"What are your plans? I heard Huangfu Sisong is deliberately targeting Ao Xiang lately, trying to cut off our funding?" Although An Jing was still recovering, he wasn't truly resting and was still concerned about the group's affairs.
However, Lan Yu was watching him too closely, preventing him from seeing official documents or worrying about the group's matters.
He could only secretly handle some things when Lan Yu wasn't paying attention.
Tianyi told him his plan without any reservations: first, to stop Huangfu Sisong from withholding their funds, and then to acquire the remaining factory from the Xie family. This was something the Huangfu Group wouldn't bother with, but it was a huge bargain.
He wanted to make Huangfu Sisong regret it immensely.
An Jing on the phone completely agreed. Just as he was about to say something, Lan Yu appeared behind him at some point and forcibly took his phone.
Tianyi heard Lan Yu's voice on the phone. She was telling An Jing, "I told you to rest and not worry about work. Why don't you listen? If you don't behave, I'll confiscate your phone..."
Tianyi hung up with a laugh. He hadn't expected that An Jing, with his usually unrestrained personality, would be so strictly managed by Lan Yu. It truly was a case of one thing conquering another.
...
Meanwhile, Susu was in her office in the morning and called Song Jiaping twice, but no one answered.
She figured doctors would be very busy during work hours and that Dr. Song would reply when he had time.
Song Jiaping called back around noon, thinking Susu might still be feeling unwell.
Susu said with a smile on the phone, "Dr. Song, don't worry, I'm fine. My husband and I would like to treat you to a meal. Do you have any time to grace us with your presence?"
Song Jiaping, thinking of her husband Qin Tianyi's icy demeanor and his sharp words, didn't really want to see Qin Tianyi again.
"You really don't need to be so polite. I have many patients lately and am a bit busy. We can talk about it another time."
Susu said, "Then we'll arrange it when you're less busy. Don't you want to see Xiao Xingxing? He's almost in junior high now and is very well-behaved."
Song Jiaping did want to see the child he had delivered, especially since he had a deep impression of the child at the time.
He had only weighed about six pounds at birth and almost needed an incubator due to his frailty. In the blink of an eye, he had grown so much.
"Of course, I want to see him. I'll arrange it with you when I have free time."
Susu heard his tone soften and quickly asked, "By the way, Dr. Song, are you married?"
"Not yet. Why do you ask?" Song Jiaping retorted.
"It's nothing. Bring your girlfriend along then. It's settled!"
Song Jiaping wanted to say he didn't have a girlfriend, but Susu had already hung up without giving him a chance to explain.
"Gu Susu's tone is so certain, as if she's convinced I have a girlfriend," Song Jiaping murmured to himself.
As he put his phone into his white coat, he couldn't help but think of Meng Yao.
However, he didn't know what their relationship was.
In Meng Yao's eyes, he was probably just a friend.
But from the moment he met her, he had loved her deeply and only wanted to protect her forever.
Yet, he also knew it was impossible between them, so he had never revealed his feelings. He was content to let her continue to see him as a friend.
...
A few days later, major headlines in Lancheng broke astonishing news.
The chairmen of two major groups were involved in a murder case!
Although the media did not name names, they subtly hinted at which two groups were involved.
The news extensively reported the confession of a suspect, referred to as 'Xia,' making it obvious to anyone with a discerning eye which two groups were implicated.
The police went to Zhao Jianhua's group and took away the current responsible person, Zhang Yuyun.
Police officers also went to the Huangfu Group and took Huangfu Sishu away to assist with the investigation.
Some well-informed media outlets even captured photos of them being taken away by the police.
As a result, the Huangfu Group's stock price plummeted that day. Huangfu Sisong quickly issued a public clarification, stating that Huangfu Sishu's detention by the police was due to personal reasons and unrelated to the group, in an attempt to stabilize the stock price.
However, this did not have much of an effect, as everyone knew the relationship between the brothers.
Upon seeing her husband being taken away by the police, and Huangfu Sisong not only failing to help his brother but also trying to distance himself, Jin Dan went directly to the Huangfu Group to confront Huangfu Sisong.
This incident further escalated, causing even more public outcry.
Tianyi monitored the media coverage over the past few days and finally made the Huangfu Group experience the feeling of its market value evaporating by tens of millions daily due to negative news.
Everything was proceeding as he had predicted. This time, he could finally turn the tables.
"Huangfu Sisong must be in a terrible state, right?" Someone walked into his office without knocking.
Tianyi was pleasantly surprised and a little taken aback to see An Jing had returned. "Why are you at the group? You didn't say anything in advance."
"If I had said something, how could I have surprised you?" An Jing winked at him with a smile.
Tianyi couldn't stand it and averted his gaze, saying, "Don't flirt with me. If you want to flirt, save it for Lan Yu."
"Don't you miss me at all?" An Jing looked wronged, unwilling to accept it.
Tianyi looked at him again and finally smiled, "I do. But can you not be so mushy? You're giving me goosebumps."
An Jing deliberately shivered, "Me too."
"Stop fooling around. You should go back and rest for a few more days..."
"Since I'm here, I'm ready to officially start working," An Jing said as he sat down. "If you make me go back and lie down again, I'll go crazy from boredom."
"You're always clamoring for vacation, and now you have time to rest. With your wife and child by your side, you'll go crazy?" Tianyi said disbelievingly.
"You don't know how much Lan Yu nags me. I'm not on vacation while I'm recovering. Besides, there are so many things happening in the group lately, I'm always concerned and can't stay at home."
"So, does Lan Yu allow you to work?"
An Jing quickly nodded and said, "I had a follow-up appointment at the hospital yesterday. The doctor said the wound has healed and there are no major issues."
"That's good, but still, don't overexert yourself..."
"Young master, when did you become so motherly? Don't worry, I know how to take care of myself."
At this moment, Tianyi's secretary walked in and said directly, without avoiding An Jing, "Mr. Qin, Mr. Xiao, Huangfu Sisong's assistant just called. He said Huangfu Sisong wants to meet Mr. Qin to discuss how to proceed."
"Certainly, ask him for the time and place," Tianyi agreed immediately.
After the secretary left, An Jing winked at him, "It looks like we've succeeded halfway. We should at least be on equal footing with the Huangfu Group, and from now on, we'll mind our own business."
Tianyi nodded and said, "After this confrontation with them, I see things more clearly. They have absolute control over Lancheng's financial sector, and their insidious and despicable methods. Huangfu Sisong inherited all of it from their father. To reclaim the former financial building of the Xiao family, we will likely need to plan for the long term."
"I didn't believe it before, but it seems your earlier prediction was correct. We are not yet in a position to directly compete with the Huangfu Group."
Tianyi said, "Now that we've made them understand that we're not to be trifled with, it would be good to go back to the way things were, peacefully coexisting."
"Understood."