Futile Devices Scans

Jiang Shao walked out of Qi Mu’s office.

It was not until he returned to his workstation and sat down that he began wondering why he had agreed so quickly.

As though accepting had required no thought whatsoever.

A few seconds later, Jiang Shao found an answer.

As a new employee who had only recently joined the company, he had no reason to refuse when his boss asked him to accompany him on a business trip, did he?

Having reached that conclusion, Jiang Shao felt perfectly justified. Even the knot of frustration that had lingered in his chest for days seemed to dissipate for no apparent reason.

…

Qi Mu, meanwhile, was carefully reviewing the documents in his hands.

The crisis had been resolved for the time being. Now that he finally had some breathing room, it was time to deal with the company’s internal problems.

He had already obtained evidence that the Procurement Department manager and a vice president had been taking kickbacks together. The procurement manager would be easy enough to handle, but Vice President Yuan Mao was more troublesome.

Yuan Mao was one of the founding members who had started the company alongside Qi Mu’s father. He owned a portion of the company’s shares and was also his father’s former classmate and longtime friend.

Qi Mu’s father was a deeply sentimental man. Deciding how to deal with Yuan Mao would be difficult, and Qi Mu would probably need to discuss the matter with him first…

Troubled, Qi Mu pressed his fingers against his temple. Just then, the phone beside him chimed. He glanced over and saw a message from his mother asking him to come home for dinner that evening.

Qi Mu considered briefly before replying that he would.

It would be a good opportunity to discuss Yuan Mao with his father.

It was Friday. For the first time in a long while, Qi Mu did not work overtime. As he was leaving, he happened to encounter Zhan Xiao Hui and casually informed her that Jiang Shao would accompany him on next week’s business trip, instructing her to book Jiang Shao’s flight and hotel.

Then Qi Mu drove home alone.

Qi Mu normally lived by himself in an apartment near the company rather than with his parents. Ever since his father, Qi Xiang Ming, retired from the company, he and Qi Mu’s mother, Fu Yun, had been living in a villa in the suburbs. The elderly couple usually either traveled for leisure or stayed home tending flowers and plants.

Qi Mu did not visit often, since there was a good chance he would find the house empty even if he did.

Traffic was heavy that evening, and it took him nearly two hours to arrive. When he reached the residential compound and saw the lights glowing inside the villa, Qi Mu turned the steering wheel and parked outside the house.

He hesitated for a moment before tucking a document folder beneath his arm and getting out of the car.

But just as he reached the entrance, he heard faint laughter and conversation coming from inside. He could not make out the words clearly. Had a guest come over?

Why had his mother not mentioned it?

Puzzled, Qi Mu pushed open the door and entered.

Inside the living room, Qi Xiang Ming was chatting merrily with someone. The man sitting opposite him was none other than Yuan Mao, the company’s vice president.

Qi Mu’s expression darkened.

Qi Xiang Ming wore a casual cardigan, the passage of time visible upon his refined face. He smiled and beckoned Qi Mu over. “You’re back. Your Uncle Yuan came to visit.”

Yuan Mao laughed heartily. “Old Qi, you spend all your time traveling around the world now. It’s difficult even to see you. I heard you had returned, so I came to visit the two of you.”

Then he looked at Qi Mu and added, “I came without an invitation today. My dear nephew won’t blame me, will he?”

Qi Xiang Ming laughed. “How could he blame you? I’m delighted you came. How long has it been since we last gathered? Since we finally have the chance today, we must have a few more drinks.”

Fu Yun generally disliked involving herself in such matters. She only came downstairs after hearing that Qi Mu had returned. Upon hearing this, she smilingly scolded Qi Xiang Ming. “Do you still think you’re young? You’re too afraid even to look at your annual medical examination reports. What are you drinking for?”

Qi Xiang Ming sighed helplessly, amusement in his eyes. “Old Yuan, look at this. My household is governed strictly. There’s nothing I can do.”

Seeing the couple’s practiced exchange, Yuan Mao tactfully said, “Then we won’t drink. Tea instead of wine is just as good.”

Qi Mu watched the harmonious scene among the elders in silence. Without drawing attention, he placed the document folder on a cabinet beside him. He wanted to see what performance Yuan Mao intended to put on today.

When it was time to eat, the housekeeper brought the dishes to the table.

Fu Yun sat beside Qi Mu and continuously placed food into his bowl, lamenting as she did so, “Your father and I aren’t around, and you have to handle everything at the company alone. There’s no one to help you when something happens. You’ve worked so hard. Look how much weight you’ve lost. Eat more.”

Qi Mu looked at the mountain of food piled in his bowl and tactfully said in a low voice, “Mom, that’s enough.”

She was overacting.

