Chapter 22: Being Pressed Under Someone’s Butt
To be honest, being called sexy was only the first thing Qin Mo found hard to get used to.
Perhaps she still hadn’t fully adjusted to the idea of keeping a mistress for physical needs and a certain sense of revenge.
In any case, after repeatedly assuring Shen Jin that she didn’t need help getting dressed, then quickly putting on a light professional makeup and getting ready to leave, Qin Mo once again found herself caught off guard by her mistress.
A double-layered insulated lunchbox, exquisitely designed, was forcibly shoved into her hands. Qin Mo was completely stunned.
"There are custard buns, pastries, and a box of milk inside." Shen Jin was as considerate and meticulous as a dutiful Japanese housewife preparing a lunchbox for her husband. "The flavors are all mild. Ms. Qin, remember to eat at the office."
"..."
The way Shen Jin looked at Qin Mo was full of care and sincerity, so much so that, for a moment, Qin Mo had to ask herself: Am I keeping a mistress or a nanny?
However, before she could find an answer to this sudden philosophical question, Shen Jin had already pulled open the security door.
She leaned in and kissed Qin Mo on the cheek. "Ms. Qin, be careful on your way to work."
Looking completely like a little wife, Shen Jin left Qin Mo dumbfounded. By the time she snapped out of it, she found herself already pushed out of the apartment, standing in the hallway.
The door behind her shut unceremoniously with a soft "bang."
"..."
With a bag hanging from her left arm and a thermal lunchbox in her right, Qin Mo stood in the unnervingly quiet hallway, feeling just a little out of place.
Like a cat that suddenly realized it wasn’t on Earth.
Something felt off.
She walked forward in a daze for a few steps before it hit her: Just now… I walked out of my own apartment, right?
Snapping her head up, she glanced at the door number across from her. And finally, she realized what was wrong—this was clearly her place, so why did it feel like she had just spent the night at Shen Jin’s instead?
Her brain felt like mush. Qin Mo lightly knocked her forehead with a fist before hurrying toward the elevator.
She still had overtime to do.
…
Inside the apartment, after pushing Qin Mo out the door, Shen Jin quickly searched for her phone and called back.
"Hello, Xiao Jin?"
Wei Nan’s deep, magnetic voice came through, still carrying a hint of drowsy hoarseness from just waking up.
"Uncle," Shen Jin didn’t bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point. "Why did you suddenly go to the casino?"
Wei Nan entered the industry at twenty and spent over two decades in showbiz. He had maintained his Movie King status while keeping a clean reputation—there was no way he didn’t understand the importance of being careful.
Shen Jin figured he must have done it to help her.
Sure enough, Wei Nan replied, "Xiao Jin, someone’s trying to mess with you, aren’t they?"
The Movie King’s influence in the entertainment industry was undeniable. Yet, the person who leaked the news not only bypassed him but also disregarded the powerful Luanhuang and Pei Corporation, openly stirring up public opinion.
However, the nature of the scandal was both serious and trivial—it could be blown up or downplayed.
"Alright, where are you now?" It wasn’t convenient to discuss details over the phone. Shen Jin checked the time. "I’ll come find you."
Wei Nan said he was at Luanhuang’s private studio. Shen Jin hung up and headed to the bedroom to change.
But as soon as she opened the wardrobe, she suddenly remembered—this was Qin Mo’s apartment.
….
Qin Mo only found out after arriving at the company that the team leader responsible for handling Luanhuang's PR consultation had gone into labor today, leaving no one to "hold the fort."
The PR consulting industry was still relatively young in the country, with highly uneven standards. Public relations itself was an unpredictable field, requiring both experience and adaptability in equal measure.
The consulting team working with Luanhuang consisted of young professionals. While their quick thinking was an asset, without an experienced figure to anchor them, they were prone to making common strategic errors—especially when dealing with a major client like Luanhuang.
"What’s Luanhuang’s stance?"
After briefly familiarizing herself with the team and the situation, Qin Mo got straight to work. "How much information can be disclosed to the public? Do they already have an internal PR strategy?"
A girl wearing glasses handed over two document folders. "Vice President Qin, these are the temporary PR plans from their side."
Qin Mo took them, quickly flipping through the pages.
Public relations is ultimately about the public. When facing them, the amount of information that can be shared honestly often determines their acceptance of this rhetoric. However, there is no way to avoid twists and turns.
Luanhuang's proposed strategy was to hold a press conference, having the actor personally clarify the situation to prevent any malicious speculation.
A press conference is the most direct approach. Qin Mo read the related speech draft—it was naturally appropriate, but the problem was: this fire could either burn big or small.
To put it bluntly, the Movie King was merely photographed at a casino once. Whatever he did there was left open to interpretation, but a sensationalized headline had already shaped public opinion, slapping on a "money laundering" political issue.
