Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Chapter 1337 Liang Sichen at age 17

In the office, Secretary Shui handed Qin Hao an appointment document. Sunlight streamed through the Venetian blinds, casting dappled shadows on the document. Qin Hao took it and saw that it was a document promoting Song Yunhui to workshop director of a branch factory. He instantly understood what was going on.

"Xiao Hui won't accept it?" Qin Hao's fingers tapped lightly on the document, making a soft sound.

Secretary Shui nodded, took off his glasses, rubbed his reddened eyes, and sighed, "Xiao Song felt he lacked experience and asked me to retract my decision. That kid is too honest."

Qin Hao made no attempt to hide it: "Is he afraid people will say he got his position by bringing down Director Cheng and Min Zhongsheng?"

A silence fell over the office, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock. Secretary Shui rose and walked to the window, gazing at the towering chimneys of the branch factory in the distance. He smiled wryly, "To be honest, if there were a suitable candidate, I wouldn't have pushed Xiao Song forward at this critical juncture. But Lao Cheng and Min Zhongsheng are both gone. Not only do I need to cultivate new successors, but the branch factory also needs to achieve its foreign exchange earnings target of fifty million US dollars this year. Time is tight and the task is heavy. Besides Xiao Song, there really isn't a suitable candidate."

Qin Hao took the document, his knuckles lightly tracing the paper: "I'll talk to him about this."

"With Boss Lei helping to persuade Xiao Song, I'm relieved," Secretary Shui sighed, his trousers rustling against the sofa as he turned away. "These days, there are so few pure-hearted people like Xiao Song."

“But one can’t be too naive. Xiaohui still has a lot to learn.” Qin Hao folded the document and put it in his suit pocket. “He’s lucky to have a mentor like Secretary Shui.”

After leaving Secretary Shui's office, Qin Hao went directly to the branch factory where Song Yunhui worked.

The August sun beat down on the concrete floor, sending up waves of heat. Upon arriving at the technical department, Song Yunhui's colleague said he was out inspecting equipment. Following the directions, Qin Hao went to Workshop One and saw a thin figure crouching on the floor, repairing a leaking valve.

"Xiao Liu, could you pass me the number two wrench?" Song Yunhui's voice came from the bottom of the equipment, echoing with a metallic resonance.

Qin Hao stood two meters away, looking at the young man covered in oil stains. Song Yunhui only noticed Qin Hao when he looked up after finishing his inspection. He quickly got up from the ground, and two obvious dirt marks were already worn on the knees of his work pants.

"Brother-in-law, I'm sorry, I didn't notice you just now." Song Yunhui hurriedly wiped the oil stains off his face with his sleeve, but only made the stains spread wider.

Qin Hao smiled and waved his hand, pointing to the emergency staircase beside him: "Do you have time now? Come walk with me."

The steel staircase creaked under their feet. Song Yunhui obediently followed behind Qin Hao, and the two walked all the way to the top of the factory building before stopping at the railing.

The entire Jingzhou Chemical Plant can be seen in the distance, with its crisscrossing pipes gleaming metallically in the sunlight.

"Brother-in-law, did Secretary Shui send you?" Song Yunhui, still young, couldn't hold back and asked.

Qin Hao turned to look him directly in the eye, sunlight casting dappled patterns on his glasses: "I want to know, why didn't you accept the appointment as workshop director? Is it because you feel you're not capable enough for the position, or are you afraid of what others will say?"

Song Yunhui hesitated for a moment, his fingers unconsciously picking at the peeling paint on the fence: "I...I just feel...this whole thing started because of me."

"Xiao Hui," Qin Hao interrupted directly, "If that's your logic, then this whole thing started because of me. I'm the one who stopped you from being with Cheng Kaiyan, and that's why her father is targeting you."

"Don't always take the blame for things. Ultimately, it's Old Cheng who's blinded by greed. He thinks Secretary Shui is retiring and his apprentice will soon take over, and he wants to experience the arbitrariness of power. Frankly, I wouldn't even give this kind of clown a second thought."

Song Yunhui nodded, forcing a bitter smile. "Perhaps it's because I've spent too much time with them. I understand the logic, but it just feels a bit awkward."

Qin Hao patted Song Yunhui on the shoulder: "Xiaohui, do you know what Secretary Shui said to me?"

Song Yunhui paused, then slowly shook his head. A bead of sweat slid down his temple.

