Chapter 15: I, Ling Qiong, Send the Money! (15)

Shen Qinchuan found that smile particularly glaring; he wanted nothing less than to see it.

A million per hour...

Even the hottest celebrities didn’t command prices like that.

If it weren’t for his grandmother insisting on meeting her...

“Take her to see Grandma,” Shen Qinchuan ordered the servants. He had no desire to spend another moment with Ling Qiong.

...

Ling Qiong emerged right on time, looking quite pleased with herself. There was a spring in her step, her skirt fluttering with every movement—radiant, bold, and full of youthful energy.

Shen Qinchuan frowned. For reasons he couldn’t name, her obvious delight put him in an awful mood.

He averted his gaze and asked stiffly, “What did Grandma say?”

Ling Qiong replied, “Nothing much.”

Shen Qinchuan silently turned to the servant who had accompanied her. The servant answered cautiously, “The old lady seemed quite happy.”

Shen Qinchuan fell silent.

With the task done, he had no wish to see Ling Qiong any longer and wanted her gone as soon as possible.

Just as she was about to leave, Shen Qinchuan asked the question that had been nagging at him. “Why do you live in such a place? Don’t you have twenty million?”

Ling Qiong sighed, her tone mournful. “Spent it all.”

...Spent it all?

Twenty million—what had she bought?

Shen Qinchuan’s eyes drifted to her flashy car... Suddenly, it made sense.

“Mr. Shen, if you have another opportunity like this, do let me know!” Ling Qiong called as she got into her car, waved the check cheerfully, and sped away from the old estate.

Shen Qinchuan was left speechless.

Little did he know, he was about to face his grandmother’s wrath.

He was scolded mercilessly, as though he had wronged Su Miaomiao, and because of that, she had caused a scene at the engagement party.

What on earth had that woman told his grandmother!

She was his grandmother; Shen Qinchuan dared not talk back for fear of upsetting her.

Reasoning was futile—she simply wouldn’t listen.

He was infuriated to the core, cursing Ling Qiong inwardly.

Finally, his grandmother gave her ultimatum. “I don’t care how you do it—you must bring that girl back.”

“Grandma, she...” Shen Qinchuan felt as though his grandmother had been enchanted, and, struggling to keep his temper in check, said, “She’s an illegitimate daughter. How could she possibly deserve to be the Shen family’s granddaughter-in-law?”

His grandmother hadn’t even liked Su Qiyi back then.

At the thought of Su Qiyi, a dull ache pressed against Shen Qinchuan’s chest.

If only he had recognized his feelings sooner, perhaps...

“Illegitimate daughter, what nonsense!” his grandmother exclaimed, whacking him with a pillow. “That was her father’s mistake—what does it have to do with her? The girl is considerate and well-behaved, and you’re talking such rubbish. Where are your manners!”

He had spoken rashly in his anger.

But in their circles, being born out of wedlock was a source of endless reproach.

“If you don’t bring her back, don’t bother coming here again. Out, out, out!”

...

Money never lasted long with Ling Qiong. After a spree of joy in her little sports car, she leisurely made her way toward the set where Lu Wenci was filming.

But when she arrived, she was told the crew wasn’t there.

Ling Qiong was baffled.

What was going on? Wasn’t this the place?

Lu Wenci and the news had both said it was here...

Why was no one around? Was the entire crew playing a trick on her?

[Darling, may I suggest you try drawing a card? Only by drawing a plot card can you guarantee everything will go perfectly.] Flashy as ever, the system tried to tempt her into spending.

“What are you talking about?” Ling Qiong demanded.

[Just what it sounds like, dear.]

Ling Qiong soon understood exactly what the system meant.

Even if she confirmed Lu Wenci’s location with him directly, by the time she arrived, he would be gone—each time, for some new reason.

No matter what, she couldn’t see him.

How was she supposed to play like this?

She was ready to explode.

This damned game! So, if you don’t pay, you can’t play, is that it?

[Darling, drawing cards is so much fun.]

Fun, my foot!

[...]

The system fell silent.

Ling Qiong stomped around in frustration for a few minutes, then, cheeks puffed in grievance, finally gave in and opened the main menu, drawing a card with a pained sigh.

She was here already, after all!

But after dropping tens of thousands, there wasn’t even a ripple.

Her funds had already been nearly depleted by her extravagant spending.

At the very last moment, when the final bit of money was gone, she finally saw a result.

The card’s image was of an ancient, majestic palace—nothing else.

Below were three large characters: Twenty-eight.

She had no idea what that meant; she’d only know if she went herself.

Having spent so much just to get it, she couldn’t waste it now.

With that, Ling Qiong hopped into her sports car and headed out.

...

The crew of “Glorious World” was managed with strict discipline, and Ling Qiong’s chances of slipping in were slim.

She circled outside, but no clever ideas came to mind.

Just as she was about to try contacting Lu Wenci directly, she spotted a familiar face emerging from a car, leading a group toward the set.

Ling Qiong’s eyes brightened, and she immediately put on a brilliant smile as she walked over, calling out crisply, “Director Wang!”

Wang Dafu stiffened as soon as he saw her.

“Miss Su...” he managed a strained smile, “What brings you here?”

He had every reason to be wary of her.

After all, she held that sort of video over him...

He had a reputation to uphold. Even if the video never made it online, just being sent to those close to him would ruin him.

Worst of all, if his wife found out, it would be catastrophic.

He was a man who cared deeply about saving face—of course, he was afraid.

If she were just an ordinary person, it would have been easy to deal with her. But as a member of the Su family...

How could he afford to cross her?

Wang Dafu hurried to clarify, “Miss Su, about last time, I truly apologize. I didn’t know he was your man. Rest assured, it won’t happen again.”

He understood all too well that he was no match for the Su family.

He could only bow his head.

If he was to blame for anything, it was for not being born into a better family...

“As long as you understand, Director Wang. I’m not unreasonable. As long as you don’t cause trouble, I’ll keep things safe. I won’t share them with anyone,” the young woman concluded sweetly.

Wang Dafu was speechless. If not for the Su family backing you, what would you be!

“Director Wang, could you do me a small favor?”

Suppressing his complaints, Wang Dafu nodded eagerly. “Of course, Miss Su. If there’s anything I can help with, just say the word.”

Ling Qiong’s smile grew even brighter. “It’s nothing much, don’t worry.”

Wang Dafu forced a smile.

...

Wang Dafu had invested in this production to promote a young starlet.

With him escorting Ling Qiong, no one dared to stop them at the entrance.

Ling Qiong, with her classic beauty, wore a retro red puffed skirt and exquisitely crafted little shoes, looking every bit the princess stepped out of a painting.

Walking beside the portly, pig-faced Wang Dafu, they made a strange sight indeed.

“All right, you can go now.” Once inside, Ling Qiong dismissed him without ceremony.

Wang Dafu nodded in haste. “Of course, of course.”

“Wait.”

He froze mid-step, turning stiffly back. “Miss Su, is there anything else?”

Ling Qiong beckoned him over.

He took a deep breath and walked to her side.

She smiled up at him. “Do you have any money?”

If you don’t fleece NPCs, you’re missing out. This game was outrageously expensive!

Wang Dafu was speechless.

Wang Dafu: ???

Why had he lost his mind and come to visit that little starlet today?