Chapter 51
“I have an idea.” After a moment of silence, Xie Shiqing said, “But it will be a bit hard on you.”
Zhong Ning didn’t even ask what it was and agreed right away, “I’m not afraid of hardship, I’m only afraid of you being wronged.”
Xie Shiqing slowly smiled, leaned against her, and said, “The Xie family runs an entertainment company, while the Zhong family operates cinemas and shopping malls. There’s quite a bit of cooperation between the two. Right now, the most advanced cinema technology in the country is all in the hands of the Zhong family.”
“Zhong Zinuan really wants the position of the Zhong family heir. And what punishment could be more severe than making someone lose the thing they desire the most?”
“Would you be willing, for my sake, to compete for the position of Zhong family heir?” Xie Shiqing nuzzled against her cheek and whispered into her ear, “I know you don’t like these things in the business world, but I can’t think of any other way.”
“It’s very difficult. But if Zhong Zinuan becomes the head of the Zhong family and still can’t let me go, trying to pressure me with business deals, what should I do? Or if she turns love into hate and wants revenge? The Xie family films are all shown in the Zhong family cinemas. If our cooperation ends, Xie Corporation is finished. I wouldn’t be able to refuse her.”
“I’m so scared. Zhong Zinuan seems like she’s gone mad. She’s capable of doing anything.”
“Ning Ning, can you help me? Are you willing to help me?”
She wrapped her arms around Zhong Ning’s neck, soft and boneless, like a vine that could only cling to a tree—so fragile.
“I can help you handle the business matters from behind the scenes, but I can’t be directly involved in the struggle within the Zhong family. Only you can do that. Ning Ning, I need you.”
Zhong Ning hugged her back, feeling the trembling body in her arms. She really was terrified.
If Zhong Zinuan ever had a twisted thought—no, she already had one. She was just stopped before she could succeed.
Thinking of that tear, and the sobbing of her beloved, Zhong Ning didn’t hesitate for long. “I can. I will fight for it.”
“It’s just…” she said with some hesitation, “I’ve never worked in a company before. I don’t know what to do.”
Xie Shiqing spoke in a soft, sweet voice, flowing like honey, “You can leave everything to me. Ning Ning, I’ll help you.”
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Zhong Ning helped Xie Shiqing tidy the hem of her dress. Her fingertips carefully swept through the strands of hair, smoothing them out, making the long hair flow like an ink-black river, winding over her half-bare back.
Her makeup hadn’t smudged—Xie Shiqing had only shed a single tear. But one was enough; there was no need to add more.
She looked absolutely perfect, like a queen who had seized all authority. Simply standing there was enough to draw the attention and awe of everyone around her, making them bow their heads in deference to her presence and brilliance.
And in fact, she did hold such a status.
As soon as Xie Shiqing arrived at the banquet hall downstairs, she instantly attracted the attention of all the guests present. They were like wolves who hadn’t eaten for three days and nights, suddenly spotting their only leader, crowding around eagerly. If Zhong Ning weren’t also one of the protagonists of this engagement banquet, she really might have been pushed out by the wave of enthusiasm.
Thanks to this excellent vantage point, she had the opportunity to witness, firsthand, a live demonstration of the “art of social flattery” and “upper-class conversational etiquette.”
In this moment, Xie Shiqing’s blindness became a powerful testament to her influence. She didn’t need to move at all—guests naturally arranged themselves to speak in order based on how close their business ties were. They praised and congratulated the alliance between the two families, shared various anecdotes related to the occasion, discussed the previous generation, and even mentioned the late head and Madam of the Xie family—all seamlessly drawing them closer together.
Business proposals flew in like snowflakes. With the rapid development of the internet, the influence of celebrities has grown immensely. A single word from them could generate more economic impact than ten TV commercials.
And the Xie Corporation, backed by a massive roster of celebrities whose fans were spread across the entire country, wasn’t it truly holding the key to maximizing profit, standing guard at the gate to endless wealth?
Everyone wanted a bigger slice of the cake, but she was the one handing out the slices. Unless the world no longer needed trade and commerce, the reach of Xie Corporation would only continue to stretch further and further.
Xie Shiqing responded to every word with ease. She distinguished every voice, called each guest by name with precision, and navigated the whirlpool of power and money with complete poise. It was as if she had been born for this.
“Chairman Wang, how’s your health lately? I know an excellent acupuncturist and massage therapist. If you’re interested, I can give you her business card.”
“Oh? Chairman Feng has also been watching the latest hit drama.” She raised her brows, her tone modest. “You flatter us. If the lead actors knew that someone as distinguished as you was so immersed, they’d be overjoyed. I don’t even know whether I should tell them—I’m afraid they’d get too proud.”
“Next quarter’s endorsement deal? Of course, we’ve renewed it. President Chen, we’re longtime partners—how could I forget you?”
She wore a graceful smile at the corners of her lips. The crystal chandelier cast its brilliance down, falling into her pitch-black eyes, making even those lightless irises shimmer with radiance. In the instant her eyes opened and closed, it was as if vitality had returned to them.
“I believe in the principle of one reaps what one sows. All of you have achieved such great success—surely it didn’t just fall from the sky?” She smiled faintly and shook her head. “So please, don’t praise me anymore. In the business world, I’m still just a student, fumbling with an unimpressive mind and shallow knowledge. It’s only by the grace of the goddess of luck that I’ve managed to pull Xie Corporation to where it is today. How could I possibly deserve such compliments? Whether it’s business or social conduct, there’s still so much I don’t know—I’ll need to learn from all of you.”
“Aunt Zhong has always been a role model for me—building her empire from the ground up. That is the true brilliance of the Fengcheng commercial district.”
Just then, a burly figure forced its way through the crowd. Before they could finish stammering out a word, Xie Shiqing lifted her leg and walked away. The crowd followed her departure, leaving that ill-mannered person behind in place.