For now, public opinion was under control. Qin Mo reviewed the information that could be disclosed, thought for a moment, and drafted a general approach.
A visit to Luanhuang was necessary. Qin Mo took two team members and her assistant, then headed straight downstairs to drive over.
On the way, she went over her thoughts again but suddenly found it odd—had the rumored Shen family orphan, Luanhuang’s President Shen, really not made a single move?
Even she could see that Wei Nan’s situation was clearly someone deliberately targeting Luanhuang, so why was this president so calm?
Unless Luanhuang’s top management thought the same way she did—that this matter could be big or small, or perhaps it was entirely under control.
Pei Corporation was financially powerful, and controlling public opinion was not difficult. Even if someone tried to steer the narrative toward conspiracy theories, with Pei Corporation’s methods, suppressing the Movie King’s scandal was not impossible.
Yet neither Luanhuang nor Pei Corporation seemed eager to handle it—or rather, they appeared to have everything firmly in hand.
In that case, Qin Mo’s “firefighting” efforts felt somewhat redundant, even seeming like an unnecessary display.
The whistleblower appeared to be throwing an egg against a rock, as if testing the waters, while Luanhuang’s exaggerated response seemed more like baiting…
The more Qin Mo thought about it, the more her head ached. This was a murky situation she was better off staying out of.
She only needed to handle the public relations work properly. The hidden conflicts and undercurrents were none of her concern.
But even though she reminded herself this way, Qin Mo still could not help but ask her assistant, “When we go to Mr. Wei’s studio this time, will anyone from Luanhuang be receiving us?”
Wei Nan was different from other celebrities. His studio had always been affiliated with Luanhuang and had never changed since his debut.
Because of this, Wei Nan held a very special position within Luanhuang. Whenever there was an important matter involving him, the company would formally step in and make contact first.
In short, it was to protect all of Wei Nan and his studio’s rightful interests. The assistant quickly replied to Qin Mo, “The one receiving us is their company’s Vice President, Ms. Yun.”
Only the vice president? Though it was expected, Qin Mo still felt a strange sense of disappointment.
Actually, it was not just her. Anyone in Licheng with even a hint of curiosity would wonder—what kind of person was the last heir of the Shen family?
….
Wei Nan’s Studio.
Though nearly fifty, the Movie King remained charming and graceful. His figure had not changed at all, and with his outstanding height and deep, handsome features, he could still captivate countless young women wherever he went.
Shen Jin had already been chatting with Wei Nan for quite a while when someone suddenly knocked on the door. The secretary entered and informed them, “President Shen, Mr. Wei, Vice President Qin from the PR firm's partner company have arrived.”
It had been agreed beforehand to have a face-to-face discussion. Wei Nan nodded and was about to say to let her come up directly when Shen Jin suddenly turned around and interrupted, “Vice President Qin? Is her name Qin Mo?”
The secretary was taken aback, unsure of Shen Jin’s intent, but still nodded.
“Where is she now?”
“She should already be in the elevator.”
“…”
The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Shen Jin’s lips twitched slightly before she quickly instructed the secretary to go and receive her.
As soon as the door closed, she immediately stood up and looked around, searching for a place to hide.
“Xiao Jin?”
Wei Nan was completely baffled, but before he could ask what was going on, Shen Jin had already lifted the sofa cushion.
This was a recent gift from one of Wei Nan’s fans. On the outside, it looked like an ordinary, comfortable fabric and leather sofa, but inside, it concealed a hidden storage compartment.
Roughly the same length as the sofa, the space was more than enough for a person to hide in.
Shen Jin swiftly climbed inside and lay down before shutting the lid with a swish.
In an instant, it was just an ordinary sofa again—no one would suspect there was a person hidden beneath the cushion.
Wei Nan: “…”
The compartment had ventilation holes, so she would not suffocate, but Wei Nan could not understand—what was Xiao Jin so afraid of?
Just then, Qin Mo arrived, and the secretary knocked on the door as usual.
Wei Nan glanced at the sofa where Shen Jin was hiding, adjusted his collar, and went to open the door.
Outside, Qin Mo stood in a professional business suit, exuding a cold and composed aura. She wore the perfect smile suited for the occasion and extended her hand toward Wei Nan.
“Mr. Wei, hello. I am the consultant in charge of your PR case.”
Wei Nan subtly assessed Qin Mo, still puzzled—why would Shen Jin be afraid of her?
With graceful composure, Wei Nan shook hands with Qin Mo and welcomed her into the studio.
His studio was designed with simplicity in mind, with minimal furniture. The only available seat for Qin Mo was the sofa where Shen Jin was hiding.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two sat across from each other at the coffee table.
Qin Mo remained calm and composed, while Wei Nan, on the other hand, discreetly cast a subtle and peculiar glance at the sofa Qin Mo was sitting on.