After setting aside the tallied invoices, Wang Qiqi took a sip of tea and chatted with Shi Man, who had just logged online. Wang Qiqi couldn't recall the last time she had spoken with Shi Man. They were having such a delightful conversation that Wang Qiqi’s face was split in a wide grin; if not for being in the office, she surely would have burst out laughing.

There was indeed a reason for Wang Qiqi's exuberance. If the restaurant raised its prices for sales, Anna could completely shirk the responsibility, claiming she had no idea the restaurant would be so unscrupulous—at worst, she’d only have to admit to poor job performance. But these extra signed orders could prove everything; they would show she was colluding to embezzle money, an offense that could utterly crush her. Looking up, Anna saw Wang Qiqi’s smile, fueling her jealousy. Both were employees, but why did Wang Qiqi get to chat so openly? “Angel, if you’re done, I have some work for you…” Don’t you have nothing to do? You might as well help share this workload.

Oh, now she’s assigning my tasks? “I’m sorry, I’m busy. I didn’t ask anyone to help even when I was swamped. Besides, this is a full day’s work for you; finish it early, and you’ll be free this afternoon.” It was then that Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered something crucial: if Anna resigned, who would take over her work? Surely not her. If she hadn't agreed to help John, Wang Qiqi would gladly take over the front desk, but the problem was, she was already so busy—where would she find the time to step in?

Thinking this, Wang Qiqi rapidly emailed Han Tao to ask how to handle the situation. It was fine to send the email in Chinese right in front of Anna.

Han Tao was busy processing code, preoccupied with procuring supplies for Qiqi to have a good meal when she got home that evening. He didn't expect a notification for an email. Han Tao paused his work, opened his inbox, and saw it was from Qiqi.

Initially, Han Tao didn't want to look; he assumed Qiqi was bored sitting at the front and was sending a disruptive email. But after a moment's thought, he clicked it open. If it was just harassment, he could simply ignore it. To his surprise, it was about this serious matter. “This is a problem.”

Yesterday, Han Tao and the other two had only focused on how to drive the detestable Anna out of the company, completely failing to consider who would replace her duties. Of course, they hadn't raised the issue then because they hoped Anna might yet repent, but now that Qiqi had sent this email, it meant someone truly wasn't going to mend her ways. However, Han Tao didn't know the specifics, so it was difficult to report to John.

Han Tao quickly replied, asking Qiqi to detail the situation. Once he received Qiqi's follow-up email, he rapidly translated Qiqi's message into English and sent it to John, asking how to find a suitable replacement.

In no time, restaurants started arriving one after another to settle their accounts. Wang Qiqi took the invoices, cross-checked the amounts, re-verified the accompanying slips, signed the invoices, and signaled that they could proceed to the finance office for their checks. Seeing Wang Qiqi’s meticulous process, Anna inexplicably felt that something was amiss. She had a strange feeling about the way Angel was looking at her—a sensation she couldn’t quite name.

Wang Qiqi hummed a cheerful tune continuously. She felt that even the semi-sealed office air was quite pleasant; once the troublemaker next to her was gone, the sky would surely be bluer.

While Wang Qiqi was feeling particularly pleased with herself, the person who arrived from the Nihon Cuisine restaurant was a handsome young man. He first handed the invoice to Anna, then paused when she unexpectedly passed it to the woman beside her. Wang Qiqi noticed a flicker of discomfort cross his face.

Wang Qiqi took the slip. “Is this a new restaurant? Have you negotiated a discounted rate with us?” Wang Qiqi casually flipped through the invoice and the supporting documents, discovering the figures matched Anna’s tally exactly. Considering she had suddenly demanded payment today, the fact that their calculated figures were identical strained credulity. Wang Qiqi certainly didn't believe in profound feelings or nonsense like that. They must have been in contact this morning, either via email or phone. If it was the former, that would be even better; even if some emails were deleted, the server would keep records. Wang Qiqi gambled that Anna wouldn't dare make a phone call; it had to be email. Wang Qiqi’s lips curled even higher. She hadn't expected someone to rush so eagerly toward their own doom. Wang Qiqi certainly wouldn't force the issue; she quickly sent an email to Han Tao, asking him to check the server immediately. If they found something, great, but the best scenario would be finding the email on Anna’s computer—that would be more damning and, crucially, deliver a greater blow to the other party.

When Wang Qiqi received confirmation that Han Tao had found something, she knew her next task was to stall for time, while also keeping an eye on the culprit.

The handsome young man was startled by Wang Qiqi’s sudden interjection. He nervously glanced at Anna. He truly hadn't expected settling a bill would be this complicated. Unfortunately, Anna couldn't show any reaction in front of Wang Qiqi.

