The Ice-Queen Actress Used Her Acting Skills to Reel Me In! - Chapter 14

Qin Zhaoman was more familiar with this area. There weren’t any good restaurants nearby, and places that were too lively weren’t suitable for taking Shen Niannian to eat.

Shen Niannian was far too easy to recognize—her straight shoulders, slender back, narrow waist, and long legs made even her silhouette enough for passersby to call out her name. Unless she covered herself from head to toe, any disguise would be ineffective.

In the end, Qin Zhaoman chose a Chinese hotpot restaurant, one of the quieter places in the vicinity.

It wasn’t until all the dishes had been served in the private room on the second floor that Shen Niannian finally took off her sunglasses and mask.

To avoid being noticed, she had been sitting by the window earlier and hadn’t paid attention to what Qin Zhaoman had ordered. Now, as she looked at the table, a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes.

Out of the ten dishes on the table, five were her favorites, and the other five—she knew—were Qin Zhaoman’s.

She remembered Qin Zhaoman’s tastes because she had once needed a favor from her. But Qin Zhaoman remembered hers…

Shen Niannian glanced over.

Qin Zhaoman immediately understood her look and said, “Isn’t it just basic to notice what others like?”

Through the steam rising from the hotpot, her sharp features softened slightly.

Shen Niannian rested her chin on her hand and replied earnestly, “You don’t seem like the type to pay attention to such things.”

Qin Zhaoman picked up a slice of meat with her chopsticks and said, “Because there was never a need.”

Her tone was calm, and she was telling the truth.

Qin Zhaoman had been born in Rome—she had always been the center of attention and never had to concern herself with others.

Considering that this might be the first time Qin Zhaoman had done something like this, Shen Niannian smiled faintly and asked, “Do all your fans get treated this well?”

Qin Zhaoman added ingredients to the spicy broth and corrected her, “This isn’t fan treatment.”

Shen Niannian raised her eyes. “Then what is it?”

Qin Zhaoman paused for a moment before asking, “What do your fans call you?”

Movie Queen? Weird. Goddess? Even weirder.

Shen Niannian knew exactly what she was trying to ask but deliberately didn’t give her the answer she wanted. “They call me Niannian.”

Qin Zhaoman looked at her beautiful cat-like eyes and suddenly recalled the cool, striking way she had removed her helmet on the racetrack earlier.

Every side of Shen Niannian perfectly aligned with her aesthetic preferences.

If possible, she really wanted to poach Shen Niannian to be her personal secretary—have her live at home and take care of her daily needs around the clock.

Qin Zhaoman indulged in her little provocation and slowed her speech. “This is the Niannian treatment.”

Shen Niannian arched a brow slightly, as if hearing the ding of a game notification signaling an increase in a character’s affection level.

The arrogant king among the characters to be conquered looked down from above, declaring that in the king’s domain, she was no longer just another commoner lost in the crowd.

Shen Niannian’s eyes sparkled, curving slightly.

By the latter half of the meal, both their phones started ringing in turns—Qin Zhaoman had urgent company matters to handle, while Shen Niannian’s squeezed-out free time had rebounded, forcing her to deal with piled-up work.

In the end, neither of them ate much before rushing back to their respective hotels to handle their affairs.

Once back in her room, Shen Niannian drew the curtains and immediately opened her laptop to start a meeting. It lasted until 1 a.m. before the discussions finally concluded. As the others left the call, Secretary Li stayed behind to summarize the meeting.

Secretary Li asked, “Is everything going smoothly with Qin Zhaoman?” Shen Niannian pinched the bridge of her nose and said, “It’s fine. Send me that list again. First, reach out to the second person on the list and ask if they’re willing to collaborate with us.”

“The second person?”

Secretary Li showed a hint of confusion in her eyes: “Shouldn’t we let Qin Zhaoman review the contract first?”

“If we show her the contract now, she’ll be unhappy.”

Shen Niannian was adept at reading people’s emotions and understood well that feelings often arise beyond rational control.

Although Qin Zhaoman had long known she was approaching with an ulterior motive, revealing it outright now would inevitably make Qin Zhaoman feel used.

So it would be best if Qin Zhaoman brought up the contract herself—at the very least, it shouldn’t be presented to her now.

Shen Niannian didn’t explain much, and Secretary Li didn’t ask further. But she didn’t hang up either, seeming hesitant to speak.

Shen Niannian asked, “Is there something else?”

Secretary Li said, “There was some trouble at Qin Zhaoman’s company today. It was trending for a while but got suppressed quickly.”

Shen Niannian asked, “What happened?”

