He thought he was being discreet, starting to make some small moves within the company, trying to win over some people, especially those old employees without Ning Sheng background.

“Little boss, what’s your father-in-law up to all of a sudden?” Minghong couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Did he take them all for fools?

“I really don’t understand. The old man only has one daughter.

Now that he’s getting old and his health isn’t good, when Nian Nian marries you in the future, won’t we all be family?

Everything was fine before, why is he suddenly like this?”

The little boss certainly wouldn’t covet anything from their family.

In the end, everything would still belong to the Lu family, and they would have a talented son-in-law.

He really couldn’t understand why Lu Zhihong was acting like this now.

Fang Deng hesitated for a moment and finally didn’t mention what happened that day at the door.

The young man lowered his head and looked at the documents, quietly glancing at Fang Deng.

Fang Deng coughed slightly, trying to avoid his gaze.

He said calmly, “I don’t care who owns the company now.”

Indeed, for the current Ning Sheng, the declining Lu family was just a foil, and it might even drag down Ning Sheng itself.

He had the confidence to say such words.

“What should we do then?” Minghong asked. “Just let him do as he pleases?”

He shook his head. “Don’t move against him for now.”

“Okay, he won’t stir up any trouble anyway,” Qiu Fan said.

“As for the company,” Qiu Fan said with some difficulty, “do we just leave it like this, wasting our manpower and resources? Miss Nian Nian has clearly stated that she doesn’t want to manage it. What should we do after that?”

Qin Si said, “There’s a candidate.”

Qiao Li had been alone at home these days.

After receiving the call from Lu Nian, he felt inexplicably depressed.

He really didn’t want to see Lu Zhihong for the rest of his life.

This time, when he saw the unfamiliar number on the caller ID again, he remembered the last digits and was stunned.

Answering the phone, Qiao Li felt a bit nervous, mainly on guard.

He didn’t know what the other party wanted to do.

Since the first time he met Qin Si, when he was still a gloomy-eyed teenager, he instinctively guarded himself.

Qin Si’s words were always few and concise. “Do you want your family’s company?” he got straight to the point.

There was no icy coldness in the young voice, which made Qiao L pause along the current of electricity.

He said, “Nian Nian will marry me in the future.”

“She doesn’t want to deal with company matters. If you’re willing, you can take over.”

Qiao Li paused. “Are you suggesting I trade my sister for the company? What do I need the company for?”

Become a puppet again?

The young man’s voice was icy cold, with a heavy texture. “I didn’t mean that. I just think this proposal is beneficial for you.”

“You’ve shown interest in managing the company before, and you’ve taken relevant courses. The Lu family’s business operations are also within your professional scope.” He was just stating the facts.

“Recently, Lu Zhihong will cause trouble for you. If you don’t want to end up in a passive position, accept my proposal.”

“I know you’re not resistant to managing the company.”

“Just resistant to being controlled by Lu Zhihong,” he said lightly. “No one will control you here. If you’re willing, Ning Sheng will gradually withdraw its investment.”

Qiao Li paused.

Qiao Li realized why he didn’t like dealing with him.

He was too dominant, and he always analyzed things clearly.

When Qin Si discussed matters with people, he never played the emotional card, just calmly analyzed the pros and cons.

Through coercion, temptation, and various means, he always achieved his goals, like a machine guided solely by reason.

“Was it my sister who told you?” Qiuli asked.

The young man’s expression remained calm. “No.”

Qiao Li felt a little relieved.

“Do you have contact with Zhao Yayuan recently?” he asked again. “If you want to help him later, accept my proposal. It’s better for you.”

Zhao Yayuan was weaving a net, trying to entangle them all.

“I haven’t talked to him these days,” Qiao Li said.

But he felt it was quite normal.

When they were busy, it was normal not to call each other for a week.

Male friendships were not as clingy as female friendships.

“Tell him to be careful,” Qin Si said.

At first, Qiao Li thought it was a threatening statement, but upon careful consideration, it didn’t seem like it.

Qin Si handled things very maturely, and he always carried himself with pride.

Qiao Li also felt that he wasn’t the type of person who would resort to such low-level threats.

If he said to be careful, it might be genuine advice.

Back in the meeting room.

Fang Deng asked, “Boss, what should we do about the Zhao family? Keep monitoring them like this?”

“Go keep an eye on Zhao Yayuan.”

“Zhao Yayuan?”

He knew that Qin Si had never liked Zhao Yayuan.

