**Chapter 5: The Scorching Sun Steals the Light** 

The next morning. 

*”Ding-ling—”* 

The alarm rang in the quiet bedroom. 

Sunlight streamed through the half-open curtains, gilding the long lashes of the girl on the bed. Qin Mang’s lashes fluttered slightly before she finally forced her eyes open. 

She let out an unconscious sigh. 

Her entire body felt like she had overdone yoga—sore, numb, swollen, aching. A mix of sensations tangled together. 

Her delicate wrist pressed against the sheets as she slowly sat up. The satin blanket slid down, revealing her flawless, unclothed figure. 

Not only was her nightgown missing, but Qin Mang also spotted the frost-colored lace-trimmed underwear she had changed into after last night’s shower, now dangling precariously from the edge of the bedpost. 

Clearly, it wasn’t He Lingji who had taken it off. 

Probably her “little furnace” body acting up again in her sleep, making her toss it off unconsciously. 

Grumpily, she glanced at the wall clock. 

8:30 AM. 

If not for today’s shoot, she might have slept until noon after last night’s… *intense* workout. 

So annoying. 

He Lingji finished his business and just left. 

With the status of a legally married couple, he slept soundly without a shred of guilt—no need to take responsibility at all. 

The more Qin Mang thought about it, the angrier she got. She grabbed her phone and sent He Lingji a WeChat message— 

**[Little Lion Roar-Meow: “Mrs. He in bed, Miss Qin outside of it. You’re really getting all the benefits from this marriage without lifting a finger.”]** 

Unexpectedly, as soon as she went downstairs— 

The well-trained housekeeper had the maids serve breakfast before politely informing her, *”Madam, Mr. He has already arranged the move. Do you have any special requests?”* 

Qin Mang looked at the breakfast spread covering half the table. 

Likely considering her appetite, the dishes were varied but served in delicate small portions. 

Resting her chin on her hand, she lazily thought for a few seconds. *”Move the walk-in closet exactly as it is.”* 

Nothing else mattered. 

She then gave the housekeeper the passcode to her downtown apartment. 

The housekeeper seemed relieved. 

Before Qin Mang left, she was handed a black card. 

*”This is your allowance. Buy whatever you like.”* 

Qin Mang arched a slender brow, pinching the thin card between her fingers. *”Buy whatever I like?”* 

Even her uncle wouldn’t dare say that to her. 

Her red lips curled into a slow smile. *”Is there enough money?”* 

The housekeeper didn’t overthink it. *”Yes. If it’s not enough, you can charge it to Mr. He’s account. I’ll send someone to pay.”* 

Qin Mang: *”!”* 

Damn. 

Such a good deal! 

If she had known, she would’ve moved in sooner. 

By the time Qin Mang arrived at the ad shoot, it was almost noon. 

In late May, Shencheng’s sun blazed like fire. The moment Qin Mang opened the car door, the scorching air outside nearly pushed her back in. 

Under the glaring sunlight, her eyes shimmered like water. The fair skin at the corners of her eyes flushed a faint, alluring pink. 

Dressed in a red satin ribbon dress, she glowed like a radiant ruby against her dark hair and snow-white skin—a breathtaking beauty stealing the sun’s brilliance for herself. 

Suddenly, a familiar voice shattered the picturesque scene. 

Meng Ting rushed over with A-Tong: 

*”Your Majesty, you’ve finally arrived.”* 

*”If the umbrella doesn’t come over soon, this Empress will perish.”* 

Qin Mang’s voice was faint but dramatic. 

A-Tong quickly opened the sunshade handed by the driver, shielding Qin Mang entirely. When she accidentally brushed Qin Mang’s skin— 

She realized Qin Mang wasn’t exaggerating. 

Her fair skin was burning hot, like a real little furnace. 

A-Tong: *”Let’s hurry inside.”* 

Only after entering the air-conditioned studio did Qin Mang feel alive again. 

Meng Ting scanned the day’s schedule while glancing at her. *”What were you doing last night? You’re so late.”* 

And looking half-dead, no less. 

Noticing the professional driver earlier, he pondered silently. 

Qin Mang kept her private life well-hidden. Though she often had luxury cars picking her up, he had never met any of her family. 

Even A-Tong, her personal assistant, only knew about her high-end downtown apartment. 

Before Qin Mang could answer— 

His peripheral vision caught the faint pink mark on the back of her neck. 

Clearly a— 

*”Holy—!”* 

Meng Ting sucked in a sharp breath, signaling A-Tong. *”Quick, cover that!”* 

He nearly lunged to block it himself, scanning the area for any lurking paparazzi or crew. 

*”What the hell is that hickey?!”* 

*”Please tell me no one got a shot of it?”* 

A-Tong adjusted Qin Mang’s loosely tied hair, letting a few extra strands fall to cover the mark. Thankfully, Qin Mang’s face could carry any look—messy or not—with effortless beauty. 

