It happened in an instant.
A waiter stumbled, and the large ceramic bowls they were carrying were sloshed towards Hua Heng's new assistant, Xiao Chen.
Before Xiao Chen could react, he cried out from the scalding liquid, and his wig was yanked off, revealing a shiny bald head.
"Wow..." Xia Qingtian didn't know whether to marvel at the suddenness of the event or the appearance of the bald head.
"Huh?" Hua Heng's boss seemed startled by the sight.
Immediately after, Xiao Chen reached into his ear and pulled out a damaged internal communication device that was sparking.
Now, even Xia Qingtian realized something was wrong with this Xiao Chen.
She immediately turned to Gu Yaoyang, only to find him calmly drinking his tea, seemingly unaffected.
"Hiss..." Xiao Chen's half-face was red from the burn, and the arm that had its sleeve ripped off revealed skin of a completely different color, swollen and adorned with a fearsome full-sleeve tattoo.
"You! You're not Xiao Chen! Who are you?!" Hua Heng's boss exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Damn it." Muttering a curse, the "Xiao Chen" shot a glare at Xia Qingtian, who had ruined his plan, then turned and scrambled towards the window, intending to jump out and escape.
As the "Xiao Chen" leaped out, Xia Qingtian reacted and immediately rushed to the window. Looking down, she saw the ferocious Xiao Chen, who had just been there, now caught like a fish out of water, ensnared in a net.
A person disguised as a waiter produced a stun gun and fired it at the side of the "Xiao Chen's" neck as he struggled to escape.
Accompanied by a flash of blue electricity, the "Xiao Chen" convulsed twice and then completely fainted, ceasing all movement.
Witnessing this, Xia Qingtian was also taken aback. She still hadn't figured out what was going on.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gu had already begun skillfully comforting Hua Heng's boss. "It seems now that Assistant Hu's car accident was not an accident. Also, perhaps we should discuss the details of our future cooperation another day."
Hua Heng's boss, a seasoned elite who had climbed his way to his position through decades in business, quickly regained his composure. He flashed an unconvaturally natural smile at Mr. Gu and said, "Certainly, I appreciate Mr. Gu's efforts in this matter."
"It's my duty," Mr. Gu replied with a slight smile.
Hua Heng's boss did not linger. After exchanging pleasantries, he left directly.
He couldn't believe such a dangerous individual had infiltrated his side without his knowledge. It was his negligence, but it would only happen once.
It seemed some people with ulterior motives saw his age and harbored malicious intentions!
Very good, very good!
Seeing Hua Heng's boss depart, Xia Qingtian had countless questions for Gu Yaoyang.
However, Gu Yaoyang showed no intention of answering any of Xia Qingtian's questions. He simply had someone come in to clean up and then had a table full of exquisite dishes served again.
"Sit," Gu Yaoyang gestured to the seat opposite him.
Xia Qingtian then took her seat. Looking at the dishes on the table, she realized they were all her favorites.
"To celebrate your successful onboarding," Gu Yaoyang stood up and poured Xia Qingtian a glass of juice. "Since you still have work in the afternoon, we'll substitute drinks for alcohol."
At this moment, a "beep" sounded in Xia Qingtian's mind.
"Congratulations to the host for completing the task of knocking over the next dish served. Reward: a special celebration banquet."
Xia Qingtian found it difficult to determine if she had actually completed this task.
"Ask whatever you want to ask," Gu Yaoyang said, seeing Xia Qingtian's expression, as if she had something to say. He paused and added, "I'll give you one opportunity to ask questions. Whatever you ask, I will answer with complete sincerity."
Even if Xia Qingtian wanted to ask about his biggest secret, Gu Yaoyang was prepared to confess.
Whatever it was, if Xia Qingtian asked, he was willing to answer.
Looking at Gu Yaoyang, Xia Qingtian asked with a serious expression, "Did you trip me just now?"
Hearing Xia Qingtian's question, Gu Yaoyang was stunned at first. After a three-second silence, he supported his forehead with one hand and couldn't help but burst into laughter. "What the... you're asking about that..."
Gu Yaoyang laughed so hard his shoulders shook.
If Assistant Lin or anyone from the Gu family saw this scene, they would surely be shocked to the point of falling down.
Was this still the usual indifferent and distant Gu Yaoyang?
"Hey! Are you mocking me!" Xia Qingtian's face flushed.
"I apologize, I didn't mean to mock you." Gu Yaoyang finally stopped laughing. He wiped away the tears from his eyes and looked at Xia Qingtian, saying, "Yes, I tripped you. I apologize for any offense."
"It really was you," Xia Qingtian clicked her tongue before picking up her chopsticks and starting to eat.
"I never would have imagined you'd ask me that..." Gu Yaoyang looked at Xia Qingtian, his gaze gentle.
To be precise, there were too many things about Xia Qingtian that surprised him.
"What else? What do you think I would ask you?" Xia Qingtian rolled her eyes. "Ask why you lied to me, what your intentions are, how long you plan to keep me on the sidelines?"
"When did I..." Gu Yaoyang's words were interrupted by Xia Qingtian.
"Let me make it clear: I'm not as easily bullied as you think. Whether you want to make things difficult for me or prank me, just go ahead! If I give in or complain, you can take my surname!" Xia Qingtian said boldly, slapping the table.
"..." Gu Yaoyang, who had intended to explain, heard Xia Qingtian's last sentence and a subtle smile played on his lips, his eyes showing anticipation. "Alright."
Taking his surname, it didn't seem so bad.
Seeing Gu Yaoyang accept her challenge, Xia Qingtian snorted. She could already foresee that in the next two days, she would face unparalleled pressure and difficulties.
However, she would never yield to any of it.
It was only three days anyway. She had a clear conscience, so who was she afraid of!
After the meal, Xia Qingtian and Gu Yaoyang took a car back to Gu Corporation, and the filming team also returned with them.
With more than half an hour to go before the official start of work in the afternoon, Xia Qingtian first went to the creative department to check on Li Xiaoxiao.
At that moment, Li Xiaoxiao was taking her lunch break.
After confirming Li Xiaoxiao's safety, Xia Qingtian began chatting with her. "How is it? Are you getting used to it?"
"It's pretty good. The creative department is very free, which suits me perfectly. There's not much pressure, and everyone in the department is very easy to talk to." Li Xiaoxiao's eyes were shining, and she looked very happy. "It would be great if I could really work here after graduation."
"Seeing you so happy puts my mind at ease," Xia Qingtian finally managed a smile.
At a nearby workstation, Freya, with her golden hair, narrowed her emerald green eyes and sized up Xia Qingtian.
The message above might not have explicitly said to kill Xia Qingtian, but it didn't forbid capturing her and playing with her until she was half-dead. She still had several dangerous projects on hand, and she hadn't found suitable experimental subjects yet.