**Chapter 28: Letting Others Pick the Flower**

The inner banquet hall was extravagant and lavish. People coming and going were all notable figures from the entertainment industry, dressed in splendid outfits, adorned with dazzling jewelry—an opulent scene of indulgence and vanity fair, showcasing the grandeur of the event.

Someone of Qin Mang’s status?

Almost none.

Qin Mang sat in her seat, her slender, fair fingertips toying with a champagne flute. Under the lights, her eyes sparkled with a soft, affectionate glow. Even without speaking, she easily drew attention.

Qi Rong looked at her side profile—palm-sized face, exquisitely beautiful, her eyes glimmering with a unique, enchanting charm that belonged to her alone.

The person Qin Mang had just gestured at flashed through Qi Rong’s mind.

She couldn’t help but gulp.

She couldn’t believe her bestie was aiming that high: “Do you even know who that is? And you dare to say something like that?”

“Someone could’ve overheard!”

“I was seriously scared to death just now!”

Qin Mang took a casual sip of champagne, her voice lazy and indifferent, “Didn’t you ask?”

Qi Rong choked for a second.

“But someone like President He—his entire being screams untouchable holiness. Touch him and you’d disappear without a trace.”

“Hiss—”

Just thinking about it was terrifying. She summed it up:

“Admire from afar, don’t dare to toy with.”

Qin Mang let out a light laugh, her soft and pleasant voice tinged with meaning: “Isn’t playing with a holy and untouchable man more thrilling?”

“Pfft—”

Qi Rong nearly spat out her champagne. After a few seconds, a new door opened in her mind.

“You’re right.”

The fall of the ascetic to lust.

Sounds kind of exciting.

Suddenly, the young male college student she recently started seeing didn’t seem as appealing.

Sure, he was good in bed.

And had stamina.

But he was like a horny puppy—always thinking about sex, with no restraint.

She was getting bored.

They were whispering to each other when they realized many people were looking in their direction.

Tan Guannan, fashionably late, was walking toward them.

Qi Rong, who had been lounging comfortably, quickly straightened up.

She instinctively wanted to warn Qin Mang, but—

Qin Mang, sitting beside her, spoke in a lazy and casual tone, but her posture was flawless. No matter the angle, she was stunning—like a noble lady from an ancient painting. Every gesture, every smile carried innate elegance.

Qi Rong: I’m the only clown here.

Qin Mang looked at her in confusion after Qi Rong nudged her: “What is it?”

“Tan God is here!”

Qi Rong finally came to her senses.

Tan Guannan stopped in front of them with gentlemanly politeness. His finely sculpted features were even more captivating under the dim lights. With a smile on his lips before he even spoke, he said, “Miss Qin, nice to meet you.”

“I know it’s a bit forward, but Teacher Fu Yuan asked me to keep an eye on you—not to touch any high-calorie stuff.”

The lotus-shaped dessert Qin Mang was holding in her hand—

Plopped right back onto the plate.

Ahhh!

For a split second, her pretty face cracked.

What the hell, Fu Yuan.

She even needed a chaperone for a high-end banquet now?

It used to be Meng Ting keeping an eye on her. Then when her weight wouldn’t drop, Fu Yuan started supervising her personally.

She had to report even a sip of water.

Did she not deserve any dignity?

After a few seconds of composure, Qin Mang gave a small smile, “Thank you, Mr. Tan. I was just admiring the lotus shape.”

Had no intention of eating it.

Yeah, right.

Her expression betrayed everything—she didn’t even try to pretend.

In the entertainment industry, girls this honest were rare. Tan Guannan had only come over because of Fu Yuan’s request, but now his interest was genuinely piqued. He smiled faintly: “May I sit here?”

“I’ll be joining the *Ephemeral Splendor* crew in a few days.”

Qi Rong, ever perceptive, knew they had a movie project together and promptly got up to give him her seat.

“Introduce him to me later.”

As she stood, she leaned close to Qin Mang and whispered in her ear, even showing her phone’s blank memo screen for emphasis: “I want to sleep with him.”

Dressed in a pale pink princess-like gown, she looked sweet as sugar—but her words were pure audacity.

