"Brother Cao! You're here—come, sit!"Situshan waved from the luxurious KTV sofa, all smiles.
Cao Yang flopped down casually, looking around."We're discussing business here? Not in an office?"
"No need to be so serious." Situshan poured him a drink personally, making Cao Yang feel like royalty. "Just want to talk. A drink or two is enough."
Then he finally asked, lowering his voice,"Brother Cao… are you really planning to sell?"
Cao Yang downed the glass in one gulp and nodded silently.
Situshan leaned forward."You should think twice. Oil is a strategic resource. China needs it."
He jabbed a finger at Cao Yang's chest."You're Chinese. You don't help your country—that's fine. But how can you help Americans instead?"
Cao Yang almost burst out laughing.
"Mr. Situ, tell me… does China really need my oil? Is it really that important?"
"Of course. Ask anyone on the street."
"Then tell me—what's more important? The oil? Or my friends who are being held hostage?"
Situshan stiffened. In comparison, Cao Yang's friends weren't even worth a footnote. Yet they refused to release them.
"Why so quiet?" Cao Yang chuckled."You guilt-trip me with patriotism while refusing to budge even a millimeter. You want to screw me over without letting me fight back?"
He shrugged. "Besides, my shares aren't even enough to shake the industry."
"At the end of the day, business is business. Whoever pays more gets it. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
"And honestly, whether Mobil Group or Liberty Group extracts the oil—it doesn't affect your interests at all."
Situshan asked, "How much did Mobil offer?"
"Ten billion USD."
Situshan sighed. He knew the shares weren't worth that much. Mobil was overpaying by half.
"I still hope you reconsider," he said gently. "After all… you are Chinese."
Cao Yang grinned."Don't worry, I never forget that. But Liberty Group doesn't represent the country."
"They're a state-owned enterprise. How do they not represent the country?"
"Then by your logic, if Liberty Group owes money, China owes money? They import oil every year and resell it at a loss. The less they extract, the less they lose. I'm saving the country money!"
Situshan downed a couple drinks, frustrated.
Cao Yang continued, "And honestly, Mr. Situ, you're American. Why are you more anxious about China than me?"
Situshan didn't answer.He simply stood, grabbed a microphone—
—and music exploded to life.
Then the man started singing Zhang Mingmin's My Chinese Heart with full emotional damage:
"Though my suit is Western-made,My heart will always be Chinese…"
Cao Yang's jaw dropped.He stared blankly at the man belting patriotic lyrics like a wandering bard.
He turned to Situshan's daughter."What's your dad doing? Trying to activate my patriotism?"
Situmeixin covered her face in shame.She had no idea either.
"Enough! Stop! My ears are dying!" Cao Yang snatched the mic. "Let me show you how it's done!"
He sang the second half himself, loud and passionate.
When the song ended, Meixin was dying of secondhand embarrassment.But the two men stood there like they had just performed at the Spring Festival Gala.
Situshan applauded."Bravo, Brother Cao! Now… how do you feel after singing this?"
Cao Yang put on a serious face."I feel my blood boiling! My soul burning! I… want to return to Mother China!"
Situshan struck:"Then you won't sell your shares to the Americans, right?"
Cao Yang hesitated—then slowly shook his head.
"No. I'll sell to you."
Father and daughter exchanged a look.This fast?Did the song really awaken his patriotism?
"But we can't give you ten billion USD."
"Ten billion? That was just fleecing the Americans. You're my own people—I won't charge you that."
"I still owe you thirty billion RMB. Wipe that, and give me ten billion RMB. Deal."
They stared again. Too good to be true.
"Of course… I have one condition."
Finally.They relaxed. If he didn't ask for anything, that would've been suspicious.
"What condition?"
"Nothing major. Miss Situ promised me something earlier—she'd help me set up a meeting with Su Yuanshan. I'm just asking you to fulfill that promise."
Situshan turned to his daughter. He clearly had no idea.
Meixin lowered her head.She had tossed out that promise casually to recruit him. She never meant to follow through.
Situshan said solemnly, "Brother Cao… Su Yuanshan is complicated. He's connected to the Han family. A top domestic tycoon. If something happens to him without a proper explanation, both China and the U.S. will investigate. You might not escape."
"I don't care," Cao Yang said flatly. "Whatever consequences come—I'll take them. You just bring him to me."
"Brother Cao, if you move against him, neither country will let you live."
"No problem. I'll just go back to Nanluo and honor my ancestors."
"This won't be easy."
"Not easy? Then forget it."Cao Yang stood up. "I'll sell to Mobil right now."
Situshan panicked and grabbed him."Don't be impulsive! We'll try. But success or failure—it's not on us."
Cao Yang nodded.
Situshan shot his daughter a glare and left.
Cao Yang blinked."He left? I thought he'd give me a long lecture."
"What he meant was—he agrees to help, but he won't do it personally. I'll handle the contact."
Cao Yang sat down again and poured himself a drink."So how will you lure Su Yuanshan out?"
Meixin shook her head. "Before, maybe. But after everything that's happened? Nearly impossible to bring him to the U.S."
"Why?"
"You idiot! He hired us to kill you! Then the trail went cold. Now, after the South Luo oil incident, we established a joint company with you. Even a fool knows we've teamed up. Why would he trust us?"
"That's your problem," Cao Yang said lazily. "You agreed to it. You handle it."
She took a deep breath."Cao Yang… be serious. If I manage to do this… you really won't sell to Mobil?"