"Why not stay inside?"
On the vast terrace of a building in New York, as Song Heping stood gazing at the distant nightscape, Angel's voice ca from behind.
"Just not quite used to it..."
Song Heping turned around, showing a slightly awkward smile to the approaching beauty. "I'm a bit socially anxious."
During the conversation, his gaze passed over Angel's shoulder and landed on a door not far away.
Through the glass doors, although the music from inside the banquet hall was inaudible, he could see well-dressed n and won moving amongst each other, gathering in small groups, engaged in lively conversations.
Angel didn't say a word, just walked over to the railing of the terrace with a smile and looked into the distance.
After a long ti, she tapped her champagne glass gently in the air and asked, "Tell , what do you see?"
Song Heping turned back to gaze into the distance again.
Not far off, the New York nightscape was like an endless drama of light and shadow, pushing the allure of this city that never sleeps to its peak.
The Manhattan skyline was one of the most iconic sights. The glass curtain walls of the high-rises reflected the dazzling neon lights, forming shimring ribbons of light that pierced the clouds. The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Freedom Tower, and other landmark buildings shimred under the night sky, standing like giants in the dimming lights.
This was one of the most bustling cities in the United States, a congregation of money, ambition, and desires.
"The nightscape is beautiful," he intentionally avoided delving deeper, sticking to surface levels since Song Heping himself didn't like to easily reveal his inner thoughts. "This country is quite prosperous, worthy of being a superpower."
Angel turned her head to look at Song Heping. "Song, your heart is always wrapped in armor. There's really no need for that with ."
Song Heping was slightly startled.
Yes, he seed a bit too wary of Angel.
It was not a conversation that involved any secrets; there was no need to hide anything.
"Angel, I'm sorry," he said. "Perhaps it's due to my profession, or perhaps it's a habit ford from my personality since childhood; my self-defense chanism is a bit too sensitive."
Angel sighed. "I'm not blaming you. Easterners are indeed more reserved."
After refocusing her gaze into the distance, Angel suddenly asked, "Now tell your true feelings. What do you see?"
"Money, power, desires, and prosperity; this is a domain of the ambitious," Song Heping didn't conceal this ti.
"Not quite right," Angel said. "This isn't a country."
"Huh?"
Song Heping was surprised. "Not a country?"
Angel said, "Song, the fact that you see a country in this splendor before you indicates that you're not looking high enough. This isn't a country..."
She turned her gaze back to Song Heping, her face no longer holding a smile, and spoke very seriously, "This is a company."
"A company?"
Song Heping was hearing for the first ti that the United States was described as a company, and found the idea quite fresh, so he couldn't help asking, "How do you explain that concept?"
Angel said, "The governnt of this country is just a puppet show; you might call them a managent team, but they aren't appointed by the people here, only by the financial tycoons and conglorates behind them. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Song Heping was struck by Angel's brainstorm and couldn't co up with any words to reply, just nodded thoughtfully without saying anything.
Angel continued, "When you one day truly beco soone who can influence power, you will understand these words."
Song Heping said, "The education I received wasn't like this. A country is my ho, my roots, not so company."
"I know," Angel said. "But this is the United States, a place made up of immigrants, controlled by financial magnates, with the military-industrial complex establishing authority, using the US dollar as a colonial tool."
Song Heping's mouth gaped open.
He thought the girl in front of him had drunk too much.
She's Arican...
Why does that sound so strange?
This is her own country, doesn't she love it?
Seeing his surprised expression, Angel couldn't help but laugh, "What? You seem very surprised. Do you think it's ruthless of to say this as an Arican?"
Song Heping nodded, not hiding his thoughts, "Yes, in my mind, it's inconceivable. In our country, ho and nation are one, sharing honor and disgrace together."
Angel said, "That's because your country is not a corporation."
…
Song Heping remained speechless.
Angel turned and pointed in the direction of the banquet hall not far away.
"Do you see those people inside? Tonight, there are state and city officials, legislators, even mbers of both houses of Congress, in addition to military personnel, Wall Street elites, and New York celebrities. But you've been in there for over an hour—have you heard them talk about how to love this country? No, their conversations are all about business, how to gain more partisan benefits, how to make more money. They talk about national threats and the like, but if you peel back the surface, it's all about interest. In this field of fa and profit, the nation is just a company, and they are rely shareholders. They have shares in more than just this company, it's just that the United States is the strongest one they have a stake in."
"I must say your perspective is very novel to ; I'm hearing it for the first ti," Song Heping said.
Angel continued, "Song, the company you're now involved in is no longer the small team of just a few people from before. Do you realize the risk you're taking by participating in the Colombian governnt's encirclent operations this ti? Once the CIA finds out you're supporting the ELN militants behind the scenes, they will not let you go."
Song Heping smiled, "When I t you, weren't you also being hunted by the CIA and the military?"
"I'm different," Angel said. "We are part of this circle, but you are not. I can confront people in Washington openly, or military and CIA officials we don't like, but you're an outsider, not yet part of this circle. If you provoke people within, you'll be crushed like a bug."
"I don't like being crushed," Song Heping said. "And they won't find it so easy to crush ."
Angel asked, "Do you know why I brought you here tonight?"
Song Heping pondered for a mont before answering, "You want to bring into the circle?"
Angel neither confird nor denied, "But at the mont, you don't qualify. Once you have the power, I'll recomnd you to them."
Song Heping asked, "How can I prove my power?"
Angel replied, "So people are born with a golden key in their mouths, others have to fight their way up step by step. Which one are you?"
"Looks like I'll have to make it on my own," Song Heping said.
Angel laughed, "Breaking through class barriers is hard, especially for a Chinese person, but I have my bets on you, Song. You are a potential stock to watch. Rember, when your power grows, naturally people will co knocking, and when that happens, I'll help you out. But until then, all I can do is give you a little push from the shadows."
Listening to Angel speak frankly, Song Heping had a renewed appreciation for the stunning woman before him.
"Why do I feel... you're completely different from the Angel I knew back in Illiguo?" Song Heping teased, "It's hard to believe you're the sa person. Back then, you'd often scream, getting scared to the point of panic, but now..."
He gestured with his hand to express his admiration.
"The circumstances are different," Angel said. "You're a professional soldier, trained in how to shoot and kill, and I'm not. If you took back to Illiguo now and we faced an attack, I'd still scream."
Song Heping nodded in agreent.
In military matters, he was more skilled than Angel.
But in political maneuvering, he was far behind.
"I have to say, Angel, you truly have been a great ntor and friend."
Song Heping raised his glass sincerely, signaling for a toast.
Angel didn't join the toast but suddenly pouted playfully, "That's it? Just a ntor and friend?"
As she spoke, she leaned in close like a cat.
The distance closed again, and Song Heping could feel Angel's breath, fragrant like an orchid, filling his nostrils.
"I live alone in New York. Do you want to co over tonight?"
"To your place?"
"Would you rather go to a hotel?"
"No, it's not that…"
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