**Chapter 43: One of a Kind**

After losing the pink diamond, Qin Mang felt a little disheartened.

She lazily leaned against the luxurious sofa in the private room, counting the spoils from the past three days of the high-end auction.

With her delicate, fair fingers, she pinched a diamond brooch in the shape of a wisteria flower, elegant and refined. In an instant, a figure appeared in her mind:

“This one is for grandma.”

She then picked up a diamond bracelet, with the main stone resembling half an orange—exquisite and playful, perfect for a female college student.

She continued at a slow pace, “This one is for Xiao Chengcheng.”

She placed a pair of pigeon-blood ruby earrings in front of “Bag-carrying girl” Wu Yuxi with great generosity, saying, “Running errands fee.”

Wu Yuxi kissed Qin Mang’s face, exclaiming, “Thank you, Daddy!”

The key was not the precious gemstones received.
It was that the gems had slipped out of Qin Mang’s hands!
That was incredibly rare!

Thanks to Qin “Cash-splitting Machine” Mang, who hadn’t won the final big pink diamond at the auction, she felt a bit indifferent to other gems.
Otherwise, with her intense possessiveness, she’d never have let go.

Wu Yuxi, touched to the point of tears, said, “Little lion, after all these years, this is the first time you’ve given me your most beloved gem.”

Qin Mang glanced at the ruby earrings.
She didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth.
Because she had several pairs of the same ruby earrings in her collection.

Wu Yuxi didn’t care about that.
She immediately put them on, took photos, and posted them on her social media.
She went off to show off to Wu Yuan.

While she was busy, Qin Mang’s peripheral vision caught a glimpse of an uncut fancy blue diamond—its cold color perfect for men.
It would make an excellent cufflink or tie clip, both very sophisticated.

Wu Yuxi instinctively asked, “Is this for President He?”

“Mm~ President He suits this color.”
Qin Mang paused for a moment, playing with the fancy blue diamond between her fingers, then coldly smiled. “No… This is for my little uncle.”

As for He Qiong, the flirt who went around making trouble, he didn’t deserve it!
He had already attracted a girl named Lou Tingdai, and now he was surrounded by millions of “girlfriend” and “wife” fans.
Just thinking about it made Qin Mang’s expression turn cold.
She’d even used high-end jewelry to dress him up, making him even more charming—so he could go out and continue attracting bad luck with women?
Not to mention giving it to him.
Even just thinking about it made Qin Mang angry.

Even after leaving the auction house loaded with treasures, Qin Mang’s beautiful and delicate face remained as cold as white snow.
But with her striking features, even when angry, others couldn’t help but admire her beauty.

The important thing was!
As soon as they went outside, they ran into some fans.
Qin Mang had only become truly famous in the country after her role in *Old Dreams of Jinghua*. Before that, while beautiful, not many people remembered her.
And even less so abroad.

But now *Old Dreams of Jinghua* was screening globally.
It even sparked a wave of qipao fashion!
Recently, many major fashion shows had drawn inspiration from the qipao design.
For a beautiful woman, global standards of beauty are unified, especially Qin Mang’s cinematic face, which was extremely recognizable.
At this moment, with her cold expression, she was the perfect match with Yun Qin.
So it wasn’t surprising when people recognized her.

Soon, the hashtag #Foreign Encounter with Qin Mang# topped the trending topics in the country.
At the same time, international fans posted pictures and short videos of their encounters with Qin Mang.

During this period, Qin Mang had become quite bold abroad, casually wearing sunglasses and shopping with Wu Yuxi.
She spent lavishly in luxury stores.
She even attended the high-end gem auction, with staff specifically arranging bodyguards for her.
It was clear she didn’t leave empty-handed.

Fans were shocked:

“Damn, I’m afraid to even ask the price when I buy groceries! She’s buying luxury goods and doesn’t even ask the price, just glances and buys everything!”

“Do female celebrities really make that much money?”

“Seriously, have you ever seen any female celebrity buy things like this? No need for matching items? She walks in, and they close the store to serve her.”

“Those are small things, folks. Did you see where she went? That’s a high-end gem auction!”

The picture showed items from this auction, with a starting price of at least a million dollars.
Starting price!
After three days of auctions, hardly anything sold for less than ten million dollars.
There was even an entry fee for attending the auction.
If you didn’t meet the required wealth standard, you couldn’t participate.
After some jewelry enthusiasts explained the details, everyone was stunned.
So, buying luxury goods wasn’t even the point.

