{"id":798,"date":"2025-10-09T19:45:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T19:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sakuratranslation.com\/public-entertainment-circle-10\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T20:14:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T20:14:21","slug":"public-entertainment-circle-10","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/www.velvetink.xyz\/es_co\/chapter\/public-entertainment-circle-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Public [Entertainment Circle] 10"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 10: The Adult\u2019s Holiday

4 a.m.

Secretary Cong Zhen and the driver arrived punctually at the lakeside estate. The driver took the suitcase handed over by the butler.

Through the half-lowered rear car window, one could faintly make out He Lingji\u2019s handsome profile, his pupils icy cold, devoid of warmth\u2014until his gaze swept across the tightly shut terrace on the second floor.

Just before the car started, he unexpectedly asked about Qin Mang\u2019s smoking.

The butler waiting by the door was caught off guard, pausing half a second before replying respectfully, \u201cMadam is practicing for a role in her next film.\u201d

He Lingji responded with a vague hum, as if it were a casual remark, and his thin lips lightly uttered three words: \u201cTo the airport.\u201d

The car drove out of the estate gates.

The sky was still dark, the cabin dimly lit.

Secretary Cong inadvertently looked up and caught a glimpse of his boss\u2019s elegant and refined face in the rearview mirror. At this moment, his expression was indifferent, his features cold and sharp\u2014enough to instill fear.

It was his usual look, but now carried an inexplicable nuance.

Recalling the question He had just asked at the door, Cong composed himself, then tentatively suggested, \u201cIf it\u2019s just for practice, perhaps we could develop a harmless type of cigarette for Madam?\u201d

He Lingji slowly looked up.

His cold eyes were sharp, but he didn\u2019t stop Cong from continuing.

Feeling reassured, Cong pressed on, \u201cI\u2019ve read the script of Old Dreams of Jinghua\u2014there really are many smoking scenes. This specially made cigarette could also be used during filming.\u201d

After all, He was the investor, and Madam the lead actress. Cong had made time in his busy schedule to read the entire script.

He Lingji didn\u2019t respond. His fingers bent slightly, tapping the armrest seemingly absentmindedly.

In the quiet car, only shallow breaths could be heard.

And a faint, rhythmic tapping sound.

\u201c\u2026\u201d

Cong snapped back to attention and added seriously, \u201cSince it\u2019s your first film investment, caring about the actor\u2019s health is something an investor ought to do.\u201d

Finally, a faint and mocking sound escaped the man\u2019s throat: \u201cCong Zhen, do you know that trying to guess your superior\u2019s thoughts is a grave taboo in the workplace?\u201d

Not a question, but a statement.

Cong Zhen: \u201c\u2026\u201d

Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

He had overestimated Madam\u2019s importance in He\u2019s eyes\u2014forgot his place\u2014and forgot that what He loathed most was having his thoughts guessed at, especially guessed wrong.

Thinking of He Lingji\u2019s usual zero-tolerance and ruthless approach, Cong\u2019s face turned ashen.

He was doomed.

But then\u2014

The next second.

He Lingji calmly ordered, \u201cYou handle the follow-up.\u201d

In just a few seconds, Cong felt as if he had ascended from hell to heaven.

Thank heavens, thank earth, thank Madam!

It wasn\u2019t an overestimation\u2014it was an underestimation!

\u2026

As dawn approached, a streak of rich rouge color slowly appeared on the horizon, and not long after, the clouds fully dispersed.

Qin Mang was still in a deep sleep.

In her dream, mist swirled and gradually condensed into a mysterious manjusaka flower. Its petals were thin and winding, elegantly unfurling. The flower floated over a cool-toned white canvas, which slowly transformed into the sculpted back of a man. Water droplets cascaded down, soaking black tattoos until they looked alive\u2014seductive, mysterious, and surreal.

Drip drip\u2014

The water droplets grew more dense.

Like scattered pearls.

