RT Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Spring Arrives

Shu Lingxiao chuckled at his adorable, blank look:

“Just that sentence, ‘preventing a promotion in name but demotion in reality,’ that’s right. It’s possible this is a trap.”

Shu Lin grew anxious, “Then I should quickly tell him, so he doesn’t fall for it.”

As he spoke, he was about to call Shao Chengxi.

Shu Lingxiao laughed, “Don’t worry, your Alpha isn’t an ordinary person. He looks aloof and upright, but he’s actually more cunning than a fox. What you and I can think of, he and the Shao family bigwigs behind him have already considered.”

Hearing this, Shu Lin put down his phone, which he had half-pulled out, thought for a moment, and nodded emphatically:

“Sister is absolutely right, that guy is cunning, extremely cunning.”

And thick-skinned, narcissistic.

And, oily!

What aloof and abstinent, it’s all an act.

Anyway, that’s not what he sees.

After chatting with his father and sister until after nine o’clock in the evening, Shao Chengxi called, saying he was on his way home and would pick him up.

When Shao Chengxi’s car arrived, Shu Lingxiao made a point of seeing Shu Lin off.

Seeing Shao Chengxi, she deliberately said, “Let’s talk when you have time.”

Shao Chengxi understood and nodded, “Okay, wait for my call.”

Watching them leave, Shu Lingxiao narrowed her eyes slightly.

The indictment for the chemical plant and City Central Hospital explosion cases has been filed, and the trial will begin soon.

Once the verdicts for these two cases are announced, it will formally signal the opposition’s withdrawal from the political stage.

But the sign that emerged today is not a good signal.

One wave subsides, and another rises.

A new political struggle has begun.

After Shu Lin got into the car, he babbled the whole way, telling Shao Chengxi everything Shu Jingcheng and Shu Lingxiao had said to him.

“I said to prevent a promotion in name but demotion in reality, and Dad and Sister even praised me for hitting the nail on the head!” Shu Lin was a little smug.

Shao Chengxi raised the corners of his mouth and reached out to touch the back of his neck:

“Yes, that sentence shows a high level of political acumen. It seems these days haven’t been wasted sleeping with me. Continue to sleep with me obediently, and soon my little Omega will become a politician too.”

Shu Lin glared at him, swatting away his restless hand, “Hmph, you can’t be serious for more than a second.”

Shao Chengxi raised an eyebrow and chuckled, then asked, “Then what does baby think, should I listen to Dad, or to Sister?”

Shu Lin’s brow furrowed into a small knot, and he pondered this question on the way, until he got out of the car, and only then did he stammer out two words: “Either is fine.”

Shao Chengxi pulled him into his arms, gently smoothed the small knot on his brow, and chuckled softly.

Shu Lin could feel the obvious vibration of his chest.

“What are you laughing at? Either is fine anyway,” Shu Lin said unhappily, puffing out his cheeks and muttering.

He felt he hadn’t said anything wrong. After thinking it over, either choice was full of uncertainty, with advantages and disadvantages. Either could be chosen.

Shao Chengxi smiled and coaxed him, “Yes, yes, baby is right, either is fine.”

Shu Lin grew curious and pressed, “Then what are you going to do?”

Shao Chengxi flicked his nose, “Guess.”

Shu Lin “Tsked” and didn’t ask further.

He knew that this wasn’t a topic he should continue to pursue.

A few days later, the winter vacation ended. It was rare for Shao Chengxi not to have official duties on the weekend, so he took Shu Lin back to the Shao Residence to see Shao Tingrui.

Since the Spring Festival, Shu Lin’s visits to the Shao Residence have increased.

It’s said that one is soft-spoken after eating someone’s food and short-handed after taking someone’s gift, which is true.

Who told him to receive so much New Year’s money from the Shao family? Now, whether it’s Shao Tingrui or Shao Shiyan who calls him, he’s too embarrassed to say “no.”

Even when Great-Aunt Shao Yuqin said she wanted to see him, he had to wear a suit and tie, and dress presentably to come over.

