LNTSWJLY Chapter 14

Early in the morning, at the request of Yu Zhi, his assistant came to pick him up for work, an hour earlier than usual.

Assistant: “Sir, breakfast is on your desk.”

Yu Zhi nodded, “Thank you, make sure to include overtime pay.”

He didn’t have breakfast at home, instead, he had his assistant bring it from the company cafeteria.

He had planned the timing carefully. After a good night’s sleep yesterday, Yin Xu’s condition might still be unstable this morning. If they could avoid meeting, they should. By the time Yin Xu finished his classes and returned home, he might feel a bit better.

At this moment, Yu Zhi regretted not arranging accommodation for him earlier. Perhaps, even Yin Xu’s feelings might have been influenced by the frequency of their meetings and interactions.

“Are there any upcoming business trips?” Yu Zhi asked his assistant.

The assistant thought for a moment before responding, “There’s a foreign order that needs negotiation and signing, it’s scheduled for about three days from now.”

Yu Zhi instructed, “Try to move it up if possible. Additionally, if there are any other projects requiring travel, try to schedule them earlier as well.”

As the assistant pondered what might have prompted the sudden change in their boss’s behavior, he replied, “Yes, sir, understood.”

Employees arriving for work one after another noticed the assistant here, and they guessed that the president had already arrived. Unlike the usual lively atmosphere, there was quite a buzz in the group.

【Employee A: Saw the president’s assistant bringing breakfast to the company this morning. Must be for President Yu, right?】

【Employee B: Just got a message. President Yu asked to reschedule several business trip projects as early as possible. What’s going on?】

【Employee C: Don’t know why, but I feel like my dad and mom are fighting. They’re acting distant, and my dad decided on a business trip to ease the tension…】

【Employee D: No way… Who has that much charm? Even a rich beauty couldn’t catch President Yu before! Is it a case of ‘like father, like son’?】

【Secretary A: Hehe, speaking of ‘like father, like son,’ have you seen the young master’s biological mother? She’s the one who gave birth to the heir, but do any of you know who she is?】

【Supervisor A: The more you say, the more curious I get. What kind of person could capture President Yu, who has been single for so many years, and even move into his house?】

【Employee A: Umm… Do you guys remember the incident a while back when someone caused trouble at the company and was eventually taken away by President Yu’s men?】

【Employee B: No way… Are you suggesting…?】

【Secretary A: What gossip are you guys discussing? How did I miss out on this juicy piece of news?】

【Secretary B: During the time you were on a business trip, let me tell you, there was someone who had their company shares bought by President Yu causing trouble at the company. They wanted to tarnish President Yu’s reputation, claiming that President Yu took their son as a kept boy. President Yu denied it and then kicked the person out.】

【Secretary A: …】

【Employee C: Is that story true? No way, President Yu used to have girlfriends and never had a boyfriend before.】

【Employee B: You might not know this, but it’s been mentioned in books. For most people, sexuality is fluid. Although President Yu used to be heterosexual, he can develop feelings for the same sex.】

【Secretary C: Um, now that you mention it, there was a time when the President’s assistant asked me to order a batch of clothes for young boys and have them delivered to President Yu’s house…】

【Employee B: !!! Nailed it! Looks like we’re getting a male boss lady.】

【Assistant: …Mr. Yu needs someone to serve tea and water in the reception room. Who’s up for it?】

Everyone plays dead, silent as a chicken.

Busy at work in the company, President Yu took a moment to call Yin Xu’s homeroom teacher to inquire about Yin Xu’s status at school. Upon learning that everything was normal, President Yu couldn’t decide whether to relax or worry.

Afraid that he might bottle up too much, yet also fearing that he might become too heartbroken.

In the end, Yu Zhi decided not to inquire, pretending to know nothing, allowing the false to become true naturally.

As Lin Industries’ acquisition plan neared its conclusion, Lin Youde, although still inclined to resist, considering Lin Industries was his creation, which had cost him the better part of his life’s efforts, couldn’t let go easily.

But Yu Zhi, on the one hand, threatened with the prospect of imprisonment, and on the other hand, persuaded other shareholders with benefits. Lin Youde found himself unable to hold on alone, and the trend of the company being acquired was irreversible.

