**Chapter 71: Give Him the Honor**

**Ling City.**
In Rong Huaiyan’s private art studio, the scents of oil paint and paper mingled.
Next to the easel by the floor-to-ceiling window, He Lingji’s cool features carried a trace of languid ease as his long fingers slid across the phone screen, skimming the trending comments—

> “Hehe, as expected, everyone on this mountain is an LSP~”

The man’s gray-blue eyes darkened slightly, as if in thought.
He typed out a slow, deliberate reply—

**Garble:** “LSP? Does that stand for Label Switched Path?”

> “?”
> “There are still people who don’t know what lsp means these days?”
> “Is this a joke?”
> “Wait, isn’t this our new content god?”

Netizens recalled the picture this user had just posted and immediately softened—

> “Oh! It’s Garble!”
> “Wait?! Damn, Garble really knows how to ship! Subtle yet effective! We lost Little Watermelon but gained Garble—what a blessing for CP fans! Guys, go look up what Label Switched Path means.”

Search result: Language Server Protocol or Label Switched Path—a unidirectional path from the MPLS network ingress to the egress…

But frenzied CP (couple pairing) fans only extracted the key phrases.

> “Ladies, ‘switched path,’ a one-way tunnel from entrance to exit—think about it, really think about it!”
> “Damn, this is the power of knowledge! @Garble, you genius!”
> “Waiting eagerly for the next artwork!”
> “Got it—LSP is no longer a noun, it’s a verb! Thrust-thrust-switch-thrust-thrust—one-way insertion into the path~ Ahhh what do I do, this kind of subtle, suggestive stuff makes me even more obsessed!”
> “The more subtle it is, the more thrilling.”
> “@Garble, please accept our worship!”
> “……”

He Lingji watched as the conversation grew increasingly off-track. His elegant brows furrowed slightly.
Were they…
Misunderstanding?

—

**“Adventure Game”** had entered a smooth filming stage.
With all professional actors, the director rarely had to intervene in their acting, so the shooting progressed well.
It was now time to shoot one of Qin Mang’s final scenes before she wrapped up.

They were heading to a private house in the outskirts of Duzhou City for an indoor shoot.
They passed a lush bamboo grove, and a gentle drizzle tapped on the windows, covering the glass in a dreamy veil of water droplets.

**Inside the luxury tour bus**,
The director sat beside Qin Mang, personally explaining the upcoming scene.
This was the most important scene for her character, “Little Butterfly,” and the director had high hopes for her.
“Get into the right emotional state. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask. Don’t hold back.”

Male lead Lou Xuzhou couldn’t help chiming in, “Hold back? She’s practically drained all of us old-timers dry already.”

> “Hahahahahaha!”

Laughter rippled through the bus.
Qin Mang paused while flipping her script and smiled as she turned toward them.
“Then after I wrap tomorrow, can I treat everyone to a big meal?”

> “We’d be honored!”
> “As long as there’s that plum wine you mentioned last time, I’m in.”

Ever since Pei Zhen let loose once in front of Qin Mang, she’d abandoned all pretense of being a dignified goddess senior.
Might as well go all in now.

The steward at Qinglan Residence brewed excellent wine—one of them, the plum wine made with snowy blossoms, was especially pure and sweet, with a faint icy texture.
Qin Mang had once gifted some to Pei Zhen, who hadn’t forgotten it since.

Hearing Pei Zhen’s craving made the other actors curious.
Was it really that good?

Qin Mang readily agreed.
Though the wine was rare and hard to make, it wasn’t something she’d be stingy about.
She had even arranged for gifts in advance.
Meng Ting praised her for finally growing up—giving gifts to seniors now.
Qin Mang rolled her eyes.
She just didn’t want to owe anyone favors.

Meng Ting: “…”
Oh.
Guess he was being too petty.

—

At 1 PM, the bus arrived on time at the filming location.

