Chapter 29: Accidentally Killing the Conversation

Elegant Group?

Staring at the name, Chen Qi was momentarily stunned. For some reason, it felt oddly familiar, as if he’d heard it somewhere before.

“Let’s go.” After parking the car, Xu Bunian took out his access card and led him into the building.

Identity verified, they crossed the lobby and entered the elevator.

As the elevator ascended, Chen Qi discreetly took out his phone and searched for Elegant Group and Shen Mowen. Unfortunately, though there were online encyclopedia entries for both, the information was sparse—whether due to the company’s discretion or for some other reason. The entry for Elegant Group only briefly described the industries they were involved in, and Shen Mowen’s entry was even simpler, listing only his position as chairman of Elegant Group…

Chen Qi silently put away his phone and waited patiently as the elevator continued to rise.

It was at this moment that he suddenly remembered: when he first arrived in this world, wasn’t the very first phone call he received from Elegant Group? At the time, it seemed they were calling to ask him to come in and complete his onboarding procedures.

Remembering this, Chen Qi’s brow furrowed. He suddenly had the unsettling feeling that everything had already been arranged for him behind the scenes.

He did not like this feeling at all.

Before long, the elevator stopped at the twenty-ninth floor.

“Come with me,” Xu Bunian called out to Chen Qi and led the way out.

Chen Qi followed, his eyes quietly taking in his surroundings as they walked.

Two minutes later, Xu Bunian stopped before an office door. He exchanged a few quiet words with a person outside—perhaps a secretary or an assistant—who promptly entered the office.

Shortly after, she came out again and gestured for Chen Qi to go in.

Chen Qi glanced back at Xu Bunian.

“Go ahead. I’ll wait here for you,” Xu Bunian said.

Chen Qi nodded slightly and walked toward the office. The door was open, and at a glance he saw the middle-aged man sitting inside.

Judging by his age, he was probably just past fifty.

“Come in,” Shen Mowen said, rising from behind his desk with a smile and beckoning him over in a friendly manner.

Chen Qi approached and stopped about two meters from him, quietly sizing him up.

“Sit,” Shen Mowen said amiably, gesturing to the sofa nearby.

Chen Qi nodded politely and sat down, a bit stiff, wondering how he ought to address the man.

Shen Mowen sat as well, looking him over with some emotion. “It’s been so many years since we last met—I really wouldn’t have recognized you at all.”

Chen Qi didn’t reply, but inwardly he felt much more at ease. Since it had been many years since they’d seen one another, they couldn’t be close; there was no need to worry about making any major missteps.

“The last time I saw you, you were just over two years old—about this tall.” Shen Mowen held out a hand to indicate the height, smiling. “And in the blink of an eye, more than twenty years have passed.”

Chen Qi smiled as well. He could tell the man was deliberately trying to make him feel at ease, to avoid awkwardness or nerves.

“Mr. Shen…” Chen Qi hesitated for a moment, unsure how to address him. “Was there something you wanted to see me about today?”

Shen Mowen tilted his head, still smiling. “I’m two years older than your father; you could call me Uncle, and it wouldn’t be taking advantage.”

Chen Qi smiled and nodded in acknowledgment but didn’t speak.

“Why did you suddenly refuse Elegant Group’s job offer?” Shen Mowen asked abruptly.

“I just didn’t want to go,” Chen Qi replied.

“A job you landed after three rounds of interviews, beating out more than ninety percent of the candidates—you can just walk away from it? Surely there must be a solid reason?” Shen Mowen looked at him, half exasperated, half amused.

Chen Qi said nothing. There was simply no way he could explain.

“If you don’t want to say, I won’t press,” Shen Mowen conceded. “So, do you have any long-term plans?”

After a moment’s silence, Chen Qi replied, “I’m going to resign from Blueprint.”

Shen Mowen was taken aback. “Why?”

“I don’t like the feeling of being manipulated.”

“No, no, you’re mistaken.” Shen Mowen shook his head, correcting him earnestly. “No one arranged for you to interview at Elegant Group or to join Blueprint afterward. We only gave you a little help, nothing more.”

Chen Qi shook his head, his face expressionless. “Thank you, but I don’t need it—nor do I want it.”

Shen Mowen looked at him, somewhat helpless. With his eyes, trained in reading people, he could instantly see that Chen Qi meant every word.

“Before he left the country, your father called me specifically and asked me to look after you,” Shen Mowen said suddenly.

Chen Qi was silent for a few seconds before replying softly, “Uncle, as you know, I managed just fine without anyone looking after me when I was little. I need that even less now.”

“Uh…” Shen Mowen opened his mouth, hesitated several times, but couldn’t find anything to say.

A man seasoned by years of negotiation, he found himself at a loss for words.

For a fleeting moment, he almost regretted meeting Chen Qi alone. This was even harder than talking to his own son!

“In fact… your parents care about you very much.” After a long, careful pause, he finally managed to say this.

Chen Qi looked up and asked, “For example?”

Shen Mowen fell silent.

Just then, Shen Mowen felt utterly out of sorts. His mouth hung slightly open, frozen, as if some martial arts master had immobilized him—he couldn’t have looked more awkward.

He had never expected Chen Qi to counter with such a question.

Seeing his speechless state, Chen Qi’s lips twitched ever so slightly.

Heaven knows, he truly wasn’t trying to be difficult—he just wanted to follow the thread and glean some information. He hadn’t anticipated this reaction at all!

But what was with this reaction? Could he not think of a single concrete example?

“Before leaving the country, he called me specifically to ask me to look after you…” After at least ten seconds of awkward silence, Shen Mowen finally muttered something, his voice growing smaller as he spoke, as if he himself realized how unconvincing this example was.

Chen Qi said nothing.

“Well… why don’t you sit here for a bit? I just remembered something I need to take care of.” Whether he realized he’d killed the conversation or simply found the atmosphere too awkward to bear, Shen Mowen coughed lightly and, feigning composure, got up and walked out of the office.

Yet, his slightly hurried footsteps looked for all the world like a retreat.

Chen Qi was left utterly bewildered.

What was with this old man?

Was he always so unsteady?