Chapter 26: Difficult to Speak
On the way to the He Corporation.
Qin Mang leisurely opened the electronic wooden fish that had already accumulated 888 merit points earlier and finished the remaining 112.
As usual, 1000 merit points can be exchanged for a moment of calmness.
This was Qin Mang’s first time visiting the headquarters of the building.
Wearing delicate high heels, she swayed gracefully toward the CEO’s exclusive elevator.
The underground parking lot was vast, but it couldn\u2019t hide the girl\u2019s extraordinary elegance. The gray cement floor seemed to turn into a runway, with each step a scene from a human magazine, high-end and distinct.
The bodyguard behind her, carrying a delicate food box, seemed as though he were carrying a meticulously prepared feast.
Meng Ting, seeing her determined and forceful appearance, worried that his young mistress might be up to some mischief and stubbornly followed her.
Even Secretary Cong, seeing this scene of Madam, was taken aback on behalf of his boss.
“Where is my hard-working husband?”
“How come my fair and beautiful wife, the fairy, comes to visit, but he didn\u2019t come to greet her personally?”
Qin Mang, looking at Secretary Cong who had come alone, crossed her arms and coldly asked.
Secretary Cong coughed lightly, fearing he might answer incorrectly, \u201cMr. He… is in a meeting.\u201d
\u201cSo he couldn\u2019t personally greet you.\u201d
\u201cReally?\u201d
Qin Mang stretched the tone of her voice, sneering, “Are you sure it\u2019s not because he\u2019s too lazy to come?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Mr. He cares deeply about all matters concerning you!” Secretary Cong tried his best to speak up for his boss. Regardless of whether Mr. He was involved or not, it had to be pinned on him!
It was his job to protect the harmony of his boss\u2019s family!
After entering the elevator, Secretary Cong suddenly remembered something, \u201cBy the way, your new team is here. Would you like to meet them?\u201d
New team?
Qin Mang slowly fluttered her eyelashes, her eyes flashing with suspicion. \u201cWhat new team?\u201d
In the next moment.
The elevator doors opened.
It wasn\u2019t the top floor where the CEO’s office was.
Instead, it was a private meeting room.
Secretary Cong respectfully extended his arm, “Please, Madam.”
As he responded, \u201cAfter your contract with Hezhou Entertainment ended, you only have one agent and one assistant, which is inconvenient.\u201d
\u201cMr. He specially\u2014\u201d
He emphasized the last four words, then continued, \u201cSet up a new studio for you, including a PR team, a legal team, and so on. The styling team from the He family has also been incorporated into your studio.\u201d
\u201cManager Meng will continue to be your executive agent for daily work, but for the studio\u2019s operations, we\u2019ve invited the top domestic agent, Ms. Fu Yuan.\u201d
As he spoke, they had already entered the half-open meeting room.
Qin Mang lifted her gaze, and her eyes first landed on the person sitting at the main seat.
Fu Yuan stood up, dressed in a professional suit, her face delicate but expressionless. The silver Bluetooth earphones gave her a mechanical, robotic feel, with an air of grandeur and restraint.
She exuded an aura that made people instinctively trust her.
The key point was, she was Fu Yuan!
Qin Mang hadn\u2019t even spoken yet when she heard a sharp breath from beside her.
Qin Mang didn\u2019t understand what “Fu Yuan” represented, but Meng Ting knew, and he understood the weight of this name.
It was practically a major bug in the agent world.
It was said that the first talent she brought out, within two years, went from an ordinary newcomer to a top-tier male singer, now at the level of a “god of singing.” Later, she continued to bring out movie kings and queens, and three of the top eight stars in the industry were all under her guidance.
In total, in just ten years, she had mentored six talents, each with an unshakable position in the industry.
Meng Ting, afraid of embarrassing Qin Mang, calmed himself down and whispered a few words to her.
Qin Mang\u2019s eyes were beautiful and clear. After learning about Fu Yuan\u2019s identity, she wasn\u2019t as excited as Meng Ting had imagined. Instead, she remained calm and composed, walking to the seat across from Fu Yuan, raising her delicate chin slightly. \u201cLet\u2019s introduce ourselves.\u201d
Meng Ting:?
