Chapter 202: Encounter on the way to visit the set
June 21st is the summer solstice. The sun is shining brightly and the sky is clear without a single cloud.
Song Ci traveled light, accompanied by his assistant and bodyguard, and set off for Hengdian early in the morning.
Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival. At this moment, my heart is full of anticipation of meeting my loved ones and spending the festival together.
On the flight from Peking to Donghai, the moment Song Ci entered the first class cabin, he unexpectedly met Liu Xiangdong of JD.com.
Since JD.com's Series A financing, the two have been busy with their careers and have not seen each other for a long time.
Song Ci has an outstanding style and gentle temperament. His eyebrows reveal confidence and calmness. His every move is noble and handsome.
In contrast, Liu Xiangdong looked tired, with sunken eyes and anxiety hidden in his eyes, as if he was worried about something.
The two of them walked to a corner of the first-class cabin in tacit understanding. Song Ci spoke first, his voice gentle and powerful, and asked with concern: "Brother Dong, I haven't seen you for a long time. Why do you look so haggard?"
Liu Xiangdong sighed heavily, his expression solemn: “Brother, JD.com is experiencing unprecedented challenges during this period.
The sudden global financial crisis has made investors extremely cautious. The company is temporarily unable to raise funds and its capital chain is about to break.
If this continues, JD.com will not only fail to grow, but will also be unable to pay its employees’ salaries.”
Song Ci listened carefully, memories flashing back in his mind. He remembered that JD.com did encounter an unprecedented crisis in 2008, and Liu Xiang's hair turned white from anxiety.
He raised his hand and patted Liu Xiangdong's arm, and said to comfort him: "Brother Dong, if you want to raise funds, you might as well look for our Tengda Group!"
Since the beginning of the year, Tengda Group has been vigorously collecting accounts receivable and hoarding cash. In addition, there is still a lot of US$400 million left from the first round of financing. The company currently has 3.4 billion in cash in its account, so it is no problem to continue investing in JD.com Group.
Liu Qiangdong smiled when he heard this and said, "I am going to Donghai this time to meet with a few VCs. If there is really no turnaround, I may need to trouble you to help me."
He spoke frankly about Song Ci and did not deliberately conceal the purpose of going to the East China Sea.
First, as the second largest shareholder of JD.com, although Tengda Group does not participate in daily management, it is easy for it to understand the current situation of the company.
Secondly, from his personal perspective, although Song Ci entrusted the voting rights of Tengda Group’s shares to him as promised.
However, he still does not want a single shareholder to hold too high a proportion of shares, as this would pose certain risks to his control over JD.com.
Song Ci nodded slightly. He understood Liu Xiangdong's concerns. It was just human nature and there was nothing to worry about.
"Brother Dong, if your trip to Donghai doesn't go well, I can introduce you to an investor. He has also worked in e-commerce, and you two should have a lot in common."
Liu Xiangdong became interested when he heard it: "Who is it?"
The domestic Internet circle is not that big, and there are only a few people who have worked in e-commerce. Maybe he knows someone like that.
Song Ci introduced: "Former Kingsoft CEO Lei Jun. Since he stepped down as Kingsoft CEO last year, he has focused on investment."
"So it's this guy. I've heard of his deeds. When he founded Joyo.com, his concept was very advanced. He proposed the idea of delivering goods in four major cities within four hours.
JD.com has been influenced by Joyo.com to a certain extent, but what a pity! "When Liu Xiangdong heard Song Ci mention Lei Jun, he suddenly realized it, with a hint of regret in his words.
Song Ci exhaled, "It's a pity indeed! Joyo.com was born at the wrong time, caught up with the Internet bubble and the Nasdaq crisis, and CEO Lei had to reluctantly sell Joyo.com to Amazon."
Liu Xiangdong also sighed for a moment and felt the same way. He didn't know whether his JD.com could survive and grow big enough to go public.
Or if it fails prematurely like Joyo.com, I will sell my years of hard work with tears in my eyes!
Seeing this, Song Ci smiled and suggested, "How about this, Brother Dong, when I return to Beiping in a few days, I will organize a party for us to get together with Mr. Lei. You two are both passionate people, so you should have a lot of common topics."
After talking with Song Ci, Liu Xiangdong felt much more relaxed. He was no longer anxious and smiled: "That's great. I'll trouble you, Brother Song! By the way, are you going to Donghai on business?"
Song Ci explained: "I am going to Hengdian, passing through the East China Sea. My girlfriend is filming in Hengdian. Isn't tomorrow the Dragon Boat Festival? I am going to visit her on the set."
