Chapter 23: Meeting The Strange Big Kitty Again
"Mr. Wei, compared to your company's plan of holding a press conference, this is a suggestion proposed by our consultants."
Even though the other party was a Movie King with outstanding charm and looks, in Qin Mo's eyes, he was just a client to be treated professionally.
Without any unnecessary fangirling or admiration, Qin Mo handled the matter strictly by the book, taking out her team's proposal and handing it to Wei Nan.
Her composed and professional attitude was quite appreciated by Wei Nan, who had seen countless fangirls before. However, as he took the proposal, he still subconsciously glanced at the sofa Qin Mo was sitting on.
Qin Mo was completely unaware that her little mistress was lying right under her. She slightly adjusted her sitting posture, straightened her shoulders, and began explaining their proposal to Wei Nan, including the expected outcomes.
Compared to the preconceived notion of money laundering, the Movie King’s years of accumulated goodwill among the general public had proven to be a rare advantage. Many people were not swayed by the rumors but instead remained in a wait-and-see stance.
Qin Mo's team's plan was for Wei Nan to clarify the situation by stating that it was part of his acting experience. Conveniently, Wei Nan had always had this "experience habit" for every film he worked on, and not long ago, he officially announced his participation in a gambling-themed movie.
By playing the professionalism card and using the opportunity to promote the new film, they could guide public opinion, making the "money laundering" accusation easy to dismiss.
Besides, Wei Nan truly had not laundered money.
In the end, the innocent would prove themselves innocent. Qin Mo had no interest in gossiping about his real reason for visiting the casino. After explaining the public relations process clearly, she left the decision to Wei Nan.
"I think I completely agree," Wei Nan closed the document and placed it on the table. "Let’s go with what Ms. Qin suggested."
Qin Mo figured that Wei Nan wouldn’t refuse. After discussing some details, Wei Nan, worried that Shen Jin might not be able to endure staying inside the sofa for too long, decided to wrap things up quickly. Soon, he and Qin Mo finalized their agreement.
With both sides reaching a consensus, everyone was pleased. Wei Nan politely shook hands with Qin Mo to express his gratitude and then saw her out. The remaining reception would be handled by the secretary. As soon as the door was closed, Wei Nan rushed back and patted the sofa.
"Xiao Jin, time to come out."
"Bang—"
Shen Jin pushed up the cushion and sat up, rubbing her lower back with a sulky expression as she tried to relax her stiff muscles.
Wei Nan pulled Shen Jin out and finally had the chance to ask the question on his mind.
"What exactly is your relationship with Ms. Qin?"
Shen Jin glanced at him, face calm and heartbeat steady. After straightening her clothes, she replied with a perfectly serious expression, "She keeps me."
Wei Nan was stunned.
….
With the public relations plan set, the remaining tasks, which are fine-tuning the wording of the statements and guiding public opinion—would be handled by others. Qin Mo was merely called in to put out the fire on the spot, and with her task completed, she could clock out.
She had planned to take the subway back to her apartment but suddenly remembered that she had left the snacks Shen Jin had given her at the office.
So, she had no choice but to return to the company with her team.
The insulated food container was still sitting on her desk, untouched. Qin Mo had been busy with public relations since she arrived and hadn’t even opened it.
Now that she was feeling a bit hungry, she took out a custard bun that was still warm and took a refined bite.
The thin skin and generous filling burst with rich milky fragrance. Qin Mo treated it as a quick bite to fill her stomach. Just as she was about to pour herself a cup of hot water to go with it, someone knocked on the door.
It was her assistant, Xiao Zhu, delivering a backup copy of the public relations plan. Seeing Qin Mo eating a custard bun, she smiled and casually asked, “Did Vice President Qin’s husband bring this for you?”
Qin Mo’s marriage was no secret, nor had she ever deliberately hidden it. In the past, Zhang Minsheng had indeed brought her snacks twice.
Xiao Zhu was still young and probably associated it with romance. Since Qin Mo was usually easygoing, she had asked purely out of curiosity.
But unintentionally, she had touched on a wound in Qin Mo’s heart that had yet to heal.
“Uh… actually, a friend gave it to me.”
Qin Mo didn’t want to make the young girl feel awkward, so she reluctantly found an excuse and handed the food container to Xiao Zhu.
“You haven’t had lunch yet, right?” She deliberately changed the topic. “There’s still one left. You can help me finish it.”
Xiao Zhu had been working with Qin Mo for quite some time, so she did not act overly polite. Besides, she truly had not eaten yet, so she straightforwardly accepted it.
