Chapter 343: Urban Allure

The meeting room.

On the big screen, it showed ‘A City Called Spring’…

Jiao Tianbo swallowed hard, his face full of disbelief.

Wu Feifei blinked, her mouth slightly open, looking completely puzzled.

Gu Xinxi furrowed his brow, clearly sensing something was off.

Xu Chen leaned back, wearing a smug ‘just as I expected’ grin.

In the end, it was the ‘study whiz’ Jiao Tianbo who spoke first:

“Xu Chen, are you joking?”

Xu Chen: “No joke at all. I did say it might be a bit ‘offensive.'”

Jiao Tianbo frowned deeply and said straight out:

“This isn’t just offensive—it’s totally inappropriate.

I bet Director Lou and the other leaders won’t go for this plan.”

Xu Chen didn’t feel like arguing, so he just smiled.

Wu Feifei blinked and said:

“Boss… I think it’s a bit over the top, maybe too creative?”

Gu Xinxi, who had been sitting quietly, spoke up:

“Though, it’s really unforgettable.

More so than the previous ones like ‘Live Well in Yichun’ or ‘A Year’s Plan Starts in Yichun’.

And it’s got huge buzz potential—if we release it, it’ll spark discussions everywhere.”

Xu Chen nodded silently to himself.

Gu Xinxi had some professional insight and could spot the key points.

Jiao Tianbo still looked upset and said again:

“This just isn’t right…

Putting that in the plan—how will Yichun’s leaders see us? Will they think we’re deliberately insulting them, or even cursing them?”

Wu Feifei and Gu Xinxi glanced at each other, seeming to agree with Jiao Tianbo.

Xu Chen had already thought about that.

The phrase was just too ‘provocative,’ almost like an insult.

But after pondering, he figured it wasn’t a big issue.

First, in his past life, Yichun’s leaders had chosen that slogan, so they must have been okay with it.

Second, their project team included Wu Feifei and Jiao Tianbo.

Their parents were ‘leaders’ in the system and knew Director Lou, especially Wu Feifei’s father, Wu Yongming…

In this ‘connections’ scenario, even if it came off as offensive, it’d just seem like a joke.

Plus, Xu Chen had crafted a full set of packaging scripts and a step-by-step activity plan to explain and spin the phrase perfectly.

Of course, he wasn’t planning to reveal the packaging or activity plans just yet.

He’d hold back a bit until the client showed interest in the slogan, then push forward.

It was a lesson from past presentations—don’t lay everything out at once; feed it to them bit by bit…

Seeing Jiao Tianbo, Wu Feifei, and Gu Xinxi still looking uneasy, Xu Chen explained a little:

“Don’t worry too much.

We’ll push your two ideas as the main ones; mine can go at the end as a minor backup option.

Besides, with Tianbo and Feifei here, Director Lou won’t think we’re insulting anyone…”

Wu Feifei couldn’t help but laugh and said:

“But honestly, that phrase is memorable.

Once you put yours out there, mine and Jiao Tianbo’s ideas look bland by comparison.

If we throw all these out, your ‘City Called Spring’ slogan would stand out the most.”

Gu Xinxi: “Exactly…”

Jiao Tianbo was still frowning:

“That’s true, but what leader would pick a slogan like that!”

Wu Feifei: “Like Xu Chen said, just add it as a backup in the plan.”

She turned to Xu Chen:

“Though… I don’t think the leaders will choose it.”

Xu Chen smiled: “No problem, just include it.

Even if they don’t pick it, it’ll make our plan pop…

They might glance at it a couple times and go for ‘A Year’s Plan Starts in Yichun’ instead.

That’s still a win!”

He looked at Wu Feifei:

“If they do pick yours, I’ll give you a huge bonus!”

Wu Feifei lifted her chin: “I’m waiting!”

Jiao Tianbo cleared his throat:

“Besides the slogans, we talked about a full plan last meeting.”

Xu Chen: “No rush on that…

First, compile the slogans and send them over for initial feedback.

We can do the activity plan after that.”

Seeing Jiao Tianbo still frowning, Xu Chen added:

“We need to value our time and effort, not waste it on dead ends.

The activity plan has to match the slogan.

