Chapter Twenty-Five
Shen Qianzhan tossed her phone aside, grumbling as she prepared to list the top ten sins of that bastard Ji Qinghe. When she looked up, Su Zan was staring at her with pleading eyes.
After a tense standoff of several seconds, she resignedly retrieved her phone and got straight to the point: “I wonder if Mr. Ji is free tonight? I’d like to invite you to Kunshan Cottage for dinner.”
Ji Qinghe didn’t reply.
Recalling how quickly he had responded earlier, Shen Qianzhan guessed he probably wasn’t busy at the moment. After a moment’s thought, she added her purpose: “This afternoon, my assistant inquired with you about Xiang Qianqian’s endorsement. To be honest, our company has encountered a minor issue. If you don’t have time, I can directly explain the problem without taking up too much of your time.”
After sending the first part, she diligently continued with the second: “Mainly, after signing the contract, I haven’t had the chance to thank you in person. Since I have a favor to ask this time, I thought we could have a small gathering to express my sincerity.”
Those in high positions often have their time fragmented into pieces.
Ji Qinghe was no exception.
After reviewing the documents Ming Jue had brought him, he took a moment to glance at WeChat and replied: “Urgent?”
Shen Qianzhan took this as an agreement. Her eyebrows lifted slightly, and she felt a surge of pleasure: “It depends on your schedule.”
Ji Qinghe said: “Six o’clock tomorrow evening.”
Putting down his phone, he twirled the pen between his fingers, swapping its cap and tip. The cap landed on the documents with a dull, soft thud.
He looked up at Ming Jue, his eyes behind the lenses deep and unfathomable, exuding an elusive intensity: “Look into the endorsement matter. Also, postpone tomorrow night’s dinner by two hours. Someone has cut in line.”
Ming Jue kept his eyes downcast, pretending not to know that the person cutting in line was Shen Qianzhan. He nodded solemnly in acknowledgment.
—
The next afternoon, as soon as the clock struck four, Shen Qianzhan—who had been eagerly anticipating an early departure—grabbed Su Zan and openly left work ahead of time.
Kunshan Cottage, a Japanese restaurant, was relatively close to the Beijing branch of Endless Year. It was a standalone, two-story courtyard with exquisite decor.
Two cherry blossom trees were planted in the yard. Although it wasn’t the season for blossoms, the ground beneath the trees was still covered with artificial petals, specifically for customers to take photos and share on social media.
When Shen Qianzhan arrived, a young girl in rented kimono was tiptoeing under the tree, posing for pictures.
The last rays of the setting sun fell into the small pond beside the courtyard, casting a warm glow over the entire yard. It felt as if time had slowed down, as if the afternoon had paused and the clock had stopped ticking.
Shen Qianzhan only glanced briefly before turning her attention to the little treasures in the pond that symbolized wealth and fortune: “Boss, how about letting me take two of your koi fish home? They look like they bring good luck.”
The host leading the way looked exasperated: “Every time you come, you have your eyes on my koi. Have you no conscience? No discount for you today.”
Shen Qianzhan smiled, completely unfazed.
She wasn’t paying today anyway, so whether there was a discount or not didn’t matter. She never felt sorry for money that wasn’t coming out of her own pocket.
—
Upstairs in the private room, there was still half an hour before the agreed-upon time.
The boss personally brought over a few small plates of snacks to keep her entertained.
Shen Qianzhan was a regular at Kunshan Cottage, the kind of customer the boss would personally attend to whenever he was in the shop.
When Kunshan Cottage first opened, business was slow. Not only was the promotion insufficient, but the location was also too remote. Even though the dining environment was pleasant, it couldn’t overcome the obscurity of its location, and customers simply didn’t know about it.
During Shen Qianzhan’s time in the film crew, the production manager had ordered boxed lunches from the boss. Because they were affordable, made with quality ingredients, and tasted good, a long-term partnership was eventually established.
Later, when the boss opened Kunshan Cottage as a Japanese restaurant, Shen Qianzhan brought an entire department to support him.
Unfortunately, the restaurant struggled to stay afloat and gradually lost customers. When it was on the verge of closing, Shen Qianzhan would occasionally bring Xiang Qianqian and friends from the industry to dine there. Her well-crafted promotional posts not only revived the restaurant but also turned Kunshan Cottage into a trendy spot for social media check-ins.
A true walking, living god of wealth.
—
Dusk approached.
The light in the courtyard gradually dimmed, and the string lights coiled around the tree branches and walls lit up one by one.
