Chapter 427: The Great Wall Award Banquet

The Great Wall Award banquet.

During the exchanges, Xu Chen was not only building connections and potential clients for East Morning Star Advertising but also scouting for projects that suited Xie Bingran.

Securing one or two fitting commercial endorsements for Xie Bingran would be a great boost.

But so far, nothing particularly ideal had come up.

Still, there was no rush.

As Bing Ge continued competing internationally, his fame and commercial value would grow, drawing more high-end opportunities.

And come the new year, the collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Head & Shoulders were rare ‘big deals’ in the industry!

…

Xu Chen had to admit that this trip to Kun City had been incredibly rewarding.

He had won three awards.

He’d connected with a circle of academic and industry heavyweights who were usually out of reach.

Plus, he’d opened doors to several potential business clients.

Especially with Baidu, where a clear order had already been placed with specific requirements.

It seemed East Morning Star Advertising was poised to reach a new level of development.

…

…

While Xu Chen chatted and laughed with a group of industry veterans, Xie Bingran sat alone in a corner of the banquet hall.

She wore a baseball cap and a black mask, blending into the background unnoticed.

In this business-oriented event, everyone was too busy networking to pay attention to a stranger in the corner.

At that moment, Bing Ge held a glass of juice, lounging on a single sofa with her long legs stretched out confidently.

Her gaze fixed on Xu Chen, who was surrounded by a group of young people.

Those seven or eight youngsters were also winners of the Great Wall Award for advertising creativity, from several international 4A agencies in Beijing and Shanghai.

Naturally, they held respect for the creator of the overall grand prize.

So they approached to introduce themselves and chat.

One of them, a girl with deep red hair, was actually a designer from BBDO.

She had heard about East Morning Star Advertising and Xu Chen from Vincent Liu Wenqin earlier.

Seeing him in person today and confirming his age under twenty, she still felt utterly surprised.

The 4A advertising pros in front of her were mostly in their late twenties or thirties; by age alone, Xu Chen looked like a kid among them.

Yet, incredibly, this ‘kid’ had snagged the only overall grand prize tonight.

Meanwhile, the advertising world was one where youth mattered, so many in the industry planned early to work a few years at a 4A firm before starting their own small company.

After all, foreign 4A agencies had a clear ceiling for local talent.

What these young people couldn’t fathom was that Xu Chen, still seeming like a ‘kid,’ already had his own company and handled big clients like Jiaduobao and Jeep.

Comparing themselves, it was downright disheartening.

…

In the quiet corner.

Xie Bingran watched Xu Chen from afar and couldn’t help feeling he was amazing.

She thought they were already quite close.

Yet she had no idea he was this impressive…

Xie Bingran blinked her big eyes, recalling some past memories.

Back in middle school as desk mates, Xu Chen had always been outstanding.

He was the class monitor and excelled in studies.

In that rundown town middle school, he stood out.

Xie Bingran vaguely remembered their homeroom teacher saying, ‘In our class, no more than five students will get into a top university, and Xu Chen will definitely make it to a good one.’…

Even before Xu Chen shared his lunch with her and treated her well, Xie Bingran had a vague crush on him.

Because he was so excellent and unique in that town middle school.

Plus, his profile was handsome.

And later, his care for her only made that crush grow stronger.

…

…

Around eight in the evening, the Great Wall Award banquet wrapped up.

People from academia, business, and advertising across the country bid each other goodnight.

Some of the younger advertising folks had planned late-night drinks in Kun City…

A few even invited Xu Chen, but he politely declined.

…

Outside the banquet hall.

Xu Chen was with Dean Lin Ruyang.

Xie Bingran had come out too but stayed quietly to the side.

Lin Ruyang gripped Xu Chen’s arm, the old professor seeming to have more to say.

But he’d had a few drinks, his face flushed with a warm, tipsy smile.

A business van pulled up, and the back door opened as Professor Ni Zhi stepped out.

He was there to pick up Dean Lin Ruyang.

