Chapter Thirty-One
That day, Su Lanyi made a rare visit to the company.
After spending the morning handling documents, she took Shen Qianzhan and Su Zan along to support her friend’s newly opened Western restaurant.
The restaurant wasn’t far from Thousand Lights. In collaboration with a four-star hotel, the top floor had been transformed into a revolving restaurant.
As Su Lanyi sat down after delivering the opening flower basket, the owner promptly arrived, enthusiastically recommending several signature dishes before instructing the server to waive the bill for their table, then politely excused herself.
Once she left, the booth fell silent.
Su Lanyi smiled and briefly explained, “The owner here is from our circle. After getting married, she grew tired of being a caged canary and opened this restaurant to reclaim her sense of purpose.”
She elegantly cut into her steak, the knife and fork making no sound against the plate. “Who knows how long this restaurant will last, but her enthusiasm for the opening certainly deserves full marks.” With a mischievous wink, she added softly, “Hurry and try it. The chef was hired at a high price. Ever since she mentioned opening a restaurant, I’ve been craving this.”
Having grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth, Su Lanyi was extremely discerning. If something could make her crave it, Shen Qianzhan estimated she’d be leaving the restaurant stuffed to the brim.
After a quiet meal, Su Lanyi casually asked, “What’s going on between you and Mr. Ji from Endless Year? Rumors are spreading like wildfire. Friends keep asking me about it.”
Shen Qianzhan scooped a spoonful of pudding and countered, “What do you mean, what’s going on?” She remained calm, as if she weren’t the subject of the gossip. “Besides the collaboration between Endless Year and Thousand Lights, what else could there be?”
Su Lanyi glanced at her twice. “Xiang Qianqian’s betrayal and lawsuit against Thousand Lights has already caused quite a stir lately. Your little scandal with Mr. Ji has given Star Sea Media the perfect opportunity to exploit the situation.”
Her words weren’t exactly pleasant, even carrying a hint of reproach.
Sensing the tension, Su Zan quickly stepped in to mediate. “This is my fault. If it weren’t for those photos in my social media feed, none of this would have happened.”
Shen Qianzhan set down her spoon, shifting her gaze to Su Lanyi’s face, and got straight to the point. “What do you want me to do?”
Realizing her poor choice of words, Su Lanyi frowned slightly and explained, “I don’t know the full story. I’m just worried that you and Thousand Lights might be taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives.” She sighed, massaging her temples with a headache. “Qianzhan, if nothing goes wrong, Xiang Qianqian’s side will likely release a sympathy-seeking press release in a few days to sway public opinion.”
The naive Su Zan was stunned. “…Is it really that serious?”
Su Lanyi asked, “How do you think this rumor started? Qianzhan pinched a young idol’s butt two years ago without any fallout. Why is it that this time, just getting a little close to Mr. Ji has sparked such ugly gossip?”
Shen Qianzhan, who had remained expressionless until now, immediately flared up. “Let’s be clear here, please don’t bring up that embarrassing butt-pinching incident again.”
Mentioning the butt-pinching incident made Shen Qianzhan want to bury her face in her hands.
Two years ago, she accompanied Xiang Qianqian to film a variety show. After the final episode wrapped, the production team organized a wrap party. That night coincided with the show’s third episode hitting a ratings peak, so everyone was in high spirits.
Someone—a genius, no doubt—suggested playing Truth or Dare. Xiang Qianqian drew “Dare,” and the challenger instructed her to touch the firm buttocks of a top-tier young idol at the time.Back when Shen Qianzhan was still a talent agent, she immediately thought: This won’t do. This was clearly a trap forcing Xiang Qianqian to jump in. If she took the bait, who knew how many bloody holes she’d end up with? At best, Xiang Qianqian would be torn to shreds; at worst, her career would be left half-crippled.
Shen Qianzhan’s intuition told her this was a conspiracy, but in that moment, the other party was clearly just toying with them. Refusing would inevitably offend someone, but if they complied, she and Xiang Qianqian were bound to face a storm of trouble after tonight.
The only compromise she could think of was to take Xiang Qianqian’s place and pinch the top star’s butt. The worst consequence would be her taking the blame and resigning.
Later events indeed proved Shen Qianzhan’s foresight. That butt-pinching incident was turned into short videos, photos, and GIFs, forcing Shen Qianzhan to delete her social media accounts and withdraw from the industry.
If it weren’t for that top star’s kindness in explaining on her behalf, Shen Qianzhan might have truly suffered serious damage.
The thought of it instantly killed Shen Qianzhan’s appetite. “I know what I’m doing. You don’t need to worry.”
—
Su Lanyi’s concerns weren’t unfounded. After returning to the company, Shen Qianzhan contacted the PR department and called an emergency meeting. First, to understand the progress of Xiang Qianqian’s contract termination; second, to gauge the online public opinion; third, to prevent herself from being used as a target by Star Sea Media.
