**Chapter 22: A Beauty Hidden in a Golden House**
“Ahhh! Director Lin’s films are always so intense, and Qin the Flower Vase has amazing potential in every aspect—I can’t wait to see the sparks fly between them!”
“Haha, the director and actress watching racy movies together for ‘research’—classic Lin. Only he would pull this off.”
“Am I the only one dying to know the name of the movie?”
“Qin Mang hasn’t really done anything too bold on screen yet, right? Not even her first onscreen kiss. Tsk tsk… wonder which lucky guy’s gonna get that.”
“Is the collaboration for real?”
“It’s on Qin Mang’s boss’s social media—tons of industry insiders have seen it. How could it be fake?!”
“Can’t wait!”
The online buzz was overwhelmingly one-sided.
“New leadership always makes a splash, but this first fire is burning right under your feet!”
The PR department of Hezhou Film completely ignored the directives from Meng Ting. Instead, they aggressively promoted the new CEO’s post about Qin Mang’s upcoming bold film role, pushing it everywhere.
As if they were afraid there was still someone out there who didn’t know she was about to star in a racy movie.
Meng Ting usually kept his cool. Even when Qin Mang was getting hate from the whole internet, he hadn’t been this mad.
That time, it was outsiders causing trouble.
This time, it was betrayal from their own people.
Completely disregarding status or decorum, he lashed out at the new boss: “They really do see you as a cash cow—terrified that a scandal might dent your market value.”
Given Hezhou Film’s current decline, even with new leadership, the rot ran too deep to fix. Corruption and narrow-mindedness were in its bones.
“No surprise really. As an old company stuck between generations, they’ve been coasting on past glory. Now that your popularity brings hope, of course they want to milk every cent of commercial value from you.”
They didn’t care what the artist actually wanted.
“They want me to be their cash cow? Do they even deserve it?”
Qin Mang’s gaze was icy. After a pause, a chilling remark slipped out.
With her bold, glamorous makeup and precision high heels clicking against the floor, she strode out of the set.
People fell silent as she passed.
Everyone felt like, if she had a real gun in hand, she’d probably mow them all down.
She made no effort to hide how furious she was.
“Everyone online’s saying that after wrapping *Dreams of the Capital*, you’ll head straight into filming *Night of Souls*. Director Lin hasn’t commented yet.”
But as everyone knows:
No comment means tacit agreement.
Angry or not, the problem had to be solved.
After a long silence, Meng Ting spoke up: “The thing is…”
“The fans seem pretty excited.”
Indeed, Qin Mang’s fans were more thrilled than anything.
Collaborating on a film was way better than being tied to some sleazy romance rumors or accused of using Lin Chenxuan to climb up.
And everyone in the entertainment industry knew: every film Lin Chenxuan directed was full of iconic scenes used as textbook examples in acting classes.
Especially since the lead role in *Night of Souls* had just been revealed.
This was Lin Chenxuan’s female lead. He didn’t make many films, but every single one was award-winning overseas. The prestige was obvious.
So naturally, no one would expect Qin Mang to turn it down.
If they really were going to work together, watching intense foreign films as prep made sense.
Who knows, maybe it was a private one-on-one coaching session for the next leading lady.
Career-focused fans of course wanted the best resources for their actress. Qin Mang had just announced a fashion endorsement with EG, and now a new movie with Lin Chenxuan? Her fans were over the moon.
Meng Ting tested the waters: “What if we go back to Director Lin and see if there’s any room for adjustment?”
“Maybe revise the script a bit?”
“Cut out all the heavy stuff, or use a body double?”
Once inside the nanny van, Qin Mang propped her elbow on the cream leather armrest, her elegant fingers resting against her chin.
Hearing this, her previously cold voice finally wavered slightly. “Do you believe it?”
“Believe what?”
“That if I agree to shoot this film…”
“…I’ll have to quit showbiz the very next day.”
Qin Mang was clearly in a bad mood. Her dark eyes shimmered with frustration that was hard to detect at first glance.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t willing to make sacrifices for her career, or that she was overly conservative—it’s just—
Because of who she truly was, there were some roles she simply couldn’t take. That was her bottom line.