"Is your sister-in-law a celebrity?" Liu Xiangdong was a little surprised. He thought that with Song Ci's conditions, he would find a daughter of an official or a lady from a wealthy family.
Song Ci nodded, the corners of her mouth unconsciously raised, a touch of tenderness in her eyes: "It's Liu Shishi! We are childhood sweethearts and grew up together."
Liu Xiangdong grinned and gave a thumbs up, praising: "The friendship between young people is the most unforgettable! My girlfriend and I are also first love, and we have supported each other since college."
"It's a pity that you finally chose Milk Tea Sister!" Song Ci complained silently in his heart, but it was someone else's family affair and the privacy of it was not something that outsiders should know.
Just as the two were about to continue their conversation, a beautiful stewardess in uniform strode over.
When the flight attendant saw Song Ci, she was stunned at first, as if her brain had crashed for a moment, but then she reacted quickly, and her professionalism allowed her to control her expression.
He said politely: "Gentlemen, the plane is about to take off. Please return to your seats and fasten your seat belts."
Song Ci nodded to the stewardess in front of her who looked somewhat familiar, then returned to her seat with Liu Xiangdong and waited patiently for the plane to take off.
After the flight attendants checked, the plane slowly taxied and soared into the sky.
In the service cabin, two flight attendants were preparing drinks and beverages for first-class passengers.
When he saw his friend coming back, he was distracted, as if he had lost his soul. He immediately asked curiously, "Shasha, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"
When the beautiful stewardess Sun Shasha heard her colleague's question, she suddenly came to her senses, still in her dream, and murmured, "Guess who I saw just now?"
Yao Ting, who is tall and walks with long legs, asked curiously: "Who? Is it a celebrity or a wealthy man?"
Sun Shasha looked dazed, and uttered two words clearly: "Song Ci!"
Yao Ting's eyes suddenly lit up, and she was overjoyed: "Ah, really? I didn't even notice it just now, he's on our flight again?"
More than a year ago, they met Song Ci once on a plane. Although Boss Song was already one of the top ten richest people at that time, he lived a reclusive life and was very low-key. There were few photos of him on the Internet.
At that time, the three first-class flight attendants did not recognize Song Ci and just thought he was some rich young man. They didn't expect to meet him again now.
Sun Shasha nodded heavily: "Just before the plane took off, I saw two passengers talking in the corner, so I went up to persuade them to return to their seats, and I recognized one of them was Song Ci at a glance."
Then she held her chin with both hands, looking infatuated: "Ahhh, I feel like he's even more handsome in person than in the photos on the Internet. Oh my God, why did you let me meet this unattainable man again!"
Yao Ting rolled her eyes and asked, "Which guest was talking to Song Ci?"
Sun Shasha replied absentmindedly, "It's the guest sitting behind him. He seems to be the CEO of some company and is a friend of Song Ci."
Yao Ting secretly kept it in mind, planning to investigate this passenger who could talk to Song Ci after getting off the plane.
In her eyes, Song Ci is of course the first choice, but she has high standards. If there is no chance to get close to him, another passenger who can talk to Song Ci on an equal footing may also be a good target.
She recently opened a training class in Donghai, and many good-looking stewardesses and models have signed up for it. The class is specifically designed to train them in manners, temperament, and knowledge.
They also provide them with information about wealthy businessmen, celebrities and stars, and help them find good marriages and realize their dreams of marrying into a wealthy family.
Fang Yue, who had been promoted to chief steward, sighed and advised, "Shasha, focus on your work, face reality, and don't have those inappropriate thoughts."
She understood Sun Shasha's thoughts too well. Ever since she knew that the handsome guy she met on the last flight was Song Ci, the girl was completely attracted to him and became obsessed with the unattainable nobleman.
I thought that the two of them would slowly fade away without any intersection, but who would have thought that they would meet again today. Song Ci's face, for a girl like Sun Shasha who is full of longing for love, is as lethal as a nuclear bomb.
Sun Shasha clutched the corner of her clothes, looking hopeful: "Sister Yue, I want to try again. It may be fate that we can meet again in such a vast sea of people."
Fang Yue knew that she couldn't stop the little girl's delusions, so she waved her hand weakly: "Forget it, I'll go with you." After saying that, she took off her stewardess uniform, pulled the cart and followed Sun Shasha.
Two stewardesses came to the first-class cabin with a cart filled with wine and drinks and asked the passengers if they needed tea or snacks.
Fang Yue watched the whole process. Although Sun Shasha was anxious, she still followed the seats and served the passengers in order honestly. Finally, she slowly came to Song Ci.
