Chapter Twenty-Nine
Shen Qianzhan was momentarily speechless, stunned by Ji Qinghe’s candor.
Qiao Xin came to notify her of a meeting and, seeing her staring blankly at the gift box on the desk, softly reminded her, “Sister Zhan, hasn’t our department been receiving gifts a bit too frequently lately?”
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t even a department.
Ji Qinghe was generous, but his gift-giving was selective—only those who had left an impression on him, with names and faces he remembered, received these airdropped presents.
Most of the gift boxes contained cosmetics, skincare products, perfumes, and merchandise from Endless Year, all of considerable value.
It started with New Year gifts just after New Year’s Day, ranging from Su Lanyi to the few life assistants who handled errands and coordination—everyone received something. Later, gifts were sent exclusively to Shen Qianzhan’s department, repeatedly and so conspicuously that even neighboring departments caught wind of it, coming to her daily with envious curiosity to dig for inside information.
At first, Qiao Xin would brush it off as part of their cooperative relationship, explaining that the investor was simply generous. But after repeated instances, not only did her colleagues find it hard to believe, even she couldn’t convince herself that such lavish spending was solely for the sake of maintaining a business partnership.
She tactfully conveyed the behavior that had been troubling her lately: “Now when I go to the restroom, I have to be cautious not only of female colleagues but also male ones. Everyone is quite curious about our collaboration with Endless Year…” Of course, it was mainly gossip about you.
But she didn’t dare say the latter part out loud.
Shen Qianzhan had a particular trait of “allowing officials to set fires while forbidding commoners to light lamps.” When gossip involved her, if it was harmless and she was in a good mood, she might even join in and add fuel to the fire. But if it crossed the line and disgusted her, she would eliminate it without mercy, sparing no one.
Shen Qianzhan nodded, unconcerned. “Let’s go to the meeting first.”
—
Today’s meeting was chaired by Su Lanyi, somewhat resembling an annual report. However, because the reporting content was excessively fair and transparent, Su Lanyi’s scolding was equally distributed, earning it the nickname “Annual Public Execution.”
By the time Shen Qianzhan arrived, department heads and managers from various departments had already filled most of the seats in the conference room.
Given her outstanding performance this year, praise and recognition were inevitable later. To avoid stirring resentment, she quietly took an inconspicuous seat.
At two o’clock in the afternoon, the meeting officially began.
Su Zan spoke on behalf of the artist management department. When he mentioned suing Xiang Qianqian for breach of contract after the New Year, the entire conference room fell so silent it was as if time had frozen, not a sound to be heard.
Half of the gazes subtly shifted toward Shen Qianzhan, who was idly twirling a pen.
It was well known that when Thousand Lights expanded into artist management, Shen Qianzhan had stepped up in a crisis, sparing no effort to make Xiang Qianqian famous. In addition to handling Xiang Qianqian’s agency affairs, Shen Qianzhan also juggled her work as a producer. Her current status was almost entirely earned through her own hard work.
At Thousand Lights, even those who might resent Su Zan would not resent Shen Qianzhan.
Last year, when Shen Qianzhan stepped down from her agency duties, rumors circulated within the company that she had been demoted back to producer by Su Lanyi due to her achievements overshadowing her superior. Now, barely half a year later, Xiang Qianqian had left, and apart from Zhou Yan, the artist management department had no outstanding talents left, resembling a scattered army without a general.
Su Zan also sensed the heavy silence. He paused briefly before continuing his report as if nothing had happened.
Shen Qianzhan leisurely twirled her fountain pen, not even raising an eyebrow from start to finish.Xiang Qianqian's insistence on leaving was something Shen Qianzhan had almost anticipated from the very beginning. She never sought out Xiang Qianqian for a private conversation precisely because she knew the whole story and didn’t want to leverage the favor she had once painstakingly earned.
There was one thing Su Lanyi hadn’t told her, but Shen Qianzhan understood it all too well.
Back when she stepped down as an agent, it was partly due to the overwhelming workload, and partly because Su Lanyi was dissatisfied with her divided attention. The more praise Shen Qianzhan received from the outside world, the more displeased Su Lanyi became.
Shen Qianzhan was perceptive. Even though Su Lanyi’s unintentional complaints were as mild as a girl’s coquetry, she took them seriously immediately and proactively offered to resign.
Thousand Lights had grown from nothing in the field of artist management alongside Xiang Qianqian. Shen Qianzhan had invested far more care and effort into Xiang Qianqian than what was visible on the surface, and she truly couldn’t bear to give up on her.
But Su Lanyi had extended a helping hand during the lowest point of her life, and Shen Qianzhan couldn’t betray that trust either.
After weighing her options, Shen Qianzhan chose to let go of Xiang Qianqian.
Xiang Qianqian was deeply loyal and stubbornly believed that Shen Qianzhan had been removed from her position because Su Lanyi was manipulating power to balance the other department heads in the company. She cried, made a scene, and secretly negotiated with Su Lanyi, offering conditions to reverse the decision.
