Chapter 349: Executive Decisions

East Morning Star Advertising meeting room.

Xu Chen stood up and stretched.

Wu Feifei, Jiao Tianbo, and Gu Xinxi sat quietly, still lost in the recent phone report.

After Xu Chen’s latest round of persuasion, the vice mayor had personally approved the ‘Call of Spring’ plan, sealing the deal with East Morning Star Advertising.

Xu Chen was pretty pleased.

Securing this project hadn’t taken much time or effort from him—it was a breeze.

Based on Director Lou Ting’s info from the end of the call, they’d sign the contract for the agreed fifty thousand as per earlier discussions.

The project budget was originally set between thirty and fifty thousand, so they hit the top end.

Official projects like this usually don’t have huge budgets.

Luckily, East Morning Star Advertising’s role wasn’t too heavy—it mainly involved Yichun City’s publicity department teaming up with the tourism bureau and local media.

For East Morning Star, it was all about planning the scheme and overseeing execution.

These tasks could go to someone experienced like Gu Xinxi, who could handle them without pulling Xu Chen in much further.

Next up was formal coordination to get the project rolling before and after the Lunar New Year…

Wu Feifei looked puzzled:

“A city called Spring…

Honestly, I didn’t get it at first.

But after these two meetings with you, it feels like this plan is the best and only right choice.

How did you manage to brainwash us so well?”

Xu Chen smiled smugly, looking genuinely happy.

Gu Xinxi stepped out and came back in, saying:

“Boss, the two candidates are here.”

Xu Chen nodded and told Wu Feifei and Jiao Tianbo:

“I’ve got interviews to do—you two go eat first!”

The meals were already packed from the cafeteria and waiting outside.

Wu Feifei: “No way, boss, we’ll wait and eat with you!”

Xu Chen: “If you wait, the food will get cold. Go eat now!

Once you’re done, you can head home…”

Wu Feifei grinned: “That makes it even worse! You haven’t sorted out the follow-up for the Yichun project yet!”

Jiao Tianbo quickly added: “Yeah, we finally landed this project—make sure you plan the execution too, Xu Chen.”

Xu Chen: “Alright then! You two eat first anyway!”

…

…

Now only Xu Chen and Gu Xinxi remained in the meeting room, with the candidates’ resumes in his hands.

Gu Xinxi: “Both are here. Per procedure, Jiang Yuze’s interview comes first.”

Xu Chen: “Great, let’s do it in here!”

Gu Xinxi acknowledged and headed out.

Xu Chen sat back down and flipped through Jiang Yuze’s resume.

Twenty-eight years old, marketing graduate from Fudan University, started in foreign companies, worked at eBay and Amazon for about four or five years.

Mainly handled e-commerce operations, including expanding online stores for Nike…

From this polished resume, he looked like a solid candidate.

Nie Fei had mentioned that Jiang Yuze had an offer from Alibaba in Hangcheng but hadn’t decided yet.

…

The meeting room’s glass door was knocked on, and a lean, sharp-looking guy walked in.

He was dressed fairly formally in a shirt and dark business attire, his hair slicked back perfectly.

Xu Chen stood with a smile, politely extending his hand: “Hello, I’m Xu Chen.”

Jiang Yuze shook his hand: “Hello, I’m Jiang Yuze.”

He glanced around, a puzzled look crossing his face.

Xu Chen caught on and smiled: “Am I too young?”

Jiang Yuze’s face flashed with embarrassment as he said:

“Sorry…

I heard this interview was with Fei Jie’s superior boss.”

Clearly, he didn’t think this guy who looked barely twenty could be Fei Jie’s ‘superior boss’.

Xu Chen just smiled kindly, not feeling offended.

Seeing Xu Chen didn’t respond, Jiang Yuze’s confusion deepened:

“If you’re the interviewer, does that mean you’re under Fei Jie?”

Xu Chen: “Why do you ask that?”

Jiang Yuze frowned but spoke honestly:

“I’m interested in the ‘Ran Bing Sports’ position for two reasons.

First, because of Fei Jie.

I’ve worked with Nike’s team before and really respect her skills.

Reporting to her and working together would be great.

