Public [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 03
**Chapter 3: The Celestial Deity**
On the sun deck, Qin Mang lounged lazily on a sofa chair, wearing a delicate silk slip dress that draped over her slender figure. The vast, azure sea stretched before her, breathtakingly majestic.
He Lingji had left early that morning for a company meeting. Still annoyed by his antics from the previous night, Qin Mang, asserting her authority as Mrs. He, had commandeered the luxury yacht for a day out at sea. Now, the extravagant vessel was hers alone to enjoy.
She picked up a silk sleep mask beside her, ready for a nap—
**Buzz—**
Her private phone vibrated abruptly.
**[The Internet’s Biggest Celebrity]** flashed across the screen.
It was a video call from her best friend, Wu Yuxi.
Wu Yuxi, who came from one of Shencheng’s elite families, was a fashion designer by profession but had accidentally become a viral beauty influencer with millions of followers. She was also one of the few people who knew about Qin Mang and He Lingji’s marriage.
And she *loved* gossip.
Qin Mang glanced at the screen before lazily answering, her voice soft with drowsiness. « Hey— »
« Little Lion, did your husband cheat on you? »
Wu Yuxi had always been obsessed with Qin Mang and He Lingji as a couple—secretly fangirling over them, knowing she was one of the few privy to their real relationship.
But now…
Her ship was sinking.
Her OTP was about to break up.
Her expression was as devastated as if her own father had cheated.
Without missing a beat, she forwarded Qin Mang a trending gossip forum post. « Look at this. »
The word *cheating* instantly snapped Qin Mang upright. Her delicate fingers tapped the screen, but in her haste, the edge of the sleep mask grazed her fair skin, leaving a faint red mark on her ear.
Her lowered eyes turned icy.
A business marriage with no real feelings? Fine.
But infidelity was her *line*.
The post’s headline blared in bold red:
**[EXCLUSIVE: ‘The Arctic Prince’ Spends a Passionate Night on a Yacht with a Mysterious Woman]**
Everyone knew « The Arctic Prince » was He Lingji’s nickname, coined during a financial interview when he took over as head of the He Corporation.
With his deep, enigmatic gray-blue eyes and untouchable aura, netizens dubbed him « The Arctic Prince »—a glacier that would never melt.
The fandom’s mantra?
* »If the glacier melts, it’s the apocalypse. »*
Meaning: *He’ll never thaw, and the world won’t end.*
Since then, He Lingji had kept a low profile, his reputation pristine—cold, untouchable, and above earthly desires.
Which only made him more alluring.
Even though his official corporate account never posted anything personal, his fanbase rivaled that of A-list celebrities.
And now—his *first* scandal.
The original post claimed:
* »A friend in media was invited to his yacht party, but everyone got kicked out after one night because he wanted to be alone with a certain top-tier actress. No one knows who she is, but she’s supposedly the most beautiful in the industry. »*
Top comments:
1. ** »Fake news. No one is worthy of the Celestial Deity! »**
2. ** »The apocalypse hasn’t come. We’re safe. »**
The thread was flooded with fans denying it, but eventually, speculation began.
Every actress rumored to be « the most beautiful » was discussed—except Qin Mang. The few who mentioned her were immediately shot down:
* »Qin Mang? That flashy花瓶 (flower vase)? No way. The Arctic Prince would never go for someone like her. He’d pick a pure, natural beauty. »*
* »If they were together, it’d be like splashing garish paint on an ink-wash painting—ruining the aesthetic! »*
Qin Mang’s lips thinned.
Logically, she *should* ignore it.
But a few seconds later—
She typed coldly:
** »You’re the blind ones. He Lingji isn’t good enough for Qin Mang. »**
Then she exited before the backlash could flood in.
Tossing her tablet aside, she strode to the deck, letting the sea breeze cool her temper.
Wu Yuxi, still on the call, blinked.
Wait—shouldn’t Qin Mang be confronting her *husband* about cheating?
Why was she so calm?
Then—
She noticed the yacht in the background.
« Wait… YOU’RE on a yacht?! »
Realization struck.
« OH MY GOD, WAS IT YOU LAST NIGHT?! »
« WHERE’S HE LINGJI? »
« DID I INTERRUPT YOUR PASSIONATE NIGHT— »
Qin Mang scoffed, her dark curls tousled by the wind. « His tastes are *special*. »
« He’d rather spend time with *lace panties* than a real woman. »
She recounted the previous night’s humiliation—how He Lingji had *thanked* her before locking himself in the bathroom.
Wu Yuxi gasped. « He chose *that* over you?! »
As Qin Mang’s expression darkened, Wu Yuxi backtracked. « Maybe… he had a reason? »
« Like what? » Qin Mang arched a brow.
Wu Yuxi’s eyes darted to the vast ocean behind her. « Ah! He was worried the yacht would *capsize* from the *movement*! »
Qin Mang stared.
« …This is a *yacht*, not a raft. »
Wu Yuxi grinned. « My idol is just *that* powerful. »
Qin Mang ended the trip early.
She couldn’t look at the yacht the same way.
—
Back at her agency, her manager, Meng Ting, bombarded her with questions.
« Tell me honestly—what’s your relationship with He Lingji? Can you get him to secure you the lead in *Dreams of Old Beijing*? »
Qin Mang swirled her iced coffee, silent.
Meng Ting pressed, « Just think about it— »
Finally, she sighed. « No. »
Meng Ting nearly choked.
Then—
Wu Yuxi’s texts blew up her phone.
* »Shen Wanyin posted an insinuating photo on Instagram! That white lotus is hinting SHE’S the mystery woman! »*
Meng Ting’s face fell.
Shen Wanyin’s team was notorious for manipulative PR—already spinning the narrative that she was the chosen lead for *Dreams of Old Beijing*.
If Qin Mang countered by revealing *she* was the woman on the yacht, the backlash would label her a gold-digger.
Her career would be over before it began.
Meng Ting bowed dramatically. « Our only hope is *you*. »
« Ask He Lingji to— »
Qin Mang recoiled. « *You’re* the manager. *You* handle it. »
She wasn’t about to grovel to that *jerk*.
Not after he’d humiliated her.
Meng Ting, undeterred, read aloud the vicious comments mocking Qin Mang’s looks and talent.
Qin Mang remained unfazed—until he mentioned her dream.
« Don’t you want that Best Actress trophy? »
« If you lose this role, when will you get another chance? »
Her fingers tightened around her glass.
For the first time, her cool composure cracked.
