Chapter 76: That kind of trash deserves a good life?

The milk tea she treated everyone to yesterday was only about twenty-something yuan a cup.

The ones for her, Sang Wan, and Tang Chenge were better, thirty-five yuan a cup.

All told, it was just a few thousand yuan.

Yesterday, the three of them didn't drink any of it; they tossed it straight into the trash.

Afraid of being poisoned...

So today she's splurging big?

That can't be it.

How much is Qin Jiao Jiao even worth? Can she afford to treat people to nine hundred thousand yuan worth of stuff?

Just to show off their love and prove that their marriage is great?

That's unlikely.

Curious as she was, Song Huan Yan didn't ask further and headed straight for the President's office.

As soon as she reached the office, she got a call from Tang Chenge.

Tang Chenge said, "Yesterday Qin Jiao Jiao treated the whole company to milk tea, and today Qiao An is treating everyone to coffee and desserts. What's that about?"

Song Huan Yan sat down in her office chair. "Qiao An's treating?"

Tang Chenge's tone was excited. "Right! And such expensive coffee and cake too."

Song Huan Yan said, "Qin Jiao Jiao can't afford it, but she can."

Tang Chenge said, "Being able to afford it is one thing; being willing to is another. She hasn't been this generous in the past two years. I heard some people on set talking—guess what's going on."

Song Huan Yan was a bit curious. "Tell me."

Tang Chenge said, "Qiao An is going to enter into a marriage alliance! Word is it's with a rich second-generation heir. This coffee and cake was bought by that rich heir."

"I see." Song Huan Yan tapped her fingers on the office desk. "Isn't she with Qin Zi Mo anymore?"

Tang Chenge said, "That, I don't know."

"Is Qin Zi Mo on set? What's his reaction?" Song Huan Yan asked again.

"He is." Tang Chenge said, "He seemed pretty surprised too, and his expression wasn't great. But he couldn't say anything in front of everyone, and he even congratulated Qiao An. I was going to have someone keep an eye on him to see if he'd go find Qiao An in private, but Qiao An asked for leave, saying she had to come to the company."

Song Huan Yan slowly raised an eyebrow and made a rare joke. "Coming to bring me coffee and cake?"

Tang Chenge slapped her thigh. "I think that's exactly it! She's showing off big time today. And she's wearing a necklace worth a fortune—judging by the quality, I'd say over a hundred million."

Song Huan Yan thought for a moment, then said, "The Qiao family could barely count as an aristocratic family to begin with. If she's so happy to accept a marriage alliance, the other party's family background must be good, probably above the Qiao family's. A necklace worth over a hundred million and this coffee and cake—that's not too surprising. A family in a marriage alliance couldn't possibly not afford things like that."

Tang Chenge said, "That's what I think too. But I wonder which unlucky bastard has his eye on her. I guess she thinks Qin Zi Mo has nothing going for him."

An ordinary background compared to an aristocratic family—in the end, the gap is just too wide.

"Mm." Song Huan Yan hummed in acknowledgment, lost in thought.

After a moment, she said, "There's another possibility. A smokescreen."

After all, Li Zihang had just ratted them out; maybe this was a countermove Qin Zi Mo and Qiao An cooked up.

Whether she believed it or not, they were trying to distance themselves from each other.

Probably thinking that if Qiao An suddenly announced she was accepting a marriage alliance, at least it would throw off suspicion.

"Mm." Tang Chenge agreed. "That's very likely. The coffee and cake cost a fair bit, but Qiao An can afford it. As for that necklace, the Qiao family can buy it too—she could just borrow her mom's to fake it."

"Mm." Song Huan Yan said, "True or false, it doesn't matter. None of them are getting away. Even if Qiao An really does marry into another aristocratic family, my plan won't change. Once the trap is set, she'll have only one outcome: ruined reputation, despised by everyone."

"Of course." Tang Chenge said, "She's always been a piece of trash. How could trash deserve a good ending? From the moment she did that thing, her fate was sealed!"

Just as Song Huan Yan was about to speak, a knock suddenly sounded.

She raised an eyebrow. "Someone's here to see me. I'll hang up first."

Tang Chenge laughed. "Qiao An?"

Song Huan Yan said, "Probably."

Tang Chenge said, "Alright, hang up."

Song Huan Yan put down her phone and said, "Come in."

They hadn't guessed wrong—it really was Qiao An.

"President Song." Qiao An, beaming with joy, came forward carrying a bag with coffee and cake.

Song Huan Yan had no intention of giving her a pleasant face. She said coldly, "Aren't you supposed to be on set filming properly? What are you doing in my office? Do you know this production's schedule has already been delayed repeatedly?"

Qiao An had been all smug, but after being scolded, she grew a bit displeased.

She quickly stepped forward, set the bag on the office desk, sat down, and said, "I asked Director Tang for leave. I don't have many scenes this morning. I came specially to bring you some good food."

Song Huan Yan glanced at it with disdain. "You think I care about that?"

Qiao An felt even more irritated inside. She absolutely hated Song Huan Yan!

This damned old woman was arrogant and overbearing, with a sharp tongue.

She brought her food, and this was how she acted!

Qiao An took a deep breath to calm herself, forced a smile, and said, "Oh, don't say that. You've eaten every luxury there is, so naturally... you wouldn't care about this. But still, it's a token of my goodwill."

Even though her words were polite and pleasant, Song Huan Yan still didn't give her a good face. She remained cold-faced and cold-voiced. "I really don't like these things."

