Ji Chongwei and Ji Yaoguang arrived at the Song Family villa and soon met the father and son.
Song Qingyun wore a thoroughly insincere smile as he feigned enthusiasm. "Old Ji, why didn't you let me know you were gracing us with a visit? Look at me-I haven't prepared a thing."
Ji Chongwei was displeased, but maintained a veneer of courtesy. "Old Song, with our relationship, there's no need to stand on ceremony."
Song Qingyun chuckled and gestured for them to enter. "Old Ji, my dear niece, come in and sit down."
The Ji father and daughter took their seats on the sofa, and Song Qingyun immediately had the housekeeper bring tea.
It was fine, premium-grade Shifeng Longjing, its liquid a tender green, clear and translucent. White steam curled above it, and its fragrance filled the air.
Yet neither Ji Yaoguang nor Ji Chongwei was evidently in the mood to savor tea.
Song Hao studied Ji Yaoguang from the side, a smug smile curling his lips.
"Old Song, given our friendship, I won't waste time on pleasantries." Ji Chongwei weighed his words briefly before getting straight to the point. "We came to discuss the chips with you and get the contract signed as soon as possible."
Song Qingyun narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a chuckle, "Old Ji, didn't I tell you? I really can't make the decision on this. Why don't you talk to my son?"
He wanted a junior to negotiate with me?
Ji Chongwei was displeased, but nodded with a smile. "That works too."
Song Qingyun nodded slightly, then rose and made a show of looking at Song Hao. "Hao, discuss this properly with your Uncle Ji. Our families have been friends for so many years. You mustn't shortchange him."
Song Hao grinned, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "Dad, I know where to draw the line."
Once Song Qingyun had left, Song Hao sat down opposite Ji Chongwei and feigned difficulty. "Uncle Ji, you know how costly chips are these days. Compared to the price we discussed before, our import agency fees have actually gone up quite a bit..."
In truth, both sides knew perfectly well that this was pure fabrication.
Ji Yaoguang's brows furrowed slightly, then smoothed out without betraying anything.
Ji Chongwei was more seasoned, having reached the point where he almost never showed his feelings before outsiders. He had anticipated this and was not surprised in the slightest. He immediately laughed. "There's no need to look so troubled, my dear nephew. I understand your difficulties. We're all businesspeople. There's no reason to make the Song Family take a loss."
Song Hao raised a brow and smiled, continuing to play along. "I'm glad you understand, Uncle Ji."
Ji Chongwei pondered briefly before proposing, "My dear nephew, how about we add another three hundred million to the original price?"
Although his limit was one billion, business negotiations had never been conducted by laying one's bottom line on the table at the outset.
Song Hao smiled with his eyes slightly narrowed, offering no response.
Ji Chongwei was displeased, but still smiled. "It seems I haven't kept up with the market. I wasn't thorough enough in estimating the price."
"Five hundred million. What do you think, my dear nephew?"
Song Hao sighed, his face full of difficulty. "Uncle Ji, it's not that I'm trying to make things hard for you. Even our distribution rights within Huaxia are limited. Importing this quantity means pulling strings at every turn, and that isn't easy."
The smile gradually vanished from Ji Chongwei's face. "Eight hundred million," he said heavily.
"My dear nephew, that price is enough to leave anyone speechless, no matter how you look at it. If we sign the contract now, everyone will be happy. But if even this isn't enough to reach an agreement, it'll be very difficult for me to offer any more. I won't have qualified products to supply, and you'll lose a tremendous source of revenue."
He paused and leaned forward slightly, revealing a little aggression. "There's no need for both sides to suffer."
Deep disdain flashed through Song Hao's eyes as he sneered inwardly. The initiative is entirely in my hands, and you're still trying these tricks on me? I'm not buying your act!
Song Hao picked up his tea and leaned back against the sofa. "Uncle Ji, why don't you head home for now?" he said lazily. "I'll give it some more thought."
At his words, both Ji Chongwei's and Ji Yaoguang's expressions changed. They had clearly lost their composure.
