Chapter Eighteen
Shen Qianzhan was caught completely off guard by Ji Qinghe’s final, audacious move. The icy, haughty aura of “I disdain to associate with trash like you” that she had projected while confronting Jian Xin vanished without a trace amidst the mysterious, ambiguous smiles of the assembled bigwigs.
She forced herself to maintain her persona, coquettishly protesting, “Gossip like this is harmless when shared privately, but bringing it into the open like this makes things awkward for everyone.”
Propping her chin on her hand, she turned with practiced grace to meet Ji Qinghe’s gaze.
Shen Qianzhan’s original plan was to clink her red wine glass lightly against his, regardless of whether he drank, striving to achieve the visual effect of “Mr. Ji, you’re so mischievous.”
Once the first step succeeded, the second step involved batting her eyelashes flirtatiously, dazzling Ji Qinghe into a daze, allowing her to smoothly follow up with, “Mr. Ji and I have a completely innocent relationship. I don’t know what mindset those spreading rumors have, using me to tarnish a gentleman like Mr. Ji.”
But when her eyes met Ji Qinghe’s, the cool detachment in his gaze, like frost-covered trees on a mountaintop, chilled her from head to toe.
Drinking too much really does affect one’s intelligence.
She had almost forgotten that her relationship with Ji Qinghe was anything but innocent.
If she uttered that line, never mind whether it went against her conscience, a dog of a man like Ji Qinghe wouldn’t obediently play along. If he didn’t expose her on the spot, it would only be because she had accumulated enough good karma from her past prayers to the gods, a stroke of sheer luck.
Having thoroughly grasped this, Shen Qianzhan changed her expression faster than flipping a page, instantly wiping the smile off her face and adopting the cold, heartless look of a heartbreaker. She swiftly turned her head away, pretending nothing had happened.
Su Zan, who witnessed the entire scene, nearly laughed himself silly.
If he hadn’t always remembered the debt of gratitude for Shen Qianzhan’s earnest teachings over the years, he probably would have been cackling like a rooster by now.
What had he said before?
This heartbreaker Shen Qianzhan would eventually face instant karma. And here it was, sitting right beside her, waiting to wield its golden spear and begin the harvest.
What a fantastically realistic human drama.
However, enjoying the show was one thing; behind closed doors, anything goes. When it came to actual matters, Su Zan still understood the importance of presenting a united front. He cleared his throat, his gaze toward Jian Xin filled with undisguised condemnation and disgust: “Malicious competition that damages someone’s reputation is quite beneath contempt. Everyone present heard what Producer Jian said here today. If I hear any related gossip outside in the future, I’ll assume it came from Producer Jian.”
Su Zan was usually all smiles, a pragmatic bootlicker. His sudden seriousness unexpectedly carried a somewhat intimidating effect.
A hint was enough; saying more was pointless.
Feeling the anti-slander effect was satisfactory, Su Zan appropriately withdrew. Coincidentally, Shao Chouxi pretended to receive a phone call and prepared to leave. Su Zan enthusiastically stood up to personally see him off, neatly extricating himself from the situation.
Su Zan had an incredibly accurate self-perception: he was a tool.
Words unsuitable for Shen Qianzhan’s status, he had to voice them. Actions incompatible with Shen Qianzhan’s persona, he had to perform them. He was a soldier carrying a spear and shield, charging into battle when needed, and guarding the base when it was time to fall back.
He was simply a well-off, leisurely, and beloved pawn in the human world, a little sweetheart adored by all.
—
Shen Qianzhan needed to speak privately with Jiang Yecheng. Instructing Qiao Xin to first escort Ji Qinghe to wait in her car, she followed Jiang Yecheng shortly after to see him out.
Walking through the corridor and entering the elevator, Shen Qianzhan stood beside Jiang Yecheng under the pretense of pressing the floor button. With sincere gratitude in her voice, she thanked him: “Mr. Jiang, thank you so much. I heard from Zan Zan a couple of days ago that Qianqian’s audition with Director Lei didn’t go well. It’s also our PR department’s fault; they’re all holding their rice bowls but not eating properly. Qianqian has been misunderstood and slandered lately, and her reputation has taken a bit of a hit. I’m truly grateful that you could mediate for her.”
