Chapter Sixteen: The Pursuit

The following day, reports of the Midsummer Night’s Gala swept across all major media outlets. Rong Qing, a star under Apex Entertainment, dominated the headlines with her stunning appearance in a tailored evening suit. The French fashion world lavished the highest praise on this enchanting young woman from the East. Once relegated to second-tier TV roles, she now burst boldly into the public eye with the opening of the Apex Gala. Major media outlets published the latest promotional photos for Venus, which Rong Qing now endorsed; her youthful and vibrant image had already won over young audiences even before the advertisements aired.

At home, the superstar Wen Rui also received glowing reviews. Her elegant gown perfectly accentuated her oriental beauty, and the presence of these two outstanding stars from the East truly added luster to the Midsummer Night’s Gala.

Apex Tower Headquarters.

The modern skyscraper stood in the heart of the city’s prime district, its hundred floors gleaming with silvery light. At the very top was a massive, semi-transparent sky garden shaped like a celestial sphere. Years ago, Ling Tian Huo’s grandfather had invested a fortune to build this empire, a structure that looked down on the entire city, and, indeed, the world. The legendary sky garden was said to be the most secure; barring heavy artillery fire, the entire building would remain unscathed. By day, the glass walls refracted sunlight as needed; by night, the dome became a dreamy, ethereal world, as if floating among the stars. Countless heiresses dreamed of marrying into the family and living in this sky garden.

“Boss, here’s this month’s report on Huo Petroleum.” Heels clicking on the floor, a young woman in a business suit entered the CEO’s office, her eyes never leaving the papers in her hand.

Ling Tian Huo gestured for her to set them down. “Mengyi, arrange a flight to Paris for tomorrow.”

“Boss, are you going for an inspection? But we've already assigned a supervisor there,” the girl in black-rimmed glasses replied, a hint of surprise in her voice as she quickly weighed the pros and cons in her mind.

Ling Tian Huo shot his absent-minded assistant a glare. As his chief assistant, Lu Mengyi’s sharp judgment and meticulous calculations had always impressed him. Her mind was like a finely tuned machine—no matter how complex the arrangements, everything proceeded smoothly under her management. Of course, she sometimes faltered, as she was now.

“Oh, all right. I’ll make the arrangements,” Lu Mengyi replied, puzzled by her boss’s glare. Had she made a mistake in her calculations? No, she would have to go back and rework everything; she couldn’t allow any errors in her professional life.

Ling Tian Huo rubbed his tired eyes wearily. Every night, he returned alone to the Xiangshan Villa—no one to prepare his meals, no one to massage away his fatigue. The nights were empty without a soft pillow, gentle whispers, or someone’s noisy threats and complaints. His life felt like a stagnant pool—still, dull, and devoid of flavor. Yet, in a sort of self-punishment, he returned home punctually each day, refusing all social engagements.

In just a week, Ling Tian Huo had to admit he missed her. Watching that careless, cheerful woman enjoying herself in a foreign land, flirting with handsome men, made him restless and uneasy. He couldn’t wait to fly over, grab that little troublemaker, and bring her home to live their life together properly!

The Venus promotional shoot was nearing its end. Rong Qing, dressed in pale blue shorts, frolicked on the beach, splashing in the waves—her carefree joy seemed to infuse the air with the freshness of summer. The sea and sky melded into one, and the final frame captured her playful figure, lost in the moment and savoring the simplicity of ordinary life. Rong Qing had breathed vitality into Venus, transforming it from mere clothing into a symbol of youth and dreams—this was the essence of the brand’s new collection.

As the shoot wrapped up, the crew broke into applause, offering Rong Qing their most direct praise. In just two weeks, the collaboration had been seamless, and the company invited everyone to a celebratory dinner.

Rong Qing felt a surge of excitement and joy at the recognition—emotions she had never experienced before. Her eyes sparkled as she stood there, soaking in the encouragement from those around her.

Not enough, still not enough… She wanted to stand at the very top of the world—not just Asia, but the entire globe.

“Rong Qing, there’s a celebratory dinner later. As the star of the show, you have to come!” a passionate French boy called out. In a matter of days, Rong Qing had become fast friends with everyone.

“All right, I’ll join you after I touch up my makeup.” Rong Qing slipped into the dressing room for a quick refresh before heading out to celebrate with the team.

That night, she was more than just excited—her face glowed with genuine happiness, a joy so infectious that it touched everyone around her. The warmth and romance of France became her most cherished memory before her journey home.

––––– Endnote –––––

Save, save, save, save, save, save, save—this chapter is a bit short after all…