Chapter 51

Lin Yushu had just returned to his office at home, and around ten colleagues simultaneously put down their work and eagerly surrounded him.

“Is it true that Mr. Shao has been removed?”

“Where will Mr. Shao be reassigned next?”

“Is Yong Xing Motors going to undergo a major change?”

“The old master is still here. Hasn’t he said anything?”

If it were in the past when Zhou Xian was still around, colleagues wouldn’t dare to gossip like this.

Lin Yushu didn’t have much to say either. He didn’t linger in the public workspace and simply said, “Let’s wait for the official announcement.” Then he went back to his office.

The colleagues returned to their workstations with lackluster enthusiasm, except for Zhan Ting, who followed Lin Yushu, closed the office door, and had a hesitant look on her face. “Someone in the secretary’s office is spreading…”

Lin Yushu’s heart tightened. “What?”

“You and Mr. Song…”

It had indeed spread.

Lin Yushu had envisioned countless possible scenarios for the board meeting, but he never expected Shao Guangjie to be so unrestrained in that situation.

He suppressed his unease and said calmly, “It’s not true.”

“Okay.” Zhan Ting nodded. “I’ll make sure they stop spreading rumors.”

Most of the colleagues on the entire executive office floor were older than Lin Yushu, including Zhan Ting.

Many of them were already married and had children, leading traditional family lives. Lin Yushu wasn’t sure if they would accept someone like him…

The vibration of his phone interrupted Lin Yushu’s thoughts.

He checked the caller ID and saw that it was Song Qiming, who had just parted ways with him.

Song Qiming liked to send messages on WeChat, so if it wasn’t urgent, he usually wouldn’t call.

He pressed the answer button, and the familiar voice sounded on the other end of the phone, not as casual as usual, carrying a hint of seriousness.

“Grandfather wants us to come over.”

Well, it was time to face it.

When Lin Yushu left yesterday, Shao Zhenbang was lying weakly in the hospital bed, looking completely drained.

But today, when Lin Yushu and Song Qiming arrived at Jingxin Villa, Shao Zhenbang was sitting in a wheelchair, waiting in the reception room, with a stern expression that didn’t resemble a critically ill old man in the slightest.

There were traces of water stains on the coffee table in the reception room, as if coasters had been used. Apparently, someone had come to see Shao Zhenbang before Lin Yushu and Song Qiming’s arrival.

“Grandfather.”

“Old master.”

After exchanging greetings, the two of them sat on either side of Shao Zhenbang.

Originally, Lin Yushu had thought about sitting farther away from Shao Zhenbang, next to Song Qiming, so he could avoid some of the fire. But he thought it wasn’t necessary after all. They were the ones who had caused this, and Shao Zhenbang wouldn’t give him a warm reception.

“Whose idea was it for Chen Ping to recuse himself?” Shao Zhenbang looked at both of them and asked in a cold tone.

“Me.” Both of them spoke at the same time.

“It was me,” Song Qiming added, “I looked up some cases and found that this approach was feasible.”

“So you had Lin Yushu come and deceive me, is that it?” Shao Zhenbang raised his voice, but it seemed to touch on his illness, and he coughed forcefully.

“I just wanted fairness,” Song Qiming wanted to step forward and pat Shao Zhenbang’s back, but he was rebuked.

“Fairness?” Shao Zhenbang’s tone became angrier. “Guangjie has been working at Yong Xing since he graduated, and he has held all kinds of positions. What about you? How long have you been back? Are you talking to me about fairness?”

Indeed, everything can be interpreted in multiple ways.

Lin Yushu always believed that fairness should be based on merit, but he forgot that qualifications and seniority often carry more weight in the world of human relationships.

“But he didn’t make the company better, did he?” Song Qiming frowned and spoke bluntly, “Don’t forget that it was me who brought the company’s stock price back to its previous level.”

Lin Yushu was taken aback. This German guy really didn’t know how to measure his words.

Although he didn’t want to interrupt at this time, in order to ease the atmosphere between the grandfather and grandson, he had no choice but to speak up with a stiff face. “Old master, from the perspective of the company’s development—”

“Shut up!” Shao Zhenbang turned his gaze towards him and rebuked, “It’s not your turn yet.”

Fine, failed to interrupt. Lin Yushu obediently fell silent.

“I didn’t stop you from getting involved in the company’s operations, but everything should be done step by step.” With Lin Yushu’s interruption, Shao Zhenbang’s anger towards Song Qiming subsided a bit. “Guangjie is your cousin. He has been working at the company for so many years. What right do you have to squeeze him out?”