Jiang Yecheng looked puzzled: “When did this happen?”
His deflection was masterful. Shen Qianzhan had mentioned so many things in one breath; it was impossible to tell which part he was asking about.
Undaunted, she probed further: “Huh? Which part are you referring to?”
Jiang Yecheng glanced at her, his expression kindly: “Qianqian is too young. Being in a high position inevitably leads to impatience and arrogance. Your Thousand Lights should not only focus on cultivating artists’ character but also pay attention to their psychological well-being. The more popular the artist, the more their behavior needs to be regulated.”
After this seemingly relevant but actually completely off-topic remark, he softened his tone like a senior caring for juniors and eagerly hoping for talent: “A few days ago, I was invited to evaluate TV dramas for key support from the Film Association. Your Thousand Lights has boundless potential. I think you need to settle your mind and expedite the project approval for the tribute drama. At the beginning of the year, you can apply for national key support. If selected…” He didn’t finish, only giving Shen Qianzhan a meaningful look.
Both were old foxes in the industry, able to tell the freshness of meat just by its scent. In this brief exchange, each already had a crystal-clear understanding, polished to a shine.
Shen Qianzhan smiled, tactfully not probing further about Xiang Qianqian.
The elevator dinged upon reaching the lobby.
Shen Qianzhan walked beside Jiang Yecheng, discussing some unimportant project progress. Most of it was about which suitable screenwriters she had recently met, how many unqualified ones she had filtered out, how much preliminary work she had done, and how immense the workload was.
When she ran out of things to say, she appropriately switched to the role of a humble junior seeking advice, asking him questions like: “Mr. Jiang, with your vast experience, are there any screenwriters you highly recommend?”
“Mr. Jiang, what do you think of Director Shao’s ability? Is he suitable to direct our drama? Most of the top-tier directors who have won major awards are unavailable, and our project can’t wait.”
“I’m also considering filming locations. Mr. Jiang, which area do you think has better feng shui? After all, your judgment is accurate; a single word from you would benefit me immensely.”
“I think it’s still too early to finalize actors, but many, attracted by the fact that you’re producing this project, have flooded my inbox with resumes.”
Outwardly, she was inquiring and seeking opinions; inwardly, she was buttering him up, coaxing Jiang Yecheng into beaming with joy. It wasn’t until he got into his car that he remembered he had forgotten to ask Shen Qianzhan about her collaboration with Ji Qinghe.
Shen Qianzhan had naturally done this on purpose. Jiang Yecheng’s deflections had pressured her at every turn, his lips sealed tight enough to be un-pryable, and he still wanted to get information out of her?
No way.
—
Shen Qianzhan’s gossip radar was exceptionally sharp. As soon as she learned that Xiang Qianqian’s “night meeting with a sugar daddy” was a setup, she had set her sights on several big shots.
Jiang Yecheng was dedicated to collaborating with Ji Qinghe to get a piece of the pie, and Xiang Qianqian had privately contacted Ji Qinghe during this sensitive time, making it hard for Shen Qianzhan not to suspect Jiang Yecheng.
However, Jiang Yecheng’s reputation in the industry had always been positive, so Shen Qianzhan didn’t dare suspect him rashly. At tonight’s dinner, when Director Lei suddenly relented and allowed Su Zan to take Xiang Qianqian for a makeup test, she didn’t believe Director Lei was just doing it for the convenience of drinking with her later. The implication was simple: Xiang Qianqian didn’t want to lose this resource and had begged her backer to secure it for her.
Who this backer was was obvious at a glance.
Later, her deliberate probing, and Jiang Yecheng’s reaction, were also very clear. Avoiding answering, skirting the main issue, and telling her to settle her mind—this was a warning. Don’t meddle in matters that don’t concern you. Whatever she knew, however much she knew, if she was smart, she should keep her mouth shut.
Otherwise, she would be dragging the entire Thousand Lights down with her recklessness.