They trailed down perfect, sculptural lines\u2026 lower and lower, until\u2014

Qin Mang sat bolt upright in bed, staring blankly at the wall. Without even bothering to put on slippers, she ran barefoot to the bathroom.

The mirror reflected her face flushed with color, eyes shimmering with emotion.

Qin Mang\u2019s expression was hard to describe.

Ahhhh!

How desperate was she to be dreaming like that?!

This was all that dog He Lingji\u2019s fault!

Clearly, she needed to get back to work. Too much free time led to nonsense like this.

So Qin Mang expressionlessly ordered Meng Ting to fill up her schedule before she joined the film crew.

Meng Ting even wondered if the heiress\u2019s family had gone bankrupt, and she was suddenly forced to hustle for a living.

But the heiress didn\u2019t last more than a few days before crashing.

The fairy was exhausted.

Running from one appointment to the next every day was so hard, and so she turned the tables and accused him: \u201cAre you treating me like a cash cow? Even accepting these useless variety shows and interviews?\u201d

Meng Ting: \u201c\u2026\u201d

He silently prayed for Old Dreams of Jinghua to start filming soon and send their little ancestor into \u201crehabilitation.\u201d

Originally, Qin Mang thought that since she hadn\u2019t heard from Lin Chenxuan\u2019s side, it was all in the past.

But\u2014

A week later.

After a physical training class, she saw Meng Ting walk in holding his phone, eyeing her from head to toe.

Qin Mang took the soft wet towel from A-Tong and calmly wiped her sweat, glancing sideways. \u201cWhat are you looking at?\u201d

Dressed in a dark qipao, her figure now more graceful from the intense training, she looked even more enchanting\u2014retaining her natural elegance while now exuding a mature, alluring charm.

\u201cI\u2019m wondering if you secretly went to a fortune master to change your luck.\u201d

Qin Mang: \u201c\u2026\u201d

Her red lips parted.

She wanted to curse him out, but had no words.

After all, none of the lessons from her youth included how to curse people out!

\u201cSpeak like a normal person.\u201d

Meng Ting handed her a platinum-gold invitation:

\u201cI don\u2019t get it. You couldn\u2019t land a single decent lead role for two years, and now someone like Director Lin Chenxuan insists it must be you. Don\u2019t tell me you really went and lit incense in a temple?\u201d

Qin Mang: \u201cStop spreading superstitions.\u201d

Meng Ting: \u201c\u2026\u201d

Qin Mang toyed with the intricately embossed invitation with her porcelain fingers, not even opening it.

Seeing her expression, Meng Ting\u2019s heart trembled. He quickly reminded her, \u201cIf you want to make it in film, even if we don\u2019t want to accept Lin\u2019s project, we need to politely decline. Do you even know what \u2018polite\u2019 means?\u201d

Especially since Director Lin had shown great humility\u2014and it was for the script.

Qin Mang replied coolly, \u201cNope.\u201d

To her, it was a foregone decision. Whether she looked or not didn\u2019t matter\u2014why waste time?

It was a great script, but she couldn\u2019t take it. If she dared, her uncle would break her legs.

Meng Ting tried reasoning:
\u201cWe\u2019re just getting started. We can\u2019t afford to offend anyone. It\u2019s just a movie screening\u2014three hours tops.\u201d

\u201cOtherwise your Best Actress dreams will\u2026\u201d

\u201cFine.\u201d

Qin Mang lost her patience, casually slapped the invitation back into his hand, and walked past him. \u201cI\u2019ll go. But I\u2019m not taking the role.\u201d

\u201cRelax.\u201d

\u201cWhen have I ever forced you to accept a role?\u201d

\u2026

Two hours later.

Qin Mang changed out of her qipao and chose a youthful pleated skirt and school-style top, trying to look as far removed from the lead in Director Lin\u2019s script as possible.

