Mo Ling's expression shifted between worry and anger.
From her initial assessment, the possibility of Song Qiao cheating was almost zero.
Furthermore, the entire place was under surveillance.
If she continued to make a scene, she would only be humiliating herself.
"Hmph, so you do have some skill, but that doesn't prove anything."
Mo Ling snorted dismissively, glaring at Song Qiao with a defiant look.
"Bing Qing jie, I lost this time. Let's go."
After speaking, she stomped her foot in frustration and tugged at Li Bing Qing's sleeve, about to leave.
"Wait a moment."
Just as they had taken two steps, Song Qiao's languid voice called from behind them.
"Song Qiao, what else do you want?"
Li Bing Qing glanced at him warily, a hint of tension on her face.
Neither she nor Mo Ling had brought bodyguards today, and if Song Qiao decided to make a move, no one present would be his match.
"I'm letting you leave today because of our bet."
"My shooting range never turns away customers. You're welcome to come and play anytime, but there's only one condition."
"The rule that you can only use the shooting range yourself will disappear starting today."
Having stated his demand, Song Qiao turned back and continued to fiddle with the firearms on the table.
Even though he had handled real weapons during foreign military training in his past life, he couldn't help but feel a sense of fondness for these items now.
It seemed men had little resistance to such things.
"Hmph, as if we're desperate to come here."
Li Bing Qing retorted ungraciously, pulling Mo Ling and striding away.
Although Li Bing Qing didn't care, Mo Ling, standing beside her, felt a surge of secret delight.
For years, Mo Ling had been infatuated with shooting. To finally have a place like this locally, only for it to be Song Qiao's establishment, filled her with a sense of dismay.
She had thought she would never get to come here again after losing the bet today.
Yet, Song Qiao hadn't held a grudge, which was quite unexpected.
"Hmph, this isn't me backing down. I'll just come when he's not around."
Mo Ling scoffed inwardly, but her feet followed Li Bing Qing's closely as they departed.
"Song Qiao, I didn't expect you to be so amazing?"
"About that bet last time..."
After everyone else had left, Wu Meng looked at Song Qiao somewhat sheepishly, her face flushing slightly.
Shooting had always been her passion and greatest skill. Now, compared to Song Qiao, she felt like an amateur.
And she had even competed against him in this very sport back then.
"Why dwell on the past? Besides, you might not have lost back then."
Song Qiao waved his hand gently, offering a word of comfort to Wu Meng.
"My brother-in-law is a true jack-of-all-trades, a peerless talent in every aspect."
Xia Xue Qing chimed in with praise beside them. Just as she was about to ask Song Qiao to teach her shooting, her phone suddenly rang.
The moment she saw the caller ID, her expression turned serious.
She glanced at Song Qiao and Wu Meng, signaling them not to speak impulsively, before cautiously answering the call.
"Hello, Teacher Du, this is Xue Qing."
"Xue Qing, I'm coming to your Yangcheng in a couple of days. I'll come find you then and see how your summer vacation has been."
A clear, brisk voice of a middle-aged woman came from the other end of the line.
After speaking, without waiting for Xia Xue Qing's reaction, she abruptly hung up.
The entire conversation might have taken less time than Song Qiao had spent shooting earlier.
Xia Xue Qing stood in a daze for a long moment, listening to the dial tone, and shook her head with a sigh of helplessness.
"Xue Qing, who was that?"
Seeing Xia Xue Qing's expression, Song Qiao couldn't help but feel curious.
He had never seen his usually spirited sister-in-law appear so apprehensive of anyone.
"It's a professor from my university. She said she's coming to our Yangcheng in a few days."
"Teacher Du is usually strict, but she's taken good care of me, and we have a good relationship, so she plans to stay with me for a couple of days."
Xia Xue Qing was clearly still recovering from the shock, and her tone lacked energy.
"Oh?"
"Then I must host her properly and see what kind of divine being can keep our Xue Qing so well-behaved."
Song Qiao chuckled, teasing Xia Xue Qing.
"Oh, brother-in-law, you're so annoying."
Xia Xue Qing's face turned red, and she playfully punched Song Qiao with her small fist.
"My teacher has a bad temper, and she's very strong-willed and somewhat aloof."
"You must restrain your temper then, and don't act impulsively."
Xia Xue Qing warned him with a worried expression.
She understood her brother-in-law's temper all too well.
"Don't worry, am I that kind of unreliable person?"
Song Qiao chuckled and agreed. Hearing Xia Xue Qing mention her tutor, he suddenly remembered something.
He quickly took out his phone and dialed Xu Chong.
He hadn't completed the task Ye Zhi Wei had entrusted to him last time. After being interrupted by Mo Ling and Li Bing Qing, he had almost forgotten.
"Little Song, what can I do for you?"
Xu Chong sounded noticeably cheerful, with a hint of a smile in his voice.
"Elder Xu, I need to trouble you with something."
Song Qiao's tone was very respectful. Xu Chong was a senior figure in the business world and had helped him quite a bit.
Although the other party had retired from the front lines and was no longer heavily involved in worldly affairs, Song Qiao had a heartfelt admiration for this once internationally renowned business magnate.
"It's about the investment attraction for the Shuigang pier, isn't it?"
"I knew it. With your foresight, boy, you wouldn't pass up such a juicy opportunity."
Xu Chong replied calmly after a two-second pause.
"Haha, you old sir, your predictions are always spot on."
Song Qiao laughed heartily, his admiration for Xu Chong growing even further.
It was so effortless to talk to intelligent people.
"Tell me, how can I help you?"
"I want the richest man in Ruiguo to continue investing in my project. After it's successful, I'm willing to offer him a thirty percent higher return than other projects."
Song Qiao didn't hesitate and stated his demand directly.
"Alright, I'll handle this matter."
Xu Chong's voice remained steady as he agreed and then hung up.
With his assurance, Song Qiao's mood relaxed considerably.
He quietly put away his phone and smiled at Xia Xue Qing and Wu Meng.
"Shall we go? You've seen quite a show today, isn't it time for us to leave?"
Wu Meng, who had been silent, shook her head.
"No, I haven't had enough fun yet. We finally came out."
"I heard there's a badminton court in the shooting range. Let's play a game before we go."
After speaking, she took Xia Xue Qing's hand with one hand and pulled Song Qiao with the other, heading towards the badminton court.
...