Extra Story - He Is the Moon in the Sky - A Way Out

The sky over Lu Corporation had changed.

A disquieting arrogance had replaced the former order.

At the center of the storm was Lu Mingshi.

Ever since Lu Chenyuan had purged a group of senior executives at the board meeting, Lu Mingshi had not restrained himself. Instead, he had become even more domineering.

He began openly interfering in the affairs of various departments.

As if he were already the new master of this company.

Within Lu Corporation, people were filled with anxiety and unease.

Rumors flew everywhere.

"Did you hear? The CEO was summoned by the old master for a reprimand."

"More than just a reprimand. It's said he was made to apologize to the Second Director in front of the whole family."

"It seems the eldest young master's position isn't so secure anymore."

These words pierced Ren Qian's heart like needles.

She didn't believe it.

That Lu Chenyuan—calm, decisive, who had cleansed the corporation with thunderous methods—how could he possibly bow his head to Lu Mingshi?

But reality dealt her a heavy blow.

At the corporation's regular Monday meeting, Lu Mingshi once again raised objections to the southern district real estate project.

He demanded that his own subsidiary company be the one to undertake the construction.

Everyone looked at Lu Chenyuan, waiting for him to reject it as crisply and decisively as he always did.

But Lu Chenyuan remained silent for a long time.

"Approved."

In the end, he only said these two words.

His voice was as calm as ever, betraying no emotion.

The entire meeting room fell into dead silence.

Everyone was stunned.

Unrestrained glee and triumph spread across Lu Mingshi's face.

His gaze towards Lu Chenyuan was filled with the swagger of a victor.

Ren Qian was sitting diagonally behind Lu Chenyuan.

She looked at his back, straight and tall like a pine tree.

In that moment, she felt an immense surge of grievance and indignation rush to her head.

She felt wronged on his behalf.

She had just seen him break free from his shackles and reveal his edge.

Now, he was being forced to bow and compromise to that rotten power named "family."

Her heart twisted into a knot.

The meeting ended.

Lu Mingshi left, surrounded by a crowd, brimming with high spirits.

Ren Qian didn't move.

She watched as Lu Chenyuan gathered the documents on the table, alone.

His movements were composed, calm.

As if the earlier compromise had nothing to do with him.

But from his overly placid profile, Ren Qian read a trace of deeply hidden weariness.

Back in her office, on Ren Qian's desk,

someone had already placed a quarterly budget report messily marked up in red pen by Lu Mingshi, along with two termination letters.

This was no longer simple guidance on work; it was a blatant power grab and humiliation!

Ren Qian could no longer hold back.

She decided to talk to Lu Chenyuan.

Knock, knock.

The door to the CEO's office sounded.

"Come in."

Ren Qian pushed the door open.

Lu Chenyuan was standing before the huge floor-to-ceiling window, his back to her.

His silhouette seemed somewhat lonely in the glow of the setting sun.

"CEO Lu."

Ren Qian spoke, her voice carrying a tremor she herself hadn't noticed.

Lu Chenyuan turned around.

He didn't ask why she had come.

His gaze was very still.

So still it seemed to see through all the injustice and worry in her heart.

"Sit."

He gestured for her to sit on the sofa.

He personally poured her a glass of water.

"Has he been giving you a hard time?"

He asked, his tone flat.

This plain question was like a key, unlocking the floodgates of all Ren Qian's emotions.

Her eyes instantly reddened.

"He hasn't been giving me a hard time."

She shook her head, her voice filled with suppressed grievance.

"I just... I just think it's not fair to you!"

"CEO Lu, you shouldn't have compromised with him! If you keep retreating like this, Lu Corporation will truly be hollowed out by him!"

She was anxious for him.

Her heart ached for him, fighting his lonely battle in this rotten kingdom.

Lu Chenyuan listened quietly, not a flicker of change on his face.

Only after she finished did Lu Chenyuan speak slowly.

"Ren Qian."

He called her name.

"Counting from our university days when we worked together on project teams, it's been almost ten years now, hasn't it?"

Ren Qian was stunned.

She didn't understand why he was suddenly saying this.

She nodded subconsciously.

"Yes... nine years and seven months."

Only after saying it did she realize she remembered it so clearly.

Her cheeks couldn't help but grow slightly warm.

Lu Chenyuan seemed not to notice.

He continued,

"This mess that is Lu Corporation is too old, too outdated."

"The relationships within it are deeply entangled."

"Even I feel... somewhat tired."

Tired.

These two words pierced Ren Qian's heart like a thorn.

She looked at him.

At his face, always so unreadable, now revealing a trace of genuine weariness.

Yes.

He was only in his twenties.

Yet he had to shoulder such a massive, heavy empire.

Not only dealing with external market storms,

but also handling internal power struggles.

All these years, he must have been so tired.

Ren Qian's heart ached unbearably.

"Lately, I've been thinking."

Lu Chenyuan's gaze suddenly became deep and bright.

Within it was a completely new, blazing light.

"Perhaps, I should go and do something I truly want to do."

"I've registered a new tech company, called 'Yuanlong.'"

"The focus is on new energy and artificial intelligence."

"That is a true blue ocean, belonging to the future."

"A battlefield where we can start from zero and build a new kingdom with our own hands."

His voice was soft, yet filled with a convincing power.

Ren Qian listened, dazed.

Her heartbeat was unconsciously racing wildly.

She seemed to understand something.

An idea she could hardly believe rose in her mind.

"Yuanlong Tech is just an empty shell for now."

"Lin Yuan has already gone over as CEO. But he's better at strategy. The internal management, administrative systems, human resources during the company's startup phase... it's a tangled mess with a thousand threads."

"I need someone I can absolutely trust, and whose abilities are strong enough, to help me hold the fort."

Lu Chenyuan's gaze fell upon her.

Calm, yet incomparably solemn.

"The position of Administrative Director is beneath you."

"Chief Operating Officer, COO, of Yuanlong Tech."

"Are you interested in taking it on?"

Chief Operating Officer!

COO!

Ren Qian's breath caught, her mind went blank.

She thought she had misheard.

This was no simple job change; it was a earth-shattering leap.

From the head of administration in a massive conglomerate,

to the second-in-command of a brand-new tech empire.

Responsible for the company's daily operations and management.

This meant Lu Chenyuan was placing half the foundation of his new venture unreservedly into her hands.

This trust was heavier than any words.

She looked at the man before her.

Since their university days, he had been that cool, distant moon, hanging high in the sky.

She was that star, chasing after the moonlight.

She had always followed silently behind him.

Admiring him, following him.

Burying that girlish affection deep within.

She thought she would be like this forever.

Being his most capable subordinate, his most loyal shield.

She never expected.

He would personally open a door for her, leading to an entirely new world.