But to everyone’s surprise—
The owner of the estate suddenly refused to rent it out.
They claimed concerns that their ancestral home might be damaged during filming.
It was an ancient residence, impossible to repair.

The director nearly blew a gasket.

If they weren’t going to allow it, they should’ve said so earlier!
Now that everyone was here, where were they supposed to find a replacement so quickly that matched the script’s setting?

They’d already scouted and revised parts of the script for this exact house.

Director: “You’re breaking the contract!”
Owner: “We’ll pay double the penalty.”
“Sorry. We really can’t rent it out anymore.”

Anyone who owned such a house wouldn’t care about a breach fee.

> Damn it!

The director furiously kicked a nearby stone pillar.

His assistant: “Calm down—what if that’s an antique?”

Due to the rain, Qin Mang wore a simple black T-shirt and shorts, making her delicate features even more striking.
She glanced at the pillar and said, “Kick away. It’s newly made.”

A staff member held an umbrella outside.
Everyone turned to Qin Mang in unison.

> “You know about this stuff too?”
> “Looks pretty new to me.”

Indeed.
They had all been misled by the antique-style decor into thinking everything was a relic.

The director had a headache.
Aside from the house…

> “Where else can we find a large field of phalaenopsis orchids? This is where Little Butterfly was born and returns. Special effects just don’t cut it.”

They had top-tier VFX artists, but…
This scene had to be real to be breathtaking.
He wanted to use this iconic scene to create a textbook-level birth-and-death sequence for Qin Mang.

Plus, the final battle in the butterfly orchid illusion—
It was a massive scene.

> “Phalaenopsis orchids?”

Meng Ting, just stepping off the bus, looked surprised.
“Would blue ones work?”

> “Even better!”

The orchids here were white.
They had planned to change the color in post.

> “Manager Meng, do you know where to find some?”
> “I’ll pay handsomely!”

The director grasped Meng Ting’s hands in excitement.
First time feeling the enthusiasm of an international director, Meng Ting froze, then turned to Qin Mang.

> “You’ll have to ask her.”

Everyone turned to Qin Mang like she was the *last hope of the village*.

She thought for a moment and hesitated, “It’s not a big area. Will that be okay?”

> “That’s fine! Anything is better than nothing.”

> “Would it be at least 10 square meters?”

That was the director’s bottom line.
They could shoot close-ups and use CGI for wide shots.

Qin Mang estimated, “Roughly.”

> “Alright then.”

Qinglan Residence was not far—just beyond the bamboo forest.
A hundred-year-old estate, perfectly preserved, stood before them.

Far larger than the previous location—
Even included several surrounding mountains.

A plaque above the gate read “Qinglan Residence” in bold calligraphy.
Bronze qilin statues guarded the entrance, weathered by time.
A stark contrast to the newly renovated stone pillars before.

The assistant director couldn’t help but ask, “Uhh… Teacher Qin, these really are antiques, right?”

> “Probably.”

Qin Mang answered lightly, then turned to everyone.

> “Come in.”
> “Sorry for the rushed hospitality.”

She wasn’t being modest.
She had planned to prepare a day in advance to welcome guests properly.
Having them over on short notice wasn’t her usual etiquette.

After living here for nearly two weeks, she was used to the butler’s grand welcomes with a crew of servants shouting, “Welcome home, Madam!”

But the others…
Were stunned.
Felt like they’d been transported to the Republic era.

In front of her seniors, Qin Mang was still shy and quickly changed the topic.
“Get some afternoon tea ready, and have someone take the crew to the orchid courtyard.”

She’d already told the butler in advance.
Everything was prepared.

The director wasn’t in the mood for snacks.

> “Let’s go now!”
> The sooner they filmed, the better.

The others were still absorbing the stunning scenery of the ancient garden.
The director, however, was focused entirely on the job.

As soon as they entered the main yard—
Aside from the elegant three-story wooden house, what immediately caught the eye was a massive field of *blue* phalaenopsis orchids.

