Secretary Liu heated up her lunchbox and gave her some instructions before leaving get off work. She was a very responsible secretary, loyal to the company, and reliable in her work. The person her father had trained was indeed extraordinary.
She wondered how Bill was doing. Thinking of the British boy who had been with her through ten years of ups and downs, she couldn't help but smile. Life at Haotian was quite fulfilling thanks to his companionship. However, since she took over Haotian, that boy had completely abandoned everything, continuing to pursue his athletic career. Haotian also had a part in it, yet he had so readily left it all behind. She shook her head, sighing that she could never truly let go, that she was destined to be a busybody.
The phone rang, and when she looked, it was her aunt.
"Qing'er, how are things back home? I saw your news online."
Song Qing sighed in admiration; the information network was truly impressive.
"I'm busier than when I was at Haotian. I already miss the favor you showed me."
Song Keren laughed inelegantly. This girl had complained to her several times back then that she was given too much work.
"Wu Peng said you've been back in Linchuan for almost two months, but you haven't even had a proper phone call with him. He's very annoyed." Song Keren couldn't help but laugh when she thought of Wu Peng's bitter expression on the phone.
She looked down, paused, frowned, and thought about it; it seemed so.
"It's all your fault for praising me in front of him, boss. Now he's going to be so disappointed."
"By the way, I've already pulled Bill back from school. What's he doing there after graduating? I told him to fly over to see you in the next couple of days so he can learn a thing or two from you. Now that you're gone, I'm going to be driven crazy by all these people down here." Song Keren chatted with her for a while before getting down to business, but still in a light and humorous tone.
She exclaimed, "Oh, Auntie, you're so mean!" She knew that Bill considered making the national team the most important thing in his life.
However, she knew in her heart that her aunt already knew that she could no longer return to Haotian. Calling Bill over was ostensibly to help him get into the swing of things quickly, but in reality, she wanted him to come and help.
"But thank you, Auntie." Her eyes reddened, and she choked up a little. At this moment, who else could understand her difficulties like her aunt?
"Silly boy." Song Keren scolded playfully, then laughed and said, "Bill's face is so sour right now because he seems to have participated in the national team qualifiers. But I said Lian'er is almost exhausted. If you don't go soon, your wife will run away."
"I bet he'd rather not have a wife, he'll complain to me a lot when he comes over." Song Qing couldn't help but chuckle as she thought of his expression at that moment.
"Are you having any difficulties at work?" Song Keren asked seriously.
"Yes, Auntie, I was just about to call you to ask for your advice. At today's meeting, several departments in the company jointly requested that Fuhua go public." She frowned.
"Oh, but your father..."
"Yes, that's what I'm worried about. But given Fuhua's current situation, going public is inevitable; otherwise, it will be a major obstacle to staff stability and development, and it will also have a significant impact on future expansion into overseas markets." But how can she convince her father?
"Yes, you're absolutely right, but your father won't allow the business he worked so hard to build to ultimately fall out of his control. He doesn't feel secure," Song Keren analyzed her older brother's mindset.
Song Qing gave a troubled hum.
"However, Qing'er, Fuhua will ultimately be yours. Your father's will cannot sway the objective development of Fuhua. If things go smoothly and you gain more benefits, I believe your father won't say anything. He has always believed in you very much, hasn't he?" Song Keren encouraged her, feeling that Song Qing had become much more depressed recently.
She thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yes, Aunt, I think I know what to do."
As if her worries had been swept away, she happily hung up the phone. Yes, why were there only two paths to choose from? She suddenly realized that her father's concerns were ultimately for the sake of Fuhua. If it could be guaranteed to proceed smoothly, why not?
The chosen listing location was naturally the UK, and Bill's timing was perfect.
※
After hanging up the phone, she checked her watch; it was time to go. She needed to visit her father at the hospital first, and then go back to have dinner with Ning'er after her discharge to arrange her work. She gently patted her forehead, feeling overwhelmed by how much she had to do.
While stuck in traffic, she took the opportunity to stop by a flower shop and buy a bouquet of evergreen plants, as her father has always liked them.
By the time she arrived at the hospital, it was already dark. She sighed, still not quite used to the traffic jams in Linchuan.
The hospital was rather quiet at this time, especially the inpatient wards; the high-end sanatoriums were particularly secluded. As soon as she went upstairs, she heard loud conversation coming from her father's room, but his voice was clearly drowned out by someone else. However, hearing that her father had recovered considerably, she felt relieved. She just thought that it would be rather strange if the person talking to her father was another patient.
She knocked on the door politely, and after receiving a reply, she went inside and saw two elderly people in hospital gowns chatting animatedly.
"Is it Uncle Yi?" she exclaimed in surprise.
"Brother Song, your daughter has an amazing ability to recognize people! I only attended one banquet and barely saw her, yet she still recognized me," Yi Mantian said with a smile of admiration.
Song Jingmo raised her eyebrows smugly. It was definitely the right decision to force her to get to know famous people in the industry back then. Otherwise, wouldn't it have been impolite?
"Uncle Yi, are you feeling unwell? I heard your voice as soon as I was at the bottom of the stairs; it was so strong." She put down the evergreen plant and poured tea for the two elderly people.
Yi Mantian patted his heart. "I'm afraid of dying. What if I can't catch my breath at home?" He shook his head in fear.
"It's more reassuring to stay in the hospital. Now that your dad is with me, I don't want to leave at all."
Seeing his childlike face, Song Qing couldn't help but laugh. If her father could spend more time with him, perhaps he would be influenced and become more relaxed.
She obediently took out an apple and carefully began peeling it, occasionally glancing down to ask about her father's condition in a soft, unhurried voice—a truly heartwarming scene of filial piety. Yi Mantian, standing to the side, was filled with envy. Why did he only have one son? Now he didn't even have anyone to talk to.
"Qing'er, you came here for more than just to see me, right? Tell me, what is it?" Song Jingmo had already noticed that she was restless and had a hesitant expression on her face.
She coughed lightly, looked down at Yi Mantian, and hesitated.
"Speak your mind. Uncle Yi is no stranger to us. We two old men are already semi-retired." Song Jingmo smiled at Yi Mantian, dispelling her doubts.
Yi Mantian was just happy with this, so he sat there without bothering to leave.
"Dad, I've long admired Uncle Yi's heroic deeds in the business world. Now, I really have a question I'd like to ask him."
She cut the apple in half and handed it to the two elderly people before saying, "It's like this, at today's meeting, various departments jointly suggested that the company should go public."
"What do you think?" Song Jingmo asked after a moment's thought, her reaction far less excited than she had initially imagined.
She took a breath and stood up. "Dad, in fact, Fuhua's listing is an inevitable trend."
Yi Mantian lowered her head and began to ponder how to get her son to marry her. This was her chance.
"Brother Song, let me tell you something. Fuhua should have gone public a long time ago. There's so much talk about it now, and its reputation has already been built up. If you don't go public now, when will you?" He stood by Song Qing's side out of loyalty.