After Differentiating into an O, Pampered by an A - Chapter 29

Pushing open the door to the private room, Ye Xing’s vision was initially blocked by a wooden screen. She lifted her skirt and walked around it slowly. At the crystal dining table, Shang Qing sat in a prominent position.

Several other people sat nearby; according to Ding Ling, they were all “capital” investors. Ye Xing didn’t recognize them and didn’t care to.

When Shang Qing saw Ye Xing enter, she stopped her conversation. A smile appeared on her face as four words slowly spilled from her red lips: “Let me introduce everyone. This is the Salted Fish Goddess, Teacher Ye Xing.”

She gestured for Ye Xing to take a seat.

Ye Xing scanned the room and chose to sit directly opposite Shang Qing, acting as if she hadn’t noticed the empty seat specifically left open beside her. Seeing this, not a single ripple appeared on Shang Qing’s exquisitely made-up face.

It was normal for beauties in the entertainment industry to have a temper. However, in Shang Qing’s eyes, it was all just “fake loftiness.” Once she threw out the bait, which one of them wouldn’t eventually come crawling back?

“Teacher Ye, I happened to see your livestream the other day. I found it very interesting. A beauty as good-looking and dedicated as you is rare in the industry. I felt I simply had to meet you in person. By the way, this is Producer Fang. He has some resources on hand; I’m introducing him to you in hopes that we can all become friends.”

As she spoke, Shang Qing’s narrow eyes, filled with cunning, fixed on Ye Xing. Her fair, slender fingertips toyed with the rim of her glass with great interest.

Ye Xing knew exactly what that burning gaze was trying to convey. She also understood the subtext: Are you trying to hit on me?

Ye Xing flicked her curled lashes, her clear, bright eyes meeting those of Shang Qing and the producer. Her lips curled into a professional smile. “President Shang, thank you for the introduction and for your support of Zhou Island. You are truly beautiful and kind-hearted. People online are still guessing who bought all that dried fish; I’ll be sure to post about it on Weibo later. We can’t let your money go to waste, after all.”

Hearing this, Shang Qing immediately replied, “It was just a small sum.”

She hadn’t used her real ID at the time specifically because she didn’t want people to know. Later, when she smelled the fishy stench of the dried salted fish delivered to the warehouse, she felt immense disdain and a sudden pang of regret for the money she’d spent. She had told her assistant to distribute them all to the employees immediately so they wouldn’t stink up her space.

Ye Xing saw right through Shang Qing’s thoughts, but her expression management remained perfect. She raised her glass to the others present as a polite gesture.

Sitting nearby, Ding Ling saw the focus of today’s dinner: Shang Qing seemed very interested in Ye Xing. Since Ye Xing was sidestepping the topic, Ding Ling didn’t interfere.

Once the food was served, Ye Xing focused seriously on eating. This made it difficult for Shang Qing to read the beauty’s mind, but she maintained her patience.

Halfway through, Ye Xing went to the restroom. On her way out, she ran into Shang Qing coming toward her at the corner.

“Ye Xing!” Shang Qing called out.

Ye Xing raised her lashes. “President Shang, is something the matter?” She waited for the follow-up.

Shang Qing stepped closer in her high heels. Both were Alphas and roughly the same height, but Ye Xing completely outclassed Shang Qing in terms of both temperament and aura.

Perhaps due to the few glasses of wine she’d had, Shang Qing’s face was flushed, and she had lost the patience she displayed in the room. She got straight to the point: “Ye Xing, I know about your relationship with Shen Yushu.”

She took another step forward. Ye Xing instinctively backed up, maintaining the distance between them.

Wait, relationship? Crap, did she stalk me and find out I’m Shen Yushu’s neighbor?

Ye Xing’s step back displeased Shang Qing. What a poser. Seeing Ye Xing backed against the wall, a look of disdain rose in Shang Qing’s eyes as she pressed closer. “Ye Xing, whatever Shen Yushu can give you, I can give you too. You saw it—those resources in that room are yours for the choosing.”

With her back against the wall, Ye Xing’s expression turned cold. She said slowly, “President Shang, I think you’ve misunderstood. I came here today because the company arranged it; I couldn’t very well snub you.”

Her meaning was clear: she hadn’t wanted to come at all, and she had zero interest in the “resources” Shang Qing was offering.

