DTBS - Chapter 29
Chapter 29: Are You Free?
"This is Mama painted by Qinqin," the little cat held up the drawing paper high, her face full of pride. "Everyone says Qinqin draws beautifully! It's the best in the class! Mama is the most beautiful."
"Qinqin is amazing!" Qin Qingshang sat on the carpet and clapped. Seeing the little cat happily bouncing around, she quickly reached out to steady her. "Slow down, be careful not to fall."
The soft little cub looked fragile. Qin Qingshang, with no experience raising a child, was afraid she might accidentally bump into something.
"I won't~ Mama, do you like Qinqin's drawing?" Tao Aiqin held the woman's hand, her bright eyes full of affection and excitement. She stuffed the drawing book into her hand. "If you like it, Qinqin will give you the drawing, all the drawings will be given to Mama."
Tao Qiuyun happened to enter the room at this moment. Seeing Tao Aiqin about to give away her beloved drawings, she couldn't help but feel a little sour. "You wouldn't even give me one."
She had coaxed Tao Aiqin for a long time in private, but the little cat wouldn't budge. Yet, as soon as she saw Qin Qingshang, she immediately offered them up herself.
Seeing Tao Qiuyun, who was sitting cross-legged on the carpet on the other side, looking a bit wronged, Qin Qingshang picked up the drawing and shook it. She said to the happy little cat, "Qinqin, Qiuqiu Mama also likes your drawing. How about we give her one too?"
Tao Aiqin shook her head. "No, this is for Mama. Not for the bad guy who bullies Mama."
【Didn't you want to improve their relationship? Why aren't you going along with the female lead?】 The System didn't understand.
【I told you, you're a novice AI. Just watch and learn, got it?】
【Hmph!】
Qin Qingshang stroked her little head, hugged the cat into her arms, and coaxed, "She didn't bully Mama."
No, the scumbag Tao Qiuyun did indeed bully her parallel self.
So the woman immediately changed her words: "Whether she bullied Mama before or not, Qiuqiu Mama is better now. She's not the same as she was. Mama has forgiven her, so Qinqin should forgive her too, okay?"
"Will she really not bully you anymore?" The little cat was very worried. She hugged Qin Qingshang's neck and asked with concern, "Will Mama not cry secretly at night? Qinqin doesn't want Mama to cry~"
Seeing her teary-eyed look, Qin Qingshang felt a pang in her heart...
Her parallel self was truly miserable.
Hearing this, Tao Qiuyun also felt very uncomfortable...
Her parallel self was truly a piece of work!
【System: It has to be you. You're really good at messing with people's minds.】
Tao Aiqin ignored the System. She was observing the lighting angle. After confirming it was good, the little cat wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her little paws and changed her position in Qin Qingshang's arms to get the best lighting effect. "Mama, the bad guy is nice to me, but as long as she's not nice to Mama, Qinqin won't want her. Qinqin will always follow Mama."
"Why are you suddenly saying such things?" Qin Qingshang hugged her tighter with affection, but didn't know how to comfort her. She simply turned her gaze to Tao Qiuyun, hoping the woman who had been with her daughter for a month could offer some constructive advice.
Tao Qiuyun was also encountering this situation for the first time. Tao Aiqin wasn't like this before.
Could it be that the little cat was pretending to be strong in front of her? But Qin Qingshang was the person she was closest to and hadn't seen for a long time, so after meeting, she was willing to show her soft side?
"Mengmeng said," Tao Aiqin's voice was muffled, "that little babies have two mothers from the start. Qinqin told her I only have one mother, and Mengmeng asked me if my mother's marriage broke down and they got divorced."
"Mama, did you and the bad guy get divorced? I know you weren't married, and I even heard you talk about divorce."
【System was shocked: Mengmeng? Isn't Mengmeng that socially anxious little girl in your kindergarten? When did she ever say something like that?】
【That little girl stutters for ages when she talks. How could she say these things!】
【Tao Aiqin: Shut up and watch the show!】
【System: ...】 Bullying a child who talks slowly, so even if she's asked, she can't explain, right?
