MTY chapter 58

Lin Yu was so startled he nearly jumped to his feet.

But Lu Ziqing was still holding onto his legs.

In a panic, Lin Yu kicked him in the shoulder and bolted upright.

He quickly instructed the employee outside, “Got it! Please have President Lu wait in the VIP lounge. I’ll be there right away!”

Frantically, he straightened his clothes and pants, smoothing out his crumpled collar and making sure no buttons were fastened incorrectly.

Then he rushed to the balcony, yanked open the windows, and let the lingering scent of pheromones dissipate as quickly as possible.

Lu Ziqing crawled out from under the desk, clutching his shoulder, looking aggrieved. “What’s with you? Trying to murder your own husband?”

Lin Yu: “Didn’t you hear what they just said outside? Your dad is here!”

Luckily, the door had been locked.

Luckily, an employee had knocked to warn him in advance.

If President Lu had walked straight in and seen them like that… the scene would have been unimaginable.

Lu Ziqing shrugged. “I heard. So what?”

Lin Yu: “I don’t even know why President Lu is here today… I can’t talk to you about this now. I need to go to the VIP lounge immediately. You fix your clothes and head back to your desk.”

Lu Ziqing looked displeased. “Why do you have to leave just because he’s here? I haven’t even had my extra meal yet…”

“Still talking about that?” Lin Yu considered himself a patient person, but sometimes, even he felt the urge to take Lu Ziqing’s head off and kick it like a ball. “You’re getting more and more reckless, talking nonsense all day long…”

He straightened his clothes, opened the door—

And saw Lu Zhaolin walking toward him from just two meters away.

Behind him were two assistants and a driver.

Lin Yu’s face went pale. “P-President Lu…”

Lu Zhaolin gave a slight nod. “I need to talk to you. The front desk said you were in your office…”

Just as he was about to step inside, he suddenly stopped.

Lu Ziqing was standing right behind Lin Yu, his shirt collar loose, hair messy, looking completely unbothered.

Lu Zhaolin stared at him, frowning. “…What kind of appearance is that?”

Lin Yu’s mind worked fast, and he quickly lowered his voice. “He caught a chill on his way home last night and wasn’t feeling well. I let him take a nap in my office this noon… You know how small their office is. Normally, they can only sleep hunched over their desks during lunch break.”

“Nonsense. Why are you indulging him like this?” Lu Zhaolin snorted. “You’re a superior, letting a subordinate sleep in your office—what kind of example does that set?”

Lin Yu lowered his head. “You’re absolutely right, sir…”

Since there were still other employees around, it wasn’t convenient to say much more.

Lu Zhaolin temporarily dropped the subject, walked into the office, and closed the door.

The cold wind from the open window made him shiver. “Why is the window open in this weather?”

Lin Yu: “…Too warm, makes people drowsy. Just letting some fresh air in to wake up before work resumes.”

Lu Zhaolin: “Why does it smell like oranges in here?”

Lin Yu: “…I had a few oranges this morning. Been feeling a bit overheated.”

Lu Zhaolin: “And what’s that woody smell?”

Lin Yu: “…We’re replacing some art frames for the new exhibition. The supplier sent over some samples.”

Lu Zhaolin glanced at the messy desk, with scattered notebooks, documents, and pens. “Why is your desk in such a mess?”

“You might as well change your name to ‘A Hundred Thousand Whys’ at this rate,” Lu Ziqing said coldly. “Does any of this concern you?”

“Are you asking for a beating?” Lu Zhaolin’s brows furrowed. “Is that how you talk to your father?”

Lu Ziqing: “Didn’t you come here to talk to Director Lin? Go ahead. I’m leaving.”

Without giving his father any face, he turned on his heel and walked out.

Lu Zhaolin was so furious that he ordered his assistant to stop him, but Lu Ziqing had already dashed into the men’s restroom.

No matter what Lu Zhaolin said, he refused to come out.

Lu Zhaolin was so enraged he nearly blew his top.

But he still had his dignity as the company president and couldn’t afford to make too much of a scene in front of employees.

Lin Yu did his best to smooth things over, eventually managing to coax him back into the office.

“Please don’t be angry. He’s still young and hot-headed—it’s understandable…”

“This is all your fault for spoiling him!” Lu Zhaolin huffed, taking a big gulp of tea to lower his blood pressure. “Next time he wants to sleep in your office, tell him to go sleep in the toilet! He seems to like it there!”

Lin Yu secretly pinched the web between his thumb and forefinger to keep from laughing.

“By the way, what did you want to talk to me about…?”

“Oh,” Lu Zhaolin said, “I was just passing by and thought I’d check in. You’ve been dealing with several new business partners lately, haven’t you…”

He casually talked about work for a bit.

Lin Yu picked up on the real reason.

Lu Zhaolin wasn’t actually here to discuss business.

He had clearly come to check on Lu Ziqing.

Probably because his son had been acting cold and distant, and as a worried father, he found an excuse to drop by.

Lin Yu kept his understanding to himself.

Since Lu Zhaolin wanted to talk work, he respectfully listened, chiming in at appropriate moments.

After a while, Lu Zhaolin said, seemingly offhandedly, “I booked a private dining room nearby tonight. After work, come join me… If that brat has nothing better to do, bring him along too. Better than eating all that junk delivery food.”

Lin Yu immediately understood. “Got it. I’ll make sure to bring him there on time.”

Surrounded by his assistants and driver, Lu Zhaolin finally left.

Lin Yu walked him to the door and watched until he was gone. Then he wiped the sweat off his forehead.

He called Lu Ziqing. “Still in the restroom?”

Lu Ziqing lazily replied, “Are you coming to rescue me?”