But if this role doesn’t report directly to her, I might pass.”

His words were straightforward, almost blunt.

Essentially, if he had to report to this young guy, he’d skip ‘Ran Bing Sports’.

Xu Chen just chuckled, showing no irritation.

At thirty-something in mindset, this twenty-eight-year-old was just a kid to him…

Putting himself in Jiang Yuze’s shoes, Xu Chen understood—if it were him, he wouldn’t want to report to an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old either.

Jiang Yuze had some work experience, mostly in foreign firms, so a bit of arrogance was expected.

Talented people often have that edge, and Xu Chen wasn’t about to hold it against him.

It all came down to ability and value to ‘Ran Bing Sports’.

Jiang Yuze laid out his doubts, waiting for a straight answer.

But Xu Chen sidestepped again:

“You said there are two reasons you’re considering Ran Bing Sports?”

Jiang Yuze looked more puzzled, wondering about this ‘kid’s’ background…

“The second is Xie Bingran.

Fei Jie told me ‘Ran Bing’ is a company where Xie Bingran has shares and exclusive endorsement rights.

So ‘Ran Bing Sports’ will be the only sports brand tied to her.

I see potential in Xie Bingran’s sports career and her future popularity…”

Xu Chen nodded with a smile.

He paused, then said warmly:

“Don’t worry, this position reports directly to Fei Jie.

She’s the general manager of the ‘Ran Bing Sports’ line, top spot.

I’m from another business line, just helping with the cross-interview.”

Right now, no need to reveal he’s the behind-the-scenes boss.

‘Ran Bing Sports’ is still building its team, so a little vagueness works.

Since Jiang Yuze is here for Fei Jie, keep that appeal while checking his skills…

Jiang Yuze said softly, “Oh,” and nodded: “Sorry, President Xu, I was too direct and might have offended you.”

Xu Chen: “No problem.

It’s a two-way street between company and candidate.

You have every right to clarify the role and reporting line—it’s crucial.”

Jiang Yuze smiled and nodded politely.

Xu Chen glanced at the resume:

“Though I’m just cross-interviewing, on Fei Jie’s behalf, I’ll ask some serious questions.”

Jiang Yuze leaned in: “Go ahead, President Xu!”

Even if this ‘President Xu’ seemed like a junior, since it was Fei Jie’s setup, Jiang Yuze treated it seriously.

Xu Chen nodded: “Start with a self-introduction then!”

…

…

In the rest area.

Wu Feifei, Sun Aimi, and Jiao Tianbo were eating the takeout dinner.

Gu Xinxi was still managing the interviews, so she stayed busy at her computer…

Wu Feifei glanced at the meeting room and sighed:

“I heard from Xinxi that the interviewee is from a foreign internet company!

My classmates are still dreaming about landing jobs in foreign firms, and here President Xu is interviewing them…

Talk about making you feel inferior—President Xu is just on another level.”

Jiao Tianbo ate in silence, a wave of discouragement hitting him.

This proud ‘top student’ had once been the humanities champion in Shanghai during high school, looking down on everyone.

But meeting his dorm mate Xu Chen in college was a string of blows.

They entered the ‘Big Advertising Competition’ together—Jiao Tianbo didn’t even make it, while Xu Chen snagged two national first prizes…

While Jiao Tianbo struggled with studies and classes, Xu Chen had already started a company.

With his own employees, handling real estate and auto projects, and now interviewing elite foreign talent…

Working on the ‘Call of Spring’ project with Xu Chen opened Jiao Tianbo’s eyes and earned his respect.

It proved Xu Chen’s prizes weren’t luck, and his company wasn’t handed to him…

The ‘top student’ felt truly deflated.

As Wu Feifei said, comparing people can be depressing.

Jiao Tianbo never imagined someone his age could outshine him in every way.

It was downright disheartening.

…

…

Half an hour later, in the meeting room.

Xu Chen and Jiang Yuze were on their feet, shaking hands.

The interview was over.

Xu Chen had covered all the questions to gauge skills and character in that half-hour.

He was generally impressed with Jiang Yuze.

At this stage, Jiang Yuze could handle building ‘Ran Bing Sports’ e-commerce system.

