Inside the private lounge on the 27th floor of a hotel.
A white-haired foreign old man was gazing at the night view outside. At the sa ti, a young man hurriedly entered from the door.
“Boss, we found Nan Xiaonan. She’s gone back to her old apartnt.”
The white-haired old man took out a handkerchief from his breast pocket, covered his mouth, and coughed twice. He seed about to stand up, and the young man quickly stepped forward to support him.
“You’ve been looking for her for days, yet only found her once she returned to the apartnt.” The white-haired man looked calmly at the young man beside him. “Jimmy, should I start questioning your capability?”
The young man—Jimmy—lowered his head, not daring to speak. In fact, there were two things he still couldn’t figure out.
The first was that the assassin they’d sent to kill Nan Xiaonan, Number 7, had ended up dead—from his own gun. The gun had only been fired once, and those sent to clean up the scene couldn’t find any signs of intrusion where Number 7 had been lying in ambush.
Moreover, judging from the body’s position, Number 7 had still been holding his gun tightly. At the mont he was shot, he must have been leaning on the windowsill, ready to snipe.
Jimmy rembered that just before confirming the shot, Number 7 had even spoken to him over the phone.
The second thing was that, according to those tracking Nan Xiaonan, she hadn’t been seen anywhere these past few days—yet she had clearly been going to work as usual.
“Why aren’t you speaking?” The old man’s tone rose slightly.
Jimmy straightened and said, “I’ve already sent Number 4 and Number 5. They’re watching her 24 hours a day. If Qin is really still alive, he’ll show himself—and when he does, I’ll catch him and bring him to you personally, Boss.”
“I’ll wait for your good news.” The white-haired old man exhaled slowly.
Just then, a man in a suit entered respectfully. “Mr. House, a Miss Song is outside asking to see you… She also asked to deliver this to you.”
Jimmy took the envelope from the man, opened it, and found a card inside.
He didn’t open it to read but handed it straight to the white-haired old man—Mr. House.
Mr. House opened it, glanced at it, and frowned slightly. He looked at the man who had co in. “Did this Miss Song bring anyone else?”
The man replied, “She brought soone who looks like an assistant, and a few others who appear to be bodyguards.”
“Hmm…” Mr. House pondered for a mont, then nodded. “All right, arrange for to et her.”
“Yes, sir.” The man turned and left.
Jimmy asked in confusion, “Boss, who is this Miss Song?”
Mr. House shook his head but raised the card in his hand. “I don’t know who this Miss Song is, but I do know who this card belongs to… and that person deserves so respect.”
“Who?”
“The head of the southern business circle in China—the old Madam Zhang of the Zhang family.” Mr. House put the card away. “Co with to et her. That old lady doesn’t write letters of introduction lightly. If Miss Song managed to get one, she must be quite capable.”
“Understood.” Jimmy nodded.
---
In the reception room.
“By the way, what did you an earlier by ‘big pig trotter’?”
While waiting in the reception room, Song Ying sat very upright. Rembering the conversation left unfinished in the car, she turned slightly toward her assistant.
“It’s… an internet slang term in China. I’ve seen it in web dramas, on the comnt screens. It basically ans n are good in every way except they’re careless and slow to understand things.”
“Oh…” Song Ying nodded in realization.
Luo Qiu—careless? She didn’t feel that at all.
Slow, maybe…
Just then, the sound of the door opening cut off Miss Ying’s train of thought. A white-haired old man entered slowly, leaning on a cane, followed by a handso young man.
Song Ying had seen plenty of outstanding young talents in her year as president of the Song Empire, but few had such a sharp aura as this one.
Still, her attention focused mainly on Mr. House. Her mind automatically reviewed the information she’d read about him.
The man was already in his nineties, a veteran of World War II, once a captain, and even before the war he had made his fortune as a smuggler—trafficking rare dicines through military connections.
In the 1980s and 90s, he beca a renowned pharmaceutical magnate and philanthropist in Europe. By the late 90s, he’d even been knighted by the Danish royal family.
Ten years ago, he began expanding overseas markets, with China as his first target.
