Xiao Wang drove them to an upscale restaurant. Although not large in scale, the interior was exquisitely decorated and meticulous. Upon entering, a staff member led them to the second floor, which was quiet and bathed in soft, relaxing light.
"Please have a seat, I'll go fetch President He," the waiter said.
As the waiter left, only the two of them remained on the second floor.
"As a restaurant, it's quite deserted," Qin Wei looked around. There was no one dining on the second floor.
"This is Huanyi's property. The first floor is open to the public, while the second floor is reserved for entertaining Huanyi's guests. It's mainly used for informal occasions when business discussions are needed, but without wanting to be disturbed."
Qiao Sixiao smiled and took a seat near the stairs. She rested her left hand on the back of the chair, leaning sideways, casually glancing downstairs.
At the staircase stood He Hong's assistant. Obviously, He Hong had invited them here to discuss something they didn't want others to know.
Qiao Sixiao furrowed her brow slightly and began to recall why they were specially called here. Why couldn't they have talked on the set or in a hotel conference room? Why did it have to be here?
"Not in a formal setting, but..." she started to say.
Before she could finish her sentence, the sound of high heels echoed from the staircase. The woman in a suit, accompanied by one of the assistants, ascended the stairs.
"How was your rest at the hotel, Miss Qin? Did you have a pleasant day?" He Hong said as she approached, still warm and with a smile in her eyes when talking to Qin Wei.
"It was fine, thank you for your concern, President He," Qin Wei replied.
He Hong gestured for Qin Wei to take a seat, then she sat down herself. She turned to her assistant and instructed them to serve the dishes. After the assistant left, He Hong personally went to the wine cabinet to choose a bottle of wine.
The wine cabinet was filled with an array of choices. He Hong picked a bottle and brought it over.
"A Lafite from 2006. Would you like to try it, Miss Qin?" He Hong placed the wine on the table. Shortly after, the assistant came over, opened the wine, and poured it into a decanter.
The appetizers were served, and the dinner officially began. In front of them were bacon-wrapped asparagus. Qin Wei picked up her knife and fork and discreetly glanced at Qiao Sixiao beside her. So, she cut her own portion and prepared to switch it with Qiao Sixiao's. Just then, He Hong spoke up.
"No need to go through the trouble. You can feed her, and I don't find it strange at all," He Hong said.
"All right." Qin Wei used her fork to pick up a small piece of asparagus and brought it to Qiao Sixiao's lips.
"Thank you, but I can manage..." Qiao Sixiao glanced at He Hong and accepted the fork in her hand.
Qin Wei didn't object. She took another fork and placed the cut food onto Qiao Sixiao's plate one by one.
"What do you think of my daughter, Miss Qin?" He Hong suddenly asked.
Qin Wei's hand holding the knife paused briefly before continuing to cut the food at a steady pace.
"She's a very nice person..."
"I'm referring to last night," He Hong cut to the chase, her meaning clear.
"I made special arrangements for you. I hope you didn't waste the opportunity," she added.
Qin Wei remained silent, but the person beside her was clearly annoyed. When she put down her fork, it seemed she wanted to express her displeasure. The metallic sound of the fork hitting the porcelain plate was slightly jarring.
But Qiao Sixiao remained silent.
He Hong wasn't surprised by her behavior at all. She glanced at her and chuckled lightly, saying:
"Miss Qin and Anxing's contract has expired, as far as I know..."
She paused, her gaze falling on her own daughter before continuing,
"They won't renew it."
"Mm."
Qin Wei nodded, calmly continuing to cut the asparagus on her plate. After placing some on Qiao Sixiao's plate, she took a bite herself and couldn't help but praise,
"It's crispy and tender, and the aroma of the butter is just right. Delicious."
Qin Wei didn't seem surprised.
He Hong fell silent for a moment, her expression returning to normal, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she said,
"Miss Qin isn't surprised? Or perhaps she already knew that my daughter would tell me everything she knows?"
Qin Wei couldn't help but laugh:
"Don't use such low-level tactics to sow discord, President He. Based on the relationship between you and your daughter, she wouldn't keep anything from you."
She looked up at He Hong, who was sitting across from her, her gaze gradually turning cold,
"Just like earlier, the way you spoke to her was very impolite."
"Is that so? I don't think so."
He Hong smiled instead of getting angry and waved to the assistant standing at the staircase. The assistant then brought up the main course.
"I chose prime rib for the main course, and it pairs well with this red wine."
After He Hong finished speaking, she pointed to the decanter on the table. Without saying anything, the assistant started pouring wine for them.
"Qiao Sixiao doesn't need to drink for now. We'll wait until her wrist has recovered."
He Hong instructed the assistant, then picked up the red wine glass in front of her,
"Miss Qin, our cooperation with Huanyi goes beyond just this TV drama. I haven't had a chance to formally have a meal with you before, which I think is quite rude..."
Instead of raising her glass, Qin Wei lowered her eyes and carefully cut the steak on her plate. She cut it into small pieces, and even when He Hong spoke to her, she didn't stop.
"President He just said something rude, don't you think an apology is necessary, even if she's your daughter and your employee?"
Qin Wei coldly looked at He Hong, her hand holding the wine glass hanging in the air, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes. Then she drank the wine in her glass and set it aside.
"An apology? Do you need me to apologize?"
He Hong looked at her daughter.
Qiao Sixiao lowered her eyes and said indifferently,
"President He said something rude, and I think I deserve an apology."
He Hong laughed, motioned for the assistant to pour more wine, and then squinted at Qiao Sixiao,
"Just because I said something inappropriate, I have to apologize to you? Then what if I do something inappropriate?
Do you think that last night's shoot was delayed until dawn because the actors in the scene were in a bad state and kept making mistakes? Why didn't you suspect it was my arrangement? I know about your little quirks. After work, no matter how tired you are, you always take a shower before going to bed...
Maybe because yesterday, it was Miss Qin who came to your room on time, you didn't have much of a reaction. But what if it was someone else? Like President Wang, President Li, President Qian, or the brand manager?"
These individuals you've encountered in the business world, they aren't exactly refined gentlemen. If they had my consent, you can imagine what they would do without me having to say it.
Qiao Sixiao, what would you have done back then? Crying and looking for me the next day, asking for an apology?"
Apologies are most useless, merely an attempt by the wrongdoer to seek forgiveness from the victim in order to find inner peace.
Just imagine this scenario, not only Qiao Sixiao, even Qin Wei felt a bit frightened.
He Hong raised her glass and, while observing the panic in their eyes, her own eyes were filled with mockery, yet her demeanor remained elegant:
"When it truly comes to that point, I will apologize and try my best to compensate you in various ways. How about being the leading lady in a film or television drama, or engaging in high-profile business collaborations? Dare to express your desires boldly. Isn't that more sincere than a mere apology?!"
