Song Jiaping hummed and said, "I never expected you to help my family seek justice. I don't know how to thank you enough."
"This matter isn't settled yet, so it's too early to talk about gratitude. I've thought about it. If evidence shows that Huangfu Sisong and his wife obtained this prescription through illegal means back then, you can reclaim the patent rights for that medicine. You should be able to receive substantial compensation then. You won't have to wander around anymore. Why don't you come back and open a pharmaceutical factory to build a career?" Tianyi said, noticing a gossip magazine on the table with Meng Yao's impending marriage to Hong Jiaxi on the cover.
Song Jiaping shook his head and replied, "No, I still prefer saving lives on the battlefield between life and death. As for compensation, I dare not even think about it. As long as Huangfu Sisong and his wife receive their due punishment, and my family can rest in peace in heaven, that will be enough."
"It will be," Tianyi said, pointing to the magazine on the table. "You know about Meng Yao's upcoming marriage too?"
Song Jiaping said calmly, "Their wedding is known throughout the city. The magazine covers displayed at the newsstands downstairs are all about their wedding news."
Tianyi knew that Song Jiaping was deeply in love with Meng Yao, and the calmer he appeared on the surface, the more pain he felt inside.
"Aren't you going to go and clarify things with her? Just watch her marry someone else?"
Song Jiaping had a burden in his heart that no one knew about, nor could he confide in anyone. Now, only Qin Tianyi understood him.
"What is there to say to her? Tell her that her parents are the enemies who destroyed my family, and that I approached her initially to use her for revenge. Even if she could accept that, how could I truly become Huangfu Sisong and his wife's son-in-law? How would I be worthy of my family?"
Tianyi understood that the situation between Song Jiaping and Meng Yao was an age-old love dilemma.
Song Jiaping fell in love with his enemy's daughter, yet he was unwilling to deceive the one he loved. He also could not become his enemy's son-in-law, accepting his enemy as his parents.
He had no other choice but to bury this love and let it go.
Tianyi changed the subject and asked, "Are you still planning to leave Lancheng and go abroad? When do you plan to leave?"
"I will leave as soon as possible." Song Jiaping couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Qin, if you were in this situation, what would you do?"
"Do you really want to know what I would do?" Tianyi retorted.
"Yes, I want to hear it."
Tianyi smiled and said, "I wouldn't let her marry someone else, nor would I ally myself with my enemy. I would capture her and keep her locked up. Regardless of whether she could accept it or forgive me, the person I love can only be mine."
Song Jiaping stared at him intently, finally understanding why Qin Tianyi had become one of the wealthiest men in Lancheng in such a short period.
His wolf-like, aggressive approach was something he lacked and could not emulate.
"Don't look at me like that," Tianyi said, standing up and patting his shoulder. "If it were in the past, I would have acted like this. But Susu dislikes this side of me. She says we should respect equality, so I listen to her and give her respect and equality. Just think of me as joking. You wouldn't do this, nor could you bear to."
Song Jiaping nodded. He couldn't bear to face her with pain every moment in the future just to have Meng Yao.
Tianyi said, "Follow your heart. Your letting go and offering blessings is even more admirable..."
As he spoke, he heard some movement from the closed room and immediately stopped, asking, "Is there someone else in this room with you?"
Song Jiaping replied, "Yes, two friends who accompanied me back from abroad. Don't worry, they insisted on coming to Lancheng with me to protect me."
Tianyi glanced at the closed door, unsure of what Song Jiaping had experienced abroad. He didn't ask further and took his leave, saying, "Then let's keep in touch. I'll let you know as soon as there's good news."
"Alright," Song Jiaping said, also standing up to see him out.
After Tianyi left, Song Jiaping picked up the magazine on the table, never expecting that Meng Yao would still choose Hong Jiaxi.
He had warned her earlier that Hong Jiaxi was not someone she could entrust her life to. It seemed she hadn't listened to him.
However, they were now strangers. Why should she listen to him?
Song Jiaping's heart was in agony. He wished he could do as Qin Tianyi said, grab her and bring her back, tell her all his true feelings, and never let her go, regardless of whether she could accept it, even if it meant confining her by his side forever!
But he couldn't do it, nor could he. He could only silently offer her his blessings in his heart.
"Song, are you alright?" The door to the room opened, and two burly foreign men walked out. "I'm fine. Let's book..." He was about to say they should book tickets for tomorrow, but he still wanted to sneak another glance at Meng Yao, even just one. "Let's book the tickets for the day after tomorrow."
"Yes," the two foreign men nodded respectfully.
...
After meeting Song Jiaping, Qin Tianyi took a taxi back to the group and then drove home from the group.
This way, everyone would think he was working overtime at the group, and no one would know he had met Song Jiaping.
Up to now, Wu Xiufang still didn't know Song Jiaping's true identity. When a witness was needed, Song Jiaping, as the only surviving member of the He family, was someone he needed to protect.
When Tianyi returned home, he found that the children were already asleep. He went to the bedroom.
Susu had already showered but was not yet asleep. She was looking at design proposals for a well-known brand on her laptop. She looked up and saw him return.
She quickly put down her laptop, got up, and greeted him, asking, "Why are you working so late today? Have you eaten? Do you want me to cook you a bowl of noodles?"
Tianyi waved his hand and said, "No need. If I keep having late-night snacks, I'll get a potbelly."
He touched his stomach, fearing he would gain weight as he approached forty.
Susu laughed and said, "As long as I don't dislike it, what are you afraid of?"
Tianyi pinched her cheek and said, "You dare to dislike it."
"Yes, young master, go take a shower quickly and get some rest. Don't wear yourself out," Susu said, pushing him towards the bathroom.
She then continued to review the design drafts on her laptop, recalling the electronic invitation Meng Yao had sent her on her phone earlier that day.
Susu had initially thought Dr. Song and Meng Yao were a couple and would grow old together. She never expected Dr. Song's background to be so tragic, making it impossible for him to be with Meng Yao. She couldn't help but sigh.
Tianyi took a shower and came out of the bathroom, seeing her sighing. He walked behind her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and asked, "What's wrong? What's making you so upset?"
Susu opened the invitation on her phone and showed it to him, saying, "Meng Yao's invitation. Should we attend her wedding?"
"Yes, of course, we should," Tianyi said, looking at the date of Meng Yao's wedding. "She's getting married next month. That's so soon."
"Meng Yao and this man's relationship is already known throughout the city. If they don't marry quickly, with everyone constantly watching, anyone would find it unbearable. After they get married, the headlines and gossip about them will naturally fade away."
Tianyi nodded. He assumed that the Huangfu family and the Hong family thought the same way.