Chapter 38 Top-Tier Love Fool

Chapter 38 The Ultimate Love Fool

The next morning, Shen Qingci asked Lin Wei to ride with him to the office.

Lu Lin wanted to tag along too, but today Shen Qingci didn’t let him.

“You take the kid to school,” Shen Qingci said, his tone flat, like he was assigning a task. “You’re dropping off Lin Wei’s daughter—first at school, then at kindergarten.”

Lu Lin stood by the car, still holding the school supplies and kid stuff that had been shoved into his arms.

He started to refuse, but Shen Qingci had already pulled open the car door and gotten in.

Lin Wei shot him a sympathetic look and took the passenger seat.

Before Lu Lin could get a word out, the car drove off.

Leaving Lu Lin standing alone at the villa entrance, clutching a pile of children’s belongings, like a giant, abandoned nanny dog.

Lin Wei sat in the passenger seat, stealing a glance at Shen Qingci in the rearview mirror.

Shen Qingci was leaning back in his seat, eyes closed, as if dozing.

The morning light streamed through the window, casting shadows on his face and highlighting the delicate lines of his profile.

She had to admit, President Shen’s face was… really something.

Lin Wei quickly looked away and opened her laptop to start working.

But in her mind, she thought: if Lu Lin ever found out what she was thinking, she’d be shipped off to Africa by tomorrow.

The car cruised along smoothly.

Suddenly, Shen Qingci’s voice came from the back:

“Secretary Lin.”

Lin Wei immediately turned around: “Yes, President Shen?”

Shen Qingci opened his eyes and looked at her, a rare hint of hesitation in those beautiful eyes.

He pressed his lips together, thought for a moment, then spoke:

“Lu Lin’s twenty-six, but he seems a bit immature.”

He paused, as if searching for the right words:

“He’s too dependent on me. How do I fix this?”

Lin Wei was floored.

She looked at Shen Qingci, at his dead-serious face, like he was discussing a major business problem, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

Was President Shen for real?

Lin Wei screamed internally.

The way Lu Lin looked at him, acted, wanted to be glued to him 24/7—

Anyone with eyes could see that wasn’t dependence—it was love.

Or rather, that obsessive, frantic, almost sick kind of love.

But President Shen was seriously asking how to fix a dependency issue?

Lin Wei suddenly realized her boss wasn’t just clueless about emotions.

He was… completely missing that wire.

She hesitated a few seconds, then carefully picked her words:

“President Shen, Mr. Lu… because of what happened ten years ago, he’s traumatized.”

She watched Shen Qingci’s expression carefully:

“After you came back, him being dependent on you is actually normal. It’s like… like a hurt kid finding someone to lean on.”

Shen Qingci’s brow furrowed slightly, as if he was thinking over her words.

Lin Wei continued: “I think the best approach is… when he needs you, meet that need. Give him enough attention and care, make him feel secure.”

She paused, then added:

“Over time, maybe this trauma… will heal.”

After saying that, Lin Wei sighed silently to herself.

Lu Lin, I’ve done what I can for you.

The rest is up to you.

Shen Qingci was actually seriously considering what Lin Wei said.

That made sense.

Lu Lin’s trauma needed healing.

And the way to heal it was to make him feel secure, to let him know he wouldn’t be abandoned again.

But Shen Qingci still felt this plan wasn’t solid enough.

Be nice to Lu Lin?

Wouldn’t he just push his luck?

Shen Qingci remembered how Lu Lin had climbed into his bed with a pillow yesterday, the look in his eyes this morning when he wanted to come along, and how his possessiveness had been getting more obvious over the years…

His brow furrowed even more.

But finally, he nodded.

“Got it,” he said.

He’d try it.

He’d try it today.

---

When the car reached the intersection near the office, Lin Wei hesitated, then spoke:

“President Shen, I’ll get out here.”

She wanted to avoid any suspicion.

If the secretary and the boss showed up to work together, rumors would spread through the company for sure.

But Shen Qingci didn't even look at her.

"No need."

His tone was calm but left no room for argument.

The car pulled up right in front of Qingye Company.

Lin Wei got out first, then walked around to the back and opened the door for Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci got out with his cane, steadied himself, and swept his gaze over a few employees sneaking glances their way. Then he said.

"Secretary Lin."

"Yes, Mr. Shen."

"If there are any rumors about you in this company," Shen Qingci's voice was low but cold, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, "contact HR directly and have them fired."

He paused, then added:

"My company doesn't need gossips."

Lin Wei froze for a moment, then felt her eyes sting.

She nodded firmly. "Yes, Mr. Shen."

Shen Qingci didn't say anything else, leaning on his cane as he walked into the building.

Lin Wei followed behind him, thinking for the umpteenth time how lucky she was to have a boss like him.

---

Meanwhile.

After dropping off the two kids, Lu Lin drove to Lu Group headquarters.

He frowned the whole way, wondering what Shen Qingci meant by not letting him come along today. Was he mad? Or... sick of him?

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he got, and he couldn't help speeding up.

When he got to the company, Zhou Jin was already waiting there.

Seeing Lu Lin get out of the car, Zhou Jin immediately walked over, holding a tablet.

"Mr. Lu, there's a meeting at ten this morning, and at two this afternoon, the European side has..."

"Wait." Lu Lin cut him off.

Zhou Jin stopped and looked at him, confused.

Lu Lin stood there, staring at Zhou Jin, and then suddenly smiled.

That smile... was kind of creepy, making Zhou Jin's hair stand on end.

"You were right," Lu Lin said.

Zhou Jin: "...?"

He hadn't even given any advice in today's report—how could he be right?

Lu Lin ignored his confusion, reached out and patted his shoulder, his tone carrying a rare hint of excitement.

"You said before that if I could find the feeling of being with him like when we were kids, that might be the best state."

He paused, his eyes brightening.

"I think that's really true."

Zhou Jin was speechless.

He looked at Lu Lin, pushed up his glasses, and for a moment had no idea what to say.

He had indeed said that—it was when Lu Lin was in total despair after the failed test plan, and he had offered those words to comfort him.

But that was just to comfort him!

Who knew the boss would take it seriously?

Zhou Jin watched Lu Lin's retreating figure as he walked into the building, silently lamenting to himself:

God is truly fair.

He gave his boss a top-tier business mind, insane wealth, and a face so handsome it broke the rules.

And then... gave him a top-tier lovesick brain.

Hopeless.

For real.