Chapter 28 A Late Rebellious Phase (Not)

Chapter 28: A Belated Rebellious Phase (Not Really)

His hand trembled violently as Lu Lin hung up the phone.

He stared at the darkened screen as if his stare could burn a hole through it.

His hand was clenched so tightly that his fingertips dug into his palm, leaving deep crescent-shaped marks, yet this pain was nothing compared to the suffocating tightness in his chest.

His brother had called and told him to come home.

This realization made Lu Lin's blood boil.

But at the same time, fear crept in—he had just hung up on Shen Qingci.

Would Shen Qingci be angry?

Would he be disappointed?

Would he stop caring about him altogether?

Lu Lin raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Zhou Jin not far away.

The music in the private room was deafening; the woman who'd answered the phone was drinking and laughing with a few others.

"Out," Lu Lin said hoarsely.

Zhou Jin caught on immediately and waved them out.

The music stopped abruptly, and the group filed out, leaving the private room instantly quiet.

Lu Lin stared at Zhou Jin, his gaze dark and terrifying:

"Are you sure this method will work?"

Zhou Jin adjusted his glasses, struggling to maintain composure under Lu Lin's overwhelming pressure. "Not entirely certain. Mr. Shen is too rational. His understanding of you is still stuck ten years in the past. He still sees you as a sixteen-year-old child, not a twenty-six-year-old man."

He paused before continuing:

"This method, at the very least, should make him realize that you've grown up."

Lu Lin said nothing.

He lowered his head to look at his phone; the screen was still on the call log.

Next to Shen Qingci's name were five red missed call icons.

God only knew how excited he had been when the first call came in.

The moment the phone vibrated, he had almost reflexively reached for it.

But Zhou Jin had grabbed his hand to stop him.

"President Lu," Zhou Jin had said at the time, "If you answer now, all our efforts this past week will be in vain."

So he had restrained himself.

Watching the screen light up and go dark, over and over, listening to the ringtone specifically set for Shen Qingci play again and again, he gritted his teeth, nails digging into his palms, just to stop himself from lunging for the phone.

It wasn't until Zhou Jin said it was okay that he finally answered.

Upon hearing Shen Qingci's voice, Lu Lin's longing for him instantly peaked.

Lu Lin closed his eyes. He bit his lower lip so hard that his teeth pierced the skin, the taste of blood flooding his mouth.

A drop of blood rolled from his split lip and fell onto the expensive leather sofa, leaving a dark red stain.

Only this seemed to hold back the desire threatening to shatter his self-control.

Suppress the urge to immediately rush back to the villa, kneel before Shen Qingci, hug his legs, and say, "Brother, I was wrong. I shouldn't have avoided you. Please don't be angry."

"When can I go back?" Lu Lin opened his eyes, his voice raspy.

Zhou Jin took in his state and sighed inwardly.

So decisive and fearsome in the business world, yet the moment he faced Mr. Shen, he became this insecure, pathetically humble mess.

"If nothing unexpected happens," Zhou Jin glanced at his schedule, "you will be able to see Mr. Shen tomorrow."

Lu Lin's eyes lit up briefly.

But they quickly dimmed again.

"He'll be angry," he said softly.

"Perhaps," Zhou Jin nodded. "But anger, at least, proves he cares."

---

The next afternoon in the Lu Group's president's office.

Lu Lin had just finished a three-hour mergers and acquisitions meeting. Rubbing his throbbing temples, he pushed open the door and froze.

Shen Qingci was sitting on the sofa, reading a magazine.

He was wearing a light gray turtleneck under a dark coat.

Lu Lin's breath caught when he saw Shen Qingci's hair.

His slightly long black hair was simply tied back with a black hairband, revealing his fair nape and delicate profile.

A few stray strands fell down, brushing against his cheeks, swaying gently with his movements.

This hairstyle made Shen Qingci appear much softer than usual, reducing his usual cool, distant aura and adding an indescribable touch of languidness and beauty.

Lu Lin's Adam's apple bobbed.

He forced himself to look away, not daring to take another glance.

He was afraid.

