Chapter 88 Then Stop Chasing

Chapter 88: Then Don't Chase Me Anymore

In a corner of the banquet hall, Shen Qingci walked slowly with his cane, followed closely by Zhou Jin, step by step.

Lin Wei saw this from afar, and her eyelids twitched involuntarily.

A bad feeling crept up from the pit of her stomach.

Shen Qingci stopped in front of her.

His cold, clear eyes glanced over her briefly, his thin lips parted, and his voice was crisp and distant, like jade striking stone:

"Lin Wei, you're going to the Lu Group to work under Lu Lin."

He paused, his tone flat but brooking no argument:

"Send me real-time updates on his daily work."

Lin Wei: "..."

She glanced at Lu Lin, who was approaching from nearby, then at Zhou Jin, who stood expressionless behind Shen Qingci, and suddenly felt her career was at a weird turning point.

Lu Lin walked up just then, and at those words, he stopped in his tracks.

He blinked, his pretty eyes instantly welling up with hurt, looking pitifully at Shen Qingci like a big dog whose owner just left him—innocent and helpless.

In the banquet hall, a few guests who had wanted to approach and chat saw Lu Lin like this and stopped dead in their tracks.

They exchanged glances, none daring to take another step forward.

What the... what's going on?

Since when does Lu Yama make that face?

What kind of tantrum is he throwing now?

Lu Lin ignored the confused and wary looks around him.

His eyes were locked on Shen Qingci, on that cold, noble figure, like he didn't belong in this loud party.

He stepped forward, reached out, and gently grabbed Shen Qingci's hand.

That hand was pale as jade, with sharp knuckles and long, slender fingers, now resting lazily on the cane's handle.

Lu Lin's touch was light, like a spoiled kid, gently shaking it.

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper, soft and coaxing:

"Brother... Secretary Lin doesn't know Lu Group's corporate culture; she'll take forever to catch on."

Shen Qingci looked up and shot him a faint glance.

That look was ice-cold, but it made Lu Lin's heart skip.

"Who said she needs to catch on?"

Shen Qingci said, his voice flat but sharp:

"I'm having her watch you."

He said it bluntly, no mercy.

Lu Lin's eyes went red instantly.

He just stood there, his tall frame looking pitiful and wronged.

He looked like a kid who flunked a test and got caught changing his report card—nervous and helpless.

Shen Qingci watched him about to cry again and frowned slightly.

His cold, otherworldly face, under the banquet hall's soft lights, looked even more untouched by the world.

His jet-black hair hung loose over his shoulders, making him look like a white plum blossom in the moonlight—pure, cold, and distant.

He spoke, his light tone holding a hint of barely noticeable helplessness:

"The status you wanted, I gave it to you."

He paused, his eyes landing on Lu Lin's red-rimmed eyes:

"And now, you're still going to cry?"

Lin Wei heard that and quickly glanced at Zhou Jin nearby.

Zhou Jin adjusted his glasses, exchanged a glance with her, and shook his head slightly.

They both silently looked away, pretending to be invisible.

Lu Lin was totally focused on Shen Qingci. After Shen Qingci spoke, he muttered softly, his voice full of hurt:

"But brother... if Secretary Lin is watching me, how am I supposed to chase you?"

Lin Wei: "..."

Zhou Jin: "..."

They both turned around at the same time, backs to the two of them, wishing they could disappear into the wall.

Were they supposed to be hearing this?

Shen Qingci paused a bit at that.

He lowered his lashes, as if thinking over Lu Lin's words.

His cold face, under the light, looked even more aloof and far away.

After a moment, he looked up at Lu Lin, his tone flat:

"Then don't chase me anymore."

Lu Lin was shocked.

Shen Qingci slowly sat down on the couch, looking elegant and noble, and continued, his voice as cold as jade, devoid of any emotion:

"After your chasing these past few days, I feel my feelings for you haven't changed at all. That means we're not right for each other."

Lin Wei, with her back to them, mouthed to Zhou Jin: "It's over, your boss is gonna cry."

Zhou Jin closed his eyes and silently made himself invisible.

Just as expected.

The moment Shen Qingci finished speaking, Lu Lin's tears immediately streamed down his face.

Tears rolled down his cheeks, glistening in the light, trailing over his pale skin before silently falling onto the carpet.

In the banquet hall, the chatter that had filled the room abruptly stopped.

Everyone turned to look at this corner, watching the man everyone feared, the ruthless and terrifying Lu Yanwang.

Now standing before a seated, strikingly beautiful person, crying silently.

The crowd exchanged glances, whispers rising like a tide.

Who was that person?

Who could make Lu Lin show such an expression?

Just then, a slight stir came from the staircase.

Old Mr. Lu, supported by the butler, slowly made his way up to the elevated platform.

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to him, and the whispers died down a bit.

Amid the murmur, an old but commanding voice rang out.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

Old Mr. Lu, with his silver hair perfectly combed and a dark long robe that made him look vigorous, fingered a string of sandalwood prayer beads, with a kind smile.

"I am deeply grateful for your gracious presence here today."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached every ear, carrying the calm authority of someone long in power.

The crowd below stopped their whispers, turning their eyes to the stage.

"Over the years, the Lu family has relied on your support to stay strong in the business world. Today, I hold this modest banquet, first, to thank you for your continued support, and second, to celebrate the strategic partnership between the Lu family and Qingye."

He paused, his gaze sweeping warmly over the audience.

"Mr. Shen Qing of Qingye Capital is young, talented, and sharp. This partnership has been a great benefit to the Lu family. I've long wanted to thank Mr. Shen in person for his trust and support."

He smiled, raising his voice slightly:

"With that, I invite Mr. Shen Qing to the stage to meet everyone."

Polite applause rippled through the room, as everyone began searching for the mysterious Mr. Shen Qing.

Old Mr. Lu smiled, waiting for that slender, upright figure to appear in everyone's sight.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Nothing happened.

He tilted his head slightly, glancing at the butler off to the side of the stage.

The butler's expression changed, quickly stepping up to whisper in his ear:

"Sir, Mr. Shen Qing has already gone."

Old Mr. Lu's smile froze for a moment, but only briefly, before he quickly recovered.

He waved his hand with a light chuckle, continuing in a relaxed tone:

"It seems Mr. Shen is tied up with work and has already left. Young people, so driven—understandable."

He shifted to casual pleasantries, brushing off the small incident lightly.

Though some in the audience were puzzled, no one dwelled on it, returning to their clinking glasses and lively conversations.

No one noticed that as Old Mr. Lu turned to descend the stage, his smile vanished completely, replaced by a chilling gloom.

The butler supported him, asking in a low voice, "Sir, what should we do next?"

Old Mr. Lu's fingers tightened slightly on the prayer beads, a flicker of cunning malice in his shrewd eyes. He pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to the butler.

"Leak this information."

He paused, lowering his voice further:

"Do it discreetly."

The butler understood, bowed, and withdrew.

Old Mr. Lu stood in the shadows, gazing at the deep night outside the window, slowly twirling his prayer beads.

The Shen family...

Ten years ago, he couldn't touch them.

Ten years later, he would see if he could this time.