After the Reborn Young Master Embraced a Life of Wellness – Chapter 64

A week later, Lao K had negotiated with all parties, and the situation finally made new progress.

At Monday’s regular meeting, all departments gathered in the conference room.

“Huan Shang conducted an internal self-examination, and Mr. Xu was fired for accepting bribes,” Lao K tapped the pen in his hand, his expression calm. But in the next second, he smiled and continued, “However, the supplementary agreement was signed yesterday, and all the funds will be in place next month!”

A wave of cheers erupted in the conference room.

Especially from the technical department—many of them nearly jumped out of their seats in excitement.

“Boss,” someone asked Chen Mo, who was leaning against a stool with a faint smile, “Did you already know about this? You actually kept it from us!”

Chen Mo placed one hand on the conference table and said, “If I told you earlier, what other surprises would there be?”

“I should have been happy if I had known this earlier.” Someone familiar with the situation muttered in confusion, “But didn’t Mr. Xu claim he had strong backing within Huan Shang? How did he fall so easily?”

“It wasn’t him who fell, it was his wife, Rui.” Lao K explained, “We got lucky. Just as President Zhu was transferred back to headquarters, Huan Shang unexpectedly received overseas investment. We simply hitched a ride on a giant ship and managed not to capsize.”

Many people were surprised. “Who was so generous?”

Lao K: “CM Group.”

The moment those words fell, the entire conference room either gasped or stared in shock.

“You mean that CM? The one that won the famous overseas investment case two years ago and beat UA Group to take the top spot?”

“There have always been rumors that CM is backed by the prestigious Xi family in China, right? I heard their boss is really young. When he just came of age, he was already making waves on Wall Street with his keen investment vision. Later, he founded CM and, in just five years, nearly swallowed up all similar companies. His ambition and strength should not be underestimated.”

“This is the difference between people…”

“Central Meridian—keeping the core unshaken and staying true to the original path. Is this why CM is now expanding back into China?”

“Who knows? The old-money families care more about their roots. The Xi family has been keeping a low profile in recent years, probably preparing for this move.”

“I think it makes sense. The more powerful someone is, the less they need to make a spectacle of themselves.”

The conversation continued, with some providing information and others offering opinions.

No one noticed that their new core technology leader appeared slightly distracted.

When Chen Mo found out that CM had invested in Huan Shang, he knew it was Xi Siyan’s doing. In his previous life, it wasn’t until three years later that he heard about him while abroad.

But unlike his state of mind back then, Chen Mo now kept tabs on Xi Siyan’s activities overseas. He would occasionally check the news about him, just like he had always known that President Zhu had been introduced to him by Xi Siyan.

Over the years, Chen Mo often thought about their high school days.

He also knew that if it weren’t for Xi Siyan, he wouldn’t be where he was today.

He had to admit that, when he naturally took care of his team as a leader, when he handled situations with a calmer and more composed mindset, there was a part of Xi Siyan’s influence in it.

But whether it was the dazzling figure that made the crowd scream and cheer on the basketball court, or the representative in a white shirt speaking under the national flag, or the class monitor Xi sitting next to him explaining a lesson—

So much time had passed.

They had both grown up.

Even when those memories suddenly surfaced, he could remain calm on the surface.

“Let’s plan a team outing tonight!” someone suggested.

The proposal was met with unanimous approval.

Chen Mo naturally wouldn’t spoil the fun, so he smiled and agreed with the crowd.

That evening.

Xinrui never engaged in unnecessary formalities.

The dinner reservation was at a well-known buffet restaurant that required advance booking.

Two long tables, capable of seating over a dozen people, were arranged in the hall.

The technical department had always been a close-knit group.

They basically clustered together.

A newcomer, who had just graduated from college this year, named Yuan Hao, was the first to stand up.

“I’m honored to have joined Xinrui and become part of the technical team,” Yuan Hao said earnestly. “You might not know this, but Xinrui is now the number one target for job seekers from all major universities. There are so many people who envy me.”

At this point, he was interrupted by some of his colleagues.

“Yuan Hao! You’re usually so talkative, but I have to admit, this time you actually said something decent!”

The others laughed along. “Exactly! Why are you being so modest? That’s not like you at all.”

“I’m not being modest,” Yuan Hao replied immediately. “I’m just genuinely grateful to have found a team like this right after graduation. Everyone takes great care of me. Most of all, I want to thank my mentor.”

The young man turned his gaze to the man sitting diagonally across from him and said sincerely, “Brother Mo, thank you for hiring me during recruitment, for giving me a chance, and for guiding me every step of the way. I’ve learned so much. I’d like to toast to you all!”

After saying that, he raised his glass and downed it in one go.

The room immediately erupted in laughter and cheers.

“Master and apprentice, huh? Xiao Hao, you really stick to your master like glue.”

“Boss, you’re playing favorites! Just because he’s fresh out of school, you’re giving him special treatment? Look, he’s already showing off!”

“That’s right! Brother Mo, why didn’t you acknowledge me as your apprentice when I first joined the company?”

“It’s not fair! Don’t you all agree?”

Seeing Chen Mo being playfully ganged up on, Yuan Hao panicked.

The young man still had the youthful immaturity of a recent graduate.

He had short black hair and a slightly round face. When he got anxious, his face turned red, and a small dimple would appear near his mouth when he pursed his lips.

“Don’t mess around, I’m serious,” he said earnestly.

“Hao Hao, you really can’t take a joke. Unlike us, we’re all old-timers with skin thick as a city wall.”

Chen Mo, who had remained in the same relaxed posture the entire time, waited until they finished laughing before smiling and saying, “Don’t listen to their nonsense. I didn’t take you in because you were young—I took you in because I’m still young myself.”

His self-deprecating remark immediately drew another round of laughter and cheers.