Ji Chongwei gave Ji Yaoguang a meaningful look. She bit her lip, filled with resentment and frustration. In the end, however, she forced a smile and raised her teacup. "Brother Song, I've offended you many times before. Please don't hold it against me. Let me offer you tea in place of wine as an apology."
Song Hao smiled smugly. He said nothing, merely staring steadily at Ji Yaoguang.
Ji Yaoguang gritted her teeth and drained the still-scalding tea in one gulp. The heat flushed her pretty face red, leaving her lips, teeth, and mouth numb and aching, until even glistening tears swam in her eyes.
Unable to bear the sight, Ji Chongwei turned his head slightly away.
Ji Yaoguang took a deep breath and managed a strained smile. "Brother Song, one billion. Would that work?"
In the course of this brief negotiation, the Ji Family had yielded again and again, allowing the price to rise by a full billion!
To the vast majority of people, this was already an astronomical sum. Even to the Song Family, it was undoubtedly a tempting price that would make their eyes redden with desire.
Song Hao marveled inwardly. Father really is a crafty old fox. He even calculated the Ji Family's price limit exactly!
But if that's all I get... wouldn't I be wasting a perfect opportunity?
Feeling that the time was about right, Song Hao sighed. "Yaoguang, Uncle Ji, our families have been friends for generations. Isn't it vulgar to talk about money with every breath?"
Ji Yaoguang trembled all over and nearly stood up and walked out.
Why didn't you say talking about money was vulgar earlier? Now you're pocketing the benefits and still playing innocent?
Ji Chongwei, however, sensed something unusual. If Song Hao was still unsatisfied with a price like this, he was surely plotting something bigger!
Sure enough, Song Hao smiled and said, "Yaoguang, we've known each other for so many years. To tell you the truth, my heart has always belonged to you. As long as you and Uncle Ji agree, we can tie the knot and become one family. Then, even if this project means braving a thousand hardships and ten thousand dangers, I'll secure it!"
"The Song Family won't take a single cent of the billion you offered. Consider it the betrothal gift. A billion as a betrothal gift-I doubt you'd find such extravagance anywhere in Huaxia, would you?"
The map had unrolled to reveal the dagger. His wolfish ambition was laid bare!
Ji Chongwei shook with rage. Rings of ripples spread through the tea in his hand, as unsettled as his heart.
At his age, he rarely grew this angry anymore. But at that moment, he very much wanted to swear, and even curse the women in Song Hao's family.
He, Ji Chongwei, had only this one daughter. Wouldn't everything the Ji Family owned belong to her in the future? If Song Hao married Ji Yaoguang, it would naturally be tantamount to gaining control of the Ji Group.
And this Song Hao was shameless enough to make a fuss over the billion he was extorting from the Ji Family. He would not spend a single cent himself, yet he still pretended to be generous, claiming he was giving a billion as a betrothal gift...
Why don't you just drop dead?!
Ji Chongwei's expression was extremely ugly, and he could barely contain his anger. "My dear nephew, business is business. Marriage is your own choice. You can discuss it in private. There's no need to use business interests as bargaining chips!"
Song Hao gave a noncommittal smile, then looked at Ji Yaoguang. "Yaoguang, what do you think?"
Ji Yaoguang's exquisite face was rigid, her voice almost forced through clenched teeth. "I think the same."
"What a pity. What a pity." Feigning regret, Song Hao crossed his legs, shrugged, and spread his hands. "Then let's do as Uncle Ji says. Business is business. Let me give it some more thought. You two should head home. I won't see you out."
Ji Chongwei rose in anger. "I'll talk to your father!"
Song Hao sneered, full of mockery and disdain.
But just as Ji Yaoguang was about to leave as well, Song Hao suddenly called her back. "Yaoguang, wait a moment."
Ji Yaoguang's expression was icy, as though a layer of frost had formed over her face. "What else do you want?"
Song Hao gave a wicked smile and tossed her a set of keys.
After Ji Yaoguang instinctively caught them, Song Hao walked over and whispered in her ear, "Whenever you change your mind, remember to come find me."
"Oh, right. I hope you'll come at night."
Song Hao's unbridled, arrogant laughter filled the hall.