Chapter 46 Looking for Me?

Chapter 46: Were You Looking for Me?

When Lin Juangui entered the living room, General Mu’s gaze fell upon his side. Clearly, Mu Zhang was not with him.

Lin Juangui handed the gift to a nearby housekeeper and sat on the sofa beside Mu Jie. After inquiring about Mu Xie’s health, he offered a “Thank you.”

“Such a prestigious award bestowed upon a newcomer like me—I’m truly honored.”

Mu Jie’s influence in the Federal Capital Star defied ordinary imagination. Back when Sword Group’s mechas were not yet as aggressively powerful, swarms of insectoid aliens and mutant beasts had overrun the Federation’s borders. It was Mu Jie who led the military forces, defending for over a decade—ultimately locating and breaching the nearest insectoid nest, granting the Federation its first real respite.

With an illustrious military record, Mu Jie—an Alpha—fought until his fifties before retiring. For years thereafter, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Military Department, eliminating nearby insectoid threats and enabling citizens to live free from wartime anxieties.

Over a century later, the Federal Military Department had undergone numerous personnel changes. Mu Jie’s comrades had each moved on with their lives, while he, following the loss of his son, retreated into quiet obscurity, gradually fading from public view.

Yet this did not mean Mu Jie lacked influence within the Federation.

Lin Juangui understood Mu Jie’s power well. The moment the guard appeared before him, he knew receiving the Federal Charity Award was intended to pave the way for Mu Zhang—at least signaling to Sword Group and the military that even if he and Mu Zhang had fallen out, he would still protect his grandson and prevent them from growing overly arrogant.

Mu Jie cared little what Lin Juangui thought. He simply told him, “You earned it. The instant you announced before live-stream cameras that you’d donate everything acquired from Bada, your reputation was secured. Your public image is unparalleled—use it wisely.”

The artifacts Lin Juangui donated—and the historical records recovered from Bada—were confirmed to originate from a civilization ten thousand years old. By year’s end, biologists published several papers suggesting that today’s ABO society represented a regression of humanity, relying on pheromones for mating and reproduction.

These papers sparked brief discussion across the Star Network before quickly fading. Ordinary people cared only about vegetable prices and medication costs—human evolution or devolution held no relevance to their daily lives.

Scientists, however, seized upon the findings as compelling new evidence, launching fresh research initiatives, seeking funding, and awaiting approval. Their eagerness stemmed entirely from Lin Juangui’s discoveries on Bada.

Lin Juangui received widespread acclaim; many even thanked him for revitalizing their scientific institutions—otherwise, they would have starved without active projects.

At first, Lin Juangui found such praise somewhat exaggerated, unaware of how grant-dependent researchers had become in this era. Yet during the award ceremony, many recognized him, and exchanging contact information felt natural—not forced.

This trip to the Federal Capital Star indeed expanded Lin Juangui’s social circle. He was now Mu Zhang’s official representative—everything he did reflected on Mu Zhang. Since he could receive the charity award, it meant Mu Zhang’s past as a space pirate would not impede his future advancement within the Federation.

Lin Juangui nodded, affirming his understanding—neither evasive nor excessively humble. He knew Mu Jie hadn’t summoned him merely to discuss this.

So, he spoke candidly about what he’d recently learned.

“Sword Group developed top-tier mechas long ago—but so far, no one can pilot them. They need to create new fusion warriors to operate these units and enhance the Federal Military’s combat capabilities.”

With elders as perceptive as these, Lin Juangui never lied—there was no need.

They possessed their own intelligence networks; the information gap between Lin Juangui and them was always unequal. Attempting to outmaneuver them was pointless.

Mu Jie clearly already knew about the experiment—showing no surprise, only appreciation for Lin Juangui’s honesty.

“What are your thoughts?” Mu Jie asked.

Lin Juangui offered a faint smile. “The project documentation mentions an experiment that nearly succeeded—but doesn’t specify why it ultimately failed. Sword Group’s mechas are undeniably alluring, yet no one knows how much effort this endeavor will demand. I hope Mu Zhang doesn’t become overly fixated on it.”

Mu Jie sighed almost imperceptibly, a subtle trace of concern flickering across his stern, weathered face.

Some matters, he still wished to discuss face-to-face with Mu Zhang—but Mu Zhang resisted coming here, and Mu Jie could no longer issue commands with the same authority as before.