Definitely far more than ten square meters.

The director felt duped and turned to Qin Mang.

> “This is what you call ‘not a big area’?!”

Her eyes were pure and innocent.

> “It really isn’t.”

The director: “……”

Qin Mang thought about the lakeside manor—
The garden in her and He Lingji’s new house was *truly* big.
Especially when the pool full of fire lotus blooms.

She suddenly felt a little homesick.

When the word *home* popped into her mind, she felt a flicker of emotion.
Since when had she started considering her house with He Lingji as *home*?

—

Meng Ting whispered,

> “Are you missing home… or your husband?”

Qin Mang shot him a look.
Meng Ting shut up instantly.
For the sake of his year-end ‘Little Pebble’ award.

But before she could figure out if she really was missing her husband—

That night—
Atong sent her a screenshot of what had happened on Weibo that day.

Front and center was a photo.

Three stunning young men—
But Qin Mang’s eyes went straight to one *unfaithful* man.

Under the light,
A black *red spider lily* tattoo stretched elegantly across the pale back of a man, cloaked in steam and mystery.
It drew you in to uncover the hidden truth.

His waist had been exposed!
Her treasured flower had been seen by everyone!

Qin Mang’s good mood instantly vanished.
Her luscious red lips pressed into a tight line.
Under the dim light, her too-gorgeous face turned fiercely intimidating.

Her jet-black eyelashes drooped and only fluttered after a long moment.

That was still manageable.

But when she saw netizens talking about how—Xie Fozhi dyed his silver-blue hair because Madam Xie liked it, and apparently it matched the hem of Madam Xie’s formal dress!

Young Master Rong’s ink-like begonia tattoo was for Madam Rong, because her nickname was “Little Begonia.”

So they suspected that the black *manjusaka* (red spider lily) tattooed on He Lingji’s back was also for Madam He.

Three henpecked husbands, successfully grouped.

Taste it, just taste it!

The first two were fine—Qin Mang was even moved.

But that *manjusaka* on He Lingji’s back was definitely not tattooed for her!

It wasn’t any kind of mark that belonged to her.

Qin Mang sat cross-legged on the bed, hugging a white plush lion with a pink nose, thoughtfully pinching its chubby paw.

She had once asked He Lingji about the origin of that *manjusaka* tattoo.

But he hadn’t explained clearly.

Said it was a birthmark.

Sort of.

Those two words—”sort of”—were extremely suspicious.

Either it is or it isn’t.

And who even has a birthmark that looks so perfectly placed?

Clearly not a proper birthmark.

There was definitely something up.

Could it really be that he got it during his rebellious youth for some girl?

She knew she hadn’t even met He Lingji back then.

But still—

Just thinking that he might’ve once done something for another girl in his youth made Qin Mang feel like several lemons had been squeezed in her chest, the sourness spreading all over.

Little lion: *[You had a puppy love!]*
*[You were rebellious!]*
*[You’re not clean anymore!]*

Qin Mang was upset—so He Lingji shouldn’t get away with it either.

She fired off three texts!

**He Poor-Poor:** *[What’s your angle this time? Rebellious underage student?]*
**Little Lion:**
*[…]*
*[You’re changing the subject]*
*[You’re guilty!]*
*[Screenshot.jpg]*

The screenshot showed the man’s clean and beautiful back with intricate floral tattoos rising along the spine.

*[Who did you get this for? Tell the truth—was it the class belle, the school belle, a junior, or a senior? Middle school, high school, or college?]*
*[Who would’ve thought—even our President He had a rebellious phase.]*
**He Poor-Poor:** *[I wouldn’t have thought so either.]*

Just as Qin Mang was about to escalate further—

He Lingji called.

She picked up instantly, tone displeased, her red lips slightly pursed as she huffed, “What, too many stories to text?”

He Lingji heard his wife’s pouty tone.

