Chapter 16 Don’t Go If You Don’t Want To

Chapter 16: If He Doesn't Want to Go, Then He Doesn't Have To

Lu Lin had been abroad for the past half-month, and the backlog of documents at the company had piled up into a mountain.

Zhou Jin had tried several times to get Lu Lin to return and handle them, but was ignored and outright refused.

As long as Shen Qingci was at the villa, Lu Lin seemed rooted there, unwilling to take a single step away.

Left with no choice, Zhou Jin turned his gaze toward Shen Qingci, who was soaking up the sun and reading in the garden.

The autumn sunlight was pleasant, warm and gentle.

Shen Qingci sat in a wicker chair, a thin blanket draped over his legs. He was reading intently, his profile appearing exceptionally soft in the sunlight.

Zhou Jin walked over respectfully. "Mr. Shen."

Shen Qingci looked up, saw it was him, then lowered his head to continue reading.

He turned a page, his voice cool and detached.

"What is it?"

"President Lu is unwilling to go to the company to handle work." Zhou Jin stated matter-of-factly. "Several important projects require his decision, one of which is a multi-billion-dollar merger and acquisition case with a European energy group. Prolonged delays could lead to issues."

Shen Qingci gave a noncommittal "Hmm" and kept reading.

"If he doesn't want to go, then he doesn't have to."

Zhou Jin paused, then switched tactics, lowering his voice. "Also... some directors on the Lu family side think President Lu has been acting abnormally lately, saying he's neglecting his duties and being too frivolous and capricious. They've been agitating these past few days, trying to band together to remove him from his position as CEO."

Shen Qingci's finger, which had been turning the page, stopped.

He looked up, his gaze landing on Lu Lin, who was squatting not far away, loosening the soil around some irises.

"Lu Lin." Shen Qingci called softly.

Lu Lin instantly raised his head and looked at Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci beckoned to him.

Lu Lin immediately put down the small shovel, washed his hands, and hurried over. He squatted beside Shen Qingci's legs and naturally began kneading them.

Zhou Jin was already used to this, but he still silently averted his eyes, unable to bear the sight of his boss's utterly devoted demeanor.

"Brother..." Lu Lin looked up at Shen Qingci, his eyes sparkling.

Shen Qingci looked at him and set the book aside.

"Go back and clean up the trash in the Lu family." He spoke, his voice light but each word clear and forceful. "If you get pushed down by those brainless people from the Lu family..."

He paused, then added the second half of the sentence.

"...then don't follow me anymore."

Lu Lin's kneading hands froze abruptly.

He looked up at Shen Qingci, his deep brown eyes reflecting Shen Qingci's cool, detached face.

Lu Lin slowly stood up and nodded.

Then he turned and strode purposefully toward the villa.

Zhou Jin was momentarily stunned before snapping back to reality and hurriedly following.

The two walked to the garage. Lu Lin pulled open the car door and got in. Zhou Jin adjusted his glasses and asked, though he already knew the answer, "President Lu, we..."

"Drive." Lu Lin cut him off, his voice having regained its usual iciness. "To the company."

As the car drove out of the villa, Lu Lin sat in the back seat, his expression cold, sharp, and completely different from just moments before.

He took out his phone and made a call.

Lu Lin spoke, his tone laced with a chill. "Notify all directors. Meeting in one hour. Those absent will be directly removed."

After hanging up, he turned his head to look out the car window.

But in his mind, he was thinking: Anyone who gets between him and his brother deserves to die. Once he teaches them a lesson and they don't dare make a sound anymore, he can properly stay by his brother's side.

Zhou Jin watched his boss through the rearview mirror. The ruthless coldness in Lu Lin's eyes made Zhou Jin feel... that Lu Lin might genuinely need to be kept under Shen Qingci's control permanently.

-

In the garden, Shen Qingci picked up his book again, leaned back in the chair, and continued reading.

Although the new company was still in its early stages, Lin Wei's abilities were too formidable. She handled most matters impeccably, leaving him with an unusual amount of free time lately.

He flipped through a few more pages. With a certain someone absent, he inexplicably felt a bit bored.

How about...

going to see how the kid handles company work.

Shen Qingci closed the book, stood up, and, leaning on his cane, walked toward the villa.

Uncle Fu saw him and quickly asked, "Mr. Shen, what do you need?"

"The car keys." Shen Qingci said. "I'm going out for a drive."

"But your leg..." Uncle Fu was somewhat worried.

"It's fine." Shen Qingci took the keys. "It won't be a problem."

Half an hour later, a black Maybach stopped beneath the headquarters building of the Lu Group.

Shen Qingci got out of the car with his cane and looked up at the towering structure.

He walked into the lobby. The receptionist saw him, was first dazzled by Shen Qingci's appearance, then snapped back to reality and hurried forward. "Sir, who are you here to see?"

"Lu Lin." Shen Qingci said.

"Do you have an appointment?"

Shen Qingci glanced at her, didn't answer, and walked straight toward the elevators.

The receptionist wanted to stop him but was held back by a security guard.

The guard didn't recognize this person, but he recognized the car—it was one the CEO had driven.

Anyone who could drive the CEO's car to the company must know the CEO and have a very good relationship with him.

The elevator went directly to the top floor.

Shen Qingci stepped out of the elevator. The corridor was quiet, with only one or two people occasionally passing by. After walking for a while, Shen Qingci stopped someone.

"Where is Lu Lin?"

The woman, holding a stack of documents, looked at Shen Qingci's strikingly handsome and aloof face. "Mr. Lu is in a meeting."

"Where is the conference room?"

The woman pointed in a direction. Shen Qingci nodded and headed toward the conference room.

Through the frosted glass, Shen Qingci couldn’t see clearly what was happening inside.

He walked to the door and pushed it open as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The long table was filled with people on both sides, each looking grave. Lu Lin sat at the head of the table, leaning back in his chair, toying with a pen.

The door suddenly opened, and everyone looked over.

Lu Lin’s movements paused. His eyes fixed on Shen Qingci, who had calmly taken a seat at the far end. He cleared his throat, uncrossed his legs a bit flustered, sat up straight, laid the pen down, and continued speaking.

"Director Wang, are you accusing me of neglecting my duties?"

Everyone’s attention was pulled back by Lu Lin’s cold inquiry.

The balding middle-aged man who had been named wiped his sweat. "President Lu, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that you haven’t been in the company for the past half-month, and several major projects..."

"So," Lu Lin interrupted him, "you contacted Director Li, Director Zhang, and my third uncle, planning to join forces to remove me from my position as president?"

The conference room was plunged into dead silence.

Lu Lin swept a glance around the room. No one spoke up.

Lu Lin asked, his voice dripping with disdain, "What? No objections now?"

Still, no one spoke.

Lu Lin withdrew his gaze and began tackling the backlog of documents and projects. He spoke rapidly, his decisions decisive, and had a solution for every problem within three minutes.

Shen Qingci tapped his cane lightly, listening quietly.

So this is how the kid works at the office.

He was completely different from the clumsy Lu Lin at home, who fumbled his way through English.

The meeting ended shortly after.

When it concluded, the directors left one by one, ashen-faced. Besides dealing with Lu Lin’s sudden confrontation, they were even more curious about who Shen Qingci was, but no one dared to ask.

Only after everyone had left did Lu Lin stand up. He walked over to Shen Qingci, his icy demeanor melting away instantly, reverting to that cautious child:

"What brings you here, brother?"

Shen Qingci looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and then said:

"English. You’ll practice an extra hour tonight."

Lu Lin’s face instantly fell. "...Oh."