“But the company’s stock price hit the limit up.”

“You!”

Song Qiming didn’t bother to defend himself further, as a single sentence left Shao Zhenbang speechless.

Shao Zhenbang couldn’t do much about Song Qiming either. He let out a sigh of resignation, paused for a moment, and continued, “A harmonious family leads to prosperity. Do you know how many companies have declined due to internal family conflicts?”

“I know,” Song Qiming said. “That’s why if Shao Guangjie can’t compete with me, he should step aside.”

Lin Yushu’s heart skipped a beat again. He suddenly realized that Song Qiming really knew how to provoke people.

But it was probably because Shao Zhenbang was his grandfather, and with the confirmation of his appointment as CEO, he knew that being called here at most meant getting scolded.

“You’re still young, and being too arrogant will only lead to losses.” Shao Zhenbang said with a heartfelt tone, “Guangjie has had grassroots experience. He is more capable of handling matters and is better suited for managing the company. Originally, you two could have been great partners, but look at what you’ve done.”

“Grandfather, your era has passed. It’s not enough to be capable to manage a company.” Song Qiming softened his provocative attitude and said, “I understand your thoughts. You want Shao Guangjie to be the face of the company, even if he lacks ability, we can hire capable people as his advisors.”

At this point, Song Qiming intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Lin Yushu, and Lin Yushu knew that he was the designated “advisor” and was part of Shao Zhenbang’s original plan, where Song Qiming should have been as well.

“Don’t think that ability is everything.” Shao Zhenbang said, “Most people in this society are ordinary. Do you really think your uncles, or even the directors in the company, are all talented individuals? They’re not. But if a position belongs to someone, it belongs to them. That’s the rule of this society.”

“So are you suggesting that I give the position back to Shao Guangjie?” Song Qiming asked.

“How else am I supposed to make you give it back?” Shao Zhenbang sighed, sounding a bit helpless. “Things have already turned out like this. I will arrange another position for Guangjie.”

With Shao Zhenbang’s statement, Lin Yushu’s anxious heart finally settled down.

“But young man, I warn you,” Shao Zhenbang said, “Being too arrogant will lead to trouble. Put away your arrogance.”

“I don’t act like this in front of others,” Song Qiming softened his tone, “It’s not that I’m being biased towards you, I’m just not happy.”

After all, he was his own grandfather. If it were Lin Yushu in his place, he wouldn’t dare to speak to Shao Zhenbang like that.

And Shao Zhenbang clearly fell for it too. He didn’t scold Song Qiming again but turned to Lin Yushu and asked, “When did you start siding with Qiming?”

“He—” Before Lin Yushu could speak, Song Qiming took over the conversation.

However, before he finished his sentence, Shao Zhenbang interrupted him, saying, “I’m asking him.”

“After the personnel announcement,” Lin Yushu replied with the prepared explanation, “Considering the company’s stock price, I felt that Mr. Song is more suitable as the ‘public face’.”

“The company’s stock price?” Shao Zhenbang sneered, then suddenly looked at Song Qiming and asked, “Who pursued whom between you two?”

Lin Yushu was momentarily stunned. He was about to explain that he and Song Qiming didn’t have that kind of relationship, but he heard Song Qiming say, “I pursued him.”

“Seeing how you defend him at every turn, I knew your relationship was not simple,” Shao Zhenbang said, “So what Guangjie said is true.”

Damn Shao Guangjie.

Lin Yushu wasn’t ready to come out to Shao Zhenbang yet, and the initial shock quickly turned into deep unease.

“I don’t care about your personal matters. It’s no secret that you like men,” Shao Zhenbang said to Song Qiming. Then, he abruptly changed the topic, “But as for Lin Yushu—”

As his name was mentioned, Lin Yushu suppressed his anxiety and sat up straight.

“For now, put aside the CEO position in the family company. Your treatment will revert to the level of a manager. You can continue with your current responsibilities, and I won’t issue any official personnel notifications.”

… Demotion.

It wasn’t suitable to vent his anger on his grandson in front of the board of directors, so he had to direct it towards an outsider.

Lin Yushu had considered the worst-case scenario, but he didn’t expect it to actually happen.

“Wait a minute,” Song Qiming furrowed his brows, his reaction even stronger than Lin Yushu’s. “If you have any issues, come at me. What’s the meaning of targeting him?”

“He should have been prepared for this when he made his choice.”

“You’re being completely unreasonable. Are you running the company based on your mood?”

“Enough!”

Two voices rang out simultaneously—one from Shao Zhenbang and one from Lin Yushu.

