Song Wenli was depressed.
He had spent a lot of effort and thought of many ways to invite Lu Jingnan out for a meal today.
Who would have thought that he would run into An Hongming in the same restaurant?
Ever since Song Wenli had entered the real estate industry from construction, An Hongming had been at odds with him, going against him everywhere.
Of course, he was not the kind of person who would not fight back when others were against him.
Song Wenli had allied with many people to deal with An Hongming behind his back and compete with him. Nevertheless, An Hongming was like a cockroach that could not be beaten to death. He was very lucky.
How could he not know that An Hongming's business had neither flourished nor collapsed because Zhao Jiaming had been secretly helping him all these years?
Yet, Song Wenli could not find any evidence of Zhao Jiaming's corruption and crime. He had never found a suitable way to deal with those two brothers.
All these years, they had been competing with each other.
Today, An Hongming had even publicly called Lu Jingnan out, and Lu Jingnan had even given him face. After the two of them spoke in private outside, Lu Jingnan returned and took his leave in less than a minute.
An Hongming was amazing. His ability to sow discord was extraordinary.
How could Song Wenli not know that Lu Jingnan went to An Hongming's company on the first day he came to Jing City? After that, Lu Jingnan did not see anyone else.
An Hongming was truly capable.
It was only when Song Wenli saw that Lu Jingnan had not been doing anything for the past two days he racked his brain to think of a way to get someone to help him ask Lu Jingnan out.
After all, if Song Wenli said that he was the second-best real estate developer in Jing City, no one would dare to claim that they were the best.
"Old Song, what do you think An Hongming said to Lu Jingnan? Have they reached some sort of agreement in private?" One of Song Wenli's friends raised an objection.
In the past, they had never taken An Hongming seriously. This time around, this old brat seemed to be quite capable and was prepared to reveal his true abilities.
An Hongming was so capable that he directly invited Lu Jingnan to his company when they could not even get to meet him.
Today, Song Wenli had finally invited Lu Jingnan out for a meal, but An Hongming managed to ask Lu Jingnan to step outside for a while. The meal was ruined before it even began.
"No way. This project isn't Lu Jingnan's alone. He doesn't have the final say." Song Wenli narrowed his eyes. He also had insider information.
It was also because he had insider information that he did not go to find Lu Jingnan the moment he came to Jing City. He waited for two days.
"Of course, we believe you. Old Song, now..." The few of them looked at each other. Over the years, they were used to obeying Song Wenli.
Whatever he said, they just had to do it.
"Let's go. Since he's gone, there's nothing we can say or do. Let's talk another day." Song Wenli had no choice but to call a driver to take him home.
Back at the Song Residence, his family had just finished lunch. The current Mrs. Song was also the mistress of the past. Pan Xuelian was surprised to see her husband back so early.
"Old Song, why are you back so soon?" Pan Xuelian thought that the meal would take at least two to three hours.
"Is there anything to eat? I'm terribly hungry," Song Wenli asked. Lu Jingnan suddenly asked his assistant to pay the bill and leave. They were too embarrassed to stay and continue eating and drinking, so they left together.
"Didn't you treat someone to a meal? Why did you come back hungry?" Pan Xuelian could not figure it out, but she asked the servants to bring out food for the old master.
They had sumptuous meals every day, and there were many dishes that they had not touched. Song Wenli returned early enough. Otherwise, the dishes would have been distributed to the servants, and he would not have anything to eat.
Old Madam Song came out of the room. She changed her clothes and was ready to go out to play mahjong. Seeing that her son was back, she went over with a smile and asked, "Wenli, you're back so early?"
"Yes, Mom. Didn't you lose a lot of money to the Old Madam Bai yesterday? Xuelian, get some money for Mom." Song Wenli was able to see Lu Jingnan so smoothly this time because of his old mother.
She bribed Old Madam Bai.
Song Wenli also just found out that Lu Jingnan was the grandson of the old madam of the Bai family.
"Okay." Pan Xuelian went to get some money.
"How was your meeting with Lu Jingnan?" Old Madam Song sat down. She had been on good terms with Old Madam Bai for a long time before she was able to get on her good side.
"Don't mention it. It was a waste of your favor this time. It was all An Hongming's fault. He has always been against me," Song Wenli complained.
"An Hongming? Heh, that old brat is his wife's lackey." Old Madam Song looked down on An Hongming when he was mentioned. In her opinion, An Hongming was simply not a man.
He did not have the temperament that a man should have. If his wife, Zhao Yufeng, was powerful, it would be fine if he was a bit cowardly. However, Zhao Yufeng was just like Zhao Yuzhi. Old Madam Song could not understand why An Hongming was so cowardly in front of his wife when he was capable and was also not a bad person,
"His wife is just defending her sister's injustice. Just ignore him," Old Madam Song said. In any case, she did not want to have any contact with the Zhao family in this lifetime.
So what if Song Ruyi was her biological granddaughter?
Without Song Ruyi, she had two biological grandsons and granddaughters. She was surrounded by children and grandchildren. Her daughter-in-law was also very filial to her.
"I got it, Mom. You can go play mahjong. Don't worry about my company's matters," Song Wenli said.
He still felt that he owed Song Ruyi and her mother a lot.
Song Wenli had planned to go to the funeral the day Zhao Yuzhi was buried, but his mom suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized. He and Xuelian stayed in the hospital to take care of her for a week.
When he wanted to go after that, he was too embarrassed. Slowly, he forgot about it.
"Okay, I'll help you think of something from. By the way, Old Madam Bai said that her grandson is good-looking, rich, and responsible. What do you think after meeting him? Yuqing is 24 years old this year. It's time for her to get married."
Song Yuqing was 24 years old this year and was only one year younger than Song Ruyi. Back then, when Song Wenli told Zhao Yuzhi that Song Yuqing, Pan Xuelian's first daughter, was also his child, Zhao Yuzhi was in despair.
Until now, Song Ruyi did not know that she and Song Yuqing were half-sisters.
They were both Song Wenli's daughters, but Song Yuqing was doted on by Old Madam Song.
"Mom, Lu Jingnan was once married. Didn't you say that you wanted to find a suitable husband for Yuqing?" Pan Xuelian heard this and walked over to interrupt.
Previously, she had heard from Song Wenli that Lu Jingnan had a previous marriage that did not work out, and he had even taken care of a female university student. His character was not that great.