Their collaboration on the Qung Corporation advertisement shoot was surprisingly smooth. Song Yaxuan complained about the clothes being ugly, but a single compliment from Bai Ning silenced him. He tried to nitpick, but a single look from her stopped him dead in his tracks. The boy was clearly intimidated; after all, he feared Bai Ning's fists!
The five-hour shoot was completed in just two, thanks to Song Yaxuan's surprisingly cooperative attitude.
Afterward, he grabbed Bai Ning.
Song Yaxuan: "Ningning Jie, let's go! I'm treating you to dinner."
Bai Ning: "No, I haven't finished work yet." She rejected him coolly.
Nearby company employees whispered amongst themselves.
Employee 1: "Shocking! Young Master Song asked Bai Ning to dinner and got rejected!"
Employee 2: "Wow, what's Bai Ning's background? Not only is she beautiful, but she's also incredibly powerful?"
Employee 3: "If Zai Zai asked me out, I'd quit my job to go with him! Ahhh!"
The rejected Song Yaxuan was distraught.
Song Yaxuan: "No, Ningning Jie, living in that mansion, traveling the world… isn't that better? Why are you working at Qin Corporation? Did the Bai family go bankrupt? I can support you!"
Bai Ning rolled her eyes.
Bai Ning: "My world is beyond your comprehension!"
She returned to the secretary department to continue working. Everyone expected Song Yaxuan to leave in a huff, but something even more bizarre happened. The young master, who notoriously disliked waiting, stayed in the break room, patiently waiting for Bai Ning to finish work.
At the end of the workday, Qin Feng emerged from his office.
Qin Feng: "Grandpa booked a restaurant. We're having dinner together. Let's go."
Qin Feng hadn't wanted to go, but his grandfather had recently suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. During a video call, the old man had threatened:
Qin Feng, if you don't come, I'm removing the IV drip.
Forced into compliance, Qin Feng agreed.
Just then, Song Yaxuan entered.
Song Yaxuan: "Ningning Jie, you're off work! Can we go to dinner now?"
Only upon entering did he notice Qin Feng.
Song Yaxuan: "Brother Qin?"
Ningning Jie? Qin Feng stared at the two of them incredulously.
Bai Ning hesitated.
Bai Ning: "Why don't we all go together?"
Ultimately, the three of them went to the restaurant Grandpa Ma had booked.
Song Yaxuan chattered incessantly, Bai Ning responding occasionally. At the restaurant, he became even more attentive, pulling out Bai Ning's chair, serving her dishes, etc. Qin Feng felt like an outsider.
Song Yaxuan: "By the way, Ningning Jie, why did you come to work at Qin Corporation? What's your relationship with Brother Qin?"
He had a feeling their relationship was more complicated than it seemed.
Bai Ning glanced at Qin Feng.
Bai Ning: "Grandpa arranged it. Me and him? We have an engagement."
Song Yaxuan, mid-sip of water, nearly choked.
Song Yaxuan: "What?!" He paused. "Brother Ma's fiancée from the countryside… that's you?!"
Bai Ning nodded nonchalantly.
He'd heard the rumors, but now he had to admit: Bai Ning was indeed from the countryside. But that countryside had a mansion worth hundreds of millions, dozens of villas…
Song Yaxuan: "You two…" He stared at them, bewildered.
Bai Ning: "We have no feelings for each other. The engagement will be dissolved in three months."
Song Yaxuan nodded, relieved. He was always straightforward.
Song Yaxuan: "That's good. Brother Qin isn't worthy of you! He's cold and boring. I'm much better."
Qin Feng, who had been quietly eating, was taken aback.
He wasn't worthy of Bai Ning?
Bai Ning: "Song Yaxuan, your brother asked me to help you buy that car you wanted… I think…"
Song Yaxuan: "No, no, no, Brother Qin, that's not what I meant." He chuckled nervously.
The dinner was pleasant. Bai Ning and Qin Feng parted ways with Song Yaxuan at the restaurant entrance.
