Free Web NovelChapter 432: Chapter 162: The Heir
After the door was pushed open, Meng Shu paused for a moment at the entrance. Chen Chuan saw her take an involuntary deep breath before she finally stepped inside.
He followed her in. The living room had excellent lighting. The autumn sunlight spilled in from outside, making the lavishly decorated reception hall look even more magnificent.
In the center of the hall, beneath an intricate crystal chandelier, sat a heavy, solid wood desk. Beside the desk was a star-globe that stood half as tall as a person, its charts and labels all in an antique style.
Meng Lai, the founder and current head of the Fusion Boundary Company, was seated on the sofa behind the desk.
Fusion Boundary was founded sixty years ago, which meant he had to be at least eighty years old. Yet, the man sitting there looked to be only in his forties or fifties.
His face could be called handsome, and he was in excellent condition. The muscles of his face were not slack, his skin was well-maintained, and his hair was thick and black. He carried the air of someone long accustomed to a position of high authority.
Chen Chuan noticed that Meng Shu’s eyes were very similar to his—both had eyes that tilted up slightly at the corners. His, however, seemed complex and profound, like bottomless pools.
Aunt Yu walked over to Meng Lai’s side, leaned in, and said a few words to him. He first nodded at Chen Chuan with a faint smile, then turned his gaze to Meng Shu and said, "Xiaoshu, you’re here."
Meng Shu walked forward, bowed, and greeted him, "Grandfather."
Meng Lai nodded. "Xiaoshu, since you’ve arrived, please have a seat. We need to wait for another guest."
’Another guest?’
Chen Chuan’s mind raced. ’Could he mean Meng Huang? That’s very likely, but calling him a "guest" has a peculiar connotation.’
Aunt Yu then said, "Please, both of you, have a seat."
Chen Chuan didn’t stand on ceremony. He nodded his thanks and sat down on a long sofa to the side. He glanced outside and saw that he had a clear view of the plaza’s parking area. That Meng Xu fellow was still there, seemingly waiting for someone.
Aunt Yu then held her Realm Token and said a few words. A moment later, a middle-aged man with neatly combed hair and a monocle walked in. Beside him was an old man leaning on a cane, his face covered in liver spots and his hair sparse. He was being helped in.
Chen Chuan had reviewed the general profiles of some of the people around Meng Lai. He recognized the man as Meng Lai’s personal litigation master, Ma Guangming. The other old man also left a deep impression on him.
This was Meng Lai’s grand-uncle, Meng Zhenghuai, the most senior member of the Meng Clan. He was a hundred and twenty years old and was kept alive entirely by medication.
Aunt Yu went over, dismissed the servant, and supported Meng Zhenghuai, helping him to a seat. She said, "Careful, Old Master."
"I’m old, so old. Just a few steps and I’m out of breath."
After sitting down, Meng Zhenghuai shakily took out a hearing aid and put it on. He looked at Meng Lai and said, "Little Lai, I’m here. Say what you need to say while my ears can still hear."
Meng Lai smiled. "Grand-uncle, you’re not that old. If you’re willing, I can arrange for you to have an Implant surgery. With current technology, we could also restore your body to health."
Meng Zhenghuai waved his hand and shook his head. "I’ve said it before, I don’t want any of that junk installed in me. I’m afraid if I get one, my ancestors won’t even recognize me in the afterlife. This old man is already content with having lived this long."
Meng Lai didn’t press the matter. He looked at Ma Guangming and said, "Ma Litigation Master."
Ma Guangming bowed. "Lord Meng, I am here."
Meng Lai said, "Today, I have invited two junior members of the clan. Both are candidates for the position of heir whom I hold in high regard. I have observed them for a long time. Now that Xiaoshu has arrived, I will announce the first matter. Take this down..."
Ma Guangming’s expression turned serious. He took a document and a fountain pen from his briefcase and looked at Meng Lai, waiting for him to continue.
At that moment, the atmosphere in the room fell silent.
Meng Lai continued, "If Meng Huang does not arrive in this room within the stipulated time today, he will be considered to have automatically forfeited his claim. I will then confirm my granddaughter, Meng Shu, as the sole candidate for inheritance of the company."
Meng Shu sat there without showing any particular excitement. She couldn’t be sure if this was her grandfather’s way of placating her or if he had truly made this decision.
But she knew how to maintain the appearance her grandfather wished to see, so her expression remained perfectly placid.
Meng Lai did seem to appreciate this demeanor, a hint of satisfaction showing in the depths of his eyes.
Ma Guangming quickly wrote down what Meng Lai had just said on the document. He then looked up, his expression somewhat grave, and said, "Lord Meng, I have recorded your words."
"However, according to the articles of agreement, any resolution by Lord Meng regarding inheritance must be confirmed and approved by the members of the Meng Clan, and it must be preserved as a written document."
Meng Lai grunted in acknowledgment. He picked up the teacup on the desk, blew on it, and said slowly, "After today, I will announce it at the subsequent clan meeting."
Ma Guangming said respectfully, "Then there is no problem."
