Chapter 117: Relying on Myself

Earlier at the airport, Xu Chen had teased, “For this pitch, do you want me to win or lose?”

Fang Jun hadn’t answered then, hiding behind silence.

Now, standing by the door, she finally turned and replied.

“I want you to win…”

Xu Chen blinked in surprise and asked with a grin, “Why?”

Fang Jun fell silent again.

She stood in the dimly lit entryway, her pale, makeup-free face barely visible.

The bright corridor lights outside traced her petite frame and high ponytail.

After a few seconds, she spoke.

“All my life… every success I’ve had came from my parents.”

“They arranged everything for me, smoothed every obstacle—though not always in ways I liked.”

“I tried to get what I wanted on my own…”

“But without them, I couldn’t pull it off.”

“I lack the ability to sustain hard work on my own.”

“Even at my last job, when I wanted to expose certain truths, I couldn’t do it without my family backing me.”

“Lots of young people I know rely on their parents without guilt.”

“I almost felt comfortable doing the same.”

“Then I met you…”

Xu Chen listened quietly, speechless.

This high-born woman, with her proud, cold expression and high ponytail, might have been hiding more than she showed.

Fang Jun continued, “You could lean on your father, but you barely did.”

“You’ve built everything on your own—no help from your dad.”

“You depended entirely on your ability, perseverance, and effort.”

“So I thought, if you can win this pitch tomorrow without relying on your dad…”

“Then that path works.”

“And maybe mine can, too.”

“That’s why I want you to win tomorrow.”

In the dim entryway, Fang Jun lowered her head slightly.

Xu Chen, still at the table, felt a bit speechless.

Earlier, when he discussed this with his father Xu Zhiquan, he’d mentioned Fang Jun’s determination to avoid leaning on her parents.

He’d even joked, “Someone like Fang Jun should give up her spot in the womb.”

Deep down, he still felt the same way.

Having parents as powerhouses and still insisting on doing everything yourself sounds admirable, but it felt a bit childish and foolish.

Xu Chen’s own efforts were really to prepare for a life where he could be a wealthy second generation without struggling.

Besides, he had a genuine interest in advertising—it wasn’t all about money or career.

He couldn’t fully empathize with Fang Jun’s feelings, but he understood them a little.

Maybe having powerful parents only made her feel small in comparison.

Rich or poor, everyone faces their own emotional struggles.

That’s only natural.

People build walls around themselves—many are their own prison guards.

Clearing her throat, Fang Jun apologized softly, “Sorry for unloading this on you.”

Suddenly Xu Chen laughed and said, “If you insist on not relying on your parents, I still used my dad a bit.”

“If you join my dad’s company someday, I could introduce you to someone.”

“She’s someone who truly did it all herself—no parents to be found. And she’s a woman.”

“But she’s not exactly comparable.”

“She’s a born prodigy—unstoppable from the moment she appeared. No matter how hard others try, they can’t catch her.”

Of course, he meant Xie Bingran.

Indeed, no one could rival Bing Ge when it came to true self-reliance.

Xu Chen benefited from his rebirth, but Bing Ge was a genuine prodigy.

No cheat codes—just born invincible.

…

…

After Fang Jun left, Xu Chen tweaked his pitch deck in the hotel room before heading downstairs alone.

He walked to tomorrow’s pitch venue, the Yuanmao Business Tower, just to scope it out.

It was already past nine, but the building still glowed with lights.

A café in the lobby was closing up.

Renhe Pharmaceuticals’ headquarters weren’t in Shanghai; this was just their East China sales and marketing office.

Ad agencies and media firms clustered here, so the pitch was set in this building.

After scouting, Xu Chen found a nearby print shop and stayed late making two sets of business cards.

Besides his own, he included Fang Jun’s.

In business settings, details matter.

At the 24-hour print shop, two college students worked on banner samples.

Xu Chen thought studying in Shanghai might be a good choice.

Xie Bingran had told him the best hurdle coaches in the country were in Beijing and Shanghai.

After Bingran won her May Day race medal, she joined the national track team and could choose any school.

Xu Chen still had to wait for his Gaokao results.

But getting into a Shanghai university wouldn’t be a problem.

Universities clustered here; it all came down to his score.

Bing Ge still led him in the university race.

She’d soon pick among the top schools in Shanghai with ease.

…

The next morning at nine, Xu Chen headed downstairs alone.

Five companies would pitch today: two in the morning, three in the afternoon.

East Morning Star Advertising had joined last minute, so they went last.

Each firm had an hour for the presentation and Q&A. Xu Chen’s slot was at five, but teams usually arrived thirty minutes early.

With last life’s experience and yesterday’s reconnaissance, he decided to get there early for any edge.

He hadn’t planned to bring Fang Jun, but ran into her in the hotel lobby.

She looked annoyed. “I told you we’re doing this project together. I need to be involved the whole way.”

“…”

Xu Chen smiled and said nothing, pulling two fresh business cards from his bag.

Fang Jun took one and glanced down: 【East Morning Star Advertising · Strategy Director Fang Jun】

He explained, “Pitches usually don’t include finance folks, so I labeled you ‘Strategy Director’.”

Fang Jun nodded and tucked the card away.

…

They headed straight to Yuanmao Business Tower, the Renhe Pharmaceuticals pitch venue.

In the lobby cafe, Xu Chen picked a table and settled in with Fang Jun.

There were no mobile orders yet—they had to go to the counter.

Fang Jun got up and placed their order.

Soon the server brought two sandwiches, a latte, and a pot of flower tea.

The tea was for Xu Chen—Fang Jun knew he didn’t drink coffee.

By nine, white-collar workers bustled through the lobby.

Xu Chen plugged in his laptop and leisurely revised his PPT over tea.

Fang Jun was bored, but since she insisted on coming, she sat quietly.

Around 9:30, five people entered together—the Shengshi Great Wall pitch team.

You could spot a foreign 4A agency team by their bold attire—creative types.

Among them were two foreigners, a tall blonde woman around thirty and a muscular young man.

Clearly they’d brought in foreign creative or client directors for show.

Fang Jun noticed Xu Chen staring and asked, “Who are they?”

“People from Shengshi Great Wall.”

“They actually brought foreigners…”

“In top foreign 4A agencies, directors are almost always expatriates—from Europe, America, or Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Mainland creatives rarely break in.”

“How do you even know all this?” she asked.

Xu Chen smiled without answering directly and shifted topics.

“Renhe’s big boss has a bias for foreign agencies, so he picked Shengshi Great Wall.”

“They’ll pander to him by sending foreign directors.”

“Maybe those two didn’t even work on the actual proposal.”

“You’d think that, huh? Many foreign 4A agencies let their expatriate directors lord it over mainland creatives doing the real work…”

Xu Chen’s words rang true.

From the late ’90s to 2010, many foreign 4A agencies had that hierarchy.

Top management was European or American.

Mid-level directors were partly from the West but mostly from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.

Mainland ad people did the grunt work below—even if they were brilliant, moving up to director was tough.

As they talked, the Shengshi Great Wall team actually walked into the cafe.

It was only 9:30—they must be waiting for the 10 AM slot.

The two foreign directors found seats while the three mainland staff ordered coffee and food.

Xu Chen frowned as he studied the foreign directors from a distance.

“Give me a moment. I’m going… to handle something.”

He stood and walked toward the two Shengshi Great Wall foreign directors.