RRP Chapter 19

Ji Ling didn’t return to S City with Yan Yixuan. Instead, he stayed behind in N City, lingering alone.

 

To him, S City felt like a battlefield. If he went back, he’d have to immediately hop on his horse, grab his gun, and lead his team into the fray, fighting to make more profit.

 

The longer he stayed in S City, the more his identity and position there would control and influence him.

 

Little by little, he became Ji Ling, and Ji Ling became him.

 

The dinner that day had a huge impact on him. Without Zong Bolin, the company didn’t fall apart. His younger brother’s growth speed left him stunned. He even started to wonder—if he really went back, would the situation be better than it is now?

 

Ji Ling was taken aback by his own hesitation. He had always thought he would be like Yan Yixuan, resolute in saying he would never give up his throne.

 

But that day, he didn’t immediately agree with Yan Yixuan’s answer.

 

Miss Zhong’s actions also confused him. Back then, he thought their relationship was just a game of money. She always seemed to know the boundaries, never throwing tantrums, only taking what was hers, never crossing the line.

 

After the incident that day, Ji Ling didn’t think much about her. Yet, she was able to remember his handwriting, recall his gestures, and because it was a little similar, she was willing to make a promise to a stranger.

 

For the first time, Ji Ling realized that maybe he was a bit heartless.

 

He remembered what his secretary had said that night.

 

The secretary had criticized him for not understanding people’s hearts. Ji Ling had always been extremely confident in dealing with others, but now, he couldn’t help but wonder—was it really like that?

 

Ji Ling bought a bouquet of flowers and spent some time asking around for directions before heading to the cemetery.

 

There weren’t many people visiting graves in this season. The entire cemetery was eerily quiet. Although the weather was getting warmer, the trees stood quietly lush, and no birds chirped. It still felt somewhat solemn.

 

Zong Bolin should have been buried in the northern city’s upscale cemetery, alongside his father.

 

Ji Ling didn’t care much. Today, he just wanted to visit his secretary.

 

He wound around the mountain path for a long while before finally finding the place. The new grave looked clean and neat. Only the stone steps showed signs of burning, indicating that relatives had come to pay their respects.

 

Ji Ling placed the flowers in front of the gravestone.

 

The photo on the gravestone was still new, showing a young face.

 

Ji Ling thought about how he had once been very pleased with this secretary because no one was more meticulous in handling the internal affairs than him. Looking back, if it wasn’t true affection, how could he have been so considerate?

 

But at that time, he had no idea at all.

 

If he had noticed earlier, maybe he could have found a more subtle and perfect way to handle things.

 

Over the past few days in N City, he had thought about ‘what if’ countless times.

 

But this world doesn’t have ‘what ifs.’

 

He believed that the secretary hadn’t intentionally led them down a dead-end road that day. The weather had been terrible, the road slippery, and the oncoming headlights had added to the chaos. All these factors combined had caused the tragedy.

 

No matter what, though, even though he had lost so much, he was still alive. He could still stand here, living under a different identity.

 

He looked at the photo on the secretary’s gravestone, thinking, ‘Thank you, and I’m sorry.’

 

After leaving the cemetery, Ji Ling headed back to the hotel he was staying at. The hotel was next to a large shopping mall, and after thinking for a moment, he decided to take a detour and visit the mall. He wanted to pick up a few things from the boutique supermarket inside.

 

Though Ji Ling had never worried about basic needs before, ever since becoming Ji Ling, he had to handle everything himself. Gradually, he was getting more accustomed to the little details of daily life.

 

He picked out a few personal items and was about to check out when he unexpectedly saw someone.

 

To his surprise, he spotted Zong Jiqi standing beside a supermarket shelf, staring blankly at the items on display.

 

Zong Jiqi wasn’t wearing a suit. Instead, he was in casual clothes, sporting sneakers. His hair was loose, and when he looked up, he seemed a bit dazed.

 

He looked completely different from the image he had presented at the dinner, almost like a different person.

 

But this was the Zong Jiqi that Ji Ling remembered as his younger brother.

 

Ji Ling purposely made no sound as he slowly approached and suddenly called out, “Mr. Zong.”

 

Zong Jiqi jumped, his body jolting. He hadn’t expected to run into someone who recognized him here. For a moment, he looked a bit flustered, staring at Ji Ling in confusion. It took a while before he remembered who had called his name, and he said, “Ah, it’s Mr. Ji.”

 

Though both of them were shopping at the supermarket, Ji Ling looked far more formal than Zong Jiqi, which made Ji Ling seem older. Zong Jiqi, in casual clothes, looked just like an ordinary person.

 

Zong Jiqi obviously noticed this as well. He became slightly awkward and immediately put on a business-like expression, straightening his face and saying, “What a coincidence, Mr. Ji, you’re here too.”

 

The more he tried to stay composed, the more awkward he seemed, and Ji Ling couldn’t help but find his younger brother a little cute.

 

Ji Ling casually said, “I’m just here to pick up a few things. Are you doing the same, Mr. Zong?”

 

Zong Jiqi, his hands empty, didn’t seem like he was here to shop. He replied, “I’m just browsing.”

 

Ji Ling followed his gaze to the shelf, noticing that it held products from one of the brands under the Zong family’s company.

 

Ji Ling’s mind sparked, and he didn’t let it go, asking, “What are you looking at? Isn’t this one of Zong’s products? So, Mr. Zong, are you here for market research?”

 

Zong Jiqi was caught off guard and blushed slightly. Perhaps because Ji Ling wasn’t very familiar to him, he felt more relaxed around him than he did at the dinner. He said seriously, “I’m just here to see how our products are being stocked.”

