Youth: You’re my Redemption
Chapter 14: From now on, you are both heaven and hell (2)
On the first weekend of March 2010, in the evening, Song Shu rode back in the Qin family car to the residence she shared with her mother Bai Song and cousin Luan Qiaoqing.
Since the beginning of the year, she and Qin Lou had been preparing for the August SAT exam. Qin Liang had hired a specialized tutor at home, and every weekend Song Shu would go to Qin’s house to study with Qin Lou, and this week was no exception.
By the time she got home, it was nearly 7 o’clock. After opening the door, Song Shu found a pair of women’s high-heeled shoes and a pair of men’s leather shoes in the entrance, which surprised her.
“Sis, you’re finally back,” Luan Qiaoqing emerged from somewhere, saying excitedly. “Aunt came back early today.”
“Yeah, anyone else?” Song Shu asked calmly.
“I just wanted to tell you that! Your dad actually came today!”
Song Shu paused as she took off her backpack. She said quietly, “He’s not my dad.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to phrase it that way…” Luan Qiaoqing tapped her head in regret. “But I’ve been living here for two years, and it’s the first time I’ve seen him come over. What’s gotten into him? Isn’t he afraid his wife and kids will be jealous?”
Song Shu was silent for a moment. “Is your homework done?”
“Huh?” Luan Qiaoqing’s smile froze.
“…”
“Not… not done yet.”
“…”
“Okay okay, sis, don’t look at me like that, I’ll go do it now.”
Muttering to herself, Luan Qiaoqing returned to her room.
Song Shu sat alone in the living room for a while.
The study and the living room were separated by only a wall, and there was no special soundproofing in the house. Initially, the voices from inside were barely audible, but as the conversation between the two became more intense, Song Shu could hear everything clearly in the living room.
“…You’ve only taken over the headquarters for a short time, why do you think EAG’s business model is flawed?!”
“The problems are obvious. Where exactly do you think they lie? I don’t believe you’re unclear about it yourself.”
“Bai Song, stop beating around the bush—just because Grandpa handed over management to you doesn’t mean you can be carefree and issue orders to us at will. Let me tell you, that won’t work with me!”
“Fine. If you don’t admit there’s a problem with EAG’s business model, then I’ll ask you this: what is EAG’s main business?”
“It’s agarwood, of course!”
“And how long is the growth cycle for agarwood trees to produce resin?”
“Growth cycle? It’s about… five or six years.”
“Five or six years? EAG claims to be a top company in the agarwood industry, producing only the highest quality series—top-quality agarwood requires at least 10 to 20 years of growth cycle. Agarwood that can resinify in five or six years can only be the most ordinary kind!”
“I’m not a product manager, how could I possibly know so much about cultivation-related things?”
“Alright, then let me ask you again. EAG has only been established for three years, probably not even producing the lowest quality agarwood yet—meaning there’s no cash flow from sales at all. Where does your company get the money to sustain its operations?”
“…,”
This time, after a long silence, Song Chengjun’s voice sounded weaker to Song Shu.
“Of course… it’s from financing. EAG has such promising industry prospects that many private equity investors are very optimistic about our company’s development.”
“Are they optimistic about EAG, or are they doing it out of respect for the Qin Group?”
“There’s not much difference.”
“In business, there are no brothers. Are they really investing so much just for face?”
“O-otherwise?”
“Do you really think I haven’t investigated the promises EAG made to investors? With such high commitments, your business model can’t support it. In other words, you’ve been using new investors’ capital to pay back the interest of existing investors—you’re walking a tightrope with the entire company!”
“…”
Song Chengjun’s tone softened completely, even pleading.
“Bai Song, give me some time… The latest batch of agarwood is about to enter the sales stage, and I’ll soon be able to fill the financial gap. You can’t cut off my way out at this time, otherwise I’m finished! The Qin family, Grandpa, and everyone will be affected!”
“Do you realize you’re putting the whole company at risk?”
“I know I was wrong, I regret it, Bai Song—trust me this time, really, before the second quarter, I will give you a satisfactory report, okay? Trust me this time—even if it’s for Song Shu’s sake? After all, I am her father!”
