{"id":3664,"date":"2026-05-28T04:16:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T04:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/public-entertainment-industry-35\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T04:16:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T04:16:47","slug":"public-entertainment-industry-35-2","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/my\/chapter\/public-entertainment-industry-35-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Public [Entertainment Industry] 35"},"content":{"rendered":"

**Chapter 35: Kneel If You Must**

Qin Mang finally finished filming this suspense movie.

Just a week had passed, yet it felt like she\u2019d lived through several lifetimes.

The girl\u2019s beautiful features looked even more haggard than the sickly beauty she portrayed in *Vanity*, evoking a sense of heartbreak.

Coincidentally, there was a charity auction dinner being held in Beicheng as well.

So Qin Mang and her team didn\u2019t rush back to Shencheng.

**Inside the styling studio.**

Qin Mang had changed into a long backless gown.

The design was themed around the quiet elegance of an orchid in a secluded valley, made with traditional embroidery techniques. Each swaying leaf and branch was hand-stitched with painstaking detail. It had taken nearly eight months to complete this haute couture strapless dress imbued with oriental charm.

Though the color was refined and ethereal, the heavy embellishments of sequins and silver thread made it dazzling and eye-catching.

Her delicate back looked like a work of art.

Beautiful indeed\u2014

But Atong couldn’t help feeling distressed.

Mangmang had lost another two pounds!

The weight she\u2019d finally regained during the holiday was gone again.

Especially since\u2014

Atong thought back to when she\u2019d called Secretary Tao, and yet Mr. He hadn\u2019t shown up once.

Let alone visited the set.

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt on Qin Mang\u2019s behalf.

She knew better than anyone how Qin Mang had been suffering from insomnia night after night, only improving slightly after leaving the set.

But Qin Mang acted like nothing had happened, lazily lifting her lashes. \u201cWhat are you spacing out for?\u201d

\u201cBring me the jewelry.\u201d

\u201cI want the yellow diamond tassel set, not the blue one.\u201d

She didn\u2019t want to see anything blue lately.

While luxury brands often loaned her top-tier jewelry, Qin Mang preferred to wear pieces from her own collection.

\u201cComing, coming.\u201d

Atong hesitated, wanting to say that Mr. He was probably just busy at year-end. But when she saw Qin Mang\u2019s calm, indifferent side profile, she swallowed her words.

Forget it.

Mangmang doesn\u2019t care!

Focus on the career\u2014tonight, she must outshine everyone.

Protect the dignity of being the top-tier beauty in the entertainment world!

Though Qin Mang had lost weight, her foundation was too good. With the makeup artist\u2019s skilled touch, her already exquisite features were accentuated to a radiant allure. Wearing heels over ten centimeters high, she resembled a stunning beauty from ancient mythology, her overwhelming beauty instantly dominating the scene.

**Year-end season.**

Awards shows and grand galas popped up one after another.

It was also the battlefield where celebrities competed in beauty.

Qin Mang\u2019s labor-intensive dress shimmered under the lights.

It practically blinded everyone present.

\u201cQin Mang is so beautiful in person.\u201d

\u201cI heard about this dress\u2014it\u2019s a hidden design by top designer VV. Many actresses tried to borrow it for red carpets but were rejected. The reason? Their body proportions didn\u2019t meet VV\u2019s perfect golden ratio.\u201d

\u201cSeriously?\u201d

\u201cSo Qin Mang has what VV considers the perfect figure!\u201d

\u201cHonestly, that face is breathtaking.\u201d

Qin Mang\u2019s face was universally admired. As for her body\u2014

Opinions varied.

Just then, He Lingji, who arrived fashionably late, was immediately surrounded by people trying to flatter him.

Yet his gaze effortlessly found another focal point in the banquet hall.

Across the crowd.

Qin Mang glanced over briefly, lips curving into a cold smirk, not even bothering to look directly at him.

But He Lingji\u2019s eyes lingered on the lines of her shoulder and neck. Her skin was still flawless and glowing, but clearly thinner and more fragile than before she started filming.

The man\u2019s refined brow furrowed slightly.

