Chapter 33 No More Pretending

Chapter 33: Dropping the Pretense

Lu Lin worked with astonishing speed.

He made the call at three in the afternoon and had set up the meeting by seven in the evening.

The invitees included several core executives of the AI Technology Group, including the chairman and two technical directors.

Shen Qingci initially wanted Lin Wei to accompany him, but she refused, her face unable to hide her weariness. "Mr. Shen, I'm sorry... my child is sick, running a persistent high fever. I need to go to the hospital."

Shen Qingci looked at her red-rimmed eyes and haggard expression, was silent for a couple of seconds, then said, "Take time off if you need it."

Although his tone was very flat, Lin Wei heard the concern in it.

Her eyes grew even redder. She whispered a "Thank you, Mr. Shen" and hurriedly left.

Shen Qingci watched her as she left and tapped a finger lightly on his cane.

Then he turned to another assistant.

"You'll come with me," Shen Qingci said.

Xiao Chen's eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded. "Yes, Mr. Shen!"

At that moment, Lu Lin spoke up. "Brother, I'm all you need."

He stood beside Shen Qingci, his tone calm, but his deep brown eyes shot a cold glance at Xiao Chen.

That look made Xiao Chen shiver on the spot.

Shen Qingci glanced at Lu Lin but said nothing. He simply nodded to Xiao Chen. "Then you stay at the company to handle other matters."

The excitement on Xiao Chen's face instantly deflated. He opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but meeting Lu Lin's icy gaze, he ultimately swallowed his words and mumbled a low "Okay."

Lu Lin looked at Xiao Chen, at that young, eager face, at those eyes that looked at Shen Qingci with undisguised admiration and infatuation.

His fingers gradually tightened into a fist.

His fingernails dug into his palm, leaving deep crescent-shaped marks.

Why?

Lu Lin asked in his heart.

Why were there always so many pieces of trash around his brother?

Why were there always people who, with a death wish, coveted the person who belonged to him?

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to look away, suppressing the churning aggression in his heart.

When he looked up again, his face had resumed that cautious, ingratiating expression. "Brother, let's go."

---

In the end, Shen Qingci didn't bring anyone.

Lu Lin also came alone.

The two went to the club together. Shen Qingci leaned back in the rear seat, shutting his eyes to rest, while Lu Lin sat beside him, watching him unblinkingly.

That gaze was terrifyingly focused.

As if wanting to etch this person into his very bones.

Shen Qingci, however, thought nothing of it, even finding it perfectly normal.

Upon arriving at the club, the doorman respectfully opened the car door for them.

Lu Lin got out first, then walked to the other side, very naturally extending a hand to help Shen Qingci out of the car.

Lu Lin walked half a step behind Shen Qingci, like a dutiful aide, personally handling everything until he pushed open the door to the private dining room.

Inside the room, the executives from the AI Technology Group had already arrived.

Seeing the door open, everyone looked over.

When they saw Lu Lin personally holding the door open for someone else, then following behind that man with a cane—a man with a strikingly handsome but aloof face and commanding presence—like a subordinate, everyone was stunned.

This scene... was utterly bizarre.

But then they realized something even more bizarre was yet to come.

As Shen Qingci walked to the long table, Lu Lin quickly stepped forward and pulled out a chair for him.

The action was natural, the posture respectful.

Shen Qingci sat down naturally.

And Lu Lin took the seat beside him.

The seat of honor at this dinner, the seat that should have belonged to the main guest, the introducer, remained empty.

The entire room fell into an eerie silence.

The executives exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock and confusion.

But they were all shrewd individuals and quickly understood.

This man, whom Lu Lin treated with such deference, was absolutely not simple and absolutely not to be provoked.

One of the technical directors secretly felt relieved.

Fortunately, their chairman had come in person today and hadn't missed it due to the charity gala tonight.

Otherwise... offending this man might be even more terrifying than offending Lu Lin.

After sitting down, Shen Qingci got straight to the point.

"Regarding the technical cooperation on AI chips, Qingye can provide funding and market access. You provide the technology and team. The specific proposal is here."

Shen Qingci took a document from his briefcase and placed it on the table.

His tone was calm, devoid of pleasantries or small talk.