His cool, calm voice carried a hint of indulgent laughter:

“It’s true, texting is a bit inconvenient.”

“Not formal enough.”

“Hmph—”

Before Qin Mang could throw another tantrum—

He Lingji slowly continued:
“Because I have just one story.”

“I knew it, you—”

Qin Mang, like a bristling little lion, had long stopped hiding how much she cared about He Lingji.

And He Lingji, for some reason, never seemed to mind.

Before she could finish her retort—

The man’s low, clear voice sounded again by her ear:

“A story about a little lion.”

“Want to hear it?”

Qin Mang’s temper came and went like a cat’s tail flick.

Now, soothed like a purring feline, she even yawned.

Filming had been intense lately. Today’s big scene had worn her out.

The sour lemon feeling in her heart had, somehow, turned into syrupy sweetness.

Sticky.

And meltingly sweet.

He had just one story.

And it was about her.

Qin Mang’s red lips lifted slightly. Although He Lingji couldn’t see her expression, she still tried to flatten her smile.

Since he was going to tell her a bedtime story—

She obediently tucked herself under the covers and mumbled, “Don’t make it sound like an essay reading, okay?”

He Lingji’s voice, cool and mellow, carried a magnetic warmth over the phone:
“Once upon a time, there was a little white lion who loved basking in the sun.”

“Under the blazing sun, the lion’s fur shimmered golden, even brighter than sunlight…”

At that point—

He Lingji suddenly recalled their first meeting.

Because Qin Yan had confiscated her allowance and secondary bank card, the girl had dyed her hair a dazzling rose gold.

Bathed in sunlight, she looked radiant—like the sun itself.

Who could not love the sun?

So—

Although he’d intended to reject it, He Lingji accepted the marriage alliance he otherwise had no need for.

That day felt so close, so vivid in memory.

Including Qin Yan’s stunned expression—probably shaken by his taste.

Because that day—

To provoke Qin Yan, Qin Mang had gone all out as the rebellious girl stereotype.

In Qin Yan’s eyes, the He family’s mistress should at least be ladylike—not a brash teen with flamboyant pink-gold hair.

But—

He Lingji chose no one else.

He only chose—

**His sun.**

Qin Mang felt like she was listening to a fairy tale.

But it all revolved around a little white lion gleaming gold in sunlight.

Drowsiness crept in. Hugging her plush white lion, she heard the final line where the lion bit down—

“Bit what?” she murmured softly.

While unbuttoning his shirt slowly, He Lingji casually asked, “What do you want to bite?”

She could hear the rustling.

Half-asleep, Qin Mang could still tell what he was doing, and her mind pictured—

That cold, pale back with the mysterious, seductive *manjusaka*.

A moment passed, and her moist lips opened slightly as she whispered clearly:

“Bite the flower on your body.”

Once bitten—

It would be hers.

*Manjusaka*, also known as the Red Spider Lily or the Flower of the Other Shore—

Symbolizes the cycle of life and death, separation and reunion, undying devotion.

So—

“Once I bite—”

“I’m not letting go.”

Right before she drifted off, Qin Mang vaguely heard this nearly threatening line.

He hadn’t explained it properly—

And now dared to threaten her?

In the quiet, dim room—

Her phone lit up suddenly on the pillow.

**He Poor-Poor:** *[That *manjusaka* never belonged to anyone before. But from now on, it belongs solely to its little lion.]*

—

**The next day.**

Qin Mang cheerfully wrapped up her final, emotionally intense scene.

Because she arrived on set in such a good mood, the director even worried she might smile during the sad take.

Luckily, she was quick to get into character, and just as quick to drop out of it—even with blood still at the corner of her lips, when the director shouted “Cut!”—

She smiled.

“Let’s do a close-up too—no smiling this time,” the director reminded quickly.

“Why are you so happy on the final day of filming?”

Qin Mang lay back down, perfectly recreating her position.

Of course she was happy.