“…”
After those pleas, the voices from the study diminished completely.
Two minutes later, the study door opened.
Bai Song stood in the doorway. “Song Chengjun, this is my final warning to you in my personal capacity. If you can’t fill this substantial financial gap by the second quarter, don’t blame me for no longer covering for you.”
“Okay, okay, trust me, I will!”
“Fine, I’ll go by myself.”
The door closed again.
A few seconds later, Song Chengjun emerged from the corridor with a grim expression. When he looked up, he saw Song Shu sitting silently on the sofa.
He forced a smile. “Xiao Shu, Today, Daddy—”
“Close the door when you leave.”
Song Shu stood up and walked to her bedroom without looking back.
Song Chengjun’s smile froze on his face.
He glanced at her with a complex mix of emotions and eventually left in embarassment.
Early June, graduation season for high school students.
Amidst the atmosphere of jubilation and melancholy among students, Qin Liang’s plan for Qin Lou and Song Shu to be engaged immediately after graduation was abruptly halted. There was only one reason—
At the beginning of the month, Qin Liang was hospitalized due to a serious illness.
It wasn’t until now that the family doctor of the Qin family could no longer hide the truth from the younger generation: Mr. Qin was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma at the end of last year and had been undergoing conservative drug treatment since then.
According to Qin Liang’s wishes, he had kept this secret from everyone all along.
Upon hearing this news, the Qin family erupted in turmoil. Qin Fujun cried by her father’s bedside for several days in a row, until Qin Liang, unable to bear it any longer, finally drove her away.
Qin Lou and Song Shu were summoned into the room together.
As they entered, the family doctor, who was about the same age as Qin Liang, was muttering something. Mr. Qin looked impatient, clearly annoyed by the doctor’s incessant chatter.
Only when Qin Lou and Song Shu came in did the elderly man on the sickbed manage a faint smile.
“Come over here,” he said.
Song Shu obediently sat down in the chair beside the bed as the old man indicated. Qin Lou stood with a furrowed brow, and Qin Liang paid him no further attention.
After a few casual remarks, Qin Liang sighed.
“In the end, it’s because of my illness that your engagement has been delayed.”
Qin Lou hadn’t seen a smile on Qin Liang’s face since his illness began. He frowned, saying, “You know, so why don’t you just get better soon?”
“…,”
The family doctor who was accustomed to seeing tearful faces of concern from the younger generation these past few days, was taken aback by Qin Lou’s brusque attitude. He glanced up at the young man before returning to his muttering.
Then he turned back.
“Is speaking human language a hereditary trait in your Qin family?”
Qin Lou remained expressionless, while Qin Liang shot his old friend a glare.
The doctor didn’t mind, continuing to mock, “I’ve been saying all along, don’t delay, don’t delay. The sooner you go to M country and arrange for a liver transplant, the sooner you can see your grandson holding great-grandchildren—if you don’t see your grandson’s engagement before you go, you won’t have face to show to your ancestors and ancestors… Feeling better now? You’ve even disrupted the engagement of these young people.”
Qin Liang’s face darkened with each word from his old friend, and finally he slapped the bed angrily, “If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute!”
“Hmph.”
“…”
It was the first time Song Shu and Qin Lou had seen this childish side of Qin Liang. He was in good spirits, even causing Song Shu to smile involuntarily.
They spent the afternoon with the two elderly men. Before leaving, Qin Liang sighed and said to Song Shu, “In a couple of days, I’ll be going to M country to prepare for the transplant surgery. I’ll definitely take Qin Lou and the others with me then. It’ll be tough for your mother to handle everything alone here at the company. You and Qin Lou were supposed to have a good time outside, but I’ve held you back—your mother and daughter have been greatly burdened by this old man. Don’t blame grandpa.”
“I won’t,” Song Shu shook her head, looking seriously at the old man. “When you’re better and back, at the engagement banquet, I’ll be the first to toast you with tea—remember, no alcohol.”
Seeing the usually expressionless girl joking with him so earnestly, Grandpa Qin couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Alright, alright! I’ll definitely drink the tea my granddaughter-in-law toasts me with! No breaking promises!”