Meng Zhenghuai spoke up. "Little Lai, these old bones of mine are here too. I will bear witness to today’s events." He turned his head to Aunt Yu beside him. "Xiaoshu is Fourth Brother’s daughter, isn’t she?"
Aunt Yu bowed slightly. "Yes, she is the Fourth Young Master’s daughter. You have an excellent memory, Grand-uncle."
Meng Zhenghuai chuckled, stroking his sparse beard. "Fourth Brother was a good child, and Xiaoshu is a good child too. Little Lai, you make the decision. Your grand-uncle will back you up on clan matters."
Sitting to the side, Yan Yi glanced at Meng Lai on the sofa but quickly averted her eyes, then cast another look toward Ma Guangming.
Although it seemed Meng Lai had made his choice, she didn’t feel the situation had truly changed. Everything hinged on Meng Huang’s actions. If Meng Huang couldn’t be removed from the equation, all of this could change at any moment.
Managing the long-term expectations of one’s subordinates is an essential skill for corporate leadership. As a member of management herself, she knew all too well that only concrete results had any real meaning. Some promises might sound wonderful, but until they were fulfilled, they were nothing but empty words.
Chen Chuan heard this exchange clearly. He had a feeling that these words weren’t just for Meng Shu’s benefit—they were also meant for him.
To be precise, they were meant for the Processing Bureau he represented.
If that was the case, they were treating him as the Processing Bureau’s representative here.
In reality, that wasn’t wrong. The Processing Bureau had granted him a certain degree of authority for his visit today. The official letter granting executive power had been delivered yesterday along with those other items, and he had it on him right now.
Ma Guangming filled out a few more copies of the documented record and handed them to Meng Lai for confirmation. Once confirmed, he took them back and followed Aunt Yu out of the room. Not long after, Aunt Yu returned and nodded at Meng Lai.
After that, Meng Lai and Meng Zhenghuai reminisced about the past. Occasionally, he would also ask Meng Shu about her life, like a true family elder showing understanding and concern for the younger generation. The atmosphere seemed much more harmonious than before.
Time trickled by. After waiting for more than half an hour, the appointed time was fast approaching. A nearby grandfather clock began to chime. DONG, DONG, DONG.
Meng Zhenghuai stopped talking and narrowed his cloudy eyes.
Yan Yi unconsciously clenched her fists.
Just as the final chime struck, its echo still lingering, the main door to the living room was pushed open. A man in his thirties walked in, saying in a jesting tone as he entered, "Oops, my apologies. It seems I’m a little late."
Chen Chuan looked over. The man bore some resemblance to Meng Shu and had a handsome, dashing face, but his expression carried an air of unbridled willfulness.
Seeing him in person, Chen Chuan noticed a few differences from the photograph the Processing Bureau had provided. The most obvious was his height. The original Meng Huang was about 1.8 meters tall, not the over 2.1 meters he was now.
Although many modern technologies and Implants could achieve this effect, he was certain Meng Huang hadn’t used such methods.
Besides, the true power holders in the upper echelons of corporations rarely used things like Implants. They had access to better drugs and other unique methods to enhance their physical condition and extend their lifespans.
Meng Huang didn’t come alone. Following behind him was a stocky man wearing sunglasses. His arms were relatively short, but his limbs were exceptionally thick. Compared to Meng Huang, he seemed rather inconspicuous and was easy to overlook. After entering, he simply stood there, motionless.
But Chen Chuan could sense that this man was no simple character. He was certain this was a Third Limit Fighter, likely responsible for Meng Huang’s personal security.
Meng Huang first swept his gaze around the room. He smiled upon seeing Meng Shu and Meng Zhenghuai, then his eyes moved to Meng Lai. A trace of contempt flickered in his gaze. He then sauntered over to an empty sofa and sat down, crossing his legs.
Meng Lai said slowly, "You are late, but you came."
Meng Huang gave a careless laugh. "Actually, I didn’t want to come, especially to face you. Oh, please forgive me for saying so, but when I’m in front of you, I really can’t muster a single shred of respect."
Meng Zhenghuai, sitting to one side, had taken off his hearing aid the moment Meng Huang entered. Now, leaning on his cane, his head bobbed as if he were dozing off.
Yan Yi looked at Meng Lai with a sense of disbelief. She never expected Meng Huang would dare to be so rude to Meng Lai, the head of the company, disdaining even the most superficial courtesy. ’Is it because he knows he can’t be the heir, so he’s decided to throw all caution to the wind?’
Meng Huang then looked at Meng Shu. "My dear cousin, you don’t know, do you?" He raised his hand and pointed at Meng Lai. "This person sitting before us is just a biological avatar with a Consciousness Coordinator implanted in it."
"You think he’s our grandfather? Don’t be ridiculous!"
"I suspect that from the time we were children, we’ve never seen the real him. The real him might not even exist anymore. The one controlling the company now is just a Consciousness Coordinator."
"Are you willing to take orders from a Consciousness Coordinator and let this... thing decide both our fates? Because I’m not."
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