The weekend brought a rare day off for Gu Corporation and the Qing Sui team.
Qin He spent the day at home, a welcome change from her usual busy schedule. During the day, she played mahjong with Ming Yuzhu and Xu Wanwan.
Xu Wanwan, being pregnant and unable to go out much, spent her free time playing mahjong with Ming Yuzhu and Xu's mother.
All three had significantly improved their mahjong skills.
Qin He, after a rather dismal series of losses, nursed her wounded heart and headed to the livestreaming room on the first floor.
She had announced on Weibo a few days prior that she would be hosting a makeup and wellness livestream today.
Standing in the room designated for livestreams, Qin He first prepared the cosmetics she would be using. Once ready, her gaze fell upon the pile of equipment in the corner.
Shen Yilin had always been meticulous. After their last livestream, he had covered all the equipment with dust cloths before leaving.
Seeing the silver dust cloths, Qin He felt as if she could see Shen Yilin's busy figure.
“Sister, let me help you organize.”
“Sister, the lights are all adjusted.”
Qin He sighed deeply and walked over.
The DSLR camera for the livestream had been set up by Shen Yilin. Mounted on a tripod, it only needed a slight adjustment in position.
After placing a few fill lights, Qin He felt a wave of sadness.
She returned to the table, sat down, and opened the platform’s livestream software.
After composing herself, she clicked to start the broadcast.
Since she had already announced it on Weibo, a considerable number of viewers flooded into the livestream room as soon as it opened.
Qin He smiled at the screen and greeted them.
Without Shen Yilin present today, there was no administrator in the livestream room, and many who posted advertisements went unchecked.
Qin He smiled and said, "It's been a while since I last livestreamed. I had some personal reasons recently, and I hope you don't mind."
The comments on the screen scrolled by rapidly.
Qin He soon spotted messages asking for Shen Yilin.
【Where is the handsome assistant?】
【Why isn't the assistant here today? Is he on leave?】
Qin He’s throat tightened, her expression growing somber. She didn't know how to tell these friends who liked Shen Yilin.
"Yi Lin... he probably won't be coming to this livestream room anymore," Qin He managed to say with a forced smile.
The comments section erupted.
【Did Assistant Shen resign?】
【He probably went back to focus on his studies. I heard he's a top student at Qing Da. He can't possibly stay as Xiao He's assistant forever.】
Qin He pursed her lips and smiled, "That's his private matter, so let's not dwell on it. Let's start talking about today's makeup look."
Qin He lowered her eyes, introducing the makeup look she would be teaching. A hint of moisture shimmered in her eyes.
Without Shen Yilin, no one was there to keep the livestream room's momentum going, and many viewers were still preoccupied with the assistant's whereabouts.
Qin He looked up. As she was introducing a lip gloss, a line of text scrolled across the screen.
Strategist: 【Shen Yilin is dead.】
Qin He's eyes widened. She watched as the message was quickly pushed up the screen, but the sender was someone who had gifted her and held a high level in the livestream room.
Soon, many viewers in the livestream room became angry.
【Strategist, don't spout nonsense!】
【Exactly, you can't joke like that!】
Qin He clenched her fists, feeling a chill run through her. She stared intently at the name "Strategist" lingering in the VIP section on the right.
She vaguely recalled that before she even knew who "Strategist" was, a stranger had once sent her five million in gifts.
For the charity record, Qin He remembered that "Strategist" had gifted a large set of Cosmic Knights!
It was just that at the time, she didn't know what the name "Strategist" represented. By the time she realized, the person had already disappeared from her memory.
The names in the livestream room were too varied for her to remember individuals.
Qin He clicked on the name "Strategist." The avatar only had a single character, "Cong."
Shen Yicong. It must be him.
Qin He looked at the screen, sensing a pair of cold eyes watching her from the other end.
Shen Yilin was dead, and Shen Yicong had specifically come to tell her the news.
Qin He sent a private message: 【Where is Shen Yilin buried?】
There was no reply. Two seconds after she sent the message, Qin He saw the name "Strategist" disappear from the VIP section on the right.
He had left the livestream room.
The viewers in the room were still condemning "Strategist." Qin He smiled and, forcing herself to gather her spirits, began teaching makeup.
The livestream continued until nine in the evening. Qin He promised her viewers she would livestream again next weekend before ending the broadcast.
With one hand holding makeup remover to cleanse her face, she used the other to hold her phone, saving the recording of the day's livestream and sending it to Qian Zimo.
After sending it, Qin He initiated a video call with Qian Zimo.
The call was answered quickly. Qian Zimo had short hair slicked back neatly, and his face was pale and frail.
Qin He looked at his clean, well-fitting evening wear. "Where are you?"
"Just some socializing in Jiangcheng," Qian Zimo's screen dimmed, indicating he had stepped outside.
"I saw the livestream video you sent me earlier. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. What's wrong?"
Qin He pursed her lips. "Shen Yicong came into my livestream room and said Shen Yilin is dead."
"Shen Yicong?!" Qian Zimo's expression turned grim. His usually frail face now held eyes that flashed with a sharp, cold light.
Qian Zimo said coldly, "He's really not dead. Fine, I know about this. I'll look into it when I get home tonight. You need to be careful too, try not to go out alone as much as possible."
Qin He nodded. "You too, be careful. Shen Yicong is ruthless and cunning. It's hard to say if he might target my friends."
Qian Zimo nodded. "Alright, you should rest early. If I find anything, I'll let you know tomorrow morning. Oh, the day after tomorrow, Shishi and Zuo Xiuxian are going to Qingcheng. I'll be going too, we can meet up and discuss this in detail."
After ending the call with Qian Zimo, Qin He removed her makeup and walked out of the livestream room.
The hall was empty; Ming Yuzhu and Xu Wanwan had already retired for the night.
Qin He returned to her bedroom, freshened up, chatted with Gu Qishen for a while, and then went to bed.
The next day.
At Gu Corporation, Qin He parked her car downstairs and headed up with her bag.
The seventeenth floor was the headquarters of Qing Sui. Gu Corporation had many brands, but most of their offices were located separately.
Qing Sui was a newly established brand. After an initial period at the headquarters, it was stabilizing and preparing to move out of the Gu Corporation building.
Qin He arrived at Qing Sui and entered her office.
She was processing some cooperation documents when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Li Ai entered with a cup of coffee in one hand and some documents in the other.
"Sister Qin He, these are the recent site selections for Qing Sui's new office location. Originally, there were over ten, but I've narrowed them down to five. Please confirm the final choice."
Li Ai placed the coffee cup beside Qin He.
Qin He smiled, took the drawings, and looked them over. "Li Ai, how has your mother been recently?"
"Thanks to you, she's now in the sanatorium ward of Qingcheng First Hospital. She's much better than before," Li Ai replied with a grateful smile.