Chapter 25
“Mr. Xu, the other company representatives have arrived, we should get going.” Xu Jie stood respectfully in front of Xu Ke and spoke, and upon closer inspection, one could notice a slight distraction in her eyes hidden behind her glasses, but she quickly concealed it again.
“Mm, I know.” Xu Ke replied indifferently.
Previously, every time she saw Xu Ke, he was always in casual attire. Though looking handsome and imposing, the visual impact was never as great as the one today.
Today, Xu Ke was dressed in a royal blue suit, with a white shirt undone at two buttons revealing a small part of his collarbone. His usually tousled hair was all slicked back with gel, exposing his excessively sharp eyebrows and eyes usually hidden, with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses resting on his prominent nose. Like a sheath to a sword, it added a sense of calmness to his sharpness while making him extraordinarily handsome, akin to a graceful leopard.
“What’s the matter, is there something else?” Xu Ke, having heard no sign of Xu Jie leaving for quite a while, finally pulled his eyes from the document in front of him and spared a glance at Xu Jie.
“Not for now, I’ll be outside; call me if you need anything.” Xu Jie took a few steps back and then turned to leave.
After Xu Jie left, Xu Ke picked up the phone on the table, hesitated for a moment, and sent a message to Lin Mengyao, staring at the phone for a long time but, as with the past few days, received no response, as if sinking into the ocean without a trace. Xu Ke frowned slightly, his gaze troubled, his mouth pressed into a line, feeling somewhat aggrieved.
Xu Ke was at a loss as to what had provoked Lin Mengyao. Not only had she left without a word while he was not home, but she had also cut off all contact with him unilaterally. He thought about looking for Lin Mengyao but then recalled their previous conversations, torn between persisting or giving up. He didn’t want to press too hard and end up pushing her further away.
Better to focus on work, Xu Ke sighed inwardly and picked up a new document to read.
Soon, Xu Ke was absorbed back into his work, as the sky unknowingly tinged with darkness.
“Mr. Xu, it’s time, we should depart.” Xu Jie knocked on the door, speaking right on cue.
Called by Xu Jie, Xu Ke finally came to his senses, rubbing his sore neck, and replied indifferently. He casually picked up the jacket he had taken off earlier and slung it over his arm before following Xu Jie out of the Jiahe’s gates towards the Emperor Club.
Xu Jie was practically a regular at the club, and without needing any reception, she led Xu Ke directly to the private room. Once the two had left, the previously quiet lobby burst into a commotion, with several attendants, typically composed, quickly gathering and tossing aside their usual poise.
“Oh my, who was that man just now with Director Xu? He looks unfamiliar, have you guys seen him before?” The round-faced girl whispered to her companions, the flames of gossip quietly kindling behind her.
“Haven’t seen him before.” The companions all shook their heads.
“He looks like someone of high standing. Could it be that another prominent figure is coming to our city?” The girl with the oval face quietly guessed.
“I guess it could be. Several big shots from our city are here in the private room Director Xu reserved. It seemed like Director Xu was quite respectful to that man earlier. Do you think he might be the son of some official?” The girl with round eyes asked.
“We’ve seen the sons of all the officials in our city; it can’t be him.” The girl with cherry-red lips chimed in, dismissing her companion’s guess.
“Could he be an illegitimate child or perhaps a wealthy figure from out of town? By the way, did you notice his appearance? I snuck a look, and his demeanor and looks are exactly what I’d imagine a domineering CEO to be, way more attractive than any TV heartthrob these days. It really makes my heart flutter!” The first girl exclaimed dreamily, her hands cupping her round face.
“I wonder what kind of girls he likes or if he’s married. I’d like to marry him.” The girl with round eyes shared her sentiments, prompting playful teasing from her companions, and they all erupted into laughter.
Meanwhile, the subject of their discussion was in the private room, observing the people who had come for the meeting. Simultaneously, those leadership figures were discreetly observing Xu Ke. This was their first time seeing the Xu heir, having previously only heard about him through Xu Jie.
Today, their reason for being there wasn’t simply to pledge allegiance to Xu Ke; more importantly, they were curious about the person so revered by Xu Jie and whether he was worth the risk of offending the Headquarters. It turned out they were right to come.
Even though Xu Ke was much younger than them, his presence was so imposing that it almost felt suffocating. With just a simple encounter, they felt immense pressure from him, as if the mere gaze from his eyes could make their scalps tingle. That penetrating, icy gaze not only made them shiver but also ignited a long-dormant fervor within them.
This person is no ordinary individual! Everyone thought, reining in any hidden underestimation or negligence they held for Xu Ke.
“Good day, Mr. Xu, I am An Jianbang, the head of Shunhe Group.” The man who identified himself as An Jianbang was the first to step forward from the crowd to greet Xu Ke, his attitude respectful and flawless.
Xu Ke merely nodded at him without speaking.
Seeing An Jianbang take the lead, the others gradually came to their senses and greeted Xu Ke one by one. They were Ma Guoyu from Tengfei Group, Liu Binglin from Star Entertainment, Sun Lei from Imperial Feast Mansion, Shi Tian from Cheng’an Jewelry, and Tian Li from Anda Group.
After all introductions were completed, Xu Ke scanned each person with his gaze as they tensed up. Only then did he speak slowly, “Everyone, you’ve worked diligently for the Xu Family for so many years; I appreciate your efforts. From now on, I will be leading the Xu Corporation, and I hope to see you all at the Headquarters in the future. I also hope that we can work hand-in-hand for the future of the Xu Corporation.”
“Absolutely, absolutely.” Everyone responded.
Xu Ke’s face was devoid of emotion, his voice flat, yet somehow his eyes seemed capable of piercing through their facades to see their very thoughts, making them feel immense pressure.