As expected of a young lady.
Look at that mentality.
If anyone else in the industry knew Fu Yuan was becoming their agent, they would treat her like a treasure. Only Qin Mang would ask her to introduce herself…
It was like an interview.
And indeed, Qin Mang treated it like an interview.
She had casually selected an agent before, signed with an agency, and almost got scammed.
Meng Ting, though competent, wasn\u2019t able to protect her from all the pitfalls.
Meng Ting quietly reminded her to mind her manners.
“Of course.”
Unexpectedly, Fu Yuan agreed first.
It truly felt like an interview. Fu Yuan introduced herself, including her achievements over the years. She didn\u2019t exaggerate or be modest, but laid it out clearly, logically, and at the end, had a plan for Qin Mang\u2019s future.
Qin Mang\u2019s red lips slowly curled into a smile.
She was very satisfied with the new agent that He Lingji had chosen for her.
Anyone who could enter this meeting room was essentially the backbone of Qin Mang\u2019s future work team. Seeing that Fu Yuan had been “interviewed,” they naturally didn\u2019t dare to act overly confident and obediently introduced themselves.
An hour later.
Qin Mang, who had been leaning in her chair the entire time, appeared indifferent, but she had listened attentively to everyone\u2019s speech.
Finally, she extended her hand:
\u201cFu Yuan, I look forward to working with you.\u201d
\u201cQin Mang, I look forward to working with you.\u201d
Despite knowing Qin Mang\u2019s identity, Fu Yuan didn\u2019t address her as Mrs. He but instead used her name.
A hint of pleasure flickered in Qin Mang\u2019s eyes.
Under the bright white light, the two slender hands shook.
At that moment, no one knew what kind of storm they would stir up in the entertainment industry.
Before leaving, Fu Yuan said, \u201cThe movie *Soul Night*, we\u2019ll handle it.\u201d
\u201cI have a script for a similar-level movie in hand. *Fading Glory* is a big male-lead film, with less screen time for the female lead, so it\u2019s easy for the male lead to overshadow her. But considering your current status, it\u2019s still a good opportunity.\u201d
It was more than just a good opportunity.
Meng Ting felt guilty, thinking that the scripts he had given Qin Mang last time were completely outclassed.
As expected of Fu Yuan, her first offer was an S+.
She didn\u2019t even need an audition!
It was him who had delayed Qin Mang\u2019s career.
\u201cAre you taking it?\u201d
\u201cI\u2019ll take it.\u201d
She was just starting out, so having a movie to shoot was already a good thing.
Qin Mang glanced at the time. Lunch break was almost over.
She directly left Meng Ting to handle the handover with Fu Yuan and casually went to the CEO\u2019s office.
The emerald green dress swirled in the air, creating a beautiful curve.
No stage.
No spotlight.
But it felt like she was everywhere.
She was a natural-born star.
She was also a natural-born actress.
Fu Yuan withdrew her gaze and casually said, \u201cLet\u2019s continue the meeting.\u201d
…
In the CEO\u2019s office.
He Lingji had finished his meeting and was reviewing documents when suddenly, a door creaked open.
It was very faint, like it was being opened secretly.
Secretary Cong would knock on the door.
It was clearly not him.
He wouldn\u2019t dare.
He Lingji casually looked up, and the first thing he saw was a little head peeking out from the large door crack. The lively green ribbon hanging down, and at the end, he saw the little white lion embroidered on it.
He couldn\u2019t help but think of the lion emoji stickers his wife loved to send.
It looked like a picture of someone peeking out.
He smiled faintly, his voice calm and clear: \u201cMiss Qin, are you trying to peek at the He Corporation\u2019s commercial secrets?\u201d
\u201cI knew you wouldn\u2019t have anything good to say!\u201d
\u201cDo I need to peek at the He Corporation\u2019s secrets?\u201d
\u201cI already know the biggest secret!\u201d
Originally, Qin Mang had planned to scare him a little, but since she was caught, she stopped pretending and pushed the door open with both hands, curiously looking around.
The office was spacious and futuristic in design\u2014even the ceiling was made of cold metallic lines, creating a strong sense of technology.