She then lifted her skirt gracefully and walked away.

They had chosen this corner for whispering in private—

Now only Qin Mang and Tan Guannan remained.

They became the center of attention.

Qin Mang had always done as she pleased, unfazed by any situation—especially one she was well-accustomed to since childhood.

Fu Yuan had mentioned she used to mentor Tan Guannan, and this movie was also thanks to his recommendation.

Professionally and personally, Qin Mang owed him and couldn’t afford to be cold.

Her pretty little head thought for a long time but couldn’t come up with any polite small talk.

In the end, she quietly pushed an untouched dessert in front of him.

Her gaze was reluctant.

Tan Guannan felt like he’d just stolen candy from a child.

He pointed at a camellia-shaped yam cake: “This one’s lower in calories.”

He wore a perfectly tailored, high-end suit that accentuated his physique. Handsome, composed, and elegant—he truly lived up to his reputation as one of the most dashing and refined male celebrities in the industry.

She wore a strapless mermaid gown with heavy embroidery. Hand-stitched silk mimosa flowers stretched from her waist to her chest. Around her elegant swan neck hung a necklace themed with the same flower, encrusted with diamonds that cascaded against her snowy skin, adding an ethereal glow.

The outfit was grand, yet her radiant face still outshone all the gemstones. Her eyes shimmered, and the tiny diamonds stuck beneath their outer corners sparkled.

The He family’s styling team had used real diamonds—picked straight from Qin Mang’s gem drawer. Their value rivaled even the high-end jewelry she wore that night.

It wasn’t the jewelry that enhanced her.

It was she who made the jewelry look more luxurious.

Even seated beside the top male celebrity in the industry, she wasn’t overshadowed.

Instead, they created a harmonious aura of aristocratic elegance and aloofness.

The media immediately captured the moment.

The event was already under full public scrutiny—especially with Qin Mang and Tan Guannan both trending lately.

Before the banquet even ended, a candid photo of them hit the trending charts.

> “Thank you, Goddess Qin and God Tan. Now I can finally visualize what it looks like when a wealthy power couple attends a luxury banquet!”

> “Please, just act in a glamorous drama together already. I swear I’ll buy every ticket.”

> “Ahhh, the vibes are immaculate.”

> “Even if it’s not a film, I’ll take a drama. Even a photoshoot. Just *something*, please…”

> “Power couple for life!”

> “Am I the only one who thinks Qin the Vase is drop-dead gorgeous tonight? Even overshadowed Tan Guannan.”

> “Are you blind?”

> “You really think there’s someone at that venue more handsome than Tan Guannan? If he’s being overshadowed, does your female star’s life matter more than ours?”

…

This luxury banquet wasn’t just for stars—there were major power players from every industry.

Behind a carved screen, the inner lounge was much quieter than the glitzy outer hall. Even conversations were held in hushed tones, lest someone disturb a VIP’s peace.

He Lingji’s slender fingers idly fiddled with a gilded incense burner, expression indifferent and bored.

Next to him, Ruan Qizhu was being overly dramatic: “That so-called power couple shot? Please. The real god-tier photo is this one!”

Wu Yuan glanced at Ruan’s lit-up phone and let out a snort, turning to He Lingji: “Your little lioness is quite the butterfly magnet.”

He Lingji’s features were cold and refined, his gaze calm and piercing—like the first snowfall on a bare branch, making people shiver.

Seeing his dangerous look, Ruan Qizhu quickly handed over the phone: “Come on, it’s just a candid photo. Fans are the ones dreaming up the ‘power couple’ narrative. If you want the real thing, it’s you and our sister-in-law.”

As someone who had He Lingji’s investment, Ruan Qizhu prayed this couple would stay strong forever.

So he could keep milking the cash cow.

He Lingji’s thin lips curled into a faint, icy smile.

He barely glanced at the photo—

But his gaze paused on the girl’s eyes, shimmering like autumn waters.

Wu Yuan added fuel to the fire: “What’s the big deal? Just a movie with the director, a meal with a future co-star. Our Mr. He is clearly the most open-minded husband in the world.”

“Honestly, a laid-back husband like you is a blessing for a female celebrity.”