“So… Qin Mang, just an ordinary celebrity, how does she have so much money?”

“Lmao, I bet she’s being kept by some big shot.”

“Wait, doesn’t she have a boyfriend?”

“Right, then why didn’t she bring her boyfriend shopping during the vacation? Instead, she brought her best friend?”

“Could it be that she broke up with her boyfriend because she’s being kept by some big shot?”

“Ugh!”

“The possibility is pretty high. Young couples usually can’t stay apart. Except for that time at the premiere, Qin Mang’s schedule has been super full. Now she finally has some free time, and logically, she should be out on a date, right?”

Everyone was first shocked by Qin Mang’s extravagant spending—where did all that money come from? Was she being kept by someone?
Then they wondered why she went on vacation without her boyfriend, maybe because they broke up.
But no one thought about the fact that her boyfriend could be the “big shot” keeping her.
Because in the entertainment industry, the only people with that kind of money were almost all married.
The speculations became more and more absurd.

When Qin Mang got off the plane, she saw these wild rumors.
She logged into her Weibo account with a cold expression and posted two updates.

Qin Mang V: 1. I spend my own money.
Marriage assets are hers, no problem with that.

Qin Mang V: 2. My man loves online dating.
We’ve been married for two years, but in reality, we’ve spent only a few months together.
Not even online dating, really.
In online dating, people stay in touch every day.
But us? We barely talk once every ten or fifteen days.
Qin Mang used to think it was fine.
But recently, it started to feel a bit strange.
Just thinking about it made her upset.
Wu Yuxi’s words echoed in her mind: “You’re in love with him…”
Qin Mang’s eyes flashed with fear: No, no, absolutely not!
She was just angry!
As Mrs. He.
Not as someone in love with him.

“Little ancestor, you’re at it again, posting on Weibo to argue with netizens!”
“Done for. The image of the artistic movie goddess is ruined.”
Meng Ting came to pick her up at the airport, looking utterly distressed.
He knew it.
As soon as Qin Mang had free time, she’d stir up trouble!

The first post was whatever.
She clarified that she wasn’t being kept by anyone. While fans might wonder where all her money came from, that was easily explained.
For example, a reality show where she could casually show off her home environment.
But!
Her second post, with all that “private message” content—what was that about!
Fans’ attention shifted to the fact that Qin Mang, this top-tier celebrity, was dating a man who was apparently also into online dating.
They looked up to him, considering him a modern-day “sitting in the lap of virtue, not seduced by the world.”

At a private club in Shengcheng.
At the card table.
He Lingshi casually tossed a card down. “You guys lost.”

“Brother He, either you don’t play, or you give us no way out.”
Ruan Qizhuo swore as he threw the last car key to him.
He had lost the worst, and was now without even his underwear.

Under the blinding white light.
He Lingshi, with a face that didn’t smell of money at all, had a pile of spoils in front of him.
Rong Huaiyan casually sipped his tea.
Then smiled faintly, “Understand him, after all, his sub-card was maxed out this month, and he’s so poor he’s selling airplanes.”

What?
Ruan Qizhuo stared in shock.
Then he suddenly remembered their earlier conversation in the group chat.
It was He Lingshi who had sold his newly bought plane to Rong Huaiyan.
At the time, He said it was to “save money.”
He thought it was a joke.

Now, listening to this…

It seems like they really are short on money.

He Lingji spoke lightly: “Oh, keeping a wife costs money.”

Ruan Qizhuo gasped in surprise.

It wasn’t until he saw the trending topic that he couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

What does marriage bring to a man?

At least it took his money, that much he could see.

Ruan Qizhuo shivered: Marriage is really scary!

While scrolling through Weibo, Ruan Qizhuo couldn’t help but say, “He, Bro, I didn’t expect you to have such broad interests.”

He Lingji toyed with the glass of wine in his hand.

But didn’t drink.

His voice was as calm and cold as usual: “Speak plainly.”

Ruan Qizhuo handed over his phone: “Spending billions on cloud-based wife care, so generous and trendy.”

“Impressive.”

He Lingji immediately noticed.

The displeasure in Qin Mang’s Weibo.

The man’s eyes slightly lowered, then he put down his wine glass, stood up, and walked out, casually waving his hand: “It’s over, I’m leaving first.”

Ruan Qizhuo saw him win and run.

He hadn’t even finished one drink.

“Where are you going?”

Ruan Qizhuo immediately stood up. “The night is long, where are you going without drinking?!”

“Oh.”

“Maintaining family stability.”

