HYAT - 29

Shen Qianzhan, stunned by Ji Qinghe’s honesty, was speechless for a long time.

Qiao Xin came to inform her about a meeting. Seeing her staring blankly at the gift box on the desk, she quietly reminded her: “Sister Zhan, aren’t we receiving gifts a bit too frequently in our department lately?”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t just one department.

Ji Qinghe was generous, but when it came to giving gifts, he was very selective. Only those with names he remembered and had left an impression on received an air-drop.

The gift boxes mostly contained cosmetics, skincare products, perfumes, and peripheral products from Buzhongshui, all of considerable value.

Initially, it was New Year gifts just after New Year’s Day, and everyone from Su Lanyi down to the few life assistants who handled errands received a share. Later, it was specifically Shen Qianzhan’s department that received gifts repeatedly, so ostentatiously that even the neighboring department heard about it and came to her every day, sourly asking for inside information.

At first, Qiao Xin would fob them off by saying it was due to the cooperative relationship and the investor’s generosity. But one after another, not only did her colleagues not believe it, she couldn’t even convince herself that such extravagant behavior was purely for the sake of maintaining cooperative interests.

She subtly conveyed the behavior that had been bothering her recently: “Now when I go to the restroom, I not only have to be careful of female colleagues but also guard against male colleagues. Everyone is quite curious about our cooperation with Buzhongshui...” Of course, mainly about your personal gossip.

But she didn’t dare say the latter half.

Shen Qianzhan was particularly a “what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander” type of person. If gossip targeted her, she could, if in a good mood, join the online discussion and add real-time details to harmless gossip. But if it crossed her line and disgusted her, she would kill everyone off, leaving no survivors.

Shen Qianzhan nodded, not paying much attention: “Let’s go to the meeting first.”

________________________________________

Today’s meeting was chaired by Su Lanyi, somewhat resembling an annual report. However, because the content of the report was so fair and transparent, Su Lanyi’s scolding was also equal opportunity for all, earning it the nickname “annual public execution.”

When Shen Qianzhan arrived, the conference room was already mostly filled with department heads and managers from across the company.

Her performance this year had been outstanding, and awards and commendations were inevitable. To avoid causing general resentment, she very discreetly found an inconspicuous seat.

At 2 PM, the meeting officially began.

Su Zan, representing the Artist Management Department, spoke. When he mentioned suing Xiang Qianqian for breach of contract after the New Year, the entire conference room fell silent as if time had stopped, not a sound could be heard.

Half of the gazes silently fell on Shen Qianzhan, who was idly twirling a pen.

It was well known that when Qian Deng expanded into artist management, Shen Qianzhan took on the task in a crisis and spared no effort to make Xiang Qianqian famous. Besides Xiang Qianqian’s management affairs, Shen Qianzhan also had to handle her producer work. Her current status was almost entirely earned through her own hard work.

At Qian Deng, even if someone disagreed with Su Zan, they would not disagree with Shen Qianzhan.

Last year, when Shen Qianzhan stepped down from artist management, there were even rumors in the company that she was removed by Su Lanyi due to her overwhelming success, to be sent back to producing. Now, only half a year had passed, Xiang Qianqian had left, and the artist management department, apart from Zhou Yan, had no outstanding artists, seemingly a disorganized army without a general.

Su Zan also noticed the silent atmosphere. He paused, then calmly continued his report.

Shen Qianzhan slowly twirled her fountain pen, not even raising an eyebrow throughout.

She had almost expected the outcome of Xiang Qianqian’s persistent departure from the very beginning. She never privately sought out Xiang Qianqian because she knew the whole story and didn’t want to use the past painstaking favors to coerce her.

There was something Su Lanyi hadn’t told her, but Shen Qianzhan knew it perfectly well.

When she stepped down as an agent back then, one reason was that the workload was too heavy and unbearable, and the second was Su Lanyi’s dissatisfaction with her divided attention. The higher the praise from the outside world, the more opinions Su Lanyi had of her.

