Lu Chen's Crazy

The next morning, Lu Chen sat in his office on the top floor of Jiangbei Group, the waking skyline of Jing City stretching beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Dressed in a dark suit, his tie impeccably knotted, he held a report his assistant had just delivered—Shen Mo's itinerary from the previous day. A lakeside outing, dinner at the villa—every detail meticulously logged. He flipped through a few pages, his gaze halting on the words "Accompanied by Lu Xiao." His fingers tightened, creasing the paper's edge.

"Lakeside…" Lu Chen murmured, picturing Lu Xiao and Shen Mo sitting side by side by the water. He imagined Lu Xiao peeling an orange for Shen Mo, Shen Mo accepting it with a smile, and a strange, sour pang twisted in his chest. He slammed the report shut, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes, trying to suppress the emotion.

Lu Chen would never admit to jealousy, but it crept into his veins like poison. He recalled a childhood memory—Lu Zhendong taking him and Lu Xiao to a shareholders' meeting. It was his first formal appearance, dressed in a little suit his mother had left him, brimming with hope for his father's approval. But Lu Zhendong's eyes had landed on Lu Xiao, a seven-year-old who earned a rare "He's got ideas" for casually suggesting the company do more charity. Lu Chen had stood aside, clutching his jacket, hatred sprouting in his heart for the first time.

That hatred fermented over the years into a near-pathological obsession. He needed to prove himself superior to Lu Xiao, no matter the cost. Shen Mo's presence offered a shortcut—not only could he sabotage Lu Xiao's project, but he could turn Shen Mo into his pawn, even his possession. He envisioned Shen Mo by his side, submissive and compliant, the ultimate humiliation for Lu Xiao.

That morning, Lu Chen dialed Shen Mo's number himself. Leaning against his desk, fingers tapping the surface, his tone was warm yet laced with temptation. "Mr. Shen, have you thought over my last offer? I've got a new project—far more promising than what Lu Xiao can give you."

Shen Mo paused on the other end before replying softly, "Mr. Lu, I've told you—I don't need your help."

Lu Chen chuckled, his voice dropping. "Shen Mo, don't be so quick to say no. I know Lu Xiao's good to you, but how long can he protect you? You don't understand the undercurrents in the company. He'll fall to me eventually. What will you do then?"

Shen Mo frowned, his tone chilling. "Mr. Lu, that's between me and Lu Xiao. It's not your concern."

Lu Chen's eyes darkened, but he said lightly, "Shen Mo, you're a stubborn one. That's fine—I've got plenty of time." He hung up, a cold smirk tugging at his lips. He relished Shen Mo's defiance; it fueled his desire to break him.

That afternoon, Lu Chen visited Nebula Tech in person. As an investor, he strode into Shen Mo's office with a cooperation proposal in hand. Shen Mo was hunched over his desk, tweaking code, and looked up with a slight frown. "Mr. Lu, what brings you here?"

Lu Chen smiled, handing over the document. "Just checking on you, Mr. Shen, and discussing a partnership. Take a look—I'm willing to offer triple Lu Xiao's funding for your project."

Shen Mo took the file, skimming it briefly before replying, "Mr. Lu, I appreciate the gesture, but my collaboration with Lu Xiao is solid. We don't need outside interference."

Lu Chen settled onto the sofa, his gaze fixed on Shen Mo. "Shen Mo, do you really think Lu Xiao can shield you forever? He's riding high now, but you don't know the currents beneath the surface. I understand this game better than he does."

Shen Mo met his eyes, calm yet resolute. "Mr. Lu, I trust him."

Lu Chen faltered, then let out a low laugh. "Trust him? Shen Mo, you're too naive." He stood, stepping closer and leaning in, his voice dropping. "You'll see soon enough that I'm the better choice."

Shen Mo leaned back slightly. "Mr. Lu, please leave."

Lu Chen straightened, casting a cold glance before turning to go. As he exited, he muttered under his breath, "Shen Mo, you'll regret this."

---

That evening, Shen Mo returned to the villa and recounted Lu Chen's visit to Lu Xiao. Lu Xiao was in the kitchen, stirring soup, and paused at the words, setting the ladle down. "He came to you again?"

Shen Mo nodded, leaning against the doorframe. "He brought a cooperation proposal—offered triple the funding. I turned him down."

Lu Xiao walked over, pulling Shen Mo into his arms. "Shen Mo, thank you," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "Lu Chen won't stop, but with me here, you don't need to be afraid."

Shen Mo rested against his chest, murmuring, "I'm not afraid, Lu Xiao. As long as you're with me, I'm not afraid."

Lu Xiao tilted Shen Mo's face up and kissed him, the gesture tender and deep. But beneath it, a surge of murderous intent flared—Lu Chen's relentless pressure had crossed his line.

Shen Mo slung his laptop bag over his shoulder, grabbed his keys, and stepped out of the villa. The autumn air was crisp, carrying a faint chill as he walked to his car. He couldn't shake a nagging unease about the call—the urgency felt off, and the vague explanation didn't sit right with his instincts. Still, as the lead on the project, he couldn't ignore a potential crisis. He started the engine and pulled out, the quiet hum of the car doing little to settle his nerves.