Meng Ting thought she was overreacting.
What actor doesn’t sacrifice for the role—especially when it’s such a great opportunity?
Just then, Qin Mang’s personal phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, the usually laid-back and stylish girl immediately straightened her posture.
She answered the video call.
Both of her fair hands folded neatly on her knees—demure and proper.
The contrast was so stark that Meng Ting, acting as the phone holder, was stunned.
This little ancestor—
Not even facing He Lingji made her act like this.
“Little uncle,” she greeted sweetly.
A youthful, gentle male voice came from the other side—not icy like He Lingji’s, but warm and calm.
No one knew why Qin Mang wasn’t afraid of He Lingji but was clearly terrified of *this* one.
He said, “Little lion, are you done playing around yet?”
That “playing” had layers of meaning.
“…Not yet,” Qin Mang mumbled.
She hadn’t won Best Actress yet. Besides, she had genuinely fallen in love with acting. She wanted to do it for the rest of her life. “I want to act forever.”
A second later, a soft, raspy cough came through.
Qin Mang froze.
She feared her little uncle’s sudden coughs more than anything.
She looked at the man in the video.
His features were elegant and refined, but his skin was deathly pale. Only the red mole between his brows stood out—like blood, adding a sickly beauty.
Qin Yan’s voice was gentle.
But his tone left no room for argument. “I don’t approve.”
“You wanted to join the entertainment industry before and I let it slide. But now you want to shoot *that* kind of movie?”
“Qin Mang, am I being too lenient lately?”
Lenient?
With his name, everyone knew he was notoriously short-tempered.
Yet he looked like a noble gentleman, delicate and refined. Later, due to a chronic illness, he had to cultivate calmness and restraint. He fooled many people with that appearance.
Qin Mang’s parents had loved each other deeply.
Guan Yueyan died at the height of their love, and Qin Han couldn’t take it—falling into depression, attempting suicide multiple times. Eventually, he let go and became a monk, handing over both young Qin Mang and the entire Qin family business to his still-in-college younger brother, Qin Yan.
He never returned home for over a decade.
In many ways, Qin Mang was raised solely by Qin Yan. She lived in luxury and was naturally proud and confident.
To Qin Yan, aside from her extravagant spending that forced him to earn a fortune to keep up, she was generally obedient.
He told her what to study, where to apply, even who to marry for business purposes.
Then came her rebellious phase after graduation.
She insisted on becoming an actress and winning Best Actress.
Since she was technically “married off,” as long as she didn’t cause too big a scandal, Qin Yan could pretend not to notice. But a racy film? Absolutely not.
The moment she heard that, Qin Mang raised three fingers in an oath: “I swear I’m not doing any racy movies!”
“Our new CEO set me up!”
“I never agreed to it!”
“Waaaah, little uncle, you have to avenge me!”
And of course, she made sure to tattle.
“You really didn’t agree?”
“Absolutely not! Ask my agent if you don’t believe me!”
She flipped the camera.
Right onto Meng Ting’s big face.
Meng Ting: “!”
Damn.
This little demon threw me under the bus!
Luckily, he was quick on his feet. Though cursing inside, his face was all smiles: “Hello, I’m her agent, Meng Ting.”
Qin Yan replied, “Hello, I’m her guardian.”
Guardian?!
Is she a preschooler?!
Qin Mang dared not speak.
Meng Ting had heard their whole exchange. Under Qin Mang’s pleading gaze, he promised, “Don’t worry. We’ll handle this properly.”
“We won’t go against the artist’s wishes.”
Before the call ended, Qin Mang gave him one last look, her beautiful eyes brimming with pitiful grievance. “Little uncle, the CEO bullied me… you…”
Qin Yan didn’t flinch: “Then come home.”
Qin Mang: “…”
“You don’t love me anymore!”
…
**Qin Corporation, Beicheng**
It was late, but the office lights still burned bright.
Assistant Chen pushed Qin Yan’s wheelchair into the executive elevator leading to the underground parking lot.
