From Apocalypse Boss to Farmer: My Vegetables Make Me Stronger!-Chapter 149 - 140: Silence Speaks Volumes

Gu Xi stepped out of the elevator and saw a large office.

She glanced inside through the glass. The office was empty, but the layout... gave her a sense of familiarity.

She lowered her gaze. ’I didn’t expect... that after coming back this time, besides Li Ming, whom I’d already contacted, the first two old acquaintances I’d meet would be the two titans of the old Research Institute.’

Dr. Qi, and... the former Younger Director Chen.

"Don’t look around, this place..." Ye Nan hurried over and had just started to whisper a warning when an elegant female voice sounded from behind them.

"Xiaonan, what are you doing here?"

Gu Xi subconsciously turned around and saw an elegant old woman with a full head of silver hair, combed immaculately, smiling at them.

The old woman was thin, yet full of vigor. She looked no different from years ago. It was Chen Lu, the younger of the Chen family’s twin flowers who had single-handedly founded the Abnormal Ability Research Institute back then.

She was also the one from many years ago at the Abnormal Ability Research Institute who was always hidden behind Director Chen... the Younger Director Chen.

’It’s been a long time,’ Gu Xi sighed silently.

The old woman stood smiling behind the two, holding a pot with a succulent-like plant. She glanced at the somewhat nervous Ye Nan, then her gaze quickly passed over her to land on Gu Xi.

"Xiaoxi is here too," she said with a chuckle.

"Yes, Younger Director Chen." Gu Xi’s lips curled slightly, but her eyes were calm and serene. "I’m here."

The familiar tone between the two surprised Ye Nan. Beyond her surprise, she also found it a bit strange.

She couldn’t help but raise her eyes to glance at them.

The old woman looked at her with a smile. "Xiaonan?"

Ye Nan snapped back to her senses and, just as she always did, gave a cute, playful smile.

"Ms. Chen, my mom said you left something at her place. I happen to be on a long vacation... and after a while, my mom started finding me annoying, so I volunteered to bring it to you..."

As she spoke, she walked straight past Gu Xi, a small box in her hand, and went up to the old woman. "Ms. Chen, look, I’ve returned it to its rightful owner."

"You little rascal." The old woman smiled, casually taking the small box. She then handed the pot with the succulent-like plant to Ye Nan before turning to the scanner by the door.

Soon, the office door opened.

She looked back at the two young women. "Come on in."

Gu Xi did as she was told and followed them inside. Ahead of her, Ye Nan had her arm linked with the old woman’s, whispering something to her.

The old woman raised a hand and gently poked the girl’s forehead, then walked to her desk, picked up the intercom, and called for a staff member.

She turned to Gu Xi with a very kind smile. "Xiaoxi, I have a few things to take care of here. How about this, I’ll have someone show you around first, and we can talk in detail later."

Gu Xi glanced impassively at Ye Nan, who was standing beside the old woman, and nodded in agreement.

Soon, a young man knocked and entered.

As soon as he came in, the old woman pointed at Gu Xi and said to him, "Zhao, take Gu for a tour of the 36th floor."

’The 36th floor?’

Recalling the receptionist’s words, Gu Xi’s heart stirred, but her expression remained unchanged.

"The 36th floor?" Zhao was taken aback and asked hesitantly, "President Chen, she is?"

"Gu is also a Wood Element user. From now on, you’ll all be colleagues. Just take her for a look around." The old woman had already sat down at her desk. Seeing this, Ye Nan quickly handed over the pot with the succulent-like plant.

Gu Xi took one look before impassively retracting her gaze.

Zhao had already started the pleasantries with great enthusiasm. "You must be Miss Gu. My name is Zhao Kun..."

Gu Xi followed Zhao Kun out of the old woman’s office.

Watching their retreating figures, Ye Nan finally, belatedly, understood where that strange feeling had come from.

—Younger Director Chen left the Abnormal Ability Research Institute many years ago. Nowadays, people only call her President Chen. But just now, Gu Xi had called her Younger Director Chen!

Ye Nan realized something. Her hand, hanging at her side, clenched slightly, but then quickly relaxed.

She casually walked over to the water cooler and poured herself a glass of warm water.

After drinking most of the glass, Ye Nan’s heartbeat gradually slowed to normal.

When she turned back to face the old woman, she was once again that cute, slightly mischievous girl from before. "Ms. Chen, how come I get the feeling you and Gu Xi are very familiar with each other?"

She asked with innocent directness, her eyes filled with a curiosity unique to a young girl.

The old woman’s hand, tapping on the Light Screen, paused for a moment.

...

Meanwhile, Zhao Kun led Gu Xi through an internal passageway to the 36th floor.

