Chapter 57: Gaining the Power of Mind Reading?

"There's new information online."

Li Xi glanced at the notification that popped up on Weibo and immediately handed the phone to Shen Qingli.

#Rong Qiaoyi embroiled in controversy—perhaps jealousy over her proximity to Xie Jinchuan#
#Shen Group spreads rumors#
#Shen Qingli, you abuse your power#

As she read through the trending topics, Shen Qingli's expression darkened at once.

Just as she reached for her phone to contact Rong Qiaoyi, it rang.

"President Shen."

A woman's anxious voice came through. Recognizing Rong Qiaoyi at once, Shen Qingli's steps halted.

"Miss Rong, don't you think you owe me an explanation for what's happening online?"

At these words, Rong Qiaoyi frowned slightly, but her tone was full of helplessness.

"President Shen, I'm truly sorry. I never expected things to escalate like this. Rest assured, we can clarify everything together with a press conference."

"As for all those things online, they're just the work of marketing accounts. It really wasn't me."

The insincere voice continued to drone on from the other end of the line. Shen Qingli's eyes flashed coldly, her patience wearing thin.

"Very well. I'll have someone organize a press conference."

With that, Shen Qingli hung up without delay.

"Go, arrange a press conference."

Tianqi was on the rise; these negative rumors meant little to her personally, since she knew she couldn't silence the gossips. But for Tianqi, which was recovering and growing, this was crucial.

"Understood!"

Li Xi turned and left to make the arrangements at once.

On the other side, Rong Qiaoyi stared at her phone, eyes glowing with a deeper red.

"You heard Shen Qingli's voice just now. Doesn't she seem despicable to you?"

"Don't you want to kill her? Think of what she's done to you and your family, relying on Xie Jinchuan's favor. She doesn't deserve to live in this world, don't you agree?"

Rong Qiaoyi turned her gaze to Shen Jingrong, whom she had summoned. As her lips parted, one beguiling phrase after another slipped into Shen Jingrong's ears.

Seated in a chair, the woman’s eyes were dull and lifeless, like a marionette without a soul, a faint red light flickering in her gaze.

"That wretch... she should die, she deserves to die."

Shen Jingrong spoke in a cold, hateful voice, as if she wished she could deal with Shen Qingli right then and there.

Seeing the venomous hatred on her face, Rong Qiaoyi's lips curled into a slight smile. "Good. We'll make sure she dies."

With those words, she exhaled a breath of foul air toward the other woman, then knocked her out and had her taken away.

"Shen Qingli, I will replace you, step by step."

Rong Qiaoyi sneered. She had originally intended to let things unfold on their own online, but realized that would only alienate her from Shen Qingli and Xie Jinchuan, and bring no benefit to herself in the future.

Since that was the case, she might as well plan carefully.

"The press conference is ready," her agent said meekly, and if one looked closely, a brief red gleam could be seen in her eyes.

Clearly... her mind was being controlled.

"Good."

With the press conference underway, Shen Qingli and Rong Qiaoyi directly addressed the rumors online.

"We are only business partners. As for being friends, I dare not presume. It's only been a few days and so much has happened..."

Asked about their relationship, Shen Qingli made her position clear without hesitation.

"Yes... yes, we are merely business associates," Rong Qiaoyi replied awkwardly.

The next second, Shen Qingli ended the live broadcast and went to handle other matters.

Because of the clarifications, the trending rumors quickly faded from the internet.

[Host has gained 300 Face-Slapping Points. After deduction, your current balance is 452 Face-Slapping Points.]

Hmm?

The voice in her mind startled Shen Qingli, who was in the middle of a meeting. Why did she suddenly have 300 more points?

Lush Parsley explained at once, [Because the host triggered a hidden task: resolving the online negativity. You are rewarded with 300 Face-Slapping Points, and you also have a chance for a lucky draw. Would you like to try?]

At this, Shen Qingli nodded.

She glanced at the contract in her hand and quickly made her decision.

"That's all for today's meeting. The rest of the projects will be reviewed by Li Xi. Begin preparations immediately on those that are approved."

"Yes!"

Once everyone had left, Shen Qingli closed her eyes to rest, but in reality, her consciousness entered the system.

"What are all these bizarre things on this wheel?"

Staring at the strange options on the spinning wheel, Shen Qingli’s lips twitched.

There was even one that would turn someone into a pig...

[Host, these are all randomly generated. Since you didn't use your previous draw, you have two chances this time.]

"Two times!" Shen Qingli’s eyes lit up. "Quick, spin it!"

[Coming right up!]

As Lush Parsley spun the wheel, Shen Qingli muttered under her breath, "Not the pig, not the pig..."

[Ding! Congratulations, you've won Mind Reading. Duration: ten minutes per use, up to three times, cannot be stacked.]

Mind Reading?

Shen Qingli frowned. "What could I possibly use that for?"

Before she could dwell on it, Lush Parsley’s voice sounded again:

[Ding! Congratulations, you've won Time Rewind. Duration: one minute per use, usable twice, cannot be stacked.]

With the lucky draw complete, the wheel vanished.

"Parsley, these two prizes don’t seem very useful to me."

Time Rewind was certainly valuable, but Mind Reading? Who was she supposed to use it on?

With a sigh, Shen Qingli could only feel resigned.

[Host, Mind Reading can be used on anyone.]

Lush Parsley reminded her.

Shen Qingli’s eyes brightened. "Anyone? So I could use it on Xie Jinchuan too?"

Seeing her host’s eager expression, Lush Parsley’s lips twitched. [Host, you might want to tone down your excitement...]

Shen Qingli thought back to what she’d witnessed earlier, and to the things her mother had told her.

After a moment’s thought, she pulled out her phone and called Xie Jinchuan.

"No answer?"

She set her phone down as Lush Parsley's voice echoed in her mind.

[Host, you want to know if President Xie actually likes you, don’t you?]

At this, Shen Qingli’s face flushed bright red.

"What nonsense! I just want to know if he’s hiding something from me, that’s all."

In truth... she did want to know.

She wanted to know even more why Xie Jinchuan treated her so differently.

Was it truly affection, or something else...

[But President Xie isn’t like others. If you use Mind Reading on him, he might sense it.]

At these words, Shen Qingli’s eyes flickered. "In that case, forget it. If he noticed..."

Suddenly, images unsuitable for children flashed through her mind, making her face flush as red as a monkey’s.