—
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice she had already descended to the underground second level.
When the elevator arrived, the dizziness from the sudden stop caused a brief physical discomfort.
She leaned against the handrail inside the elevator, waiting for the wave of dizziness to pass. Once she regained her composure and was about to step out—
Ji Qinghe, who had been lying in wait at the elevator entrance, stepped in first, blocking her inside the underground parking garage elevator.
A coat was draped over his shoulders, his features stern and profound.
Whether it was the dark color of his suit making his skin appear too pale, or he was naturally austere and cold, standing before her, he was like a wall of ice, exuding coldness from head to toe.
This man truly looked good in a suit… so good that one wanted to… deal with him on the spot while he was dressed like this…
Look at those gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose bridge—the epitome of a cultured scoundrel, a beast in human form.
Shen Qianzhan’s vision blurred. The dizziness she had just recovered from surged back in a tidal wave under the impact of such beauty.
She raised her hand, pressing the back of her cool hand against her cheek, looking innocently at this uninvited guest: “Got impatient waiting?”
Shen Qianzhan rarely engaged in self-reflection, but it seemed she had chatted with Jiang Yecheng for too long. Leaving a peerless beauty like Ji Qinghe hanging like this was truly inexcusable.
She deserved punishment! She decided to punish herself by looking at him a few more times!
Seeing her barely able to stand steady, Ji Qinghe reached out to support her forearm, frowning with dissatisfaction: “How much did you drink tonight?”
“Not much.” Shen Qianzhan stared at his slender, pale fingers for a moment, counted, and said, “Four liang of baijiu? And a few glasses of mixed beer and foreign liquor.”
She sighed softly, complained: “It was truly awful.”
Ji Qinghe lowered his gaze, his eyes resting on her rosy lips, as if that little mouth, chattering with complaints, held immense fascination for him, captivating his attention.
Shen Qianzhan knew in her heart that the alcohol was hitting her now. She was always like this: once she relaxed mentally, even though she was aware of what she was doing, she completely lost control.
She hiccuped and let out a deep sigh.
This sigh was so full of lament that Ji Qinghe raised an eyebrow slightly: “So bad it made you sigh?””
“No.” Shen Qianzhan glanced at him, lowering her voice to mutter: “When I drink too much, I turn into a chatterbox. I clearly see myself transforming and am powerless to stop it.”
She hesitated but, having lost control of her body, said whatever came to mind, completely powerless to interfere: “I drank for three hours; my makeup has half worn off. I originally wanted to touch up before coming down, but I got too absorbed in thinking and came straight down.”
Ji Qinghe couldn’t help but smile, half of the coldness around him melting away without him realizing it: “You need to touch up your makeup to see me?”
Shen Qianzhan shook her head: “No. Even if I might encounter a dog on the way, I’d tidy up my appearance for it.Afraid Ji Qinghe might see through her, she used her talkativeness to deliberately scold him, and then covered up a bit: "Sorry, Mr. Ji." I have poor drinking manners. I speak blunt truths when drunk and offend people easily.”
Ji Qinghe had no intention of fussing over it.
After all, Shen Qianzhan calling him a dog of a man wasn’t a one-day affair.
He leaned down to her eye level: “Speak blunt truths when drunk?”
A glimmer flickered in his eyes, as if all the light had gathered there, suddenly brightening.
Shen Qianzhan belatedly realized she had dug another hole for herself, nearly erecting her own tombstone. She finally confirmed that Ji Qinghe’s arrival boded ill and instinctively took a step back.
The hand Ji Qinghe had on her arm slid down to her lower back, pulling her in: “Running away?”
Shen Qianzhan was nearly scared to death, her eyes darting toward the elevator exit. As one would expect, after such a long time without exiting, the elevator doors had long closed. All she saw in the elevator mirror, which seemed to have a built-in beauty filter, was her own face, flushed like peach blossoms, a picture of springtime allure.
This was going to be the death of her.
She closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, she strove to make herself look less like a girl with a crush: “Mr. Ji.”