His overall qualities were strong—good strategic thinking, solid trend judgment for someone young.

Since Fei Jie had vetted him, that added confidence…

But with another candidate, he’d need to compare.

Interview done, yet Jiang Yuze lingered, not quite leaving.

After a pause, he said:

“President Xu, can I ask why you have such deep insights into e-commerce?”

Xu Chen: “Ah?”

He blinked, smiling: “I don’t think I said much specific.”

Jiang Yuze: “You didn’t go into details, but your questions hit the key points…

I’ve interviewed with a few bosses lately, mostly from traditional industries dipping into e-commerce, and their questions felt shallow—they clearly don’t get it…”

“But yours were spot-on, core issues.

You’d have to be deeply knowledgeable to ask that.”

Jiang Yuze spoke calmly but earnestly.

Xu Chen felt a bit helpless.

He thought, I’m not just knowledgeable—I’ve lived through the next decade or two of e-commerce trends.

But he couldn’t explain that, so he said:

“I know a bit, that’s why Fei Jie asked me to help interview.”

Jiang Yuze smiled and nodded: “If I join ‘Ran Bing Sports’, I’d love to chat more with you sometime.

Your take on B2C e-commerce is sharper than most pros…”

Jiang Yuze wasn’t just flattering; it was based on their talk.

Xu Chen’s few questions and comments surprised him.

On platforms like eBay, Amazon, 360Buy, Taobao, and e-commerce trends…

This young interviewer knew his stuff and had forward-thinking views.

It shocked Jiang Yuze, who’d been in the field for four to five years.

Why did a startup like ‘Ran Bing Sports’ have such a manager? And how did he get those insights at his age?

…

…

Xu Chen checked his phone for the time.

Jiang Yuze snapped out of it, looking embarrassed, and bid farewell to ‘President Xu’ before leaving the room.

Gu Xinxi stepped up and politely escorted Jiang Yuze to the elevator.

With her sales background from Guo Liang, she handled people smoothly.

…

A few minutes later, the meeting room door was knocked again.

Gu Xinxi brought in the other candidate, Sun Lingfeng.

Sun Lingfeng looked younger than Jiang Yuze, actually twenty-four or twenty-five.

Unlike Jiang Yuze’s foreign-firm vibe, Sun Lingfeng dressed more like local internet company style.

In a black hoodie and jeans, with black-rimmed glasses, he wasn’t eye-catching.

A bit stocky, his smile showed a steady, down-to-earth nature.

It contrasted with his name ‘Lingfeng’.

Xu Chen greeted Sun Lingfeng politely, and they both sat.

Sun Lingfeng adjusted his glasses, eyeing Xu Chen with confusion but kept it subtle, not asking outright like Jiang Yuze.

Xu Chen explained as before, saying he was from another line helping Fei Jie interview…

Sun Lingfeng seemed a touch nervous but started with his introduction.

He’s a local from Shanghai, graduated from Shanghai University.

After graduating, he joined Alibaba in Hangcheng, worked on B2B’s 1688 for a year, then moved to Taobao for traffic operations, where he’s been over a year.

As a Shanghai native, his parents wanted him back, so he’s looking at opportunities here.

Sun Lingfeng has less experience than Jiang Yuze, but his strengths are clear.

He’s familiar with Taobao’s ecosystem and resources, with plenty of internal connections.

He knows the ins and outs of online store operations, including secrets and resources outsiders don’t get.

He even connects with a few e-commerce agency firms.

In 2006, Taobao was all C2C, no official brand stores yet.

In apparel, big shops like ‘crown stores’ had emerged, and Sun Lingfeng knows their strategies and resources well.

That’s something Jiang Yuze lacks.

But Jiang Yuze excels in overall qualities, broader industry resources, and vision.

For long-term planning, Xu Chen could discuss with Jiang Yuze on the same level, but with Sun Lingfeng, it might get tricky.

…

…

Twenty minutes later, the interview ended.

Xu Chen shook Sun Lingfeng’s hand and saw him out.

Gu Xinxi walked Sun Lingfeng off, then returned: “Boss, what do you think?”

Xu Chen looked at the two resumes, hesitating: “Both could work; they each have strengths and resources.