To put it bluntly, the red envelope carries great weight.

However, this time was a little different. He was accompanied by his sister, Shu Lingxiao, who said she was coming to visit Shao Tingrui and Shao Bingheng.

They arrived at the South Mountain villa at nine in the morning.

After greeting the elders with his sister, Shao Chengxi instructed the butler to take Shu Lin to the music room to play with Shao Shiyan.

Shu Lin knew they had matters to discuss, and it wasn’t convenient for him to be present, so he obediently went.

In the entire Shao Residence, the peer he liked to play with the most was Shao Shiyan.

Sunlight streamed through the French windows of the music room, and Shao Shiyan was lying on the Steinway piano, the tip of his pen hovering over the manuscript paper.

The two words “absurd,” blurred with ink, were crossed out seventeen or eighteen times, finally turning into a cloud of jagged ink.

When Shu Lin came in, he saw him biting the penholder and pressing the bass keys with his toes.

The tinkling sound mixed with unclear humming, like a crumpled blues record.

“Yo, what’s wrong? Looking like you’re troubled by love,” Shu Lin laughed, kicking away the scattered sheet music, and sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet.

Shao Shiyan lifted his eyelids and glanced at Shu Lin, then casually flung the pen towards the music stand.

He pointed to the framed family photo on the wall.

In the photo, Shao Shiyan was holding a guitar, out of place with his suit-clad father and brothers.

“My dad wants me to sit in on the board meeting next week. My good days are over.”

He suddenly sat up straight and slammed his fingers heavily on the keys, the harsh notes scaring away the birds outside the window.

Hearing this, Shu Lin was stunned for a moment, then understood what was happening.

It seemed that Shao Bingheng had made up his mind to change the heir and had spoken with Shao Shiyan.

Withdrawing Shao Yuanheng, Shao Shiyan was definitely the first choice.

Shao Shiyan had never participated in the group’s affairs, not because he was an Omega.

But because he was the youngest in the family, liked music, and wasn’t interested in business, Shao Bingheng had indulged him all these years.

Now, without Shao Bingheng saying it, Shao Shiyan understood that the position of the next chairman couldn’t fall into the hands of other branches of the Shao family.

Children of wealthy families understand the importance of power better than anyone.

This time, he had to give up his musical dreams.

Shu Lin didn’t know how to comfort him, and caught a glimpse of two scrawled lines of lyrics on the sheet music.

“Nightingales in golden cages peck at diamonds, they say it’s a decent way to die.”

He reached out to grab the manuscript paper, but Shao Shiyan snatched it away, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can.

Shu Lin wanted to find a topic to ease the atmosphere, and suddenly thought of something, saying:

“My sister came to the South Mountain villa with me this time. She’s in the study with Grandpa and Father right now, discussing something.”

Shao Shiyan, who had been slumped like mud, suddenly straightened his back, his eyes lighting up, “Really?”

“Of course, it’s true,” Shu Lin laughed, “But, it’s so strange, what do you think Grandpa and them could be talking about with my sister?”

Shao Shiyan didn’t answer him, looking a little lost.

Seeing that he didn’t want to talk, Shu Lin didn’t say much, lying down on the furry carpet to bask in the sun, quietly keeping him company.

Shao Chengxi had tossed him around until midnight again last night, and he was really tired.

He fell asleep as soon as he lay down.

Shao Shiyan came back to his senses, glanced at the sleeping Shu Lin, got up to cover him with a thin blanket, and pulled open the curtains, gazing at the South Mountain scenery.

It was the season of bright spring sunshine. In the past, at this time, he would invite a few friends, carry his guitar, and sing heartily in the mountains and forests.

Suddenly, he remembered a few sentences at the beginning of a documentary.

“Spring has arrived, all things are reviving, and it is once again the season for animals to reproduce. The air in the forest is filled with the scent of hormones.”

Thinking of this, he seemed to be able to smell someone’s faint lotus pheromones.

He pulled the curtains shut and walked into the dressing room.

He couldn’t stay in this limbo. It was time to make a decision.