Chapter 51 Thermal Underwear

Chapter 51: Thermal Underwear

The late autumn morning light filtered through the curtain gaps, falling on the bedroom carpet with a crisp chill.

Shen Qingci was half-reclining against the headboard, dressed in dark gray silk pajamas, the blanket pulled up to his waist.

He stared blankly at Lu Lin standing by the bed, and at the soft, thick-looking light gray cashmere thermals in Lu Lin’s hands.

“Put them on, big brother.” Lu Lin spread the thermals out, his voice soft and coaxing.

His eyes screamed “for your own good.” “It’s colder today, and the wind’s strong outside. The doctor said your legs need to be kept warm.”

Shen Qingci shifted his gaze to the bare branches outside the window, using silence to show his wordless resistance.

He’d long gotten used to the punctual ache in his right leg at this time of year—it was his old injury’s faithful warning of the changing weather.

But he wasn’t used to, and had no intention of getting used to, wearing such bulky thermal underwear.

He had his dignity and his standards, even if the price was the pain.

He could almost see that if he gave in on these thermals today, once winter arrived, Lu Lin would definitely be holding a pair of thick, fleece-lined cotton pants, staring at him with pleading eyes, begging him to wear them.

So he couldn’t start that.

Lu Lin stubbornly held up the thermals, his gaze shifting from anticipation to hurt, like a big dog being ignored by its owner.

Shen Qingci simply closed his eyes, “out of sight, out of mind.”

He thought his protest would make Lu Lin back off. But he underestimated Lu Lin’s stubbornness and overestimated his own ability to fight the twenty-six-year-old Lu Lin.

The mattress dipped slightly, and a familiar warmth and scent came closer.

Shen Qingci’s eyes flew open, only to see Lu Lin kneeling on the edge of the bed with one knee, holding the thermals in one hand, about to reach under his blanket.

“Lu Lin,” Shen Qingci’s voice instantly turned cold, with clear displeasure, “Get off my bed.”

Lu Lin acted like he hadn’t heard, not stopping his movements, even going so far as to lift the corner of the blanket. A chill rushed in, and although the room’s heating was strong, it still made Shen Qingci instinctively pull his leg away.

“Brother, don’t you have a business partner coming to the office today to discuss things? I’ll drive you to the office, I promise I won’t delay you.” Lu Lin said, trying to grab Shen Qingci’s ankle to pull the thermals on.

Shen Qingci’s brows knitted tightly, and he kicked at him.

Lu Lin reacted fast, catching his flying ankle firmly.

The warmth of his palm seeped through the thin pajama material, with an unshakeable grip.

He used the chance to slide the thermal leg onto Shen Qingci’s foot.

“Lu Lin!” Shen Qingci was really annoyed now. He bent his other leg, trying to get free, and pushed himself up on the bed with his arms, attempting to sit up straight.

The two tussled on the spacious bed, the blanket getting even more tangled.

Lu Lin looked down at Shen Qingci, slightly out of breath from the struggle, a few strands of jet-black hair messily stuck to his forehead and neck.

Those usually cold, calm eyes were now strikingly bright and vivid with anger.

His Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily, and a dark glint flashed in his eyes.

The next second, he leaned in, using his weight to half-pin Shen Qingci beneath him. One hand held his flailing legs, while the other forcefully but carefully pulled off Shen Qingci’s pajama pants and quickly slipped the thermals on.

“Let go!” Shen Qingci’s voice trembled with suppressed anger. He had never been forced like this by anyone, least of all by Lu Lin.

In the end, the thermals were pulled halfway up one leg.

The soft touch of wool wrapped around his skin, insulating it from the cold air.

“Get up.” Shen Qingci took a breath, his voice returning to its usual coolness, but his tone was heavier than usual. “I’ll do it myself.”

Lu Lin’s movements paused. He lowered his head and looked at him.

Shen Qingci’s face was expressionless, but the coldness in his eyes could almost freeze someone.

After a few seconds, Lu Lin slowly released his grip, pushed himself up, and backed off a little. But he still knelt on the bed, his eyes fixed on Shen Qingci with a heavy gaze.

Shen Qingci sat up, not even glancing at Lu Lin. He reached down, yanked the half-on thermals off his leg with force, then raised his hand and precisely threw the soft cashmere fabric into Lu Lin’s face.

“Get out.” Shen Qingci issued his dismissal, his tone calm but brooking no argument. “I’m not wearing them.”

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Lu Lin raised his hand, slowly and deliberately taking the thermals off his head, holding them in his hand.

He didn’t get off the bed, nor did he show his usual aggrieved or coaxing expression.

He stood up, his tall figure casting a shadow in the morning light, enveloping Shen Qingci.

The meekness and obedience in his eyes receded like a tide, revealing the assertiveness of someone long accustomed to power and a nearly obsessive need for control.