The outcome of those negotiations remained unknown, but judging by Xiang Qianqian’s subsequent half-year of indulgence and despondency, it was clear they had ended in failure. With her obsessive personality, she likely harbored resentment toward Shen Qianzhan for abandoning her, which drove her to retaliate by betraying Thousand Lights.
In the adult world, emotions are often shallow and fleeting, especially in this city where most people have nothing to rely on. For survival, many choose to be ruthless, living for their own interests.
So, what did that make her?
—
After the meeting, Shen Qianzhan packed her things and left.
Before leaving, she turned to glance at Su Zan and gestured for him to meet her in the office later.
Tonight was a charity gala hosted by Boxuan. Su Lanyi had other commitments and had asked Su Zan to attend on her behalf.
As the representative of Thousand Lights, Shen Qianzhan naturally had to accompany him.
The charity gala was held annually, growing in scale and grandeur each year.
The venue was semi-open, featuring a red carpet and autograph session for artists, with multiple media outlets broadcasting and recording live. In addition to artists, industry heavyweights gathered in droves. Whether for exposure or networking with influential figures, it was a rare opportunity.
When Su Zan found her, Shen Qianzhan had just changed into her evening gown and was getting her makeup done.
It was rare for him to see Shen Qianzhan sitting obediently while a stylist worked on her, and he couldn’t resist teasing her. “Didn’t you complain before that makeup artists weren’t as good as you and insisted on doing it yourself? What made you give in today?”
Shen Qianzhan shot him a glance while directing the makeup artist to blend her eye shadow, retorting, “Watch your words. You’re always making enemies for me. Did I owe you millions in a past life for you to be so relentless in this one?”
Su Zan, without a care, sat down beside her and muttered, “Then repay me in this lifetime, and I might let it slide.”
Shen Qianzhan nearly spat in response, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of her own stunning, elegant, and captivating reflection in the mirror. Unable to bring herself to ruin such a beautiful image with harsh words, she restrained herself and settled for a meaningful eye roll.
But some people simply don’t know how to read the room.
Seeing her hold back, Su Zan took the initiative to provoke her. “Dressing up so beautifully tonight—is there a scheme?”
—I’m naturally gorgeous. With just a little effort, I can look radiant. Does this clueless straight man realize how punchable his comments are?Su Zan continued, "Found a new target? Expanding your harem?"
Unable to bear it any longer, Shen Qianzhan finally snapped, "I've only ever had one man, where would I get a harem?"
She brushed away the makeup artist's hand and turned to grab Su Zan's ear. "A woman putting on makeup has nothing to do with men."
Once disciplined, Su Zan instantly fell silent.
—
Shen Qianzhan didn’t need to walk the red carpet and went straight into the venue.
Thousand Lights’ seats were in the fifth row, alongside colleagues from other film and television companies.
She arrived early and, after sitting down, discreetly scanned the room, searching for Ji Qinghe’s location.
It wasn’t until just before leaving that Shen Qianzhan noticed Ji Qinghe had sent her a WeChat message in the afternoon—just four words: "Let’s talk tonight."
Checking the time, she had been in a meeting with her phone on silent. After the meeting ended, she rushed to put on makeup and change into her evening gown, only finding time to check her phone once she was in the car.
A full week had passed since their last meeting.
From initially thinking she’d look her best for their next meeting to now feeling utterly detached and indifferent, Shen Qianzhan deeply felt she wasn’t far from taking monastic vows in middle age.
But even as the evening began, with Jiang Yecheng taking the stage to deliver the opening speech, Shen Qianzhan still hadn’t caught sight of Ji Qinghe.
—
The evening was divided into two halves, with the latter being the main event, requiring a move to another exhibition hall.
At this point, there were no assigned seats, and everyone could sit wherever they pleased.
As Shen Qianzhan entered arm-in-arm with her superficial friend Ai Yi, she unexpectedly spotted Ming Jue waiting at the entrance.
The latter seemed to be waiting specifically for her. Upon seeing her, he made his way through the small groups of beautifully dressed attendees and walked straight up to her. "Producer Shen, Mr. Ji is this way."
Ai Yi gave Shen Qianzhan a surprised glance, but the expression was fleeting. She tactfully let go, excusing herself by saying she’d spotted an acquaintance, and left first.
Shen Qianzhan didn’t hesitate either. With a slight nod, she and Su Zan made their way toward the front row.
Ji Qinghe was seated in a corner of the first row, where floral arrangements and decorations blocked the stage lights from both sides, creating a relatively secluded space.
Behind him, the atmosphere was lively and chaotic, like water splashing into hot oil, full of worldly hustle and bustle. Yet he remained unaffected by the commotion, as if existing outside the dimension of time, isolated from the world.
As if sensing her arrival, Ji Qinghe, who had been facing away from her, abruptly turned his head to look in her direction.
The lines of his profile were sharp, his nose bridge straight, and the contours of his jaw softened by the interplay of light and shadow from the stage, exuding a captivating sense of restraint. When his gaze met Shen Qianzhan’s, a sudden brightness flashed in his eyes, like fireflies filling the sky or stars illuminating the night—a breathtaking, fleeting brilliance.