On the way, he took the initiative to explain to Gu Xi, "The 36th floor is the communication center for us Wood Element users. Outsiders aren’t usually allowed in, but because of that business in South City recently..."

He paused there and looked up at Gu Xi. "You know about what happened in South City, right?"

Gu Xi thought for a moment. "The reverse evolution of the plants?"

"Right, that’s the one." Zhao Kun presented his ID card. Gu Xi glanced at it; it was dark green, a bit different from her own.

He swiped it to open the door to the 36th floor and turned to advise Gu Xi,

"Because of this, the big shots on the 36th floor have been working overtime for a week straight... so they might not be in the best mood, and their tempers are a bit... anyway, just don’t take it personally."

Gu Xi nodded and followed him into the 36th floor—the place the receptionist had said was best to avoid.

There weren’t many people inside, but the space was filled with all sorts of bizarrely shaped plants.

Some of them, even Gu Xi had never seen before.

Gu Xi noticed that everyone here seemed to be incredibly busy. Even when they saw a stranger like her walk in, they would just give a cold glance before looking away again.

They perfectly embodied indifference and apathy.

Gu Xi followed Zhao Kun for a quick lap around the floor but didn’t notice anything unusual before he eagerly led her away.

After they left, Zhao Kun let out a long sigh, looking as if he’d had a close call.

Gu Xi gave him a puzzled look.

Zhao Kun looked a little embarrassed and gave a sheepish smile, but didn’t explain. Instead, he said to Gu Xi, "It’s getting late. I’ll take you to the cafeteria on the top floor..."

The Superpower Union’s cafeteria was located on the 48th floor.

After bringing her there, Zhao Kun made an excuse about having something to do and hurried off.

At first, Gu Xi was a bit confused, but after seeing the prices on the menu, she fell silent.

They say superpower users aren’t short on cash, but these prices were a bit too expensive. No wonder Zhao Kun had been in such a rush to leave.

’Times are tough for everyone these days.’

The team’s money was all with Wei Heng, and Gu Xi didn’t have much in her own account. She just ordered fried rice and found a seat by the window.

Perhaps because it was still early, there were only a few people scattered about, eating in the cafeteria.

Gu Xi glanced around. Basically everyone had ordered only one dish. ’Sure enough, even among superpower users, not many are wealthy these days.’

Just then, a man’s long, powerful, well-defined hand tapped on her tabletop.

"KNOCK, KNOCK..."

Following the hand, Gu Xi’s gaze slowly moved upward and met a pair of jet-black eyes, deep and cold.

The owner of those eyes was tall with a stern face, still dressed in black combat fatigues. His long, straight legs were clad in military boots, and the tactical belt at his waist accentuated a powerful physique brimming with explosive strength, asserting his presence without a word.

Ye Junhan.

’Why is he here too?’

Gu Xi subconsciously frowned, but then understanding dawned on her.

’He probably came with Ye Nan.’

Ye Junhan lowered his eyes to look at the plate in front of her, then sat down opposite her.

Gu Xi: ?

’I now have a profound understanding of how Zhao Kun must have felt earlier. We aren’t that familiar with each other. Treating him would hurt my wallet, but not offering seems a bit rude, doesn’t it?’

Gu Xi raised her eyes and silently looked at the man across from her.

The man had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a ramrod-straight posture. His cold, stern face seemed to have reached a new level of handsomeness.

The two of them faced each other across the table, staring in silence.

It was a perfect demonstration of the saying—silence is more eloquent than words.

Gu Xi: ...

Gu Xi calmly averted her gaze and focused on eating.

Ye Junhan: ...

After a long moment, Ye Junhan raised a hand and pointed at her plate. "Is it good?"

Gu Xi glanced at him, diligently finished every last grain of food on her plate, then looked up and nodded. "The taste is okay."

’But honestly, it can’t compare to Wei Heng’s cooking.’

Ye Junhan leaned back slightly, resting his back against the chair, and watched her in silence.

His eyes held an emotion that Gu Xi couldn’t quite decipher.

After much hesitation, she finally asked, "Do you want to get one?"

Ye Junhan glanced down at her plate, which was clean enough to be used as a mirror, then looked up. "No."

"Oh."

’Since he’s not eating, I don’t have to worry about it anymore.’

Gu Xi calmly pulled a napkin from the side, wiped her mouth, and said casually, "Ye Nan should still be on the 37th floor. You..."

Ye Junhan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and he said coolly, "I’m not here for her."

Gu Xi was confused. The man looked up at her. "I’m a Thunder Ability user, peak level nine."

’So?’

Gu Xi looked up, confused, not understanding what this man was trying to pull.

’Could it be that he really came all this way just to watch me eat?’