Afraid that one more look would make him lose control, rush over, pull this person into his arms, kiss the back of his neck, tear off that distracting hairband, and let those soft black strands spill all over his hands.

Lu Lin took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions, and walked expressionlessly toward his desk.

He deliberately didn't look at Shen Qingci, didn't greet him, acting as if there was no one else in the office at all.

He pulled out his chair, sat down, opened his computer, and began processing documents.

If one observed closely, they would notice his hand holding the mouse was trembling slightly.

Shen Qingci put down the magazine and looked up at the person behind the desk.

A week had passed since they'd last seen each other, and Lu Lin had thinned out a bit. There were faint shadows under his eyes, and his lip... was split.

Shen Qingci frowned.

He stood up, using his cane for support as he walked to the desk and set the magazine he was holding down on the surface.

“Lu Lin.”

Shen Qingci’s voice was cold, even carrying a barely detectable hint of anger.

If it were any other time, hearing Shen Qingci call him like this, Lu Lin would have come scampering over, dropped to a crouch beside his leg, and looked up to ask, “What’s wrong, brother?”

But today, Lu Lin didn’t move.

He didn’t even look up, his eyes still fixed on the computer screen, his fingers tapping on the keyboard, completely ignoring Shen Qingci’s words.

Shen Qingci’s frown deepened.

He looked at Lu Lin, his gaze falling on that split lip.

The wound wasn’t deep, as if it had been bitten just yesterday. The edges were slightly swollen and red, looking...

very ambiguous.

Shen Qingci’s thin lips pressed into a cold, straight line.

“Lu Lin,” he spoke, his voice even colder than before, “didn’t I tell you that if you have someone you like, you should tell me?”

He paused, adding the second half of the sentence:

“Don’t waste your feelings and energy on the wrong person.”

Lu Lin’s fingers stilled on the keyboard.

He looked up at Shen Qingci.

“I’m just doing what you told me to do—minding my own business and not letting you worry.”

Lu Lin’s voice was calm, but every word felt like a needle, piercing Shen Qingci’s heart.

Shen Qingci froze.

“You—” He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words caught in his throat, leaving him momentarily speechless.

Because he suddenly realized, Lu Lin was right.

“You need to learn to be independent.”

“You can’t wait for others to solve every problem you encounter.”

“And you definitely can’t let my affairs affect your judgment.”

These were all things he had said.

Word for word, from his own mouth.

Now that Lu Lin was preparing to be independent, he had come running over to accuse him of making a mess of things.

Shen Qingci’s brows remained tightly furrowed.

He felt that something was off.

His way of teaching seemed not only to have failed to correct the person but instead...

to have steered things in a strange direction.

He looked at Lu Lin, at the detachment and indifference in those eyes, and suddenly, a strange feeling welled up in his chest.

Panic—he felt panic for the first time.

It was like carefully nurturing a plant, watering and fertilizing it every day, hoping it would grow straight and strong.

But one day, you turn around and find it has grown crooked, stretching wildly in a direction you never anticipated.

And you are helpless to do anything about it.

Shen Qingci remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he spoke, his tone a little softer: “Last night... who was that person?”

Lu Lin looked at him but said nothing.

“Where did you spend the night?” Shen Qingci asked again.

Again, Lu Lin said nothing.

Shen Qingci’s patience finally ran out.

He raised his cane and gave Lu Lin’s calf a light tap, his tone sharp with impatience: “Speak.”

Lu Lin lowered his head, looking at the cane where it tapped his leg.

Then he looked up at Shen Qingci and suddenly smiled.

“Brother, didn’t you tell me to be independent?”

“Being independent means... being with whoever I want, spending the night wherever I please, doesn’t it? I’m twenty-six now, not a sixteen-year-old child. I’m only a year younger than you.”

The knuckles of Shen Qingci’s hand gripping the cane instantly turned white.

He looked at Lu Lin, at that familiar yet unfamiliar face, and suddenly felt he no longer recognized the person before him.

Ten years.

It really could change so much.

So much that even the child he'd raised himself had become unrecognizable.