Just thinking about the WeChat message she’d seen that morning made her heart burst with joy!

So, so happy!

So happy that she sent He Lingji countless magical kisses.

If circumstances had allowed, she truly would’ve flown home to find him.

However—

He Lingji was on another overseas business trip!

The final scene wrapped perfectly!

“Congrats on finishing!”

“Congrats to our little classmate!”

Most of the crew were her seniors, so she’d become the youngest one on set—everyone affectionately called her “little classmate.”

Qin Mang had built great relationships on set.

Many senior actors even gave her flowers and gifts.

She was glad—

Because she had prepared gifts for everyone too.

Otherwise, just receiving and not giving back would’ve made her feel embarrassed.

**End-of-Filming Banquet.**

Since the final scene was shot at Qinglan Residence, Qin Mang hosted an outdoor party in the courtyard.
The director was still grumbling, “We almost crushed that lotus orchid worth over two million.”
The butler smiled, “Don’t worry. That lotus orchid is strong.”
It’s stood firm through wind and rain—being stepped on once isn’t going to do it in.
It’s been alive for nearly a hundred years. It won’t just die that easily.

As the butler recounted the orchid’s history, everyone listened in amazement.
Pei Zhen said, “Wow, it’s even older than my grandma.”
Lou Xuzhou teased, “Haha, call it grandma and see if it responds.”
The next second—
Pei Zhen personally poured him a large glass of alcohol.
Lou Xuzhou wasn’t a good drinker—one cup and he was down.
Pei Zhen looked triumphantly at Qin Mang, “Learn from this—if a man talks too much, just drink him under the table!”
Qin Mang replied, “Lesson learned.”

But…
He Lingji isn’t talkative.
And he never gets drunk, no matter how much he drinks.
Qin Mang had never imagined she’d ever try to get a man drunk.
Naturally, she thought of He Lingji.

After the party,
Pei Zhen was her usual tipsy self.
Qin Mang personally walked her to the nanny van. As they hugged, Qin Mang whispered in her ear, “Ms. Pei, I have a secret to tell you.”
Pei Zhen’s eyes briefly sharpened, “Hmm?”
“I love secrets.”

The next second—
Her calm pupils suddenly contracted.
The soft, pleasant voice whispered by her ear, “I’m Guan Yueyan’s daughter.”
“Thank you for remembering her.”
And thank you… for telling me so many stories about my mom in the entertainment circle.

Then Qin Mang stood up lightly and closed the van door.
The nanny van drove off.
Qin Mang stood at the entrance of the venue, bathed in the brilliant lights that seemed to cast a radiant glow over her.

Inside the spacious van,
Pei Zhen laughed while pinching the bridge of her nose—what a silly girl.
Her emotions were written all over her face.
She had been chasing her for stories about Guan Yueyan almost every day, practically writing *I’m related to her* on her forehead.
How could she *not* guess?

Leaning back on the seat,
Pei Zhen half-covered her eyes with the back of her hand, “Yueyan…
How wonderful.
Your daughter is just as gifted and spirited as you.
And she’s healthy.
Even under such a grueling filming schedule, she’s still full of energy.”

Outside, delicate neon lights streamed in,
Reflecting off the teardrops in her palm.
The manager beside her sighed, “Here we go again.
When will you stop crying every time you get drunk?”

Luckily, she had always had good luck—from her rookie days she met the right people and, with sheer effort, rose to become a top-tier actress despite her humble beginnings.
No one had ever exposed this bad habit of hers.

Pei Zhen chuckled, “What can I say? People like me.”

Manager: “Fine…”

After *Adventure Game* wrapped, Qin Mang didn’t even have time to go home and rest.
Her schedule was packed.
Just like Pei Zhen had said: a female celebrity’s career span is short—make the most of it.
Some want to act, but don’t have the time.
Actors blessed by the heavens? Every project they take is a gift to their audience.

Every time she thought she could take a break, new events would pop up.

