Chapter 126 Secretary Lin? No, VP Lin

Chapter 126: Secretary Lin? Or Deputy General Lin?

Half an hour later.

The conference hall at Qingye Group was packed.

All employees were caught off guard by the sudden company-wide meeting, and whispers of speculation rippled through the crowd.

Some guessed it was about year-end bonuses, others about personnel changes, and still others thought the group was being restructured.

The moment Shen Qingci walked onto the stage, leaning on his cane, the entire hall fell silent.

He stood on stage, the lights casting a soft halo around him.

His medium-length black hair was tied back, falling over one shoulder, highlighting his cool, otherworldly features.

He wore a well-tailored dark suit, leaning on a black agarwood cane, like a celestial being stepping out of a painting—aloof and aristocratic.

In the front row, only one person sat.

Lu Lin sat front and center, gazing up at the cool, noble figure on stage with adoration.

His eyes shone with light, love, and a decade of unwavering devotion and longing.

At that moment, he felt as if he had been transported back ten years.

Back then, he was on summer break, begging Shen Qingci to bring him to the office.

He had sat in the audience like this, watching that radiant figure on stage.

Ten years had passed.

The person on stage hadn’t changed at all—still that same cool, otherworldly appearance.

But he had grown up.

He had grown into someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with his brother.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lu Lin's lips, his eyes brimming with joy.

"Thank you all for your recognition of Qingye Group."

Shen Qingci's voice rang out, clear as jade, reaching everyone's ears distinctly.

"I just have one thing to say."

He paused, his gaze landing on where Lin Wei was sitting:

"At the founding of Qingye, Secretary Lin Wei invested 500,000 yuan as startup capital for Qingye Group."

Lin Wei was jotting down notes in her notebook.

Hearing this, her pen paused.

"Now that the group is stable," Shen Qingci continued, his voice still cool, "I appoint Lin Wei as Deputy General Manager of Qingye Group, the second-largest shareholder, holding 20% of the shares."

He paused again, his tone as calm as ever:

"Now, let's welcome Deputy General Lin to the stage."

Lin Wei's pen came to a complete stop.

She raised her head and looked at the aloof figure on stage.

The spotlight fell on Shen Qingci, giving him an otherworldly aura.

He stood there, looking at her, his clear eyes empty of emotion, yet somehow full of unspoken words.

Suddenly, she remembered something from long ago.

Back then, she had been at Tianchen Group for only a few years.

Once, chatting with a colleague, she had joked that she hoped one day she'd be skilled enough to become deputy general manager, so she could lighten President Shen's load.

As soon as she said that, her colleague gently nudged her.

She looked up, confused.

Shen Qingci was standing nearby with a cup of coffee, watching her.

Lin Wei was startled at the time, apologizing for her bold words.

She had expected Shen Qingci to laugh at her naivety, but he said nothing—just glanced at her and walked away.

Lin Wei remembered feeling hurt by his coldness at that moment.

But that sadness lasted only a second, and then she heard Shen Qingci's cool voice saying:

"Someday, but for now... not yet."

She had held onto those words for years.

But then...

Tianchen Group was gone.

Later.

Shen Qingci died.

She thought that after that, that future was buried, never to come.

Tears slid down her cheeks.

Lin Wei looked at the figure on stage, who was still watching her without moving.

Only when someone beside her gently nudged her did she snap back to reality.

She stood up, wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and walked toward the stage.

Shen Qingci watched her walk up, taking in her reddened eyes.

Then he said calmly, his voice clear and cold:

"Qingye is the second Tianchen."

With that, he leaned on his cane and walked straight off the stage.

Lin Wei stood on the stage, watching him walk away.

She watched him walk step by step with his cane, taking his seat in the front row beside Lu Lin.

She took a deep breath and walked up to the podium.

Below the stage, thousands of eyes were fixed on her.

She composed herself, then put on a standard professional smile.

That smile was composed and polished, a stark contrast to the tear-streaked woman from just moments ago.

She spoke, her tone steady and her logic clear.

She graciously accepted Shen Qingci's appointment and thanked him for acknowledging her work capabilities.

Then, she began to outline the future plans for Qingye Group.

Lin Wei spoke for a long time. Below the stage, Shen Qingci quietly watched her, as if seeing once again the energetic and hardworking girl who had just started following him.

"I hope everyone can work hard together, strive to make Qingye one of the top 100 domestic enterprises within a year, and within the top ten in two years!"

A round of applause and enthusiastic cheers erupted from the audience.

Lin Wei smiled as she looked at the highly motivated employees below. Once they calmed down slightly, she continued:

"Finally, on behalf of President Shen, I will set the future benefits and compensation for Qingye Group."

She paused, scanning the audience:

"With the year-end approaching, the group will allocate thirty percent of its profits as year-end bonuses, distributed equally to all employees. Outstanding employees will receive additional rewards."

The hall instantly buzzed with excitement.

"Also, let me make this clear again—" Lin Wei's voice rose above the chatter, "Qingye Group does not hold annual parties or distribute holiday gifts. This is part of Qingye's tradition. Remember: Qingye focuses on practical results and only gives out money!"

As she finished, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the crowd.

The applause was so loud it felt like it could lift the roof off.

Lin Wei waited for the applause to subside slightly before continuing, her voice steady and firm:

"The company will never overlook or let down anyone with talent, but it will not allow a single parasite to remain in the group."

She paused:

"By tomorrow morning, I will issue company regulations. Anyone who violates them will be permanently banned from Qingye."

The audience went silent, everyone perking up their ears.

Lin Wei smiled slightly:

"Don't worry, the regulations are very reasonable. There won't be any rule like 'no trash allowed in the trash can,' but keeping things clean and tidy is still required."

The crowd burst into laughter.

Someone shouted loudly:

"With benefits like these, even if you said I couldn't put trash in the trash can, I'd gladly make a shrine out of it!"

Laughter rippled through the hall.

Amid the lively atmosphere, someone lowered their voice and whispered to the person next to them:

"Did you see the person sitting next to President Shen in the front row? That's Lu Lin, CEO of Lu Corporation! Damn, he's so handsome! Sitting next to President Shen, they look so good together!"

"Who? Lu Lin from Lu Corporation? What's he doing here?"

"He's here for President Shen! Since I started working here, I've seen Lu Lin come to the office almost every day, staying the whole day. At one point, I wondered if our company had been acquired by Lu Corporation."

"President Shen has such strong connections? I heard Lu Lin from Lu Corporation is moody and unpredictable, but he's actually close friends with our boss?"

"Close friends? They're definitely a couple..."

"Oh my god, oh my god! They're getting up! President Shen is leaving!"

"They're holding hands!!!!"

Lin Wei's speech was drawing to a close.

At the front of the conference hall, Shen Qingci nodded to Lin Wei, then stood up with his cane.

Lu Lin walked beside him, reached out, and took his hand.

The two walked side by side, slowly heading toward the exit.

One was aloof and refined, the other tall and handsome.

Their silhouettes blended together, an indescribably harmonious sight.

Lin Wei stood on the podium, watching those two figures.

She withdrew her gaze, made a brief summary, and announced the end of the meeting.

Applause rang out once more, accompanied by waves of chatter and exclamations.

Lin Wei walked down from the podium, thinking to herself:

Fortunately, back then, Lu Lin stopped President Shen from going abroad… Fortunately, President Shen still had someone he cared about… That gave her the chance to work by his side again…

To stay by the side of this man who didn't understand love but was infinitely gentle…