Fu Yun’s hand stiffened slightly. Then she casually set down her chopsticks, elegantly swept a hand through her long hair, and coughed lightly. “Your mother is only worried about you…”

Yuan Mao had originally been chatting with Qi Xiang Ming. After hearing Fu Yun’s words, his expression became slightly uncomfortable, and he no longer had the nerve to continue eating. Looking solemnly at Qi Xiang Ming, he said, “Old Qi, I actually came today because there is something I need to tell you.”

Qi Xiang Ming brushed it aside with a laugh. “Whatever it is, can’t it wait until after dinner? Eat first. Eat.”

Yuan Mao heaved a long sigh. “Old Qi, I have wronged you!”

The moment those words were spoken, everyone at the table fell silent. The atmosphere suddenly became rather strange.

After a long while, Qi Xiang Ming asked in bewilderment, “Old Yuan, what are you talking about?”

Yuan Mao put on an expression of guilt and self-reproach. “Ah, I was momentarily possessed by greed. I… I…”

Qi Mu spoke indifferently. “Since Uncle Yuan finds it difficult to say, allow me.”

Without exaggeration or bias, he concisely recounted every improper act Yuan Mao had committed over the years—accepting kickbacks, betraying the company’s interests, and lining his own pockets. Then he looked at Yuan Mao. “Is there anything else Uncle Yuan would like to add?”

Yuan Mao looked extremely embarrassed. “Ahem. No, no, there isn’t—ah!”

His face suddenly went pale.

Qi Xiang Ming had slapped him on the shoulder with considerable force. Qi Xiang Ming looked both heartbroken and shocked. “Old Yuan, how could you do something like this? We built this company together. Part of it belongs to you too! How could you do this to yourself?!”

The muscles in Yuan Mao’s face twitched. “I already know I was wrong. I am willing to return every cent. Ah, I deeply regret it. After this incident, I’ve also thought everything through. At my age, I no longer want to involve myself in the affairs of young people. I’ll retire from now on and travel around like the two of you. I won’t interfere with the company anymore…”

Qi Xiang Ming exclaimed in surprise, “You’re willing to sell your shares?”

Yuan Mao said, “That’s not what I—”

Before he could finish, Qi Xiang Ming sighed heavily. “You’re even willing to surrender your shares voluntarily. Since you’re prepared to go this far, what else can I say? Xiao Mu surely wouldn’t have the heart to pursue the matter any further either, would he?”

Qi Mu looked thoughtful and frowned slightly. “I had originally planned to report this to the police, but since Dad has said that…”

Yuan Mao: “…”

Yuan Mao’s face alternated between red and white. Conflict flashed through his eyes as he rapidly considered his options. Then he changed direction and tentatively said, “Ahem. Yes, that is what I meant. But the price…”

Qi Xiang Ming stood and paced back and forth in thought. When he accidentally walked behind Yuan Mao, he secretly winked at Qi Mu. Then, from behind Yuan Mao’s head, he raised two fingers while lamenting aloud, “Old Yuan, we have been brothers for so many years. I cannot allow you to suffer too great a loss. Although something like this has happened, I still hope we can resolve it amicably.”

The corner of Qi Mu’s eye twitched. He adjusted his glasses and said gravely to Yuan Mao, “Twenty-one per share. What does Uncle Yuan think?”

Yuan Mao’s expression changed instantly. “That price is far too low.”

Qi Mu replied calmly, “The company was already short on liquid funds, and this incident has only just occurred. Money is needed everywhere. We truly cannot offer a particularly high price.”

His voice remained calm and entirely without fluctuation, but precisely because of that, it left no room for bargaining.

Yuan Mao stared at Qi Mu for a long while. Twenty was indeed his absolute bottom line. If the offer were any lower, he would refuse to let the Qi family off easily, even if it meant mutual destruction.

But selling his shares at this price meant that not only would he lose every cent he had made over the years, but he would also have to pay back a considerable sum. He would lose both the lady and the soldiers, suffering defeat on every front. He could not swallow the resentment in his heart and could not help speaking sourly. “My dear nephew is certainly not simple.”

At this point, the meal could no longer continue.

Yuan Mao rose with a cold expression. “Then I will stop disturbing your family.”

Qi Mu stood and escorted him to the door. Calmly, he said, “Once the agreement has been drafted, I will have someone deliver it to you.”

Yuan Mao clenched his teeth, shot Qi Mu a cold look, and turned away.

Qi Mu returned inside and closed the door.

Fu Yun was calling for the housekeeper to reheat the dishes, complaining as she bustled around, “A perfectly good dinner was ruined. Honestly.”

Qi Xiang Ming smiled ingratiatingly beside her. “It’s fine. The food will still be good after reheating.”

Fu Yun gave him an annoyed look and went into the kitchen to help.

Qi Mu approached his father and looked at him seriously. “Dad, did you already know?”

Qi Xiang Ming proudly raised his chin. “I may be old, but I’m not stupid.”

Qi Mu nodded in understanding.

