CHAPTER 51: WE’RE ON A DATE

Was it not for the influence of her agent, Xia Ning would never have found herself in such a precarious situation. Her agent had been persistent, drilling into her the shortcuts to success, the fast track that often led to compromising one’s dignity.

Initially, Xia Ning had scoffed at the idea, resolute in her belief that sheer talent and hard work would suffice to propel her forward.

She had held on to this belief for as long as she could. But reality was cruel. Time and again, she had been pushed back, overlooked in favor of those with powerful backers. It wasn’t long before the harsh, unfair truth of the entertainment industry began to sink in.

She was talented, no doubt about that. She was beautiful, hardworking, and determined. Yet none of that seemed to matter. The industry wasn’t about merit, it was about connections. And because she had refused to play the game, refused to attach herself to the ’higher-ups,’ countless opportunities had slipped through her fingers like sand.

Over time, the constant rejection wore her down. Slowly, a dark seed took root in her mind—perhaps her agent was right. Perhaps the only way to truly succeed in this cutthroat world was to have a powerful figure backing her.

With that in mind, Xia Ning made her choice: He Zeqing.

If she had to seduce someone to climb the ladder, it would be him. He Zeqing, the tall, cold, and impeccably handsome president. He was the type of man who wouldn’t even blink if you collapsed right in front of him, his demeanor sharp and unyielding.

He knew how to maintain boundaries with women, and that’s precisely what made him appealing to Xia Ning. Wasn’t he a good choice?

If, by some miracle, she managed to win his heart, Xia Ning reasoned, she wouldn’t have to worry about him losing interest. She even entertained the idea that what began as a calculated pursuit could evolve into something real—a genuine relationship, instead of a mere transaction.

And so, bolstered by her agent’s encouragement, Xia Ning set her sights on the president. Today, she shamelessly followed him to the mall, hoping for an opportunity to catch his attention.

What she hadn’t counted on was underestimating either her own charms—or He Zeqing’s sheer willpower. Dressed to impress, she had hoped to turn his head, but all she got in return was a disinterested glance, his eyes reflecting nothing but boredom.

If not for her excuse of being the lead actress in a drama his company had invested in, Xia Ning suspected he wouldn’t have bothered to acknowledge her presence at all.

She hadn’t even had the chance to put her ’seduction’ plan into motion when He Zeqing’s attention had already shifted elsewhere. His cold voice, laced with subtle disdain, cut through her fragile resolve like a blade.

In that moment, Xia Ning wanted to slap herself. She wished she could turn back time, undo this mortifying encounter.

"Hello, my name is Xia Ning," she murmured softly, swallowing her pride as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Her polite smile felt brittle on her lips as she greeted the people standing before her.

Qi Jianyi observed the scene with mild amusement, her sharp eyes catching the redness in Xia Ning’s face. She sneered inwardly. He Zeqing wasn’t one to mince words. His coldness was legendary, and clearly, Xia Ning had just been on the receiving end of it.

With a brief nod, Qi Jianyi responded, "Hello, I’m Qi Jianyi." Her introduction was short, detached, as if it were an afterthought.

But even if she hadn’t spoken, Xia Ning knew exactly who she was. Qi Jianyi wasn’t just He Zeqing’s cousin—she was the woman who had broken up the fight between her and Xu Mei a while back.

More importantly, rumours swirled in their social circles that the best way to get close to He Zeqing was through Qi Jianyi. People whispered that the otherwise aloof president always gave face to his cousin. If you could win Qi Jianyi’s favor, the door to He Zeqing’s world might just open.

The problem was, winning Qi Jianyi over was no easy task. The young miss of the Qi family was known for being distant, cold, and nearly impossible to impress. She had a habit of looking at people with those emotionless eyes, making them stammer through conversations. The only person who had managed to stay by her side was the eldest miss of the Ling family, Ling Xi.

As Qi Jianyi’s curious gaze rested on her, Xia Ning felt cornered. It was as if a predator was watching her, amused by her every twitch. Her nerves got the better of her, and she nodded awkwardly, turning to He Zeqing in defeat, ready to withdraw. Her initial plans to seduce him now seemed laughable.

"P-President He, I’m sorry for disturbing you today. I’ll take my leave now," she stammered, bidding a hasty farewell to both him and Qi Jianyi, without so much as a glance at Song Chengfeng. She quickly walked away, her heart pounding with embarrassment.

The three remaining figures exchanged confused glances as they watched her retreating figure. Were they really that intimidating? Song Chengfeng, who hadn’t said a word the entire time, was particularly puzzled. He hadn’t even looked at Xia Ning, yet she seemed in such a rush to flee.