Shen Qianzhan was a perceptive person. Even though Su Lanyi’s unintentional complaints were like a girl’s pouting, she took it seriously at the first opportunity and proactively offered to step down.

Qian Deng, in the field of artist management, grew from nothing along with Xiang Qianqian. Shen Qianzhan’s dedication to Xiang Qianqian was much more than what people saw on the surface; she actually couldn’t bear to give up on Xiang Qianqian.

But Su Lanyi had extended a hand to her during her lowest point in life, and she couldn’t let her down either.

After several considerations, Shen Qianzhan chose to give up on Xiang Qianqian.

Xiang Qianqian was loyal and righteous. She stubbornly believed that Shen Qianzhan was dismissed due to Su Lanyi’s power play, to balance the other department heads in the company. She cried, made a fuss, and secretly negotiated terms with Su Lanyi to win her back.

The final outcome of the negotiation was unknown, but seeing Xiang Qianqian’s subsequent half-year of indulgence and despondency, it clearly came to nothing. Her personality was stubborn, and she probably resented Shen Qianzhan for giving up on her, which led her to betray Qian Deng as revenge.

In the world of adults, emotions are always bland and shallow, especially in this city. Most people are unattached and, to survive, many choose to be bloodthirsty and live for their own interests.

So what was she?

________________________________________

After the meeting, Shen Qianzhan packed her things and left.

Before leaving, she turned and looked at Su Zan, gesturing for him to meet her in the office later.

Tonight there was a charity gala hosted by Bo Xuan. Su Lanyi had other engagements tonight, so she asked Su Zan to attend on her behalf.

Shen Qianzhan, representing Qian Deng, naturally had to accompany him.

The charity gala was held annually, growing in scale and prominence each year.

The venue was semi-open, featuring a red carpet and autograph session for artists, with multiple media outlets broadcasting live. Besides artists, industry moguls gathered, making it a rare opportunity whether for exposure or networking with influential figures.

When Su Zan came to find her, Shen Qianzhan had just changed into her gown and was having her makeup done.

He rarely saw Shen Qianzhan sitting obediently to be made up by a stylist, and couldn’t help but tease: “Didn’t you used to complain that makeup artists weren’t as good as you, and insist on doing it yourself? Why did you give in today?”

Shen Qianzhan glanced at him, directing the makeup artist to blend her eye makeup while retorting: “Watch your mouth. You’re always offending people for me. Did I owe you millions in my past life for you to be so relentlessly pursuing me in this one?”

Su Zan, without any pretense, sat down by her hand and muttered, “Then pay me back in this life, and I might grudgingly overlook it.”

Shen Qianzhan almost spit at him, but her peripheral vision caught her beautiful, dignified, and alluring reflection in the mirror. She couldn’t bear to utter harsh words and ruin this beautiful facade, so she forcefully composed herself, merely rolling her eyes as a gesture.

But some people, you see, just don’t know how to take a hint.

Seeing her calm down, Su Zan deliberately provoked: “Dressed up so beautifully tonight, premeditated?”

— I’m naturally beautiful, and a little tidying up makes me shine. Does this straight man know how much trouble his words cause?

Su Zan continued: “Got a new target? Expanding your harem?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Shen Qianzhan finally burst out: “I’ve only ever had one man. Where would I get a harem?”

She brushed away the stylist’s hand, turned, and grabbed Su Zan’s ear: “Women wear makeup for themselves, it has nothing to do with men.”

Su Zan, having been disciplined, instantly became quiet as a mouse.

________________________________________

Shen Qianzhan didn’t need to walk the red carpet and went directly into the venue.

Qian Deng’s seats were in the fifth row, sitting with colleagues from various film and television companies.

She arrived early. After sitting down, she quietly scanned the entire venue, looking for Ji Qinghe’s seat.

It wasn’t until just before leaving that Shen Qianzhan noticed Ji Qinghe had sent her a WeChat message that afternoon, simply four words: “Let’s talk tonight.”