He Lingji’s voice was lazy, losing some of its previous cold restraint, adding a touch of wildness.

He wasn’t wearing his coat.

It was casually draped over his arm as he walked out.

Ruan Qizhuo mustered up his courage: “Bro, can you speak plainly?”

He was too slow to understand.

But He Lingji didn’t answer him.

Yong Huaiyan glanced at the time.

Madam Yong should have finished her work restoring the ancient painting.

Before leaving,

He kindly translated He Lingji’s last words: “He’s going to coax his wife.”

Ruan Qizhuo: “…”

“Maintaining family stability” my foot.

“You don’t have this kind of trouble.”

Yong Huaiyan spoke lightly: “Oh, I’m going back to coax my wife too.”

“You have no idea.”

“Go home, take a shower, and sleep.”

Ruan Qizhuo: “…”

He heard the sarcasm.

You all have wives, big deal!

Single dogs have no dignity.

Outside, Secretary Cong respectfully opened a large umbrella.

It was nearing the end of winter.

A fresh layer of snow had fallen in Deep City, and the black luxury car parked outside was covered with a light dusting of snow.

Before getting into the car, Cong Zhen lowered his voice: “Madam has returned home.”

In the quiet, dimly lit cabin.

It wasn’t long before He Lingji’s voice, colder than the snow outside, rang out:

“What about the pink diamond?”

“It’s already been sent for trade.”

“At the latest, two or three days.”

“It still requires some procedures.”

Secretary Cong immediately answered.

He Lingji responded with a faint acknowledgment.

Secretary Cong couldn’t sense any particular emotion.

…

Qin Mang had not returned for two months.

The first thing she did was take a bath and let the maid responsible for massage and skincare give her a full-body spa.

She felt so much better.

The high-quality pearls she had bought abroad were also sent back.

The butler arranged them in her dressing room.

Qin Mang, draped in a long silk robe, felt her muscles relax as she was massaged. The fatigue from the past days suddenly surged.

Actually, ever since He Lingji’s magazine hit the trending searches, she hadn’t slept well.

Snuggling into her bed, the luxurious satin fabric of the robe clung to her body, light as a cloud.

Her red lips murmured in comfort, deliberately not thinking about that man who stayed out all night, her long lashes soon falling.

The bed at home was the most comfortable.

Qin Mang was naturally a little furnace, so she was warm, and by midnight, she instinctively tugged off her robe, along with the last layer of soft pink fabric.

Since winter started, she hadn’t had this habit, since she’d been working outside, and the hotel’s temperature could never compare to the comfort of home.

In the darkness,

Her red lips curled slightly, with a small lip pearl, exquisite and enchanting.

It seemed to tempt someone to kiss.

At the edge of the large bed,

A male figure with an oppressive presence stood.

He was looking down, his eyes fixed on the lip pearl, inch by inch.

His deep, profound gaze held an almost imperceptible predatory glint.

Until the coldness from his body reached Qin Mang’s,

She suddenly woke up.

Seeing the oppressive figure, she almost screamed.

In the next moment,

Her lips were taken by the cold, soft touch of his thin lips, effortlessly.

Instantly,

The familiar icy scent filled her breath.

His icy fingers made her curl into the blanket, “Cold…”

Only then did she realize her little furnace body had gone cold.

She didn’t know when her robe had been kicked to the foot of the bed.

As her blurry eyes opened,

She gradually adapted to the darkness,

But realized that the usually restrained and cold man was now disheveled, his shirt untidy, revealing his toned waist and abs, his long legs, clad in black trousers, slightly bent, kneeling beside her.

The soft pink fabric was pressed under his knee, only a bit of the edge exposed.

The stark contrast of black trousers and pink fabric was so striking it left Qin Mang frozen.

After the kiss,

He Lingji’s cold, white fingertips slowly traced her lips, frowning as he looked at her.

“I like online dating?”

“Mm?”

Hearing Qin Mang complain about the cold, the man casually threw off his shirt, his voice hoarse from the snow outside.

Qin Mang’s confused mind slowly cleared.

Her beautiful brows furrowed.

Huh?

This dog man dared to take the initiative?

That definitely needed a good argument!

Qin Mang immediately wrapped herself in the blanket and sat up, reaching for the soft pink fabric he had pressed with his knee, unwilling to let it be untidy.

After all, what she was about to say was very serious!

“Sit down!”

Qin Mang pointed to the foot of the bed, her voice still soft and lazy from just waking up, not at all commanding.

Hearing her voice,

She angrily hit the bed.