Even if Lin Youde held onto those shares, he could no longer continue as Lin Industries’ president. Lin Industries would no longer be called Lin Industries, it wouldn’t belong to him anymore, and he wouldn’t be the boss of Lin Industries. He would just be an employee with a small shareholding.

Thinking about the future possibility of working under Yu Zhi, Lin Youde couldn’t bear this stimulation and fell ill, ending up in the hospital.

This turned out to be a good opportunity, delaying the acquisition of Lin Industries for a few days, but it was only a few days.

Before long, Lin Industries announced its change of ownership.

Yu Zhi didn’t have much fondness for this company snatched from scum. He directly implemented radical reforms, discarding unnecessary burdens and loss-making industries, integrating useful project departments, splitting and reorganizing, and merging with a company under the Yu Group.

Thus, Lin Industries ceased to exist.

Lin Youde is sick too.

His shares have become worthless pieces of paper, and all his persistence has been in vain. He even regrets why he didn’t sell his shares earlier. At least he could have exchanged them for some money, more money than he has now.

But now, the money he got from selling these discounted shares has to fill the gaps left by the previous losses, otherwise Yu Zhi will send him to jail.

He believes that man is so ruthless, leaving no room for mercy. And the only one he could count on, Yin Xu, refuses to see him. All their legal and social ties have been severed, and they are strangers.

Lin Youde thought and thought, but in the end, he couldn’t come up with any solutions.

Moreover, the family is in chaos because of the loss of the company.

The eldest son lost his job in the company and now tries to start from scratch every day, but starting from scratch is not that easy.

He only has a few million saved up from the past twenty years. If he uses it to start a company, he can’t even afford to open a small business, only some studios at best.

The gap between now and before is too big for him to accept. He spends his days drowning his sorrows in alcohol, feeling gloomy.

Mother Lin has no job, and now that the family is short of money, she can’t go out shopping or do beauty treatments, nor can she play cards with the rich ladies she used to know. She can only cry and sigh at home every day, making Lin Youde’s mood even worse. And when he’s in a bad mood, he starts to curse, making Mother Lin cry even harder. It’s become a vicious cycle.

Their family has already been ostracized from the upper-class circles.

Lin Youde thought and thought, then finally said, “Xiao Heng, I remember the heiress of Li Jewelry seemed interested in you?”

Lin Heng knew what he meant as soon as he heard it, but he hesitated at a time when he should have outright refused.

Lin Nuan couldn’t believe it and tears couldn’t help but fall from his eyes.

That evening, Lin Heng knocked on Lin Nuan’s door. He greeted him with a cold face, “What are you doing here?”

Lin Heng stepped forward to hug and kiss him, but he was rejected. “Xiao Nuan, this is just a temporary measure. Once things improve at home, I’ll sever ties with her. Trust me, you’re the one I love.”

Lin Nuan sneered inwardly. He feared even Lin Heng himself didn’t believe those words. Even he knew that until they got what they wanted, the Li family wouldn’t help the Lin family rise again. And if they got married, it wouldn’t be so easy to divorce.

Moreover, even if they did divorce, couldn’t the Li family still retaliate against the Lin family?

So no matter what, Lin Heng had to keep appeasing the Li family, at least until the Lin family could confront them.

“Do you believe the words you’re telling me, brother?” If he left the Lin family, if he left Lin Heng, he would have nothing. In any case, he had to fight for his interests. Lin Nuan’s heart was filled with a cold sneer, mingled with hurt, and Lin Heng couldn’t bear to see it.

“If you’ve decided to be with someone else, then let’s break up. After all… after all, nobody knows about our relationship except us. You don’t even have to silence anyone. I don’t want anything from you. You’ve slept with me for two years for nothing. You don’t have to give me anything. You’re getting quite a bargain!”

Lin Nuan sneered. He knew the more he said this, the more guilty Lin Heng would feel, especially since he wasn’t lying.

Sure enough, Lin Heng looked pained and was about to say something, “Nuan…”

But a sudden voice of panic echoed from the other end of the corridor, “What are you… doing?”

………………………

Yin Xu returned home, but instead of heading to his study after dinner as usual, he made an excuse to go back to his room.

He had been doing this for some time now, avoiding spending more private time with Yu Zhi.

He felt he needed time to accept the fact that the man saw him as a son.

