Chapter 86

The interior of the castle was filled with intricate, mysterious carved patterns. If one looked closely, they would notice the designs were identical to the black manjusaka flower on He Lingji’s back; even the ornate sconces on the walls were carved with the same motif.

The place exuded an air of nobility tinged with ancient, uncanny strangeness.

It drew people in, irresistibly beguiling them.

Qin Mang tilted her head up to look at the man’s deep, handsome features, and the words he had used to stop her confession that day surfaced in her mind.

She finally understood.

What “wait a little longer” meant.

He Lingji wanted her to wait for him to confess first.

A fairytale castle, a glittering mountain of gems, a diamond crown, a personally played melody, and the gentle song sung by her leading man — all of it was Qin Mang’s ideal confession from her girlhood.

No wonder Little Watermelon didn’t remind her about her birthday this year.

It turned out that, at some unknown point, she’d been “turned” by He Lingji.

He even let slip the little secrets from her teenage years!

Qin Mang’s eyelashes trembled with tears as she asked pitifully, “Can I say it now?”

A rare flash of surprise crossed He Lingji’s eyes.

It took him several seconds to realize what she was about to say.

The man leaned down slightly and very gently kissed the small, delicate red mole on the tip of her nose. “Yes.”

“You can say whatever you want.”

When Qin Mang was about to speak, her mind went blank.

She wanted to say she liked him.

She wanted to say she loved him.

But all of that had already been said by He Lingji.

Seeing her fair, pretty face turning red, He Lingji patiently soothed, “Take your time.”

“We have a lifetime.”

Qin Mang slowly calmed the surging tide of love, lifting her already damp lashes, taking the man’s drooping hand and placing it over herself

The heart’s position, the delicate chin slightly raised, proud yet reserved:

“Congratulations to our President He, for winning the heart of Her Highness the princess.”

He Lingji’s tone slowed: “This is—He’s honored.”

A few minutes later.

He Lingji led his princess down toward the mountain of gems beside the staircase,

Only then did Princess Qin find the heart to admire this gem mountain made just for her.

She had He Lingji take many photos of her.

Only then was she satisfied.

Her slender fingers pinched the most valuable red diamond — it could probably buy He Lingji several of his coveted private jets.

Qin Mang thought about it and knew he hadn’t collected them easily.

She felt her eyes starting to well up again.

He Lingji’s typically cool voice carried a low, magnetic chuckle:

“This really is He Qiongqiong’s celebration now.”

The three words “He Qiongqiong” still carried a teasing tone.

Qin Mang’s gaze inadvertently flicked over the ornate sapphire glacier-shaped brooch he often wore on his chest.

There was a moment of guilt.

The next second, the girl enunciated each word, swearing earnestly: “From now on, Mrs. He will take care of you.”

..

Qin Mang had originally regretted not recording He Lingji’s piano confession.

That evening.

Secretary Cong sent her a video file.

She recorded the entire process from when she started doing her makeup.

No wonder there was a stylist, no wonder there were dresses and jewelry.

It was all to beautifully capture this long-prepared birthday confession.

Qin Mang was so excited she stayed up half the night.

2:30 a.m.

She had planned to stay up and watch the movie, but in the end He Lingji said, “A ten o’clock birthday banquet in the morning—does Mrs. He want to greet guests with dark circles under her eyes?”

I don’t want to!

Normally she had to be dazzling, let alone for an important occasion!

Finally obediently fell asleep.

But all night long, Qin Mang clung to He Lingji like a little octopus,

refusing to let go no matter what.

..

He Lingji’s birthdays had always been simple; once he reached adulthood, he never held a grand celebration.

But this time, the He family abandoned their usual low-key principle and pulled out all the stops for the birthday banquet they threw for Qin Mang.

The next morning, Qin Mang was still asleep.

Beyond the stained-glass window, he could faintly make out luxury cars winding up the mountain road, their plates all rare black tags with special numbers from various cities.

