Xia Xueqing was first startled, then somewhat surprised, upon hearing Xia Haibin's terms.
Xia Haibin was clearly a suitor of Gao Mengmeng; why was he now asking her out instead?
In broad daylight, in front of Song Qiao, was he insane?
"Tsk tsk, a five million project, and all it takes is a date to get it. If it were me, I'd definitely agree."
"Exactly, I hope General Manager Xia quickly seizes this opportunity to bring great credit to the company."
"She's never secured a project for the company. If she seizes this chance, we'll overlook her past mistakes."
Several shareholders, without considering Xia Yuqing's feelings, began to gossip beside her.
"How about it? General Manager Xia, consider the terms I've offered. If you agree, we'll sign the five million project right now."
Seeing Xia Yuqing standing still and hesitant to speak, Xia Haibin continued to press her smugly.
Xia Yuqing shook her head.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Xia, but I cannot accept the terms you've offered. While the five million project is very important to me, I am already married."
"Furthermore, I want to win the project through my own efforts, not through someone else's charity."
"Heh heh, how can this be considered charity? It's all clearly priced and conditional."
"…However, it's alright if General Manager Xia is unwilling. I can take another step back."
"As long as you embrace me in front of these people, I will still sign the project."
Xia Haibin was surprisingly accommodating today, changing his terms on the spot.
Even if Xia Yuqing were slow to react, she now understood his intentions.
Xia Haibin's teasing of her was merely an excuse, his true objective being to humiliate Song Qiao in public.
"General Manager Xia, such a great opportunity is right in front of you. Why aren't you quickly thanking Mr. Xia?"
"Besides, it's just an embrace. How much is dignity worth? This is a five million project."
"Such a good opportunity, as the general manager, I think General Manager Xia can sacrifice a little for the bigger picture."
Bao Jing fanned the flames beside her, analyzing the pros and cons for Xia Yuqing.
This made Xia Yuqing, who was already struggling to refuse, even more hesitant.
She had already refused Xia Haibin once. If she refused again, she would likely offend the Xia family once more.
At that point, these shareholders would probably blame her for causing trouble for the company.
However, if she agreed today, firstly, it would go against her original intentions, and secondly, it would embarrass her husband.
Caught in a dilemma, she suddenly didn't know how to choose.
Just then, Song Qiao, who had been observing coldly from the side, suddenly glared at Bao Jing, who was still chattering away.
"I say, President Bao, you are also a veteran of our company."
"Since you believe General Manager Xia can sacrifice herself for the company for a five million project."
"Then if I were to bring in a ten million project today, could you sacrifice yourself and kneel down to lick my feet in public?"
Song Qiao's words were sharp and merciless.
He now suspected there was a traitor in the company, colluding with Xia Haibin to deliberately humiliate him.
"I…"
Bao Jing, who had been somewhat smug, was suddenly rendered speechless.
As a veteran of the company, she was well aware of Song Qiao's capabilities.
If he impulsively produced that ten million project, she would be in serious trouble.
"What? President Bao is unwilling to sacrifice for the company?"
Seeing Bao Jing hesitate, Song Qiao did not hesitate to continue his mockery.
For a selfish individual like Bao Jing, who advocated for others to make sacrifices, he was determined to teach her a lesson today, no matter what.
After the matter was over, he would find an excuse to fire Bao Jing.
"Hahaha, Song Qiao, you truly are boastful."
"You talk about a ten million project with every breath. As the owner of a small processing plant, do you even have the financial capacity for that?"
"Besides, this is your own company. Even if you were to invest ten million, why would you torment your own employees?"
"Do you not consider your employees as human beings at all?"
As everyone remained silent, Xia Haibin smugly began to mock Song Qiao.
The latter two "heart-killing" remarks made several senior executives of the company change their expressions.
The situation was indeed as Xia Haibin described. Song Qiao investing in his own company was, to put it bluntly, a natural course of action.
To make such an excessive demand of his employees based on this was simply absurd.
"Song Qiao, say less. Don't be impulsive at this time."
Seeing that the company's employees were on the verge of mutiny because of Song Qiao, Xia Yuqing became anxious.
However, Song Qiao's expression showed no panic. He sneered at Xia Haibin and said:
"I didn't expect you, you blockhead Xia Haibin, to be a little smarter today. But I'll tell you the truth, this ten million is not my personal investment, but a project from Lan Hai Industrial specifically for my wife."
"Since the previous five million was for my wife to embrace you, is it too much for me to ask you to kneel down, kowtow, and lick her shoes for ten million now?"
He then turned back and looked at Bao Jing with a half-smile:
"How about it? If President Bao is willing to sacrifice, she will have made a significant contribution to our Tianhong."
"Pah! Song Qiao, can you at least draft your bragging before you start?"
As soon as Song Qiao finished speaking, Xia Haibin eagerly continued his ridicule.
"What level is Lan Hai Industrial? Do you really think they'll easily give you a ten million project just because you helped Ye Zhiwei with a small favor?"
"You're dreaming in broad daylight. Why do you expect good things to fall from the sky?"
As Xia Haibin spoke, the surrounding people also started to laugh.
This Song Qiao couldn't even fabricate a believable lie. It was shameful for him to be the company's boss.
Given Tianhong's current strength, it was difficult even to sign a contract with a branch of Lan Hai Industrial, let alone have the CEO Ye Zhiwei personally assign a project.
"Chairman Song, you must give us an explanation. What exactly do you mean?"
Ma Rulong's face darkened. He, who had always been neutral, now felt a hint of dissatisfaction towards Song Qiao.
After all, it was difficult to justify Song Qiao making things difficult for his own shareholders.
"An explanation?"
Song Qiao scoffed.
When Bao Jing was making things difficult for Xia Yuqing earlier, they had all actively chosen to ignore it. Now, he was merely retaliating, and these shareholders were making a fuss about it. It was simply preposterous and laughable.
"I have no explanation."
"But since you don't believe this is a contract from Lan Hai Industrial, and President Bao is unwilling to sacrifice herself for this matter."
"Since no one values it, I'll just tear it up."
As he spoke, he took out the contract that Ye Zhiwei had given him long ago from his briefcase and threw it down in front of everyone.