Chapter 12 Following Abroad

Chapter 12: Going Abroad

Shen Qingci raised his other hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally gently placed it on Lu Lin's head, ruffling his hair like he used to a decade ago.

Lu Lin's tears fell even harder.

"Convinced now?"

He didn't answer, only gripping Shen Qingci's jacket hem tightly, his fingers turning white as if clutching the last lifeline.

The courtyard was eerily silent.

Everyone held their breath.

Lin Wei watched this scene through the gate, her eyes reddening.

Uncle Fu stood at the villa entrance, raising a hand to wipe the corner of his eye.

Only Shen Qingci remained as calm as ever.

He looked at the twenty-six-year-old man trembling with sobs before him and remained silent for a long time.

Then, he let out a soft sigh.

"Let go," he said. "You'll wrinkle my jacket."

Lu Lin didn't release his grip.

Instead, he held on even tighter.

Shen Qingci's brow furrowed slightly. "Lu Lin."

Two words, spoken lightly.

But Lu Lin reacted as if scalded, immediately letting go.

His tears were still falling, but his eyes were locked on Shen Qingci, as if afraid this person would disappear in the blink of an eye.

Shen Qingci smoothed the wrinkled fabric, then looked up at the bodyguards blocking the door.

"Now," he said, "step aside."

The two bodyguards instinctively glanced at Lu Lin.

Lu Lin slowly stood up, his vision blurred by tears.

He looked at Shen Qingci, at the back of the suitcase-carrying man, ready to leave again. His heart felt as if gripped by an invisible hand, the pain making it hard to breathe.

Ten years.

He had waited for ten years.

Longed for ten years.

Now this person had returned, only to leave again.

"Don't go..."

Lu Lin's voice was very soft, almost inaudible.

But Shen Qingci heard it.

He hesitated for a step, but he didn't turn around.

"Lu Lin," he spoke, his voice unusually clear in the autumn wind, "you're twenty-six years old now."

After a pause, he added:

"It's time to grow up."

Then he pushed open the slightly ajar iron gate and walked out.

The wheels of the suitcase made a soft rumble on the stone-paved path.

Lin Wei approached, wanting to say something, but Shen Qingci shook his head at her.

He didn't get into the car, but instead leaned on his cane and slowly walked along the tree-lined avenue.

Behind him, the villa gate remained wide open.

Lu Lin stood in the courtyard, watching the receding figure, tears silently streaming down his face.

Uncle Fu walked over and handed him a handkerchief.

Lu Lin didn't take it.

He just stood there, watching the figure grow smaller and smaller until it completely disappeared around the street corner.

Then he slowly sank to the ground, hugged his knees, and buried his face in them.

-

"Mr. Shen, I thought... you would stay."

On the way back to the airport, Lin Wei, who was driving, couldn't help but speak up.

Shen Qingci closed his eyes, leaning against the seat back, his thin lips slightly pursed, his fingers lightly tapping on the cane.

His head was full of the image of Lu Lin huddled on the ground crying.

Shen Qingci opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the scenery flashing by outside the window.

He rested his right hand on his temple, gently massaging it with his fingers, his voice even more detached than usual:

"He's twenty-six, not the little boy who needs to be watched over anymore."

Lin Wei started to speak, then stopped herself, and just silently tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

Yes, twenty-six years old.

The man in charge of the Lu Group, the formidable Mr. Lu who strikes fear in the business world, was no longer the child who used to cling to Shen Qingci's clothes and act spoiled.

But...

Lin Wei recalled the scene in the courtyard earlier.

Lu Lin crouched on the ground, looking as helpless as if abandoned by the whole world.

But she knew that once Shen Qingci made a decision, he wouldn't look back.

It was true ten years ago, and it remained true ten years later.

At the airport.

Lin Wei parked the car and helped Shen Qingci with his suitcase.

The departure hall bustled with people, flight information echoing from the speakers.

"Safe travels, Mr. Shen."

Standing outside the security checkpoint, Lin Wei watched Shen Qingci's retreating back leaning on his cane, suddenly reminded of years ago.

She'd sent him off at the airport the same way, saying the same words.

Shen Qingci never looked back.

Today was no different.

Only this time, a breeze swept through the hall, carrying a brief, cool reply:

"Mm."

Lin Wei stood there, watching him pass through security and disappear around the corner, feeling her eyes grow unexpectedly warm.

Ten years.

Some things had changed, some hadn't.

Once through security, Shen Qingci found his gate and sat down in the lounge.

He had half an hour before boarding. He took out his phone to handle a few emails and checked on the preparations for his new company.

Everything was on track.

Once he boarded the plane and left this place, he could completely cut all ties to his past as Shen Qingci and start a brand new life as Shen Qing.

The boarding announcement sounded.

Shen Qingci put away his phone and made his way to the gate with his cane.

A flight attendant took his boarding pass and ushered him onto the plane with a smile.

Then he froze.

Before him wasn't a regular passenger plane, but a private jet.

Inside, Lu Lin sat by the window, wearing a simple black sweater, a blanket over his legs, holding a document as though he was working.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and met Shen Qingci's gaze.

His eyes were calm, as if they were two strangers who happened to share a flight.

For the first time, Shen Qingci's cool expression struggled to contain the inner turmoil.

His fingers tightened around the cane, knuckles turning slightly white.

He badly wanted to throw this disobedient brat off the plane.

The sixteen-year-old Lu Lin would never have defied him again and again.

If Shen Qingci said east, Lu Lin wouldn't dare go west; if Shen Qingci said no, Lu Lin would obediently stop.

But the twenty-six-year-old Lu Lin would.

He would forcibly take him from the airport, attempt to confine him, chase him to the airport, change his ticket to a private flight, and sit in the seat next to him.

Shen Qingci took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He sat in the seat farthest from Lu Lin.

Leaning his cane beside him, he fastened his seatbelt and closed his eyes, making it clear he didn't want to talk.

A flight attendant came over and asked softly, "Sir, would you like something to drink?"

"Black coffee, no sugar, no milk."

"Certainly, just a moment."

The coffee was served quickly.

The temperature was just right, the aroma rich, the coffee he usually drank.

Shen Qingci picked up the cup, took a sip, and said nothing.

Lu Lin didn't speak either.

He didn't even look at Shen Qingci, just kept his head down, reading the document in his hands.

That focused demeanor made it seem as if he were genuinely here on a business trip, coincidentally sharing the flight with Shen Qingci.

This gave Shen Qingci no reason to scold him.

Shen Qingci could only silently finish his coffee, then take out his laptop and start working.

The plane took off, climbed, and leveled off at cruising altitude.

Outside the window stretched a sea of clouds, the sunlight glaring.

After finishing his work, Shen Qingci closed his laptop, reclined his seat, and prepared to rest.

Before closing his eyes, he glanced at Lu Lin.

Lu Lin was still reading the document, his profile exceptionally clear in the light streaming through the window.

His eyelashes were long, his nose bridge straight, his lips slightly pressed together.

Shen Qingci averted his gaze and closed his eyes.

Only after Shen Qingci's breathing steadied did Lu Lin dare to steal a glance at him.