Shang Qing’s face turned very ugly. There was never a woman she wanted that she couldn’t get. Anger flared in her eyes. “Tch, quit pretending. The popularity you have from ‘turning over like a salted fish’ was given to you by me. You don’t actually think you have that kind of ability on your own, do you?”

Ye Xing tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her brow rising slightly. “President Shang, I don’t need to prove my abilities to you. If you regret it, you can return the items you bought. Many of my fans were disappointed because they couldn’t get any.”

Being “slapped” like this, Shang Qing wondered if Ye Xing was implying she was stingy with her money. Looking at those clear eyes and that alluring face, Shang Qing’s anger gradually vanished. She suddenly let out a soft laugh. “Mhm, you’ve got quite a mouth. Is that how you hooked Shen Yushu?”

In the original novel, although Shang Qing was Shen Yushu’s rival, she was the first “Cannon Fodder No. 1” to bite the dust. Because Ye Xing had helped Shen Yushu, Shang Qing hadn’t angered the protagonist yet and had survived until now.

Sigh, we’re both cannon fodder; why must cannon fodder make things hard for cannon fodder?

Seeing her mention Shen Yushu in every third sentence, Ye Xing knew this girl was just trying to assert her presence—a death wish if ever there was one.

As Ye Xing was thinking, Shang Qing suddenly leaned in close. A smile played on her red lips as she whispered in Ye Xing’s ear, “Forget it. Why don’t we find a quiet place to chat? How about the hotel next door?”

The smell of alcohol drifted from Shang Qing, and Ye Xing immediately knit her brows in disgust. She pressed her fair fingertips against Shang Qing’s shoulder and, expressionless, slowly pushed the woman away from her.

Crap, her lust is rising after some drinks—

Ye Xing’s composure didn’t break. She replied in a soft voice, “President Shang, I think you’ve got it wrong. I’m not interested in Alphas.”

With that, Ye Xing lifted her skirt and left. Dinner was over; it was time to clock out.

Shang Qing stood there, eyes narrowing. Suddenly, a cold voice rang out behind her.

“Does President Shang enjoy forcing people this much?”

Turning around, a familiar face appeared. Shen Yushu stood by the distant stairs, her eyes filled with frost. Sun Xi and Kong Zhen stood silently beside her.

Having been rejected by Ye Xing, Shang Qing was in a foul mood. Seeing Shen Yushu, she immediately wanted to vent her anger. She raised her voice, dragging out her words: “Oh, President Shen! I wondered who it was. By the way, your woman was accompanying me for dinner tonight. Why don’t you come over and add a set of chopsticks?”

She emphasized the word “accompanying,” a deliberate provocation.

Kong Zhen saw that Shang Qing was clearly drunk. To speak to Shen Yushu so recklessly was practically a death wish. She pulled Sun Xi back two steps. “Assistant Sun, stand back, so we don’t get blood on us.”

No emotion could be seen on Shen Yushu’s stunning face, but she radiated an oppressive aura as she walked toward Shang Qing. Stopping before her, she said coldly, “Shang Qing, if you want revenge, come at me. But I advise you to stay away from Ye Xing.”

Shang Qing looked into those icy, emotionless eyes and gave a contemptuous laugh. “Shen Yushu, don’t tell me you’re playing for keeps with this Ye Xing. She’s just a ‘flower vase’; hide her away to look at, and that’s it.”

Shen Yushu cut her off directly: “I’m only saying this once. Whether you listen is up to you. Of course, that’s if you can handle the consequences.”

With that, she turned and left, not wanting to give Shang Qing a second glance. Watching Shen Yushu’s arrogant silhouette, Shang Qing’s chest heaved with rage. She truly hated Shen Yushu’s “forever high-and-mighty” attitude.

“Shen Yushu! Stop trying to scare me! You think I’m afraid of you? Actresses have no heart; you don’t actually think Ye Xing likes you, do you? She’s not interested in Alphas, ha! Who’s playing whom?” Shang Qing shouted nonsense while leaning against the wall.

Sun Xi and Kong Zhen walked behind Shen Yushu. They both heard Shang Qing’s words clearly. Naturally, Shen Yushu heard them too. The two looked at each other but said nothing.

Suddenly, Shen Yushu stopped. She didn’t turn around. “Assistant Sun, contact the eldest Miss of the Shang family. Tell her I have some of Shang Qing’s things I’d like to show her. It should be helpful in her struggle for status within the Shang family.”

With that, she headed toward the car, her red lips curving into a cold arc.

Mhm, not interested in Alphas, is she?