USA– Minnesota – Mayo International Medical Center
The tall figure of Song Jingting stood in the middle of the hospital ward, quietly facing the old man lying on the hospital bed. Tubes for treatment covered the old man’s body, and the steady beeping of medical instruments echoed through the empty room, making the space feel cold and desolate.
The person on the bed no longer possessed the vigor he once had in memory. What remained was only a withered, decaying body waiting for the slow erosion of old age.
A finger twitched slightly. The man on the bed slowly opened his cloudy eyes. When he finally saw the person standing at the foot of the bed, his aged voice sounded amid the machines.
“Why are you here?”
Song Jingting casually sat on the sofa behind him, crossing his legs, and said with sarcasm,
“If I hadn’t come, how would I know that my dear grandfather seems to be about to die?”
“Are you still blaming me for what happened back then?” asked Song Ding, staring at him with his gaunt face.
“What Grandfather did back then—you probably know it even better than I do,” Song Jingting said without a trace of emotion.
Song Ding stared fixedly at his grandson. Ever since that incident happened, they had never met again.
Back then his grandson had only been twelve years old. Now he had grown into the president of Haike Group, and his business empire was expanding day by day. If this continued… even the Song family would eventually…
If that truly happened, then the thing he had done back then would have been meaningless.
Song Ding concealed the viciousness in his eyes and suddenly laughed hoarsely, coughing from time to time. Because of chemotherapy, his eyes bulged slightly, and the wrinkled face made him look even more terrifying.
“Heh… heh… heh… you are more outstanding than Xiao Chen,” he rasped.
Back then he had still underestimated this grandson. Or perhaps it was because he had never taken his useless second son seriously. If he had discovered this boy’s strengths earlier, perhaps he would never have done that thing.
“Oh? Should I thank Grandfather for the compliment?” Song Jingting said slowly.
The corner of his eye glanced toward the door, as if noticing something. His lips curved faintly into an emotionless smile.
“You didn’t come all this way just to reminisce with your grandfather, did you?” Song Ding said.
A man who had built such a massive family business naturally had a keen eye for people. For Song Jingting to leave Haike Group and travel all the way to America, it certainly couldn’t be for nothing.
It must be for…
“I believe Grandfather has already guessed,” Song Jingting said coldly.
Song Ding seemed to have expected this. At some point his face had already changed into a benevolent expression, like a kind old man.
“Do you want the Song family? If you listen to me, when I grow old, the Song family will belong to you.”
“Grandfather is giving the Song family to me just like that? Aren’t you afraid that my uncle will object?” Song Jingting asked.
“The Song family is mine. I can dispose of it however I wish. So—do you want to cooperate with your grandfather?”
The Song family was a century-old aristocratic clan. Countless people tried to win its favor, and countless others coveted its industries.
But the Song family was too enormous—so vast that no one could swallow it whole.
Now Song Ding was saying he would hand the Song family over to Song Jingting. That was equivalent to giving him the entire family fortune.
For any normal person, such an offer would be irresistible.
Who could resist such temptation?
Song Jingting lowered his eyes and laughed softly.
He slowly stood up and walked beside Song Ding, looking down at the old man who had been tormented by illness.
Then he bent down slowly and looked directly into Song Ding’s eyes.
“Grandfather,” he said quietly,
“that trick of yours is already outdated.”
“Compared to obtaining the Song family… I prefer watching it be destroyed little by little.”
Song Ding’s eyes widened instantly as he stared at Song Jingting in disbelief.
Song Jingting gave a cold, emotionless laugh and walked to the door, opening the wooden door of the ward from inside.
A young and handsome man stood outside.
Song Jingting had long known someone had been standing outside the ward, but he hadn’t expected that person to be him.
“Little Jing, it’s been a long time. I didn’t expect to see you here,” said Song Huaichen, revealing a gentle smile.
Song Jingting gave him a slight nod and walked past him, leaving.
Toward this elder brother by blood, Song Jingting felt nothing. Nor did he wish to develop any feelings.
He had always disliked people who were different on the inside and outside.
Song Huaichen lowered his head and chuckled softly, his expression unreadable, like someone indulgently tolerating an impolite child.