Struck by his beauty, Shen Qianzhan’s legs went weak in a rather undignified manner.
If not for her pride, she could have spent ten minutes calling him "daddy," "husband," or "brother" without repeating herself.
However, none of Shen Qianzhan’s rich inner turmoil showed on her exquisitely crafted face. She elegantly took her seat, meticulously adjusted her gown, and only then did she deign to look directly at Ji Qinghe.
The latter was lounging lazily, his long legs crossed, his posture far from proper.
His gaze traveled from Shen Qianzhan’s eyes and brows to her lips, then from her slender swan-like neck to the sharp line of her shoulders, barely concealed by a layer of sheer fabric. Finally, it lingered almost imperceptibly on her chest as he remarked with a mix of scrutiny and restraint, "Did I underestimate your bust?"
The gown Shen Qianzhan was wearing tonight was, in fact, the haute couture dress Ji Qinghe had sent over just two days earlier.His question instantly shattered the draft she had prepared in her mind. She looked up, her words tinged with annoyance as she spoke deliberately, "I've grown up."
Ji Qinghe neither agreed nor disagreed, but his gaze held a hint of deeper meaning.
He clearly knew when to stop teasing and didn’t press further, instead asking, "Did you gain anything tonight?"
Social occasions like this were perfect for networking—neither too deliberate nor too awkward.
"No," she replied, her tone somewhat gloomy.
Ji Qinghe lowered his eyes to look at her. "Weren’t you planning to confront me this afternoon?"
At the mention of that conversation, Shen Qianzhan’s face instantly darkened. She turned to glare at him. "Isn’t Mr. Ji’s way of speaking a bit too careless?"
The lights in the venue dimmed as the host took the stage.
Ji Qinghe’s gaze deepened along with the shifting lights. "Only with you."
Shen Qianzhan didn’t quite catch his words and instinctively leaned closer, turning her ear toward him.
Ji Qinghe spoke slowly, "I said you look especially beautiful today."
Author's Note: I suspect Mr. Ji has unlocked some kind of cheat code.
Ah, will I ever make it back to updating at six again~!
Come on, tonight I’ll give out a hundred red envelopes in the front row to boost my motivation. Tomorrow, I’ll strive to get back to six o’clock.
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me with overlord votes or irrigated with nutrient solution between 2020-03-01 18:54:39 and 2020-03-02 18:28:57~
Special thanks to: Suixin for the rocket launcher;
To: The guy named Time, Mu Han's little shadow mio, Wei Yi hhh, Misty for the grenades;
To:vic-q-lady?? for 8 landmines; xinxin, Half Moon Half for 3 each; 5jkno, Qiao Yi Qiao Qiao Qiao Ah Qiao, Heard You Are Called Chen A Xin, Yang Orange for 2 each; and to: Want To Meet You·, suasu, The Purest White Who Loves Bei Qing The Most, Ah Liang Add Milk No Sugar, Silently, Meow Who Loves Soda, knoered, Sky And Birds, Dortmund Quietly?cc, Lingering Coolness, Swallow's Golden Nest, 40949875, 42381919, Lion King Xiuxiu007, 42539313, silin, Young Master Tea, Dudu's Mom, Zhang Yixing's Wife, Xia Family's Little Si, Wandering Through Various Stories, 25621061, Admiring City, Bei Zi's Little Monkey, Sweet Pepper, The Rest of My Life, 20695441, Rain~Silent, Rabbit and Carrot, ?timid clumsy bear, one pomelo, small fish, josie for 1 each.Thank you to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solution: Xinyi Huajin 40 bottles; Shensen’s Fish 23 bottles; Lin Yiyi, Qingqing Zijin 20 bottles; Little Fish, 19900908, Reading Time, 5jkno, Warmth., Professor Shen. 10 bottles; Fan Fan 1016, gloriaaaaaa 9 bottles; Pikachu Not Fat 6 bottles; What Kind of Ghost Is Time, loren_wu, Never Forget the Original Heart 777, 27284820, xigyus?, Wild Field Shin-chan., Next Door Brother Lu?, Nineteen, xxxkx, 40798400, samael4, 22064396 5 bottles; karen, Huanggang Little Top Scholar 4 bottles; Chang’an, ottoo_, tender, 36062276 3 bottles; villkan, Yuye, Chenhao, I Heard You’re Called Chen Axin, Shalala, 29613602, , Exclusive Witch 2 bottles; Liuyuan’s Wife, Chu Wuyan, I Crave Jin Luyun and Lee Donghae, onl, Xixi Little Ghost, Li Zilan, Sunlight City, Xie Bu’er., Who Will Wear the Flower?, Momo, Charming Eyes Like Silk, Obsession Yuci, Liang Gua, A Sweet Date, farewell, Wei Xiao, White Peach Immortal, Yueyue, Asarum Not Over q 1 bottle;
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