Seemingly absentmindedly, he began walking through the crowd.

Lou Tingdai, holding his coat, followed quietly at a respectful distance.

Not too close, not too far.

And she didn\u2019t let the passing waiters take the coat either.

Qin Mang, in her heels, casually chatted with Qi Rong.

That\u2019s when she found out\u2014

The wild, skilled, and dominant man Qi Rong had randomly hooked up with turned out to be Wu Yuan.

And they hadn\u2019t stopped seeing each other since.

They met up frequently.

Qi Rong clutched Qin Mang\u2019s arm, looking a little troubled. \u201cWhat do I do? I think I\u2019m getting spoiled by him. I can\u2019t even look at other men anymore.\u201d

That was terrifying for a playgirl like her.

How could she give up the whole ocean for one fish?

But Wu Yuan\u2019s skills were just too good.

She still hadn\u2019t gotten tired of him.

Other men felt boring in comparison.

Qin Mang didn\u2019t quite understand that kind of relationship, but she *did* understand the Wu family\u2014and Wu Yuan.

The Wu family was the most elite branch of the upper class. They strongly opposed Wu Yuxi becoming an influencer, let alone the future heir marrying a celebrity.

Qi Rong came from a modest background.

Her family and career were both beneath the Wu family\u2019s standards.

Wu Yuan\u2019s cold nature ran deep. He didn\u2019t believe in love\u2014only in himself.

So\u2014

Qin Mang offered a practical suggestion: \u201cEven the richest meals get nauseating after ten days straight.\u201d

\u201cHow about you sleep with him for ten days straight? Get so sick of it that you\u2019re over it.\u201d

That idea lit up Qi Rong\u2019s eyes.

\u201cYou really are my soul sister!\u201d

As it happened, Wu Yuan was present tonight as well. Qi Rong grinned sweetly and whispered in Qin Mang\u2019s ear, \u201cI\u2019m off to bed, then.\u201d

\u201cGood night.\u201d

Qin Mang glanced at the time.

7 p.m.

\u201cThe charity auction hasn\u2019t even started and you\u2019re already going to \u2018bed\u2019?\u201d

\u201cJust a nap\\~ I\u2019ll be back when the auction starts.\u201d Qi Rong held up her pinky finger.

She wore a white puff dress today, looking like a doll.

But her words were pure wickedness: \u201cI\u2019ve never tried it outdoors before.\u201d

\u201cHehehe.\u201d

\u201cI saw a little greenhouse on the way in.\u201d

\u201cIt\u2019ll be super exciting.\u201d

With that, she lifted her skirt, put on her sweet loli face, and headed toward Wu Yuan.

Qin Mang was just about to remind her there might be security cameras.

But Qi Rong was already gone.

So she just lowered her eyes and messaged Wu Yuan.

Told him to make sure someone turned the cameras off.

Suddenly, a shadow blocked her light. Qin Mang assumed it was someone handing her a business card again. Without looking up, she lazily said, \u201cFriend, you\u2019re blocking the light.\u201d

The next second\u2014

The person moved slightly but didn\u2019t leave.

Qin Mang remembered Fu Yuan and Meng Tingqian\u2019s repeated warnings not to let her expression slip at an event like this, because there were always reporters and people taking pictures.

She pushed down her irritation, gave a faint smile, and looked up. \u201cI\u2014\u201d

She met a familiar pair of eyes.

In that moment, Qin Mang forgot all about managing her expression.

The curve of her lips abruptly flattened.

It was He Lingji.

Lou Tingdai stood behind him, not too close nor too far.

Sensing Qin Mang\u2019s gaze, Lou Tingdai politely greeted her, \u201cMiss Qin.\u201d

Qin Mang barely glanced at her\u2014

Didn\u2019t respond.

Instead, she gave He Lingji a cold, assessing look.

Beneath the dazzling chandelier, the girl looked languid and aloof, her eyes haughty and dismissive.

As if no one mattered to her\u2014not even this man at the pinnacle of power and fame.

Qin Mang walked gracefully in her heels, drew closer, and then\u2014

Before He Lingji could speak, she brushed past him and said:

\u201cYou\u2019re in my way.\u201d

Word by word.

