Chapter 17.4

His greasy face was affected by the shards, and  caused a shallow cut.

Manager Liu cried out in pain, and covered his injured face. Su Qian took the opportunity to bend down and pick up something from the door, shaking it at him.

“I just went to the restroom and checked your information. You’re married, aren’t you? Your child seems to be in junior high school.”

“You, what do you want to do?!”

Su Qian pressed the switch of the recorder, and their conversation echoed clearly in the box.

“What if I put this recording on the internet, with a title like ‘The father of XX classmate from XX school abuses power to exploit female artist’, what do you think your son would do?”

If he could do such a thing, his relationship with his wife must not be good. If you want to threaten, you must hit the key point.

Manager Liu immediately became nervous.

“You… you damn woman, you dare!”

“As for me, just like you said, I have nothing to lose, and maybe no one cares if I leave the circle. But Manager Liu, you are different.” Su Qian turned off the recorder, and raised her hand to flick her hair, “It wasn’t easy for you to climb to this position, was it?”

“What do you want?”

Manager Liu completely gave up struggling, tonight he really suffer a double loss after trying to trick his enemy^[1]賠了夫人又折兵 (péi le fū rén yòu zhé bīng) is a Chinese idiom which means “to suffer a double loss after trying to trick the enemy” or “to lose what one has and fail to get what … Continue reading. He kicked a big iron plate^[2]踢到一塊大鐵板 = To kick a big iron plate. It’s often used to describe a situation where someone encounters a tough or insurmountable obstacle, or meets a formidable opponent..

“Go back and tell Zhou Bingyan that I have noted all these accounts, and I will settle them with her slowly in the future. Also, remember to say a few good words for me, otherwise…” She shook the recorder in her hand, “This time bomb, who knows when it will explode.”

Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door from outside.

“Sister Qian, are you okay? I found a staff member to come!”

Su Qian glanced at the dumbfounded Manager Liu, put away the recorder calmly, then casually messed up her hair and opened the door with teary eyes.

The speed of her change of face was so fast that Manager Liu didn’t have time to react.

Outside the door stood Xu Ke and two managers of the club. As soon as she saw Su Qian’s appearance, her heart thumped, obviously a bit panicked, “Sister Qian, did he bully you?”

The box was full of broken glass, the smell of alcohol was pungent, and there were blotchy traces all over the high-end sofa.

“Should we call the police?!”

What the hell is this! The first job turned out like this!

Su Qian shook her head, looked at the two managers with tearful eyes, “I won’t pursue today’s matter, but please protect my privacy. As for the things that should be compensated…”

“Miss Su, rest assured, naturally whoever makes the mess will pay for it. I assure you, no one will know you were here today.”

“Thank you.”

The two managers walked in with cold faces, one on the left and one on the right, and took Manager Liu out.

Manager Liu was still in a state of confusion, and when he came back to his senses, he found that he was already unable to struggle.

“It’s not me! Can you guys figure out the situation…”

The shouting gradually faded away, and the surroundings also quieted down.

Xu Ke apologized with great guilt: “I’m sorry, Sister Qian, I didn’t expect things to turn out like this.”

Fortunately, Su Qian had instructed her to put the recorder by the door in advance, otherwise, she would have suffered a loss without a place to seek justice.

“Open spears are easy to dodge, hidden arrows are hard to defend. Just be more careful next time. I may be obscure, but there are many villains. You must be very vigilant when you are with me.”

“I understand.”

Su Qian glanced at the time, “I’m going to the restroom to tidy up, you go back first.”

“But you…”

“I’m fine.”

After parting with Xu Ke, Su Qian went to the restroom again. After tidying up her messy hair in front of the mirror, she walked out.

She looked up and saw Jin Lie leaning lazily against the door and smoking. The cigarette butt flickered in the dim light, faintly illuminating the contours of his face.

Su Qian paused, and asked in surprise: “How come you are here?”

Jin Lie held the cigarette in his hand, and a wisp of white mist slowly drifted out from between his lips and teeth.

“I have a bit of something.”

Su Qian responded with an “Oh”, not particularly interested: “Then you continue, I’ll go first.”

Dealing with that old pervert made her feel exhausted. It also made her realize again that there are traps everywhere in this book.

As Su Qian was leaving, she was suddenly grabbed by the arm by Jin Lie as they passed each other.

“When exactly are your tears real?” He turned his head in the darkness, and his deep gaze fell on her face.

Su Qian gave a faint smile, and raised her hand to help him adjust his collar, “You wouldn’t want to know. Because those who make me cry will have to suffer serious consequences.”

—

Arriving at the lobby, Su Qian glanced at the time, it was already past eight in the evening. She had actually wasted more than two hours on that old pervert.

“I’m going back, what about you?”

Jin Lie, with his hands in his pockets, said lightly: “I still have some things to do.”

“Okay.” Su Qian nodded in understanding, “I’m being bullied while struggling outside, and you’re having a good time outside. But I’m more tolerant, just don’t bring women home.”

She raised her red lips: “I want face.”

Jin Lie licked his lips, seemed to want to refute something, but in the end, he didn’t say anything, just bumped her shoulder intentionally when they passed by each other.

“Hey, where are you going, that’s the main entrance!”

“Going home.” His voice was cold, “Don’t act like a complaining woman, I have face.”

Su Qian stared at his back. Who did this dog man say has no face?!

The lights were just coming on, and the nightlife in Shencheng was just beginning. The streets were full of brilliant lights, the colorful light cast into the car, faintly illuminating the silent space.

Su Qian propped her elbow on the car window, and looked out aimlessly. After a while, she turned her head and asked Jin Lie, “What do you guys usually do when you go out?”

“Drink, chat.”

“That’s so boring? Didn’t bring a few beauties to help?”

Jin Lie held the steering wheel, and took a moment to glance at her, “Can any beauty help?”

“Isn’t it?”

Jin Lie: “Some people look good, but they are just disappointing.”

Su Qian: “…”

This seems to be not just an implication, but a blatant statement.

“You’re right, like you, you look good but you don’t arouse any sexual interest.”

Jin Lie was indifferent, “I don’t know who was wearing a revealing nightgown and asked me to drink on the day of the certificate.”

Su Qian: “…”

Anyway, it wasn’t her! She didn’t do it, she firmly denies it!

This bastard, will he suffocate if he says one less sentence?!

Just then, the phone rang, Su Qian picked it up, and said hello without a good temper.

The other side was silent for a moment, and Xu Ke carefully opened her mouth: “Sister Qian, the advertising resources have fallen through. Manager Liu said… he will never cooperate with us in the future.”

In fact, what Manager Liu said was much worse than this. But perhaps because she left the recorder under the door when she was kicked out, he only dared to scold a few words, and there was no more.

“I see.”

After the call ended, Su Qian casually threw the phone on the console and ground her teeth, “If I had known, I would have kicked him a few more times.”

“Did you lose the job?”

“Yes, you can mock me as much as you want.”

She knew clearly that Manager Liu was not sincerely looking for her to endorse, but just took advantage of the situation to give Zhou Bingyan a favor, and he could also take advantage of it. How could a person with lustful heart like him not be willing?

But knowing is knowing, she still couldn’t help being angry. It’s a waste of time and energy, it’s really bad luck!

Jin Lie’s gaze fell straight ahead, his voice emotionless as he said: “Perform well in 《Piercing the Clouds》, this film will be sent for awards. Even if it’s just a nomination, it’s a great benefit for you. Once you have the prestige, anything you want in the future will be at your fingertips.”

Is he… comforting her?

When did this man become so conscientious?