For the past two years, he had spent much of his ti in China, claiming it was because he’d fallen in love with Chinese Peking opera.
“Mr. House, hello.”
Out of respect for his age and as soone seeking cooperation, Song Ying took the initiative to greet him with a polite smile, extending her hand.
“Miss Song.”
Mr. House only shook her hand briefly. “I saw your calling card. Madam Zhang recomnded you. I wonder, what can I do for you?”
Song Ying smiled confidently. “Before we start discussing business, Mr. House, there’s sothing I’d like to show you.”
At her signal, her assistant brought out the prepared docunts. “Mr. House, these are our company’s products.”
“Oh?” Mr. House nodded, sat down, and began to go through them carefully.
Song Ying also sat down, her expression calm and poised—but she disliked the way the young man behind Mr. House was looking at her. She was used to such looks from ambitious young n, but she never liked them.
After a mont, Mr. House looked up. “These products…”
Song Ying only smiled slightly, saying nothing.
Mr. House lowered his head again, studying the materials more carefully this ti.
After quite a while, he closed the file, set it on the table, and said after a pause, “Miss Song, you’re looking for a partnership?”
“What does Mr. House think of these products?”
“They look very promising,” Mr. House said mildly. “The data are impressive. These three dicines, if they can really be produced, would be a blessing to many patients. Especially this anticancer drug—it seems superior to anything on the market right now. Frankly, I’m curious why there’s never been any report about it.”
Her assistant smiled smoothly. “Because since these drugs were developed, they’ve never been released before. But in the past two days, we’ve completed the patent applications… Mr. House, here are the certification docunts.”
The assistant placed another folder on the table.
But this ti, Mr. House didn’t look at it. Instead, he asked, “Miss Song, what exactly do you want from ?”
Song Ying replied directly, “I’d like to sign a production and overseas distribution contract with you. For these three drugs, I plan to give you the overseas sales rights.”
Mr. House smiled. “Miss Song, your company must have plenty of resources if it can develop dicines like these… I’m curious—how co I’ve never heard of you in the pharmaceutical industry?”
“My family prefers to stay low-profile,” Song Ying said with an easy smile. “This ti, we plan to make a major move, and these products will be our first step.”
Mr. House chuckled pleasantly. “Then I’ll congratulate you in advance. If these drugs hit the market, I can’t even imagine how far they’ll go. As for the contract, honestly, I’d be happy to sign it—if everything is real.”
“We have extensive clinical trial data.” Song Ying’s tone was firm. “Since I ca to see you, of course we’re prepared. We chose to work with you, Mr. House, because your company’s global network is mature and reliable.”
Mr. House laughed. “Miss Song, why not give the dostic rights too?”
Song Ying replied, “Our company plans to handle dostic sales ourselves.”
Mr. House smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor refusing. “Miss Song, I’m not feeling well these days. I’ll head back to rest first. We can discuss this further another ti. This is Jimmy—once I’ve made up my mind, he’ll contact you.”
“Of course.” Song Ying nodded with a polite smile.
---
Her assistant left their contact information with Jimmy. After that, Jimmy took the docunts and helped Mr. House leave the room.
Not long after, a waiter ca in carrying a bottle of red wine, saying it was a gift from Mr. House.
The assistant opened the bottle and poured a glass for Song Ying. “It seems Mr. House wasn’t very interested… and it didn’t feel like he was pretending either.”
Song Ying held her glass thoughtfully. “These drugs were all developed under Mr. Blind’s supervision, originally made only for our village. I’m certain they’re far superior to anything on the market. That old man shouldn’t be unmoved by them…”
“Maybe it’s the pricing?” the assistant guessed.
Song Ying shook her head. “Two pricing models. The overseas price brings huge profits—enough to tempt anyone. And it’s the overseas sales that are our real source of inco. But Grandfather insists that the dostic market must be handled by us—and at the lowest possible price. It’s a statent, to show the governnt where the Song family stands, and it’s also a kind of giving back.