Clear and powerful.

The crowd: \u201c?\u201d

\u201c!\u201d

Qin Mang?

Is she insane?!

Isn\u2019t she afraid of being blacklisted by the big shot?

Whispers spread all around.

Qin Mang heard every word clearly but paid them no mind.

She walked straight toward the outer area.


She also wanted to get some fresh air.

At first, everyone was just admiring Qin Mang\u2019s beauty, but now they were starting to admire her courage.

This scene was captured and shared on Weibo\u2014

\u201cOh my god, I\u2019m screaming\u2014Queen is here! With that look in her eyes, I feel like kneeling before Qin Mang!\u201d

\u201cI\u2019m crying. She’s facing the mysterious Ice Glacier! Wake up, my dear girl\u2014this boss could blacklist you with just a wave of his hand!\u201d

\u201cBig\u80c6!\u201d (Big courage\u2014mixing English and Chinese)

\u201cWait, did you guys notice? It looked like the Glacier actually smiled?\u201d

\u201cUpstairs… you\u2019re shipping *that*?!\u201d

\u201cWhere\u2019s the smile? Still the same cold gaze, treating everyone like ants.\u201d

\u201cHahaha, I’m dying. I remember someone was shipping these two before\u2014there\u2019s even a photo! Can you guys still ship them now?\u201d

\u201cEven if it\u2019s a CP, they\u2019re a mortal enemies CP! Can\u2019t coexist under the same sky!\u201d

\u201cI\u2019ll just say, Qin Mang is the most unpretentious actress I\u2019ve seen. Even dared to roll her eyes at *that* legendary figure…\u201d

\u201cFor real.\u201d

\u201c+ ID number\u201d

Normally, any photos of He Lingji posted online would be immediately taken down.

But this time\u2014

He Group\u2019s PR department didn\u2019t make a move.

Qin Mang left in a hurry.

She didn\u2019t see Secretary Cong approaching from the other direction, taking the coat from Lou Tingdai\u2019s hands.

Secretary Cong had gone to the car to fetch something that was left behind.

\u201cDirector Lou, thank you.\u201d

Lou Tingdai shook her head\u2014how could standing behind him ever be considered trouble?

Unfortunately\u2014

She looked down at her own simple business dress.

Then looked inside at the elegant attire and fine wine. She had walked all this way to get here, yet she still didn\u2019t fit in.

Secretary Cong glanced around. \u201cWhere\u2019s President He?\u201d

Lou Tingdai softly replied, \u201cHe went to find his wife.\u201d

The word *wife*\u2014

Was spoken so softly it was nearly inaudible.

\u2026

This charity auction was the largest in the country, full of celebrities and industry heavyweights.

Divided into an inner and outer area.

The outer area surrounded a large swimming pool, with luxury everywhere, stunning and extravagant.

Qin Mang walked alongside the pool.

Finally escaping the noisy crowd.

Only after getting outside did she feel cold. But having already walked out with such poise, going back in to fetch a shawl would make her look like she\u2019d lost.

All she could think was\u2014

Bastard!

So unlucky!

He\u2019d come all the way to Beicheng, had time to bring his female secretary to a charity gala, but no time to visit her on set.

A cold wind swept by.

She wrapped her thin shoulders, gazing at the shimmering pool under the moonlight.

The next moment\u2014

A man\u2019s cool, faintly scented suit jacket draped over her shoulders.

Instantly, the chill vanished.

He Lingji\u2019s deep, magnetic voice sounded: \u201cMrs. He, enjoying the moonlight?\u201d

\u201cIn the cold wind.\u201d

Qin Mang was freezing.

She had planned to throw the coat back.

She didn\u2019t need a “pity garment”!

In the dim light, her sharp black-and-white eyes lifted, and her red lips curled in sarcasm: \u201cUnlike President He.\u201d

\u201cWho has time to attend galas with his beauty.\u201d

\u201cBut no time to visit his humble wife.\u201d

Beauty?

Since when was Secretary Cong a beauty?