She sighed in relief. *”We’ll fix it with concealer in the makeup room.”* 

Only then did Qin Mang realize. 

She chuckled lazily. *”Relax, no one’s getting any shots.”* 

What paparazzi could get within three kilometers of the He family’s lakeside estate? They’d be caught before they could even press *publish*. 

Meng Ting finally exhaled, then reminded her, *”We only landed the ‘EM’ beauty campaign because of your zero-scandal reputation. Unlike Shen Wanyin’s team, who rely on gossip and炒作—how could they ever land a big brand like this?”* 

Top-tier brands had strict standards for their ambassadors—clean personal lives. 

No one wanted to sign a deal only for a scandal to blow up later. 

That was why, when Qin Mang had been left on He Lingji’s yacht that day, Meng Ting hadn’t milked it for publicity. 

Their contract forbade any romantic scandals. 

Qin Mang fiddled with the little lion-shaped fan A-Tong had bought her—adorable and perfectly to her taste. 

*”Is that so,”* she replied absently. 

Meng Ting clicked his tongue, continuing his rant. *”You keep complaining about my lack of resources, but would you really want the kind of trashy gigs Zhou Yuan’s team takes?”* 

Qin Mang half-heartedly praised, *”Brother Meng is the noblest.”* 

*”Shen Wanyin debuted earlier than you, has more followers, yet she’s stuck with lower-tier endorsements—ones that can be dropped at any time. How could she ever land a high-end campaign? Our goal is global luxury brand ambassadorships. Aim high! Gossip might get you fame for a season, but only good work lasts.”* 

Meng Ting seized the moment to lecture her. The underlying message: *Get your priorities straight.* 

Good work led to better opportunities. 

*”I hear—”* 

Before she could finish— 

Meng Ting suddenly stopped, voice dropping. *”Why is she here? Ugh.”* 

Qin Mang halted too, glancing into the adjacent studio. 

Shen Wanyin was shooting a skincare ad there. 

At first, Qin Mang thought Meng Ting was just being catty—until she overheard the cameraman handing Shen Wanyin a tissue. 

*”Congrats on landing the lead in ‘Memories of Peking.’ Hope I’ll still get to work with you after this.”* 

*”You’re exaggerating.”* 

*”Don’t be modest. An S+ film like this, with top-tier production—it’s practically award-bait.”* 

*”I heard Qin Mang’s shooting here today. Soon, she’ll be looking up to you.”* 

The glamorous woman casually noticed the trio outside the door. After a pause, she smiled humbly. *”Teacher Qin is amazing too.”* 

*So damn annoying.* 

Qin Mang agreed. 

Who needed her fake praise—*ugh*. 

Shen Wanyin’s red lips curved as she glanced at her assistant. 

The assistant immediately caught on, raising her voice just enough. *”Our Sister Wan sometimes envies Teacher Qin. Even after three years in the industry, Sister Wan’s had less time off than Teacher Qin’s work hours.”* 

*”And now, she’s joining another set next month.”* 

As if *Memories of Peking* was already hers. 

Qin Mang calmly fanned her overheated palms with the little lion fan, breezing past the door without a second glance. 

Not even a flicker of her lashes. 

A-Tong muttered, *”Definitely Shen Wanyin’s doing.”* 

*”This little white lotus is so sneaky—using her assistant to throw shade while keeping her own hands clean.”* 

Meng Ting braced for Qin Mang’s infamous temper—expecting her to storm in and slap someone. But instead— 

She *let it go*? 

Just like that? 

Since when? 

He mumbled to himself, *”I thought she’d cool her hand just to deliver that slap.”* 

Qin Mang looked at him like he was an idiot. 

Aside from the fact that she’d just managed to cool down in this heat— 

Did he really think she’d cause a scene in front of all these people? 

She had a temper, not a death wish. 

Meng Ting wore a proud, fatherly expression. *”You’ve grown.”* 

*”So we’re just letting it slide?”* 

*Let it slide?* 

Qin Mang idly twisted the ring on her finger—tiny blue diamonds grazing her soft skin. Her red lips curled into a dazzling smile. 

This was just a cheap provocation. The one who got angry first lost. 

Besides, the worst outcome was losing the role to Shen Wanyin. 

Then she’d just visit the set as the investor’s wife. That’d scare the hell out of her. 

*”Let it slide.”* 

Madam He waved magnanimously. 

Meng Ting eyed her suspiciously. 

*”What?”* 

*”Checking if you’ve grown a halo.”* 

*”What, is it blinding your dog eyes?”* 

Meng Ting: *”…”* 

Still as sharp-tongued as ever. 

So why the sudden Buddha-level patience—*just* for Shen Wanyin? 

*”Really letting it go? You’re not gonna sneak off and beat her up later, right?”* 

*”Brother Meng, why are you so violent lately?”* 

Before heading to makeup, Qin Mang opened an electronic prayer app on her phone, lecturing solemnly, *”Go earn some karma points.”* 

*”No year-end bonus if you don’t hit 10,000.”* 

Meng Ting stared at the digital wooden fish: *”…”* 

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. 