“Otherwise, all the bickering would ruin both your careers.”

Open-minded?

Ruan Qizhu had a gut feeling Wu Yuan was throwing shade—

But he had no proof.

“Say less.”

As He Ge’s thoughtful little cotton-padded jacket, Ruan Qizhuo thought for a moment, switched to another photo, and showed it to He Lingji first: “Let them witness the true atmosphere of a wealthy couple’s fateful relationship.”

“I knew you’d be shipping a fake couple!”

The photo in Ruan Qizhuo’s hand was taken accidentally by his company’s photographer. It captured the moment when He Lingji and Qin Mang exchanged glances as they entered.

In the photo, the young woman in a luxurious gown and the mysterious, noble man locked eyes through the crowd. Figures were blurred in the background, separated by mountains and seas, as if they could only see each other, with everyone else becoming mere fleeting illusions.

To Ruan Qizhuo’s surprise, the netizens didn’t go wild shipping the couple like he had imagined.

“What the heck, who is this? Is this for real?”

“This is… that unspeakable big shot from the He family, ahhh! Someone just said those celebrities are all part of the fame game, but look closely—this one represents the pinnacle of the fame game!”

“Wait, is that Qin Mang?”

“A finely crafted porcelain vase from the royal kiln and the ice-cold glacier statue that overlooks the mortal world—why did you capture them like this?”

“It’s a great shot, but don’t take any more.”

“You managed to capture this fateful vibe with people who have no connection to each other, you’re… ridiculous.”

“First of all, the glacier statue should be high up, no one’s allowed to touch it!”

“Secondly, with Qin Mang’s looks, no matter where she’s placed in a story, she’d be the kind of villain who tries to seduce the gods and gets stabbed to death by the hero in the first episode. Stop shipping her with him, okay?”

“The bright oil paints dripping into the ink painting—my OCD can’t handle this, I can’t stand it!”

“These two are daring to ship? Are you crazy?”

“Your account’s going to be deleted.”

“Lighting a candle for your account, may it rest in peace.”

“CP fans these days really ship anything…”

“Although the visual is stunning, considering their identities, I can’t ship them…”

Seeing things escalate out of control, Ruan Qizhuo dared not make a sound.

He Lingji glanced over calmly, his long fingers tracing the glass of his wine glass. Under the warm, elegant lights, his eyes, calm and indifferent, reflected in the glass as his fingers lightly tapped the table.

Secretary Cong immediately leaned in.

In a clear voice, devoid of emotion, He Lingji said, “Remove all topics about wealthy couples.”

“Tell Fu Yuan that this kind of topic is not allowed on public platforms from now on.”

As the banquet neared its end,

“Not happy?” Wu Yuan saw He Lingji about to leave and couldn’t help but ask seriously, “Jealous?”

He Lingji’s thin lips curled into a cold sneer: “She is Mrs. He.”

“Not a female celebrity who can recklessly stir up scandals in the entertainment industry.”

Wu Yuan: “Is that all?”

He Lingji’s expression remained calm: “That’s all.”

…

At 9 PM, He Lingji left early after staying for less than two hours. In the VIP passage, his footsteps were regular, as if nothing in the situation had affected his emotions.

A moment later, Secretary Cong handed him his phone, speaking quietly: “It’s a call from Ms. Fu Yuan.”

Fu Yuan: “Mr. He, I’ll take care of the wealthy couple topic, I’m not planning to go the scandal route, but… do you think it’s okay to stir up a wealthy siblings topic?”

“Working with Tan Guannan would benefit Qin Mang’s career, and moreover—”

“They are soon to collaborate on ‘Fabulous.'”

“Compared to someone like Jiang Hengyan, a newly crowned Best Actor with an unstable position, Tan Guannan holds a very high status in the industry. Many newcomers try to follow his path but fail.”

He Lingji’s voice was cold and somewhat impatient: “Did I hire you to stir up news for the actors?”

“If you’re not capable, change the person.”

He immediately hung up.

Fu Yuan: “…”

She was the only one in the world who dared to question her abilities.

