks. Recently, Department Seven has been tendering projects in your faculty. Have you attended any?"

Lin Shuicheng was taken aback. "Not yet."

"Remember to sign up. These sorts of experiences are valuable for your students, right? I'll arrange a spot for you," Fu Luoyin offered.

After a moment of hesitation, Lin Shuicheng remained silent but followed Fu Luoyin anyway.

Upon reaching the floor where the defense was taking place, Lin Shuicheng realized that the situation seemed to have escalated significantly. The corridor was packed with anxious people, with faint cries and arguments echoing in the air. However, he didn't recognize a single person among them.

Upon inquiry, it turned out that there were four groups presenting today, and three of them had been halted. Xu Kong, the newly appointed vice dean of the Mathematics Department, was a notorious confrontational figure. Ou Qian's group suffered the most severe setback, being confined in the presentation room and not allowed to leave.

Ou Qian seemed to have some connections. She cried and sought help from an associate professor within the department to clarify the situation. However, even that associate professor was also trapped inside and subjected to criticism.

Xu Kong pointed directly at the associate professor and said, "Come here, come here, let's ask them what on earth they've done. Their PowerPoint and thesis look impeccable, but where did this data come from? How did they calculate it? Students like these are a disgrace to Star University! One day, Star University will be ruined by them. Academia is not a game, and with such an attitude, I will hold them accountable, starting from their mentors all the way to the students themselves. We'll investigate each one thoroughly!"

Xu Kong's scolding voice was full of vigor. It was rumored that he would criticize whenever he had the chance, after meals, or even after drinking water. This incident had already become a hot topic on the university forum, causing a major embarrassment for the Quantum Analysis Department.

When Lin Shuicheng arrived, the weeping students instinctively made way for him – this handsome, indifferent young man exuded a cold aura. The tall, sharp-eyed man standing beside him seemed even more intimidating, and no one knew why he was there.

The only person he knew was Wang Pinyuan's teaching assistant, a third-year graduate student who recognized Lin Shuicheng. Upon seeing him, the assistant angrily barked, "What's going on with you? You didn't answer your phone from morning till night! Our defense group has lost all face today, and here you are, acting so nonchalant! Huh? Mr. Busybody Lin, where were you? Are we not important enough to warrant your attention?"

Wang Pinyuan was away on a trip, leaving the teaching assistant in charge. Having received criticism from both sides, the assistant's words were quite blunt. The hallway was so quiet that even a pin dropping could be heard.

Before Lin Shuicheng could respond, there was a loud crash as Fu Luoyin kicked the assistant straight into the door!

In District 8, Fu Luoyin was capable of breaking ribs with a single kick. Now, he had slightly restrained his strength. The assistant stumbled backward several steps, crashing into a pile of desks and chairs with a deafening noise, dazed by the impact.

Fu Luoyin spoke calmly, "My person is not someone you can casually summon."

He held out his pass for Unit 7, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just audible to those both inside and outside the door, "I'm here on business for Unit 7. I've heard you have a particular need for my people, so I've brought them to you."