Hearing this, Qin Qingshang and Tao Aiqin exchanged glances, the same thought appearing in their minds:
Are kindergarten kids this precocious now? They even know about marriage breakdown and divorce!
"We didn't get divorced, Qinqin," Tao Qiuyun quickly explained. "Your mother and I are married."
"Then do you have proof that you married my mother?" The little cub turned to look at her. "Mengmeng said that wives who marry have a red book."
Just as Qin Qingshang was about to ask Tao Qiuyun if her marriage certificate was here, she saw the woman pull out a small book from her pocket.
"CEO Tao?" Qin Qingshang was surprised. "You... why are you carrying your marriage certificate with you?"
【System: Yeah, why is she carrying her marriage certificate with her?】
【Tao Aiqin: You don't get it, do you? I saw her carrying the marriage certificate every day, that's why I deliberately brought this up.】
The System was very impressed and sent her a "6".
"Grandpa's request," Tao Qiuyun said without changing her expression. "It's quite a headache for me too."
Old Master Tao, who was far away at the old residence feeding swans, suddenly had a "black pot" dumped on his head. He couldn't help but sneeze.
Although Qin Qingshang found carrying a marriage certificate around quite absurd, she didn't ask for details about Old Master Tao's purpose. She lowered her head to coax the little cat, pointing at the red book. "Look, Qiuqiu Mama and Mama are married. We didn't get divorced."
"Then isn't Qinqin an unwanted child?" The little cat looked pitiful.
"Who says you're an unwanted child?" Tao Qiuyun's tone became slightly cold.
Qin Qingshang's expression wasn't good either. After all, a four-year-old child is physically fragile and even more emotionally fragile.
"Because," the little cub sounded like she was about to cry, her voice carrying a hint of grievance, "I haven't seen Mama for a long time. I can only see the bad guy, and I was afraid Mama wouldn't want me."
After saying that, she hugged Qin Qingshang tighter, her little milky voice continuing, "Mama, please don't abandon me, okay? Qinqin is very good~ I didn't call out for Mama outside, and I didn't tell anyone that you are Mama. The bad guy told me not to run around, so I just stayed at home waiting for her..."
The little one kept babbling. The more Qin Qingshang listened, the more her heart ached. She quickly said, "No, how could such a cute Qinqin be unwanted? Mama won't abandon you. Mama will go record her fingerprint later, and then ask Qiuqiu Mama to tell me the password. From now on, Mama will come visit Qinqin often, okay?"
"So Mama didn't come to see Qinqin before because the bad guy wouldn't let you?" The little cat suddenly understood.
Tao Qiuyun, who was feeling sorry for the little cat, froze.
What kind of image do I have in this little cat's eyes?
"No," Qin Qingshang shook her head and explained, "It was because Mama was too busy before, that's why I didn't come to see Qinqin."
"Then will Mama not be busy anymore?"
"If Mama is busy, you can come see me with Qiuqiu Mama. We can meet secretly outside."
"What if we can't meet secretly?"
"...Then we can still video call," Qin Qingshang gently patted her daughter's back. "Don't worry, we won't abandon you."
【Tao Aiqin: Sys, how's my acting?】
【System: You deserve an Best Actress award.】
Having achieved her goal, the little cat finally let the two women off the hook and showed a sweet smile. "Qinqin is hungry~"
Seeing their daughter return to her lively state, Qin Qingshang and Tao Qiuyun, these two novice mothers, finally breathed a sigh of relief and took the little one to the reserved restaurant.
Perhaps it was the camaraderie forged through this shared experience, but the dinner afterward was quite pleasant for the family of three.
After the meal, Tao Aiqin looked at Qin Qingshang with pitiful eyes, saying she wanted to hear her tell a story, successfully getting her to stay.
Just as Tao Qiuyun was about to say something, the little cat blocked the space between them, her soft voice carrying a hint of unreasonable willfulness. "I don't want the bad guy tonight, I only want Mama to stay with me."
