Chapter 87 What If?

Chapter 87: What If?

Shen Qingci, leaning on his cane, slowly came down the stairs from the second floor.

The stairwell lights fell on him, casting a long, slender shadow of his lean, elegant frame.

His steps were steady and composed, as if the showdown with Old Master Lu in the study just moments ago had been nothing more than a casual chat.

Just as he reached the top of the stairs, he stopped.

Down below, a man was charging up the stairs.

Lu Lin had a cold look on his face, moving fast and urgent, like he was ready to tear the whole house apart.

His whole vibe was heavy, his face dark and ruthless, his eyes churning with barely held-back rage—like a beast whose scales had been touched, ready to go on a rampage.

But when he looked up and saw that graceful, aloof figure on the stairs, elegant and cold as the moon—

All that chill instantly melted away.

The ferocity and darkness on his face washed away like a tide, replaced by a flood of hurt and worry.

The switch was so fast that even Zhou Jin, who was following behind with a similarly cold expression, couldn’t help but silently click his tongue.

“Brother…”

Lu Lin called out, his voice soft and hoarse, trembling with barely held-back emotion.

He took the stairs two at a time, rushing to Shen Qingci and throwing his arms around him in a hug.

The hug was so tight it felt like he wanted to crush him into his bones.

He buried his face in the crook of Shen Qingci’s neck, his body trembling slightly, his breath fast and scorching hot.

Shen Qingci’s body went stiff for a second.

He didn’t push Lu Lin away, and he didn’t hug him back either. He just stood there, still, letting this man, who was half a head taller than him, cling to him like a scared, oversized dog.

Shen Qingci’s gaze drifted past Lu Lin’s shoulder, landing on Zhou Jin, who was standing not far away.

Zhou Jin adjusted his glasses, watching the scene with no expression.

Shen Qingci remembered how, over the past few days, Lu Lin had been showing up at Qingye Group like clockwork, spending more time there than at Lu Corp.

He spoke calmly, his voice cool, but the question made the man in his arms jump:

“Assistant Zhou, has Lu Lin been doing his job right lately?”

Zhou Jin stopped mid-motion.

He automatically looked at Lu Lin.

Lu Lin’s body went stiff. His arms, which had been wrapped tight around Shen Qingci, slowly loosened.

With his back to Zhou Jin, he couldn’t see his expression, but from the tension in his posture, he could clearly feel his unease and anxiety.

Zhou Jin adjusted his glasses.

He knew how scared Lu Lin was of Shen Qingci.

He also knew that Lu Lin had been acting like a peacock these days, busy chasing after someone, totally ignoring company stuff.

All the work that Lu Lin should have handled himself had fallen on him, the special assistant.

But as a special assistant, his basic professional ethics meant he wouldn’t rat out his boss.

He opened his mouth, about to speak, when Shen Qingci’s cool voice cut him off.

“You wouldn’t tell the truth anyway.”

Zhou Jin’s words got stuck in his throat.

Shen Qingci shifted his gaze to the man beside him, who was hanging his head, trying to make himself small.

His face, cold and blank, stayed the same as he spoke flatly:

“Didn’t you say before that you’d move Lin Wei over and have Zhou Jin follow me?”

Lu Lin’s head snapped up.

His eyes were wide, full of shock and panic.

He opened his mouth, automatically wanting to deny it—he had just said it casually.

How could he actually give Zhou Jin to his brother?!

That was his special assistant!

His right-hand man!

Without Zhou Jin, what would happen to his company?!

How would his work get done? Would he have to do it himself? And if he did, how could he still hang out with his brother? No way!

But when he met Shen Qingci’s calm, unreadable eyes, all the words of refusal got stuck in his throat.

Those eyes were too still, too quiet, like they could see right through him, making him not dare to argue.

He silently lowered his head and obediently mumbled, “Mm.”

The sound was soft and small, as pitiful as a puppy whose toy had been taken away.

Shen Qingci watched him, a faint, almost imperceptible glint of amusement and scrutiny flickering in his eyes.

He said nothing more, simply leaning on his cane and continuing down the stairs.

After descending two steps, he turned his head slightly, his cool voice echoing in the stairwell:

“Fine.”

A pause.

“I agree.”

Lu Lin stood frozen, watching his retreating figure grow smaller.

As Shen Qingci passed by Zhou Jin, he didn’t stop.

He looked straight ahead, his tone flat as he dropped a final remark:

"Let's go. From today onward, you'll temporarily work under me."

Zhou Jin—

Zhou Jin adjusted his glasses, glanced at his boss, who was frozen stiff on the stairs, then at Shen Qingci, who had already walked a few steps ahead.

He sighed, shook his head, and quickly followed.

Lu Lin stood there frozen, watching the two figures disappear one after the other at the end of the staircase, as if all the strength had been drained from him.

This was bad.

Brother had taken Zhou Jin away.

What was he supposed to do now?

Who was gonna come up with his dumb ideas now?

He sniffled pitifully, then dashed after them.

No, he had to follow.

What if brother changed his mind? What if he was just joking, or trying to get his attention?

He flew down the stairs, taking them three at a time, like a puppy scared of being left behind, desperately chasing after that slender figure.