Chapter 1 Every Time I Get on the Highway

Every time I get on the highway, I always feel that the return journey is faster than the way here. At least, that's how I feel in my heart.

I sped along the eight-lane highway, pressing the accelerator as if it were cruise control, not too fast, not too slow, just within the speed limit.

As I approached Hangzhou, I proactively called Lin Hai, but he didn't answer. I hesitated for a moment and didn't call again, not wanting him to think I was only being so attentive because of the factory, and even less wanting to suddenly lower myself in front of him.

It wasn't until I was entering the city center and almost at the company that Lin Hai returned my call. I answered immediately, "Are you busy now?"

"Are you calling me about last night's matter?" Lin Hai asked directly.

"Yes, if you're free now, let's meet and I'll tell you the details in person."

"I'm at the nursing home."

"Visiting Grandpa?"

"Yeah, the hospital called today."

I looked at the time, it was already five o'clock. Even if I went back to the company now, I would only be greeting Pei Xianglong. I immediately turned the car around and stopped on the side of the road.

"How about I come over now?"

"Are you determined to change industries?"

"It's hard to explain on the phone."

"I have to go to the hospital later."

I didn't say anything, because I wasn't sure if Lin Hai was deliberately avoiding me. At the same time, I began to suspect that he didn't really want to hand over the stone company to me, but rather wanted to use my relationship with Pei Xianglong to gain personal benefits, just using my name.

Seeing my silence, he said "Hello?" I immediately replied, "I'm here."

"Just say it on the phone."

"Are you really planning to give me that land?" I asked, confirming with a stiff tone.

"How did a perfectly good company become land?"

"If you really want me to do it, then let me make money in my own way. If you just want to use my connections to get business, then I'm sorry, I'm not interested. I'm short on time right now, if you don't agree, we'll find another way."

"You're working with Shi Yu?"

"Of course, I don't have the guts to take on projects alone."

"It's not that I don't want to give it to you, I'm just afraid you'll make bad investments."

"If you don't trust me, you should trust Pei Shi Yu's character and conduct, right? Do you think she's someone who makes rash decisions?"

"I'm leaving the nursing home now, let's talk in person." Lin Hai suddenly changed his mind.

"Okay, I'll find a place to talk, I'll send you the location later, you can come directly."

Lin Hai's sudden change in attitude must be related to Pei Shi Yu's involvement. Perhaps he wasn't as optimistic at first, thinking that the company could be restarted as soon as I took over.

The reason I don't want to do his old business is because I don't think it's a long-term solution. Of course, if it weren't for Pei Shi Yu's words, I wouldn't have taken the initiative to negotiate with Lin Hai.

I put down my phone and drove around until I found a teahouse nearby. It was very quiet inside, probably because it wasn't the weekend. It was a good place to talk. There were small groups of people chatting happily at the surrounding tables, only occasionally punctuated by laughter.

I ordered a pot of tea. When Lin Hai came in, I saw him immediately. I instinctively looked at the time. He had arrived quickly, I had only waited for about half an hour. He was dressed casually today, in a black jacket and jeans, and his leather shoes were dull, obviously he hadn't bothered to care about those things.

I stood up to greet him when he also saw me. As I sat down, he said, "Did you wait long?"

"Not really."

I casually replied, poured him a cup of tea, handed it to him, and asked, "How's Grandpa doing?"

"You should go see him. I was a little impulsive when I hit you last time, but he's an old man, you wouldn't hold a grudge, would you? At this age, every day is a gift. They were always the ones who raised you when you were little."

I moved my lips, then thought for a moment and replied, "Last time I saw him, he seemed disappointed, and he asked about Lin Yang. I'm afraid going over might affect his mood."

"He already knows about Lin Yang's matter. Since we talked, he's been working on his thinking these past few days..."

I immediately interrupted him, saying, "It's not like I harmed Lin Yang. Your thinking is really strange."

"The time Lin Yang and Shi Yu got engaged, no matter what the reason, you were somewhat responsible for ruining it. If you want to support the Lin family, then start by repairing family ties."

After he finished speaking, I looked at him in silence. It seemed that our talking styles had been reversed. The Lin Hai in front of me really seemed like a different person, everything he said made sense, and I had become the unreasonable one.

"Grandpa used to be good to me, but after meeting him later, their attitude completely changed. Do you think I can still communicate with him?"

"As the younger one, you should..."

I interrupted him again, because I wasn't here today to listen to his lectures. From my own perspective, I don't think I was wrong, after all, only I know what it was like to get through those days alone.

"Let's talk business." My tone began to stiffen again.

Lin Hai looked at me, as if he still wanted to say something, but seeing my expression, he gave up and asked, "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, we're just waiting to see if you'll transfer the stone company to me."

"How do you want to transfer it?" Lin Hai asked in surprise.

"You set the conditions."

I admit that my attitude suddenly distanced myself from him again, so Lin Hai looked at my face again in surprise. After a while, he asked, "What conditions? Can you afford to buy my company?"

"I certainly can't, but Pei Shi Yu can, so as long as you ask, we'll definitely meet your requirements."

"How much are you planning to offer?" Lin Hai didn't answer, but instead asked me.

"You tell me."

"Is this your attitude for supporting the Lin family?"

"What kind of attitude do you want?"

"You don't have any attitude anymore."

Our conversation suddenly froze, as if we had returned to the past. Just when I was about to give up talking to him, his voice sounded in time, "If you want this company, at least use a negotiating tone. You get so stubborn after I say a few words to you. Since I'm taking the initiative to give you the company, the goal is for it to be profitable. If you suddenly want to tear it down, I should at least ask about it, right?"

I didn't speak, acting as if I had neither planned to give up, nor did I want to lower myself. To me, this was already forbearance, because he was the one who took the initiative to give me this opportunity in the first place. As for how to operate it, I think we should still take a long-term view.

"Tell me about your plans." Lin Hai seemed to understand my temper, and took the initiative to speak up when he saw my silence.

"I'm not too clear on the details of what we'll do. Pei Shi Yu is abroad these few days. If this investment is successful, it will be a multi-party collaboration, it should be in manufacturing, mainly automation, and I think the prospects are promising."

After hearing my words, Lin Hai fell silent, his expression suggesting that he was thinking deeply about something. From this, it can be seen that Lin Hai is still quite cautious when it comes to doing business.