However, Qin Mang thought the place quite matched He Lingji\u2019s temperament.
Luxurious and cold.
He Lingji toyed with a silver pen, his hand veins slightly bulging, exuding a chilling sense of danger.
The next moment\u2014
The man curled his knuckles and tapped the desk. \u201cCome here.\u201d
\u201cFor what?\u201d
\u201cInterrogation.\u201d
\u201c?\u201d
Qin Mang held a delicate lunchbox. Her rising gratitude immediately withered as she muttered under her breath, \u201cWhat\u2019s there to interrogate? The biggest secret of the He Group isn\u2019t anything about noble elegance or untouchable aloofness. It\u2019s that their President He is nothing more than a shameless beast. Hmph.\u201d
\u201cMrs. He, that\u2019s slander\u2014\u201d
Before He Lingji could finish, Qin Mang snapped open the lunchbox.
The originally juicy and fresh navel oranges had turned a little limp after a few hours of being carried around.
\u201cNavel oranges?\u201d
\u201cPresident He, you really do know a lot.\u201d
The girl\u2019s slightly flushed eyes lifted, her already soft and seductive voice deliberately drawn out, sounding even sweeter than the oranges themselves.
He Lingji met those tender eyes, burning with tiny flames, and finally realized why she was angry.
Completely unfazed by the setting.
He parted his thin lips slightly. \u201cWhat, don\u2019t you like it?\u201d
\u201cOf course not!\u201d
She was a refined and elegant lady\u2014how could she possibly like that\u2026!
Ahhhh!
How did he manage to twist things like this?
She only ever sat that way to get closer to his waist.
But\u2014liking his waist and liking that position\u2014
Either reason was impossible to explain out loud!
Qin Mang placed a hand on the desk, her 12cm heels making her appear every bit the commanding queen. She kept a stern face.
Out of respect for the amazing team he built for her, Qin Mang resisted the urge to throw the box of oranges straight at his head.
Wash his brain with oranges.
Fight poison with poison.
From her angle, she could clearly see the man\u2019s sharp nose bridge, flawless side profile, his slicked-back hair with a few strands falling loosely against his forehead\u2014softening his otherwise distant look into something a bit more relaxed and roguish.
Undeniably\u2014
He was very handsome and charming.
She couldn\u2019t quite bring herself to throw the oranges.
Facing Mrs. He\u2019s sharp gaze, He Lingji calmly sat in his office chair. He even took the time to finish reading and signing a document.
In an idle tone: \u201cOh, but every time you\u2019re in that position\u2014\u201d
He set down the pen, poured her a glass of warm water himself, and slid it across the desk with his long fingers. \u201c…It\u2019s always a lot.\u201d
Qin Mang stared at the glass of nearly overflowing warm water.
Her dark pupils dilated.
Even her delicate swan neck flushed red.
!
Who was doing it a lot!
Every time she started thinking slightly better of him, He Lingji would always find a way to say something that utterly destroyed his image.
What kind of decent man says something like that?
Her calm cracked once again!
Qin Mang was the kind of person who got calmer the angrier she became. Her red lips curved into a smile.
Lifting her skirt, she walked around the cold, wide desk and sat directly on his lap.
Her recently manicured fingers\u2014ice-blue gradient blush nails, elegant and cool\u2014picked up a piece of orange, now laced with a touch of dangerous allure.
Those hours-old oranges obviously weren\u2019t edible anymore.
Poison him!
She slowly lifted the piece of fruit to his lips and said sweetly:
\u201cMy lord, have an orange.\u201d
Outside the door, Secretary Cong was just about to knock when he almost burst into laughter. His raised hand froze on the door. On closer look, veins popped out on his restrained hand.
Cong Zhen recalled every sad memory of his life a hundred times over.
Just as he calmed down and hesitated whether to go in\u2014
He Lingji\u2019s cold voice came from inside: \u201cCome in.\u201d
Cong Zhen composed himself, face wooden, and handed over the next set of documents solemnly. \u201cSenior executive meeting in ten minutes.\u201d
It was a small meeting.
So it would be held right in He Lingji\u2019s office.
He looked at the ceiling and floor, daring not to glance at the pair in front of him.
