Song JinXing said softly, "Come over and have dinner with Ah Ling."
Ah Ling?
Such an intimate form of address, no matter if it was Song Jiawei or Song Shuling, it was the first time they had heard it.
Song Shuling looked up at her elder brother, her eyes revealing some slight emotion. Song Jiawei felt like she was seeing a ghost next to them. Everyone could see Song JinXing's attitude towards his younger sister since he returned to the country, when did the two of them become so close?
They were clearly no better than strangers!
Perhaps noticing something odd about the atmosphere between the three, the stylish man across from them smiled and said, "In any case, it's my honor to share a meal with the legendary Mr. Song today. Let me introduce myself, I'm Wu Yuanliang, currently working at Jingliang Group."
Song JinXing, maintaining his domineering president persona, nodded slightly: "Hello."
Another girl joked, "Oh Yuanliang, you're too modest. Just 'working at Jingliang Group'? At your young age you've made quite a name for yourself, you're the young director of Jingliang Group!"
Wu Yuanliang laughed, "Calling myself young and promising in front of Mr. Song is really too presumptuous."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the waiter began serving the dishes. Song JinXing tasted a few bites, as expected of a high-end private chef who only served six tables a day, the taste was quite good and the presentation was exquisite. He made a mental note to try this place next time he met with Song JinXing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Song Shuling silently eating, avoiding the bean dishes, she probably didn't like them.
Though he said he was here to eat with sister Jiawei, Shuling didn't join in her conversation with her two girlfriends at all, only occasionally chiming in with a few words. The prestigious young miss of the Song family was mingling like a tagalong.
Song JinXing frowned slightly, picked up his chopsticks and put a small piece of ribs on her plate.
She didn't say anything, just continued eating after he added the food. Song Shuling was startled by his actions, she turned to look at him, then looked at the ribs in her bowl, and suddenly her nose felt a little sour. She hurriedly lowered her head and stuffed the ribs into her mouth.
They were really delicious!
Perhaps prompted by Song JinXing's actions, Jiawei finally remembered to care for her cousin: "That's right Shuling, just now you said Wen Fei went to steal from your house today? What happened?"
Song Shuling recounted what happened that afternoon, and everyone was indignant: "That Wen Fei is really trash! He dared to go steal from his ex's home after cheating, this kind of person should be severely punished, as Mr. Song said, send him to the police station for a few years!"
After cursing Wen Fei for a bit, the topic shifted: "Shuling, your judgement of character is just too poor. You were actually with that worthless man for a whole year, didn't we tell you before? You and your love-addled brain really need help!"
Song Shuling lowered her head looking pathetic, willing to take their scolding.
Song Jiawei suddenly smiled and slapped Wu Yuanliang on the shoulder, "If you ask me, finding a boyfriend should be like finding someone like our Yuanliang. What do you think, Shuling?"
Song Shuling laughed obligingly a couple times.
The other two girlfriends sang Wu Yuanliang's praises, and Song JinXing listened feeling like they were trying to matchmake between Wu Yuanliang and Song Shuling.
She discreetly looked over Wu Yuanliang, and as expected he had a bashful expression, occasionally glancing at Song Shuling, clearly harboring intentions.
So today was a matchmaking meeting?
Looking at Song Shuling's reaction, she clearly didn't know beforehand and had no intentions originally, but under the teasing of the three girls she also gradually blushed.
Song JinXing took out his phone and sent a message to Fu Ling, then continued eating. Soon the efficient assistant messaged back and Song JinXing had a sense of the situation.
Wu Yuanliang seemed embarrassed by their words, putting on an innocent act: "Alright alright, let's not talk about this in front of Mr. Song. Mr. Song, let me toast you, I hope you'll go easy on me in the business world in the future and look after me."
Song JinXing fiddled with the teacup in his hand without clinking glasses with him.
Song JinXing's features were sharp, looking particularly solemn and imposing when not smiling.
Seeing his attitude, Wu Yuanliang's outstretched hand shaking the cup trembled a little, and the smile was about to slip from his face. He looked to Song Jiawei pleadingly for help.
Song Jiawei was also terrified, unsure if Song JinXing had seen through their matchmaking intentions. But introducing a boyfriend to his sister wasn't illegal!
She could only speak up to diffuse the situation: "Big brother drove here right? Can't drink anyways, what's there to toast about, forget it. We can make formal toasts next time at a proper occasion!"
Wu Yuanliang gave an awkward laugh: "You're right, I was rude, I'll drink this cup as punishment. Please don't take offense Mr. Song." Then he drank the red wine in his glass and stood up, "Sorry, I'm going to the restroom."
After Wu Yuanliang left, the two girlfriends exchanged a look, one of them smilingly asked: "Shuling, what do you think of Wu Yuanliang?"
Song Shuling was startled: "Oh... not bad I guess."
The other said: "Much better than Wen Fei! Weren't you always stuck in your last relationship, unable to move on? There's a saying, the best way to forget one relationship is to start a new one. Why not give it a try with Wu Yuanliang?"
Song Shuling looked a little flustered: "Huh? So soon? This is the first time I've met him."
"Just start interacting first! Relationships are built up over time. This is a partner your sister Jiawei picked just for you!"
They looked towards Song Jiawei as she said this, and Song JinXing also looked over with an icy expression.
Song Jiawei: .........
Actually after seeing Song JinXing's attitude towards Wu Yuanliang earlier, she didn't want to continue with their original plan anymore, but hadn't had a chance to message the two girls about it yet before they threw out the bait as planned.
Now faced with the icy stare of the living Yanwang, Song Jiawei felt her scalp tingle, but the conversation had already reached this point so she could only push through: "I thought that moping over trash like Wen Fei wasn't worth it, and wanted Shuling to meet more friends. If she feels she can talk with Yuanliang, they could try it out."
Hearing her words, Song Shuling looked very moved. In front of Song Jiawei she was like a docile kitten, completely unlike the hissing and clawing she showed her elder brother.
Meekly she said: "I think he seems pretty good too, then should I....."
Song JinXing interrupted her next words: "Do you understand Wu Yuanliang's background and family status?"
Her gaze was fixed on Song Jiawei as she spoke.
Song Jiawei was startled, somewhat guilty: "Basically, I think? Isn't he the young director of Jingliang Group? The young director of a group can't be too shabby, much better than what Shuling found herself."
Song JinXing's voice was cold: "Jingliang Group has been operating at a loss since last year. The three subsidiaries under it were acquired by competitors last year, and headquarters is in dire straits. Jingliang's chairman was hospitalized for a stroke early this year, and Wu Yuanliang temporarily took over, he has the title of young director but the company shares were stripped long ago. The young director of a soon-to-be bankrupt shell company, can you approve?"
That sharp gaze stared icily at her, sending chills down her spine.
Pinned by such a look, Song Jiawei blurted out her true thoughts: "Of course I can't approve!"
Song JinXing smiled slightly: "If even you can't approve, why do you think my sister would approve?"