Especially that mountain of gems—it dazzled all the guests and blinded their eyes.

By rights, everyone here had seen the world.

But they had — never seen anything like this.

Atong wandered around snapping photos with his phone.

Wuwuwu.

Is this the mountain of gems?

This is Lord He’s love for Her Highness the Princess!!!

The onlookers eating popcorn noticed Qin Mang didn’t post on Weibo today for her birthday.

They were still heckling—

“We’re an old married couple now; it shouldn’t be a big, proper birthday celebration, right?”

“No wonder the goddess doesn’t post on Weibo—seems like she has nothing to post.”

“Which celebrity couples don’t show off on birthdays? Unless there’s nothing to show.”

“I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it @Qin Mang goddess, go slap them in the face! Today did the deity gift roses, a yacht, or a limited-edition sports car?”

“…”

Atong couldn’t stand it any longer.

Can this be tolerated?

With Qin Mang’s consent.

Atong posted a dozen-or-so photos from today’s birthday party all at once using the studio account.

Qin Mang Studio V: Happy birthday to Her Highness the Princess. Photos x18

“Wait? That mountain of gems—are those real jewels? Or just some sparkly glass stones?”

“It’s real, ahhh! There are so many things you can find online. They say that some time ago, a mysterious big shot scoured the whole world to collect all of them…”

That’s a gemstone, and it’s actually a gift from He Shenji!!!

“Whoa, jade and emerald as the consolation prize — that’s too much, totally over the top!”

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, I’ve seen mountains of gold and silver, but it’s the first time I’ve seen a mountain of gems???”

“Been around the world!!!”

“The point is, this mysterious big shot auctioned off a bunch of planes and yachts to buy a huge amount of gems. At the time some collectors thought the gems were going to rise in value, but later they found out it was all because the big shot was preparing a birthday for his wife. I even thought it was some foreign tycoon, but who would’ve expected… it was a deity!”

“Fun fact: Before He the Deity married, he loved collecting planes, yachts, sports cars, and the like. He even set up a special research team solely responsible for upgrading, modifying, and maintaining the aircraft and such that he bought!”

“Ahhhhh! I’m losing my mind—so the deity gave up a lifelong hobby for his wife?!!”

“Upstairs summed it up perfectly.”

“……”

The internet exploded because of the birthday photos released by Qin Mang’s studio.

There weren’t any outsiders at the event.

It was basically all close friends.

Wu Yuan and Qi Rong arrived as well.

But — the two came accompanied: one with his fiancée, the other hand in hand with his newly dated international model boyfriend.

In the castle ballroom, they met on a narrow path.

Behind the elegant, dignified archway not far away.

Qin Mang and Wu Yuxi happened to run into each other.

Qin Mang had intended to go over and say hello, but Wu Yuxi pulled her behind a pillar.

Wu Yuxi whispered in her ear, “What kind of battlefield is this? You actually charge forward!”

Qin Mang wasn’t as clear about their relationship as Wu Yuxi was.

She also lowered her voice, “Are they really breaking up?”

“Qi Rong should really be letting go…”

If he stepped down, my brother might not be so sure…” Wu Yuxi tilted his head, stretching his ears to eavesdrop.

Too far away, couldn’t hear a thing!

Actually, Wu Yuxi quite admired Qi Rong.

When it came to matters of the heart, she could let go just like that—so carefree and unburdened.

She just couldn’t do it.

In fact, Qi Rong and Wu Yuan didn’t have the bloodbath Wu Yuxi had imagined; they simply exchanged calm pleasantries and then walked past each other with composed indifference.

Not even the slightest change in emotion.

Old lovers meet, each accompanied by a new flame, and they’re frighteningly composed.

Not even Qin Mang could figure it out.

When they truly let go.

Not until much later, after Qi Rong had already married Wu Yuan, did Qin Mang accidentally learn it from Wu Yuan’s mouth.