That Mu Zhang had come to the doorstep today was solely because of this young Omega. Whether their relationship was close or not, Mu Jie didn’t know—but at least their interests currently aligned.

Lin Juangui was a shrewd young man. Judging by his extraordinary courage and capability, Mu Jie sensed he would accomplish great things in the future. His willingness to serve Mu Zhang was a blessing—and as grandfather, Mu Jie’s role was to help Mu Zhang retain Lin Juangui’s loyalty.

Thus, after concluding business matters, Mu Jie asked about Lin Juangui’s future plans.

This was to gauge Lin Juangui’s preferred direction of development. Mu Jie needed to first satisfy Lin Juangui’s aspirations—so he would wholeheartedly support Mu Zhang.

Lin Juangui smiled modestly. He knew the opportunity had arrived—and held nothing back.

“I want to expand my commercial ventures, so I can help more people.”

Charity would always remain his priority—but Lin Juangui refused to confine himself to a single identity.

After all, he came from another world—and had endured much.

He had countless avenues to explore. He needed to accumulate his own capital and influence—as long as it remained lawful and true to his conscience, any legitimate means of earning was acceptable.

Mu Jie chuckled softly, his eyes reflecting both appreciation and relief. “Your ambitions are quite lofty.”

Lin Juangui’s eyes crinkled warmly, conveying deference. “Isn’t this all for Mu Zhang and me—to build a better future together? I can’t just stand by while Sword Group dictates terms to him. What happened on Yungang Star—I never want to experience that again.”

To outsiders, Lin Juangui’s abduction by the school psychologist appeared to be Yao Zhi’s sudden mental breakdown, prompting Mu Zhang’s furious retaliation on behalf of his Omega—only to uncover Yao Zhi’s affair with Liang Shanyue.

Liang Shanyue refused to acknowledge his relationship with Yao Zhi and declined responsibility for Lin Juangui’s kidnapping. To him, it was irrelevant—he claimed no involvement; it was all Mu Zhang’s madness.

By the time Liang Shanyue returned to the Federal Capital Star to rescue his grandfather, news of Yao Zhi’s abduction of Lin Juangui had been completely eclipsed. Liang Shanyue got what he wanted, Yao Zhi was discarded, the case concluded smoothly—and Liang Shanyue returned to Yungang Star as its new lord.

Behind it all lay a complex power struggle among multiple factions. Though settled now, Lin Juangui would no longer be a pawn they could sacrifice at will.

“Accompany me to the backyard. I hope someone will come see the flowers when they bloom.”

What Lin Juangui needed to do wasn’t difficult—just bring Mu Zhang to the Mu family residence. If he accomplished that, he’d get what he wanted.

In essence, it was a transaction—and Lin Juangui understood this perfectly. He rose, helped Mu Jie to his feet, and walked toward the backyard together, his smile respectful and sincere.

“The flowers Grandfather planted must be beautiful. Both Mu Zhang and I look forward to seeing them.”

Lin Juangui left the Mu residence without staying for dinner, citing someone waiting for him.

Mu Jie knew Mu Zhang would arrive to pick him up. Mu Zhang cherished this Omega deeply—even willing to approach this villa he disliked, solely for his sake.

Lin Juangui was demonstrating his importance to Mu Zhang—and simultaneously offering Mu Jie reassurance.

Mu Jie waved him off. Lin Juangui said, “Goodbye, Grandfather,” then messaged Mu Zhang: “I’m out. Where are we eating tonight?”

Mu Zhang replied instantly: “On my way to pick you up. Taking you to a restaurant you’ll definitely love.”

Lin Juangui closed the virtual screen, taking a light breath—as if catching the crisp scent of nearby pine trees.

Temperatures on the Federal Capital Star had remained relatively low lately. Lin Juangui wore a black wool coat. Things were progressing exactly as he’d envisioned—worth every hardship endured, finally yielding the results he desired.

When Mu Zhang arrived, he was smiling—seemingly in high spirits—not even glancing at the building behind Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui bent down to enter the car, smiling at Mu Zhang. “No other plans today. The rest of the time is yours.”

Mu Zhang rarely saw such a smile from Lin Juangui. He was momentarily stunned before instructing the driver to depart. Knowing Lin Juangui was in good spirits—and likely having achieved his goal—the next step was to wait for Lin Juangui to decide when to ask Mu Zhang to return home for a visit.

They were perfectly synchronized partners where interests were concerned—needing no words, a single glance enough to grasp each other’s intent.