Xu Chen and Professor Ni Zhi helped the somewhat tipsy Dean Lin into the van.

Ni Zhi lit a cigarette, then smiled at Xu Chen:

“I only found out this afternoon that you won the overall Great Wall Award…

Congratulations!”

Xu Chen: “Thank you, Professor Ni.”

Ni Zhi patted Xu Chen’s shoulder:

“Excellent!

When you won the University Advertising Competition before, I thought about bringing you on for some external projects once you reached junior or senior year.

But I didn’t expect you to already have your own company with successful cases!

My projects might not even catch your eye now…”

Ni Zhi showed clear admiration:

“Among my students, you’re the one who’s surprised me the most!”

Xu Chen: “You’re too kind, Professor Ni.

My win was partly luck.”

Ni Zhi: “Luck plays a role, but you have to be capable to seize it.”

Ni Zhi glanced back at the dozing Dean Lin:

“I’ll take the dean back now.

When you return to school, could you visit the junior and senior advertising classes and share your Great Wall Award case?”

Xu Chen gave an awkward smile:

“I might mislead them…”

Ni Zhi laughed: “That’s just modesty.”

He patted Xu Chen’s shoulder again and got into the van.

Xu Chen watched the van leave, then turned and took Xie Bingran’s hand.

He gently touched her stomach, as if checking, then said with a smile:

“Oh no, Bing Ge hasn’t eaten enough.”

Xie Bingran: “…”

Xu Chen: “Let’s get Bing Ge some late-night snacks! I’m hungry again too!”

…

The sky had darkened long ago.

But Kun City’s night sky was clear, dotted with stars overhead.

Even in the unlit parking area, it felt bright.

They got into the car, and Xu Chen opened the navigation on the car’s system, setting it for a restaurant in Kun City’s center.

“What are you taking me to eat?” Xie Bingran asked, removing her mask.

Xu Chen: “Yunnan Province’s rice noodles and a small hot pot.”

Xie Bingran: “Oh.”

…

…

The local rice noodles came with a ritualistic presentation.

Bowls and dishes covered the table, colorful and visually appealing.

The small hot pot featured various mushrooms as the main ingredients, with veggies and tofu sides—all safe for a ‘foodie’ like her.

Xie Bingran was already digging in, her little mouth moving cutely.

Xu Chen used long wooden chopsticks to keep adding food to her bowl.

…

“We have about three days of free time. Does Bing Ge have anywhere she wants to go?” Xu Chen asked.

Xie Bingran chewed a piece of chicken mushroom and thought before saying:

“I heard Erhai is beautiful.”

Xu Chen nodded:

“Sounds good, I want to go too.”

He pondered, planning the trip:

“Let’s spend tomorrow exploring Kun City; there are a few spots worth seeing.

Then, early the next day, we can drive to Li City.

We’ll stay by Erhai—there are some nice hotels and guesthouses there.

Depending on time, we might even head to Lijiang if we have extra.”

Xie Bingran: “We don’t need to rush around; I just want to be with you.”

Xu Chen: “Alright then.”

…

…

During the meal, Xu Chen’s phone kept buzzing.

He knew it was messages from group chats without checking.

Opening the screen, he saw one from his father, Xu Zhiquan.

Old Xu had sent a photo from the afternoon when Xu Chen received the Great Wall Award.

Xu Chen thought to himself, how had the news reached Tiancheng so fast?

[Dad, you’re really on top of things.]

Xu Zhiquan: [Wu Yongming from leadership told me and congratulated me!]

[My son is incredible—why didn’t you tell me ahead of time?]

Xu Chen paused, wondering how the boss found out first.

But he quickly realized it must be Wu Feifei who told her dad.

The Great Wall Award ceremony had ended that afternoon, and official news releases were out.

Wu, the young lady, was quick to spread the word to Tiancheng.

…

Checking the college group, it was flooded with messages.

Without reading details, he saw screens full of people tagging him with congratulations.

Scrolling up, there were photos from the Great Wall Award event and official news articles.