【System: Didn't you say you were cultivating their relationship? Why are you pushing her away again?】
【Tao Aiqin: I'm playing hard to get. This female lead has something about her. I'll see how she reacts first, then I'll adapt.】
The ideal outcome, of course, would be for Qin Qingshang to see her being so difficult and harsh, turn into a peacemaker, and proactively suggest that Tao Qiuyun sleep with them.
"Qinqin and I haven't seen each other for a long time," Qin Qingshang picked up the little cat and smiled. "We should have a good chat."
She looked at Tao Qiuyun. "What do you think, CEO Tao?"
【Tao Aiqin: Damn it! She really didn't take the bait!】
【System: Although I don't understand, I somehow feel it's very impressive.】
Tao Qiuyun thought Qin Qingshang made a lot of sense. The little one seemed a bit stimulated today, and staying with the person who could give her the most security was the best outcome; it should help soothe her emotions.
"I think it's fine. I was planning to sleep in the guest room tonight anyway."
Hearing this, Qin Qingshang breathed a sigh of relief, while Tao Aiqin secretly gasped and complained to the System, 【There are actually people running backward on the track! Is she really not going to fight for herself? It's not like I'm asking her to go straight to home base. You have to be proactive to have a story!】
【System: Is there a possibility that she really isn't interested in the female lead?】
【Tao Aiqin: Impossible, absolutely impossible! She must be moved!】
【System: If your heart doesn't move, you're dead.】
【Tao Aiqin: What nonsense are you talking about?】
The System went silent.
After driving Qin Qingshang and Tao Aiqin home, Tao Qiuyun left the space to the mother and daughter and went to tidy up the guest room alone.
She had originally planned to use the occasion of celebrating Qin Qingshang getting the lead role to inquire about what Jiang Lihe was up to. However, the atmosphere at dinner was so good that she didn't want to break the warm scene, so she simply didn't bring up anything that would make Qin Qingshang unhappy.
Looking at the night view outside the window, the woman's expression was distant...
Jiang Lihe, he'd better not have any ill intentions towards her.
"Sister," Wen Yu handed the water cup to Qin Qingshang, a gossipy smile on her face. "You slept at CEO Tao's place last night, right? Is it true that absence makes the heart grow fonder? You were almost late today."
"Stop being cheeky," Qin Qingshang playfully slapped her. "I just went with her to drop Qinqin off at school first, plus traffic, that's why I was a bit late."
"Sitting in a Bentley must be more comfortable than a minivan, right?" Wen Yu looked envious. "I really want to experience it. I hope in my lifetime I can ride in CEO Tao's Bentley thanks to you, Sister."
"It's... just okay." Qin Qingshang saw her making another strange face and capped the water cup. "Alright, besides the morning commercial, are there any other schedules today?"
"Sister, there weren't supposed to be any schedules," Wen Yu immediately became serious when talking about business. "But I received a notification from Sister Lan at six this morning. The Night of Stars sent you an invitation."
"It said for Qin Qingshang?"
"Of course, who else could it be for? It couldn't possibly be for that connections-based Tang Yunyan, could it?"
Tang Yunyan was a new artist signed by Sufeng that Lan Su was supposed to manage before, and it was said she had some background.
Qin Qingshang frowned, lost in thought...
In the novel's plot, it was indeed Tang Yunyan who went to the Night of Stars, while she herself was forcibly taken by Jiang Lihe as his female companion.
Managers and companies are the bridge for communication, as many things aren't directly discussed with the celebrity themselves. If the CEO of Fuyao wasn't Tao Zhuohua, and if he hadn't been constantly paying attention to her because of Tao Qiuyun, she would have been like in the novel, missing that audition due to Sufeng's interference.
Judging by today's situation, even in the original plot of the novel, she was already qualified to attend the Night of Stars. It was just that Sufeng withheld the invitation that was supposed to be for her, and somehow used some means to give her spot to Tang Yunyan.