Qin Mang had no idea about any of this. She hadn’t even seen the photo of her and Tan Guannan as a ‘wealthy couple,’ only the one with He Lingji. And the comments from the netizens.

She was fuming. She opened WeChat and typed rapidly:

Little Lion Roar Meow: \[Listen, netizens are saying you’ll kill me off in the first episode!]

\[You’re willing to stab me, someone so uniquely beautiful, after I favor you?]

Cold-blooded Capitalist: \[Willing.]

Qin Mang was about to send a video to scold him. But suddenly, she had an idea, and a faint blush appeared on her pale cheeks. She bit her lip and typed a few words:

Little Lion Roar Meow: \[What’s Mr. He planning to use to stab?]

After sending it, Qin Mang quickly shoved the phone into her bag, covering her face. Ah, ah, ah! She had gone too far! She actually dared to send such a suggestive message to He Lingji!

When she calmed down, she tried to retract it— But realized it had been more than two minutes.

Qin Mang: “…”

She prayed he hadn’t seen it.

Little did she know, the stretched Pullman that had left ten minutes ago suddenly turned around and headed back to the banquet location. Qin Mang had also left early through the back door.

Even at midnight, the main entrance of the banquet hall was still lit up and bustling. The back door led to a small alley, dim and quiet, with only a few wall lamps on the weathered walls, casting faint light.

The young woman in a luxurious dress appeared suddenly, instantly lighting up the surroundings. Qin Mang, wearing a black-and-white retro shawl, still couldn’t hide her graceful figure, stretching her shadow through the alley—

With red lips and black hair, she looked like a strikingly beautiful, dangerous ghost walking in the dark, both enchanting and perilous.

She stopped suddenly.

She saw the familiar, custom luxury car at the end of the alley. A smile appeared in her eyes. He still had some conscience, waiting for her.

Her slender ankles in high heels quickened, and she briskly lifted her skirt and ran out.

A-Tong followed behind, unprepared and chasing: “Hey… sis, why are you running?”

When she saw the cold, handsome face of the man through the half-open car window, her words abruptly stopped. A few seconds later, she grinned. Ahhh! The people online are really blind!

Who said oil paint won’t blend with ink painting? It blends perfectly!

She looked around, worried about being spotted by paparazzi or passersby like last time. After confirming the coast was clear, she relaxed. She then called the driver, telling him to pick her up.

Unbeknownst to her, there were He family’s bodyguards nearby. Not even paparazzi could get through, let alone a kitten.

Contrary to A-Tong’s imagined sweet moment, Qin Mang didn’t rush into He Lingji’s arms, all lovey-dovey. Instead, she started searching through his hands. “Where’s your phone?”

He Lingji held her delicate wrist, his gaze fixed on her, as if looking at the scorching sun in the dark. The young woman was like fire, capable of dispelling all the darkness.

He remembered her WeChat message.

He played with her slender fingers, his lips curving into a faint smile: “What do you need the phone for?”

Qin Mang, confidently: “As Mrs. He, what’s wrong with checking your phone?”

“Do you have any little secrets you’re afraid I’ll find?”

“Did you add any female celebrities on WeChat today?”

Secretary Cong handed He Lingji’s private phone to Qin Mang:

“Mr. He is absolutely innocent!”

“He didn’t add any male celebrities either!”

“Really?”

Qin Mang quickly took the phone, opened WeChat, and immediately deleted the last message she sent him, regardless of whether He Lingji saw it. She was determined to destroy the evidence. Even if he saw it, there was no proof. She was the smartest little fairy in the world!

Then she pretended to check the contacts.

When she put the phone down, she noticed that He Lingji was still holding her other hand loosely. She took his wrist in her other hand, lifted it up, and changed the subject: “Let me see if your love line is forked.”

“If it’s forked, that means you’ll secretly keep other little foxes behind my back!”

She absolutely couldn’t let him bring up that WeChat message.

He Lingji, a bit tired, lounged back in the leather chair, his tall figure relaxed. He closed his eyes slightly, letting her do as she pleased.

Qin Mang, who had never really studied his hands, now noticed how his hands exuded a noble, refined elegance. There was a thin callus on his fingertips and the base of his thumb.