Qi Jianyi’s curiosity was piqued by Xia Ning’s sudden approach toward He Zeqing. It wasn’t just the act itself, but the way it completely deviated from what she knew. According to the novel, it was supposed to be He Zeqing who would fall madly in love with Xia Ning, chasing her relentlessly, while the rising actress played hard to get. Xia Ning was meant to reject him at every turn, using her career as an excuse. But the scene unfolding before her was something entirely different. Instead of the aloof actress, it was Xia Ning who appeared to be chasing He Zeqing.

What had gone wrong? Why was the plot so drastically altered?

Before Qi Jianyi could untangle the mess in her head, a sharp, icy glance cut through her thoughts. She instinctively turned toward He Zeqing, who was eyeing both her and Song Chengfeng with suspicion. His scrutinising gaze demanded that they continue the conversation Xia Ning had interrupted earlier.

Sensing his growing impatience, Qi Jianyi sighed internally. As if he could sense her desire to escape, He Zeqing suddenly asked, "It’s past lunch—have you eaten?"

Without thinking, Qi Jianyi blurted out, "We ate already." Her response was automatic, almost robotic, as his heated gaze bore down on her.

"If you’ve already eaten, then what are you doing at the mall?" He Zeqing’s eyes narrowed, a glint of suspicion flickering in them. He seemed to latch onto her words as if he had finally caught her in a lie. His gaze shifted to Song Chengfeng, who stood casually by her side, prompting a faint air of tension between them.

"Ah?" Qi Jianyi blinked, feigning confusion. A sheepish smile tugged at her lips, though inwardly she cursed herself for her slip. Why did she have to tell him the truth?

Now trapped in what she knew would be an endless interrogation, she turned to Song Chengfeng with an exasperated look, silently pleading for him to rescue her from He Zeqing’s relentless questioning. After all, it was his idea to drag her to the mall to watch a movie, and she had reluctantly tagged along, feeling sorry for him.

The barely concealed frustration on Qi Jianyi’s face amused Song Chengfeng. He struggled to keep a straight face, the corners of his mouth twitching as he held back a laugh. It wasn’t every day he saw the usually composed Qi Jianyi looking so flustered.

With a dramatic sigh, he decided to take matters into his own hands. "We’re on a date," he said smoothly, cutting through the tension with a nonchalant shrug. He might have been beating around the bush, but technically, he wasn’t lying.

He Zeqing’s reaction was immediate. His eyes widened in disbelief, as if someone had just slapped him across the face. The shock was palpable, and for a moment, he seemed to lose all sense of composure. Meanwhile, Qi Jianyi closed her eyes, resigned to the disaster that had just unfolded.

She groaned internally. Of all the things Song Chengfeng could have said, why that? Any excuse, any other reason would’ve been more acceptable than him calling this—whatever this was—a date.

She braced herself for He Zeqing’s inevitable barrage of questions, wondering why she had ever let Song Chengfeng open his mouth in the first place.

Qi Jianyi shot a dead glare at Song Chengfeng, her dissatisfaction evident in the sharpness of her gaze. Her lips pressed into a tight line as if daring him to say another word. Song Chengfeng, however, blinked in confusion, clearly puzzled by her reaction. What did he do wrong?

Wasn’t this what she wanted? Hadn’t she silently begged him to end the conversation as quickly as possible? He had done just that—given an honest, short answer to shut down He Zeqing’s infamous nagging mode before it could fully ignite. Yet, instead of gratitude, he was met with this icy stare.

Song Chengfeng shifted uncomfortably under her glare, his confusion deepening. "What?" he whispered, leaning slightly toward her, "You wanted me to end it, so I did." He sounded genuinely bewildered, as if he couldn’t comprehend why she was upset.

Qi Jianyi’s eyes narrowed further. Did he not understand the implications of what he had just said? A date? Of all the excuses he could have given, he had chosen the one that would throw gasoline onto the fire. Now He Zeqing’s curiosity would be ten times worse, and his protective instincts would kick in too.

She crossed her arms, the weight of her frustration palpable. "A date? Really?" she hissed under her breath, her tone dripping with disbelief. "You think that’s going to make him back off?"

Song Chengfeng looked at her, still at a loss. "I thought it was efficient," he muttered, glancing toward He Zeqing, who now stared at them both as if they’d sprouted second heads. "You look like you want to end it quickly, so I thought this would."

Qi Jianyi resisted the urge to facepalm. Efficiency wasn’t the issue here—it was the implication. Now, instead of stopping He Zeqing from prying further, he was probably going to delve deeper into their relationship. The last thing she needed was for him to believe she was on a romantic date with Song Chengfeng.

From the corner of her eye, she could see He Zeqing’s eyebrows knit together in thought, his jaw tightening as he processed the information. The wheels were already turning in his head. And when He Zeqing’s mind worked like that, it was never good news.