What about this time?
Could it be that Lan Su became wary of Sufeng after the last audition incident, so her invitation wasn't snatched away?
Just as she thought of this, Lan Su's call came in. "Qingshang, there's a gala tonight, the Night of Stars. Have you heard about it?"
"I've heard a little." Qin Qingshang calmed herself. "The Night of Stars is an internal gathering in the entertainment industry. The invitations are for popular stars, directors, and screenwriters. Sister Lan, was I really invited? Are you sure there's no mistake?"
"No mistake, it's you." Lan Su paused, then instructed, "The Night of Stars is co-hosted by various industry bigwigs. It's an internal industry gathering, relatively casual, more of a networking event and a good opportunity to build connections and soar. The reporters present have all been briefed. Although there will still be some low-level gossip reporters taking photos from the periphery, the scenes inside won't be easily leaked. You just need to be careful of paparazzi when you leave."
"The scenes inside the venue won't be easily leaked?" Qin Qingshang's eyes darkened slightly, suppressing the surging emotions within her.
But in the novel, she was inexplicably splashed with wine at the venue. Immediately after, Jiang Lihe took off his suit jacket and forcefully draped it over her. This scene was captured by reporters and exposed online.
It was the beginning of her being rumored to be kept.
So, the reporters inside the venue were bribed, and Qin Qingshang, having recently witnessed Jiang Lihe's behavior, naturally knew who the briber was. The plot in the novel was all true. A guy like Jiang Lihe, who felt so good about himself and superior to others, could definitely do something like that.
"Qingshang? Qingshang?" Lan Su called her several times with concern. "You haven't responded for a while. Did you remember what I just said? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, Sister Lan," Qin Qingshang relaxed. "I'm fine. I'll be there on time."
"Later, I'll have Wen Yu take you to get fitted for a dress. IOM knows you received an invitation, and Director Ji proactively offered to customize a dress for you, saving another sum of money."
"Sister Lan, I'm not that stingy yet."
It was all Tao Qiuyun's fault. After that interview aired, #Qin Qingshang Suddenly Rich immediately trended. Although it brought her a wave of genuine traffic and popularity, netizens also turned it into a meme.
"Alright, finish your current announcements first. Sufeng stopped many of your activities without any reason. Since you want to protect your rights through legal means, I naturally support you. If it really doesn't work out, when the time comes, we'll terminate the contract and leave."
"Okay," Qin Qingshang felt warm inside. "We'll leave together."
Wen Yu heard this and, connecting it to the recent annoying events, probably knew what they were talking about. She quickly said, "Me too! Sister, you can't forget me. We'll leave together!"
"You and your big mouth... Don't worry, we'll definitely take you with us." Qin Qingshang hung up the phone, teased Wen Yu, and then closed her eyes to rest.
The Night of Stars. This was an affirmation of her abilities within the industry and an opportunity. She didn't need to deliberately avoid this gathering just because of that scumbag Jiang Lihe, but...
【Within this year, anything I have is yours to use, whether it's money, resources, connections, anything.】
Tao Qiuyun's figure suddenly appeared in her mind. Qin Qingshang, who should have firmly refused, began to hesitate.
Jiang Lihe had no morals and was a CEO with real power. She was indeed finding it difficult to contend with him at the moment.
Fight magic with magic, fight a CEO with a CEO.
Besides, she wanted to forge her own path, that was true, but now Jiang Lihe himself was breaking the rules, deliberately suppressing her for his own selfish desires.
Qin Qingshang opened her eyes, took out her phone, hesitated for several minutes over the name "Tao Qiuyi", and finally chose to call her.
It's fine. You and CEO Tao are in a cooperative relationship, each getting what you need. She should... agree, right?
"Miss Qin?" The woman's voice was always so gentle. "What's wrong? Calling me suddenly."
"CEO Tao, you..."
She pursed her lips slightly, feeling a bit nervous. "Do you have time tonight?"
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