The day her birthday banquet ended.

The parking lot.

In front of his “fiancée” and her “boyfriend,” Wu Yuan kidnapped Qi Rong.

And he actually “imprisoned” her.

Hidden within a villa registered under his name.

When they met on the narrow path, the calmer he appeared on the surface, the crazier he was inside.

Under the extreme thrill, Wu Yuan revealed his ferocious claws.

She was practically a mad dog with no restraints.

As the king of the underground world of Shen City.

Making someone disappear without a sound would be effortless.

Regarding this.

Qin Mang could only express.

These two really are a match made in heaven.

One’s a mad dog, the other’s a dog-whisperer.

Of course, that’s another story.

*

Not long after Qin Mang’s birthday banquet, the international film festival also got underway.

Compared with last time, when she was just building experience, this time Qin Mang was a front-runner for Best Actress.

Very soon.

Fans turned their attention to Qin Mang.

If she won this time.

She would set a new record as the youngest international actress in our country to receive this award.

In just a few short years since debut.

She parlayed her outstanding acting into winning Best Actress at the country’s most prestigious film festival, and now, crowned queen once again, she has secured a place in the history of the performing arts.

Not just her fans—ordinary netizens and casual observers alike are eagerly anticipating it.

Second nomination, a frontrunner for the award, truly the focus of everyone’s attention.

Qin Mang, who hadn’t been very nervous before, suddenly began to feel anxious.

Country M, backstage at the awards ceremony.

Qin Mang skimmed through some comments from home and abroad.

Her thin eyelids twitched and twitched.

She was on a video call with He Lingji:

“Wah, I’m so nervous. What if I don’t win Best Actress?”

Today was the day to return to the old family mansion.

He Lingji hadn’t yet spoken when his father-in-law’s voice came from over there: “Isn’t it just a Best Actress award? Dad’ll spend the money and buy you a hundred of them.”

“Smack!”

Madam He slapped her palm across,

“What kind of nouveau riche tone is that? Is this buying cabbages? Don’t desecrate a sacred trophy with money!”

Even through the screen, Qin Mang could hear that merciless slap.

He Lingji stayed silent for a long while, then said coolly, “If it were something that could be smashed, would it be your place?”

Mr. He rubbed the arm his wife had slapped sore, letting out a light snort.

Then he was given an icy look by Mrs. He and fell quiet.

Clearly indicates family status.

Mrs. He comforted Qin Mang, “You’re still young. Even if you don’t get it, it’s okay—build up your strength and let it show later.”

“Maybe next year, you’ll be winning awards left and right.”

In fact, the little bit of nervousness Qin Mang had felt had essentially dissipated after chatting with her family.

She couldn’t help but smile.

She looked at He Lingji, who had been pushed to the very back by his mother.

She replied, “I’m not nervous anymore.”

Like some foreign actresses in the makeup room who knew a little Chinese.

She asked, “Is that your dad and

mom?”

“Yes, they’re my parents.”

Qin Mang thought of the three of them huddled together in the video just now and answered without hesitation.

A form of address she once found hard to speak.

Now it came out naturally and freely.

She and the uncle who had been her only family each found new families of their own.

Like that.

The Qin family, which had only two members left, grew larger again.

The awards ceremony officially began.

Qin Mang wore an exquisite dark teal qipao, embroidered by a top domestic master with mysterious, muted red spider lily patterns. She held a silk folding fan in a matching tone, her jet-black hair loosely pinned up with only a single serene jade hairpin—retro and languid.

At a glance, she was clearly a beauty from the East.

Especially since she once used that face to dominate the front pages of prominent foreign media.

A divine level of beauty strikes the international scene again.

Break their ingrained impressions.

Top-tier beauty can standardize the world’s aesthetics.

The whole world is watching whether this mysterious porcelain doll from an ancient Eastern nation can take home Best Actress this time.

Fortunately.

