NOVEL WEB Chapter 16: The Shen Family
"Oh my, is that Ming'er?"
"No, even though Ming'er is quite handsome, he's not that handsome..."
"Kids... they grow up so fast..."
The luxurious meeting room was filled with hushed murmurs as all eyes turned towards the entrance, where a tall, broad-shouldered figure had appeared. It was Shen Zeming, the famous rebellious heir, whose very presence seemed to command attention.
His chiseled features and indifferent gaze exuded a magnetic charisma that left many in the room speechless.
"My baby boy," she cooed, pulling Shen Zeming into a tender embrace, unmindful of the intrigued glances from the attendees.
It was a woman in her forties, radiating elegance and sophistication, Gao Jie, Shen Zeming's mother. Her lithe frame was adorned in an exquisitely tailored gray suit that hugged her curves perfectly.
Her long, raven tresses cascaded in gentle waves, carried by the faint floral scent of jasmine that lingered in the air. Despite her striking beauty, accentuated by milky skin and barely-there makeup, it was the maternal warmth in her azure eyes that truly captivated.
As she leaned back, studying his aristocratic features, her eyes widened in surprise.
A delicate hand rose to cover her parted lips, and she blinked rapidly as if trying to process his transformed visage. "Oh my! How could you be so handsome!" The exclamation rang out, shattering the tense quiet.
An awkward silence descended as the rest of the people responded with a chorus of polite coughs.
However...
"Honey," A dignified baritone cut through the discomfort. Gao Jie's shoulders stiffened ever so slightly at the mild rebuke in that tone.
All eyes turned towards the man seated centrally, his broad shoulders squared and expression severe beneath furrowed brows. The deep charcoal of his suit only accentuated the striking intensity of his jet-black hair and piercing gaze.
"You're late," It was none other than his father.
Shen Zeming then inclined his head in a deferential bow. "I'm sorry, everyone. I had some business to attend to."
A collective murmur of disbelief rippled through the room as the infamous rebel heir not only apologized but lowered his head as well.
The atmosphere in the opulent meeting room grew tense as Gao Jie found herself at an uncharacteristic loss for words.
"My baby boy," she murmured softly, her melodious voice laced with a hint of bewilderment. Instinctively, she sought reassurance from her husband with a sidelong glance.
However, Shen Zeming's father, Shen Guanting, remained a towering bastion of unruffled composure. His bold features betrayed not a flicker of emotion as his obsidian eyes bored into his son with an inscrutable intensity. The weight of his steely gaze alone commanded deference.
"I think that's more than enough, Brother," interrupted one of the attendees, his inky eyes a mirror of Shen Guanting's.
Yet, where the patriarch exuded an aura of uncompromising authority, this man's mien softened with an undercurrent of empathy as he witnessed Shen Zeming's sincere apology.
The slim, unassuming figure belonged to none other than Shen Bai, the young heir's uncle.
"No, I think this is good enough for Young Master Shen, Mr. Bai. After all, he will be the one to inherit and run this entire business," Mao Kang, the branch manager of Beijing and one of Shen Guanting's most trusted associates, chimed in with a tone of finality.
The stilted silence was abruptly shattered by a mocking feminine timbre, "I'm curious, Ming'er, what business are you referring to? After all, you—" Wan Bei, Shen Zeming's aunt, allowed her words to trail off suggestively as her piercing gaze narrowed.
Dressed in casual elegance befitting her bold personality, she was the only one clad in a flowing gown amidst the sea of charcoal suits.
"Enough," Shen Guanting's baritone sliced through the charged atmosphere like a well-honed blade, commanding an abrupt hush. With a curt gesture, he motioned for his son to raise his head. "Let's focus on the main topic—the reason we've called him here."
As the words filtered through the tense air, all eyes converged upon Shen Zeming once more. A hushed inhale of anticipation rippled through the attendees as the family butler suddenly entered the chamber.
Adjusting his spectacles, the butler avoided the young heir's penetrating stare as he stated in measured tones, "On [xx] day, Young Master Shen withdrew 1 billion yuan to his personal bank account at [time xxxx]." A ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips, revealing a fleeting glimpse of enigmatic mirth.
Leaning back into his chair, Shen Guanting raised a single hand to rest his chin upon, his scrutinizing gaze locking onto his son's calm and composed visage. "So, do you have anything to say, Zeming?"
"Of course, Father. After all, I invested it for business purposes," Shen Zeming replied calmly, eyes glancing back at his father while at the same time a female employee disrupted the tense tableau, carrying a laptop in her hands.