QTIMP -Chapter 186 Character Persona – Overachiever (Part 18)

“Tang Chaoyun, for a corporation the size of the Tang Group, minor ups and downs are just leverage in your hands. But if it lands on me, it becomes a disaster. You wouldn’t want Che’er’s mother to carry a stain on her name, would you?”

Tang Chaoyun gripped the chair tightly. He could see it now—Si Qiu truly didn’t care about him anymore.

“Then we’ll part on good terms. No slander, no damage to either side. You should know that the Tang Group will be handed over to Che’er in the future. Che’er is your biological son—if there’s any scandal, it won’t benefit you either.”

Si Qiu put on a show of compromise. “Fine. Draft the contract. I’ll bring my legal team over to sign it when the time comes.”

The two discussed the contract details for a while longer before ending the call.

Si Qiu immediately called several senior executives in for a meeting. Her excitement was obvious as she clapped her hands a few times to get everyone’s attention.

“Everyone, this sudden meeting is about three things. First—our office location has been decided.”

She swiped on her laptop, projecting images onto the big screen behind her: a full view of a high-rise building, along with some interior shots.

“This is a building under the Tang Group. It has 18 floors. Currently, 6 floors are leased out to three companies. One company’s lease expires in six months, and the other two have about a year and a half left. Once their leases are up, they’ll all move out, and the entire building will be ours to use.”

As soon as she said this, everyone was first delighted—then puzzled.

The head of finance pushed up his glasses. “Boss, you know our current financial situation. Forget buying this building—even renting it would likely require installment payments. If you really like it, we could rent two or three floors for office use.”

Wu Ying, however, caught something important. “Sister Si… does that mean—uh, that dog—cough, I mean, the chairman of the Tang Group is giving us a discount?”

Everyone immediately caught on. Oh, the Tang Group—that’s their boss’s in-laws’ company.

Si Qiu smiled and shook her head. “Not exactly. But he did say we can use it for now.”

“For now?” The head of administration frowned.

Si Qiu’s smile deepened. “Yes. For five years.”

Wu Ying slapped the table. “Five years? Brother-in-law is really generous—and capable!”

Si Qiu rolled her eyes at her. “Of course, it’s not free. Legal department, stay behind after this meeting—we need to discuss the contract before signing.”

The projection changed to the next slide.

“The second matter: our current projects. Didn’t we say earlier that various entertainment companies were trying to suppress us and take over your filming locations? In a few days, you can check out filming sites under Qisheng Entertainment. Also, take advantage of this momentum to speed up song production.”

“The third matter: Zhao Ting should start preparing for filming Empresses in the Palace. Push Du Guo on the adaptation work. Oh right—about Du Guo, I forgot to ask earlier. How is it going?”

Wu Ying took a sip of water. “That kid is extremely socially anxious. I found someone he can accept to take care of him.”

Hearing that, Xiao Yuan chuckled. “Boss Wu really went all out—she even dragged her aunt’s cousin over to be his personal assistant.”

“Then we need to make sure the salary is generous. We shouldn’t shortchange our own people.”

After the meeting ended, everyone left except Wu Ying.

“Qiuqiu, what’s really going on? That man never does anything without profit. He wouldn’t give you these benefits for nothing—what exactly did he ask you to do?”

Si Qiu closed her laptop. “He said that for Che’er’s physical and mental well-being, he wants to create a normal, healthy family environment for him.”

“What did you say? That bastard really has it all figured out—throwing you a few scraps and expecting to tie you down for life? Qiuqiu, don’t be foolish for a moment. For something so trivial, you’d give up the rest of your life? Our company has just started and our foundation is still weak, but we can build it up slowly together! No matter what, you can’t sell your whole life like this.”

Seeing Wu Ying so agitated, Si Qiu stepped forward and hugged her, patting her trembling body.

“Sweetheart, I’m not stupid. I only need five years—just enough time for Ce’er to grow up and learn to distinguish right from wrong.”

Hearing this, Wu Ying felt a bit relieved, though she still looked at her with concern.

“Five years may not be long, but it’s not short either. A woman only has a few golden years—you really need to think this through.”

Si Qiu nodded. “I’ve thought it through. Even if I divorce him, I won’t remarry right away, so I can afford to spend five years. Besides, you can help keep an eye on him. If he cheats, that would be a breach of contract, and I can terminate the agreement early.”

“Don’t worry, leave it to me. Oh right, Suisui is back—she asked us to get together tonight.”

Si Qiu, who was about to walk out, suddenly stopped and turned back in surprise. “When did she get back? Why are you only telling me now?”

“Her flight landed at 10 this morning. She texted both of us—you were probably busy and didn’t see it.” Wu Ying smiled happily.

Nian Suisui was a close friend of theirs. She had gone to Germany to study medicine and stayed there for another year of internship after graduating before finally returning.

“Alright, tonight’s on me. We’re definitely having a few drinks.”

Wu Ying laughed and lightly smacked her arm. “That’s a given, but for now, think about your own situation. Your butler came to bring you afternoon tea—he’s been waiting for almost an hour.”

Si Qiu gave her a teasing smile, then carried her laptop out of the meeting room.

She turned straight into the lounge. Song Huaiyi stood there with his arms crossed, his back to the door, gazing out the window.

Hearing the door open, he immediately turned around, a gentle smile on his face.

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to force that smile. It’s giving me goosebumps.”

Si Qiu spoke before he could.

Whether it was because of her words or simply because he saw her, the perfectly polite, formulaic smile on Song Huaiyi’s face shifted into something more alluring and eerie.

Still speaking in that extremely humble, subdued tone, he said, “Yes, Miss. As you command.”

As he spoke, he opened the insulated container. The pastries were secondary—the main thing was the soup he had prepared, specially made to help her recover after her miscarriage.

During this period of interaction, Si Qiu had more or less realized something: this butler of hers had a somewhat abnormal streak—he seemed to enjoy degrading himself.

The more she ignored him and treated him with disdain, the more energized he became.

Sure enough, receiving no response at all, Song Huaiyi wasn’t upset. Instead, he gazed at Si Qiu with an almost obsessive look.

Si Qiu treated him like a machine, giving orders directly whenever she needed something.

“When we get back to the villa, pack up the luggage I’m temporarily using.”

Song Huaiyi froze for a moment, then quickly composed himself. “Miss, are you going on a business trip?”