As soon as Song Qiao spoke, the leaders who were initially smiling at Xia Haibin's face suddenly changed their expressions.
"Mr. Song, this is our distinguished guest. He is from the Xia family and is extremely powerful," Director Ma said, quickly stepping forward to remind Song Qiao in a low voice.
"Why would we invite just anyone to Tianhong's celebration?"
"This kind of trash isn't worthy."
Song Qiao was not deterred by Xia Haibin's identity. Instead, he turned to question Director Ma.
"Alright, Song Qiao, say less. So many people are watching. Later, they'll say we at Tianhong are impolite."
Seeing her husband about to get angry again, Xia Yuqing quickly whispered a reminder by his side.
"Oh, our General Manager Xia can be so rational. If you'd always had this much sense, you wouldn't have caused so much trouble," the female executive who had led the mocking earlier chimed in sarcastically as soon as Xia Yuqing spoke.
"Slap!"
However, before she could finish speaking, a loud slap landed on her face.
Then, Song Qiao, with a chilling expression, stared fiercely at her.
"Am I giving you too much face?"
"It was one thing to gossip about Ms. Xia behind her back earlier, but you dare to be so presumptuous in front of the boss now!"
After speaking, Song Qiao, still not feeling entirely appeased, shoved the executive aside again.
At the same time, he cast a warning glance at the directors beside him. With a cold snort, he continued no further.
Song Qiao's strictest requirement in running the company was unity. Now, his employees, in an effort to appease powerful figures, were not hesitating to betray their own. Song Qiao wished he could fire all such employees.
Bao Jing stood aside, covering her face, wronged and bewildered. She never expected that Song Qiao, who was usually amiable in the company, would slap her in public.
Enraged and humiliated, she subtly signaled to several surrounding directors and then, feigning innocence, tearfully complained to Song Qiao.
"Boss, was I wrong?"
"Ever since your wife, Xia Yuqing, became our company's general manager, she hasn't brought in a single cooperative project, but has repeatedly caused trouble, leaving Tianhong constantly under pressure."
"We, the old employees who work diligently, are worried about the company's future. What's wrong with voicing a few complaints?"
As soon as she finished speaking, several directors who received her signal began to chime in.
"Yes, Director Song. Xia Yuqing has indeed been causing trouble. We've always suggested firing her and selecting a more capable chairman."
"Director Song, you must consider the company's overall situation. We are all doing this for the company."
The directors spoke one after another, staging what was clearly a power play.
Listening to everyone's discussion, Xia Yuqing's face turned ashen with anxiety.
In that moment, a mix of grievance and anger surged in her heart.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she spoke to explain.
"How have I actively caused trouble? It's those people driven by lust who come to provoke me. Many times, we are forced to retaliate."
"Hmph, stop talking nonsense. How are they driven by lust for you? Perhaps you are playing hard to get," Bao Jing retorted fiercely, completely ignoring Xia Yuqing's explanation.
"I, I didn't."
Xia Yuqing's talent for arguing had all gone to her sister. Simple-minded, she was no match for the other party, and after a few exchanges, she began to stammer incoherently.
"Fine, let's put aside the trouble you've caused. Just tell me, since you joined the company, have you independently brought in even one client?"
"All the partners you found agreed to cooperate with us only because of Mr. Song's influence. It has nothing to do with you fundamentally."
Another director, who was close to Bao Jing, seized the opportunity to impeach Xia Yuqing.
Xia Yuqing was left speechless, her heart aching over this issue.
Now that it was brought up again, her already fragile heart was on the verge of breaking.
Just then, Xia Haibin's unwelcome voice sounded again.
"So, General Manager Xia has no orders? Then I am willing to help."
Seeing the Song Qiao family in such a predicament, he naturally wouldn't miss the chance to step on them. His eyes flickered, plotting some scheme.
As soon as he finished speaking, the executives cast curious glances at him.
"I can offer General Manager Xia a cooperative project worth five million yuan."
After speaking, Xia Haibin paused deliberately and then looked back at Song Qiao triumphantly.
"Hiss"
As soon as his words fell, everyone present gasped.
"General Manager Xia truly is from a prominent family; his generosity is astounding."
"Five million yuan is an astronomical sum in this era. You could almost buy a decent courtyard house in a first-tier city."
To flatter Xia Haibin and encourage him to buy more, several executives showered him with praise.
A five-million-yuan project would significantly increase their dividends, so they were genuinely happy.
"But I have one condition," Xia Haibin suddenly raised his voice amidst the flattery.
"What condition? General Manager Xia, please state it. As long as we can help, we will absolutely not refuse," the executives said nervously, afraid Xia Haibin would propose an impossible condition.
"Let your General Manager Xia repay me by agreeing to go on a date with me, for meals, singing, dancing, and the like."
After speaking, Xia Haibin glanced smugly at Song Qiao, as if intentionally provoking him.
He had only come to join in the fun, but upon seeing Xia Yuqing's beauty and her current predicament, he conceived a plan that would both disgust Song Qiao and win him a beauty.
"Hmph, I bet you've trained your brain into mush with all that martial arts."
"You dare to daydream like this in broad daylight. I really don't know if you're an idiot."
Song Qiao had known from the start that the other party had ulterior motives. Hearing Xia Haibin's condition, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.