On the plane to Country H,
Qin Mang leaned lazily back in her seat. First class offered excellent privacy—she could nap before they landed.
They were flying overseas to attend a high-fashion show hosted by luxury brand C.

Originally, Qin Mang wanted to skip it.
But Fu Yuan, now understanding her a bit better, had done her research: “While we’re in Country H, there’s a private auction. It’s said the highest-purity Pink Star diamond will appear there.”
That hit Qin Mang’s weak spot.
She hadn’t “restocked” in ages!

Lately, she’d received so many high-quality gems that anything mediocre just didn’t interest her anymore.
But *that one*—
She’d wanted it since she was eighteen.
Unfortunately—
It had been privately purchased by a mysterious foreign collector. No one knew who they were—not even their nationality.

Who would’ve thought—
Just a few years later, the Pink Star would appear again at an auction.
She had to go.
Qin Mang insisted: *It’s not because of the auction—it’s purely out of love for my work!*

Fu Yuan held the itinerary.
She almost believed her nonsense.

But before the plane even took off, a stunning, curvaceous beauty walked in from the rear cabin.
A’Tong whispered in shock, “Sis, that’s Zhao Yuqin.”
“Who?”

Qin Mang, who had been resting with her eyes closed, lazily fluttered her lashes and let out a nasal “hmm.”

The entertainment industry was too big.
Qin Mang didn’t have the best memory.

A’Tong reminded her, “She was also nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Jue Awards.”
“She’s probably going to C’s fashion show too—she’s their brand ambassador.”
“She’s with the rival company, okay?!”
She signaled her star to perk up.
If passersby saw the two of them together—one slouched with eyes closed, the other a glamorous beauty—that *visual contrast*, oh no!
Unacceptable!
Her star couldn’t lose!

A’Tong pulled Qin Mang up and tidied her voluminous curls.
No time for makeup.
Luckily, Sister Mang was naturally stunning.
Delicate brows, red lips, black hair and fair skin—beautifully effortless.

Just then, they crossed paths in the aisle.
Zhao Yuqin gave her a gentle smile.
And even struck up conversation.
“Ms. Qin, what a coincidence.”
“Must be fate.”

Can’t hit someone who’s smiling at you.
Under Meng Ting’s sharp gaze, Qin Mang responded with a half-hearted hum.
She didn’t know her.
So she couldn’t muster any warmth.

Meng Ting covered his face, headache incoming.
Forget it. The fact that this heiress even *acknowledged* someone was already progress.

Back when he’d first taken on Qin Mang, it had been bloody and tear-filled.
He still had no idea how President Qin raised her.
Fearless of everything.
She was just a D-list rookie then—
Didn’t even know how to flatter people.
Acted like *she* was the A-lister.

Meng Ting and Fu Yuan sat nearby, furiously typing into their memos.
Looked like they were hard at work.
But really…
They were venting to each other.
Being a manager was *so* hard!

Zhao Yuqin didn’t mind Qin Mang’s coldness. She continued with a smile, “We booked late and couldn’t get first class. Would it be possible to swap seats with your assistants?”
Switching economy for first class—like it was no big deal.
She clearly assumed Qin Mang wouldn’t refuse.
Zhao Yuqin added, “As fellow actresses, you know how it is—being seen in economy can cause a scene.”

Qin Mang immediately caught the disdain in her eyes—
And the way she disrespected assistants.
Her smile faltered and faded.

*What the hell.*

Next second, she casually pulled down the sleep mask A’Tong had just lifted, her soft voice indifferent, “Oh.”
“Oh?”
Zhao Yuqin echoed, surprised.

She looked at the stunning girl by the window—this level of beauty, even in a sea of celebrities, was top-tier.
“What’s it got to do with me?”
Qin Mang said lazily.

Zhao Yuqin hadn’t expected such a blunt rejection. She didn’t get angry, though. “Ms. Qin, if you don’t want to help, that’s fine—but is that tone really necessary?”