Distracting himself was a good tactic, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to keep his distance from the man. If they spent too much time together, it would be pointless to try to distract himself.

So, he secretly stopped the nightly tutoring sessions.

Strange thing, for some reason, the man didn’t pursue it further and just agreed. When he asked, the man explained that he had been busy lately.

However, for some reason, Yin Xu remained somewhat skeptical. The man started coming home later and leaving earlier in the morning. Often, when Yin Xu woke up, the man had already left, and when he went to bed, the man hadn’t returned yet. Their time together at home gradually diminished.

Yin Xu’s rational mind told him that this was fine, that this was the right thing to do, but he couldn’t help feeling a sense of loss.

Didn’t he say he liked him?

Didn’t he say he wanted him to be his son?

Didn’t he say…

Why was he coming and going so much, leaving early and returning late? Was he avoiding him, or was he tired of him?

Occasionally chatting with Xiao Pang, who looked troubled, “My dad doesn’t want me to talk to you.”

Yin Xu recalled Xiao Pang’s understanding all this time and what he had said to him.

While realizing the truth, he also felt like he had found the culprit.

Why did he misunderstand? Xiao Pang certainly didn’t help matters with his words. If it weren’t for those words, he wouldn’t have easily concluded that the man had ulterior motives toward him.

As for why the man spoke to Xiao Pang like that, Yin Xu figured it was probably because he noticed Xiao Pang talking nonsense at the parent-teacher conference.

Thinking about it, Yin Xu couldn’t help but say, “You really should talk less.”

It’s all his fault. That’s why Yin Xu felt so embarrassed and uncomfortable. That’s why he couldn’t even dare to look at the man now. It’s all his fault…

Xiao Pang widened his eyes, immediately wanting to put down his chopsticks and not eat anymore. “Why is it always me who gets hurt? What did I do to deserve this?!”

Still, without his phone, Xiao Pang was not pleased, angrily pointing at Yin Xu. “You adults can’t do anything right, so you blame me? Why is everything so miserable for me?”

Yin Xu poked the bottom of his bowl with his chopsticks. “It’s because you talk too much.”

He felt his courage growing. How dare an outsider criticize the young master of his benefactor’s family? He didn’t feel ashamed or scared at all.

Xiao Pang was completely furious now, determined to settle the score with Yin Xu. “Tell me! Did he come to your room? Did he cook for you? Did he tutor you? Was he kind to you while being strict with me? Treating you better than his son, what else could it be if not an affair? Tell me!”

Still, there was a father-son bond. Yin Xu silently acknowledged this in his heart, but it was something he didn’t want to say, nor was it appropriate to say. If Xiao Pang found out that he was here to take his place, who knows how he would react?

“No more to say, huh?” Xiao Pang, seeing Yin Xu speechless, felt victorious. “Hmph, you let them bully me!”

He casually took a few bites of his food and then slipped away.

He was going to his father’s room to find his phone. He wanted to confide in his desk mate, to talk about his days as an orphaned cabbage!

Yin Xu watched him bounce away and suddenly chuckled to himself. How had he regressed to arguing with an elementary school student?

If his mentor found out, he would surely laugh at him.

Thinking of Yu Zhi, Yin Xu’s smile faded a little, replaced by a sense of disappointment.

It had been several days since Yu Zhi had been home.

Could it be that he was truly tired of Yin Xu and didn’t know how to say it?

Though it was him who wanted to create distance, now he found himself regretting it.

What should he do?

That night, Yin Xu took a long time to fall asleep.

Then, he was abruptly awakened by a series of urgent phone calls.

The first one he let go to voicemail, rolling over to try to continue sleeping. But then it rang again.

He picked up the phone, his groggy eyes widening at the sight of the caller ID, his mind instantly snapping to attention, a surge of joy rising in his chest.

“Sir?!”

“Hello, this is First Hospital. There has been a car accident near the airport, and the owner of this phone has just been taken into the operating room…”

Thud!

The phone slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor.

But the voice from the other end continued stubbornly.

“…we need your signature, please come quickly… Hello? Is anyone there?”

……………………………

Author’s Note:

Yin Xu: I’m just embarrassed, not sad.

Yin Xu: …Forget it, I don’t even believe myself.

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