"Yes, General Manager, what are your instructions?"
What is the current status of Fuhua's loan case?
"It has reached the substantive review stage, but after our assessment, there are no problems. Although they are currently experiencing some cash flow difficulties, it will not affect the subsequent progress. We are very optimistic about this project."
Xiao Meng was pleased with the loan deal he had secured. Two hundred million yuan was a considerable sum, but Fuhua's consistent technological leadership, creditworthiness, and solid foundation made him personally very supportive of the project.
"Put it aside for now."
"Huh?" Xiao Meng thought he had misheard and rubbed his eyes.
"And they've also spread the word that the bank is temporarily not accepting loans."
"General Manager..." If they were to do this, it would be difficult for Fuhua to obtain such a large loan from other banks. At the very least, the loan assessment process would take a long time. But in this way, wouldn't the bank also lose a lot of money?
"Don't ask too many questions, just do as I say. If they ask why, just say it's not convenient to disclose it to the public." Let the outside world speculate. That's the goal.
"Yes, General Manager." Xiao Meng glanced regretfully at the project proposal on the table and placed it at the bottom of the box.
Yi Zhengwei hung up the phone, a smile playing on his lips, and spun around in his rocking chair. Song Jingmo had been planning this power revolution for at least longer than him, and everything was ready except for funding. If it dragged on for even half a month or ten days, it would be enough to cause him heavy losses.
Song Jingmo urgently needs these two hundred million, but the banking group is not in a hurry to earn the interest from them. This deal is definitely worth doing.
Although it wasn't entirely aboveboard, and it would cause Song Jingmo many more difficulties when applying for loans from other banks, in the business world, everything else had to take a backseat for the sake of profit.
"Lily, see if you have any invitations from Fuhua." Yi Zhengwei dialed the internal line.
"Yes, General Manager." His secretary, Lily, replied respectfully, then looked down and started searching. Seeing that the General Manager had no intention of hanging up, he clearly wanted to know the result immediately.
"Yes, General Manager, it was delivered by express this morning. I asked you about it beforehand, and you said..."
"Bring it in!" he interrupted and hung up.
Yes, everything has to take a backseat, like Shen Xing at this moment, but... his eyes narrowed dangerously, this is just a short game.
Yan Xunan? He pondered those three words, a fighting spirit rising in his eyes. It was a look he only revealed when facing a formidable competitor.
Chapter Four: Welcome Dinner
This woman, just like her name, is serene and gentle. Even though we are far apart, she is not unpleasant. Are you sure you want to hate the clear moon on that cool summer night?
- Xu Zhihan
"Hey, Auntie."
After a long and tiring day, Song Qing finally rested in his room.
"Hi, Qing'er, was your journey smooth? Did your dad give you any trouble?" Song Keren's charming voice came through the microphone, relaxed but with a hint of worry.
Song Qing smiled, took the microphone, and relaxed on the bed, lying on her back with one hand holding the exquisite hair accessory that Song Ning had given her.
"It's alright, I can handle it. Dad already knows I'm going to take over Haotian's business."
A chuckle came from the other end of the line. "Yes, his tone on the phone was rude. I was just about to call you."
The two had only been separated for less than two days, and now they were confiding in each other. The magnetic field between people is truly mysterious; both of them, the aunt and niece, are the type with bad tempers, but somehow they get along very well.
"However, Dad's health doesn't seem to be very good."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before he said, "Years ago, I advised him that he could enjoy his retirement, but it only made him stubborn and we wouldn't give in to each other."
"Auntie, this is none of your business. I'll talk to him properly when I get back this time, besides..."
"What's wrong?"
Song Qing blinked hard, laughed heartily, and replied, "When Dad finds out I've taken over Haotian, he'll definitely look for a successor and won't be so insistent anymore. Besides, Xiao Ning is getting engaged, and family can help out."
Song Keren sensed something was amiss, but instinctively, she simply chuckled in response. She offered some words of comfort, urging Song Qing to return quickly, before hanging up the phone.
Song Jingmo wasn't a cold-blooded person. Besides, everyone could see his love and expectations for Song Qing. As the saying goes, the greater the expectation, the deeper the disappointment and heartbreak, leading to the incident that he would regret for the rest of his life. But stubborn as he was, how could he make that phone call himself? He even forbade Madam Song and Song Ning to have any further contact with them in Preston.
Years ago, he fell into shock from an illness. On his deathbed, he managed to get someone to make a phone call, but it was only to Song Keren. Only then did the siblings have a proper phone conversation. As soon as she hung up, Song Keren was already in tears. If Song Jingmo hadn't died, she still couldn't tell Song Qing that she had received that phone call that separated them by life and death.
At that time, Song Keren finally learned the reason why Song Qing had run away. This child, over the years, had gone from a rich young lady who knew nothing to someone who could now manage Haotian's affairs independently. How could the hardships she had endured be explained in just a few words?
Song Qing turned her gaze from her hair ornament to her wrist. Although her fingers were slender and long, they weren't typical of a wealthy young lady; they were somewhat rough, like faint scars on a soft heart. Every time she thought of the bright red blood oozing from Song Ning's delicate, fair wrist, she trembled as if possessed.
She started as a dishwasher in a restaurant, then worked her way up to waitress, greeter, receptionist, and cleaner... No one knew that Haotian's most diligent and hardworking model employee was actually the chairman's niece. She used this method to train herself, or perhaps to punish herself.
Thinking that this would give me the courage and strength to face everything now, perhaps it really did have some effect. Those past wounds, though profound, were not so vivid, so warm and vibrant as blood flowing out.
A gentle knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Miss, the master requests your presence in the study; a guest has arrived," said Wang Ma kindly as she pushed open the door after receiving a reply.
※
"dad."
"Qing'er, come here, let me introduce you to someone."
Song Jingmo had recovered, but her complexion was still poor, which made Song Qing feel ashamed. She glanced at the person sitting upright beside her; the person wore glasses and appeared very refined. She smiled, pursing her lips, and habitually extended her hand at a 45-degree angle. Her fingers were long and slender, and the light colorless nail polish reflected a silvery-white light under the evening lamplight.
"Zhihan, this is my daughter, Song Qing."
Xu Zhihan then looked away from Song Qing's face and hands, smiled slightly nervously, stood up immediately, and reached out to grasp her soft, cool hand.
Like a summer night, the high starlight casts a chilling desolation across the sky.