At half-past five in the afternoon, Xia Yuqing finished her work at the factory and prepared to leave.
Currently, her heart was still a little uneasy. This was the first time she had actively gone to Song Qiao's tofu shop.
Perhaps after a while, all her doubts and misunderstandings about Song Qiao would be proven within that shop.
"Little Xia, why haven't you left yet?"
A greasy, lewd voice sounded from behind Xia Yuqing.
It immediately made her frown.
It was none other than Director Li, with whom she had had an unpleasant encounter a couple of days ago.
Xia Yuqing suppressed her inner disgust, turned her head, and said calmly:
"Director Li, I just got off work and I'm leaving now."
Director Li seemed to have forgotten the awkwardness in the office that afternoon and, disregarding Xia Yuqing's coldness, smiled and said:
"Little Xia, you must still be angry with me about what happened that day, right?"
Seeing Xia Yuqing lower her head and not reply.
Director Li stealthily moved a few steps closer and continued:
"I sincerely apologize to you for what happened that day."
"I had a few too many drinks that day and said those bastard words. Please don't mind, Little Xia."
Xia Yuqing subtly took a few steps back, creating distance from Director Li once again.
She felt speechless, having never met such a thick-skinned person in her life.
He used drinking as an excuse for such a disgusting act.
But he was still a worker in the factory, and she would still be under Director Li's supervision. One had to bow their head under the eaves.
She gritted her teeth and said, "Director Li, you are too kind. Since it was a misunderstanding, let's just let it pass."
The implication was that she hoped Director Li would not mention it again, and she would not pursue it further.
"That's great! I knew Little Xia wasn't the kind of petty person." Director Li chuckled, paying no attention to Xia Yuqing's tone.
He casually glanced at the bicycle next to Xia Yuqing.
With a look of sincerity, he said, "Little Xia, to show my apology, how about I drive you home this afternoon?"
"No need to trouble you, Director Li. I'm going to my husband's tofu shop today."
"Oh? That's even better. I'm going home, and it's on the way."
"And I can buy a couple of skewers of stinky tofu to try, just to support Little Song's shop."
Saying that, he jingled his car keys in front of Xia Yuqing.
"This..."
Xia Yuqing was suddenly at a loss on how to shake off this sticky Director Li.
"What? Do you still have an opinion of me, Little Xia?"
Seeing Xia Yuqing hesitate, Director Li's face immediately darkened.
He wasn't genuinely trying to apologize to Xia Yuqing.
After that incident, Director Wang had reviewed the office surveillance and understood what had happened.
He had sternly told him not to seek revenge and to find an opportunity to resolve the matter amicably.
He had come today to settle this issue.
But as soon as he saw Xia Yuqing, his lust was aroused, and he shamelessly tried to get close to her.
He hadn't expected Xia Yuqing, though she accepted his apology, to be so disrespectful to him as a director.
She looked unwilling even when he offered to drive her home.
If she dared to refuse him today, he would find an opportunity to deal with her tomorrow.
Otherwise, how could he establish his authority in the factory in the future?
"No, no, Director Li, you've misunderstood."
Seeing this, Xia Yuqing quickly waved her hands, speaking incoherently in her haste.
If she wanted to continue working in the factory, she couldn't afford to offend a petty person like Director Li.
Director Li saw this and flashed a lewd smile at Xia Yuqing.
"Then if Little Xia is no longer holding a grudge, please get in the car."
Saying that, he walked to the car door and, pretending to be a gentleman, opened it for Xia Yuqing.
Xia Yuqing's face turned ashen. She knew that she probably had to get in the car today, whether she wanted to or not.
Anyway, she was going to her husband's shop, and Director Li wouldn't dare to go too far.
After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Then I'll trouble you, Director Li."
"Ah, that's right." Director Li looked triumphant, as if his scheme had succeeded.
...
"Little Xia, I heard someone say your husband is addicted to gambling?"
Along the way, Director Li made small talk with Xia Yuqing, chatting about this and that.
"Director Li, you might have misheard. My husband is very down-to-earth now. He's running the tofu shop very well, and it's no problem to support our family."
Xia Yuqing said calmly.
She was using Song Qiao's influence to hint to Director Li that her husband was very capable and that he should not go too far. If he pushed her too hard, she could just quit her job at the factory.
"Oh? Little Song is truly capable. Little Xia, you are truly blessed."
Director Li seemed to not understand Xia Yuqing's implied meaning, and his words carried a strong hint of jealousy.
He paused, then asked Xia Yuqing sinisterly:
"Since Little Song can do such good business, he must be a magnanimous person."
"He should be able to let go of what happened that afternoon, shouldn't he?"
Xia Yuqing did not reply. In her heart, she rolled her eyes at Director Li.
Even the most magnanimous man would probably not let go easily if another man bullied his wife.
She didn't know if Director Li was genuinely foolish or pretending to be.
He fantasized that if she didn't bother with him, it was fine, but he even expected Song Qiao not to bother with him.
It was simply wishful thinking.
If it were Director Li's wife who was bullied, could he himself be so broad-minded?
When they got out of the car later, she hoped Director Li wouldn't go too far. After all, she was a little worried that Song Qiao might beat Director Li up again.
...
Song Qiao's shop was doing exceptionally well today, with a long queue outside the shop all afternoon.
He had arranged for Lin Jing and Li Lili to go to the restaurant entrance, leaving him alone to manage the shop. He was so busy he was flustered.
After finally serving a batch of customers, Song Qiao collapsed onto a chair, picked up a tissue, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"I wonder when Duan Kun will send someone over."
"If this continues, I'll be exhausted to death here sooner or later."
Just then, a black Santana sedan stopped in front of the shop.
"More business? It looks like a big customer."
Song Qiao smacked his lips and stood up, ready to welcome the guests.
Then he saw Xia Yuqing step out of the car with a grim expression.
Following behind her was Director Li, whom he had beaten up that day.
His face immediately turned ashen, and he casually took off his apron.
It seemed this Director Li was truly a persistent ghost, daring to pester Yuqing like this.
"Good timing, I was just looking for an opportunity to teach him a lesson."