“Miss Qin was raised by you. She’s practically your own daughter. You’re really okay letting her go like this?”
The man in the wheelchair looked young and handsome, but strands of white threaded through his black hair like deliberate highlights. The red mole on his brow stood out against his porcelain-perfect face.
He looked like a serene Buddha, but his actions were anything but merciful—ruthless and sharper than any demon.
At just 18, he had single-handedly wiped out the entrenched factions of the He Group and claimed total control.
Here is the translated text with clear spacing between paragraphs:
—
No one would ever underestimate his abilities.
His features bore a strong resemblance to Qin Mang’s.
Especially that small red mole.
However, the uncle and nephew pair had their marks in different places—one at the center of the brows, solemn and godlike; the other at the tip of the nose, brimming with charm.
Not father and daughter, but closer than father and daughter.
When Chen, the assistant, spoke, Qin Yan’s pale lips curved faintly.
Only when Qin Mang was mentioned did he show a hint of warmth.
He sighed lightly, “When you fail to give up what you should, chaos follows.”
“She was young—before, it was just novelty. The more adults forbade her, the more determined she was to try, even if she got hurt. And now? She’s taking it seriously.”
“So you’re not interfering with her anymore.”
“It’s a painstaking strategy.”
Qin Yan didn’t respond. His long, pale, slender fingers rested between his brows, his voice cooled slightly:
“Unless she suffers and bleeds, how else will she obediently quit the industry?”
The entertainment world was not something she should be involved in.
Qin Yan knew Qin Mang—and Qin Mang knew him just as well.
As soon as the video call ended, the expression on her beautiful face turned more solemn.
“Little Uncle must be thinking that if I’m forced to act in this film, he’ll have the perfect excuse to make me quit the industry.”
“And obediently go home to inherit the family business.”
Little Uncle, young as he was, refused to marry and have children to inherit the family fortune, insisting on enslaving her instead.
Qin Mang only wanted to spend money, not make it.
So, there was absolutely no way she’d back down!
Meng Ting had finally recovered from the shock of “meeting the family.”
He knew who Qin Yan was.
A top business mogul frequently featured in financial magazines—the supreme power of the Qin Group—Qin Yan!
Oh my god.
No wonder Qin Mang could be engaged to He Lingji!
At first, Meng Ting had thought He Lingji chose Qin Mang from a sea of socialites because of her extraordinary beauty. Now, having learned her true identity—
He was stunned.
Turns out she was a real heiress from a super-rich family, just experiencing life in the mortal world.
And one who could actually inherit the family fortune?
What the—?!
If Qin Mang ended up inheriting the He family too—
*Hiss!*
Meng Ting’s imagination started going off track. His face showed pure reverence: “Young Miss Qin!”
“If you rise to riches, don’t forget your humble friends!”
Young Miss Qin gave him a cold glance: “…”
Meng Ting shivered and slapped the armrest hard, his expression serious and solemn:
“We’ve just gotten our footing in the acting world. If we quit now, that’s too weak—it’s not our Miss Mang’s style. Our goal is to become a radiant top actress!”
Beside them, Ah Tong was dumbfounded:
Brother Meng is truly wasted as a manager. With acting skills like that, slap on a new face and he’d crush top-tier actors.
Meng Ting continued:
“I’ll think of something. As long as you don’t publicly respond, there’s still a chance.”
“Let’s do this—you focus on filming, and I’ll go back to the company to talk to the boss.”
There was still time before *Soul Night* started production.
After all, Qin Mang hadn’t wrapped *Dreams of the Capital* yet.
So they still had a window.
Qin Mang knew how to prioritize and focused on finishing *Dreams of the Capital*.
Otherwise—
If she was forced to quit, she wouldn’t even have a single representative work.
No!
She would never quit!
Qin Mang gathered herself, ignored all the chatter on Weibo, and fully immersed herself in filming.
Her performance improved, and her chemistry with Jiang Hengyan grew stronger.
Toward the end, almost every scene was done in one take, rarely more than three.