Pictures of Xu Chen receiving the award, posing with Dean Lin Ruyang, and interacting with advertising bigwigs had all been shared.

Some from official releases, others from on-site students.

The first post was from Dean Lin Ruyang himself—just a photo of him and Xu Chen, with Xu Chen holding the golden Great Wall Award.

Then, the students in Kun City started sharing the surprising news.

Whether classmates or upperclassmen, they congratulated him while expressing disbelief.

“The University Advertising Competition win was understandable—that’s for students.

But the Great Wall Award? That’s a major annual prize for all domestic agencies, including foreign 4A firms…”

And Xu Chen, a freshman, took the overall grand prize?!

[Xu Boss, you’re not playing fair—keeping something this big from us brothers!]

[Treat us! You have to treat us!]

[Xu Boss, after the University Advertising Competition, we had nothing to say, but now with the Great Wall Award, how can we sit in class with you?]

[Please, Xu Boss, don’t squeeze into the back row anymore…

Take the front podium instead!]

Reading the teasing from Qian Xin, Huang Hao, Hong Xiaoqiang, and others, Xu Chen felt a mix of amusement and speechlessness.

“Xu Boss” didn’t say much, just promised bubble tea for the whole class and Flower Cakes as souvenirs from Kun City.

Of course, he’d treat Qian Xin, Huang Hao, and the guys to a big meal too.

…

Nie Fei, still on a business trip in Fujian Province, sent Xu Chen a private message of congratulations.

Xu Chen replied:

[Congrats to you too, Fei Jie—this project really took off because of you.

And thanks for helping with the Great Wall Award entry…]

Nie Fei replied:

[Then, Xiao Xu Boss, create something for Ran Bing Sports next year and win some big awards!]

Xu Chen: [Absolutely, that works!]

Fei Jie had just reminded him.

He’d been planning to do more top ads for Ran Bing Sports anyway.

Once Ran Bing 001’s sales and reputation picked up, and they launched new products, he could plan seriously.

…

In the company group.

Led by Wu Feifei, everyone was congratulating “Xiao Xu Boss.”

Gu Xinxi had collected a bunch of news articles and shared them, making it lively.

Xu Chen skimmed them and saw that besides the official Great Wall Award coverage, major advertising media like Dragon Chant List, Ad Door, Top Copy, and WeLoveAD had featured it.

The overall grand prize naturally drew attention.

[East Morning Star Advertising wins Great Wall Award with ‘Afraid of Getting Heated’—an unknown local creative agency on the rise…]

[What you didn’t know: East Morning Star Advertising did ‘Afraid of Getting Heated’ and ‘Wash Well for Health’?]

[Half a year in, East Morning Star Advertising snags the Great Wall’s top prize and poaches Jeep from BBDO—this local firm is exploding!]

[Behind ‘Afraid of Getting Heated’: Who is East Morning Star Advertising’s Xu Chen?]

…

Xu Chen glanced through these industry articles and shook his head, even as the subject.

They were written with such flair.

But it was good news.

As East Morning Star Advertising’s fame and influence grew, more clients would come knocking.

Future project talks would go smoother too.

…

As the meal wound down, Xu Chen received a new email.

It was a project request from Baidu.

The email was compiled by assistant Miao Xiaoyu, with a note from Baidu Group Vice President Zhao Ling:

[Please review the project details, Xu Boss. Looking forward to your response.

Best regards.]

Xu Chen forwarded it to Sun Aimi, Gu Xinxi, and Tang Xiaowei right away.

[New project incoming. Let’s study it and discuss in a meeting after New Year’s Day.]

Soon, the East Morning Star Advertising group chat buzzed with excitement.

[Boss, you’re amazing—snagging a new project while on a trip?]

[This is Baidu! Boss, you’re incredible!]

[The project looks fun—think we can create some playful content?]

…

Xu Chen thought of that ‘Tang Bohu Battles the Foreigners’ idea in his mind and replied in the group:

[Oh, it can be loads of fun…

If we land it, we’ll all get to act in the shoot!]