Fei Jie vetted them, so they’re reliable.

I’ll think it over and talk to Fei Jie tomorrow.”

He was torn.

Short-term, building ‘Ran Bing Sports’ online sales needs Sun Lingfeng’s execution and resources.

But his limits might hold back growth; for scaling up, someone like Jiang Yuze with higher skills is better.

Hiring both for the same role could cause conflicts.

And the budget might not stretch for two e-commerce managers right now.

Xu Chen set the resumes down, still undecided.

He really needed to chat with Nie Fei.

He sighed—they were short on cash!

Whether for projects or hiring, it all boils down to money.

They needed more advertising gigs to cover costs.

Luckily, Vanke’s Wang Shi had a project lined up.

On that note… maybe bringing in both Jiang Yuze and Sun Lingfeng wasn’t out of the question.

Plus, Xu Chen was thinking his advertising portfolio was building up…

Once the Kunlun Mountain Jeep and Vanke projects launch and become case studies, East Morning Star Advertising could command higher fees for new deals.

…

Wu Feifei knocked on the meeting room door and came in with two meal boxes.

“I just microwaved these for you!”

She set the food in front of Xu Chen, thoughtfully opened it, and handed him chopsticks.

Being waited on by the boss’s daughter felt overwhelming: “Thanks, Miss Wu, I don’t deserve this!”

Jiao Tianbo followed without a word, placing a can of soda water beside Xu Chen.

“Thanks, Jiao!”

Xu Chen said with a smile.

Seeing it was late, he ate while outlining the next steps.

“Xinxi, tomorrow coordinate with Teacher Fang Jun on the Yichun project and push the contract forward.

Jiao, help with that, especially communicating with Director Lou Ting.

We’ve submitted the plan, so move ahead once the contract’s signed and we get the first payment.”

Gu Xinxi nodded: “Got it, boss!”

“For Yichun, Xinxi’s the main lead since you drafted the plan. Just follow through.

Put together a project timeline in the next couple days and run it by me.

Jiao, team up for liaising with Director Lou Ting, Yichun’s publicity department, tourism bureau, and local media.”

Gu Xinxi nodded.

Jiao Tianbo: “No problem, I’ll see it through.”

Xu Chen took a bite and smiled: “That’s settled. The project’s straightforward, but thanks everyone!”

Wu Feifei chimed in: “What about me?”

Xu Chen: “You’ll work with Teacher Sun Aimi on the Vanke project.

And if you’ve got time, dive into the Ran Bing projects too!”

Wu Feifei beamed: “Sounds great!”

Xu Chen added: “Yichun came through Jiao’s connections, and you contributed solid slogans, Wu Feifei…

When we wrap up, I’ll give you both project bonuses!”

Jiao Tianbo paused, looking a bit awkward as if to decline.

Before he could, Wu Feifei said: “Awesome, thanks boss!

Jiao and I definitely deserve them!”

…

…

Quitting time, they headed downstairs together.

The ‘top student’ went back to school on his own.

Sun Aimi and Gu Xinxi shared a cab as usual.

Xu Chen grabbed his Land Rover and drove Miss Wu back to school.

In the back seat, Wu Feifei suddenly said:

“Xu Chen, just give the bonus to Jiao Tianbo—don’t send one to me!”

Xu Chen, gripping the wheel, was caught off guard.

Wu Feifei continued: “My dad’s position is sensitive, and your family’s business ties could complicate things.

Paying me through a project, no matter the amount, might raise eyebrows.

We’re upfront, but if someone stirs trouble, it’s messy to explain.

Dad already warned me about interning here…

Including no salary for projects—I’m learning a ton just by being involved!”

Xu Chen stayed quiet, feeling grateful to the Wu family.

Wu Feifei knew how to handle boundaries as the boss’s daughter.

Her refusal protected both families, and earlier she claimed the bonus to make Jiao comfortable…

She was truly kind-hearted and sharp.

Xu Chen joked: “But you’ve put in real work—I can’t just use you for free!

What’s your ask?”

Wu Feifei laughed: “Just treat me to meals now and then!”

She paused, thinking it off, and added: “Oh, and best to include Bing Ge too!”