Inside a privately booked theater in Deep City, the lights were dim, with only a faint glow from the screen.

It was clearly an old film, not high-definition, but there was a kind of hazy beauty to it.

As Qin Mang walked down the steps, she noticed the man seated in the second-row corner. His long hair draped over his slim shoulders, and his elegant profile appeared faintly pale in the projection light.

Sensing her arrival, he didn\u2019t turn around and simply said in a calm voice, \u201cSit.\u201d

Ten minutes into the movie.

Lin Chenxuan suddenly asked, \u201cStill not considering acting in my film?\u201d

It was a foreign movie.

The beginning was dreamy and artistic, about a blonde girl from a small town making it into a top university. But since it was summer, the girl wore very little, and there were occasional revealing shots.

The plot was strong, and Qin Mang\u2014who loved movies\u2014was quickly drawn in. Caught off guard by Lin\u2019s question, a hint of confusion flashed through her beautiful eyes.

She gradually pulled herself out of the movie.

Then she heard Lin Chenxuan calmly offer a new condition, \u201cYou have priority in choosing the male lead who plays opposite you.\u201d

In the entire entertainment industry, this was considered a very sincere offer.

Moreover, Director Lin was notorious for being capricious and domineering in casting decisions\u2014no one could ever change his mind once it was made.

Qin Mang stayed silent for a long time.

After about two minutes.

She finally let out a soft sigh and said slowly, \u201cDirector Lin, you\u2019re a great director. But I\u2019m not yet a good actress.\u201d

\u201cI really can\u2019t make sacrifices for the sake of film art.\u201d

Lin Chenxuan frowned, thinking Qin Mang wanted to keep bargaining.

Just as he was about to up the offer again, his phone lit up. After he turned it off, it lit up again.

His frown deepened.

Qin Mang, showing some tact this time, said, \u201cIf you\u2019ve got something to handle, you can go ahead.\u201d

Lin Chenxuan turned off his phone again and stood up. His pale jaw motioned toward the screen. \u201cYou can finish watching the movie before deciding.\u201d

\u201cThe content isn\u2019t as explicit as it was in the script\u2014at most, it’s about the same as this film.\u201d

Anything more wouldn’t pass censorship, even abroad.

With that, Lin Chenxuan didn\u2019t wait for Qin Mang\u2019s answer and left the theater.

Outside, his assistant had already been waiting for some time.

In his rush, he didn\u2019t notice the plain black sedan behind the trees nearby, whose headlights flickered for a moment.

…

Qin Mang had been tense for so long that she felt a little tired. Her eyes returned to their usual clear and languid state. Leaning back against the genuine leather armchair, her whole body finally relaxed.

She liked to watch movies from start to finish\u2014once interrupted, it was hard for her to concentrate again.

But not seeing the ending always left her unsatisfied.

Her fingers toyed with her thin phone, a bit bored.

As her eyes accidentally landed on the date\u2014June 8th\u2014she suddenly felt frustrated.

She\u2019d actually missed a legitimate occasion to ask for a gift!

Qin Mang had a tradition when it came to shopping:

No matter the holiday\u2014domestic or international\u2014if there was one, she would buy herself a gemstone as a present.

Otherwise, how would that vibrant, multicolored gemstone collection have come to be?

After calming herself down for quite a while, she began rapidly tapping out a message to Wu Yuxi:

**\\[Little Watermelon, I\u2019m really miserable. I\u2019ve been so busy I didn\u2019t even get to celebrate June 1st. I was planning to gift myself a ruby coral ornament for Children\u2019s Day, but now I missed it. Gotta wait for the next holiday\u2026]**

**\\[Being an actress is inhumane!]**

Wu Yuxi replied instantly.