“That’s enough,” Lin Yushu said without expression, lowering his gaze.

Shao Zhenbang glanced lightly at Lin Yushu and called for the caregiver, “That’s it, I’m tired.”

On the way back, Lin Yushu remained silent. No matter how Song Qiming tried to engage him in conversation, he kept staring out of the window.

He had no focus or motivation to continue with his work in the afternoon. He decided to end the Friday early and go home for the weekend.

Recently, he had spent every day being close to Song Qiming, leaving him with barely any personal space. Now, having a rare moment alone at home, he lit an incense stick and started meditating, finding unexpected calmness. The obsession he had with getting promoted had disappeared, and his mind had truly quieted down.

“Darling?”

Unbeknownst to him, it was already time for the end of the workday, and Song Qiming had also returned home.

He should have had many tasks awaiting him, but Lin Yushu didn’t expect him to come back so early.

“I’ll cook,” Lin Yushu stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

“Are you okay?” Song Qiming followed behind him. Wherever Lin Yushu went, he followed, “Why were you ignoring me?”

There were probably over ten unread messages on WeChat, most of which Lin Yushu knew were from Song Qiming.

Compared to before, he had calmed down quite a bit and said, “Sorry, I wasn’t in a good mood earlier.”

After speaking, he took out ingredients from the refrigerator, but he still didn’t look at Song Qiming.

“Why do I feel like you’re not okay now?” Song Qiming followed Lin Yushu in the kitchen. Whenever Lin Yushu moved, he moved as well. “I will figure out the situation with your position. Grandfather is just angry—”

“As for my position,” Lin Yushu put down the ingredients in his hands and leaned on the kitchen counter, interrupting Song Qiming, “I don’t care.”

In reality, the Honda Civic was not the car Lin Yushu had always driven.

His first car was a Mazda, a common car in the JDM community, but back then, he drove a Mazda simply because he couldn’t afford a better car.

Later, when he received his first year-end bonus, he bought the Ferrari he had always dreamed of. However, after owning it, he no longer cared about the brand and soon switched back to a cheap Honda Civic.

The CEO position in the family company was the same for Lin Yushu.
When he didn’t have it, the desire for promotion consumed his thoughts no matter what he did.

But once he actually achieved it, he could easily let go because his mindset had changed, and the position was no longer as important to him.

“Is that so?” Song Qiming asked uncertainly, “Baby, I want you to tell me the truth.”

“It’s the truth,” Lin Yushu maintained his lowered posture, slightly tilting his chin and looking at Song Qiming beside him. “Helping you get rid of Shao Guangjie will definitely offend your grandfather. Just like he said, I was prepared for that.”

“You don’t need to be afraid of him. You have to trust me. I don’t want you to be unhappy because of this.”

“That’s why I said I don’t care about the position.”

“Then why aren’t you happy?” Song Qiming turned Lin Yushu around, making him lean against the kitchen counter. “I really can’t figure it out, tell me, wife.”

Song Qiming was acting spoiled, looking pitiful.

Lin Yushu averted his gaze for a moment and slowly said, “Now everyone knows about us.”

“You care about that?” Song Qiming raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“Yes, it won’t be long before my brother finds out too,” Lin Yushu frowned. “I don’t like it.”

“Why?” Song Qiming took a step back, giving him a better view of Lin Yushu’s expression. “Does being with me embarrass you?”

“You know that’s not it.” Lin Yushu furrowed his brows deeper.

“Then why do you care?” Song Qiming also furrowed his brows. “If it’s about the impact on the company, I can understand. But why don’t you want your brother to know?”

“It’s not that I don’t want him to know, it’s just that I’m not ready yet,” Lin Yushu said. “He’s the only family I have. What if he doesn’t accept it?”

“Do you think he’ll accept it if you keep hiding it?”

“But now I can’t hide it anymore.”

Both of their tones were not very good, and it was clear that Song Qiming was also a bit angry.

However, after a moment of deadlock, it was Lin Yushu who softened his tone first. “The environment in China is not like in foreign countries, and I’m really scared.”

Perhaps sensing Lin Yushu’s vulnerability, Song Qiming sighed helplessly and said, “It’s not as scary as you think in China. Look, I came out a long time ago, and everything is fine, right?”

Lin Yushu pursed his lips and didn’t respond.

“How about this?” Song Qiming touched the back of his neck. “Since you’ve been demoted anyway, don’t work for now. Free up your time for the weekend.”

“For what?” Lin Yushu asked.

“Go on a public date with me.”

 

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