“Alright, it’s a deal.”
A few days later, all the younger generations of the Qin family—Qin Fujun, Song Chengjun, Song Ruyu and Song Shuai (siblings), and Qin Lou—accompanied Grandpa Qin abroad for his transplant treatment.
Back at the company, where people couldn’t be absent, Bai Song stayed behind to manage things alone. Song Shu stayed home to take care of Luan Qiaoqing, who hadn’t finished school yet.
On the day Qin Lou left, Song Shu went to the airport to see him off.
The boy has become a more handsome young man now. He has the most eye-catching stature in the crowd, with a fierce look in his ink-black eyes, emitting an aura that said “don’t come near me.”
Even the Qin family’s entourage and servants accompanying him couldn’t stand him.
Fortunately, when Song Shu arrived, Qin Lou’s clearly boiling emotions almost exploded and then slowly subsided.
“Why did you come so late?” Qin Lou hugged his little clam shell into his arms tightly, unconcerned about the people passing by.
“At home…”
“Forget it, no need to explain. We’re about to fly, let me hold you a bit longer.”
When these two were alone, their world was often silent but never lonely or boring. In their silence, Qin Lou always wished time could slow down enough for him to savor every moment.
But time never listened.
Before long, the Qin family’s accompanying servant cautiously approached to urge them.
Qin Lou impatiently shooed the person away before straightening up.
He looked down at the girl in front of him and muttered, “Doll, do you think the clam shell can get through customs in M country?”
The “clam shell” ignored his teasing.
“In that case, I’ll leave now?”
“Mm-hmm,” the girl nodded.
Qin Lou pretended to threaten, “If you dare flirt with any other lunatic while I’m away, I’ll come back and stew you in a pot.” He thought for a moment, “Steamed is also an option.”
The girl still nodded, “Mm-hmm.”
“…”
Qin Lou’s eyes flickered lightly as he turned away.
Then suddenly, he stopped.
Qin Lou turned his gaze back.
The girl still had no expression, just gently waved at him. “Come down here.”
“Why?” The young man’s tone was impatient, but he still bent down his tall figure.
Then his head was lightly touched.
“Little madman, don’t be afraid.”
“…”
Qin Lou’s pupils trembled slightly.
After a tense ten seconds, he chuckled hoarsely, with a bitter and helpless tone, and a trembling glimpse of his heart that had finally been exposed.
“You heard my cry for help again, Doll.”
Song Shu didn’t answer, just withdrew her hand, her voice quiet and reassuring.
“I’m here.”
It felt like they were back to that stormy night many years ago, when the girl held him in an empty room, comforting him repeatedly.
I’m here.
This time, after a slight tremor in the young man’s pupils, he smiled.
“As long as you’re here, I’m not afraid of anything.”
“…”
~
August 13, 2010.
Qin Liang’s transplant surgery at the D.F. Cancer Research Institute in M country was successfully completed, and several weeks of closed treatment ended.
Qin Lou, who was responsible for accompanying family members, was discharged on the same day.
He wanted to share this good news with his little clam shell as soon as he got his phone.
However, after getting his phone, Qin Lou couldn’t reach Song Shu or Bai Song’s phone no matter how many times he tried.
It wasn’t until Qin Fujun and Song Chengjun arrived from outside that Song Chengjun handed a solemn email on his phone to Qin Lou.
Qin Lou took it with a trembling hand—
“Bai Song, CEO of the Qin Group, suspected of illegally embezzling 50 billion yuan through EAG subsidiary, unable to repay principal, facing 8 criminal charges including securities fraud, money laundering… Bai Song committed suicide out of fear before the trial.”
“Suspect’s only daughter, Song Shu was involved in a serious car accident on her way to the trial and was critically injured and hospitalized. One week later, Song Shu died due to unsuccessful rescue efforts.”
“——!”
The phone dropped to the ground.
On the shattered screen, a distorted and fragmented face was reflected.
Sansukini: These two are so sweet in a very poignant way… It’s just (T⌓T)
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