Mu Zhang quite liked this feeling—yet for some inexplicable reason, it left him with a faint, lingering sense of loss.

Fortunately, it didn’t affect their dinner at a renowned high-end restaurant in the Federation. They sat in a spot easily visible to other guests, occasionally clinking wine glasses. Afterward, Lin Juangui even received flowers Mu Zhang had ordered.

A remarkably successful date—to those who had doubted the marriage between Mu Zhang and Lin Juangui, they now appeared as a deeply in love and inseparable Alpha-Omega pair.

The next day, Lin Juangui returned to his company. Before setting out, he didn’t inform Qu Yang, and once again, it was Mu Zhang who gave him a ride.

Lin Juangui felt puzzled; he thought Mu Zhang had been clingy lately, almost to the point of being inseparable.

He didn’t know how to bring it up with Mu Zhang. He could sense a shift in Mu Zhang’s feelings toward him, but he couldn’t let it show that he knew Mu Zhang’s intentions—otherwise, when their contract expired, it would be impossible to divorce him.

For Lin Juangui, the best relationship with Mu Zhang was a business partnership. He could see eye-to-eye with Mu Zhang on business matters, but there was no way Lin Juangui would ever date him. After all, Mu Zhang wasn’t his type, and moreover, Mu Zhang had treated him like dirt before. Lin Juangui didn’t believe Mu Zhang could change overnight.

Lin Juangui knew exactly what he wanted. He was someone who held a grudge; he wouldn’t forget past slights just because Mu Zhang showed him a little respect now. Those who only remember the good and forget the hardships were often spineless, but he had a backbone of steel.

In this era, starting a company was convenient, and most of the time, Lin Juangui handled meetings and work online. As his assistant, Qu Yang attended lower-priority events on his behalf.

This was Lin Juangui’s first time visiting his company in person. Qu Yang had already provided him with access details, so Lin Juangui moved around freely and observed many things he couldn’t grasp online.

When Qu Yang arrived at the office, she heard from HR that Mr. Lin had dismissed several employees, including colleagues she was close with. Her heart sank, and she knocked anxiously on Lin Juangui’s office door.

Lin Juangui looked up from his documents and smiled kindly at Qu Yang. He asked if she had been tired lately and whether the workload was okay.

Qu Yang nodded. Over the past six months, as Lin Juangui’s assistant, she had handled many tasks for him. His instructions were always direct and to-the-point, and he often taught her how to achieve goals efficiently. She had learned a great deal, and being called "Assistant Qu" by colleagues gave her a small sense of pride.

"It seems you’re satisfied with our collaboration. Given your performance, I’ll double your year-end bonus."

Qu Yang understood that Lin Juangui was an excellent boss—communicative and considerate. He surely knew why she had rushed over, so he preemptively addressed it with a bonus.

A boss’s decisions were not to be questioned; whatever he decided meant he had carefully considered it. Anything Qu Yang said would be futile and might only cause tension.

So she said, "Thank you, boss. I’ll keep working hard," and prepared to leave. But Lin Juangui stopped her: "Is there something else you wanted to say?"

That hesitant expression was all too familiar to Lin Juangui. He didn’t want any barriers with his subordinates, as it would hinder progress.

Qu Yang took a deep breath. As a relative newcomer to the workplace, some things were hard to keep bottled up: "Today, you dismissed several longtime employees who have been here since the company’s founding. I don’t understand why."

Over the past six months, Qu Yang had gotten along well with these colleagues. She enjoyed the workplace atmosphere and felt it would be great to continue working there long-term.

But Lin Juangui said, "The company will continue to expand soon. Veteran employees are the backbone, and they’re important—so are you. But that doesn’t mean I’ll tolerate their behavior unconditionally.

Just because they’re veterans, does that give them the right to make unpleasant jokes as seniors? Or shirk their responsibilities by pushing work onto juniors?

Rather than letting their influence become entrenched and hard to uproot later, it’s better to manage risks early.

I know you’re close with some of them, but colleagues aren’t friends—it’s more of a competitive relationship. While you hope to help them, they might be waiting for a chance to replace you by my side.

If you can’t see this and are content with the status quo, I’ll find it regrettable. But it’s your choice, and I won’t interfere."