Yuan Hao, however, was still serious. “Why, though?”

“Do you remember your interview day?” Chen Mo asked. “I asked why you wanted to join Xinrui, and you said you were certain you could bring Xinrui into a brand-new intelligent era.”

The moment Chen Mo repeated his bold, youthful words, the young man blushed so much he wanted to crawl under the table.

“Master, please don’t bring that up again…” Yuan Hao groaned.

Chen Mo signaled him to relax. “That’s exactly the kind of talk I like to hear. And you’re backing up your words with action. You’re capable. When R2D hit a bottleneck in the second experimental stage, you worked tirelessly for a week to pinpoint the problem. Without you, the losses would’ve been unimaginable. You’re doing great. That’s a fact.”

Everything else faded into the background.

Yuan Hao stared at him blankly, his heart beating faster at the sight of this man—someone no older than himself, yet someone he could only look up to in terms of both ability and character. Realizing his own distraction, he quickly lowered his head and took a large gulp of water to cover up his momentary lapse.

Chen Mo, however, didn’t notice his reaction. In fact, he had never truly considered Yuan Hao as his apprentice.

He had simply recognized the boy’s capabilities and outgoing nature, so he had given him some guidance. Since Yuan Hao had taken to calling him Master, Chen Mo didn’t bother to correct him.

The dinner lasted a full two hours.

After eating, the group lingered outside, debating whether to head to a casino to continue the night.

They stood by the roadside, chatting enthusiastically.

The October night wind carried a slight chill.

Casually, Chen Mo draped his coat over a pregnant female colleague. Left in only a slightly wrinkled dress shirt, he rolled up his sleeves, exposing his lean forearms and well-defined wrist bones.

At some point, Yuan Hao had approached him, carrying a long black coat. “Master, it’s a bit cold—put this on.”

“You don’t need it yourself?” Chen Mo glanced at the short-sleeved shirt Yuan Hao was wearing and refused. “Wear it yourself. If you catch a cold, I’m not approving any sick leave.”

The boy flushed in embarrassment, his face—already tinged red from alcohol—turning even redder.

Still, he stubbornly held out the coat. “I’m young, I’m not afraid of the cold.” But realizing how that sounded, he immediately tried to correct himself, “That’s not what I meant, I just—”

Yuan Hao never got to finish his sentence.

At that moment, several sleek, high-end cars pulled up by the curb, drawing the attention of passersby.

The restaurant they had dined at was in a bustling downtown district.

Right next door was a well-known private club.

Chen Mo mused about these upper-class establishments—no matter how exclusive, their entertainment programs were always the same old clichés.

Soon, a group of people stepped out of the cars.

Chen Mo immediately recognized the man leading them—it was the boss of Huan Shang.

The man, not yet forty, had sharp, well-defined features. Chen Mo had interacted with him once or twice before and found him to be a difficult person.

At that moment, Lao K approached and leaned in, whispering, “Just a coincidence. Want to go over and say hello?”

“Yeah,” Chen Mo replied nonchalantly. He had no objections to basic social courtesy.

But before he and Lao K could even make a move, they noticed that the boss of Huan Shang wasn’t heading inside immediately—he was standing by the car, waiting for someone.

Sure enough, the rear door of the next vehicle was soon opened by the driver.

The first thing to emerge was a pair of long legs, clad in well-tailored suit pants.

For some inexplicable reason, Chen Mo’s heart skipped a beat.

His mind flashed back to that moment when he had just been reborn, standing in the alley behind the internet café, watching someone step out of a car.

The two scenes overlapped—

Sleek black leather shoes touched the pavement, a tall figure bent slightly as he exited the car, black hair neatly combed, a suit impeccably fitted. The partial side profile revealed under the glow of the city lights showcased sharp features—an elegantly straight nose, a familiar face now carrying an added layer of maturity and depth.

More composed, more serious. At first glance, his presence exuded an air of quiet authority.

Lao K whispered beside him, “Who’s that? He looks important.”

Compared to Lao K’s curiosity, the voices around them carried a more gossipy tone.

“Wow, what a handsome guy.”

“I can already picture the ‘cold and aloof CEO’ trope in a romance novel.”

“The boss of Huan Shang must have a powerful network. The people he associates with aren’t from our world.”

Excited chatter rippled through the crowd.

Then, as if sensing something, the man suddenly lifted his gaze.

The moment his eyes landed on Chen Mo, his expression shifted ever so slightly.

Then, without hesitation, he began striding over.

Many people were stunned.

They watched in disbelief as the imposing figure stopped right in front of Chen Mo—their technical department leader.

Lao K, standing beside Chen Mo, wisely chose to remain silent.

Meanwhile, Yuan Hao, still focused on handing over the coat, remained oblivious to the approaching figure. He continued urging, “Master, put it on—it’s windy.”

Only after speaking did he notice the sudden silence around him.

A subtle but unmistakable gaze landed on him.

It was light, almost indifferent, but enough to send a chill down his spine.

The boy looked up, confused. But he quickly realized that the man hadn’t been looking at him at all.

Instead, he had turned to Chen Mo and frowned. “Why are you standing here on the roadside?”

Chen Mo remained unfazed. “Dinner’s over. We were figuring out what’s next.”

Without another word, the man signaled to an assistant standing behind him.

A moment later, the assistant handed him a neatly folded suit jacket.

Without waiting for a response, the man reached out and draped it over Chen Mo’s shoulders.

His actions were smooth, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He even adjusted the lapels slightly. “I have something to take care of tonight and can’t stay. You can return it to me next time when you have time.”

Chen Mo didn’t protest. He simply grasped the edges of the jacket himself and nodded. “Alright. Thanks.”

The others: “…”

They dared not say a word.

No one dared to say a single word.