"What's wrong, Jianan? I'm at the company right now."
Song Qiao, hearing the tension and anxiety in her voice, immediately sat up straight.
"Some things can't be explained over the phone. If you have time, come to my studio. I'll explain everything in detail."
Yuan Jianan hung up the phone without waiting for Song Qiao's reply.
"Yuqing, look..."
Song Qiao glanced at his wife with some embarrassment, a hint of hesitation on his face.
Yuan Jianan was clearly in trouble, and he had to go, but he didn't know how to explain it to his wife.
"You dare go? Judging by Jianan's tone, it must be very important."
Xia Yuqing waved her hand without hesitation, indicating she didn't care at all.
"You'd better go quickly. I have things to do myself."
After speaking, Xia Yuqing walked out of Song Qiao's office, not wanting her husband to feel too awkward.
Song Qiao took a deep breath, cast a grateful look at his wife, picked up his car keys from the desk, and rushed to Yuan Jianan's studio.
Driver Old Hu was on vacation at home for the past few days, so he had been driving himself.
It was two or three in the afternoon, with less traffic on the road. The journey, which normally took half an hour, was completed in less than twenty minutes by Song Qiao, who deliberately sped up.
"What's wrong, Jianan?"
As soon as he entered, Song Qiao asked anxiously.
Yuan Jianan was sitting on a chair, looking flustered, her face pale.
She looked up at Song Qiao, her eyes slightly red.
"Something big has happened. Our designed trademark has been stolen!"
After speaking, Yuan Jianan couldn't hold back the tears from her eyes.
While crying, she handed Song Qiao a photo, which clearly showed the trademark they had designed together, but it appeared on other products.
Song Qiao took the photo and scanned it with a faint glance, his expression immediately changing.
He was stunned for a full minute before asking, "Jianan, don't worry. Do you know which company stole our trademark?"
Yuan Jianan, who had been prepared, directly opened her computer and placed the information in front of Song Qiao.
"Tianyuan Advertising Design and Media Co., Ltd."
Song Qiao frowned as he read it. They were a well-known advertising and media company. Logically, such a trademark infringement wouldn't happen.
Forcing down his inner doubts, Song Qiao continued to browse with his mouse.
He discovered that Tianyuan Company explained that they had acquired this trademark from an unknown individual, which immediately raised his vigilance.
"Jianan, have you shown the trademark to anyone outside recently?"
Song Qiao looked up and asked Yuan Jianan.
"Never. This is a commercial secret. It will never be leaked before the formal submission." Yuan Jianan said resolutely.
"Then I suspect there might be a mole in your studio."
After a moment of hesitation, Song Qiao finally voiced his inner thoughts.
"That's unlikely, right? My studio employees have been working with me for at least three to five years. How could they do something like this?"
Yuan Jianan said, frowning.
Admittedly, her assistant Xu Kai had been a bit unusual these past two days. Song Qiao's reminder immediately made her suspicious.
"Lately, I've felt that my assistant Xu Kai has been acting strangely..."
Yuan Jianan thought for a moment and shared her suspicions with Song Qiao.
"But we don't have any evidence now, and we can't do anything. If we wrongly accuse them, it might hurt our employees' morale."
After talking to Song Qiao, Yuan Jianan also expressed her concerns.
"I have a way for that."
Song Qiao thought for a moment and smiled at Yuan Jianan.
Then, he leaned close to Yuan Jianan's ear and whispered his plan.
Yuan Jianan's eyes lit up, and she excitedly gave him a thumbs-up.
After exchanging a look, Yuan Jianan waved her assistant Xu Kai in and asked him to find a document for her.
At this moment, Song Qiao, fully embracing his dramatic role, suddenly changed his expression.
"Yuan Jianan, what's going on? The design results have been leaked. What kind of security measures do you have?"
"Boss Song, please don't be so hasty. Let me explain."
Seeing Song Qiao's performance, Yuan Jianan played along.
Because Song Qiao deliberately raised his voice, it immediately attracted the attention of other employees outside the studio.
Even Xu Kai, who was searching for the document nearby, unconsciously stopped what he was doing.
"Explain what? Stop making excuses. Don't think I don't know. You copied this design scheme from somewhere."
Song Qiao paused and continued to act angrily, saying.
"I truly regret cooperating with your studio. Now that this trademark has been used, just wait to be sued. You and this Tianyuan company will both be finished."
Yuan Jianan remained silent for a long time, and Song Qiao seized the opportunity to relentlessly attack her.
The other employees in the studio frowned upon hearing this.
They had always known their boss's character, but they never expected her to be embroiled in a plagiarism scandal.
After all, in their line of work, plagiarism was the most taboo. If discovered and reported, it could lead to job loss and ruined reputation, or even legal consequences.
Initially, they didn't believe their boss would do such a thing, but seeing Yuan Jianan's lack of rebuttal to Song Qiao, they began to doubt her.
Xu Kai, who was squatting nearby searching for documents, turned ashen upon hearing Song Qiao's words. His hands trembled as he held the files.
Song Qiao glanced at him casually. Xu Kai's eyes immediately dodged, and he dared not meet Song Qiao's gaze.
He was completely flustered now, never expecting that the boss's trademark was also obtained illicitly. If so, the trademark he secretly sold might also be subject to legal repercussions.
Seeing Xu Kai's reaction, Song Qiao felt more certain. He subtly signaled to Yuan Jianan.
She understood and calmly instructed Xu Kai,
"You can go out now."
Then, she looked at Song Qiao with anticipation.
"It's 100% related to him. That kid was clearly scared by what I said just now."
Song Qiao smiled faintly and confidently said to Yuan Jianan.
"Alright, I'll call him in now to confront him."
Yuan Jianan's expression turned stern, and she walked out to call him back in.
"Speak. Was the company's trademark stolen and sold by you?"
She directly voiced her suspicion.
"What?"
Xu Kai was startled, his face showing a hint of fear.
He never expected that his boss would suspect him so quickly.