Qin Mang lived up to everyone’s expectations.

At the second nomination, she brought home the Best Actress trophy from an international film festival.

From then on she leapt into the ranks of true method actors.

She was also the hottest top-tier actress in the entertainment industry at the time.

Whether scripts or other commercial opportunities, Qin Mang received only the very best.

After she declined, it was then the turn of the other actresses in the same age group.

Fu Yuan had originally worried that Qin Mang would relax after receiving the trophy; after all, for an ordinary actress, this would already be considered the pinnacle.

Who would have thought.

Qin Mang became even more enthusiastic.

If anyone asked—

She would say she was going to take care of her husband.

*

On June 1st.

By chance He Lingji had no schedule.

Secretary Cong

timely suggested: “Nowadays girls all like celebrating Children’s Day. Why don’t you visit Mrs. Qin on set and give her a surprise?”

“Children’s Day?”

He Lingji toyed with the fountain pen, casually repeating the sentence.

Secretary Cong pulled up the relevant information on the tablet:

“Look, under today’s Children’s Day forum posts, it’s all couples showing off their affection.”

But Qin Mang did genuinely enjoy celebrating holidays.

No matter the occasion, he would always add a gemstone to her collection room.

But ever since acquiring the Mountain of Gems.

Qin Mang’s collection room was filled; she hadn’t been asking for gems for a while.

After all, almost every famous, top-tier gem in the world had been tucked into her pockets.

Nowadays, even on the market or at auction houses, rare varieties were extremely hard to come by.

Ordinary, unremarkable ones held no interest.

He Lingji seemed thoughtful.

Before heading to the film crew.

He Lingji arranged for people to buy an amusement park.

And personally designed and remodeled it.

Secretary Cong hadn’t expected that her offhand suggestion would once again make President He spend a fortune.

It was another day of anxiously worrying about his boss’s wallet.

At first Cong Zhen thought it would just be a bouquet of flowers.

Who would have thought—

Her boss never played by the rules.

Especially when it comes to his wife.

Whatever it is, she must have the best.

10:00 PM.

Qin Mang finished a day’s filming and was returning to the hotel from the set.

She happened to run into He Lingji at the doorway to his room.

Her eyes suddenly lit up, full of delight.

Like a little sun, she collided into the man’s arms.

“What are you doing here?!”

He Lingji calmly caught her, then lifted her into his arms to cushion the fall.

He said slowly, “I’ll spend Children’s Day with you.”

“Children’s Day?”

Qin Mang suddenly remembered something Wu Yuxi had said one year.

Gaze

Looking at He Lingji’s ascetic, aloof face, her lips slowly curved into a faint smile.

After entering the room.

In the dim light, the girl’s slender fingertips leisurely traced along the immaculate collar of his shirt, finally pausing at the jade-like hollow of his collarbone. On tiptoe, she whispered in his ear, “Adults celebrate what, Children’s Day?”

..

Lately, fans had noticed Qin Mang seemed unusually languid.

Whether attending events or being photographed on set.

A pair of shimmering, beautiful eyes, always glossy and watery, looking like she can’t wake up.

Some fans daringly speculated—

“Could our goddess sister be pregnant?”

“Ah?!!!”

“Wha—what the hell—what the hell—what the hell?”

“The chances are very high!”

“Sleepiness, daydreaming, low energy—these are exactly the signs of early pregnancy. Besides, they’ve been married for years; it’s perfectly normal for them to be planning a baby…”

“This is so exciting! I can’t wait to see what this duo’s baby will look like—imagine an unbelievably gorgeous child!”

“……”

Just as people online began debating whether Qin Mang was carrying a boy or a girl.

Qin Mang found out she was pregnant—from Weibo, of all places.

Ridiculous.

What was even more outrageous was—

They were right!

After the new film wrapped, Qin Mang didn’t rush back to Shen City; she first went to a private hospital.

Staring at the test results.

Qin Mang fell silent.