During the “butt-pinching scandal,” to keep Xiang Qianqian clean, Shen Qianzhan strictly forbade her from speaking out. To prevent her from acting out of loyalty, the company even confiscated her Weibo account for a week.
After the incident, aside from the involved party explaining on her behalf, most netizens remained unaware of the truth. Even her identity within Xiang Qianqian’s fan circle became an awkward, almost invisible presence that couldn’t be mentioned to this day.
If false rumors about Shen Qianzhan forcing Xiang Qianqian out by any means necessary were exploited this time, the consequences were predictable.
She truly carried everything on her own shoulders.
After completing the PR proposal for Thousand Lights, Shen Qianzhan spent an entire day carefully considering her next move before cautiously requesting a meeting with Ji Qinghe through Ming Jue.
As the year-end approached, Ji Qinghe was swamped with work and hadn’t even visited the courtyard house in a long time. When Ming Jue relayed Shen Qianzhan’s request for a meeting, his pen paused, nearly tearing through the paper.
Instantly sensing Mr. Ji’s foul mood, Assistant Ming felt uneasy but bravely added, “Producer Shen said it’s best to meet in person so she can explain the whole situation to you. If you don’t have time, she asked her assistant to coordinate with me.”
Ji Qinghe’s grip on the pen tightened as he finished signing the document and handed it to Ming Jue. “If she wants to see me, why doesn’t she contact me directly?”
Ming Jue kept his eyes down, bluntly breaking the illusion. “Producer Shen said the matter involves the reputations of both companies, so she had to disturb you. Since it’s business, she followed the proper procedures.”
The latter part was Ming Jue’s own addition. Though Shen Qianzhan didn’t explicitly say it, her meaning was clear: she didn’t want any involvement with Endless Year beyond business matters, hoping to avoid deepening misunderstandings.
Ji Qinghe pursed his lips in silence. His schedule was tight, and it was difficult to spare more time.
Seeing him deep in thought, Ming Jue tentatively suggested, “On the way to the airport, we’ll pass by Thousand Lights. If the matter is urgent and Producer Shen doesn’t mind using your fragmented time, I can notify her now.”
Ji Qinghe nodded. “Tell her if we don’t meet today, the next time we see each other will be at Thousand Lights’ annual meeting.”
—
Ji Qinghe’s final remark was too threatening. Shen Qianzhan didn’t hesitate long before agreeing.
Ming Jue, worried she might delay Ji Qinghe’s itinerary, repeatedly confirmed the agreed-upon time and place with Shen Qianzhan.
5:00 p.m.Ji Qinghe's car appeared at the intersection right on time.
Shen Qianzhan got into the car carrying two cups of coffee.
Beijing was windy today. After waiting at the windy spot for barely ten minutes, she was chilled to the bone.
Once inside the car, enveloped by the warm air, she shivered and handed the coffee she had been keeping warm inside her coat to Ji Qinghe. "Coffee's on me."
Ji Qinghe frowned imperceptibly, taking the coffee while adjusting the air vent. "Couldn't you find a sheltered spot to wait?"
"Didn't want to waste your time," Shen Qianzhan replied, sipping her coffee to warm her frozen body while studying him. "Another business trip, Mr. Ji?"
Ji Qinghe's fingers holding the coffee were slender. Beneath the cuff of his white shirt, half of his wristwatch was visible, accentuating the clean, fluid lines of his wrist bone. It looked as if it were custom-made, exuding an understated, aloof elegance.
The car drove along the road, turned onto a shortcut, and headed straight for the airport expressway.
Without traffic, Shen Qianzhan only had half an hour.
"I've already understood the situation," he said, weariness evident between his brows, his voice noticeably lower than usual. "What official procedure are you hoping to follow by coming to me?"
In the front seat, Ming Jue lowered his voice as he discussed road conditions with the driver. Shen Qianzhan's attention drifted momentarily before she refocused and replied, "Thousand Lights has already prepared a public relations plan. I know Endless Year is expanding its market, and if this isn't handled properly, it will affect the reputation of both companies."
Ji Qinghe smiled, his expression teasing. "How do you want me to cooperate with you?"
Shen Qianzhan was instantly speechless.
Her original intention was for Ji Qinghe to understand the situation and recognize its seriousness, so that both companies could present a unified stance. If nothing happened, all the better. But if Star Sea Media used these unclarifiable rumors to sway public opinion, it would negatively impact the project.
After rehearsing her arguments all afternoon, his single question—"How do you want me to cooperate with you?"—rendered them all useless.
"An hour ago, Endless Year suppressed a batch of press releases," Ji Qinghe said, removing his glasses and rubbing the space between his eyebrows. "I never expected Producer Shen's past to be so... colorful."
Shen Qianzhan: "?"
Seeing her confusion, Ji Qinghe picked up a sealed document and handed it to her, gesturing for her to read it herself.
Star Sea Media indeed intended to spin a story based on images to strengthen Xiang Qianqian's negotiating position.
