Chapter 5
By the time breakfast ended, a strange, tense truce had been established. Lin Mian had managed to eat half a bowl of congee under the watchful, bewildered eyes of his family. He maintained a docile, quiet demeanor that was entirely alien to the Lin household.
“Since you are serious about this,” Master Lin announced, clearing his throat as he stood up to leave for the office, “Heng-er will arrange a position for you in the marketing department starting tomorrow. No titles, Xiao Mian. You start from the bottom.”
“I understand, Dad. Thank you,” Lin Mian replied meekly, bowing his head.
Master Lin nodded, hiding the growing smile of relief on his face, and walked out with Lin Heng and Lin Ran, who both gave Lin Mian encouraging, albeit confused, pats on the shoulder.
Soon, only Lin Mian and Lu Chen were left in the vast dining room.
Lin Mian stared down at his hands, his mind racing. *Tomorrow. I’m going to work tomorrow. I didn’t die. I’m really alive.* A tear slipped down his cheek again, born from sheer relief.
Suddenly, a warm, large hand gripped his chin, gently tilting his face upward. Lin Mian blinked, finding himself staring straight into Lu Chen’s dark, intense eyes. Lu Chen had moved his chair closer, his expression laced with deep suspicion and an undercurrent of intense anxiety.
“What happened to you, Lin Mian?” Lu Chen asked, his voice low and dangerous. “You didn’t sleep at home last night. Did someone hurt you at the club? Did someone threaten you?”
Lu Chen’s mind had already spun a dozen dark scenarios. He knew the crowd Lin Mian ran with-vultures and schemers who used the Lin family’s wealth. If anyone had dared to lay a hand on his precious, spoiled sparrow, Lu Chen would make sure they vanished from Shanghai.
Lin Mian shook his head quickly, feeling the warmth of Lu Chen’s fingers against his skin. In his past life, he would have slapped Lu Chen’s hand away and shrieked about personal space. Now, the touch felt grounded, safe, and incredibly real.
“No one hurt me, Lu Chen. I swear,” Lin Mian said softly, his voice cracking. “I just… I had a nightmare. A horrible nightmare where I lost all of you because of my stupidity.”
Lu Chen searched Lin Mian’s eyes, looking for any sign of a lie. But all he saw was vulnerability and a strange, newfound maturity. Slowly, Lu Chen released his chin, his thumb lingering for a fraction of a second against Lin Mian’s soft cheek.
“A nightmare made you change overnight?” Lu Chen murmured, skeptical but secretly relieved.
“It felt real,” Lin Mian whispered, looking directly into Lu Chen’s eyes. “It felt so real that it terrified me. Lu Chen… you won’t leave me alone, right? Even if I’m difficult?”
Lu Chen’s heart did a violent flip inside his chest. For years, he had kept his feelings hidden, content with just watching over the rebellious boy from a distance, accepting the insults just to stay near him. Hearing Lin Mian ask for his presence so earnestly was something he never dared to dream of.
Lu Chen’s gaze softened, a rare, gentle smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He reached out and smoothly smoothed down a stray lock of Lin Mian’s messy morning hair.
“I’ve been by your side since we were kids, Xiao Mian,” Lu Chen said, his voice dropping into a solemn promise. “Where else would I go? As long as you don’t push me away, I’m not going anywhere.”
Lin Mian smiled through his lingering tears, a genuine, radiant smile that Lu Chen hadn’t seen in years. *This time,* Lin Mian thought, *I will protect this family. And I will pay back everything I owe to Lu Chen.*
To be continue