He Lingji looked down at her bright, emotional eyes\u2014now covered in frost.

Suddenly remembering the scene in the ballroom just now, he calmly pulled the coat tighter around her shoulders, blocking the wind.

\u201cQin Mang, what are you mad about?\u201d

Qin Mang\u2019s exhaustion and bottled-up grievance burst forth.

\u201cYes, I *am* mad!\u201d

She never hid her temper, especially not in front of He Lingji.

\u201cYou don\u2019t even know *why* I\u2019m mad!\u201d

She\u2019d barely said a few words before a large hand covered her mouth.

Then she was pushed against a nearby tree trunk.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

This bastard really\u2014

Covers her mouth when he can\u2019t win an argument?!

Then\u2014

His lips brushed against her ear. \u201cSomeone\u2019s coming.\u201d

Liar!

There was no one within a hundred meters!

How could anyone be nearby?

The next second\u2014

There were rustling sounds in the nearby bamboo grove.

Qin Mang\u2019s body tensed up, her heart pounding as she curled into He Lingji\u2019s arms, breathing in his clean, cool scent.

She clutched the edge of the jacket, her soft white fingers resting against the stiff fabric, appearing delicate and radiant.

She was distracted for a moment.

There didn\u2019t seem to be any perfume on him.

Through the layers of clothing, He Lingji could still feel the slim softness of her waist.

His jacket looked oversized on her, making her appear even more fragile and slender.

He recalled the sight of her thin back earlier and touched it lightly. His elegant brow furrowed, his always indifferent voice laced with emotion: \u201cWhy have you lost so much weight?\u201d

Qin Mang: \u201c?\u201d

She was still mad!

Where the hell do you think you\u2019re touching?

If it weren\u2019t for someone being nearby, she would\u2019ve slapped him.

She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to calm down. Can\u2019t curse in public.

Not elegant.

More importantly, she\u2019d blow her cover.

She pinched the back of his hand hard. \u201cPervert!\u201d

Unexpectedly\u2014

He Lingji let out a low, warm hum. \u201cStill mad?\u201d

\u201cI came with Secretary Cong.\u201d

As if she\u2019d buy that!

Did he think she was blind?

Qin Mang\u2019s already beautiful face lit up with a dazzling smile, so radiant it could outshine the sun and moon.

Finally, the sounds in the bamboo grove disappeared.

Qin Mang took several steps back, staring at the man shivering in just a shirt under the cold wind. She had planned to throw the jacket back at him, but instead\u2014

She twisted her wrist\u2014

And flung it into the swimming pool.

She wasn\u2019t wearing it.

He Lingji wouldn\u2019t wear it either!

And definitely not let any other woman wear it!

After her dramatic move, Qin Mang stomped hard on his foot before walking away, spitting out two words through red lips: \u201cLiar.\u201d

Then her graceful silhouette swayed off like a proud flame in the dark.

Under the moonlight\u2014

The luxurious suit floated in the center of the pool.

He Lingji didn\u2019t care.

Instead, he stared at Qin Mang\u2019s retreating back, something thoughtful flickering in his gray-blue eyes.

She was\u2014*really* angry.

In his mind, he recalled the “marriage survival guide” that his friend Rong Huaiyan, a seasoned husband, had sent him.

Rule number one:

No matter what your wife is angry about, coax her first.

If coaxing doesn\u2019t work\u2014kneel.

So, that night at the charity auction\u2014

All the jewelry items were bought by a single person.

No one else even got the chance to raise their paddles.

They were all crushed by sky-high bids.

When leaving, reporters swarmed him.

\u201cPresident He, why did you only bid on jewelry tonight?\u201d

It rarely snowed in Deep City\u2019s winter.

Yet tonight, a few snowflakes quietly landed on the man\u2019s shoulders.

He Lingji calmly brushed them off. When he looked up, his gray-blue eyes narrowed under the camera flashes, more dazzling than the night\u2019s most expensive gem.

He spoke lightly: \u201cBecause my wife only likes jewelry.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"novel":[],"class_list":["post-3664","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3664"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3664\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3666,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3664\/revisions\/3666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}