The Heir

After the door was pushed open, Meng Shu paused briefly at the threshold. Chen Chuan noticed her take an involuntary deep breath before stepping inside. He followed her in. The reception room had exceptional natural light; the autumn sun spilled in from outside, making the luxuriously decorated parlor appear even more magnificent and grand. In the center of the hall, beneath an intricate crystal chandelier, stood a heavy solid-wood executive desk. Beside it stood a half-man-tall celestial globe whose illustrations and inscriptions bore the style of a bygone era. Meng Lai, the founder and current helm of the Convergence Boundary Company, sat on the sofa behind the desk. Convergence Boundary had been founded sixty years ago, meaning this man should have been in his eighties at the very least. Yet the man sitting there gave the impression of a middle-aged gentleman in his forties or fifties. He had handsome features and seemed in prime condition. His facial muscles showed no slackening, his skin was well-maintained, his hair was dark and thick, and he exuded an aura that came from spending decades in high authority. Chen Chuan noticed that Meng Shu's eyes closely resembled his—both possessed phoenix eyes with slightly upturned corners. Meng Lai's, however, appeared intricate and deep, like a bottomless pool. Aunt Yu walked over to Meng Lai's side and leaned down to whisper a few words. Meng Lai first offered Chen Chuan a warm nod and a smile, and only then turned his gaze toward Meng Shu. "Shu, you're here." Meng Shu walked forward and bowed in greeting. "Grandfather." Meng Lai nodded. "Now that you've arrived, Shu, take a seat. We still need to wait for another guest." Another guest? A thought crossed Chen Chuan's mind. Could he mean Meng Huang? It was very likely, though referring to him as a "guest" carried a peculiar undertone. Aunt Yu said, "Please, both of you, sit." Chen Chuan did not stand on ceremony. Nodding his thanks, he took a seat on a long couch off to the side. He glanced outside; from here, he could see the plaza apron, where Meng Xu was still lingering, apparently waiting for someone. Aunt Yu touched her boundary credential and spoke a few words into it. Moments later, a neatly groomed middle-aged man wearing a monocle walked in. Beside him was an elderly man supported on someone's arm, walking with a cane. His face was covered in age spots, his hair was sparse, and he had to be helped along as he moved. Chen Chuan had reviewed dossiers on several figures around Meng Lai and recognized this newcomer as Ma Guangming, Meng Lai's personal solicitor. He also had a fairly deep impression of the other old man. This was Meng Lai's grand-uncle, Meng Zhenghuai, the highest-ranking member of the Meng family by generation. He was a centenarian of a hundred and twenty years old, whose life was maintained entirely through medication. Aunt Yu walked over, waved the attendants away, took Meng Zhenghuai by the arm, and helped him sit down. "Careful, Grand-uncle," she said softly. "Old... I'm too old. Out of breath after just two steps." After settling in, Meng Zhenghuai shakily pulled out a hearing aid and put it on. Looking toward Meng Lai, he said, "Lai, I'm here. Speak your piece while these old ears of mine can still hear." Meng Lai smiled. "Grand-uncle, you aren't that old yet. As long as you're willing, I can arrange implant surgery for you. With today's technology, your body could be restored in the process." Meng Zhenghuai waved his hand and shook his head. "I've told you before, I'm not putting that mess inside me. I'm afraid if I did, when I go down below, the ancestors wouldn't even recognize me. To have lived this long, an old man like me is already more than satisfied." Meng Lai did not press the matter further. Turning to Ma Guangming, he said, "Solicitor Ma." Ma Guangming bowed. "I am here, Lord Meng." Meng Lai said, "Today, I invited two juniors of the family. Both are candidates I favor for the family succession, and I have observed them for a long time. Now that Shu has arrived, I will announce the first matter. Take this down..." Ma Guangming's expression turned solemn. He drew a document and a fountain pen from his briefcase and looked at Meng Lai, waiting for him to continue. At that moment, the room fell dead silent. Meng Lai continued, "If Meng Huang fails to arrive in this room within the designated time today, it shall be deemed that he has forfeited voluntarily. I will officially designate my granddaughter, Meng Shu, as the sole heir to the company." Meng Shu sat still. She showed no excessive excitement; she could not be certain whether this was merely her grandfather soothing her or a genuine decision. Yet she knew how to present the demeanor her grandfather wished to see, so her face remained placid and unruffled. Meng Lai indeed seemed pleased with her composure, a glimmer of satisfaction surfacing deep within his eyes. Ma Guangming quickly jotted down Meng Lai's words on the document. He then looked up, his expression somewhat grave as he said, "Lord Meng, I have recorded your words. However, under the agreed charter, any resolution concerning succession made by Lord Meng must be confirmed and approved by members of the Meng family and preserved in writing." Meng Lai gave a mild hum. Picking up the teacup from the table, he blew on it and said at an unhurried pace, "After today, I will announce it at the upcoming family council." Ma Guangming said respectfully, "Then there will be no issue." Meng Zhenghuai spoke up. "Lai, these old bones of mine are right here, watching over today's matters." He turned his