Shen Qianzhan sat cross-legged by the floor-to-ceiling window, her elbows resting on her knees. Her long hair cascaded loosely as she leaned slightly forward, revealing the slender, fair curve of her swan-like neck.
As if bored from waiting, she pressed her index finger against the window, counting the ambient lights under the tree one by one. Her expression was lonely, as if she didn’t quite belong in this world.
This was the Shen Qianzhan Ji Qinghe saw when he arrived.
He stood at the entrance, the surroundings falling silent, almost eerily quiet.
Shen Qianzhan, hearing no movement for a while, turned to look.
Her long hair swirled in a graceful arc as she turned, half of her face visible. Her bright eyes and gleaming teeth were illuminated by the lights, making her look like a fairy from a painting—her features exquisite, her gaze captivating.
Ji Qinghe’s eyes darkened, a flutter stirring in his heart.
His deep gaze lingered on Shen Qianzhan’s face for several seconds. Only when their eyes met did he restrain himself slightly, reining in his emotions.
He stepped forward, removed his shoes, and stepped onto the tatami, his demeanor as composed as if nothing had happened.
His overcoat, carrying the chill of the outside air, was hung on the coat rack by Ming Jue. Wearing only a deep black suit, he sat down opposite her.
As soon as he took his seat, he noticed her troubled expression, as if she had something difficult to say.
Ji Qinghe raised an eyebrow slightly, silently asking with his eyes.
His handsome features were truly striking. Shen Qianzhan took an extra moment to look at him before mumbling, “My legs are numb.”
Ji Qinghe’s gaze lowered slightly.
Across the table, he couldn’t actually see what was happening underneath. But Shen Qianzhan’s legs had left a deep impression on him, and he could imagine them clearly even without looking.
He calmly undid the buttons of his suit jacket and asked, “Need help?”
Shen Qianzhan glanced at him but didn’t answer.
Her expression, however, was unmistakably clear—so clear that it was obvious she held no reservations about her silent disdain.
Ji Qinghe gave a slight, wry smile. He loosened his tie, undid a few buttons of his shirt, and finally felt the restlessness in his chest ease a little.
He looked up and saw Shen Qianzhan’s furrowed brows, as if she were deep in thought and struggling. He reached for the teapot and poured her a cup of warm tea: “Have you been waiting long?” As he spoke, he glanced at the scattered plates of snacks on the table, not particularly concerned with how she would answer.
“Waiting for you isn’t called waiting,” Shen Qianzhan said, having regained her composure. She picked up the teacup and took a sip of the tea poured by her benefactor, smiling as she added, “It’s called cultivation.”
Ji Qinghe glanced sideways at her, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. For once, he didn’t retort.
Since he was being accommodating, Shen Qianzhan knew better than to push it. She pressed the bell to have the server bring the dishes first.
Seeing Ji Qinghe in a formal suit, it was obvious he had another engagement later. She quietly changed a few dishes and asked softly, “Should I order something warm for you to start with? If I’d known you had plans later, I wouldn’t have suggested this place and made you eat cold Japanese food.”
Su Zan and Ming Jue, unable to get a word in, exchanged a glance and wisely remained silent.
Soon, servers began bringing the dishes one after another.
As she directed the placement of the dishes, Shen Qianzhan asked, “Around what time will Mr. Ji need to leave?”
“No rush,” Ji Qinghe said, swirling his teacup gently. His tone was mild: “I’ve left plenty of time for you.”
Shen Qianzhan, accustomed to making risqué remarks, almost instinctively replied, “Mr. Ji, don’t underestimate your own stamina.” But as she glanced up, her peripheral vision caught Ming Jue sitting beside him. Her mind buzzed, and she stopped herself just in time.
Internally, she scolded herself for getting carried away lately and mentally berated herself, thinking she should find time to visit a temple and learn some calming mantras from a master. Being clouded by lust was too much of a hindrance.
Changing the subject, she asked, “It’s New Year’s Eve today. Does Mr. Ji still have social engagements?”
This topic, however, wasn’t particularly tactful. Ji Qinghe almost immediately gave her a look that said, “You’re asking the obvious,” hinting: “The extra workload you’ve given me—aren’t you aware of it?”
Shen Qianzhan chuckled awkwardly and nudged Su Zan: “Mr. Ji is here. Aren’t you going to ask?”
Su Zan felt wronged.
The two of them had been going back and forth, chatting away. When was there room for him to interject?
