As Song Qiao followed them, he overheard Madam Shen’s conversation with her assistant.
The assistant spoke with worry and helplessness about the person they were visiting.
"Madam, wouldn't it be a bit too sudden if we just went over like this? What if they get angry because of our rashness?"
Hearing the assistant, Madam Shen paused slightly and thought for a long time before shaking her head.
"We'll take it one step at a time. This matter came up so suddenly. Of course, if they could help us, our chances of success would be greatly increased."
"After all, we're asking for a favor. We still need to prepare gifts. Are the things I asked you to prepare all ready?"
Upon hearing this, the assistant took out her phone, switched to another interface, and respectfully showed it to Madam Shen.
"Madam, everything is prepared."
Looking at the list on her phone, Madam Shen nodded, feeling a sliver of security, and let out a slow breath.
Madam Shen's cautious and prudent demeanor naturally surprised the assistant for a moment, and it wasn't until Madam Shen called her that the assistant snapped out of her daze.
Pressing her lips together, the assistant glanced again at the long list on the phone. These were all gifts, and they were merely an initial offering.
Even enough to invite another chaebol.
Not long after she regained her senses, she heard Madam Shen ask.
"What were you spacing out about? Do you have any questions?"
The assistant was startled and quickly looked at Madam Shen, lowering her head slightly, her face filled with fear.
"Madam, I... I was a bit lost in thought just now. It's my fault. Please punish me."
"There's no need for punishment," Madam Shen said, shaking her head. She wasn't that petty. "Do you have any questions?"
The assistant swallowed and, though a little scared, decided to bite the bullet and ask what was on her mind.
"Yes, I think Madam actually didn't need to prepare so many gifts. These could even be enough to impress another chaebol..."
This question was, to be honest, a bit presumptuous.
She was just asking, and didn't expect a reply, but to her surprise, Madam Shen thought for a moment, then looked at her and responded.
"I know."
You know?
Then why prepare so many gifts?
The assistant's eyes widened slightly, and she looked completely bewildered.
Madam Shen lowered her eyelids slightly. Thinking of the person she was about to meet, she still felt a bit nervous. She clenched her fist and then relaxed it.
"However, even with these gifts, I don't think they will necessarily help us."
She sighed.
"This time, I don't have much confidence that I can persuade them."
"Ah, even Madam isn't sure?" The young assistant was clearly incredulous. But seeing Madam Shen nod with a solemn expression, she couldn't help but imagine the person they were about to meet.
Song Qiao, who had been quietly observing this scene from behind them, listened to their conversation and became even more certain that this person was Guo Can.
Only with Guo Can's temperament could a chaebol's wife be so worried.
"But what are the two of them doing together?"
Why was Madam Shen going to such lengths to invite Guo Can, and what was her purpose?
Putting that aside for now, if Guo Can and Madam Shen joined forces, whatever they did could cause trouble for him if it affected him. He couldn't possibly deal with two of them alone.
Torn, Song Qiao sighed. He watched Madam Shen and her assistant gradually walk away and decided not to follow.
"Oh well, we'll take it one step at a time. We'll deal with it when the time comes."
He wasn't a cruel person. Acting rashly based on mere snippets of information wasn't his style.
He needed to observe them, or wait for them to make a mistake.
It seemed he would need to find someone to keep an eye on them.
With these thoughts, Song Qiao arrived outside Alice's villa.
He knocked, and soon Alice came down to open the door. Seeing him, her face lit up, and she threw herself into his arms.
"Song! You haven't come to see me in so many days. I thought you had forgotten about me."
"I've been working very well these past few days. President Ye even praised me. And in Go, my skills have improved quite a bit."
Song Qiao laughed heartily, looking at Alice nuzzling against his chest. With a surprised gasp from her, he scooped her up.
He walked into the room, kicked the door shut, and placed her on the sofa. He pinned her down, lifted her chin, and smiled teasingly.
"These were just things I casually mentioned. You didn't need to take them so seriously. A perfunctory effort would have been enough."
Speaking of seriousness, Song Qiao couldn't help but think of Ye Zhiwei. He pouted, feeling that Ye Zhiwei had definitely corrupted Alice.
He felt it was necessary to give her a good reminder.
"You absolutely must not become a workaholic like Ye Zhiwei. That would be so boring."
Hearing this, Alice's beautiful eyes blinked. She tilted her head and thought for a moment, her eyes curving into a smile.
"I think President Ye is great. She can solve anything herself and manage the affairs of such a large company in an orderly and meticulous fashion."
The more she spoke, the more envious she became. Alice felt that this person was exactly her future goal.
As she spoke, a touch of admiration and yearning appeared.
"I want to become someone like that."
"And Sister Xia is also a very generous person. She's beautiful and we have a lot to talk about."
With a sigh, Alice's eyes sparkled, and she seemed very happy.
As for the so-called workaholic Song Qiao had mentioned, Alice giggled.
"So, I actually want to be a workaholic. Then I can help Song. Otherwise, having to rely on Song for everything is too much trouble for you."
Song Qiao nodded. He wouldn't interfere too much with Alice's own aspirations.
He released Alice, helped her up, and smiled.
"If that's the case, why don't you help me analyze this?"
"Say on, Song."
Song Qiao recounted what he had seen of Madam Shen and Guo Can, wanting to hear Alice's opinion. He described it all very objectively, without favoring either side.
This was also a test.
Clearly, this matter posed no difficulty for Alice. After a moment of thought, she said.
"I think Madam Shen came to see Guo Can in her personal capacity this time."
Song Qiao nodded. Looking at Madam Shen's expression, that was indeed a possibility.
At this moment, Alice looked at Song Qiao, and suddenly her tone shifted. She said gravely.
"However, there is one thing we need to be careful about."