 

It was hard to believe that the head of a large conglomerate was here checking the stock at a small supermarket. Ji Ling smiled and said, “Mr. Zong, you’re so young, yet so responsible. It’s really impressive.”

 

Zong Jiqi responded, “Because I’m afraid, that’s why I’m here.”

 

Ji Ling raised an eyebrow, asking, “Afraid of what?”

 

Perhaps Zong Jiqi felt that Ji Ling posed no threat and figured they’d never meet again, so he slowly started opening up to Ji Ling.

 

“You probably know that I suddenly took over the company. My older brother was an outstanding person. He ran the company well on his own. I’ve never managed our family business before, and I never imagined something would happen to him.”

 

He paused for a moment, and Ji Ling couldn’t help but say, “Natural disasters and man-made calamities… sometimes there’s nothing you can do.”

 

But Zong Jiqi said, “I was promoted suddenly. I know no one has any expectations of me, so I’m really scared. I’m afraid everyone’s predictions will come true. I’m afraid I’m really not as good as my brother.” He took a product off the shelf and focused on the brand name, saying, “I’m also afraid that our family’s products will disappear from supermarkets. If that happens, I’ll be the sinner of our family.”

 

He turned to Ji Ling, his face serious. The youthful naivety from earlier had gradually faded, and he said, “Every time I think about this, I can’t sleep or eat. I can’t help but come to the supermarket and check. As long as I see our brand on the shelves, I can feel at ease.”

 

Ji Ling looked at Zong Jiqi deeply.

 

It was only at that moment that he truly understood the immense pressure his younger brother had been under, yet it hadn’t broken him. He was still standing there, with a gaze that was clear and unwavering, just like their brand that had never left the market.

 

But Ji Ling, ever perceptive, also saw ambition in his younger brother’s eyes.

 

It was an expression Ji Ling was very familiar with—an expression he had seen in his competitors, his subordinates, and his business partners.

 

It was the deepest subconscious drive a man has for success.

 

Ji Ling recalled how he had deliberately kept Zong Jiqi away from the company’s affairs. Looking back now, he thought… how foolish he had been.

 

This trip back to N City had really shaken him. Ji Ling had always been a highly organized person, but now he found himself unexpectedly lost.

 

He wanted to reach out and ruffle Zong Jiqi’s hair, but he held back. Instead, he said softly, “Mr. Zong, with your heart and dedication, I’m sure you’ll lead Zong’s to even greater heights.”

 

Though Ji Ling’s words were nothing more than empty compliments, they were said with sincerity.

 

Zong Jiqi probably felt like he had said too much. He put the item he had been holding back on the shelf and said to Ji Ling, “Thank you, Mr. Ji. I’ll be leaving now.”

 

As he turned to leave, in that moment, Ji Ling made a decision. He suddenly grabbed Zong Jiqi by the arm.

 

Zong Jiqi turned in shock to look at Ji Ling. Ji Ling met his gaze with a serious expression, his voice shifting into something more commanding.

 

“Remember this—aside from the publicly listed company, you have over 500 physical retail stores nationwide. That’s your real leverage. When you speak at the board meetings, don’t just rely on your shares. Those stores are your bargaining chips.”

 

“And you need to maintain strong ties with your distributors. Many of Zong Corporation’s distribution partners have been working with your family since your father’s era. They only recognize the name ‘Zong’—not anyone else. Keep that relationship intact. Don’t underestimate the importance of supermarket sales channels. Those vendors are your support network.”

 

“Right now, traditional industries are struggling, but that doesn’t mean opportunities don’t exist. If you introduce innovative products, you’ll have a higher chance of securing policy support, tax reductions, and even boosting your other product lines.”

 

Zong Jiqi stood frozen, staring at Ji Ling in shock. He didn’t even know what kind of expression he should be making.

 

Ji Ling’s expression was unreadable as he continued, “There’s one thing you need to be absolutely certain about—you must secure your industrial foundation before considering anything else. Unless you’re planning to completely shift directions, investments and real estate must be stable before you make any moves.”

 

Zong Jiqi stared at Ji Ling, stunned into silence. He watched as Ji Ling’s gaze shifted from surprise to confusion, then finally to wariness.

 

Frowning, Zong Jiqi asked, “How do you know all this? Why do you understand Zong’s situation so well? And why are you telling me this?”

 

Ji Ling sighed inwardly and simply said that he had once been acquainted with Zong Bolin.

 

Zong Jiqi clearly didn’t believe him. But Ji Ling only smiled and said, “I believe in you, Mr. Zong. Keep going.”

 

Zong Jiqi’s expression shifted unpredictably, and after a long pause, he managed to say, “Thank you…”

 

They parted ways in the supermarket, and as Zong Jiqi left, it seemed he was still pondering Ji Ling’s words.

 

Ji Ling thought to himself that even if Zong Bolin were to stand before Zong Jiqi now, his younger brother probably wouldn’t be willing to hand over control so easily—just like how he himself had once refused to let his own brother step into the business world.

 

He felt it was time to return to S City.

 

At least for now, he didn’t want to go to war with Zong Jiqi. Though Zong Jiqi was somewhat immature, he was growing quickly, and Ji Ling felt confident that Zong’s company was in good hands under him.

 

Meanwhile, Ji Ling had already organized himself and was ready to dive back into his own battle.

 

Yan Yixuan said he would never give up his throne, but Ji Ling wasn’t Yan Yixuan.

 

Fortunately, he was still young. His future held even greater possibilities.

 

After all, no one ever said there could only be one king in this world.

 

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