“Next time, don’t hide in the restroom,” Lin Yu advised. “I’m afraid your dad might actually have someone remove the stall door. That wouldn’t look good.”

Lu Ziqing: “Then next time, I’ll hide under your desk. If I get caught, I’ll just say I’m not Lu Ziqing—I’m your pet dog, taking a nap under my owner’s desk. Woof woof, nobody bother me.”

Lin Yu laughed, his eyes curving into crescents. “Stop messing around. Your dad wants you to come to dinner tonight. Don’t go home after work—we’re going together.”

Lu Ziqing sounded reluctant. “I don’t want to go.”

“Come on, let’s go,” Lin Yu coaxed. “I’ll be there too. If he scolds you, I’ll take the hit for you.”

Lu Ziqing remained silent.

Lin Yu softened his voice. “He said it’s a really famous private kitchen. Their ‘Fish and Lamb Hotpot’ is supposed to be amazing… I’ve never had it before. Have you? Is it really that good?”

Lin Yu’s voice was soft, floating by the ear like a gentle cloud.

Lu Ziqing: “…”

He remained silent, but Lin Yu knew he had already said everything.

Lin Yu chuckled. “Then, see you tonight.”

…..

That evening, when Lin Yu and Lu Ziqing arrived, Lu Zhaolin was already in the private dining room.

Lin Yu quickly apologized, “Sorry, President Lu, there was a bit of traffic on the way…”

Lu Zhaolin waved his hand dismissively. “We’re all family, no need to be so formal. Sit.”

The two of them took their seats at the table.

Lu Zhaolin looked at Lu Ziqing and sneered, “Finally crawled out of the restroom?”

“Thanks to President Lu,” Lu Ziqing replied. “I’m quite resilient, didn’t drown.”

Lu Zhaolin let out another cold laugh. “You sure have an easy time at work—either napping in your boss’s office or hiding in the restroom. Should I give you an award for Best Employee of the Bathroom?”

Lu Ziqing lifted his head. “If you just called me here to lecture me, then I’ll be leaving.”

Lin Yu hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over. “President Lu, Xiao Lu is actually quite dedicated at work. His colleagues all speak highly of him…”

Suppressing his irritation, Lu Zhaolin got straight to the point. “What have you decided about what I told you?”

Lu Ziqing: “You talk so much every day. How would I know which thing you’re referring to?”

Lu Zhaolin: “Don’t play dumb. I told you to go to headquarters for job rotation training. I’ve brought it up so many times already!”

“Oh, that,” Lu Ziqing said casually. “I think I’ve answered this plenty of times—I’m not interested. Not going.”

Lu Zhaolin’s voice instantly rose. “Do you think I’m just joking around? Do you know how old you are? When I was your age, I had already traveled the country doing business and made my first fortune!”

Lu Ziqing muttered, “Yeah, by selling pirated DVDs. You talk like it was some great revolutionary endeavor.”

Lu Zhaolin grabbed a dish to throw at him, but Lin Yu quickly stopped him.

“Look at Lin Yu!” Lu Zhaolin fumed. “He comes from an ordinary working-class family, yet he’s diligent and hardworking! He was an excellent student growing up, and now, at such a young age, he’s already capable of managing things independently. And then look at you!”

He was trying to provoke his son’s sense of ambition.

But Lu Ziqing immediately responded, “Exactly. I’ve always thought Lin Yu was outstanding. Instead of sending me, why not send him? He’d be perfect for a management role.”

Lu Zhaolin: “…”

The meal turned into a battlefield.

The father and son bickered endlessly while eating, with Lin Yu stuck in the middle, desperately trying to mediate.

He couldn’t imagine how Lu Ziqing’s mother dealt with this at home—it must be like living through World War III every day.

Under President Lu’s constant pointed looks, Lin Yu had no choice but to pretend to take the boss’s side, persuading Lu Ziqing to go to headquarters.

“President Lu is right. This would definitely benefit your future career. It’s an opportunity many would kill for…”

Lu Ziqing immediately looked aggrieved.

He said nothing, just gazed at Lin Yu pitifully, like a drenched, abandoned puppy.

With Lu Zhaolin watching, Lin Yu didn’t dare show any reaction.

He kept his eyes on the buttons of Lu Ziqing’s collar and continued persuading, “There aren’t many development opportunities left for you at the branch office. You’re not someone who should be confined here—it would just be a waste of your talent…”

Lu Zhaolin nodded in satisfaction. “Xiao Lin has a clear perspective.”

Lu Ziqing lowered his gaze, his face cold and silent.

Lin Yu was actually conflicted.

As his lover, of course, he didn’t want them to be separated. Besides, Lu Ziqing had no interest in running a company.

But from a rational standpoint, going to headquarters was objectively the better career move. It was an opportunity that few could even dream of, yet Lu Ziqing had been born into it.

And Lin Yu couldn’t ignore the guilt he felt toward President Lu.

President Lu had given him the opportunity to sign a contract and earn money, yet he had broken the company’s rules by secretly dating his son.

If President Lu found out…

Lin Yu didn’t even dare to think about the consequences.

Just as he was lost in thought, something brushed against his leg under the table.

He froze.

Then, a second time. A third.

Something beneath the table lightly nudged his leg, then moved up, pressing against his knee, slowly making its way to the inside of his thigh…

Even through his pants, Lin Yu’s body gave the slightest involuntary shiver.

Meanwhile, President Lu was still eloquently delivering his lecture on life and ambition.

Lin Yu’s pupils dilated in shock as he glared at Lu Ziqing across the table.

Lu Ziqing smiled at him innocently. “Director Lin, what’s wrong? Your face looks so pale.”

 

[mfn]

Author’s Note:

 So thrilling!

[/mfn]