Having no recourse, the young man said, “I’m just an employee; I don’t know about discount rates.” He considered going back to consult his manager, as he also realized something was wrong now, feeling as if he were being targeted.

What a convenient excuse. “You work at Nihon Cuisine, right? I assume you’re quite familiar with your restaurant’s prices. Can’t you just check the prices listed here?” Wang Qiqi thought, She practically delivered herself to my door; how could I let her go? If she couldn’t understand the trap now, she was truly an idiot. It was clearly a setup designed to lure her in. Anna knew this couldn't escalate; otherwise, she wouldn't escape unscathed. Her teeth clenched tight. How many times had Angel ruined her chance at profit? The last time could be excused, but what had she done to obstruct this one?

“I…” The young man hadn't expected to be pressed so hard, clearly realizing he wasn't being let off the hook. But he couldn't simply bolt; if he angered the other party, they might stop ordering from his restaurant entirely. Furthermore, their daily order volume was substantial, and he couldn't afford to lose such a major client. Should he expose the person he was cooperating with? At worst, he could return the kickback Anna gave him, but he wasn't sure if that person held a higher position than Anna.

“Check the prices. If you don’t remember, I don’t mind if you look at photos of your menu or your take-out price lists.” Wang Qiqi hadn't intended to reveal her hand so quickly, but Han Tao’s email stated that Anna’s email had been found. Since that was the case, it was time to reel them in.

The young man broke out in a cold sweat. By now, even he realized he was utterly duped. They had the restaurant’s prices, and even the newest take-out menus printed yesterday, as well as the previous ones. “This, this…” The young man shot Anna a resentful glare. He had actually considered lowering the price when he heard the person in charge was coming to settle the bill, but that idiot had insisted it wasn’t necessary, saying the person in charge wasn't that sharp. Look now—if this wasn't sharp, what was? They had clearly been targeted long ago.

The young man worried even more about the repercussions if the news got out; his restaurant would gain a notorious reputation. He didn't just do business with this one company; he handled several nearby businesses too. If they shared information… he didn't dare imagine what his future business prospects would look like. He deeply regretted letting his greed get the better of him and collaborating with her.

“I, I admit the prices are problematic. It was she who told me…” The young man made a sudden decision, pointing at Anna, who was now trembling beside him. He reasoned that if he was going down, he wouldn't let her escape either, and he confessed the details of their collusion.

Now they're turning on each other. Not bad, not bad, but this is just the beginning. Wang Qiqi shifted her gaze to Anna. “What do you have to say?”

“I, I didn't! He’s lying, slandering me! I negotiated discounted prices with him, but the menu price he initially gave me was higher!” How could Anna admit guilt? She swiftly shifted all the blame onto the other party.

The two began arguing over who was lying. The commotion at the front desk drew out the staff working inside. Taking advantage of the distraction, Han Tao entered the front area, pulled the red-faced, arguing Anna aside, took control of her computer, and quickly accessed her email. Fortunately, that email was still there. He clicked it open and immediately called out, “Angel, review the invoices carefully. Anna mentioned in the email that several over-signed orders should also be included. Check the order numbers.” Han Tao rapidly recited the list of numbers.

The onlookers, who had initially thought the Nihon Cuisine representative was falsely accusing Anna, fell silent, as if stepping into a deserted forest, when Han Tao’s words rang out. The bustling front desk instantly became as quiet as a deep mountain. However, the murmuring soon resumed, but this time, everyone was accusing Anna. Her actions were too egregious; while she could potentially blame the pricing on the restaurant, overcharging was something one person couldn't manage alone. Anna was utterly dumbfounded. The young man was also stunned, and he turned to leave, but Wang Qiqi called out, “Hold on. This isn't over. We will pay for the food we actually consumed and signed for. As for the price, what do you propose?” She wasn't about to commit the offense of eating and running; one issue was separate from the other.

“The price will be a thirty percent discount off the restaurant’s menu price. Is that acceptable?” The young man hadn't expected to be called back to settle the bill; how could he not be pleased? He just wasn't sure if he could continue their business relationship.

A thirty percent discount. Wang Qiqi was satisfied with this price. “Deal. Future payments will be settled at this price. Don't even think about raising it. I will be checking in at your restaurant to order things periodically, and perhaps I’ll send someone in to eat a meal to check the prices.” Wang Qiqi issued a warning, though she knew that after this incident, the young man wouldn't dare to try anything again.

The young man was surprised that they would continue to work with him. “Yes, absolutely. Don't worry, I won't play games with the prices again. I guarantee the freshness of the food as well.”