Secretary Li replied, “The news that got out was that Qin Zhaoman orchestrated a scheme to break Sakura Corporation’s funding chain. The CEO of Sakura Corporation went to the rooftop today… to denounce Qin Zhaoman before being rescued.”

Secretary Li continued, “Later, I heard some inside information. The owner of Sakura Corporation is Qin Zhaoman’s cousin. Their funding chain was already in trouble, and he had begged Qin Zhaoman several times before. It’s said he even kowtowed until his forehead bled outside her office building. Not only did Qin Zhaoman refuse to help, but she also completely severed their funding chain…”

Shen Niannian listened quietly, recalling how Qin Zhaoman had stepped out to take a call on the balcony during dinner before calmly returning to the hotpot.

She had assumed it was company business—turned out it was her cousin threatening to jump.

You really couldn’t tell at all.

Secretary Li studied Shen Niannian’s expression and said, “Actually, Qin Zhaoman has always been like this. Her reputation isn’t great. Though she’s been lenient with you so far, there’s no telling when she might change her mind. If she refuses to sign the contract, don’t take it too hard.”

Shen Niannian suddenly remembered Phoebe’s earlier “advice”—it was strikingly similar to Secretary Li’s words now.

She closed the file in her hands and said to Secretary Li, “I understand.”

Secretary Li wanted to say more but didn’t know how to phrase it.

If not, Qin Zhaoman, there would be others—and the next might not be any better. In the end, Shen Niannian would still have to face it.

Sensing her unease, Shen Niannian reassured her gently, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

Secretary Li felt even worse. She remembered the first time she met Shen Niannian—she had been delivering a cake but accidentally ruined it on the way. Shen Niannian hadn’t scolded her and had comforted her just like this.

There were many rumors about Chairman Shen and his two daughters, but one thing was true: his care for them had always been lacking.

Most children raised in such environments grew up withdrawn and spoiled—but not Shen Niannian. She shone brilliantly, gracious to everyone.

Almost no one could dislike her after meeting her.

Secretary Li ended the call with a quiet sigh.

But truly gentle people wouldn’t be so practiced at setting traps to ensnare someone like Qin Zhaoman.Qin Zhaoman had originally planned to return with Shen Niannian, but due to some unavoidable family matters, she changed her flight last minute and departed at five in the morning.

She had only fallen asleep at three the previous night, barely getting an hour of rest. Now, she was so exhausted she could hardly keep her eyes open.

Secretary Li had booked the seat next to hers, so she didn’t have to worry about being disturbed. She put on the eye mask she had prepared earlier, tuned her phone to a radio channel, and closed her eyes, ready to rest.

As she leaned back in her seat, Qin Zhaoman suddenly realized she could hear the footsteps of every person passing by her.

It felt like an oddly novel. She usually didn’t try to sleep the moment she boarded a plane, so she had never noticed these footsteps before. They were different from footsteps on solid ground—there was a peculiar vibration to them.

A few people in leather shoes walked past, followed by the click of high heels.

Listening to the crisp sound of those heels, Qin Zhaoman found herself suddenly curious about what the woman wearing them looked like.

In her headphones, the radio host’s gentle voice was reading a submission from some young girl: “Dear God, when the right person appears, could you play a BGM to let me know?”

The footsteps stopped beside her. Qin Zhaoman pulled down her eye mask.

A pair of familiar, cool feline eyes met her gaze. Shen Niannian was wearing a dark blue-green qipao with a white coat draped over it. When their eyes met, she smiled.

The flight announcement chimed, signaling takeoff. Qin Zhaoman stared at her as the radio played the “true love BGM” the girl had requested earlier: My Heart Will Go On.

It wasn’t until Shen Niannian had already taken her seat that Qin Zhaoman snapped out of it.

She took off her headphones and turned off the radio. “Weren’t you supposed to be on the nine o’clock flight?”

Shen Niannian sat beside her and said, “I wanted to go with you, so I had my secretary change my flight.”

As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang. She declined the call and switched it to airplane mode.

Qin Zhaoman fiddled with her headphones. “Really? Not just because you wanted to get back to work?”

Shen Niannian glanced at the email Secretary Li had sent her before looking up. “The two aren’t mutually exclusive, are they?”

Qin Zhaoman said, “Work conflicts with everything else.”

Though she didn’t say it outright, they both knew that “everything else” now referred to people.

Shen Niannian wasn’t sure who she meant—the cousin who had threatened to jump off a building yesterday to pressure her, or the one who had deliberately lured her into a trap.

So she just smiled and didn’t respond.

