Chapter 116 CEO Shen Who Loves Studying

Shen Qingci did not answer.

He just sat by the bed, watching Lu Lin, his eyes clear and calm, completely undisturbed by those words.

Sunlight streamed in from the window, falling on him, but it couldn't reach those deep, unfathomable eyes.

"Lu Lin."

He spoke, his tone carrying a hint of scolding and instruction, as if teaching a child who didn't understand:

"Where's your head at?"

Lu Lin was stunned.

He pouted, and tears started welling up in his red-rimmed eyes again.

Shen Qingci watched him, sensing how fragile Lu Lin's mental state was because of his illness.

He realized his words might have been a bit harsh.

He pressed his lips into a thin line.

He reached out and gently took Lu Lin's fingers.

The gesture was light, silently reassuring.

His fingertips, cool as jade, lightly wrapped around Lu Lin's knuckles.

He softened his voice—still clear and cool, but much gentler now:

"Lu Lin, you always need to stay detached and objective to see things clearly."

He paused before continuing:

"He's not a god; he can't control life and death."

His clear, cold eyes fixed on Lu Lin:

"You need to understand his purpose. What does he want from you?"

Lu Lin looked at him, the watery gleam in his eyes trembling slightly.

He spoke, his voice hoarse:

"He said only Le Tong could save you."

Shen Qingci hummed softly in acknowledgment, his tone flat:

"So, you should be thinking about why he approached your mother, not sitting here worrying whether I'll die in two years."

He lowered his gaze to Lu Lin.

His gaze was as calm as still water, no fear of death, no worry for the future—only a transcendent, detached composure.

He had never been afraid of death.

Life, aging, sickness, death—all facets of existence.

He could calmly accept any outcome.

But Lu Lin was different.

Lu Lin was afraid of his death.

So, whether Lu Lin believed Lu Changgeng or not, the lie that he had only two years to live would drive him to seek out his mother.

Lu Changgeng made a clever move.

A soft knock came at the door.

---

"Enter."

Shen Qingci's clear voice rang out.

The door opened, and Lin Wei entered, carrying files.

Behind her, Xiao Ya, carrying her little sister, peeked in timidly.

The moment she saw Shen Qingci, Xiao Ya's eyes lit up:

"Immortal Brother!"

Her voice was crisp and sweet, filled with unabashed joy.

Shen Qingci looked up at her.

Lin Wei walked straight to the table, not looking aside, and set down the files that needed processing.

Her tone was efficient and respectful:

"President Shen, these are the files to be processed today. I've already emailed you the information you requested this morning."

Shen Qingci hummed softly in acknowledgment.

Lin Wei did not linger.

She turned to leave with the two children.

Xiao Ya stopped at the door.

She turned back to Shen Qingci, her eyes full of anticipation:

"Brother, I'm living next door now! Can I come play with you when I'm free?"

Shen Qingci looked at her.

That sweet little face was full of pure hope and joy.

He paused for a moment, then gave a gentle nod.

Xiao Ya cheered, hugged her little sister, and followed Lin Wei out.

The door closed softly.

The room fell silent again.

"Brother?"

From behind him, Lu Lin's voice came, hoarse.

The voice was very soft, but had an indescribable quality to it.

Shen Qingci did not turn around.

He walked to his desk, opened a file, and started working.

Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on his cool profile, tracing a perfect silhouette.

He said flatly:

"Lin Wei bought the villa next door."

The words hung in the air.

Lu Lin went silent on the bed.

His gaze fixed on Shen Qingci's back, his eyes filled with unease, irritation, and a possessiveness that had seeped into his very bones.

Next door?

Lin Wei lived next door?

Xiao Ya still wanted to come find "brother" to play?

His eyes slowly darkened.

Brother was his. He belonged to no one but him.

He wouldn't let anyone near his brother.

He wouldn't let anyone steal his brother's attention.

He wouldn't allow anyone to take even a single glance away from his brother.

But his brother was so good, so dazzling, so hard to look away from...

Everyone would like him.

Everyone would want to get close to him.

Lu Lin's fingers slowly clenched beneath the blanket.

He closed his eyes, suppressing the darkness churning inside him.

It was okay.

As long as he was here, he wouldn't let anyone near his brother.

No one.

Time passed in silence.

---

Shen Qingci finished processing the last file, raised his head, and looked toward the bed.

Lu Lin had already fallen asleep.

He lay on his side, brows slightly furrowed, the hand with the IV needle hanging limply over the edge of the blanket, the back of it still stained with blood that had oozed out earlier.

Shen Qingci watched for a while.

Then, using his cane for support, he stood up and walked to the balcony.

The sunlight was perfect—warm but not harsh.

He sat down on the balcony chair, took out his phone, and opened the email that Lin Wei had sent.

The information was very detailed.

It detailed the enterprises under Lu Changgeng's name, asset distribution, equity structure, and all the entanglements between him and Lu Lin over the years.

He scanned through it quickly, his face expressionless.

When he finished, he put down his phone and leaned back in the chair.

The sun fell on him, warm and comfortable.

He suddenly remembered last night when Lu Lin had lost control.

On a whim, he picked up his phone again and opened the browser.

His slender fingers slid across the screen, typing a few words:

"gay male"

He hit search.

The page loaded.

Pop-up ads appeared, crude and blatant, filling the screen with explicit images and text.

Shen Qingci watched expressionlessly, as if he were reading a research report.

He scrolled through a few pages and was about to exit.

His finger accidentally tapped a link.

The next second, his phone emitted sounds that would make anyone's ears turn red.

Moans, gasps, the sounds of flesh slapping together, all intertwined, especially clear on the quiet balcony.

Shen Qingci paused for a moment.

He tried to go back, but the phone seemed to have a virus—it kept jumping back to the same page.

The sounds grew louder, more unrestrained.

He had no choice but to mute the sound.

Then he stared expressionlessly at the two men entangled on the screen.

Watching the rise and fall of their bodies, the expressions on their faces, the positions he had never seen or even imagined.

His face showed no expression, only his cool eyes slightly lowered, lashes casting a small shadow underneath.

He watched for a while.

He had only one thought:

Get rid of the phone.

So he turned off the phone and popped out the SIM card.

Then he took out another new phone from the cabinet and turned it on.

In his bed,

Lu Lin opened his eyes slightly, the faintest hint of a smile flickering in his eyes.