Song Yaxuan: "See you later, Ningning Jie! I'll come visit you when I'm free."
Bai Ning patted his head affectionately.
Bai Ning: "Goodbye, Zai Zai. Be careful on the road!" It felt like petting her Alaskan Malamute.
But Qin Feng saw it differently. His eyes narrowed. Shortly after getting into the car, he said:
Qin Feng: "So your certainty that you wouldn't fall for me is because you already like someone else."
Bai Ning looked at him, confused.
Qin Feng: "But let me remind you, we're still engaged. And Song Yaxuan is a celebrity. You two better not have any scandals; it would damage the Qin family's reputation."
Only then did Bai Ning realize Qin Feng thought she liked Song Yaxuan. Which dog's eyes had he used to see that?!
Qin Feng: "I should also remind you, the Song family is difficult to enter, especially since you're two years older than Song Yaxuan."
Bai Ning: "You're enough!"
This man was getting more and more annoying!
Bai Ning: "Who I like is none of your business. Stop interfering."
Qin Feng's face darkened. They didn't speak another word until they reached their destination.
In Qin Feng's mind, Bai Ning's lack of denial was an admission, and her annoyance was a sign of embarrassment.
That night, Qin Feng was sleepless, as usual. Since a kidnapping incident at age thirteen, where he was locked in a dark room, he'd suffered from insomnia.
But tonight, his mind was filled with Bai Ning.
For some reason, images from last night flooded his mind, and he found himself strangely nostalgic for holding Bai Ning.
The thought agitated him further. Did Bai Ning really like a boy who hadn't even fully grown yet?
He lit a cigarette, his frustration evident.
The following days were uneventful for Bai Ning at Qin Corporation. The routine, however, made her yearn for her former life of travel and leisure in her mansion.
Soon, Qin Corporation's anniversary celebration arrived. In the evening, Bai Ning was dressed in a gown by the Qin family and accompanied Qin Feng to the banquet.
The event was grand, attended by numerous prominent figures in the business world. Qin Feng, as CEO, was busy greeting guests, while Bai Ning went to the restroom.
As she was leaving after reapplying her makeup, a woman stopped her.
Zhang Wan'er: "You're Bai Ning?"
Bai Ning turned. The woman was around her age, wearing a Dior haute couture dress. She appeared to be a wealthy heiress.
Bai Ning: "Yes?"
Zhang Wan'er: "I'm Zhang Wan'er."
The woman approached. Bai Ning had heard of Zhang Wan'er through office gossip.
Zhang Wan'er was the Zhang family's daughter, a childhood friend of Qin Feng's, and the only woman he'd been linked to for years.
To outsiders, Zhang Wan'er and Qin Feng were the perfect match. There had been rumors of their marriage, until Bai Ning appeared.
Bai Ning: "Yes?"
Zhang Wan'er took a card from her purse, speaking calmly.
Zhang Wan'er: "This is ten million yuan. I want you to announce your engagement with Jiaqi is over at the banquet."
Bai Ning laughed. Why did everyone keep trying to bribe her? Compared to Qin's mother's five thousand, Zhang Wan'er was certainly generous.
Zhang Wan'er frowned at her smile.
Zhang Wan'er: "Ten million is enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Jiaqi will never marry you. You were only brought into the Qin family because of Grandpa's illness. He'll get rid of you once he recovers. You won't get anything then."
Bai Ning: "Heh!" She scoffed. "Live comfortably for the rest of my life? Miss Zhang, I spend more than that in a month."
Bai Ning walked away in her high heels.
Zhang Wan'er was incredulous. Did Bai Ning have some kind of mental illness? A country girl who spent more than ten million yuan a month?
A dark expression crossed Zhang Wan'er's face. If Bai Ning refused, she would have to resort to other means.
Qin Feng had just finished his speech and was chatting with guests. When Bai Ning reappeared, Qin's mother approached her.
Qin's Mother: "Bai Ning, don't wander off. Sit quietly and don't embarrass the Qin family!"