Patriarch Xu was playing the sentiment card. He had switched from the formal title of "Chief Lin" to the more personal "Changheng" and brought up old times, reminding Lin Changheng that their past friendship should not be forgotten.
He had clearly accepted that Lin Changheng was going to leave and was simply reinforcing their old bond. Since he couldn't change the outcome, it was better to part amicably and leave a good final impression.
This was the smart thing to do, the most beneficial course of action. It preserved a measure of goodwill for the future.
However, Xu Xujun's question was rather thought-provoking. He seemed reluctant to accept the situation and was still using the Ink Master's whereabouts to probe the nature of Lin Changheng's relationship with Mo Zhaoli.
He was probing indirectly.
