"Bastard!"
Li Bingqing could no longer suppress the rage in her heart.
She slammed her hand on the table.
"Playing hardball with me, huh?"
"I'll get someone to kill you right now, and we'll see who's tougher."
As Li Bingqing spoke, she reached for her phone, intending to mobilize her family's assassins.
"Wait."
Mo Ling, who had been silent, suddenly snatched the phone away.
"Sister Bingqing, are you crazy?"
"If the family finds out you're dealing with Song Qiao like this, how can they possibly entrust you with the family's dark guards?"
"Don't forget the test the elders gave us!"
"We have to defeat Song Qiao using normal business tactics first!"
Mo Ling said, full of disappointment.
"Sigh!"
Li Bingqing finally calmed down, dejectedly put down her phone, and stomped her feet in anger.
Xia Xueqing had been feeling conflicted for the past two days.
Ever since she learned that Song Qiao and Wu Meng's relationship seemed a bit unusual.
She had been feeling suspicious and uneasy, always feeling like there was something they were hiding from her.
"No, I have to go to Wu Meng's place and ask her."
"This woman is always closest to Song Qiao. Who knows what might happen one day."
After thinking it over, she decided to take a taxi to Wu Meng's home.
...
"Xueqing, why are you here at this hour?"
Wu Meng, who had just finished showering and had her hair loose, was surprised to see Xia Xueqing.
"I heard it was your birthday yesterday, and I didn't prepare any gifts. I just finished my work, so I rushed over to see you."
Xia Xueqing was well-prepared.
She brought out the flowers she had prepared from behind her.
"Ah."
Wu Meng was touched.
"Thank you, Xueqing. I didn't expect you to know my birthday."
She quickly took the flowers and invited Xia Xueqing inside.
Xia Xueqing's eyes darted around, clearly with an ulterior motive. As she walked inside, she casually explained,
"I just heard Song Qiao mention it by chance."
"I don't know how this guy is so well-informed. He's usually so careless, yet he remembered it more clearly than I did."
Although she feigned a certain nonchalance,
Wu Meng, who had years of experience in the business world and had witnessed the ups and downs of human relationships since childhood, immediately understood her meaning.
Good heavens, so Xia Xueqing was here to question her.
She muttered to herself, and without missing a beat, handed Xia Xueqing a cup of water.
She deliberately put on a show of being touched and agreed with Xia Xueqing,
"Yes, I also didn't expect Song Qiao to be so thoughtful."
"I casually mentioned it during a company team-building event, and I didn't expect him to remember it so clearly."
"Not only did he book a private room today, but he also gave me such an expensive birthday gift."
"As his secretary, I must work hard for him from now on."
Given her usual personality, Wu Meng would have immediately explained herself to Xia Xueqing.
But now, to her own surprise, she found herself deliberately provoking the other woman in front of Xia Xueqing.
"This..."
Xia Xueqing was momentarily speechless, so angry she could barely speak.
No matter how sharp-tongued she was, she couldn't find a retort for Wu Meng at that moment.
She could only swallow her pride for the time being.
The anger she had felt towards Song Qiao, which had been subsiding, was reignited.
...
The next morning.
Xia Xueqing deliberately did not inform Song Qiao in advance that their teacher, Du Qin, wanted to meet him.
She wanted to use her teacher's authority to put Song Qiao in his place.
"Brother-in-law, please come to the Emperor Grand Hotel quickly. My teacher said she must see you today."
Xia Xueqing's voice was deliberately tinged with urgency.
She wanted to see if Song Qiao would still make excuses to postpone the meeting, as he had done in the past few days.
"Alright, I'll be right there."
To her surprise, Song Qiao on the other end of the line took a deep breath and agreed.
Within minutes, he arrived at the Emperor Grand Hotel.
On the third floor, in a top-tier VIP private room.
Du Qin, with short hair and a capable demeanor, sat at the head of the table.
Opposite her sat Wu Zhonghai, the cousin of Wu Meng from the Wu family.
Xia Xueqing, however, stood cautiously behind Du Qin, not daring to breathe too loudly.
"Xueqing, isn't Song Qiao putting on too much of an act? Making us wait for him here?"
"I think he's tired of living."
Du Qin gently placed down her teacup and glanced at Xia Xueqing with dissatisfaction.
"Teacher, please don't worry. There was some traffic on the way today. Song Qiao will be here soon."
Xia Xueqing quickly explained and gently massaged Du Qin's shoulders.
At that moment, she couldn't help but regret not informing Song Qiao last night to prepare himself.
"Hmph, I really don't understand what you see in him. Compared to Zhonghai, he's simply a nobody, a street ruffian."
"What 'Xiang Piaopiao' stinky tofu? I think he's just an unscrupulous businessman producing junk food."
"Today, I will make sure he retreats in defeat."
Du Qin snorted coldly, having clearly done a preliminary investigation into Song Qiao's background.
Being a proud and aloof person, she naturally looked down on the businesses Song Qiao was involved in.
"Exactly, Xueqing. Our Wu family has said that if you and he can get together, we'll let you take over one of the family companies."
"It'll definitely be much better than you being some HR manager at Xinkai Capital."
Wu Zhonghai's gaze had not left Xia Xueqing since he entered.
He was clearly harboring some lewd thoughts.
Just as he finished speaking.
A knock came from the door.
"Song Qiao is here."
Xia Xueqing exclaimed excitedly and hurried to open the door.
"I'm truly sorry, Teacher Du, for being late."
Song Qiao politely greeted the teacher as he entered.
Then, he looked at Xia Xueqing with some surprise.
Indeed, there's always someone who can handle you.
The little devil who was always fearless was so well-behaved in front of her teacher.
If the situation were different, Song Qiao would have loved to mock her.
"Since you're here, find a seat yourself."
Du Qin said coldly without even looking up.
"Haha, since everyone is here, this private room is a bit crowded. How about we dine in the top-floor garden?"
As soon as Wu Zhonghai saw Song Qiao, he couldn't wait to show off his power.
This VIP private room could comfortably accommodate over a dozen people for a meal.
Yet, this guy used the excuse of it being crowded.
Du Qin frowned at this.
"Zhonghai, aren't you being too extravagant? This place is fine, there's no need to go to the top-floor garden."
"Teacher Du, you're just too modest."
"How can we negotiate the Tongmen and Wu family talks in such a casual place?"
"The top-floor garden offers better privacy."
"Don't worry, I just need to make a phone call to the boss to arrange it for the top-floor garden,"
Wu Zhonghai said smugly, deliberately casting a provocative glance at Song Qiao.
"If that's the case."
"Let's go up. No need to make a call, I've already booked a table for this morning."
"It was originally meant to be a surprise for Xueqing, but it seems to have found its use now."
Song Qiao, ignoring him, turned and said softly to Du Qin.