Just as Qin Yuhe had predicted, Song Xinya received a call from Song Xuanli.
His voice was tense and urgent: "Hey, Song Xinya, we need to meet today."
Song Xinya lounged on the sofa, leisurely sipping her coffee: "Did you make an appointment? You think you can just see me anytime? My schedule is packed, not everyone gets to meet me."
Song Xuanli: "Rename Rourong Education Technology Co., Ltd. to Yating Education Technology Co., Ltd., and transfer twenty percent of Yating Education Technology Co., Ltd.’s shares to your name. Those two conditions, right? I agree to them."
Song Xinya: "You think you're a steel plate, unbendable and unbreakable, but you’re actually a coward, spineless and gutless."
Song Xuanli: "I’m here to discuss a partnership, not to be insulted by you. I’ve agreed to your two conditions. You get the Qin family to approve the Song family’s bidding documents and let the Qin and Song families work together. I’m making a business deal with you, so don’t act like I’m begging you."
Song Xinya took a small sip of coffee: "Yes, yes, you’re not begging me."
Beep—she hung up.
Song Xuanli called back immediately.
Song Xinya let the ringtone play without answering.
She leaned lazily on the sofa, gazing at the bright sunshine outside the window, savoring the coffee in her hand.
Panamanian Geisha coffee beans, known as the "Chanel of coffee," freshly hand-ground to preserve the fullest richness of the beans. The silky texture spread across her tongue, the bitterness faded, leaving aftertaste lingering in her mouth.
Just imagining Song Xuanli on the other end, anxious as a little monkey, fidgeting and restless, somehow made the coffee taste even better.
The phone rang and stopped, repeating ten times.
When the eleventh call went unanswered, Song Xuanli realized Song Xinya wasn’t going to pick up.
"Unbelievable! I’m her own father, and she won’t even answer my call. It’s outrageous, a rebellious daughter! Having a daughter like this is my misfortune!"
With a loud crack, Song Xuanli hurled his phone against the wall with all his might.
Zhang Yingying came running over in her high heels, click-clacking: "Dad, that’s my phone!"
Song Xuanli: "It’s just a phone. If it’s broken, it’s broken. Buy yourself a new one."
Zhang Yingying: "Dad, that phone was brand new. I’ve only had it for less than a day."
Song Xuanli: "Are you asking me for money for a new phone?"
Zhang Yingying: "No, Dad, I’m not someone who cares about money. But if you’re willing to buy me a new one, I won’t say no."
Song Xuanli: "It’s just a phone. Buying one is no big deal, it doesn’t cost much. Just get it yourself. My money is for big things. When you get married someday, I’ll leave it all to you as your dowry."
The master of empty promises was back, dishing out his big talk.
The professional promise-eater, Zhang Yingying, happily swallowed this one: "Dad, I know you’re good to me."
He painted the pie, and she ate it—how was that not a mutual effort?
Li Cuirou walked over and asked: "Xuanli, how did it go with Xinxin? Did she agree to let the Qin family approve the Song family’s bid documents?"
Song Xuanli: "She won’t even answer my calls."
Li Cuirou: "How could she not answer her own father’s call? That’s so unfilial. Maybe Xinxin is busy."
Song Xuanli: "You’re just too kind. Even when someone hurts you with ill intent, you always make excuses for them."
Li Cuirou: "I think that even though Xinxin has a bad temper, is impatient, acts harshly, speaks sharply, is sarcastic, and never spares anyone’s feelings, she must still remember you’re her biological father and won’t be too ruthless with you."
Song Xuanli: "If only she were as understanding as you. She’s not even one ten-thousandth of what you are."
Li Cuirou covered her mouth with her hand and laughed happily.
Zhang Yingying: "Right now, if Song Xinya won’t answer the phone, the Song and Qin families can’t do business. Tomorrow, the Qin family will announce the winning bidder publicly. There’s no time left. What do we do?"
Song Xuanli: "Get the contract. We’re going to Zijing Hua Fu to find Song Xinya."
Zhang Yingying: "Isn’t that just going to beg her?"
Song Xuanli’s face darkened.
Li Cuirou: "At this point, begging is the only way. Xuanli, let’s go beg Song Xinya quickly."
Song Xuanli’s face turned even darker.
"You two, stop saying 'beg' every other word. You can’t say anything decent. This is us seeking a partnership with Song Xinya—a partnership, not begging. Got it?"
…
At Zijing Hua Fu, in the garden, endless stretches of pink and blue hydrangeas formed a dreamy, fairy-tale sea of flowers.
The four little ones were squatting in the garden, each holding a hoe, weeding around the hydrangeas.
Song Xinya had them do it, claiming it was to prevent them from getting too tired from studying and to help them relax their minds by working in the garden.
The four little ones were sweating profusely in the heat, their clothes soaked through. Meanwhile, Song Xinya sat in the shade under a tree, drinking soda and eating watermelon.
Every now and then, she’d criticize someone: "Song Tingye, how are you weeding? Just pulling off the top leaves is useless. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Root out the weeds’?"
Song Tingye’s face was flushed red from the sun: "Sis, I want to drink soda and eat watermelon too."
Song Xinya: "You can drink hot water and eat bitter melon."
Song Tingye: "Sis, that’s child abuse."
Song Xinya: "A six-foot-two giant infant child?"
Song Tingye, taking advantage of his long legs, strode over to Song Xinya in a few steps, opened his huge mouth, and swallowed the big piece of watermelon in her hand in one bite.
The doorbell rang, and the butler came to report: "Madam, there’s a man at the gate claiming to be your father, here to visit."
They came quickly.
Song Xinya walked toward the gate, and Song Tingye followed behind her, acting as her bodyguard.
The gate opened, and Song Xuanli raised his head arrogantly: "I had nothing to do today and happened to pass by, so I thought I’d drop in."
Song Xinya: "If you’re asking for help, you need to have the right attitude. If your back is too stiff to bend, you’ll never succeed at anything."
"Exactly, exactly," Song Tingye said, slamming the villa’s gate shut, leaving Song Xuanli out in the cold.
A moment later, the voices of Song Xuanli, Li Cuirou, and Zhang Yingying came from outside:
"Mrs. Qin, we’ve come to visit. Please, give us a chance and meet with us."