“So noisy,” Qin Mang muttered.

She hadn’t slept well in days.

A’Tong had secretly been worried Sister Mang might agree to switch. But thank goodness. Sister loved her!

First class is a luxury—who would want to trade for economy?

And this wasn’t a short flight. It was nearly ten hours long!

Atong was now following Qin Mang and had that powerful figure from Bingchuan as her backing, so she wasn’t afraid at all. She directly called out to the flight attendant, “We’re about to take off. Could you please ask the economy class passengers to return to their seats?”

This nearly made Qin Mang laugh.

Of course, it also infuriated Zhao Yuqin and her group.

Zhao Yuqin’s manager said, “What’s wrong with switching seats? So petty.”

“If you make things easier for others, they’ll make things easier for you later.”

Originally, Meng Ting had planned to offer his seat to the lady.

But Sister Fu shot him a glare like a knife.

He quietly sat down.

Meng Ting, nervous, whispered, “Are you really just going to let the young lady offend people like this? Zhao Yuqin holds quite a bit of status in the industry.”

“So what?”

“Is her status higher than the young lady’s husband?”

Fu Yuan calmly closed her eyes.

If there’s trouble, let her husband handle it.

Meng Ting suddenly realized: Oh right.

There’s always President He!

So naturally, they just ignored the whole matter.

As for Zhao Yuqin, after being rebuffed by Qin Mang, she ended up exchanging seats with two other passengers for five times the price.

Her gaze stayed locked on Qin Mang the whole time.

Clearly, she held a grudge.

And Qin Mang—

Fell asleep.

Qin Mang’s group genuinely hadn’t taken Zhao Yuqin seriously. Someone so bossy and petty couldn’t last long in the entertainment industry.

However—

The very next day, she was unexpectedly slapped in the face by reality?

There were still two days before the big fashion show.

Coincidentally, an auction was about to begin. Naturally, Qin Mang went to the auction first—she had to win the Pink Star.

At the auction entrance,

A staff member stopped her: “Hello, may I see your VIP invitation?”

Qin Mang frowned. This was the first time she had ever been stopped. “VIP invitation?”

She hadn’t even heard of such a thing.

The staff explained, “This is a private auction house. The items are not open to the public. They are auctioned only to the world’s top collectors.”

“We hope to find buyers who can truly appreciate the pieces.”

“Therefore, only collectors who have received a VIP invitation may enter this section.”

At that moment, Zhao Yuqin walked up from across the way, arm-in-arm with a top executive from luxury brand C. Her figure was graceful, and her smile carried layers of meaning as she handed over a platinum-colored VIP invitation. “Ms. Qin, we’ll be going in now~”

“You can go over there.”

“That side,” of course, was the regular auction area.

Qin Mang naturally wanted to go into the collector’s section.

The sign clearly stated—

**Pink Star: Awaiting Auction.**

Atong, being soft-spoken, murmured, “Sister Mangmang, maybe we should just…”

Zhao Yuqin, already inside, suddenly turned back and mocked coolly, “People really shouldn’t be so inconsiderate.”

“If you had just helped out a little yesterday and begged me today, maybe I’d be willing to take you in.”

“Sigh~”

Qin Mang’s beautiful face turned cold. She was just about to speak—

But the next moment,

A sharply dressed elite came down from the super VIP area.

The man on Zhao Yuqin’s arm quickly stepped forward to greet him, “Secretary Cong!”

“May I see President He for just a—”

Before he could finish,

Cong Zhen brushed past him and went straight to Qin Mang, who had been blocked outside, bowing respectfully. “Miss Qin, our President He would be honored if you’d join him upstairs for the auction.”

From the moment she saw Cong Zhen,

She already knew He Lengji was here too.

What a coincidence.

They just happened to be in the same country, same place, running into each other.

Qin Mang’s red lips curved into a lazy, casual smile. “Then I’ll grant him this honor.”