Su Zan had dined with Ji Qinghe a few times and knew he didn’t drink. At the moment, he wasn’t sure whether he should propose a toast with tea instead. Before he could decide, Ming Jue, having received his boss’s silent cue, asked quietly: “Regarding your company’s artist endorsement matter, did you seek representation from Star Sea Agency?”
He tactfully hinted at the forces behind Xiang Qianqian. When Su Zan denied it, he wasn’t surprised: “Endless Year is about to change its brand ambassador. Several relevant department heads have been quite busy lately.”
Ming Jue’s implication was that Ji Qinghe, as part of the management, didn’t involve himself in such trivial matters.
If Su Zan was aiming to secure the endorsement, unless Ji Qinghe condescended to intervene, this matter shouldn’t be brought up to avoid causing annoyance.
Shen Qianzhan reasonably suspected that a man as shrewd as Ji Qinghe might think she was there to help Xiang Qianqian secure resources. She simply remained silent and listened quietly.
Su Zan’s original intention was to find out which forces were behind Xiang Qianqian. He didn’t expect to get more detailed information from Ming Jue, the CEO’s special assistant. So, after asking a few simple questions, he didn’t press further.
Ji Qinghe had little involvement with the entertainment industry and wasn’t aware of what had recently happened at Thousand Lights. Seeing Shen Qianzhan take a hands-off approach and Su Zan only inquiring about Star Sea Agency, he pondered for a moment and guessed the general situation: “Is Thousand Lights planning to drop this artist?”
“It’s not that Thousand Lights is dropping her,” Shen Qianzhan said, carefully choosing her words. “It’s that she betrayed Thousand Lights first.”
She scooped a forkful of noodles onto her plate and added: “Of course, if Mr. Ji feels that Xiang Qianqian is particularly suitable as the ambassador for Endless Year, you don’t need to consider Thousand Lights’ position.”
Ji Qinghe hadn’t touched his bowl of noodles much. Seeing her enjoy hers, he also took some: “When did I ever say she was suitable?”
The noodles had a milky, slightly sweet flavor. After one bite, he found it not to his taste and set down his chopsticks, picking up his teacup for a sip of water: “Ming Jue should have relayed to you that I don’t like her.”
Su Zan and Ming Jue’s conversation suddenly dropped to a whisper.
Shen Qianzhan acted as if she hadn’t noticed the two gossipy men eavesdropping. She smiled and asked: “Then how was Chu Sisi chosen last year?”
Ji Qinghe set down his cup, picked up his phone, and pretended to make a call: “So eager to know?”
“Let me ask for you.”
“No, no, no,” Shen Qianzhan immediately backed down. “Who your brand ambassador is has nothing to do with me. Can’t I even gossip a little without you making such a big deal out of it?”
Ji Qinghe gave a light, amused snort. The warm air in the private room made his eyes appear clear and bright, like a well of water—icy cold at first glance, yet unfathomably deep upon closer inspection.
He said: “If I’m not serious, it’s easy for you to question my taste.”
Shen Qianzhan was self-centered and narcissistic, often prone to wild imaginations. In her daydreams, she was always the most beautiful woman in the universe. When Ji Qinghe looked at her and meaningfully said those words, her thoughts drifted, and she imagined even more.
She, this little daisy, was all talk and no action—always bold in theory but timid in practice. Though not completely unresponsive like a beautiful salted fish, the gap between her risqué thoughts and her actual actions was vast.
Yet, even so, could she still leave a lasting impression, something worth savoring?
Shen Qianzhan felt there wasn’t much to be proud of in this, but if it made a man like Ji Qinghe—a veritable pile-driver—remember her so fondly and look out for her time and again, didn’t that give her a certain sense of accomplishment?
Author’s Note: Sorry, I’m so filthy, I feel so guilty.
After writing about Sister Zhan, I doubt anyone will believe me if I say I’m a pure soul.
Has your enthusiasm waned a bit lately? Is it because Mr. Ji’s red envelopes haven’t been generous enough?
The first hundred comments in this chapter will receive small red envelopes sponsored by Mr. Ji~
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solution between 2020-02-26 18:02:15 and 2020-02-27 17:54:52~
Special thanks to the little angels who cast rocket launchers: Self-Indulgent Tofu Pudding, Ye Qianlan—1 each;
Thanks to the little angels who cast grenades: The Guy Named Time, Want to Meet You·, Weiyi hhh, Muhan’s Little Shadow mio—1 each;
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Thank you all so much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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