“Brother,” he spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying a pressure Shen Qingci had never felt from him before. “Your leg can’t get cold.”

Holding the thermals, he walked back to the bedside, bent down, and gently pressed one hand on Shen Qingci’s knee, which was trying to evade again. With the other hand holding the thermals, he reached once more toward the blanket.

“Since brother doesn’t want to wear them, then I…” He lifted his eyes, locking onto Shen Qingci’s cold gaze, speaking each word with an unyielding finality, “will put them on for brother.”

Their eyes met.

In those deep black eyes, Shen Qingci saw an unyielding firmness.

Time flowed in the silence.

Finally, Shen Qingci looked away first.

He reached out, took the thermals from Lu Lin’s hand, and said in a voice that betrayed no emotion: “I’ll do it myself.”

The assertiveness in Lu Lin’s eyes quietly dissipated, reverting to that obedient look. But the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, quickly flattening again.

He let go, stepped back, and watched as Shen Qingci, with somewhat stiff movements, put the thermals on.

After putting them on, Shen Qingci picked up the crutch by the bed, lifted the blanket, and got out of bed.

As he passed by Lu Lin, he raised his foot, clad in a soft house slipper, and gave Lu Lin a not-too-gentle kick on the backside.

“Disobedient child,” his voice remained cold, but with a bit less anger than before, “Get lost.”

Lu Lin stumbled forward half a step from the kick, but immediately turned around, a brilliant, almost exaggerated smile blooming on his face.

He followed closely behind, his voice drawn out, his tone carrying a sweet, coaxing whine: “I’m doing it all for your own good, brother~ If your leg doesn’t hurt, you can work better, right?”

Shen Qingci ignored him and went straight into the bathroom to freshen up.

After breakfast, Lu Lin volunteered to drive.

He drove steadily, taking Shen Qingci right to the entrance of Qingye Group.

"Qingci," Lu Lin rolled down the window and leaned out, "I'll pick you up after work this afternoon."

Shen Qingci, leaning on his cane, walked into the building without looking back, leaving Lu Lin with only a lean, straight-backed, and steady figure as he walked away.

Lu Lin watched his figure disappear through the doors, the smile on his lips slowly fading.

He took out his phone, dialing Zhou Jin's number.

"Are they here yet?"

"They're here, Boss Lu. Hill and his friend arrived half an hour ago."

"Mm. Execute the plan. Have that gift delivered before I arrive," Lu Lin tapped his finger on the steering wheel, his eyes icy cold. "Time it to arrive just before the signature."

"Understood."

---

Qingye Group, conference room.

The terms in the contract brought by Hill were not much different from those previously agreed upon with Xier Group.

Shen Qingci quickly looked it over and closed the folder.

He wasn't particularly partial to any partner, as long as they could bring steady profits to Qingye.

Since Xier Group could no longer continue the cooperation and a suitable replacement could be found, he'd accept it, provided the terms were right.

He picked up the black pen on the table, unscrewed the cap, and was about to sign.

*Knock, knock.* The conference room door was gently tapped.

Lin Wei pushed the door open, holding a folder and a lit tablet.

With her usual professional smile, she glanced at Hill and his companion, gave a slight nod, and walked directly to Shen Qingci's side.

She bent down and quickly whispered a few words into Shen Qingci's ear while gently pushing the tablet toward him.

Shen Qingci's hand, holding the pen, paused in mid-air.

He lowered his gaze to the screen.

On it was a draft letter of intent from another overseas company that had just been received, along with a brief explanatory email.

The email mentioned that this emerging company happened to be one of the main forces driving Xier Group into its current predicament.

More importantly, the new draft offered cooperation terms that were a full three percentage points higher than Hill's proposal on key profit points.

Shen Qingci lightly tapped his index finger on the top of his cane.

He looked up and gazed calmly at Hill, who was sitting upright across the table with a hint of tension and anticipation on his face.

Shen Qingci slowly set down the pen in his hand, closing the cap with a soft *click* that echoed clearly in the silent conference room.

"Mr. Hill," he spoke, his voice cool as jade, revealing no emotion but inexplicably making Hill's heart sink, "I've just received some interesting news."

"A foreign company, on the basis of the contract you provided, is willing to offer an additional three percentage points in profit in hopes of cooperating with Qingye." Shen Qingci spoke at a measured pace, his gaze sharp. "And this company... happens to be the emerging force that has recently cornered your company in the market."

He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table, fingers interlaced. Though seated, he carried a superior, scrutinizing air.

"This forces me to re-evaluate the true capability and sincerity of you, Mr. Hill, and the partner you have recommended."

The color drained from Hill's face instantly. He opened his mouth as if to explain something.

But under Shen Qingci's gaze, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, not a single word came out.

The air in the conference room abruptly dropped to freezing point.