With that, Song Huan Yan picked up the bag and tossed it into the trash can with a clatter. "I don't like coffee or cake, and stuff at this level wouldn't even make it into my kitchen."

Qiao An had come with the intention of showing off, but Song Huan Yan's reaction nearly made her spit blood from rage.

Still, what Song Huan Yan said was true—no matter how well-made or luxurious outside food was, it couldn't compare to what came out of a top-tier wealthy family's kitchen.

Qiao An took another deep breath and kept enduring.

Just as she was about to speak, Song Huan Yan said, "Alright, you can leave now. Go back and work properly."

Qiao An was about to go crazy with anger.

Her fingernails dug into her flesh as she held back with all her might, but she still didn't leave. Instead, she said, "President Song, what's the rush? Can't I chat with you a little longer?"

Song Huan Yan said directly, "I'm not interested."

"You!" Qiao An was so angry she almost couldn't hold back her temper.

Song Huan Yan raised an eyebrow, "What? Forgot last time's lesson and dare to openly argue with your boss?"

Qiao An endured again and again, forcing a smile, "No. Mainly, this Coffee Cake was given by my boyfriend. I accepted the Marriage Alliance."

"Oh." Song Huan Yan was very indifferent, saying, "It has nothing to do with me. I only care about your filming progress and your work attitude; why should I care about your private life?"

Qiao An ignored her words, instead talking to herself, raising her hand to touch the necklace on her neck, "This was also just given to me by my boyfriend yesterday, worth several hundred million."

Song Huan Yan had actually already seen it.

The diamond necklace on her neck was indeed of good quality.

But Song Huan Yan still dismissed it, saying disdainfully, "Only a few hundred million."

Qiao An's expression changed, but she quickly said, "President Song naturally doesn't care, but my boyfriend and I have just started. I only accepted the Marriage Alliance; we haven't even met yet, we just exchanged contact info, and he sent this necklace straight to my home. The Coffee Cake was also his initiative to treat the whole company."

Song Huan Yan picked up the folder beside her, "I'm not interested in your Small Family Aristocratic Family Marriage Alliance partner. Hurry back to the set to work, or else…"

Qiao An wasn't angry either, saying, "Fine, I'll go back to work right away. However, President Song, I want to tell you something else: after I finish this drama, I won't act anymore. Moreover, I won't stay at the company."

Upon hearing that, Song Huan Yan was surprised, lifted her eyes, "Oh, so cocky? Your contract is still with the company."

"Of course I know." Qiao An said proudly, "The termination fee is only a mere three hundred million."

Song Huan Yan didn't respond to her bragging, just coldly said, "Just pay the compensation as required."

She hadn't set the breach‑of‑contract penalty too high originally because she also studied acting and didn't want capitalists to treat actors as non‑people.

Seeing Song Huan Yan give her no face, Qiao An was furious, saying, "I will definitely pay. Afterwards my boyfriend—no, I should say fiancé—will make me an International Superstar! He will even set up a film‑and‑television company just for me!"

Song Huan Yan tilted her head, still looking at her coldly, "What does that have to do with me? If you think creating your own film‑and‑television company can outplay my company, then go ahead. Is the nonsense over? If so, leave quickly."

Qiao An finally could barely hold herself.

She stamped her foot, seeming puzzled, "President Song, I really don't know why you hold such hostility toward me? Is it because of Qin Yingdi? I'm not pursuing him now, why do you still dislike me so much?"

Song Huan Yan frowned.

Like?

Heh.

Before she knew about the two's sordid affairs, she indeed listed Qiao An as a key cultivation target.

So the treatment and resources given to her were excellent.

Otherwise, as a newcomer, she could cooperate with the Emperor in her second drama?

But how Qiao An treated her.

Still likes.

She didn't kill her; that's already merciful.

"Whether you chase him or not has nothing to do with me," Song Huan Yan said, "You are just my employee; to me you're merely a tradable commodity. What do I need to like about you?"

Qiao An was again so angry she felt dizzy and her head swelled; this dead‑old woman is usually silent but actually sharp‑tongued!

Qiao An said, "Fine."

After speaking, she stood to leave but sat down again, saying, "By the way, President Song, last time I heard you on the phone you said Nan Gong Yu gave you a jewelry 'Star River Dream' set worth a hundred billion, why… you two have no follow‑up?"

Song Huan Yan was speechless for a moment, "What does that have to do with you? Are you leaving or not?"

Qiao An shrugged, "Fine, it seems President Song really doesn't favor me. I don't know what I offended you about. Aren't you curious who my fiancé is?"

Song Huan Yan sneered, "What does that have to do with me?"

Anyway, she could never show a good face or kind words to Qiao An.

Qiao An was so angry her chest hurt.

She had never succeeded in showing off here with Song Huan Yan.

Every time she was slapped in the face by her!

But it's okay; soon Song Huan Yan would only have to bow her head in front of her.

She looked forward to that day arriving.

Then she'll see whether Song Huan Yan can still be so arrogant.

Qiao An stood up, proudly saying, "I also don't want to tell you."

After speaking, she turned and walked away.

Song Huan Yan: "....."

She had just left when Tang Chenge called, asking, "How's it going? Is the Marriage Alliance really into a decent Aristocratic Family, or just a pretentious ghost trick?"

Song Huan Yan furrowed her brows and thought, "The details aren't clear, but looking at her bragging demeanor, it does seem a bit genuine."

Tang Chenge's eyes widened, "No way? That kind of slut even gets a good life? Heaven has no eyes!"