Meanwhile, Lu Xiao sat in a meeting at Jiangbei Group, his phone buzzing with Shen Mo's message. He glanced at it—"Hengyuan's got an issue. Heading there this afternoon. Come back early when you're done."—and his brow furrowed. Hengyuan Group was a key partner, but something about this timing felt wrong. He typed a quick reply: "Be careful. Call me if anything feels off." Then he slipped the phone back into his pocket, his focus drifting from the discussion as a shadow of worry crept in.

At the same time, Lu Chen lounged in his office, a faint smirk playing on his lips. His assistant had just confirmed the bait was set—Shen Mo had taken the call and agreed to come. Lu Chen leaned back, swirling the last of his red wine, savoring the anticipation. He'd orchestrated this perfectly: a fabricated emergency, a trusted company name, and Shen Mo's sense of responsibility as the hook. Now, all he had to do was wait.

Shen Mo arrived at Hengyuan Group's office around two p.m., parking in the underground garage. The building loomed tall and modern, its glass facade reflecting the overcast sky. He stepped out, laptop bag in hand, and headed to the elevator. The garage was oddly quiet, the hum of fluorescent lights the only sound. As the elevator doors slid open, a man in a dark suit greeted him—a tall, wiry figure with a polite smile.

"Mr. Shen? I'm with the tech team. Thanks for coming so quickly," the man said, extending a hand. "The issue's upstairs. Follow me."

Shen Mo nodded, shaking his hand briefly. "Lead the way." Something about the man's demeanor—too stiff, too rehearsed—pricked at his senses, but he brushed it off, attributing it to his own paranoia.

They rode the elevator to the fifteenth floor, the silence between them heavy. When the doors opened, Shen Mo expected to see the usual bustle of an office in crisis—technicians scrambling, screens flashing with error codes. Instead, the hallway was deserted, the lights dimmed. His steps slowed.

"Where's everyone?" Shen Mo asked, his voice steady but edged with suspicion.

The man turned, his smile tightening. "They're in the server room. This way." He gestured down the hall, but Shen Mo's instincts screamed at him to stop. He reached for his phone, intending to call Lu Xiao, when two more figures emerged from a side door—broad-shouldered men in dark clothing, their expressions blank.

Shen Mo's heart sank. "What's going on?" he demanded, stepping back toward the elevator.

The first man dropped the pretense, his voice cold. "Mr. Shen, don't make this difficult. Someone wants to see you."

Before Shen Mo could react, one of the larger men lunged, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back. Shen Mo struggled, his laptop bag slipping to the floor, but the grip was ironclad. "Let go of me!" he snapped, kicking out, only for the second man to seize his other arm. A cloth pressed over his mouth, the sharp scent of chloroform flooding his senses. His vision blurred, limbs growing heavy, and within moments, he slumped unconscious.

---

Lu Xiao's meeting dragged on, but his mind was elsewhere. Shen Mo's text gnawed at him, and a gut feeling told him something was wrong. He excused himself mid-discussion, stepping into the hall to call Shen Mo. The line rang once, twice, then went to voicemail. His chest tightened. He dialed again—same result. A cold dread settled over him as he texted: "Shen Mo, where are you? Answer me."

No response.

Lu Xiao's hands trembled slightly as he dialed Shen Mo's assistant, Xiao Wang. "Did Shen Mo mention anything about Hengyuan today?" he asked, voice tight.

Xiao Wang sounded puzzled. "Hengyuan? No, nothing scheduled. Why?"

Lu Xiao hung up without explaining, his mind racing. He called a contact at Hengyuan Group next, a senior manager he trusted. "Did you request Shen Mo for an emergency today?"

The manager hesitated. "No, Mr. Lu. Our systems are fine. What's this about?"

Lu Xiao's blood ran cold. He didn't answer, ending the call as he bolted for the elevator, dialing his security team. "Track Shen Mo's phone. Now. He's in danger."

---

Shen Mo awoke to darkness, a faint headache throbbing at his temples. His wrists were bound behind him, the rope biting into his skin. He blinked, adjusting to the dim light filtering through a small, high window. The room was bare—concrete walls, a single chair, and the faint hum of machinery in the distance. Panic surged, but he forced himself to breathe, assessing his situation.

Footsteps approached, slow and deliberate. The door creaked open, and Lu Chen stepped in, his silhouette framed by the hallway light. He wore a tailored suit, hands in his pockets, a faint smile curling his lips.

"Shen Mo," Lu Chen said, his voice smooth and mocking. "Sorry for the rough welcome. I needed to see you—alone."

Shen Mo glared at him, his voice hoarse but steady. "What the hell do you want, Lu Chen?"

Lu Chen chuckled, stepping closer. "You, Shen Mo. I want you." He crouched down, leveling his gaze with Shen Mo's, his eyes glinting with a mix of triumph and obsession. "Lu Xiao thinks he can keep you safe, but look where you are now. With me."

Shen Mo's stomach churned, but he held Lu Chen's stare. "You're insane. He'll find me."

Lu Chen's smile widened, a dangerous edge to it. "Let him try. By the time he does, you'll already be mine."