His gentle voice echoed in the empty corridor.
“The Song family…”
He stood outside the door for several minutes before finally pushing the door open and entering the ward.
“Grandfather, I came to visit you,” Song Huaichen said, bowing slightly toward the person on the hospital bed.
He then walked to the window and replaced the flowers in the vase with a fresh, vibrant bouquet.
“I heard that the daughter of the Qiao Family is studying in America. I’ve already asked your parents to make arrangements with the Qiao family. When the time comes, go meet her,” Song Ding said hoarsely.
For Song Jingting to say those words earlier, he must have already uncovered the truth about what happened back then.
For some reason, Song Ding felt a faint sense of unease.
Song Huaichen lowered his eyes and gently stroked the reddest flower in full bloom, like an obedient child.
“I understand, Grandfather.”
Song Ding was very confident in the efficiency of his eldest grandson.
“The Qiao family may not compare to the Song family, but if used well, they can still serve us.”
Song Huaichen plucked the reddest flower and smiled with an innocent expression.
“I will treasure this opportunity, Grandfather.”
After leaving the hospital, Song Jingting returned to the American branch company.
The American marketing manager and the U.S. branch manager were already waiting for him outside the office building.
“Boss, you’re finally back. The president of Walton wants to see you.”
Song Jingting raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
“Oh? Where is he now?”
The U.S. branch manager was a chubby middle-aged man with a mustache. He looked somewhat simple and harmless, but he had followed Song Jingting since the company’s founding.
He possessed a sharp eye and a far-reaching vision, and he understood the American market extremely well. That was why he was part of the management of the American branch.
“He’s in the meeting room. Boss, would you like to meet him now?”
The president of Walton, Deli, was an arrogant man.
He was extremely proud of his achievements in business and rarely took anyone seriously.
Before Song Jingting arrived in America, Chris had already visited him to discuss cooperation, but Deli had rejected the proposal every time.
Yet now, after hearing that Song Jingting had come to America, he had taken the initiative to visit.
“Let’s go to the meeting room.”
When Song Jingting entered the meeting room, Deli had already been waiting for quite some time.
Having struggled in the business world for many years, Deli had developed the habit of observing the etiquette and demeanor of his partners.
When he saw the man from the rumors, his stern expression relaxed slightly.
He was satisfied with what he saw.
“Hello, Mr. Song. I’m Deli,” he said, extending his hand.
Song Jingting shook it.
“Mr. Deli, thank you for visiting our company.”
Song Jingting raised his hand slightly to gesture for Deli to sit down before taking his own seat. Chris sat beside him.
“May I ask what brings Mr. Deli to our company?” Song Jingting asked.
Deli did not hide anything and spoke directly.
“I’ve long heard that Mr. Song is intelligent and talented. Now that I’ve met you, the rumors were not exaggerated. And I enjoy cooperating with people like you.”
Chris was extremely surprised.
This arrogant man was actually lowering his head and actively discussing cooperation with their boss. It was truly rare.
“Oh?” Song Jingting said calmly.
“I heard that one of my employees had already approached you, Mr. Deli, but you rejected him. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Song Jingting was not a fool.
Walton had long outgrown satisfaction with the domestic market. Once their business reached a bottleneck, they would inevitably look overseas for expansion.
But to enter a foreign market, they needed a guiding connection.
That connection originally belonged to someone else.
But now that connection had shifted to him.
And the original owner of that connection was probably still lying in the hospital.
“Mr. Song, we valued the sincerity your company showed in seeking cooperation, as well as your abilities. There is no ‘change of heart,’” Deli said sincerely.
Song Jingting chuckled softly.
He did not believe that explanation.
Businessmen were always cold-blooded.
People like Deli would immediately switch sides whenever the wind changed. They only cared about their own interests. Others were merely tools to help them succeed.
Professional ethics meant nothing to them.
However, Song Jingting never refused business that came knocking on his door—especially when it benefited him.
But from now on, he would be the one leading the deal.
“Mr. Deli,” Song Jingting said with a faint smile,
“happy cooperation.”