Most bosses wouldn’t explain this much to an assistant. For Lin Juangui, finding a new assistant would be easy, but he quite liked Qu Yang. Though she enjoyed slacking off sometimes, she perfectly executed his tasks and often thoughtfully considered extra details for him. That was enough for Lin Juangui; he asked for nothing more.

Workplace relationships often become the first headache after starting a job. As Lin Juangui’s sole special assistant, Qu Yang’s status in the company was evident. Many offered her empty flattery, but how much she absorbed depended on her resilience.

Lin Juangui wanted Qu Yang to understand: empty flattery was fake; the salary and bonuses he gave were real.

Qu Yang bit her lip, her expression conflicted. She nodded to show she understood but needed time to reflect at her desk.

When she left Lin Juangui’s office, many were already waiting by her workstation. Seeing their worried and eager eyes, Qu Yang recalled Lin Juangui’s expression when he spoke.

It reminded her of when he was on Wuying Planet, confidently selling P-L79 and venturing alone to Pifeng Planet to commission the exploration team.

Lin Juangui’s goals were clear—whatever he aimed for, he achieved. At the recent awards ceremony, he made a strong impression, and his influence grew. The company couldn’t afford to stand still.

If Qu Yang couldn’t keep up with Lin Juangui’s thinking, she would be replaced. Though he was charitable, he wouldn’t run a company full of people who couldn’t create value.

Qu Yang suddenly realized: this was the workplace. Everyone was there to earn a living, and there were only so many spots. Unless you were exceptionally capable, you weren’t irreplaceable.

Those "friends" had treated her well, and she enjoyed their company, but was that comfort due to her position?

They didn’t care for Qu Yang because she was wonderful; they needed her to cover for them.

Lin Juangui’s points were common problems. Often, he wouldn’t micromanage—employees could do as they pleased, but only if they fulfilled their duties. Otherwise, he had no reason to be polite.

Qu Yang suddenly smiled a polite, practiced smile, feeling she had grown once again.

"It’s fine. Just focus on your work and avoid unnecessary panic. Everyone knows what kind of people Chairman Lin dismissed this time. The company must grow, and I hope we can maintain a healthy work environment."

The colleagues exchanged glances before dispersing. Qu Yang took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, turning to look in the direction of Lin Juangui’s office.

They say it’s hard to find a true mentor—she finally understood what that meant.

He was someone worth following.

At the end of the day, seeing Qu Yang’s enlightened smile, Lin Juangui nodded and sent a small bonus to her account. "Happy weekend. Enjoy your meal."

Mu Zhang picked up Lin Juangui from work to head home. They planned to return to Sailinger that evening. The schedule was tight, but Lin Juangui was in good spirits, smiling as he packed.

"What happened? You seem so happy," Mu Zhang asked.

Lin Juangui grinned. "Maybe because the vacation is finally starting."

Too much had happened over the past six months, leaving Lin Juangui little time to breathe. Now everything was moving in the direction he wanted—who wouldn’t be happy?

When they arrived at Tianguang, Mu Zhang asked, "What’s next?"

Lin Juangui took off his glasses, breathed deeply, and rubbed his face.

Even scrunched up, his features were handsome. Mu Zhang’s gaze never wavered; he found Lin Juangui’s little mannerism endearing and asked what he was doing.

"Sleeping. I need a good long sleep."

During those days in heat, Lin Juangui had been out of it. He sensed Mu Zhang caring for him, and the hormonal surges constantly tested his willpower. He deliberately suppressed it, which was mentally draining.

After that, he met General Mu, kept up appearances with Mu Zhang for outsiders, and handled company matters. Now he was dead on his feet.

Mu Zhang knew Omegas had less stamina. When he took Lin Juangui to his room, he reminded him, "If you need anything, just ring. There’s staff outside."

"Okay, got it."

In the past, Lin Juangui wouldn’t waste a second of his commute. Zhou Corporation’s business was diverse, and there was always more to handle. It took years to overhaul the company’s structure and steer it toward growth.

But now things were different. The company was his from the ground up, built entirely to his vision. He needed enough energy and sleep to make the best decisions.

When they returned to Sailinger, Lin Juangui said he wanted to visit the children’s home.

He had been ill for so long and then stayed on Yungang Planet for an extended period—it had been ages since he’d seen the children at the children’s home.

Mu Zhang had initially planned to attend a meeting but, upon hearing this, asked Ge Miao to postpone it. "I’ll go with you."

Lin Juangui was taken aback but nodded. "...Alright."

