Chapter 121: That's It, Keep It Up

When Tan Shuying followed Qin Chuan to the Qingcheng International Building, she had a rough hunch about his comment that "it had to be changed anyway."

"Qin Chuan, you spent the whole morning cooking and simmering medicinal soups just to trick me into coming here as free labor?" Tan Shuying asked, testing the waters.

Qin Chuan rubbed his chin awkwardly and said with a sheepish grin, "The medicinal soup was purely for your health, and the breakfast was a gesture of sincerity for asking a favor. You can’t mix the two up; I’m truly looking out for you. Besides, I didn’t intend for you to work for free—my friend said there would be an endorsement fee."

"That’s more like it!"

Tan Shuying’s mood improved slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "About the endorsement fee..."

"I knew you’d be too embarrassed to ask for it. We’re friends, after all. I didn’t charge you for your treatments, did I? Relationships only get better with give and take, don’t you think?" Qin Chuan interrupted her directly.

Tan Shuying’s mouth twitched. She had intended to say, "I’ll give you a friends-and-family rate for the endorsement fee," but Qin Chuan had shut that down in a few sentences. The worst part was that his words actually sounded logical, leaving her unable to argue.

"Hurry up and go in! My friend has been waiting for a long time," Qin Chuan urged.

Tan Shuying felt a vein pulse on her forehead. She quickly put on a mask and an oversized pair of dark glasses, checked her reflection in the rearview mirror, and finally followed Qin Chuan out of the car.

"Welcome, Mr. Qin! President Liu told you to head straight to her office." The young receptionist greeted him with a beaming smile. Knowing that Qin Chuan was the president’s new flame, she dared not show the slightest bit of negligence.

Qin Chuan nodded and said in a tone reminiscent of a stern school principal, "If your smile could be just a little more sincere, I’d have my darling Qingcheng give you a raise."

The receptionist paused for a second, then immediately flashed a smile of utmost sincerity. At that moment, she genuinely hoped for a massive raise, making her expression much more authentic than her previous professional mask.

"That’s it, keep that up!"

Qin Chuan nodded with satisfaction and sauntered toward the private elevator.

Seeing this slick maneuver, Tan Shuying’s mouth twitched violently. This guy was truly a playboy; even the receptionist couldn't escape his flirting.

"So, I’m here to work for this 'darling Qingcheng' today, right?"

Tan Shuying suddenly felt a surge of irritation. Being treated as a tool by Qin Chuan was one thing, but the fact that he was using her to curry favor with another woman was simply too much!

"Ying'er, actually..."

"Please address me by my stage name when we're in public!" Tan Shuying cut him off, rejecting his attempt at familiarity.

"Master Tan, is that better?" Qin Chuan coaxed with a fawning smile.

Tan Shuying’s cold expression softened slightly. She snorted and said, "That’s more like it! Now tell me, what is this all about?"

"You'll see in a moment!"

As they spoke, the elevator stopped at the top floor of the commercial building. Qin Chuan obligingly held the door for her, gesturing for her to step out.

Tan Shuying nodded, satisfied, and stepped out. Before she could ask any more questions, she was met by Liu Qingcheng, who was dressed in a black professional outfit. Her long, straight legs were encased in sheer black stockings, striking a balance between provocative sexiness and sharp, intellectual authority. Her beautiful peach-blossom eyes were brimming with charm.

Liu Qingcheng was smiling warmly at them, exuding such friendliness that even Tan Shuying, despite her earlier irritation, couldn't find a single reason to be annoyed.

"Master Tan, I’m such a huge fan of your movies! Especially your role as Empress Wu Zetian—you really captured the majestic aura of the legendary empress."

Liu Qingcheng took the initiative to greet her with a smile, then proceeded to list a series of Tan Shuying’s classic roles. She described the nuances of every character so vividly that even Lan Jin, a die-hard fan, would have felt humbled.

Even though Tan Shuying had absolute confidence in her acting skills, she found herself blushing at the praise.

Of course, Tan Shuying also noticed something important: while chatting with her, Liu Qingcheng would occasionally shoot a flirtatious wink at Qin Chuan. Combined with her naturally enchanting and mesmerizing beauty, even Tan Shuying felt her heart skip a beat.

At that moment, Tan Shuying finally realized that Qin Chuan’s claim that she could "barely hold her own" wasn't an exaggeration. With the icy beauty President Lin Wanyu and the lively, adorable Lan Jin, and now the alluring Liu Qingcheng—weren't they all the kinds of sirens men dreamed of?

The kicker was that Liu Qingcheng clearly had a deep relationship with Qin Chuan, which made a trace of sourness bubble up from the depths of Tan Shuying’s heart.

*This is hell,* she thought to herself.

After a few pleasantries, Tan Shuying, under Qin Chuan’s insistence, began the commercial shoot in a state of deep melancholy.

"Darling, how did you manage to get Tan Shuying to help for free? Did you already make her one of your own?" Liu Qingcheng whispered, her arms hooked around Qin Chuan’s neck.

Qin Chuan rolled his eyes. "You wish. Do you think she’s that easy to win over?"

"Do you want me to help you..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Qin Chuan quickly interrupted Liu Qingcheng and tapped her lightly on her shapely backside, smiling, "Just be grateful for what I do. Why would I need anyone else to overstep?"

"Alright, alright! After we attend Ms. Long’s banquet tonight, come back to the villa with me. I want to reward you properly." Liu Qingcheng winked again as she spoke, sending a tingle through Qin Chuan. This girl was truly a natural-born temptress!

Meanwhile, Fu Tingxiu was limping his way toward the Lin villa, clutching the banquet invitation like a trophy. To secure this extra spot, he had paid a heavy price; it felt as though the chorus of Jay Chou’s "Chrysanthemum Terrace" was playing on a loop in his mind.

However, what frustrated Fu Tingxiu most was that when Lin Wanyu received the invitation, she didn't seem as excited as he had imagined. Her exquisite face remained utterly calm, as if she were holding a piece of scrap paper rather than a priceless golden ticket.

"Wanyu, are you not happy?" Fu Tingxiu asked tentatively.

Lin Wanyu sighed softly. "Attending the banquet is only the first step. We’re still a long way from establishing a real connection with the Long family."

Fu Tingxiu understood her meaning immediately. The searing pain in his rear served as a warning not to make any more rash promises, but the overwhelming desires burning in his mind drove him to speak anyway.

"Wanyu, I can try to help. You might not know this, but I am acquainted with Third Master Long. He holds an extraordinary position in the family. If he’s willing to put in a good word, our cooperation with the Long family will be all but guaranteed."

Fu Tingxiu gritted his teeth and steeled himself, deciding he would sacrifice his dignity once more. Of course, he thought it would be best to help Third Master Long find a woman—which led him to think of the dance troupe at Night Never Ends.

"Senior, you’re the best!"

Lin Wanyu seemed exceptionally excited this time.

Just to see a smile from the beauty, Fu Tingxiu felt the burning pain in his body subside a little.

"Wanyu, just wait for my good news!" With that, Fu Tingxiu limped away from the Lin villa.

Watching Fu Tingxiu’s back as he walked away with the grim determination of a man marching to his death, Lin Wanyu picked up her phone and dialed Qin Chuan’s number.

"It’s done. We’re even now!"

Lin Wanyu hung up before Qin Chuan could even respond.