Chapter 111

"What's there to be afraid of? This matter is settled!"

"Didn't Han Yu say himself? The one who excels becomes the teacher!"

"Even a person from the Tang Dynasty could have such an enlightened view—has humanity really grown more closed-minded since then?"

"Young people must have vigor—be more confident!"

"Young people are the creators of the world—why can't they be everyone's teacher? The world belongs to you!"

In the end, the elder made his decision.

Although Song Mo passed down the Five Animals Play free of charge, from now on, anyone wishing to learn the technique must undergo strict evaluation.

And after learning, Song Mo becomes the nominal teacher.

Regardless of the learner's age, status, or position.

This can no longer be called mere favoritism toward Song Mo!

The elder is outright partial to Song Mo!

Song Mo even wondered if he were the elder's illegitimate son—but then he thought, if he truly were a family descendant, he wouldn't be treated this well.

It could only be called paying a thousand gold for a dead horse's bones.

The elder seemed to have absolute confidence in Song Mo—confidence that although Song Mo was already extremely outstanding, he would become even more outstanding in the future!

He was clearly trying to win Song Mo over!

Such a talent must be treated well by the state, must be respected, granted the highest level of courtesy.

Under these circumstances, the elder leveraged his own advantage—that he was a benevolent elder, treating Song Mo like a junior.

He regarded Song Mo as family—could Song Mo possibly see him as an outsider?

Regardless.

This time, Song Mo's gains were extremely rich.

This was also part of his plan—believing he could rise to world-class prominence by his own strength alone was clearly the dream of a fool.

In this world, you need power, you need connections.

In business, even if you only wanted to expand slightly, you needed a backer—how much more so when Song Mo's ambitions far exceeded merely building a commercial empire?

Song Mo always felt the elder could see right through his thoughts, even consistently cooperating with him.

This trip to Beijing, the elder gave Song Mo exactly what he wanted most.

Whether it was a backer or connections…

…

Sitting on the high-speed train home.

Song Mo was still reflecting on whether his actions had been reasonable and appropriate.

At their parting, Song Mo generously gifted the elder a box of Dragon-Tiger Bone Strengthening Pills and one Da Huan Dan, and left behind the Five Animals Play.

He took with him one mobile phone and one calligraphy piece.

The calligraphy, written in the elder's brush, read "Patriotic Youth, Pillar of the Nation," and bore the elder's seal.

As for the phone, it allowed direct dialing to the elder's number.

Song Mo's current state resembled a line from the I Ching.

"The dragon lies hidden in the depths."

He gently closed his eyes, resting and calming himself.

No matter what, he must hold fast to his inner principles.

…

Modu.

Song Group headquarters.

Song Tiancheng's face was dark as he stared at the shareholders around the long table; his usually gentle eyes now held a cold, menacing glint.

Song Tiancheng's voice was low.

"So, fellow shareholders, you've already picked your sides?"

"You all think Leng Wanqiu is untouchable, but only I, Song Tiancheng, am easy to bully?"

"Hah! All these years I've raised a pack of ungrateful bastards!"

One shareholder couldn't help speaking up.

"Chairman Song, you're being unfair—"

"Isn't this really your own fault?"

"If you hadn't offended Leng Wanqiu and gotten blacklisted by the Leng Group, and abandoned by the An Family and Lin Family… if there had been even a sliver of hope, how could we have been so disloyal?"

"We're just doing what we have to!"

Song Tiancheng's molars ground together.

You're doing what you have to?

Is betrayal now justified by any excuse?

Song Tiancheng suddenly felt exhausted.

In truth, he had completely lost control of the situation.

Was his life's work truly about to slip from his grasp?

Song Tiancheng was lost.

…

On the other side.

Leng Wanqiu had proactively reached out to Song Tiancheng.

The phone connected.

"Chairman Song, long time no see?"

Leng Wanqiu's voice carried a teasing tone.

"You? Leng Wanqiu, are you feeling proud now?"

Song Tiancheng did not erupt in curses.

He had no intention of begging, nor did he ask why Leng Wanqiu was targeting the Song Group—none of it mattered.

Leng Wanqiu smiled.

"I have nothing to be proud of; I'm just saddened. Chairman Song, you've worked so hard, so painstakingly, so cautiously over the years—what a pity…"

"Leng Wanqiu, if all you called to say was this, then there's no point continuing this conversation."

Song Tiancheng was about to hang up.

"Wait!"

Leng Wanqiu realized what he intended to do and quickly stopped him.

Then she stated her terms.

"Song Tiancheng, we've never had any grudge against each other. I targeted the Song Group—you already know why."

"Because of your son, Song Mo!"

Song Tiancheng frowned deeply.

He simply couldn't understand—had his son slept with Leng Wanqiu's mother? Why was she going after him so viciously?

But then Leng Wanqiu said one sentence that made Song Tiancheng lose his composure!

Leng Wanqiu's voice was thick with resentment.

"Why has Song Mo never paid attention to me?"

"I've tried to be friendly—he completely ignored me!"

"How dare he look down on me, Leng Wanqiu?"

"Unless Song Mo apologizes to me and agrees to date me, the Song Group will be destroyed!"

After speaking, Leng Wanqiu, emotionally charged, hung up immediately.

For a moment, Song Tiancheng sat frozen.

Fuck, what kind of situation is this?

Is this some kind of romantic calamity?

From what Leng Wanqiu said, it sounded like she liked Song Mo, but Song Mo had zero interest in her, so now she'd turned love into hatred?

Song Tiancheng thought for a moment.

In his mind, he recalled Leng Wanqiu's fat face, her massive, greasy body—and instantly felt a chill of revulsion.

Pfft! A toad trying to eat swan meat!

He thought Leng Wanqiu was insane—why not piss on a mirror and look at herself? Does she even match the looks of his outstanding, handsome son?

"Son, don't worry—after all, it's your lifelong happiness."

"If the Song Group is gone, it's gone. But if my future daughter-in-law turns out to be someone like her, you'll suffer—and your mother and I will die of grief!"

Song Tiancheng sighed.

What a tragedy—this is what they call "a beautiful man invites disaster"?

Yet he felt a flicker of pride.

No wonder he's my son—he's so handsome he drove Leng Wanqiu mad.

Awesome!

…

At this moment.

Song Mo had already returned to Modu.

When he got home, he saw his mother, Song Wanrou, with a worried expression, lost in thought.

Song Mo's heart skipped a beat.

"Mom, where's Dad?"

Shit!

Don't tell me Song Tiancheng's in trouble!

(End of Chapter)