He Lingji, with his long fingers, flicked the fabric, then looked down at his knee before casually lifting her up, leisurely saying, “You want to sit here again?”

His arms were strong.

She was effortlessly picked up.

Qin Mang: “!”

He Lingji, as if asking, said, “Want to sit after a bath?”

But didn’t give her a chance to reply, directly carrying her to the bathroom.

Qin Mang: “…”

Did they mean “sit” in the same way?

The bathroom lights were bright.

In the bathtub,

The man’s back was cool white, with black flowers marking his skin, spreading along one side of his spine and waist.

It looked like a strange flower rooted in a snowy glacier, ghostly and seductive.

Qin Mang’s mind flashed with comments from the fangirls and wife fans on Weibo.

Her wet, cold face was enchanting as she casually pushed He Lingji down into the bathtub.

She bit the flower branch with force.

He Lingji had never expected Qin Mang to do this.

Looking down,

He saw a beautiful little head, long black hair scattered across her back.

Her slender waist and fair skin made her look like a mischievous little lion.

She not only bit but also used her sharp canine teeth to tear at him.

The marks left on his cool skin were distinct, a clear red circle and a sharp tooth mark.

“Here, here, and here, every spot belongs to me!”

“Nobody is allowed to covet.”

“He Lingji, you don’t follow the proper conduct of a man.”

“You’re cheating with your body!”

Qin Mang became more and more angry as she spoke, even wanting to add something more.

He Lingji listened as she became more nonsensical.

With his long fingers, he pinched her delicate chin. “Cheating with my body?”

“Can’t you feel whether I’m cheating or not?”

Qin Mang changed her position, sitting up.

Her sharply contrasting eyes stared at He Lingji, her small mouth rattling on: “Your body has been seen by billions of people!”

“You’re not pure anymore!”

“Where has it been seen?”

It sounded as if he were naked.

If He Lingji remembered correctly, those two photos had him dressed thoroughly.

“Your waist!”

Qin Mang pointed to the spot where she had just marked, her eyes suddenly flushed with a hint of crimson, as if it were a burning flame. “This waist, these legs, these abs… your whole body, it’s all been seen!”

He Lingji hadn’t really cared about the cover he did for the financial magazine earlier.

After all, the shoot had been quick and easy.

The cover had been taken in the meeting room of the He Group during lunch break, and the helicopter shot was an old one, used directly.

So, until tonight, he hadn’t realized that Qin Mang was jealous about this.

He Lingji saw her throwing a tantrum.

It was like she was a child—throwing a tantrum and splashing water everywhere, causing ripples.

The angrier Qin Mang got, the more delighted He Lingji felt.

He didn’t rush to comfort her.

He rested his arms on the edge, letting her vent and cool off.

“You still have the nerve to smile?”

Qin Mang looked into his smiling eyes and found it absurd. “Is me being angry that funny?”

Looking into her eyes, burning like the blazing sun, all he could see was his own reflection.

He Lingji, who had already been restraining himself since she started biting, finally lost control. His hand gripped the fragile, delicate back of her neck, and his voice became muddled. “You’re beautiful.”

…

…

“He Lingji, you jerk!”

The next day, in the He Group’s CEO office,
Cong Zhen immediately brought in the top-tier pink diamond.

It was just this small thing.

It cost half a plane’s worth of money.

Cong Zhen couldn’t help but exclaim.

Compared to the photos, the pink diamond shaped like a little lion was even more charming and cute in person.

Cong Zhen asked, “Do you want to have a jewelry designer turn it into a piece of jewelry?”

“No need.”

The man’s cold, distant voice left no room for argument.

He Lingji lightly tapped the little lion-shaped pink diamond with his fingers.

His gaze lingered on it, but then he thought of the little white lion at home.

When he got up this morning, Qin Mang was clearly awake but was still angry and deliberately turned her back to him, ignoring him.

It was clear she was very upset this time.

He Lingji absentmindedly rubbed the edge of his phone case.

He looked at Cong Zhen. “My Weibo account password.”

Cong Zhen reflexively recited it, then froze for a few seconds, incredulous. “You want to post on Weibo?”

It couldn’t be, right?

Then, he watched as his boss slowly took a photo of the pink diamond lion, which didn’t match the cold office desk at all, casually typed a few words, and posted it on Weibo.

A few seconds later,
The entire internet exploded.

He Lingji’s Weibo account, with over seventy million followers, finally posted its first original Weibo post—
He Lingji V: Mrs. He, one of a kind. [Photo.jpg]