The executives were stunned again.

They had seen too many people wanting to cooperate with them, most of whom were obsequious and fawning.

Someone this direct and composed in discussing a multi-billion-yuan cooperation was a first.

The chairman picked up the document and began flipping through it.

He then looked up at Shen Qingci and asked just a few very basic questions:

"What is the state of Qingye Company's cash flow?"

"What market channels do you have?"

"What is your assessment of AI development over the next three years?"

Shen Qingci answered them one by one.

Concise and to the point, every sentence hit the mark.

He spoke without much expression, his gaze calm, but the confidence and sense of control radiating from his very core made it impossible for everyone present to ignore him.

Ten minutes later.

The chairman closed the document and nodded:

"We can work together."

Just like that.

So simple that... Shen Qingci was momentarily stunned.

He had originally prepared for at least three hours of negotiation, with various data and plans, and strategies to handle all kinds of difficulties.

But now, in just ten minutes, the other party had agreed.

Shen Qingci's gaze involuntarily fell on Lu Lin beside him.

Lu Lin had been watching him.

From the moment they entered, those eyes had never left him.

Now, as their eyes met, Lu Lin's lips curved slightly upward, his face revealing an expression that seemed to say, "Brother, am I amazing? Praise me."

A little proud, a little expectant, and with a hint of playfulness.

Shen Qingci looked at him—at this person who only knew how to act cute and obedient in front of him, yet could decide a billion-dollar project with a single word in the business world.

Suddenly, he realized that Lu Lin was far more capable than he had imagined.

Capable enough that with just an introduction and an attitude, he could make this originally difficult negotiation effortless.

Capable enough that even he himself hadn't noticed how formidably Lu Lin had grown in places he couldn't see.

---

The rest of the dinner went smoothly.

The executives knew how to read the room; knowing Lu Lin valued Shen Qingci, they treated Shen Qingci with extra respect.

The details of the cooperation were discussed smoothly, and the meal was lavish.

By the time the dinner ended, it was already 10 p.m.

When they walked out of the club, it was raining again.

Lu Lin opened an umbrella, tilting most of it toward Shen Qingci, his own shoulder quickly getting wet from the rain.

But he didn't mind, just carefully ushering Shen Qingci into the car.

Inside the car, the heater was on full blast.

Shen Qingci leaned back in his seat, resting with his eyes closed.

Lu Lin sat beside him, about to say something when his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, frowned, but still answered.

"Speak." His voice was cold, a stark contrast to the soft, gentle tone he had used with Shen Qingci just moments before.

Whatever was said on the other end of the line, Lu Lin's expression grew darker and darker.

"If you can't even handle such a small matter, what use are you to me?" His voice wasn't loud, but every word was like shards of ice, carrying undisguised menace. "I don't care about the process, only the result. If that company isn't bankrupt within three days, you'll disappear along with it."

He hung up without another word.

Silence fell in the car.

Shen Qingci still had his eyes closed, but his fingers tapped lightly on his cane.

A few seconds later, he opened his eyes, turned his head, and looked at Lu Lin.

Lu Lin was still holding his phone, his expression not yet fully recovered from the earlier coldness, his eyes still carrying traces of lingering ferocity.

But the moment he met Shen Qingci's gaze, that coldness and ferocity vanished instantly.

Replaced by an almost instinctive softness and eagerness to please.

"Brother," Lu Lin asked softly, "did I disturb you?"

Shen Qingci looked at him without speaking, merely tapping his cane once more.

Lu Lin grew nervous under his gaze, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of his phone, like a child waiting to be scolded for doing something wrong.

Shen Qingci said nothing.

He just turned his head back and closed his eyes again.

But in his heart, everything was crystal clear.

He knew that Lu Lin was no longer pretending.

Or rather... he could no longer be bothered to pretend in front of him.

The Lu Lin who was ruthless, cold, and could decide the fate of a company with a single word in front of outsiders...

And the Lu Lin who acted coquettish, obedient, and would be as happy as a child over a single word of praise from him...

Both were real.

It was just that, depending on who he was facing, he showed a different side.

And now, it seemed Lu Lin felt there was no longer any need to maintain that innocent, harmless facade in front of him.