— 

After her shoot, Shen Wanyin left early, hopping into a car sent by Zhou Yuan herself. 

As one of the industry’s top actresses, Zhou Yuan was adored wherever she went. 

On the way to their destination, she coached Shen Wanyin: 

*”Stay calm when we meet him later. Seize the chance—even if he’s not interested, getting noticed is a win.”* 

Since they’d already name-dropped him online, they might as well go all-in. 

Zhou Yuan was a master at this game. 

Shen Wanyin, about to meet an untouchable elite for the first time, clenched her hands nervously. *”I will.”* 

Her usually glamorous face now looked pitifully delicate. 

Zhou Yuan approved. 

No man could resist a beauty throwing herself at him. 

*”Keep practicing that expression.”* 

*”Okay…”* 

6:00 PM. 

The glass doors of the conference room at the end of He Corporation’s sky bridge slid open silently.

Surrounded by his elite team of secretaries, He Lingji stood at the center, his presence so commanding that it overshadowed everyone else. 

At that moment, he was fastening the blue mother-of-pearl cufflinks on his suit sleeve with one hand, his movements elegant and unhurried, exuding an intimidating aura that made others afraid to meet his gaze. 

As he walked out, he listened to an assistant reporting his upcoming schedule. 

Only after Secretary Cong finished the report did he hand over He Lingji’s private phone, keeping his eyes down respectfully. “Your wife sent you a message this morning.” 

He Lingji gave him a brief glance. 

Taking the phone, his usually calm eyes flickered with the faintest trace of amusement—gone in an instant, but sharp-eyed Secretary Cong caught it. 

Unconcerned with the others, He Lingji suddenly stopped. First, he typed a casual reply. 

Then, his pale fingers brushed against the phone’s metal frame as he recalled last night—when his drunk wife had confronted him. 

Mentioning the forum. 

After a brief pause, he ordered, “Have the Legal and PR departments remove all private discussions about me from public platforms.” 

“All of them?” 

“All.” 

His cold tone left no room for argument. 

The secretary handling the task tensed. “Understood.” 

He didn’t even dare to ask why. 

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan and Shen Wanyin approached from the other side. 

Zhou Yuan whispered to Shen Wanyin, “Luckily, I’ve shot ads for He Corporation before and met Chairman He. Otherwise, someone at his level—even for someone like me—would be hard to meet.” 

Shen Wanyin’s eyes flickered. 

She knew Zhou Yuan was worried she’d mess this up. 

Manager Xu, a fan of Zhou Yuan, had agreed to give Shen Wanyin a tour of the company after Zhou Yuan’s request. 

But unexpectedly, they ran into Chairman He. Manager Xu broke into a cold sweat. 

Then Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, “Didn’t you meet Chairman He before?” 

“Why so shy? Go on.” 

Manager Xu relaxed slightly. “Miss Shen knows Chairman He?” 

Someone added, “Yeah, wasn’t it Miss Shen who stayed overnight at Chairman He’s place after the yacht party?” 

Zhou Yuan smiled without confirming or denying. 

Shen Wanyin took a soft breath and stepped forward alone. 

The sky bridge, with its transparent design like a giant arched roof and crisscrossing silver lines, had a cold, futuristic feel. But the sunset painted the sky in fiery clouds, like a gorgeous tapestry—so vivid it seemed within reach. 

Strangely romantic. 

Looking at the breathtaking scene, Shen Wanyin thought: *This feels like a destined meeting between the hero and heroine.* 

And there he stood—noble, aloof, impossible to miss against the icy glass floor. 

Her heartbeat quickened as she remembered the whispers about the He family heir. *If… if I could get close to him…* 

Secretary Cong noticed her first. 

*Who dared to bring Shen Wanyin in front of Chairman He?* 

Thinking of Mrs. He’s usual temperament, his eyelid twitched. 

He stepped forward. “Whoever brought her here, take her away now!” 

Manager Xu broke into a sweat. “Chairman He… doesn’t know Miss Shen?” 

*Miss Shen?* 

Finally, the man glanced at her. 

Shen Wanyin swept her long, wavy hair aside, revealing her striking face. Her phoenix eyes lifted slightly as she said in a soft, charming voice, “Chairman He, I’m Shen Wanyin. We met at the *Dreams of the Capital* audition.” (Though it had only been a distant glance.) 

But his gaze had lingered on her longer than others. 

Her voice softened, tinged with sadness. “Have you forgotten me?” 

Her palms were damp with sweat. 

What met her was a pair of icy, bottomless eyes—piercing, as if seeing right through her. 

She froze, unprepared. 

Silence fell. 

Faced with such a stunning beauty, everyone expected Chairman He to at least be polite. 

But his expression remained cold, indifferent, as if no one could ever matter to him. He looked down at her like she was nothing. 

A few seconds later. 

His detached voice delivered the verdict: 

**”I don’t know you.”**