We don’t know yet which one they’ll like, so jumping in with an incomplete plan might mean starting over.”

Gu Xinxi, with his work experience, totally agreed:

“The boss is right! Writing a full plan now could just be a waste of time and energy.

All effort and no gain.”

Jiao Tianbo: “So, which ones do we pick?”

Gu Xinxi grabbed the mouse and created a new document, pasting all their slogans together.

As the ‘boss,’ Xu Chen took charge:

“Jiao Tianbo’s first one, Feifei’s next two, and add ‘City Called Spring’.

That’s four slogan options total…”

He turned to Gu Xinxi:

“Xinxi, could you put together a simple document for us?

Keep it straightforward—one page on background and strategy upfront.

Then, list the four slogans with a short explanation for each.”

Gu Xinxi replied: “Sure, boss, I’ll finish it and send it your way first.”

Xu Chen looked at Jiao Tianbo: “Then, Jiao Tianbo, you handle sending it to Director Lou.

We can follow up with the activity plan or mention it to her…

Once we get their first round of feedback, we’ll move forward!”

Jiao Tianbo still seemed bothered, probably over the ‘City Called Spring’ idea.

But he agreed anyway.

Wu Feifei blinked and said:

“A City Called Spring… how did you even come up with that!”

Xu Chen laughed: “Let’s call Aimi and grab some food!”

…

…

…

Monday morning, during PE class.

Xu Chen and Hong Xiaoqiang were practicing passing the ball.

University soccer classes covered basics like passing, dribbling, juggling, and shooting.

For the end-of-semester PE exam in soccer, they only tested juggling and passing, but standing long jump and the 1,500-meter run counted most.

After these weeks of PE and morning runs, Xu Chen felt his fitness improving.

Exercise really worked.

The body was like an adaptive machine—it responded to the stress of movement by boosting endurance, strength, and agility.

Bing Ge’s daily training probably followed the same principle.

Xu Chen cherished this eighteen- or nineteen-year-old body—it was full of energy, and he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Unlike in his past life in his thirties, when work and life had worn him down to the point of panting after climbing stairs.

…

Halfway through class, Xu Chen and Hong Xiaoqiang sat on the sidelines to rest.

From the other side, Jiao Tianbo walked over.

He looked excited as he told Xu Chen:

“Director Lou just messaged me—she’s interested in our plan.”

The plan he meant was for Yichun’s promotion.

Last Friday, Gu Xinxi had put together the document and sent it to Director Lou.

Xu Chen had reviewed it—Gu Xinxi did a solid job, keeping it clear and focused.

Xu Chen looked at the thrilled Jiao Tianbo:

“That’s great! Did she say which one she likes?”

Jiao Tianbo: “Not yet. She wants to chat over the phone and might include their leaders.”

Xu Chen: “No problem, you set the time!”

Jiao Tianbo: “How about after class today? Feifei can join too.”

Xu Chen: “Works for me.”

Jiao Tianbo: “I’ll let Feifei know then.”

He suddenly frowned: “Actually, you tell her—she never replies to me.”

Xu Chen: “…”

Hong Xiaoqiang, sipping his sports drink, said:

“You two are really hustling on this business?”

Xu Chen paused and glanced at Jiao Tianbo.

He wasn’t sure if Jiao wanted to share…

Jiao Tianbo hesitated then said to Hong Xiaoqiang:

“Yeah… I’ve got a project going, and it’s collaborating with Xu Chen’s ad agency.”

Hong Xiaoqiang chuckled but didn’t say more.

Once Jiao Tianbo left, Hong Xiaoqiang turned to Xu Chen:

“How can you work with Jiao Tianbo? He’s so stubborn and hard to get along with…”

Xu Chen: “The study whiz is actually a good guy.

He’s just… a bit dense sometimes.”

Hong Xiaoqiang spat out half his drink with a laugh:

“Calling him ‘dense’ might hurt his pride more than saying he’s stubborn!”

Xu Chen: “…”

He felt a bit helpless—he meant no harm toward Jiao Tianbo.

Lately, he’d even grown to like this straightforward, capable but low-EQ study whiz.