After she closed the door and left, Qin Mo lowered her head slightly, gazing at the now-empty food container. She suddenly let out a self-mocking laugh.
After so long, the person handing her a thermal lunch box again turned out to be a little mistress.
Qin Mo did not even know how to describe the absurdity of such a life. She stood there for a long time, then took the empty thermal food container to the restroom, washed it clean, and placed it inside the office cabinet.
She sat in the office for a while, handled a few new emails, greeted her colleagues, then picked up her bag and left.
Feeling down for no reason, Qin Mo didn’t go straight home but took the subway to Queen Square instead.
This area was one of Licheng’s central commercial districts, yet Qin Mo didn’t browse any stores. She simply found an empty bench by the circular musical fountain in the middle of the square and sat down.
It was already close to six in the evening. As Licheng eased into its nightlife, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
People bustled about, and from time to time, young couples passed by. They stayed close, gazing at each other, fingers intertwined, lost in their own world of affection.
Qin Mo sat there blankly, staring at the lively crowd, not even sure what she was looking at.
It felt as if her body and mind had separated, completely empty.
Her gaze wandered aimlessly until she suddenly noticed a jewelry store ahead on the right, celebrating its anniversary. Several large bouquets decorated the entrance, and two or three costumed mascots swayed back and forth, attracting customers.
Jewelry. Qin Mo thought of rings.
She recalled a time, long ago, before her divorce. While shopping with Cheng Xiao one day, they passed by a jewelry store and somehow started talking about marriage.
"People love deceiving themselves. That’s why they use diamonds, something indestructible, to promise marriage. But in this world, is there really such a thing as an indestructible marriage?"
Cheng Xiao was a single mother. Back then, Qin Mo had only been married for a short time and had taken those words as just casual talk between friends.
But now... everything caught her off guard.
Suddenly, there was a coolness on the back of her hand. Qin Mo looked up in surprise and realized that the sky had already been covered with thick clouds without her noticing.
Actually, most people had already run into the nearby shopping buildings. Only Qin Mo, lost in her thoughts, still sat on the bench without moving.
"Boom~"
After a low rumble of thunder, the rain started falling in a light, pattering sound.
In no time, a hazy curtain of rain spread across the area. The people who hadn’t gone into the mall rushed to the nearest shop entrances in a hurry. Only Qin Mo remained, still sitting in the rain.
The cold raindrops slanted onto her face. Qin Mo slightly tilted her head up, staring at the blurry, rain-filled view.
Her bangs were soaked, and rainwater flowed recklessly down her face. Qin Mo stood under the darkened sky, letting the rain hide the quiet tears that slipped from the corners of her eyes.
The rainwater ran down the side of her nose and seeped into her tightly pursed lips. Qin Mo tasted bitterness.
Maybe it wasn’t rain—it was her tears.
Actually, it wasn’t worth crying over, nor was it right to cry. But... Qin Mo thought she probably wasn’t as calm and strong as she appeared to be.
Her damp eyelashes made her eyelids heavy. Qin Mo let herself close her eyes, allowing the rain to fall freely and unchecked.
But suddenly, everything came to an abrupt stop.
"Tick, tick, tick"
Qin Mo's world was isolated, and everything around her was outlined with tranquility.
Her skin no longer felt the chilly touch of rain soaking through. Qin Mo blinked and opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was the sky-blue fabric of an umbrella above her head.
Then, there was a metallic-colored umbrella handle, held by a... black-and-white furry paw.
Qin Mo was slightly startled. She turned her head, and with surprise, looked at the one holding the umbrella for her—the "big kitty?"
Familiar black-and-white striped spots, pointy ears, big button-like black eyes, and a drooping, thick tail.
A cartoon leopard. A “big kitty.”
“...”
The rain continued to pour endlessly. Perhaps because the sky was too dark, all the streetlights in Queen's Plaza suddenly lit up.
The warm-colored lights, shining through the fine rain curtains, seemed to form a light, thin mist. It was hazy, unexpectedly poetic.
The "big kitty" standing quietly in the rain, its surface soaked "fur," unexpectedly reflected a strange shimmer under the lights.
Qin Mo stared blankly up at the "big kitty" holding the umbrella for her. Her gaze met its black, reflective, button-like eyes.
She seemed to see her own reflection.
"Are you... the big kitty that became a spirit?"
A strange "big kitty" appeared. Qin Mo slightly doubted whether it was her imagination. She raised her hand, wanting to touch it to see if it was real.
But the "big kitty" suddenly used its paw to pass the umbrella into her hand. Then, it turned around, picked up its long tail, and hopped away into the rain curtain with one step, then two.
Qin Mo: "..."