NOVEL WEB Chapter 15: Charm? It’s Too Late!
"Young Master Shen?" the family butler asked again, squinting. Even with his eyesight, there was no mistaking the strikingly handsome man seated inside the luxurious vehicle.
The heir of the prestigious Shen family cut an immortal figure - his sharp, chiseled jawline could have been sculpted by a master artisan, complemented by a perfectly shaped nose and thick, noble eyebrows arching over piercing eyes.
Yet his refined features were offset by the casual elegance of a light blue blazer that hugged his lean frame.
This startlingly modern appearance was utterly incongruous with the Shen Zeming the butler had known for years.
Shen Zeming's lips quirked in an amused smirk as he noticed the butler's bewildered expression. "Wake up, Uncle," he chided, snapping his long fingers mere inches from the man's face. The crisp sound broke the spell. "Also, thanks for the reminder."
Before the flustered butler could gather his wits, a pair of burly bodyguards in matching black suits materialized from nowhere, gently but insistently ushering the butler aside to clear a path.
Shen Zeming emerged into the soft morning light, shoulders rolling in an elegant stretch as he adjusted to being vertical again after the drive.
'I'm finally here,' he mused, shaking his head almost imperceptibly as he started toward the gleaming glass facade of his company's headquarters. But, to think the first one stunned by my new look would be a man. 'What a shame.'
...
The cavernous lobby yawned ahead, utterly deserted save for the employees already hard at work rushing between meetings and departments.
Their muted footsteps clacked urgently across the polished marble floors, punctuated by the occasional metallic chime of an elevator arriving. At the far end, a massive curved reception desk dominated the space, staffed by several sharply-dressed attendants monitoring the arrivals.
As Shen Zeming pushed through the heavy glass doors into the buzz of activity, his gaze sharpened, scanning every corner.
'Now, let's see what the plot is here... Probably something between a traitor and a greedy person,' Shen Zeming mused.
A large company with assets worth billions of yuan, multiple businesses under one management, and he, the heir of the Shen family—who had nothing except his parents—was probably a target for many.
"Young Master Shen?" The unexpected voice rang out from his left, breaking his reverie. One of the security staff stood staring openly, his usual dour expression cracking into one of utter bafflement as he took in the sight of the immaculately dressed heir before him.
"Oh? Mr. Mao, long time no see," Shen Zeming greeted the dumbstruck guard with casual nonchalance, his melodious voice ringing out clearly across the cavernous lobby. The poor man's brow furrowed as he struggled to reconcile the almost supernaturally handsome vision before him with his memory of the young master.
"You look...different today, sir," the security guard replied at length, his words seeming to act as a spark that ignited a rolling wave of astonishment rippling through the building.
The cacophony of bustling activity fell eerily silent as every head turned in unison, drawn inexorably to drink in the sight of Shen Zeming. A hush descended over the lobby, broken only by the occasional sharp intake of breath or murmured exclamation of wonder.
"Whoa...w-who is that handsome man?" a fresh-faced intern gasped audibly, her widening eyes, staring at Shen Zeming's figure. She nudged her friend urgently, who let out a tremulous giggle.
"I don't know, but he's absolutely gorgeous!" the other young woman whispered in breathless agreement, quickly stifling her grin behind one manicured hand as they both struggled not to stare too brazenly.
Even the most jaded of the employees could scarcely conceal their amazement. An older man in a rumpled suit paused in mid-stride, absently adjusting his glasses as he squinted in Shen Zeming's direction.
"Wait a minute...isn't that..." he murmured, trailing off in disbelief as comprehension slowly dawned.
"Ahhh...my heart!" one of the lobby receptionists cried out dramatically, clutching at her chest with one perfectly manicured hand. "I think I'm in love!"
While the first floor buzzed with amazement and confusion, the heavy glass doors swung open once more to admit the harried figure of the Shen family butler. He entered, still struggling to catch his breath from the undignified sprint.
"A-ah, I apologize for my unprofessionalism, Young Master," the butler panted, bobbing in an apologetic half-bow even as he fought to regain his composure. "Please, follow me to the meeting room."
With an impatient wave of one hand, he beckoned Shen Zeming onwards, guiding him towards the bank of elevators.
A cluster of wide-eyed female clerks loitered nearby, no doubt hoping to linger and catch another glimpse of the veritable Adonis in their midst. Upon catching sight of his approach, they scrambled in a flutter of hands and gasps to jab at the buttons, holding the doors open in mute invitation.
"Thank you for holding it," Shen Zeming murmured in that rich, honeyed tone, his lips curving in the barest hint of a smile that seemed to steal the very breath from the women's lungs. They could only gape wordlessly as he swept past into the mirrored interior, the butler following swiftly behind.
…
The elevator swiftly ascended in a hushed cocoon of silence, carrying them swiftly to the 24th floor just below the opulent executive suites.
As the doors slid open with a muted chime, a vast open space unfurled before them, each windowed meeting room plainly visible through the crystalline glass walls dividing the floor.
The butler ushered Shen Zeming out into the marble-floored expanse with a deferential gesture, leading him on unhurried feet past several conference chambers. At length, they paused before one door which the butler pulled open with a soft creak of well-oiled hinges.
Within, the layout was simple yet elegant - a long hardwood table dominated the center of the room, flanked by supple leather chairs aligned with military precision.
Recessed lighting panels set in the high ceiling cast an even illumination over the polished walnut surfaces, complemented by the warm natural radiance spilling through the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.
At the far end, a vast digital display took up most of the front wall, currently depicting fiscal data arranged in a multi-colored bar graph.
Several figures were already present when Shen Zeming entered, their attention focused raptly on the flickering financial data displayed across the vast screen.
On the opposite side of the room from where he now stood, a solitary chair was occupied by a familiar man.
However, Shen Zeming didn't even have a chance to greet the assembled attendees, as no sooner had he stepped across the threshold than a figure came barreling towards him.
"Ah, my baby boy! Where have you been?"
At the same time, just as the figure drew within arm's reach, a translucent screen materialized in the air before him.
[DING!] Congratulations to the Host for upgrading your Psychology skill to Intermediate Level!