When Song Qiao said this, Xu Rou was stunned.
However, she remembered Song Qiao's identity.
Thus, she knew she had done wrong, but she didn't want to apologize, her face showing displeasure.
At the same time, she pursed her lips and remained silent.
Song Qiao walked up to Xu Rou and looked at her quietly.
After scrutinizing her for a while, he said sternly, "This Mo Ling, I don't know how she trains her subordinates, but they don't even have basic etiquette. It's truly a pity for her! No wonder she's only at this level after working for so many years..."
After speaking, he shook his head with feigned disdain, tutting with a face full of contempt.
Hearing Song Qiao's words, Xu Rou knew she had indeed acted improperly and that Song Qiao had caught her.
Thinking that this guy liked to make a big fuss over small matters, she could only grit her teeth, huff, and step forward to salute Song Qiao.
Song Qiao smiled playfully, "I am merely a Brigadier General in the Security Department. I don't particularly care for these formalities, and even think they should be simplified."
Hearing Song Qiao say this, Xu Rou's lungs felt like they were about to explode.
She took a deep breath and exhaled heavily, her full chest rising and falling.
She repeatedly told herself: endure, hold back. A moment of forbearance leads to a period of peace, and a step back opens up a wider world.
However, seeing Song Qiao's half-smile, she felt she could no longer bear it.
Swallowing hard, she spoke again in a stiff tone, "Please come with me to accept the assessment!"
Song Qiao replied almost without hesitation, "I'll head over in a couple of days!"
Xu Rou's expression changed, her delicate eyebrows knitting.
What? This guy, how could he be so bold? He dared to make the assessment officer wait?
She said directly, "No, how can you make the examiner wait for you?"
Song Qiao snorted coldly, "What's the big deal? Am I not going there to deal with those examiners? Or are they so impatient to be dealt with by me? Or perhaps, you want to see those examiners being dealt with by me?"
Song Qiao's words startled and angered Xu Rou.
She couldn't understand how this Song Qiao could be such a person.
He was impervious to reason, always trying to trap her, and then turning the tables on her. He was like Zhu Bajie!
But she also knew that Song Qiao was telling the truth. While such assessments were important, for those who didn't place much value on them, or for those who were truly capable, it was just a formality, easily passed.
"Alright, when you're ready, let me know, and I'll escort you!" Xu Rou could only say this helplessly.
She really didn't want to stay there any longer, let alone look at Song Qiao's self-important face. So what if he was handsome? It wouldn't put food on the table if he wasn't selling himself.
After speaking, she immediately turned to leave.
Song Qiao's annoying voice rang out again, "Hey, why are you in such a hurry? Have you forgotten your manners again?"
A higher rank trumps a lower one.
Xu Rou had no choice but to turn around again, her pretty eyes glaring, and angrily raised her hand to salute Song Qiao.
Unexpectedly, Song Qiao waved his hand again, "Forget it, forget it. I don't care. You can go!"
However, Xu Rou didn't fall for it this time. She had become smarter and insisted on performing a proper military salute.
She then glared fiercely at Song Qiao before striding away quickly.
Glancing at Xu Rou's retreating back, Song Qiao chuckled softly and paid it no further mind.
Speaking of which, this girl had a great figure, with a perfect blend of feminine grace and military masculinity.
He turned and walked back to the flower stand in front of the living room.
The sun was just right, and the flowers were in full bloom.
Right, this house had looked dilapidated before. Gao Meng had hired a cleaning and gardening company.
After spending a fortune, they had quickly tidied up the place, much to her satisfaction.
The previous mess had been completely cleared away.
She felt that this place was now truly her home, her ideal home.
It would have been even better if her parents were still here.
Alas...
Over there, Gao Meng and Zheng Ci were sitting at a table, enjoying fruit and snacks, drinking tea, and basking in the sun, chatting leisurely.
Seeing Song Qiao, Gao Meng waved, inviting him to sit down.