Hong Xiaoqiang kept grinning: “He really is stubborn and dense. Chen Wenyi said he once topped the Shanghai arts exam—who knows how he pulled that off…”

Xu Chen: “…”

Hong Xiaoqiang glanced at the basketball court and sighed:

“Poor Chen Wenyi…”

Xu Chen looked over and saw their roommate, the ‘artsy guy’ Chen Wenyi, running laps around the court.

“What’s that mean? Did he get punished?”

Chen Wenyi had chosen basketball, and their tall coach had a rule about running laps for mistakes.

Xu Chen wondered if Chen Wenyi was late or broke some other rule.

Hong Xiaoqiang said:

“Chen Wenyi’s been like a zombie these past few days…

One minute he’s like a ticking bomb; we barely dare talk to him.”

Xu Chen: “Why’s that?”

Hong Xiaoqiang: “What else?

He confessed to Su Rong and got rejected—still hasn’t gotten over it!”

Xu Chen: “…”

Hong Xiaoqiang: “More like it’s not even a breakup.

Su Rong never even acknowledged him…”

Xu Chen thought it was ridiculous, but kept quiet.

Hong Xiaoqiang added with a smile:

“You’ve been so busy, Xu, you hardly come back to the dorm, so you missed all this.

Ever since Chen Wenyi’s confession flopped, he’s been like that.”

“…”

As a thirty-something in spirit, Xu Chen found the whole moping-over-a-crush thing childish and pointless.

Still, Chen Wenyi was introverted, and getting turned down by Su Rong probably hit his self-esteem hard.

…

…

Noon.

Xu Chen and Hong Xiaoqiang finished lunch in the cafeteria and headed back to the dorm.

As they reached the third floor, they heard arguing.

They exchanged looks and winced.

The hallway echoed the noise, making the fight crystal clear.

The arguers were Chen Wenyi and ‘Jiangsu-Zhejiang Prince’ Qian Xin.

Xu Chen and Hong Xiaoqiang hurried up and saw Chen Wenyi blocking Qian Xin in room 3104, demanding answers.

Pei Qian tried to break it up, but his short stature and soft voice made no difference.

Chen Wenyi was furious:

“Stop lying to me! Are you with Su Rong?!”

Qian Xin: “What’s your problem?!”

…

Xu Chen and Hong Xiaoqiang shared another look—this was about Su Rong again.

But Qian Xin and Su Rong together? That was new news!

Chen Wenyi pressed on, grabbing Qian Xin’s collar:

“Don’t bullshit me! I saw you two go out yesterday!

I followed you and watched you having a cozy dinner!”

Qian Xin was annoyed but dodged: “Even if I am with Su Rong, what’s it to you?!

You’re just a rejected loser—why act tough with me?!”

Chen Wenyi’s face turned beet red; he clenched his fist, ready to swing.

Hong Xiaoqiang and Xu Chen jumped in, with Pei Qian helping to pull Chen Wenyi back.

The three of them managed to hold him down.

Pei Qian muttered: “This has to be a misunderstanding…”

“We’re all roommates, guys, no need for this…”

“There are plenty of girls out there!”

…

Chen Wenyi shook them off, shot Qian Xin a vicious glare, and stormed downstairs.

‘Jiangsu-Zhejiang Prince’ Qian Xin straightened his clothes and muttered:

“Idiot… total nutjob.”

Hong Xiaoqiang and Pei Qian turned to Qian Xin with wide eyes:

“Nice one, Qian! You and Su Rong, huh?!”

“Didn’t see that coming—Chen Wenyi’s dream girl, and you swooped in!”

“What’s the story—how far have you gone? Spill!”

Qian Xin snapped: “Back off! I’m not with Su Rong at all!”

Hong Xiaoqiang: “But Chen Wenyi said you two went out for a intimate meal…

That doesn’t sound made up!”

Qian Xin sighed in frustration: “Su Rong heard I was going to Doha for the Asian Games and asked about visas, travel, and tickets.

We ended up grabbing dinner since it was mealtime—that’s it!

And now this idiot’s on my case!”

Pei Qian: “Why ask you? Can’t she sign up through the college?”

Qian Xin: “College spots are by lottery—odds are low.

Su Rong’s planning her own trip.

Plus, the college trip is for Bai Miao!

Su Rong and I are both going for Xie Bingran!”

Xu Chen: “??”