When Qin Zhaoman didn’t get an answer, she picked up her phone again and took a sip of the coffee the flight attendant had brought. “What are you planning to do about Yahe once we get back?”

Shen Niannian hesitated for half a beat before opening her laptop, as if she hadn’t fully thought it through yet.

After a moment of consideration, she said, “I plan to reach out to Mr. Iwanami Yuta and discuss his interest in collaboration.”

“Iwanami Yuta?”

Qin Zhaoman first tried to recall who that was, then, realizing she didn’t know him, mentally categorized him as unimportant.

She asked bluntly, “You don’t want to work with me anymore?”

Shen Niannian replied, “Didn’t you say you don’t do business with friends?”

Qin Zhaoman didn’t hide her skepticism, laughing as she asked, “Are you trying to be friends with me?” Shen Niannian’s computer turned on, the new screensaver was Robert De Niro, the king of acting from textbooks: “Haven’t I always said I wanted to be friends with you?”

She looked up, her voice gentle and pleasant: “I believe Miss Qin’s emotional value outweighs her commercial value.”

Qin Zhaoman clearly didn’t believe her but didn’t call her out, merely watching the scene with amusement as she said, “Alright.”

The flight attendant came by again, this time bringing Shen Niannian a small blanket. After helping her unfold it, she quietly asked if she could have an autograph.

Shen Niannian signed for her, and the flight attendant was overjoyed, showering her with words of encouragement and admiration until she couldn’t hold back her tears.

Celebrities always feel happy when they know they’ve had a positive influence, no matter how many times it happens.

Shen Niannian gently hugged her, encouraging her to keep striving.

After comforting the flight attendant, Shen Niannian turned to find Qin Zhaoman staring in their direction. She asked, “What’s wrong?”

Qin Zhaoman continued staring at her and said, “Come to think of it, you’ve never given me an autograph. Aren’t I your fan too?”

Shen Niannian couldn’t help but laugh, uncapping the pen again. “I’ll sign for you.”

Qin Zhaoman turned her face away. “But I don’t have any paper.”

Shen Niannian wasn’t sure why she was being difficult. “Should I ask the flight attendant for a sheet?”

“No need.”

Qin Zhaoman was wearing a fitted black dress with semi-transparent white chiffon sleeves. She extended her arm, the sleeve sliding down to reveal a section of skin. “Sign here.”

Shen Niannian held the marker she’d just used. “Won’t this ruin your CEO image? Should I sign your phone case instead?”

Qin Zhaoman looked at her, unfazed. “Being a CEO isn’t about what’s written on me.”

Shen Niannian obliged, holding her wrist as the pen tip pressed lightly into warm skin.

One letter at a time, she signed her name on Qin Zhaoman’s arm.

Shen Niannian’s hair brushed against Qin Zhaoman’s cheek, tickling like a cat’s tail swishing past. Qin Zhaoman tilted her head slightly.

Shen Niannian gripped her arm. “Don’t move, or it’ll look messy.”

Qin Zhaoman stayed still. “It’s a bit cold.”

“The ink probably has alcohol in it.” Shen Niannian pulled her sleeve back up. “There, not cold anymore.”

Qin Zhaoman raised her arm to inspect it. The semi-transparent chiffon couldn’t fully conceal the signature, letting the name “Neve” peek through faintly.

She suddenly remarked, “This looks so indecent.”

Shen Niannian had just picked up her coffee cup and nearly choked before taking a sip. “Can you just say things like that out of nowhere?”

And in such a casual tone, too.

Qin Zhaoman glanced at her before looking out the window. “Why not? We’re both straight.”

Do straight women talk like this to each other? Shen Niannian decided to change the subject. “Do you know Iwanaga Yuta? Tell me about him.”

Qin Zhaoman’s gaze shifted from the window back to Shen Niannian, studying her for a moment.

Shen Niannian thought she detected accusation in that look before Qin Zhaoman said, “No idea.”

Shen Niannian’s lips parted slightly before she gave up. “I’ll look it up myself later.”

As the conversation lulled, Qin Zhaoman suddenly asked while sipping her coffee, “What will you do after you find out? Are you going to deal with him like you did with me?”

Shen Niannian asked, “How did I deal with you?”Qin Zhaoman gave examples: “Accidental encounters, making soup for him, asking him to add hazelnuts to your chocolate.”

Shen Niannian laughed at her words: “I wouldn’t do that.”

She borrowed one of Qin Zhaoman’s concepts and said, “That’s the treatment Zhaoman gets.”

Qin Zhaoman rested her chin on her hand, thinking: Little butterfly full of lies.