Afraid of seeing what he shouldn\u2019t.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a nearly overflowing glass of water on the desk. He whispered, \u201cShall I bring the Madam some coffee instead?\u201d
Unexpectedly\u2014
His usually aloof boss actually picked up the glass of water and said with a low chuckle:
\u201cMrs. He just loves drinking\u2026\u201d
Qin Mang could no longer hear the word *water*.
She had planned to save face\u2014for both herself and He Lingji\u2014in front of others.
But this dog of a man\u2014
Ignoring that Cong Zhen was still present, she reached out and tried to cover his mouth with her hand.
\u201cShut up!\u201d
\u201cDon\u2019t you dare!\u201d
But his long fingers easily caught her wrist.
And due to the force\u2014
Qin Mang fell right into He Lingji\u2019s arms.
The next second\u2014
\u201cOw\u2014!\u201d
All he could smell was her rich fragrance.
Cong Zhen\u2019s face was expressionless.
His mental system had already crashed.
Why did he always walk in at *these* moments?
\u2026
In the CEO’s lounge, inside the restroom\u2014
Qin Mang pulled down her delicate shoulder strap slightly.
Staring at the mirror\u2014
A patch of skin just below her collarbone was flushed a deep red, as if smeared thick with rouge.
She rubbed the sorest spot.
It hurt like hell.
Didn\u2019t he know how sensitive this area was on girls?!
All his fault for having such a sharp, hard nose!
Ten minutes later\u2014
The executives all sat quietly, pretending not to notice President He\u2019s rumpled collar or the elegant green ribbon\u2014clearly from a woman\u2014draped over the armrest.
He Lingji, calm as ever, casually picked up the ribbon Qin Mang had left, his fingers gently brushing over the embroidered white lion at the end.
With a half-smile, he glanced around and said in the same steady voice, \u201cMy wife brought me lunch\u2014\u201d
\u201cThat\u2019s all.\u201d
\u201cUnderstand?\u201d
\u201cYes, yes, we understand.\u201d
Who would dare *not* to understand?
And so\u2014
The He Group\u2019s big news that day became:
Mrs. He brought President He lunch. The couple is deeply in love.
Previously, the idea that President He even had a wife didn\u2019t feel real.
Ever since the marriage announcement, she\u2019d neither been seen nor heard from. Now that she suddenly appeared\u2014it was explosive.
He Group’s chat:
\u3010Kinda jealous. I want my wife to bring me lunch too. But mine\u2019s busier than I am.\u3011
\u3010Did Mrs. He really cook that lunch herself?\u3011
\u3010Ahhh she\u2019s so talented and gentle, the perfect noble lady.\u3011
\u3010Anyone still saying their marriage is purely business can shut up.\u3011
\u3010President He said it himself\u2014his wife brought him lunch today!\u3011
\u3010They’re totally showing off their love!\u3011
\u3010Come on, savor the details.\u3011
And just like that\u2014
By afternoon, rumors spread across the entire company that Mrs. He had personally cooked a table full of delicious food to help nourish President He\u2019s body.
Very vivid and specific.
In reality\u2014
After the short meeting, the secretary brought in the president\u2019s exclusive lunch.
It had *nothing* to do with Qin Mang.
The only connection?
She ate it.
While He Lingji sat in front of an elegant crystal plate\u2014
Covered in fresh, juicy navel oranges.
Not the ones Qin Mang brought.
Those had been delivered by the butler.
Qin Mang bit into a piece of sweet and sour spare rib, eyes narrowing in delight as she smiled.
\u201cFinish that plate, and I\u2019ll forgive you for accidentally crashing into my little bear. Plus, I\u2019ll even give you a gift.\u201d
He Lingji didn\u2019t like sweet things.
Thinking of how she had almost cried from the pain just now, he couldn\u2019t help but rub his brow. For the sake of family harmony, he slowly and deliberately took a bite.
\u201cMm, no wonder Mrs. He likes it. It really is fresh and juicy\u2026\u201d
*Plop.*
The small rib fell into the plate.
Qin Mang: \u201c\u2026\u201d
She had underestimated him again.
It felt like he wasn\u2019t eating the orange, but rather\u2014
No! She couldn\u2019t think about it any further!
