After Song Qiao and Yuan Jianan finished signing the contract, they exchanged pleasantries in the office for a few more minutes.
Just as Yuan Jianan was about to take her leave, Guo Jun suddenly arrived.
"Brother Song, long time no see."
Guo Jun and Song Qiao were very close, so he naturally didn't stand on ceremony and made himself comfortable on the sofa as soon as he entered.
"Young Master Guo, what brings you here? Is there something important?"
Song Qiao chuckled, poured him a glass of water, and asked with a hint of confusion.
Although Guo Jun usually appeared carefree, as the secretary's local representative, he was sometimes even busier than Song Qiao himself.
"What are you saying? Can't I just drop by to see you if there's nothing going on?"
Guo Jun accepted the teacup and replied nonchalantly.
"Oh, Miss Yuan is here too?"
Guo Jun looked up and saw Yuan Jianan sitting beside them, his expression one of surprise.
"Yes, what a small world. I didn't expect to run into Young Master Guo here."
Yuan Jianan greeted Guo Jun with a smile.
"You two know each other?"
Now it was Song Qiao's turn to be surprised. He had no idea that Yuan Jianan and Guo Jun were acquainted.
"Of course, we know each other. Miss Yuan is our city's top designer, and I've collaborated with her before."
"I just didn't expect that you, Brother Song, also know Miss Yuan."
Guo Jun said heartily.
"Oh, what top designer? I'm just trying to make a living. Young Master Guo, you're too kind, and it makes me embarrassed." Yuan Jianan waved her hand modestly.
"Jianan is my junior high classmate, and she's currently helping us design a trademark for our product."
Song Qiao also explained their relationship to Guo Jun.
"That's perfect. Tonight, our city is hosting a commercial gala. I wonder if you two would be interested in attending."
Seeing that they were all acquainted, Guo Jun got straight to the point, revealing the purpose of his visit.
Song Qiao was taken aback.
In his previous life, he had attended or hosted such commercial galas to network with business associates for future cooperation and mutual assistance.
He hadn't expected that such an event would be held in this city.
He had been worrying about investment opportunities lately, and this presented a golden opportunity.
With almost no hesitation, Song Qiao glanced at Yuan Jianan before nodding in agreement.
"I will attend tonight. As for Miss Yuan... that's up to her to decide."
"I'll attend too. Our studio needs to meet more clients."
Yuan Jianan added from the side.
"Great, I'll reserve spots for both of you. Then it's settled, see you there."
Guo Jun said, then took his leave. He had other friends to notify.
He was naturally delighted that Song Qiao and Yuan Jianan had accepted his invitation. He had initiated this event, and the more prominent guests attended, the more prestige he would gain.
After exchanging a few more words with Song Qiao, Yuan Jianan also bid farewell.
Six in the afternoon.
After finishing all his work, Song Qiao greeted Xia Yuqing and had Old Hu drive him to Xinyuan Restaurant.
Xia Yuqing was currently working overtime on an advertisement, so she didn't say much to Song Qiao, only reminding him to drink less and come home early.
Song Qiao was overjoyed, thinking that his wife had likely calmed down a lot.
Xue Mei, uncharacteristically, also stayed late at the company, but she kept casting resentful glances at Xia Yuqing, as if brewing some scheme.
By eight in the evening, most of the company's employees had left, with only two or three employees from the advertising department remaining.
Seeing Xia Yuqing enter the restroom, Xue Mei glanced around the surroundings, let out a wicked smile, and followed Xia Yuqing in.
"Click."
The moment Xia Yuqing entered a stall, Xue Mei suddenly rushed in from outside and bolted the stall door shut.
"You little slut, let's see how arrogant you can be now."
Xia Yuqing, completely taken by surprise by someone locking her in, became panicked and began to frantically bang on the stall door.
"Who are you? Open the door quickly, or I'll call the police."
"Hmph, call the police?"
Xue Mei snorted, ignoring Xia Yuqing, and somehow produced two buckets of ice water. She then unceremoniously dumped them onto Xia Yuqing.
The stall was so cramped that Xia Yuqing had nowhere to escape, and she was instantly drenched like a drowned rat.
"What are you doing? The company has surveillance. You'll be fired tomorrow."
Xia Yuqing shivered and yelled hoarsely at the person outside the door.
Xue Mei snorted and, paying no heed to Xia Yuqing's threat, walked straight out of the restroom, not forgetting to turn off the light as she left.
"Minister Xia has an emergency at home, so everyone can go home for today."
After returning to the office, Xue Mei directly instructed the few employees who were still working overtime.
The employees didn't think much of it and were secretly pleased to be able to leave without working overtime, so they packed their belongings and left.
At this moment, Xia Yuqing, soaked and trapped in the restroom, desperately pounded on the door for help, but no one noticed.
As despair began to set in, she remembered to call her husband for help.
Unfortunately, after being doused with two buckets of cold water, Xia Yuqing was not only drenched but her phone in her pocket had also gotten wet. After several attempts, the phone would shut down halfway through dialing.
Confined within the narrow restroom stall, Xia Yuqing's panic grew, and a sense of despair washed over her.
The weather was still a mixture of warmth and cold, and she was thoroughly soaked.
Under such tense and adverse circumstances, her body began to tremble, and she eventually fainted in the restroom stall.
Meanwhile, Xue Mei was humming a tune on her way home. She hadn't anticipated that her intention to teach Xia Yuqing a lesson and leave her trapped in the restroom overnight would result in such severe consequences.
However, for a woman with such a venomous heart, the lives of others meant little. Even if she found out, she likely wouldn't regret it.
Song Qiao was among the first businessmen to arrive at the gala. Thanks to his relationship with Guo Jun, he naturally wanted to show his support for a friend's event.
Not many prominent figures had arrived yet. Only some small business owners, holding their wine glasses, came to toast Song Qiao.
Xiang Piaopiao was now considered a well-known enterprise, and many people wanted to establish a cooperative relationship with Song Qiao and share in some of the profits.
"Brother Song, you go ahead and drink. I still have some guests to attend to. I'll come back for a drink later and introduce you to some friends."
Guo Jun didn't stand on ceremony with Song Qiao, simply exchanging a brief greeting before going to entertain other, more important guests.