These press releases were first sent to Boxuan and Endless Year—two companies collaborating with Thousand Lights—in an attempt to pressure Thousand Lights.
The document Ji Qinghe gave her was precisely one of these press releases, complete with evidence, images, and stories detailing her romantic escapades.
When Shen Qianzhan saw the bold, red-highlighted "butt-grabbing scandal," her face turned green.
She suddenly realized that Ji Qinghe's earlier remark wasn't straightforward candor but a prelude to settling scores.
Shen Qianzhan suddenly felt a headache coming on. She stuffed the document back into its envelope. "This is enough for me to resign to save the project."
Her spirits dampened, she gazed out the window at the bustling crowds and said softly, "The PR department will suppress these press releases and expedite the resolution of Xiang Qianqian's contract termination. For now, these rumors won't have a substantial impact on Endless Year. Thousand Lights' official blog will also issue a statement to clarify the situation. Everything is under my control."
Ji Qinghe caught the implication in her words and glanced at her sideways. "What's the worst-case scenario you've considered?"
Shen Qianzhan was taken aback.
Wait, could this bastard actually think she's planning to end her own career?
How could that be?She was about to explain, but then it occurred to her that the current excuse was perfectly justified—there was no better opportunity than now to sever ties with him.
Once this thought bubbled up, it gurgled and floated to the surface.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she feigned a pitiful look. "At worst, I’d have to sacrifice myself as an offering to the formation, right?"
Ji Qinghe let out a faint, mocking laugh.
He kicked his foot, raising the partition. Once the view from the front seat was completely blocked, he lowered his voice and asked lightly, "Sacrifice yourself as an offering? To whose formation?"
He turned sideways, his gaze locking onto her as he analyzed, "Do you think I’d just stand by and let you do that?" His eyes drifted down to the documents beside her hand, and he chuckled softly. "But you did remind me—since you’re so willing to sacrifice yourself, why not offer yourself to me? First time’s awkward, second time’s familiar. Better than ruining your career."
Shen Qianzhan: "..."
Damn it, she’d jumped right into another trap Ji Qinghe had dug.
She cleared her throat and glanced at the partition in front of her. "How’s the soundproofing? I’m afraid if I go too hard later, Mr. Ji’s pleas for mercy might leak out. Wouldn’t want him to lose face in front of his subordinates."
Author’s Note: Mr. Ji: Asking online—which position would make settling the butt-pinching score look more elegant?
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me with their overlord tickets or nourished me with nutrient solutions from 2020-03-03 18:41:44 to 2020-03-04 18:18:53~
Special thanks to the little angels who launched rocket launchers: Jing Yu, Ye Qianlan (1 each);
Thanks to the little angels who threw grenades: Mu Hanhan’s Little Shadow Mio, Mengmeng Sang? (1 each);
Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: Yue Banban (3); Cha Shao, Change Qian, Weiyi hhh (2 each); Gezhe Yinhe Yuzhou, Bei Za’s Little Fairy, Danhuang Jiang, Yu~ Mo, Ding Ding Dang, Meiyan Rusi, Miaoyin lovely, Mu Lin Lin Mu~, Tianfu wind–Xiao Yu, Almomd666, Suasu, Bei Rong Qingyan, Tiankong Yu Feiniao, Bobo’s Yi Ni, Lion King Xiu Xiu 007, Bei Zi’s Little Monkey, Yi Ke Youzi, Huayecai, Josie, Beng Ni Ge Ding Ding, Yang Juzi, Want to Meet You Ya·, Xia Jia Xiao Si, 42692797, Hidden Power Player, Dudu Ma, Duote Mengde Jing Qiaoqiao, Chi Chi Wei Liang (1 each);
Thanks to the little angels who nourished me with nutrient solutions: W·Y (66 bottles); Han Han Han Han 7788 (37 bottles); Qing Qing Zi Jin, Run An, Mei You Tang (20 bottles); 36412013 (13 bottles); Ji Fu, Tu Che, Bu Hui Jia De Mao, Ju Ju Yu Yi Bo, Yi Yi Pu Er, Gloriaaaaaa, Xi Xia (10 bottles); Darry, Zhi Nian Yu Ci (9 bottles); Mo Mo (6 bottles); Xi Lu, La La La, Calmtolois, Zhang Yixing’s Little Dimple, Yi Shi Jiu, Yi Li Sha Zhu, Lu Tu De Mei Hao (5 bottles); Sha La La, Okyoyocoo, Miao Miao., Bai Cai, Lu Ke Qi Na, Karen, Li Li (2 bottles); Jiu Cheng‵ Liang Xiang, Xiao Xiao, Wx, Ye Xu., You Guan, Chu Wu Yan, Wdac, Yue Yue, 40597783, Xi Xin Bu Guo Q, Yi Ke Tian Tian Zao, Tao Zhi Yao Yao (1 bottle);
Thank you all so much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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