"Secretary Shui said he was so heartbroken that he had to execute Ma Su, suddenly losing two key generals under his command. Now, the branch factory is under immense pressure to generate foreign exchange, and he can't find a suitable candidate besides you." Qin Hao's voice was exceptionally clear in the hot air: "Don't think of this exceptional promotion as a reward; on the contrary, it's a test for you."

Qin Hao paused here, pointing to the old factory area of ​​Jingzhou Chemical. Under the sunlight, the old equipment gleamed dimly: "Yu Shanqing was fired, but the products from the old Jingzhou Chemical factory will continue to be sold. If you were in Yu Shanqing's position, do you think you could do better than him?"

Song Yunhui remained silent for a long time, then sighed, "No."

Qin Hao said solemnly, "The First Branch Factory is the key to Jingzhou Chemical's transformation and breakthrough. Secretary Shui promoted you so that you would fight for the future of Jingzhou Chemical, not to enjoy high office and a life of luxury. You must understand this!"

A wave of heat swept across the rooftop, soaking the back of Song Yunhui's work clothes. He looked up, his fingers trembling slightly as he took the appointment document: "Brother-in-law, I understand what to do."

Qin Hao said seriously, "The workshop director position is very challenging; you have to manage both the workers and the equipment, handling everything down to the smallest detail. If you encounter any problems, you can always ask Secretary Shui, or call me."

"Okay, I understand, brother-in-law." Song Yunhui carefully folded the document and put it into his breast pocket.

Qin Hao chuckled and patted his arm: "Remember to take a few days off and go home. Don't let your parents and sister worry. I have to go now."

After leaving Jingzhou, Qin Hao boarded a flight to the United States. Amidst the roar of the Boeing 747's engines, he gazed at the city skyline receding into the distance outside the window, recalling Song Yunping's parting words, and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

After a 15-hour flight, the plane landed at JFK Airport. The morning mist in New York had not yet dissipated when Qin Hao dragged his suitcase out of customs, where a car from Haoran International's New York branch was already waiting.

"Boss, did you have a pleasant journey?" Driver Lao Zhang took the luggage, and the trunk made a dull thud as it closed.

Qin Hao rubbed his throbbing temples: "Not bad, let's go straight to the company."

Haoran International's New York branch is located in Midtown Manhattan. The slight feeling of weightlessness as the elevator ascended made Qin Hao feel somewhat uncomfortable. He had just arrived at his office when his secretary, Lisa, hurriedly pushed open the door, her high heels clicking rapidly on the marble floor.

"Boss, I have some bad news." Lisa handed her a cup of black coffee: "The grandmother of that Chinese girl who used to come to see you often has passed away."

Qin Hao frowned, the coffee cup clinking crisply against the tray: "When did this happen?"

“Just a week ago.” Lisa handed her a newspaper clipping.

Qin Hao quickly glanced at Mrs. Liang's photo in the newspaper, spilling a few drops of dark liquid as he put down his coffee cup: "The meeting is postponed to tomorrow."

As the black Lincoln cruised through the streets of New York, Qin Hao gazed at the fleeting street scenes outside the window, recalling the last time he saw Liang Sichen, when the kind old lady had looked at him with gentle eyes.

As the car entered the Long Island villa area, the Liang family's residence still maintained the style of an English garden, except that most of the carefully cultivated roses had withered.

After ringing the doorbell, a stranger opened the door. The young man eyed Qin Hao warily: "Who are you?"

"Liang Sichen's friend."

Before she could finish speaking, hurried footsteps echoed down the stairs. Liang Sichen nearly tripped as she rushed down, her black dress revealing eyes swollen and red like peaches. The moment she saw Qin Hao, she buried her face in his chest, tears quickly soaking the front of his suit jacket.

"Brother Hao. Grandma..." Her sobs made her voice broken and intermittent.

Qin Hao stood frozen in place, his hands dangling in mid-air. Seventeen-year-old Liang Sichen had blossomed into a graceful young woman, no longer the frail little girl she once was.

In the end, he gently patted her back, feeling the protruding shoulder blades beneath the thin fabric.

The conversation in the living room abruptly stopped, and a dozen pairs of eyes turned to them. Liang Sichen's grandfather walked over; this once-powerful figure on Wall Street now leaned on a cane, a black armband pinned to the left arm of his suit.

“Mr. Lei, I’m sorry to have troubled you.” The old man nodded slightly, his cane leaving a circular mark on the carpet.

Qin Hao nodded in condolence. "Please accept my condolences."

Liang Sichen finally stopped crying and pulled Qin Hao's wrist as they walked upstairs. Her fingers were cold and trembling slightly. On the balcony at the end of the second-floor corridor, morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

"I always thought I was a rather detached person," Liang Sichen said softly, standing by the fence. "But the moment my grandmother passed away, I truly felt like the sky had fallen."