Qin Mang had almost finished eating. She suddenly stood up and headed toward the door.
She was afraid if she stayed any longer, she\u2019d actually consider murdering her husband.
He Lingji calmly called out to her, \u201cWhere\u2019s the gift?\u201d
Damn it.
This bastard really never lets himself suffer even a little loss.
To prevent him from saying anything outrageous again, Qin Mang\u2014who hadn\u2019t prepared a gift\u2014paused in her steps. She rummaged through the small bag she carried with her, digging for a long while, until she suddenly found two rings in the corner.
Their wedding rings?
Her slender index finger hooked one of the silver men\u2019s rings.
A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
She finally remembered.
Last time, she\u2019d originally planned to coax him a bit after seeing that he had publicly acknowledged being married\u2014but hadn\u2019t revealed her identity. She wanted to return the favor. But then she got caught up in acting and forgot all about it.
It had been in her bag all along, unnoticed.
She had intended to give it to He Lingji back then, but forgot.
Now was the perfect time.
Qin Mang turned around, took He Lingji\u2019s left hand, measured the size, and finally chose his ring finger to slide the ring onto.
A slender, fair woman\u2019s hand\u2014clearly feminine\u2014was now resting on a clean and well-proportioned male hand.
Qin Mang: \u201cI\u2019m giving this to you.\u201d
He Lingji glanced at it for a few seconds.
Then suddenly smiled. \u201cIf I remember correctly, I was the one who bought this wedding ring.\u201d
\u201cIsn\u2019t it inappropriate to present Buddha with borrowed flowers?\u201d
Qin Mang toyed with his knuckles and suddenly smiled, her red lips curving: \u201cPresident He, you\u2019ve got it wrong.\u201d
\u201cWhat I\u2019m giving you isn\u2019t a ring, it\u2019s\u2014\u201d
She leaned in slightly and whispered in his ear, enunciating clearly: \u201cA chastity lock.\u201d
\u201cYou\u2019d better keep it locked tight.\u201d
More importantly\u2014
\u201cBe a decent man.\u201d
With that, the slender and graceful girl turned and strode off.
Arrogant and dazzling.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
Today\u2019s agenda not only landed her a top-tier team, but she\u2019d also won a round against He Lingji. Qin Mang was in an extremely good mood.
Meng Ting felt a bit like he was dreaming.
He had just finished the handover with Fu Yuan.
Actually, there wasn\u2019t much for Qin Mang to hand over\u2014most of it was follow-up work.
\u201cI\u2019m letting you work under Fu Yuan. You\u2019re not unhappy about that, are you?\u201d
Qin Mang was always blunt. It was rare for her to care about her agent\u2019s mental health.
Meng Ting nearly jumped out of the car. \u201cWhat are you talking about!\u201d
\u201cThat\u2019s Fu Yuan we\u2019re talking about!\u201d
How could he possibly be dissatisfied?
\u201cWhat, is she your goddess?\u201d
Meng Ting actually blushed and smiled, \u201cIdol.\u201d
\u201cAlright then. I\u2019m still your agent, Fu Yuan\u2019s in charge of overall management.\u201d
He masked his delight and showed Qin Mang the new script. \u201cLook!\u201d
\u201c*Illusions of Splendor* script!\u201d
\u201cBut the female lead is a sickly beauty who\u2019s so thin she could be blown over by the wind. You\u2019ll need to lose weight before joining the crew.\u201d
Qin Mang was already slim.
But hers wasn\u2019t an unhealthy thinness\u2014it was a perfectly proportioned, elegant slimness. Every inch of her was exquisite and flawless, not a bit more or less.
Qin Mang curled her lips. She was in a good mood today.
Even hearing this troubling news didn\u2019t faze her.
\u2026
As the last wisp of the girl’s teasing scent faded away,
the spacious CEO\u2019s office returned to its usual calm and cold atmosphere.
The man sitting behind the desk didn\u2019t rush to get back to work.
Instead, he slowly rotated the low-key wedding ring on his ring finger\u2014
turning it over and over,
with a deliberate grace that carried an air of untouchable mystery and nobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The complete translated novel is available now!
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