She touched them several times, muttering under her breath:

“Did you secretly carry bricks in the middle of the night?”

His hands, which always held pens, actually had calluses.

Originally, Qin Mang planned to find a way to provoke him. But— She looked closely at his clean, white palms, where three clear lines were visible. Especially the love line—there was no fork, just a straight line cutting through his palm.

She flipped his hands over and over, checking both of them.

She didn’t find any sign of a fork in the love line.

Qin Mang lifted her eyes and looked at his stunningly beautiful face. No matter how she looked at it, he didn’t seem like the pure, one-man kind of guy!

At this moment, Secretary Cong suddenly presented an exquisite box. “By the way, Madam, this is a midnight snack prepared for you by Mr. He.”

The next second, Qin Mang’s expression changed.

She gazed at He Lingji, her eyes filled with frustration. “You really are the biggest obstacle in my weight loss journey…”

Not long ago, when they were at odds, she had chosen the same lavish meals as him every day.

Today, he sent her desserts again.

He Lingji seemed tired, pinching the space between his brows, his voice carrying a calm, detached coolness. “I see, you’re eating food from some random man outside, feeling full now?”

Qin Mang: “?”

What was with this sudden sarcastic tone?

Secretary Cong looked at her with a bitter face. “Why don’t you try a bite? Mr. He specially prepared this lychee flavor for you.”

He emphasized it twice, that it was specially prepared by Mr. He.

Qin Mang was always someone who responded well to gentle persuasion, and most importantly—

The icy, transparent lychee mousse.

She couldn’t resist the temptation.

“…”

She sighed. “I’ll just run twenty more laps tomorrow and burn off today’s calories.”

Qin Mang picked up a piece.

Her eyes, like shimmering water, involuntarily curved with happiness.

He Lingji glanced at her, then closed his eyes again.

By the time they returned to the lakeside villa, it was already close to midnight.

Having not seen each other for a long time, Qin Mang was originally worried that He Lingji would be the same as usual, demanding endlessly.

But to her surprise.

After a bath and skincare, she wrapped herself in a long robe, her fluffy, curly hair cascading down, walking into the master bedroom with a mesmerizing and captivating aura.

The room was dimly lit by a single wall lamp.

The atmosphere was hazy and enchanting.

However—

On the large bed, the handsome, aloof man was already lying down, his hands folded on his abdomen, his sleeping posture as disciplined as usual. Even when Qin Mang climbed into bed, he didn’t move.

It was rare for him to fall asleep before her.

Qin Mang, with a hint of jealousy, tugged at the stray hair on his forehead before he furrowed his brows.

Only then did she retreat back into the covers as if nothing had happened.

In the middle of the night.

Qin Mang couldn’t sleep well. She kept feeling the warmth from He Lingji’s body, like a small heater, making her wake up.

Groggily, she reached out to find a cooler spot.

Following the warmth, she touched his arm from his loose sleeve and was about to continue when—

Her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

He Lingji furrowed his brows slightly.

In the stillness, he recalled the ambiguous teasing message Qin Mang had sent earlier, as well as her sneaky behavior in the middle of the night.

The man, his eyes half-lidded, lazy and indifferent, reached out and pulled the fidgeting girl into his arms.

“Come up.”

Qin Mang was suddenly lifted off the bed, and for a moment, she was confused and dazed.

She lowered her eyes innocently and asked softly, “What are you doing?”

He Lingji’s expression softened with a touch of sleepiness, his fingers rubbing his aching forehead. His voice was rough like sandpaper: “Move yourself.”

“Huh? Move what?”

Qin Mang took a few seconds to understand what he meant.

No way?!

She was fully awake now.

Qin Mang braced her palm on the bed, trying to stay calm and force herself to be gentle, but her teeth were still clenched in frustration. “He Lingji, do I really look that desperate?”

He Lingji lazily lifted his eyelids and glanced at her. “Yes.”

Saying that, he pulled up the robe that Qin Mang had half-covered.

In the darkness, Qin Mang could clearly see his figure.

The next second, He Lingji closed his eyes again, looking like he was ready to be taken advantage of.

“You can do it.”

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