A heated argument erupted downstairs, the jarring sound of a glass shattering on the floor particularly jarring. Qin Hao offered no words of comfort, simply listening quietly. A gust of wind lifted the sheer curtains, brushing across the gap between them.

After Liang Sichen finished speaking, Qin Hao slowly asked, "What are your plans next?"

A sarcastic smile played on Liang Sichen's lips, sunlight casting dappled shadows on her face. "Do you know why those relatives downstairs are still here so long after the funeral?" She pointed to several luxury cars parked in the garden. "They're all waiting to claim a share of my grandmother's inheritance."

Did your grandmother make a will before she passed away?

Liang Sichen nodded, her stray hairs swaying by her ears. "Grandma said there must have been a will, but I don't know what it said."

"What if you were left all the property? Would you refuse?"

“Of course not.” Her voice was unusually firm: “Since it was left to me by my grandmother, why should I refuse it?”

The arguing downstairs suddenly escalated as Liang Sichen's uncles and aunts argued heatedly over the division of the inheritance. Someone smashed a vase, and the sound of shards flying made Liang Sichen shudder.

The doorbell rang at that moment. A moment later, the butler led a middle-aged man in a sharp suit upstairs, his leather shoes making a dull thud on the stairs.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am William Hamilton, lawyer." The man opened his briefcase, the metal clasp clicking crisply. "Now, let's read Mrs. Liang's will."

The living room fell silent instantly; even breathing became clearly audible. Liang Sichen and Qin Hao stood at the corner of the stairs, sunlight streaming in through the stained-glass windows, casting dappled patterns at their feet.

"According to Madam Liang's last will and testament, all her real estate, stocks, bonds, and cash deposits will be inherited by her granddaughter, Liang Sichen."

Before the words were even finished, the living room erupted in chaos. Liang Sichen's uncle jumped to his feet, his chair scraping loudly on the floor: "This is impossible! How could Mother give everything to this brat!"

My aunt's shrill voice almost pierced my eardrums: "My mother was mentally unstable in her later years; this will must have been signed under duress!"

Liang Sichen's body began to tremble, her fingers gripping the stair railing tightly until her knuckles turned white. Qin Hao silently came to her side and gently placed his hand on her trembling shoulder.

"I'm ready to go to court anytime." His voice wasn't loud, but it was firm and resolute. "I'll find Liang Shenchen the best lawyer in the entire country. You're welcome to give it a try."

A moment of silence fell over the living room, followed by an even louder uproar. Liang Sichen's cousin rushed forward, his expensive leather shoes screeching on the broken glass: "Who do you think you are? This is a family matter for the Liang family!"

"I invited him!" Liang Sichen suddenly shouted, her voice trembling with excitement.

She walked down the stairs with her back straight, the hem of her black skirt sweeping across the steps: "Which of you visited Grandma while she was sick? Now you all come here pretending to be filial sons and grandsons!"

The older relatives looked grim, while the younger generation awkwardly looked away. Liang Sichen's grandfather sat in an armchair in the corner, his cane resting on his knees, silent as a statue.

Qin Hao walked slowly downstairs, the sound of his leather shoes on the marble floor particularly clear. He stood beside Liang Sichen, his gaze sweeping over every face, whether angry or greedy: "If you have doubts about the authenticity of the will, you can sue at any time. However, I think the lawyer should tell you what the chances of winning are. Besides, lawyer fees in the United States are not a small amount. Be careful not to end up with nothing."

The sound of a lawyer tidying up documents broke the silence. The older relatives exchanged glances, while the younger generation began to whisper among themselves. Liang Sichen stood under the crystal chandelier, the light casting flickering shadows on her face, making her appear exceptionally pale.

Throughout the entire process, Liang Sichen's maternal grandfather remained silent, perhaps because he also felt that Liang Sichen, as a granddaughter, should not inherit this estate.

"Let's go," Qin Hao said softly, placing his hand lightly on Liang Sichen's back.

As she stepped out of the villa, the summer heat hit her. Liang Sichen suddenly stopped and looked back at the villa where she had grown up. Ivy had spread over most of the exterior wall, gleaming a glossy green in the sunlight.

Her voice was as soft as a sigh: "Do I... no longer have a home?"

Qin Hao didn't answer immediately. He opened the car door, the leather seats exuding a faint scent in the sunlight: "Home is never just a house; home should be in your heart." (End of Chapter)