Gao Hua flipped through the pages with a solemn expression, becoming increasingly alarmed with each page. "Chairman Song, what is this...?" It seemed he needed a lot of time to process this fact.
Song Qing retrieved the project proposal and put it back in the safe. "That's right. Fuhua's old projects were basically self-sufficient, and it would be very difficult for them to take on new projects. Otherwise, we would not have needed to borrow from the bank."
"That's right, that's why your father was so keen on developing the Power One project, but unfortunately..."
Song Qing shrugged. "Unfortunately, he didn't succeed completely. In the past year and a half, Fuhua had no other choice but to rely on the funds from the bank."
"So that's why you want to change your strategy and enter the fast-moving consumer electronics market?" Gao Hua nodded. This bold idea made him, who had been fighting in the business world for a long time, eager to try it out.
"That's right. I've been considering this idea for a long time. It was this crisis at Fuhua that made me decide to do it. Otherwise, Fuhua would be forced to be passive every time it faces a crisis, which is absolutely unacceptable."
"Chairman Song, this plan is indeed good, but it will be very difficult to implement. As you know, the closer we go to the light, fast, and small market, the fiercer the competition becomes at the lower levels. Moreover, this is a market that we are not very familiar with."
"Gao Hua, for this plan, I currently only want Zhenhua Research Lab and your department to participate. I will lead a team. Of course, it doesn't need all of you; just give me a few elites, and we'll start implementing it now. I can't predict when Weisheng will launch the Power One project, and it's also difficult to grasp what the situation will be like after it's launched. Therefore, this year's trial sales period can be considered a stable period, and I want to take advantage of this time to implement this new strategic plan, which is also one of the reasons."
Song Qing was indeed terrified that Fuhua would face such a crisis again. Even if it did, she didn't want Fuhua to remain in a passive and vulnerable position. She couldn't stop. Fuhua had its own path to follow. A year later, when Fuhua was to compete with Weisheng, she had to offer even greater leverage.
Perhaps she was truly afraid. In this battle, she lost her father, herself, her sister, and Yan Xunan. In the future, she only had Fuhua left; she had nothing left to lose.
Who but her can understand and comprehend the shadow and devastation this blow has cast on her? Besides climbing higher and pushing the hard-won Fuhua to an even better state, what else can she do to make up for the guilt and indebtedness in her heart?
Gao Hua sensed the change in her emotions. Song Qing had already turned and walked to the window, leaving only her thin back. Her hands gripped the windowsill tightly, not a single muscle in her body relaxed. It seemed that everyone at Fuhua had misunderstood. Their Chairman Song hadn't relaxed in the slightest because of this marriage. Although she was now a daughter-in-law of the Yi family, everyone else had forgotten that she wanted to be the heir to the Song Corporation. Bearing Song Jingmo's expectations, she couldn't simply be Mrs. Yi.
"But it's a bank control..."
When Song Qing turned around, her eyes were wet, clearly still immersed in immense grief.
"Our cooperation with Bank of Communications must be renegotiated, and the loan agreement must also be revised. Power One is about to go on sale. Although the sales volume is not large, it can be managed for the time being with our previous products. We don't need to take advantage of Bank of Communications." She sighed with her head down. "I already owe Zhengwei too much."
Although Gao Hua was constantly taking notes, she was sighing inwardly. The relationship between Fuhua and the Bank of Communications was difficult to handle using either a public or private perspective; it was hard to find a suitable balance either way. Song Qing's actions weren't necessarily wrong, but they were at least hurtful to the relationship. Clearly, she didn't want Yi Zhengwei involved in this new strategic change.
"Hanlong, you need to maintain close contact and fully cooperate with their marketing plan, and get the bank fully involved as well. But I will tell them that the situation we are in now cannot be resolved overnight."
"OK."
"In addition, my focus will likely be on Zhenhua and the Power No. 1 project from now on. This will require close cooperation between you and the bank. Of course, you will also be involved in the new plan. I need you to provide a list of personnel that your marketing department can allocate immediately."
Before Gao Hua left, Song Qing instructed him, "Please do not reveal a single word about this matter."
※
As soon as Gao Hua left, Secretary Liu hurried in. "Chairman Song, President Yi has been waiting for you in the meeting room for a long time."