Looking at the time, she had been in a meeting then, her phone on silent. After the meeting, she rushed to do her makeup and change into her gown, only having time to check her phone once she was in the car.

A whole week had passed since their last meeting.

Shen Qianzhan went from initially thinking she would definitely look good for their next meeting to now being as calm as still water, having seen through the illusions of the mortal world. She deeply felt she was not far from becoming a nun in her middle age.

But even after the gala began and Jiang Yecheng went on stage to deliver the opening remarks, Shen Qianzhan did not see Ji Qinghe.

________________________________________

The gala was divided into a first half and a second half. The second half was the main event, requiring a move from the main venue to another exhibition hall.

At this point, there were no assigned seats, and everyone could sit wherever they pleased.

When Shen Qianzhan was arm-in-arm with her “plastic sister” Ai Yi entering the hall, she unexpectedly saw Ming Jue waiting at the entrance.

The latter seemed to be waiting for her. Seeing her appear, he walked directly towards her, weaving through the scattered beautiful people arriving at the venue: “Producer Shen, Mr. Ji, this way please.”

Ai Yi surprisingly glanced at Shen Qianzhan, but this emotion only appeared for a brief moment. She very wisely let go of Shen Qianzhan’s arm, excused herself by saying she saw an acquaintance, and left ahead of them.

Shen Qianzhan didn’t act coy either, nodding slightly, and walked towards the front row with Su Zan following behind.

Ji Qinghe was sitting in a corner seat in the front row. There were flower arrangements and decorations blocking the stage lights from both sides, creating a relatively enclosed space.

Behind him, there was a bustling commotion, like water dropping into hot oil, filled with the liveliness of human life. Yet, he remained undisturbed by this hubbub, as if existing outside the dimension of time, isolated from the world.

As if sensing her presence, Ji Qinghe, who had been facing away from her, turned his head without warning and looked at her.

The lines of his profile were sharp, his nose bridge straight. The contours of his jaw were softened by the light and shadows from the exhibition stand, revealing a captivating sense of asceticism. When his gaze met Shen Qianzhan’s, a light in his eyes clearly brightened, like a sky full of fireflies, stars competing in brightness. That stunning brilliance was like a fleeting celestial river.

Shen Qianzhan, captivated by his beauty, felt her legs weaken in an undignified way.

If she didn’t care about appearances, she could call him “Daddy,” “husband,” “brother” for ten minutes straight without repeating.

However, Shen Qianzhan’s rich inner monologue left no trace on her exquisitely featured face. She elegantly took her seat, meticulously smoothed her skirt, and then, with reserve, truly looked at Ji Qinghe.

The latter was in a languid posture, with his long legs crossed, not sitting upright.

His gaze moved from Shen Qianzhan’s eyebrows to her lips, then from her slender swan neck to her sharp collarbones, partly concealed by a thin veil, and finally lingered vaguely on her chest, observing and restraining himself as he said, “Did I underestimate your bust size?”

Shen Qianzhan was wearing the haute couture gown Ji Qinghe had sent two days ago.

At his question, her meticulously prepared mental draft instantly shattered. She looked up, annoyed, and said word by word, “I grew up.”

Ji Qinghe was noncommittal, but his eyes held a profound meaning.

He clearly knew when a joke was enough and didn’t tease her further, instead asking, “Did you gain anything tonight?”

Social events like this were good opportunities for networking. They weren’t too forced, nor too awkward.

“No,” her tone was a bit dull.

Ji Qinghe looked down at her: “Didn’t you want to question me this afternoon?”

Shen Qianzhan’s face immediately darkened at the thought of that conversation. She turned to glare at him: “Isn’t Mr. Ji’s way of speaking a bit too casual?”

The lights in the venue dimmed, and the host came on stage.

Ji Qinghe’s eyes also gradually deepened with the changing lights: “Only with you.”

Shen Qianzhan didn’t hear clearly and subconsciously leaned closer, putting her ear next to him.

Ji Qinghe slowly said, “I said you look exceptionally beautiful today.”