He had not mentioned the matter before because he did not want his parents to worry and had believed he could solve it himself. But it seemed someone had informed his father long ago.

Qi Mu had originally worried that his father would be unwilling to deal with Yuan Mao because of their old friendship. Unexpectedly, that had not been the case at all…

Qi Xiang Ming saw through his thoughts immediately and snorted. “The moment he committed such a disgraceful act, he was the one who disregarded our old friendship. Why would I continue protecting him? Your old man hasn’t gone senile yet. Do you think I would side with an outsider instead of my own son?”

Qi Mu looked steadily at his father for a long while before suddenly smiling. “Thank you, Dad.”

Fu Yun happened to walk over at that moment. She smacked Qi Xiang Ming and said to Qi Mu, “What are you thanking him for? This old man only knows how to be lazy. He leaves everything for you to handle while he acts as a hands-off boss. Don’t let him fool you.”

Pretending to be in pain, Qi Xiang Ming rubbed his head. “How is that laziness? I’m only doing it so I can spend time with you…”

Qi Mu laughed softly.

He sat down at the dining table with his parents once more.

After dinner, Fu Yun dragged Qi Mu onto the sofa and studied him from head to toe before gently asking, “Have you been seeing a girlfriend recently?”

Qi Xiang Ming’s ears twitched. He automatically sat down beside them and stared at Qi Mu as well.

Surrounded by the two elders’ expectant gazes, Qi Mu felt far more pressure than he had while facing Yuan Mao. A faint sense of foreboding rose within him. He stood, intending to leave, but Fu Yun pressed down on his hand with surprising strength, preventing him from moving.

After a long silence, Qi Mu asked, “You only just came home, and this is the only thing you care about?”

Qi Xiang Ming slapped his thigh excitedly and said with deep frustration, “Of course! What else would we care about?”

He looked at his handsome and accomplished son with complicated emotions.

His son had been outstanding and sensible from childhood, never giving them any reason to worry. While other company presidents constantly fretted over their children and complained about how useless they were, Qi Xiang Ming had always been the proudest among them, because Qi Mu had never caused trouble. He neither dated one, two, three, four, or five girlfriends at once, nor became obsessed with sports cars and parties, nor fought and created disturbances.

Qi Mu was the proverbial “other family’s child.” He had studied diligently and earned excellent grades. After graduating from university, he joined the company as an intern and calmly started at the lowest level. He spent half a year at the factory before gaining experience in every department. Finally, two years ago, he successfully succeeded Qi Xiang Ming as the company’s head.

From then on, Qi Xiang Ming began enjoying a happy retirement.

Whenever he gathered with friends and listened to them complain—about children refusing to study, refusing to join the family company, concerns that no one would inherit the business, or fears that their children would squander the family fortune—Qi Xiang Ming was always the object of everyone’s envy. It gave him an extraordinary sense of accomplishment. His child was simply the most perfect and outstanding of all.

That was how things had been during the first few years…

But as time passed, Qi Xiang Ming finally discovered something worth worrying about: his son devoted himself entirely to work and seemed to have no desire whatsoever to fall in love.

What were they supposed to do?

At this rate, when would they ever have grandchildren?

They wanted to enjoy playing with their grandchildren too.

Qi Xiang Ming advised him earnestly, “You’re not young anymore. It’s time to start thinking about marriage.”

Qi Mu replied indifferently, “I’m not even thirty yet. How am I not young? Isn’t the average age of first marriage around thirty now?”

Qi Xiang Ming suffered defeat.

Fu Yun took over. Pretending to wipe away tears, she said, “Look at this enormous house. Without a child, it feels so cold and empty…”

Qi Mu said, “Didn’t you only just return from vacation? You hardly live here anyway. Besides… if the house is too large and lonely, why not move somewhere smaller? A small home would feel cozier.”

Fu Yun: “…”

Qi Xiang Ming continued his efforts. “Your mother is only worried about you. You work so much, and there’s no one beside you who understands whether you’re cold or warm and takes care of you. How could we possibly feel at ease?”

Qi Mu considered briefly. “Then hire me a housekeeper?”

Qi Xiang Ming: “…”

Seeing that their son remained impervious to every approach, the couple exchanged a secret glance. Fu Yun cleared her throat and said, “Speaking of which, we met Old Yang’s daughter last time. She is gentle, beautiful, and considerate, and she is around your age as well. Old Yang and the two of us all think that young people like you should have plenty to talk about. You could get to know one another. Why don’t you meet next week?”

Qi Mu sighed faintly. So they were arranging a blind date.

He had thought he might escape this ordeal today, but after circling around the subject again and again, they had ultimately returned to it.

Qi Mu took out his phone, opened his calendar, and showed it to his parents. In a calm voice, he said, “I’m sorry, but I have to attend a summit next week. I truly don’t have time.”

Previous

Main

Next