Chapter 46 The Secretary

Chapter 46 The Secretary

The next morning, when Shen Qingci came downstairs, he saw Lu Lin preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

He was wearing lounge clothes with an apron tied around his waist, his hair slightly messy, and he cooked smoothly and skillfully.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, spilling over him and coating him in a golden halo.

This heartwarming scene made Shen Qingci pause involuntarily.

He stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching for a long time.

Watching Lu Lin's busy figure from behind, Shen Qingci rested both hands on his cane and couldn't help thinking.

If Lin Wei had married someone like Lu Lin.

Someone who could cook, take care of others, be there for her when she was sad, and protect her when she needed it.

Even though he was a bit clingy, a bit obsessive, and had some mental issues.

But at least... he wouldn't hit her, wouldn't deceive her, wouldn't use her as an ATM.

At least, he'd genuinely treat her right.

Shen Qingci limped into the dining room with his cane.

Lu Lin heard the sound, turned around, and when he saw him, his eyes immediately lit up:

"Brother, good morning!"

"Good morning," Shen Qingci said.

He walked over to the table and sat down, watching Lu Lin bring over breakfast.

Shen Qingci picked up his fork and then suddenly said:

"Lu Lin."

"Hmm?" Lu Lin looked up at him.

"Once you get better," Shen Qingci paused, "if you meet someone you fall for, whether they're a man or a woman..."

He looked Lu Lin in the eyes and said, word for word:

"You have to treat them right."

Lu Lin froze.

He stared at Shen Qingci for a long moment, then smiled.

His smile was very gentle.

"Mm," he said, "I will."

As Shen Qingci bowed his head to eat, Lu Lin sat beside him, chin propped on his hand, watching Shen Qingci. His eyes, usually full of aggression and coldness, now held a terrifyingly obsessive love.

Lu Lin looked at Shen Qingci, then lowered his gaze, thinking: Brother, you said it yourself.

You can't take it back...

After breakfast, Lu Lin first dropped Shen Qingci off at the company, then drove back to Lu Group.

---

Shen Qingci sat at his desk, flipping through documents. After signing the final contract, he picked up his phone and texted Zhou Jin.

Shen Qingci: How's Lu Lin doing today?

Zhou Jin replied quickly.

Zhou Jin: Mr. Lu looks a lot better, thank you, Mr. Shen.

Shen Qingci didn't reply. He set his phone down gently, tapping his fingers on the desk.

Lu Lin's condition was indeed good, but precisely because it was so good, it made him a little worried.

Shen Qingci mulled it over, then picked up his cane, and was about to head out early when Lin Wei knocked and entered with a stack of documents.

"President Shen, there's an urgent document that needs to be handled..." Lin Wei saw Shen Qingci standing with his coat in hand, and she stopped mid-sentence. "President Shen, are you heading out?"

Shen Qingci shook his head, set down his coat, and sat back down. "No problem."

At three in the afternoon, he wrapped up his work and left Qingye under Lin Wei's watchful eye.

The car drove to the Lu Group building.

Shen Qingci got out with his cane and walked into the building.

The front desk receptionist saw him and immediately got to her feet, saying respectfully:

"Hello, President Shen!"

"Mm," Shen Qingci responded briefly, then headed straight for the elevator.

The elevator went up and stopped at the top floor.

As soon as Shen Qingci stepped out of the elevator, he ran into someone.

It was a young woman, probably in her early twenties, wearing a standard professional suit. She had a sweet face, fair skin, big eyes, and two dimples appeared when she smiled.

She was holding a stack of documents in her arms. When she saw Shen Qingci, her eyes clearly lit up.

"President Shen?"

The woman spoke, her voice crisp, with a hint of surprise.

She trotted over to Shen Qingci, looked up at him, and smiled sweetly:

"Are you here to see President Lu?"

Shen Qingci stopped and looked down at her.

This woman was short, only reaching his chest, and looked young, like a recent college graduate.

He "mmmed" in response.

His tone was cold, with no emotion.

But the woman didn't mind at all, still smiling sweetly.

"Mr. Lu stepped out for a business meeting and isn't in the office. Want me to get in touch with him for you?"

Shen Qingci shook his head:

"No, it's fine."

He turned to leave, but stopped after a couple of steps.

This woman's voice...

Sounded kind of familiar.

He looked back at the woman following him, who was pressing the elevator button.

Shen Qingci spoke up suddenly:

"Are you Lu Lin's assistant?"

The woman was taken aback for a second, then smiled and shook her head:

"No, I'm Mr. Lu's secretary. I just started here recently."

Shen Qingci's eyes landed on the woman's lips, then he quietly looked away.

He remembered.

Back when Lu Lin was throwing a fit and hadn't come home for a week, this was the voice that answered when he called.

A secretary, huh?

Shen Qingci frowned. Was this Lu Lin's type?

Shen Qingci stepped into the elevator, and as the doors slid shut, he caught a glimpse of the woman waving and smiling at the entrance.

The elevator started going down.

Shen Qingci's fingers lightly traced his cane.

Was it this woman who bit Lu Lin's lip?

The moment Shen Qingci got off the elevator, his phone started blowing up.

He glanced at the caller ID—Zhou Jin.

He picked up.

Zhou Jin's voice was urgent, talking fast.

"Mr. Shen, Mr. Lu's lost it. Things aren't looking good. The bodyguards can't stop him. If you can, get over to the Longting Hotel ASAP."

Shen Qingci, still thinking about Lu Lin's secretary, frowned at the news.

Without a word, he hung up and hurried out.

Maybe because he was walking too fast, a familiar sharp pain shot through his right leg.

Shen Qingci paused for a second, then, leaning on his cane, rushed toward the car at the entrance.

The driver, seeing him like this, was taken aback:

"Mr. Shen, are you..."

"Drive," Shen Qingci cut him off, his hand on his right knee, his voice cold, "to Longting."

Top floor of the hotel, a luxury private room.

---

The door was ajar, and inside was a mess—broken glass, overturned tables and chairs.

The bodyguards stood at the door, and when they saw Shen Qingci, they immediately pushed it open.

"Mr. Shen, come in."

Shen Qingci walked in, using his cane.

The sight made him frown deeply.

The room was trashed, with glass shards and spilled liquor all over the floor.

Lu Lin was on his knees, pinning down a fat, pig-faced guy, punching him in the face over and over.

The guy was already out cold, his face a bloody mess, but Lu Lin still wouldn't stop.

His eyes were bloodshot, his look wild, like he'd lost all reason.

The others in the room were huddled in the corner, pale-faced, none of them daring to step forward.

Zhou Jin stood off to the side, and when he saw Shen Qingci, he looked like he'd found a lifeline.

"Mr. Shen!"

Shen Qingci nodded, then walked forward, leaning on his cane.

The people around him watched with mixed expressions. Some opened their mouths to warn Shen Qingci not to get too close, but seeing his cold, indifferent demeanor, they shut up.

Everyone watched as Shen Qingci stopped next to Lu Lin, and some of the more timid ones quietly shut their eyes.

Under everyone's gaze, Shen Qingci lifted his cane and gently tapped Lu Lin's calf.

Then he spoke:

"Lu Lin, stop."