Chapter Eighty-Nine: A Second Bloom of Plum Blossoms

Wen Jingxing’s pupils contracted slightly—she didn’t have a single share? Even Song Xin, the adopted daughter, had some, but Song Wannning, the biological daughter herself, had none? It seemed there was no need for him to show mercy any longer.

“Alright, I understand,” he replied.

Song Wannning wondered: What is it that he understands?

“What’s wrong with you? You’re acting so strange, asking about this and that,” she said, a hint of concern in her eyes.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to know more about you.” Wen Jingxing’s words carried a subtle ambiguity, leaving Song Wannning at a loss for how to respond. She quickly turned her attention to the video on the computer and forced a laugh, “This person in the video is hilarious!”

He didn’t speak to Song Wannning anymore, but instead opened his phone, edited a message, and sent it.

Wen Jingxing: [When did our company become a charity?]

Chen Shaoyuan was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood Wen Jingxing’s meaning. Was Young Master Wen angry? Wasn’t Song Group Miss Song’s family business? Did this mean he didn’t intend to help them anymore? Had he and Miss Song quarreled?

But even if they had argued, would he go this far? Were they calling off the engagement? But during the day, hadn’t Young Master Wen still been in the lakeside park, personally warming Song Wannning with heat packs?

Baffled, Chen Shaoyuan decided to carry out the orders without delay. He moved swiftly and, that very night, spread the news.

As soon as other companies heard that a conglomerate like the Wen Group was seeking someone to construct a cybersecurity system, countless firms came forward, bringing their company resumes and state-of-the-art core technologies.

All night, Chen Shaoyuan’s phone rang off the hook.

Meanwhile, Song Zijiang was still sound asleep, nestled in his warm bed with his wife, completely unaware of the calamity that would befall him the next day.

On the twelfth morning, Song Wannning acted as she always did, except she arrived later for her assignment.

And then, uncannily, she encountered Song Xin once more.

The other girl looked haggard, with heavy dark circles under her eyes and pale lips. She wore nothing fancy—just a white jacket and ordinary jeans.

Song Wannning raised an eyebrow. Neither she nor Wen Jingxing had done anything to her yesterday, had they? Was there any need for her to appear before her looking quite so miserable? Had Wen Jingxing frightened her that much?

Nevertheless, she pretended not to notice, turned away, and tried to take another route.

Not willing to be left behind, Song Xin hurried after her. Song Wannning, realizing she couldn’t shake her off, finally stopped and waited.

“Didn’t I tell you I’m still filming? Why are you here again?” she asked.

“Sister, please, you have to help the family!” Song Xin pleaded, reaching out to take Song Wannning’s hand.

But Song Wannning dodged without hesitation, leaving Song Xin’s hands awkwardly suspended in midair.

“Can’t this wait until I’m back? Why must you bring it up while I’m working?”

“I wouldn’t have come if it weren’t urgent. I didn’t want to disturb you so abruptly, but… but the family might go bankrupt,” Song Xin said, embarrassment coloring her tone.

She hadn’t wanted to come either—it was humiliating to discuss such matters in front of an audience. But her father had said the matter was dire. If they didn’t find Song Wannning to help in time, the Song Group would be finished!

Unable to find Song Wannning’s residence, Song Xin had no choice but to wait for her at the lakeside park. She had never before had to beg Song Wannning for anything, and doing so made her bristle with resentment.

Worse yet, her father, upon hearing that she’d gone to see Song Wannning yesterday but somehow managed to offend Young Master Wen and been chased out, had flown into a rage and scolded her over the phone.

He’d been unable to reach Song Wannning directly by phone, and going to the resort himself would have taken too long. In the end, she had no choice but to come.

Hearing Song Xin’s words, Song Wannning immediately recalled what Wen Jingxing had asked her the previous day. Could it be that in the novel’s plot, the foolish company that kept propping up the Song Group and sending them business was really Wen Jingxing?

She was astonished, but quickly retorted, “What kind of joke is this? I don’t have any shares, I don’t participate in company affairs, and I don’t know anything about the company. How could I possibly help you?”

“The company’s shares are all held by the three of you, and you’re the ones managing everything. If you’re facing bankruptcy, it’s your own responsibility.”

With just a few words, Song Wannning made everything clear.

The onlookers, who’d previously thought Song Wannning heartless for being so cold despite being family, now began to change their minds after hearing this explanation. If they really went bankrupt, it seemed it had nothing to do with her after all.

[Really? Not a single share for her, but the moment something goes wrong, they turn to Song Wannning for help? This family is unbelievable!]

[Wait, even the adopted daughter Song Xin has shares, but the biological daughter Song Wannning doesn’t? Most people would try to leave everything to their own children—why exclude her?]

Netizens, sensing something amiss, began leaving their doubts in the live chat.

Anticipating what Song Xin would say next, Song Wannning simply turned off her microphone.

“Sister, we really can’t do it without you this time. The Wen Group has always cooperated with our company, but last night, something went wrong with one of our projects.”

“The Wen family immediately reassigned the project. Isn’t that too ruthless? If the Song Group loses the Wen Group, what will we do?”

Song Xin was close to tears.

But Song Wannning remained unperturbed. First, the Song family’s money had nothing to do with her, and second, she hadn’t realized that the Song Group had only survived this long because the Wen Group handed them unimportant outsourcing work.

“And you’re asking me what to do?”

Song Wannning caught the crucial point in Song Xin’s words. “If it was just a minor issue, why would the Wen Group cut ties so abruptly? And even if there’s a problem between your companies, what use is it to come to me?”

“How could it be useless? Aren’t you close to Young Master Wen now? Just ask him to be lenient and let our family keep working with them.”

“You must be joking. Business decisions aren’t changed with a few words from me.” Song Wannning, relishing the spectacle, added, “Besides, if you’re the ones who made mistakes, you should reflect on yourselves instead of expecting me to fix things. The Wen Group collaborates with your company, not with me personally.”

Meanwhile, viewers in the livestream were like hungry animals searching a barren field, anxiously waiting for more.

[Why is there suddenly no sound!?]

[Where’s the audio? Hurry and turn it back on!]

(End of this chapter)