Grandfather wants to establish our footing here at ho. The Song family wants to return to its roots, which ans we can’t continue the old kind of business. What we can use to build a good relationship with the governnt now is only our pharmaceutical line. If our dostic drugs can compete with imported ones and solve the problem of patients being unable to afford dication, that’s the answer sheet we’ll present to those above. Only then can we gain governnt support, save ti, and—let’s say—offer a token of loyalty.”
The assistant asked, “What if this Mr. House refuses to give up dostic distribution rights?”
Song Ying shook her head again. “Then we’ll keep stalling him. The overseas profits alone are enough to sway any businessman. That old man knows exactly how much money’s involved. If he didn’t give an answer right away, he’s just posturing. For now, we’ll stop reaching out. He won’t be able to resist for long. Besides… it’s not that we have to use House—it’s that our Song family must use this House.”
“Miss, does the Old Master have so other intention?”
Song Ying gave her assistant a glance—if the woman were only a Song Corporation employee, she wouldn’t say anything. But since she was selected from the village, Song Ying continued.
“House is rely our first step toward approaching the Zhao family in the capital.”
“The Zhao family… in the capital?”
Song Ying nodded solemnly. “You’re from the village. You should know the history of our Song family… Do you know why Grandfather’s family was ruined back then? And why he went into exile abroad?”
“Miss, you an… the Zhao family?”
Song Ying set her wine glass down, untouched, and said calmly, “Just a trace of evidence—but enough.”
The assistant quickly said, “If it really is that Zhao family, then—”
Song Ying shook her head, her eyes sharp. “This isn’t South Arica. The Zhao family’s roots here are deep. But when it cos to crushing soone with capital, I, Song Ying, have never feared anyone.”
“Miss is mighty as always!” The assistant flattered eagerly.
Song Ying rolled her eyes. “Watch fewer brain-dead dramas, focus on your work. The coming year is critical for the new company.”
“Yes, Miss.” The assistant nodded quickly, silently relieved that Miss Ying didn’t have a habit of watching dramas.
Song Ying’s leisure activities were few; her only real outlet for stress was racing cars. But unlike South Arica, the roads here were packed with traffic and endless lights—she could barely shift past fourth gear before stopping again.
“Miss, are we going back to rest now?”
Song Ying thought for a mont, then shook her head. “No, let’s stop by the new company. I want to see how the renovations are going. Then prepare last week’s Song Corporation report for . It should still be early there—I’ll host a video eting later.”
The assistant groaned inwardly but dared not show it, nodding in agreent.
---
“Boss, that Miss Song has left,” soone reported.
Mr. House lowered his head, rubbing his temple silently.
Jimmy asked, “Boss, are you thinking about this cooperation?”
Mr. House shook his head. “These new drugs have huge profit potential. In the past, I would’ve signed imdiately. But now… I’m just not in the mood.”
Jimmy nodded slightly.
Mr. House began coughing again. Jimmy quickly brought him so dicine. After a while, the old man caught his breath, though his face looked utterly withered.
He sighed and looked at the young, handso Jimmy beside him. “Even if I had ten tis my wealth, it wouldn’t compare to what you have now.”
Jimmy said nothing. He knew exactly what the old man feared.
Mr. House waved his hand tiredly. “I’m going to rest. You handle this partnership. In a few days, go talk to this Miss Song again.”
“Understood.”
---
Behind a four-sided glass wall, Zhong Luochen stood beside 24, both watching the man inside the glass chamber.
Inside sat a filthy man with matted hair, his face sared with dirt. His eyes were unfocused, and a dull, foolish grin flickered across his lips.
Looking at the vacant, deranged man, 24 said, “This one won’t do. He’s too old—and insane. Ideally, the younger and purer the mind, the higher the success rate.”
Zhong Luochen replied calmly, “Children like that are far more valuable than this fool. Once Sir can guarantee success, it won’t be too late to use better material.”
“Such cheap rcy,” 24 sneered. Then, grinning eerily, he walked into the glass chamber and lowered the curtain.
Soon after, screams echoed from within.
Zhong Luochen’s expression didn’t change. His eyes didn’t waver. He simply listened.
(End of Chapter)
Reviews
All reviews (0)