After twenty days of intensive filming, she finally wrapped her scenes.
She didn’t even stay for the wrap party and headed straight back to Shen City the same day.
She arrived at Hezhou Film late in the evening, just as office hours ended.
Dressed in a flowing pale gold gown, she was dazzling. The clouds at dusk seemed aflame, blending with the hem of her dress like a painting—an ethereal beauty straight out of a masterpiece.
Her red lips pressed into a line, her face expressionless—only adding to her breathtaking, icy allure.
The pressure she exuded was overwhelming.
There weren’t many celebrities in the company building, but plenty of livestream influencers.
Some even turned their cameras on her.
Gasps and whispers followed:
“Why is Qin Mang here? Has she wrapped already?”
“Oh my god, she’s so beautiful in person, and so powerful!”
“That face looks like it was modeled—it’s flawless!”
“No wonder they call her the top siren of the entertainment world. That beauty is god-tier…”
“I want a selfie… Can I?”
“I need a link to her dress, her earrings, her lipstick shade, *crying sounds*!”
“Go ask her!”
“But she doesn’t look very approachable… I’m scared…”
“She’s leaving…”
Qin Mang ignored everything and headed straight for the CEO’s office.
Meng Ting followed behind, muttering, “Calm down. We’re here to talk about terminating the contract. It’s best if we part on good terms.”
“If it gets messy, it won’t be good for your image, even if we manage to cancel the contract.”
Exactly.
Qin Mang was here to terminate her contract.
According to the original agreement, the agency had no right to make decisions for her—including choosing projects.
Clearly, the new CEO hadn’t even read her contract properly and was already trying to treat her like a cash cow. What a joke.
Her face alone was the best pass she could have.
And yet, no one tried to stop her.
When President Yu saw Qin Mang, he was in a good mood, eyeing his “gold mine” with interest.
“Congrats on wrapping. You’re just in time—the *Soul Night* contract is ready for you to sign.”
The new CEO, Mr. Yu, was around his mid-40s or 50s. His hair was slicked back neatly, and unlike others his age who had let themselves go, he still carried a faint air of sophistication.
But Qin Mang had grown up among truly noble elites—those whose elegance was steeped in their very bones and only grew more distinguished with age.
To her, this man’s pretentious demeanor didn’t even register.
…No one spoke. The atmosphere turned awkward.
Meng Ting cleared his throat and subtly signaled with his eyes: “This is President Yu.”
Qin Mang managed to remain calm. She didn’t slap anyone, just nodded perfunctorily, “Oh.”
Meng Ting: “…”
Alright then.
Qin Mang casually flipped through the contract. Her gaze paused for a moment—
The contract stated that if she joined the crew, she’d be required to bring along two rookies from the company as supporting characters with favorable roles.
No wonder President Yu had hurried to announce it on social media.
He must have received hefty benefits from Lin Chenxuan.
Her eyes gleamed with sarcasm.
She was naturally beautiful, and now, with a faint smile on her lips and her head bowed over the contract, her slender, pale neck exposed—she looked like someone easily controllable.
Yu Qing rarely showed tenderness, but he generously offered:
“I’ll talk to Director Lin and see if we can postpone your entry to next month. You should have time to rest.”
He sounded sincere, like he cared for her health—but in truth, it was sheer arrogance.
So, his plan was to have her move from one set straight into another? Squeeze her dry?
Looking at his smug face, Qin Mang couldn’t help but laugh.
Her eyes curved, tinged with a seductive red hue, dazzling and bold.
The more Yu Qing looked at her face, the more satisfied he became. He was already calculating how much value this face could bring.
This time, he could send two newcomers with her.
What about next time?
And the time after that?
The more famous Qin Mang became, the more money he would make.
Under his leadership, Hezhou Film would surely return to its former glory.
Yu Qing then lowered his hand from his back, showing a friendly and approachable demeanor, resembling a good superior who treats others with respect. “Once you bring more benefits to the company, Hezhou Film and Television won’t treat you unfairly.”
“In the future, when you become a shareholder, the company will have a share for you too.”