She nodded, glanced at her wrist, and saw it was almost midnight, so she grabbed her coat and hurried downstairs.
"Zhengwei, I'm sorry, I just started working and I have a lot of things to take care of."
Yi Zhengwei put away his notebook, stood up and said, "It's alright. Since you and Gao Hua were in a meeting, I took care of some official business here."
"Let's go eat. I've just made some progress on the Power One project."
"Is this what you and Gao Hua were talking about?" He nodded, smiled, and took her downstairs.
Song Qing neither nodded nor shook her head. What should she say? If that's the case, she should involve Yi Zhengwei.
During the meal, she explained the current situation, and Yi Zhengwei said, "I will have my subordinates contact Gao Hua about this matter. Recently, because of the Fuhua incident, I have been somewhat negligent with the Bank of Communications. Therefore, regarding the project, you can directly contact Ms. Liao Fan from the Bank of Communications' new project team."
Song Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Now that she and Yi Zhengwei had shifted their focus, it would be more conducive for her to enter the fast-moving consumer electronics market.
"Zhengwei, I'm sorry to have troubled you for so long because of the Fuhua matter. When are you free? I'd like to discuss the contract details of our two cooperation projects with you again."
Yi Zhengwei understood what she meant. Although there was nothing wrong with it, since this marriage of convenience was supposed to be like this, hearing her say that made him feel uneasy. It turned out that the only topics he could talk about with his wife, whom he had only been married to for less than half a month, were these.
It seems she definitely won't be joining us for our honeymoon in England.
He lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and in the smoke, he saw Song Qing's tired expression. He wanted to say something, but he knew in his heart that Song Qing didn't need it.
Just then, Lily called, saying that Shen Yang was going back to work at the company and asking for his opinion. He pondered for a moment and said, "Arrange for her to intern in another department first. I will let you know the details later."
He undoubtedly felt deeply indebted to the two Shen sisters. He went to Cambridge yesterday but didn't see Shen Xing; however, Shen Huidong warmly received him. He promised that the bank would continue to support Fukang, which seemed to be the only thing he could do for Shen Xing.
He could hear the soft clinking of Song Qing's knife and fork as she ate, and he leaned back in his chair for a short nap. Shen Xing's gentle and affectionate image was exceptionally clear to him. He wasn't in a hurry, because he believed that Shen Xing would eventually come to her senses and return to his side. He had always been absolutely certain about her.
Song Qing felt a little teary-eyed from the smoke and coughed lightly. Yi Zhengwei got up and extinguished his cigarette.
Song Qing sighed inwardly. She didn't know what Yi Zhengwei wanted from this marriage, or what she could offer him. This debt was suffocating her. Judging from his expression earlier, he wasn't thinking about business. She had always been clear that all she wanted was the title of wife in this marriage, and she deeply sympathized with that girl named Shen Xing. She was helpless in the face of being hurt this time. As long as Yi Zhengwei maintained a certain image for her, his wife, in public and private, she was even willing to actively encourage him to go see Shen Xing.
"Zhengwei, I'll be going to Zhenhua a lot lately, so I might not be back until very late."
"Does getting married mean you have to be this busy?"
She smiled and said, "Yes, you know that Fuhua is not completely out of the crisis. My father just passed away, and many people are paying attention to me."
"Okay, I understand," he said casually, gesturing to the waiter to settle the bill.
"Oh, by the way, yesterday was your birthday. This is a gift for you." He took out an envelope and handed it to her, then they left the restaurant together.
"Thank you, Zhengwei, about the contract..."
Yi Zhengwei stopped in his tracks, his face expressionless, and said only, "I will go to England, and I will talk to you when I come back."
Song Qing didn't ask him when he would return, and Yi Zhengwei didn't linger either, walking to the roadside and driving away.
She hadn't even had a chance to thank him, to thank him for his help to her and Fuhua these past few days. She remembered that he used to always say she was too polite, always saying thank you. Why was it that after they got married, he found it so hard to say those words anymore? Perhaps he wasn't happy to come today. She stood by the roadside, lost in thought.
She remembered that Yi Zhengwei said he had something to discuss with her today, but it seemed that she did most of the talking today. So what exactly did he want to talk to her about today?
She forgot to ask, and he didn't say either.