Just as she was about to ask, Sun Shasha was stunned when she saw Song Ci's expression.
Song Ci in front of him was leaning lazily on the back of the chair, looking at his mobile phone intently.
With lowered eyebrows and a faint smile, her expression was extremely gentle. That feeling was as if a ray of winter sunshine shining into the heart, and the warmth instantly spread throughout the body, making people indulge in it.
Even Fang Yue, who was always calm and capable, was stunned for a moment. It was really the sunlight, too handsome. At the same time, she couldn't help but be curious and wanted to see what Song Ci was looking at, and why he looked like that.
Fortunately, her years of professional ethics allowed her to quickly collect her thoughts. She gently touched Sun Shasha with her elbow, then bent down and half-knelt beside Song Ci, raised a professional sweet smile, and asked softly: "Sir, what would you like to drink?"
Song Ci was looking at some photos taken with Liu Shishi on her phone at this time, reminiscing about the past and looking back at the sweetness. When she heard the stewardess' question, she smiled and replied, "A glass of water will be enough, thank you."
As he spoke, he subconsciously placed the phone flat in his hand. It was an unintentional move, but it allowed Fang Yue, who was standing next to him, and Sun Shasha, who was standing behind him, to see the photo on the phone screen.
In the photo, Song Ci is gazing at a girl wearing a red cheongsam embroidered with gold with a tender look.
The girl smiled as she snuggled up to him. The love between them almost overflowed the screen. Anyone could tell at a glance that they were a couple.
Song Ci keenly noticed that the two stewardesses were staring at his mobile phone. Feeling slightly unhappy, he stretched out his finger and swiped to close the mobile phone album.
However, after closing the album, the desktop of the Apple mobile phone was immediately revealed.
Before the two of them could look away, a fairy-like lady in ancient costume, wearing a long blue dress, jumped into their sight on the background image of their mobile phone desktop.
The woman in the picture has a sweet smile, is as gentle as jade, has an outstanding temperament, and is very recognizable. It is obviously the same woman in the previous photo.
Song Ci frowned slightly, suppressing his displeasure, and turned off the screen of his phone.
Fang Yue came to her senses belatedly and felt secretly annoyed. She was so stupid as to pry into the privacy of her customers. Besides, the person in front of her was not an ordinary person. If he complained, she would be in trouble.
He quickly raised his voice and ordered, "Shasha, quickly pour the gentleman a glass of water."
At this moment, Sun Shasha was struck by lightning. She bit her lower lip tightly and looked incredulous.
She was obsessed with Song Ci and had looked up everything about him on the Internet and knew that he might have a girlfriend.
But when she saw with her own eyes that he had intimate photos of him with other women on his phone, she couldn't accept the cruel reality for a moment and her heart was filled with bitterness.
"Shasha!" Fang Yue urged again, and seeing that her colleague still didn't respond, she immediately stood up.
He quickly poured a glass of water and handed it to Song Ci, apologizing repeatedly and earnestly: "Sir, your water. I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting!"
When she heard the stewardess's name was "Shasha", Song Ci recalled that the dazed girl next to her was the stewardess who handed her the note last time.
I became more and more unhappy: "Okay. You guys go ahead and do your work, just don't disturb me. I'll ring the bell if I have something to do."
Seeing that Song Ci did not make things difficult for her on the spot, Fang Yueru was relieved and did not dare to say more: "Okay, sir!"
After saying that, he pulled the distracted Sun Shasha towards the service cabin.
Back in the cabin, Yao Ting, who was preparing lunch for the passengers, saw Fang Yue's angry face. She paused and looked puzzled: "Sister Yue, what's wrong?"
Fang Yue was filled with anger and asked in a stern voice, "Shasha, what were you doing just now? You were standing there like an idiot, didn't you notice that Song Ci was obviously angry?"
Yao Ting covered her mouth in surprise after hearing this. "Ah, what happened? How did you piss off Song Ci? He won't complain about us, will he?"
Sun Shasha's face was pale, and she seemed not to hear Fang Yue's question. She just kept talking to herself: "How could it be her? How could it be her?"
"What?" Seeing the little girl talking nonsense as if possessed, Yao Ting quickly took two steps forward and shook her shoulders, trying to wake her up from her trance.
The violent shaking woke Sun Shasha up from her dream. She slowly raised her eyes and saw Fang Yue and Yao Ting were staring at her.
Thinking back to the loss of composure just now, he felt guilty and said timidly, "I'm sorry, Sister Yue, I just saw the photo of him and Liu Shishi, and I was distracted and lost my composure."
(End of this chapter)
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