At 6:30 in the evening, Qiu Meng arrived punctually at the entrance of the restaurant.
It was a private kitchen tucked away in an old street alley.
The storefront was modest, but once inside, it was a completely different world. Blue bricks and dark tiles, bamboo shadows swaying gently, a quiet retreat amid the bustle.
A server guided her inward, passing through a moon gate until they reached a window-side booth.
Qiu Meng’s gaze landed on the table.
A young woman was seated there, head lowered as she looked through the menu.
She wore a professional suit, her hair casually draped over her shoulders, light makeup on a delicate and refined face.
Was this Song Tang?
Qiu Meng felt a trace of doubt.
She had seen photos of Song Tang shared by others before.
Heavy makeup, flashy dresses, completely different from the person in front of her.
But the seat number was correct. This was the location Song Tang had sent.
Qiu Meng walked over.
“Song Tang?”
The young woman lifted her head. Upon seeing Qiu Meng, she curved her lips into a smile and stood up.
She extended her hand.
“Yes, I am Song Tang. Hello, Ms. Qiu.”
“Hello, I’m Qiu Meng.” Qiu Meng shook her hand.
They sat facing each other.
Qiu Meng couldn’t help but study Song Tang.
So this was her cousin’s girlfriend.
Even more beautiful up close.
Her features were relaxed, her eyes curved when she smiled, giving an immediate sense of likability.
Song Tang was also observing Qiu Meng.
Qiu Meng was younger than expected, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a sharp short haircut and refined makeup.
Every movement carried the competence and composure of someone experienced in the business world.
“What would Ms. Qiu like to drink?” Song Tang handed her the menu.
Qiu Meng glanced at it. “Tieguanyin tea.”
She returned the menu.
Song Tang nodded to the server. “A pot of Tieguanyin. We’ll order later.”
The server left. Qiu Meng looked at Song Tang with a probing gaze.
“Miss Song, to be honest, I’m a bit surprised.”
Song Tang asked, “Surprised about what?”
“Surprised that you’re different from what I imagined.”
Qiu Meng did not hide her directness.
“I’ve seen your photos before. You feel completely different from now.”
Song Tang smiled lightly. “I was younger back then and didn’t know much. My taste was different from the mainstream. I’ve changed now.”
Qiu Meng also smiled. “You’re still young now. But it’s normal for young people to try different styles.”
Tea was served. After the server poured two cups and left, Qiu Meng picked up her cup, gently blew on it, and looked at Song Tang.
“Miss Song, what exactly is the reason for inviting me to dinner?”
Song Tang also picked up her cup and smiled.
“Since Ms. Qiu is straightforward, I won’t beat around the bush either.”
She set the cup down and met Qiu Meng’s eyes.
“I’ve heard that Hua Yuan Technology is well known in the field of new building materials R&D.”
“Song Group has recently been adjusting its strategic direction and is very interested in cutting-edge technology. I wanted to talk to Ms. Qiu to see if there’s any possibility of cooperation between our two companies.”
Qiu Meng raised her brows.
“Cooperation?”
She studied Song Tang carefully.
Of course she knew Song Group. A company built on investment projects, fairly large in scale.
But Song Tang, from what she had heard, was just a rich young lady who indulged in food, drink, and entertainment, never involved in company affairs, famously known in circles as an empty-headed heiress.
And now she was suddenly here talking about cooperation?
Qiu Meng took a sip of tea, her expression calm.
“Alright, what exactly do you want to discuss?”
She wanted to see what this so-called empty-headed heiress could actually say.
Song Tang was not affected by the scrutiny. She spoke calmly and steadily.
“I’ve studied Hua Yuan’s R&D direction and implemented projects over the past three years. Your team is very strong, and several of your projects have made a significant impact in the industry.”
Qiu Meng said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
“But I also noticed a problem.”
Song Tang paused slightly.
“Your R&D capability is strong, but your market conversion rate is low. Last year, three projects passed technical validation, but only one was actually implemented.”
“As for the other two, as far as I know, it was because you couldn’t find suitable investment and project partners.”
Qiu Meng’s hand holding the cup paused slightly. Her gaze toward Song Tang changed.
“How do you know this?”
Song Tang smiled. “Research.”
“Song Group has accumulated quite a few resources in project investment over the years, especially in commercial complexes and industrial parks.”
“If Hua Yuan is willing, we can explore a new cooperation model.”
“Song Group would act as both investor and project platform, embedding Hua Yuan’s technology directly into our development projects. Technology implementation, profit sharing.”
……
After she finished speaking, Qiu Meng remained silent for a few seconds.
Everything she said hit the core issue.
Hua Yuan indeed faced this problem. Their technology was strong, but implementation was difficult.
It wasn’t that there were no cooperation offers, but most either wanted to buy out the technology or pressured prices down to unreasonable levels.
Someone like Song Tang, who directly proposed embedding technology into projects with profit sharing, was the first of its kind.
“Have you thought about how this would work in practice?” Qiu Meng asked.
Song Tang nodded and continued explaining.
……
A few minutes later, Song Tang looked at Qiu Meng.
“What does Ms. Qiu think? Is it feasible?”
“Very feasible. Extremely feasible.”
Qiu Meng spoke, but internally she was deeply shaken.
Song Tang’s thinking was clear, practical, and highly executable.
There was nothing vague or empty about it.
How had it ever gotten around that Song Tang was an empty-headed heiress who only knew how to enjoy life?
They continued talking for quite some time.
The conversation shifted from industry trends to policy direction, from technology development to capital operations.
The more they talked, the more shocked Qiu Meng became.
Song Tang’s sensitivity to the market was extremely sharp.
Some of her thoughts, even before Qiu Meng fully explained them, Song Tang had already anticipated and taken further.
When discussing the prospects of a new material, Song Tang even pointed out policy risks that Qiu Meng had not previously considered.
Qiu Meng picked up her tea and drank several sips in succession, trying to conceal her complicated expression.
Song Tang was only about twenty-three years old, freshly graduated for a year.
And she herself was twenty-eight, having worked for five or six years.
Although it was her own company, she had started from the bottom, constantly learning and overcoming challenges before reaching her current position as general manager.
She had always believed she had decent business insight.
Yet now, chatting with a young woman five years younger than her, she actually felt like the other party was stronger.
And not just slightly stronger.
Much stronger.
Were all young people this terrifying nowadays?
Qiu Meng set down her cup, her gaze toward Song Tang carrying an indescribable emotion.
Song Tang, unaware of her thoughts, glanced at her phone.
“Ms. Qiu, please excuse me for a moment. I’ll send a message.”
She opened her messages, entered Qian Li’s phone number, and typed:
Song Tang: 【Mr. Qian, this is Song Tang from Song Group. I’m currently having dinner with Ms. Qiu from Hua Yuan Technology. The conversation is going well.】
Song Tang: 【I heard your company is planning to cooperate with Hua Yuan. What a coincidence.】
Song Tang: 【By the way, your company still owes Song Group four million. I wonder if that will affect your cooperation.】
After sending it, she set her phone aside and continued chatting with Qiu Meng.
On Qian Li’s side, there was no reply for a long time.
Song Tang was not in a hurry.
Two minutes later, the phone vibrated.
Qian Li: 【Are you threatening me?】
Song Tang replied: 【I’m not threatening anyone, just chatting. As long as you repay the four million now, there won’t be any issue.】
Qian Li: 【What do you think Song Group is, daring to threaten me?】
Qian Li: 【And who do you think you are?】
Qian Li: 【Hua Yuan won’t cancel cooperation over a few words from you. Give it up.】