Chapter 7
Lin Mian’s heart did a violent flutter against his ribs. He looked down through the glass window, watching the tall, imposing figure of Lu Chen standing by the Maybach. Passersby were stealing glances at the handsome, wealthy CEO, but Lu Chen’s eyes were fixed solely on the upper floors of the Lin Group skyscraper, waiting for one specific person.
“Don’t come up!” Lin Mian whispered into the phone, a frantic blush burning his cheeks. “If the CEO of the Lu Corporation walks into the marketing department just to hand-deliver lunch to a junior intern, I’ll never live it down. I’m coming down right now!”
A low, amused chuckle vibrated through the receiver. “You have four minutes left, Xiao Mian,” Lu Chen teased smoothly before hanging up.
Lin Mian hurriedly slipped his phone into his pocket, smoothed down his suit jacket, and practically sprinted to the elevators.
When he stepped out of the lobby and into the bright midday sun, the warm Shanghai air hit him. He spotted Lu Chen immediately. As Lin Mian walked closer, Lu Chen opened the passenger door of his air-conditioned Maybach.
“Get in,” Lu Chen murmured, his gaze sweeping over Lin Mian’s slightly disheveled hair and the faint dark circles under his eyes. “You look like you’ve been fighting a war, not analyzing data.”
Lin Mian slid into the plush leather seat, the cool air instantly soothing his flushed skin. Lu Chen climbed into the driver’s seat next to him, closing the door and sealing them away from the bustling city noise into a quiet, private haven.
Lu Chen reached into the back and pulled out the premium insulated bag. He opened it to reveal containers of steaming shrimp dumplings, roasted pigeon, and a bowl of fresh abalone congee-all Lin Mian’s favorites.
“Eat,” Lu Chen commanded gently, handing him a pair of chopsticks.
Lin Mian took them, his eyes stinging with sudden emotion. In his past life, he had taken Lu Chen’s quiet gestures completely for granted, often throwing tantrums or demanding even more expensive things. He had never realized how much thought and care Lu Chen put into every little detail just to make him happy.
“Thank you, Lu Chen,” Lin Mian said softly, taking a bite of a dumpling. The savory flavor exploded on his tongue, and he realized just how starving he actually was. He began to eat with a focused enthusiasm, his cheeks puffing out slightly like a hamster.
Lu Chen watched him, a profound sense of satisfaction settling deep in his chest. He reached over with a napkin, gently dabbing a bit of sauce from the corner of Lin Mian’s lip. Lin Mian froze for a second, his wide eyes meeting Lu Chen’s intense, dark gaze, but he didn’t pull away.
“Is your supervisor making it difficult for you?” Lu Chen asked, his voice dropping an octave, a hint of his protective, ruthless nature bleeding through. “If the workload is too heavy, I can speak to Lin Heng.”
“No, no! Don’t do that,” Lin Mian insisted, swallowing his food quickly. “Manager Wang gave me a lot of old data to sort through. It’s boring grunt work, but I know she’s just testing my patience. If I run to my brother or to you, she’ll think I’m just a useless rich kid who can’t handle real life.”
Lin Mian looked at Lu Chen, his eyes shining with a fierce, newfound determination. “I want to prove to everyone-and to myself-that I can do this. I want to be someone my family can be proud of. Someone… you can be proud of.”
Lu Chen’s breath hitched. The words ‘Someone you can be proud of’ echoed in his mind, striking a chord deep within his soul. For years, he had loved this boy unconditionally, expecting nothing in return. To hear Lin Mian actively seeking his approval felt like a beautiful, intoxicating dream.
Slowly, Lu Chen reached out and placed his large, warm hand over Lin Mian’s smaller one resting on the console. He gave it a firm, reassuring squeeze.
“I am already proud of you, Xiao Mian,” Lu Chen said, his voice thick with sincerity. “More than you know.”
Lin Mian’s heart swelled so much it felt painful. He turned his hand over, intertwining his fingers with Lu Chen’s, offering a radiant, tearful smile. “Then watch me. I won’t let you down.”
To be continue