**World\u2019s No.1 Influencer: \\[What adult celebrates June 1st? Celebrate June 9th instead.]**

**\\[Don\u2019t worry, you didn\u2019t miss anything.]**

**Little Lion Awoo Meow: \\[June 9th? What kind of holiday is that? Never heard of it.]**

**World\u2019s No.1 Influencer: \\[Look it up. It\u2019s a restricted holiday\u2014you can only celebrate it with your husband\\~]**

Husband?

Oh.

She did still have a husband who had been “missing” for seven days without a word.

Thinking of the black card the housekeeper had handed her, Qin Mang gave a low laugh and slowly sent a voice message: \u201cFrom now on, I\u2019ll spend every holiday with my husband.\u201d

Wu Yuxi: \u201cHehehe, that\u2019s how it should be.\u201d

Qin Mang took a sip of lemon juice, then opened a search app with one hand and typed: 69

She entered the two numbers and tapped search.

One second later.

She entered an entirely new world.

?

Qin Mang had just taken a sip of lemon juice and nearly choked\u2014What the heck kind of “June 9th” is this!?

Wu Yuxi!

That little pervert!

As she picked up her phone, preparing to video call and “punish” the little pervert, the lemon juice in her hand accidentally sloshed a bit, spilling a few drops onto the screen. In the dim lighting, Qin Mang didn\u2019t notice anything unusual.

Not until she tried to start a video call with Wu Yuxi and the phone unexpectedly switched to the WeChat page of “Cold-blooded Capitalist.”

Qin Mang was completely unprepared.

The video connected.

And revealed the elegant, handsome face of He Lingji.

At that moment, Qin Mang didn\u2019t realize what was wrong. Lips slightly parted, she was just about to say she called the wrong person.

But the next second\u2014

A low, magnetic voice from the other side reached her first, \u201cMrs. He, what kind of movie are you watching?\u201d

The movie had already progressed to the scene where the female lead meets the young heir at her graduation ball\u2014Qin Mang hadn\u2019t noticed the plot had shifted.

At those words, she instinctively looked up, only to see on the big screen:

On a lavish, retro French bed, behind half-drawn golden sheer curtains, the man and woman had already rolled to the edge.

And their current position\u2014

Was exactly the one she had just searched.

**”Oral sex\u2014”**

**”For me.”**

Qin Mang was shocked by the line, and Lin Chenxuan\u2019s earlier words suddenly echoed in her head\u2014**\u201cThe content isn\u2019t too explicit.\u201d**

This? Not explicit?

Any more and it would be straight-up adult film territory!

Wait a minute.

Qin Mang\u2019s slender wrist holding the phone suddenly froze.

Replaying everything in slow motion, she turned her gaze back to the screen\u2014

Only to realize she had been using the **rear camera**, aimed directly at the movie screen!

Her wide black-and-white eyes went round.

She fumbled to switch it to the front camera, but the lemon juice had made the screen unresponsive. While pretending to be calm, she loudly declared, \u201cThis is cinematic art! Raise your level of thinking a bit\u2014don\u2019t just have dirty thoughts!\u201d

Finally, she found the power button and shut the phone off.

…

**Ling City, He Corporation Second Branch Office.**

Qin Mang\u2019s righteously indignant words had echoed through the entire large conference room via the phone.

Everyone held their breath.

The meeting had already concluded, but now that they had overheard something they shouldn\u2019t have, and since President He hadn\u2019t said anything, no one dared move.

He Lingji paused thoughtfully, then casually tossed the phone onto the cool silver conference table. As if offhandedly, he said:

\u201cEveryone here was selected for being top-tier talent. I\u2019m sure you all understood the artistic depth my wife just mentioned, right?\u201d

The team exchanged nervous glances.

Who would dare say they didn\u2019t?

But they didn\u2019t dare say they *did*, either.

What if it was a trap?

He Lingji took their silence as understanding and calmly concluded, \u201cI don\u2019t quite get it\u2014why don\u2019t you all explain it to me?\u201d

**\u201cNo one leaves until it’s fully explained.\u201d**

**Everyone else: “!”**


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