Song Qiao arrived at the office and had barely sat down when Gao Meng appeared.
The office door was wide open.
She knocked twice on the door before bursting in and coming to Song Qiao's side.
Her high heels clacked with a distinct rhythm.
Song Qiao's thoughts were interrupted by the commotion. He looked up and saw Gao Meng.
However, seeing her current appearance, he couldn't help but gape. What he saw was truly astonishing.
He asked, "Why did you cut your hair short?"
Gao Meng, in her current state, had completely changed her usual image. She was no longer long-haired and flowing but now sported short hair.
It was a very short, choppy style that made her look incredibly capable.
If not for her slender waist, ample hips, and full chest, she might have been mistaken for a man.
She was not surprised by Song Qiao's reaction. After all, her previous appearance was deeply ingrained in people's minds, and Song Qiao particularly admired her long, beautiful hair.
"Yeah, what do you think? Does it look good?"
As she spoke, she tossed her head with a hint of swagger.
Then, she spun around gracefully.
Song Qiao looked appreciative. "Not bad, it's certainly a refreshing change!"
"Yeah, I just wanted to experience what it feels like to have short hair."
"By the way, what made you decide to cut it short?" Song Qiao was very curious.
As far as he knew, Gao Meng cherished her long hair and took great care of it.
In response to Song Qiao's question, Gao Meng smiled. "You know I'm something of a workaholic. I realized that long hair requires constant upkeep, which wastes a lot of time. So, here we are!"
She said this and spread her palm flat, sweeping it over the top of her head.
The gesture was very masculine, exuding a bold spirit.
It had to be said that although Gao Meng was a beautiful woman, her personality harbored a certain heroic quality.
"I see, you've really taken decisive action!"
"Heh, that's an uncomfortable metaphor. Is my hair a tangled mess?"
"Ahem, it's just a metaphor, don't mind the details. Or perhaps I could use a better one, like wielding a wise sword to sever three thousand worldly cares?"
"Pfft, you can't say anything decent. Never mind, let's not talk about such nonsense. What do you think? Does it look good or not?"
"Heh, you're something else! Give me a show! This is indeed good, but it doesn't quite match your outfit. Why don't you take it off?"
Gao Meng shot Song Qiao a glare. "Pervert!"
"What pervert? Look, you have short hair, and I have short hair. If we walked around outside, people might think we're brothers. If we're brothers, it's best to be open and honest! Heh, don't you think so?"
After a few more rounds of banter, Gao Meng asked, "So, why did you call me here?"
"Can't I call you for no reason?"
"Of course you can, but you rarely come looking for me right after arriving at the company. Besides, you know how precious my time is!"
"Alright, a busy person's time is valuable! I do actually have something to discuss with you."
As he spoke, Song Qiao relayed the information he had received from the female assassin to Gao Meng.
Upon first hearing this, Gao Meng was genuinely surprised.
"Is this news reliable?" To be honest, she found it hard to believe.
That was her family.
Although the Gao family had grown into a large clan, they were all acquainted and looked out for each other.
Of course, there were conflicts, but it shouldn't have come to this, right?
"It's quite reliable. I got it from an assassin who specifically came to warn me that someone intended to harm you and me. And it was people from your Gao family who paid a hefty sum..."
As he spoke, Song Qiao felt a surge of emotion.
Seeing Gao Meng again, that sense of weariness and helplessness towards the ways of the world washed over him once more.
Of course, the original young Song Qiao wouldn't have felt so much, but now, with the soul of an old man, his perspective on worldly affairs was different.
"Alright, then it must be true." As she spoke, Gao Meng's expression shifted from anger to sorrow.
Then, she looked at Song Qiao with deep apology in her eyes. "You've been dragged into this? I'm so sorry! I'm truly, deeply sorry!"
"Do we need to say such things between us? Even if I wasn't the target, I would still do my best to protect you!" Song Qiao looked at Gao Meng, his eyes filled with affection.
In that moment, Gao Meng felt as if a sun had ignited within her, warming her heart.
Meeting Song Qiao, and being this close to him, was incredibly reassuring.
At this moment, she gained a deeper understanding of the helplessness and sorrow that complex family relationships could bring.
A while ago.
She had spoken with her father on the phone and knew that her grandfather was nearing the end of his life.
For that reason, she had specifically gone to visit him and was very worried.
But now, she had received news of infighting within the family, and such explosive news at that.
Thinking of such a situation, her face flushed, and anger welled up.
"A bunch of greedy individuals, willing to kill me for money? Hmph, they won't succeed! By the way, do you have any suggestions?"
Gao Meng's last question was not a self-muttering but directed at Song Qiao.
"I suggest you tell your father about this and have him take precautions, arrange for more bodyguards, and increase security to prevent certain individuals from acting rashly out of desperation." Song Qiao felt this was a crucial moment and reminded Gao Meng's father to be vigilant.
Gao Meng understood that this course of action made sense.
Indeed, her father's safety also needed attention.
Any accident would be a cause for immense regret.
Finally, he cautioned Gao Meng, "Be careful and strengthen your defenses!"
Gao Meng, however, appeared quite excited. "Bring it on! This way, I can finally test my skills."
After all, with her recent rigorous training, Gao Meng's combat skills had improved dramatically. Ordinary people couldn't get close to her.
Song Qiao was very satisfied seeing Gao Meng like this. He greatly admired her current state.
It was as if she possessed the quality of "Mount Tai collapsing before her without changing countenance."
"Anything else? If not, I'll be going; I'm still busy." Gao Meng said to Song Qiao, looking ready to bolt.
"Wait a moment, let me check."
He then took out his notepad, flipped through his day's schedule, and indeed, there was something.
He said to her, "There is something. Tonight, you'll accompany me to a meeting. It'll be an experience for you."
Gao Meng's interest was piqued. "It better be fun. If it's just an ordinary meeting, then forget it. I'm so busy, and now I have to guard against ambushes from the capital."
As she spoke, her expression became more lively, clearly thinking of something pleasant.
Song Qiao smiled slightly. "Of course, I considered this before asking you to come along. I think you'll be interested in today's arrangement."
Gao Meng became instantly curious. "Oh? What is it? Tell me quickly, tell me!"
Song Qiao replied, "It's a meeting of the Tongmen branch. They're electing a new branch leader. It's expected to be a grand event. You can witness it, and perhaps something interesting will happen."
Gao Meng nodded repeatedly, her eyes practically sparkling. She was already eager.