Why would he suddenly say this?

“Some people in the Zhao family want to cause trouble.”

Su Qingyou and Zhao Tingyuan just wanted to use Lu Zhihong’s remaining influence in the Lu family to stir up trouble again.

He didn’t care much about it. Now, Zhao Yayuan was the more dangerous one.

After listening to everything.

“That woman is really vicious,” Fang Deng clicked her tongue. “After all, Zhao Yayuan is her husband’s own younger brother. Is she trying to strike first and eliminate him completely?”

Minghong said, “…not to eliminate him.”

“The matter with Lu Zhuo was also leaked by them,” the young man leaned back in his chair, stretching out his long legs, looking somewhat lazy.

Minghong was puzzled. “What does this have to do with Lu Zhuo?”

But Fang Deng understood.

Qin Si didn’t explain much, simply saying, “Send someone to keep an eye on Zhao Yayuan.”

After the meeting.

“Boss, are you going to attend classes at An University?” Fang Deng was somewhat incredulous.

He was also an alumni of An University and still carried the title of a graduate student, although he rarely went there.

It hadn’t been many days since he was at the school.

“Accompanying someone.”

In fact, he was going to accompany Lu Nian.

She suddenly felt like asking him if he had time in the afternoon, if he wanted to come to An University with her, attend a class together, and then go home together.

He stared at the words “go home” on the screen for a long time, then finally typed ‘yes’.

Lu Nian had already bought two cups of coffee and was waiting for her by the roadside.

She had just suddenly thought of sending Qin Si a text message, asking if he wanted to come over and attend class with her.

Seeing him from afar, she waved at him.

They were both quite young.

It didn’t need to be said for Lu Nian, but as they walked on the campus, he was wearing a plain hoodie and trousers today.

When he wasn’t dressed in formal wear, he looked like a big boy, appearing cool and aloof, with an exceptional temperament.

Lu Nian was majoring in literature.

This class was called “Song Lyrics from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties,” an elective she chose because the class was relatively easy, the teacher was accommodating, and there weren’t many students who came to class regularly.

They sat next to each other, but not too close, without much eye contact or verbal communication, just like two ordinary classmates who didn’t know each other well.

Lu Nian brought a notebook with her.

She was just about to take notes, but suddenly found it amusing.

She pushed the notebook towards him and tilted her chin, as if saying, since we’re here for class, we might as well experience the full package.

Not needing to be told, her eyes were very lively.

She tilted her head, flashed him a shallow smile, then quickly straightened up, pretending not to recognize him.

He had already figured it out.

The young man quietly took the notebook, continuing from where she left off in the previous class and jotting down notes.

Unexpectedly, halfway through the class, the teacher called on him to answer a question.

“Excuse me, we were just discussing the stylistic characteristics of the poems by Yuan Haowen. Could you stand up and share your thoughts on this?” the teacher asked.

Lu Nian couldn’t help but want to laugh.

Qin Si was purely a science student.

She thought he knew nothing about ancient literature, but sitting there, he looked like a painting, handsome yet silent.

Lu Nian remembered how he had always excelled academically during his school days, and even in university, he was among the top students in the country.

He looked like a good student, so it wasn’t surprising that the teacher wanted to ask him.

Lu Nian thought he was going to embarrass himself.

The young man stood up.

He spoke succinctly, his voice cool and concise, yet surprisingly insightful.

He basically remembered what the teacher had said previously.

“Very well said,” the teacher praised. “I haven’t seen much of you before. Are you from the Department of Literature?”

Lu Nian blinked.

Where did it look like he was from the Department of Literature?

People majoring in literature were usually very talkative and irritating.

Those great writers, when they spoke, they could be quite annoying, reciting love letters and memorizing them, but not to this extent.

“I’m from another department, just auditing the class,” he replied.

The teacher was very touched. “I see you’re doing very well. If you’re interested, you can take more courses from our Department of Literature in the future.”

Lu Nian blinked again.

This was getting too much.

But then she remembered, Qin Si had an excellent memory.

He could remember everything he read. After so long, how could she forget?

The class continued for the afternoon.

At the break, which was only ten minutes long, aside from those going to get water, everyone stayed in their seats, still reading.

When Qin Si sat down, Lu Nian tilted her head to look at his profile.

Suddenly, she picked up a pen and lightly poked his hand.

He felt it and glanced at her, his gaze very calm.