Although Zheng Ci didn't feel particularly close to Song Qiao, she didn't put on a cold face at this moment.
She gave him a slight smile, acknowledging him, displaying good upbringing.
Gao Meng, however, looked at Song Qiao and smirked slyly, "Heh heh, you were quite imposing, weren't you? You had that woman all flustered. You weren't just trying to show off your authority, were you!"
"You're mistaken about that. I wasn't showing off my authority; I was teaching her a lesson. Otherwise, she would have suffered a great loss," Song Qiao corrected her.
"Really? I don't believe you're that kind-hearted," Gao Meng seemed unconvinced.
"What, have you also become bad like me? You didn't feel any sympathy when I bullied her, and you didn't say I was too harsh on her?" Song Qiao found it strange.
Unexpectedly, Gao Meng simply smiled charmingly, "Why should I feel sympathy for her? Seeing how arrogant she was when she arrived, I felt uncomfortable. How dare she treat you like that? As your disciple, I would naturally side with you, wouldn't I? Otherwise, people would say I'm betraying my own!"
Song Qiao burst into laughter, "Not bad, you have filial piety. I didn't take you as a disciple in vain!"
His laughter was so loud, sounding exceptionally cheerful.
"Heh heh, speaking of filial piety, there's a bit of it, but it's more about my perspective on things. Shouldn't you praise me for having clear logic and discerning judgment?" Gao Meng pouted.
"Alright, you've indeed done well in this regard, with a clear head. Understanding worldly affairs is knowledge, and adeptness in human relationships is art. You've done quite well in understanding worldly affairs; to be precise, you're on the right track!" Song Qiao praised.
"Tch, you're getting carried away, talking so old-fashioned..." Gao Meng rolled her eyes.
Throughout the whole process, Zheng Ci watched with interest, saying nothing.
Song Qiao drank a cup of tea, ate two oranges peeled by Gao Meng, and chatted with them for a while longer.
Suddenly, he remembered that Zheng Ci had mentioned earlier that the eldest young master of the Zheng family was getting engaged today, and Li Bingqing was involved.
It seemed he had to go and join the fun!
With that thought, he said to Gao Meng, "I'm going out for a bit!"
"Going where? Do you want me to accompany you?" Gao Meng asked with some curiosity.
"No need. Stay and keep Zheng Ci company!"
"Really don't need me? Be honest, where are you going now? Are you trying to ditch me and do something unspeakable?" Gao Meng suddenly smiled.
"Ah. You've guessed it..." Song Qiao deliberately showed a panicked expression, "I'm actually going to meet an old flame! I won't take you, you're a third wheel!"
"Tch, 'old flame' indeed... Go on then, I agree!" Gao Meng said dismissively, waving for him to leave quickly.
"Understood," Song Qiao made a salute gesture and strolled away.
Behind him, Zheng Ci sighed, "The way you two interact, it doesn't seem like a master and disciple, but more like a couple."
"Heh heh," Gao Meng smiled charmingly.
To be honest, she wasn't sure what their relationship was, but it was probably more like a couple...
...
Century Grand Hotel.
In the makeup room, Li Bingqing's mind was adrift, her thoughts in a tangle.
She couldn't even afford a makeup artist now and had to do her own makeup. It felt unbelievable.
Marrying the eldest young master Zheng was entirely a marriage below her station.
If not for her current predicament, she would never have had any contact with him.
Unwilling!
But, since things had come to this, she had no choice but to accept it.
Knock, knock!
A knock sounded at the door, and then it opened.
She thought someone was rushing her to come out, and felt incredibly annoyed.
She couldn't help but say, "I'll finish as soon as possible! Now, get out!"
There was no response from behind.
What was going on?
Who was it?
She suddenly turned around.
Her face turned pale with shock.
It was Song Qiao who had arrived.
He was leaning against the wall, a smile on his face, looking at her.