He intended to take this opportunity to look for Huo Zeshen. The training base had a two-week break, and instead of staying at the accommodation Lin Juangui arranged for him on Yungang Star, Huo Zeshen had returned to the orphanage.

Lin Juangui didn’t force Huo Zeshen to stay anywhere specific. It was a good thing that he enjoyed spending time with the children at the orphanage, but during his previous stay there, he had been singled out. Lin Juangui was worried that Huo Zeshen might become withdrawn again.

Over the past few months, the orphanage had taken in more homeless children. Aside from adoptive parents and charity organizations, few people visited them, so they found ways to entertain themselves or attended classes in various corners of the center.

Every time Lin Juangui visited, he brought many small gifts or treats, and this time was no exception.

As soon as Lin Juangui arrived, he was surrounded by the children. They gathered around him, saying, "Brother Lin looks so handsome today!"

Lin Juangui smiled, his eyes crinkling, and crouched down to pull a handful of soft candies from his pocket, handing them to the younger children. "You've been good, right? Have you been eating well lately?"

"Yes, yes! I've grown taller!"

Mu Zhang was pushed aside. He kept his gaze fixed on Lin Juangui, and seeing how popular he was, his smile grew even warmer.

Once he had nearly finished handing out the candies, Lin Juangui stood up and prepared to go further inside the orphanage when the children finally noticed Mu Zhang.

A little girl walked up to Mu Zhang and stood next to him to compare heights, saying in a tiny voice, "There's a giant we can't even see the face of…"

Lin Juangui glanced back at Mu Zhang, smiling without saying a word, waiting to see how he would respond.

A little boy nearby, despite his young age, was acting all grown-up. Cupping his chin, he tilted his head back and asked sternly, "Who are you?"

Seeing the little boy’s serious expression, Mu Zhang couldn’t resist teasing him. "I'm your Brother Lin’s Alpha. Got a problem with that?"

The little boy took the girl’s hand and turned to leave. "Come on, let's go. There’s a weirdo here."

Lin Juangui couldn’t help but laugh.

Mu Zhang, on the other hand, felt an absurd, frustrated feeling.

The children scattered with a collective "Ew!" just as Wen Rui arrived and hurried over to explain, "Children talk like this. Please don’t blame them, Lord. Mr. Lin is very popular, and they’ll learn to like you just as much as they like Mr. Lin."

Mu Zhang was self-aware. He naturally carried an intimidating vibe, so it was normal for the children to keep their distance.

Lin Juangui added, "Children who have lost their families are often more sensitive or more withdrawn than others. It’s a good thing they can express their feelings so directly. Don’t be too hard on them."

Mu Zhang wouldn’t take such things to heart. He said dismissively, "It’s fine if they like Brother Lin. I don’t come here often, so whether they like me or not doesn’t matter."

Wen Rui breathed a silent sigh of relief. Lin Juangui just smiled, not worried about it. As usual, he chatted with the children, and when he noticed a little girl with a runny nose, he carefully wiped it for her.

Mu Zhang stayed by Lin Juangui’s side, helping out where he could. They remained until almost dinnertime when Mu Zhang was suddenly called away by an urgent phone call. It wasn’t clear what had happened, but it seemed pressing.

Lin Juangui had been busy all afternoon and hadn’t caught sight of Huo Zeshen. After confirming that Mu Zhang had left the orphanage, he sent a message to Huo Zeshen: "Are you not at the orphanage today?"

Huo Zeshen didn’t reply. Lin Juangui grew slightly anxious, wondering if Huo Zeshen was still napping.

Almost instinctively, Lin Juangui headed toward the back hill, occasionally checking his device to make sure he didn’t miss any messages from Huo Zeshen.

But when he reached the tree where Huo Zeshen often spent time, there was still no sign of him.

Lin Juangui took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. For some reason, his intuition told him that Huo Zeshen was avoiding him.

Was it because he hadn’t gone to find Huo Zeshen during the birthday party?

But at that time, Lin Juangui hadn’t been in a good place. He was afraid that if he faced Huo Zeshen, he would burst into tears and leave him with the impression of an emotional mess.

Lin Juangui had tried his best to restrain himself. He didn’t want Huo Zeshen to misunderstand.

But if Huo Zeshen didn’t want to see him, what could he do? He would just have to try again another time.

Just as Lin Juangui was about to leave, a male voice suddenly spoke up right behind him.

"Brother, were you looking for me?"