So, Lu Nian secretly leaned towards him and nudged his leg under the table, gently rubbing against it.

His eyelashes trembled, as if nothing had happened, but his ears were turning red.

She actually liked seeing him so serious, cool, and indifferent.

Thinking of how he was when they were alone, it was even more amusing.

“Classmate.” A girl next to them couldn’t stand it anymore.

Qin Si was very eye-catching, especially in a place like the Department of Literature where there were hardly any male students.

She had been paying attention for a while, and now seeing the girl next to him making these little movements, she suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable. “Your actions are disturbing your classmate’s learning.”

Lu Nian asked mischievously, “He likes it this way, right?”

The girl blushed, her tone playful but gentle.

This should have been contradictory, but on her, it was harmonious, showing an unusually unique temperament.

Qin Si remained silent, tacitly indulging her.

“Sorry for disturbing you. I’ll talk to him when I get back,” Lu Nian said seriously.

The girl felt embarrassed.

She hadn’t thought they were really a couple, even though they didn’t seem like one at all.

He took notes for her, writing neatly and elegantly.

As the two left the classroom, the setting sun cast a warm glow outside.

“How did you spend your years at A University?” Lu Nian suddenly asked.

“Attending classes, going for internships,” he said. “On campus, I mostly biked around.”

Seems like Lu Nian’s class today was the type that Qin Si wouldn’t have time to choose.

He planned his courses to graduate as quickly as possible and didn’t have time to appreciate the campus scenery.

He was always in a rush.

It was also considered progress that he was willing to mention those years to her, Lu Nian thought.

At home, he enjoyed the bustling atmosphere, filled with warmth and liveliness.

While he worked, Lu Nian would draw nearby, occasionally offering comments.

Recently, Lu Nian seemed to have started treating their apartment at Qingfeng Garden as her own.

She brought in many items, including a painting of reed flowers hanging in the living room, which she painted herself.

It looked elegant and charming, adding to the ambiance.

Their belongings were gradually merging, making it more and more like the home of a real couple.

When they returned home in the evening, Lu Nian felt inexplicably excited.

She lay on the sofa, propping up her two small white feet, and suddenly asked, “Do you remember when you helped me catch up on classes before?”

His gaze moved away from the screen. “Yes.” He remembered that summer after he graduated from high school very clearly.

Lu Nian muttered, “I know you did it to please Lu Zhihong and to intern at the Lu Corporation.”

He fell silent.

That was indeed what he had said.

“At that time, you even said, ‘Do you think I came to teach you just because your family pays well?'” Lu Nian recalled, imitating his past arrogant and aloof tone.

“When did you start liking me? Was it after being away for a few years, suddenly realizing you had a conscience?”

With such a bad attitude before, suddenly saying he was leaving, and then coming back so much better.

Qin Si pursed his lips. “… Time changes, so do thoughts.”

Lu Nian sighed.

This wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear.

“So, Mr. Qin, did you do today’s homework?” She threw down her paintbrush, and her demeanor suddenly changed. “Otherwise, Teacher Lu will give you a lesson for free.”

“You were quite alluring today,” she said with a smile. “The pretty girl next to us kept glancing at you, and she even asked me for your contact information later.”

With a warm and fragrant person in his arms, his Adam’s apple rolled. “I didn’t notice.”

He really hadn’t paid attention from start to finish, focusing on the lecture, taking notes, and occasionally observing her beside him.

“Do you like it?” She teased him with her toes.

Her feet were small and delicate, and she was weak, so kicking him like this didn’t hurt at all.

Qin Si hesitated. “… No, I don’t.”

Lu Nian tilted her head. “Don’t like it?”

“Pretending to be serious,” she said, sitting on his lap and speaking softly. “But I can see… you’re actually quite comfortable.”

He only then realized that her thoughts jumped around too much.

The question of “liking” now was different from before.

“I can’t teach you, I’m leaving.” Lu Nian wanted to get up.

His jaw tightened, and he grabbed her, his voice hoarse and low. “I like it.”

He had liked her for many years, liking everything she gave him.

Giggling mischievously, Lu Nian leaned into his embrace, snuggling close.

The girl’s body was soft, so delicate, carrying a warm fragrance. “Then I really like you a lot too,” she whispered softly.

…

It all felt like a dream, a dream that had lasted so long, starting from their youth, those suppressed fantasies that couldn’t be said.

If she was just playing with him and wanted to take it all back, he thought, even if he fell into an abyss, he would take her with him.