Shen Qianzhan slightly lifted her chin, using her gaze to direct his attention to the surveillance camera in the upper left corner: “What happens here might not be known only to us.”
Ji Qinghe followed her gaze unhurriedly, appearing quite nonchalant: “If it’s with you, I don’t mind much.”
Shen Qianzhan was stunned by his words and fell silent.
Ji Qinghe asked: “What does that newly added clause in the contract mean?”
A shadow passed through Shen Qianzhan’s eyes. Deciding to stick to her “speak blunt truths when drunk” persona, she answered: “I don’t want to have any emotional entanglements with you anymore.” After a pause, she added: “You saw tonight how perilous my environment is. Being associated with me might just be a topic of romantic gossip for you, but it’s not so friendly for me.”
Ji Qinghe nodded slightly, though it was unclear which part he was affirming.
Shen Qianzhan pressed on: “Mr. Ji might also have a misunderstanding about me. I have no interest whatsoever in being kept. When you proposed that condition back then, it was quite insulting.” She glanced at Ji Qinghe. Seeing his expression indifferent but not showing signs of flying into a rage out of humiliation from having his dignity tarnished, she continued: “Of course, the clause is just a matter of attitude. Putting it in black and white is for mutual accountability. cooperate closely and trust each other. Don’t you… agree?”
Her voice grew weaker as she spoke, nearly crumbling under Ji Qinghe’s increasingly cold gaze.
Ji Qinghe didn’t even change his expression. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice like paper that had been crumpled and then smoothed out again: “I never once thought of keeping you. You misinterpreted.”
Shen Qianzhan nodded. Yes, yes, she wasn’t worthy.
Her expression was so perfunctory, completely dismissing his words.
It was just a one-night stand; how much feeling could there be? It couldn’t be that Ji Qinghe, seeing she was already this old and only then had sex life, felt a momentary pity and wanted to take responsibility, right? How absurd.
Even her own lingering thoughts were only because the experience was too good, unforgettable to the marrow. At most, she reminisced about it, craved his body. But to truly invest any feelings? Impossible.
The adult world was better off being realistic. Pursuing love was too extravagant for someone like Shen Qianzhan.
Ji Qinghe couldn’t see through what she was thinking, but her current expression, that of a heartbreaker through and through, was too grating. The hand on the small of her back tightened slightly, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Shen Qianzhan was already unsteady on her feet. With his support and slight push at her back, she practically threw herself into his arms. The already precarious distance between them vanished in an instant.
She suspected Ji Qinghe was deliberately misinterpreting her 'intimate and mutually trusting'.”
Shen Qianzhan carefully reached out a hand, pressing it against his chest.
Her palm was too warm. Touching his cold suit jacket sent a shiver through her.
She looked up, reaching to straighten his tie for him: “Mr. Ji, my reputation outside isn’t good. A woman fighting alone in the world, no matter how outstanding, always faces idle gossip. From the jealous, the envious, those who simply don’t like me. It’s not that I truly care so much about how others see me; it’s more out of respect for this profession.”
“Let me give you an analogy. Take Jian Xin. She’s professionally trained. Her school seniors and juniors, classmates, sisters from the same faction—all are her network and resources. Yet even so, if she gets close to anyone, there are still malicious speculations trying to negate her efforts. Of course…” She pursed her lips, earnestly adding: “My speaking candidly and to the point doesn’t mean I forgive her malicious smearing. We’re still going to meet in the enemy's camp, and we still have to fight with bayonets.”
She straightened his tie properly, gave it a slight press, and withdrew her hand. Staring at Ji Qinghe, she said with utmost clarity: “I care about others’ evaluations, and I care even more about their dismissal of the work. That’s not my achievement alone. I have no right to let the efforts of the entire crew go to waste because of my own relationships.”
She was calm; Ji Qinghe was even more calm than her.
Like a spy spying into her soul, he silently met her gaze for several seconds. Then, the corner of Ji Qinghe’s mouth lifted slightly in an enigmatic smile: “You never mix in personal feelings?”
“Then what about me? What do I count as?”
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