head toward Aunt Yu beside him. "Shu is the fourth boy's daughter, isn't she?" Aunt Yu bowed slightly and said, "Yes, she is the Fourth Young Master's daughter. Your memory is as sharp as ever, Grand-uncle." Meng Zhenghuai gave a chuckle, stroking his sparse beard. "Number Four was a good boy, and Shu is a good child too. Lai, you make the call. As for the family affairs, your grand-uncle will back you up." Sitting off to the side, Yan Yi glanced at Meng Lai seated above, but quickly looked away, casting a glance at Ma Guangming instead. Even though Meng Lai appeared to have made his choice, she did not believe the situation had truly shifted. All of this remained contingent on Meng Huang's actions; without removing Meng Huang, any of this could change in an instant. Setting long-term expectations for subordinates was an essential skill for corporate management. As an executive herself, she knew acutely that only things firmly realized held any practical meaning. Certain promises might look and sound wonderful, but until cashed in, they were nothing more than empty paper. Chen Chuan heard every word of their dialogue clearly. At that moment, he had an impression that these words were not meant solely for Meng Shu—they were also intended for his ears. More accurately, they were intended for the Disposal Bureau behind him. If that was the case, Meng Lai was treating him as the bureau's representative on the scene. In fact, that was not inaccurate. For his presence here today, the Disposal Bureau had granted him certain authority; the official warrant granting him enforcement authority had arrived yesterday along with those items, and he carried it on him right now. Ma Guangming filled out several more copies of the recorded document and handed them to Meng Lai for confirmation. Once verified, he took them back and walked out together with Aunt Yu. Before long, Aunt Yu returned and gave Meng Lai a nod. Afterward, Meng Lai and Meng Zhenghuai reminisced about the past, occasionally inquiring about Meng Shu's daily life, like a true family elder showing genuine care and interest in the younger generation. The atmosphere seemed considerably more harmonious than before. Time crept forward minute by minute. After waiting for over half an hour, the designated deadline quickly arrived, and the grandfather clock nearby began to chime with steady clangs. Meng Zhenghuai broke off the conversation, squinting his cloudy eyes. Yan Yi unconsciously clenched her fingers. Just as the final chime faded, while its reverberations still hung in the air, the reception room doors swung open. A man in his thirties walked in, speaking in a mocking tone as he entered, "Ah, my apologies. Seems I'm a bit late." Chen Chuan looked over. The man bore some resemblance to Meng Shu and was quite handsome, but his expression carried an air of reckless abandon, entirely unrestrained. Seeing the real person standing before him revealed slight differences from the photograph the Disposal Bureau had provided. The most glaring difference was his height: Meng Huang had originally been roughly 1.8 meters tall, certainly not over 2.1 meters as he appeared now. Although modern technologies and implants could easily achieve such results, Chen Chuan was certain that Meng Huang had not relied on those methods. Furthermore, genuine high-ranking figures at the top of corporations rarely used implants. They had access to superior pharmaceuticals and unique methods to enhance their physical capabilities and prolong their lifespans. Meng Huang had not come alone. Following behind him was a stocky man wearing sunglasses. His arms were relatively short, but all four limbs were exceptionally thick and muscular. Compared to Meng Huang in front, he seemed inconspicuous and easy to overlook. After entering, the man simply stood there without moving. Yet Chen Chuan could sense that this man was far from ordinary. He was certain this was a third-limit fighter, likely Meng Huang's personal bodyguard. Meng Huang cast his eyes around the room. Upon seeing Meng Shu and Meng Zhenghuai, he offered a faint smirk, then shifted his gaze to Meng Lai. A flicker of contempt surfaced in his eyes. Unbothered, he strode over to an empty couch, crossed one leg over the other, and slouched down. Meng Lai spoke slowly. "You are late, but you came after all." Meng Huang smiled indifferently. "Actually, I had no desire to come, especially to face you. Oh, forgive me for being blunt, but when facing you, I simply can't muster the slightest shred of respect." Sitting to one side, Meng Zhenghuai had taken off his hearing aid the moment Meng Huang entered. Leaning on his cane, his head bobbed up and down, as if nodding off. Yan Yi looked at Meng Lai in disbelief. She had not expected Meng Huang to be so brazenly disrespectful toward the company's helmsman, disdaining to keep up even the thinnest veneer of courtesy. Was it because he knew he would not be chosen as heir and had decided to throw caution to the wind? Meng Huang then turned to Meng Shu. "My dear sister, don't you know yet?" He pointed a finger at Meng Lai. "This person sitting before us is nothing more than a biological double fitted with a consciousness coordinator. "You think he's our grandfather? Don't make me laugh! "I even doubt whether either of us has ever seen the real him since we were children. The real him might not even exist anymore, and the thing running the company right now is merely a consciousness coordinator. "Are you really willing to obey orders from a consciousness coordinator and let a machine like that decide both our fates? Well, I certainly am not."