“Mr. Yu is truly generous.”
Qin Mang’s voice was soft and gentle, as she slowly twirled the delicate fish-tail diamond ring on her finger. Under the lights, it reflected a faint, cold glow. Those who knew her, however, understood that her patience had already reached its limit.
Having finished reading the contract, Meng Ting quietly took a few steps back. He didn’t remind Qin Mang to stay calm.
At this moment, Yu Qing personally handed her the pen, with a patronizing gesture. “Sign this, and in the future, you’ll have the opportunity to become a new shareholder of Hezhou.”
Qin Mang leisurely opened the contract to the signature page, and as she reached for the pen under Yu Qing’s expectant gaze, she suddenly changed direction.
She picked up the coffee that the secretary had just handed her and splashed it onto the hypocritical face across from her.
“Whoosh.”
“Thud!”
Yu Qing instinctively tried to dodge, but to his surprise, he bumped into the corner of the table. His face and the pristine suit he wore were both splashed.
The brown liquid poured down, splashing onto the pile of contracts on the table.
In an instant, everything was in chaos.
There was a gasp from the side. The secretary frantically tried to wipe the coffee off Yu Qing.
Yu Qing was in disbelief, and his anger made him lose his composure. Since taking his position, everyone had always treated him with utmost respect, and he had never been humiliated like this. His eyes nearly bulged with rage. “Qin Mang, how dare you—”
“Do you believe I’ll blacklist you?”
Qin Mang sneered, clacking her high heels as she walked away, “Exactly, with a fool like you as a boss, I don’t even want to stay!”
“Meng Ting, Meng Ting, you don’t want to stay either, do you?”
Meng Ting ignored him and searched frantically for disinfectant wipes. He happened to see the secretary still wiping Yu Qing off. He stepped forward, snatched a pack of unopened wet wipes, and ran after Qin Mang, “Young lady, wait a second, wipe your hands.”
“Looks like we can’t resolve this peacefully now.”
Meng Ting sighed. He could tell now.
Yu Qing’s mind was filled with how to exploit Qin Mang to make money for him; there was no way he would easily let her go.
Qin Mang slowly wiped her clean fingers, from the knuckles to the palms, bit by bit, without missing a spot. Her thick, dark eyelashes covered all the emotions in her eyes.
Meng Ting said, “The thin camel is bigger than the horse. Hezhou Film and Television’s legal team is well-known in the industry. It’s not going to be easy for us to win the contract termination case.”
And from Yu Qing’s current behavior, it was clear he was not a magnanimous person.
Based on experience, when an artist falls out with their agency, it damages the artist’s reputation.
“By the way, Qin Mang, if you want to quit the entertainment industry, what about Mr. He?”
“What does he think?”
“If He’s legal team steps in, the possibility of us walking away from this contract termination case unscathed will skyrocket.”
At this point, things had developed to a point where they couldn’t be solved.
Qin Mang finally remembered.
She had a particularly powerful husband.
Hearing Meng Ting’s last sentence, Qin Mang’s mind flashed to that night in the hotel closet.
He Lingji whispered in her ear, his calm yet determined voice, “Only when you’re at the top, do you have the right to decide whether to stay or leave.”
He was—supportive, right?
Otherwise, why didn’t he take the opportunity to have her quit the entertainment industry?
The sadness in the girl’s eyes gradually faded, and they began to shine, like a blazing sun cutting through the night sky, reflecting dazzling light.
“To Huihuan Lake Manor!”
Qin Mang decisively made up her mind.
Even more terrifying than asking He Lingji for help… was quitting the entertainment industry!
Qin Mang had already planned a series of words to persuade He Lingji. Excited, she rushed home, only to find it empty.
Butler: “Sir went to Lingcheng.”
“He hasn’t returned for 19 days.”
“?”
“To Lingcheng again?”
Hearing this, Qin Mang carefully observed the change in the butler’s expression, narrowing her eyes slightly.
“Why does he go to Lingcheng so often? Could it be that he’s keeping a mistress there?”
You can find the complete translated novel in the link below
