Chapter 116: A Relentless Drive

Hardworking, from a well-off family, top-tier intelligence…

Xu Chen smiled. “Teacher Fang, are you complimenting me?”

Fang Jun’s expression remained cold and distant.

“Not exactly.”

“……”

Overall, Fang Jun came across as proud and aloof, but hearing “hardworking” to describe Xu Chen stirred a hint of irritation in her.

As if Xu Chen shouldn’t be working so hard at this moment…

Xu Chen didn’t quite understand Fang Jun’s mood, so he teased,

“It’s all because you’re so important, Teacher Fang!

My dad really wants to hire you at his company…

If I work hard now and win this pitch tomorrow, then you’ll agree to join East Morning Star.”

Fang Jun composed herself and reverted to her proud, cold demeanor.

“The hotel’s restaurant is terrible. Don’t eat there.

Go ahead with your work. I’ll get something to eat and pack you some.”

Xu Chen said, “Thank you, Teacher Fang. Tomorrow after the pitch, dinner is on me.”

……

……

Xu Chen swiped his card and entered the room.

It was a fairly spacious street-facing king room.

He washed up, took a moment to rest, then pulled out his laptop and began tweaking his proposal.

As he focused on the PPT, he let out a self-deprecating smile.

Lately, he really might be overdoing it.

He’d promised himself he wouldn’t work so hard after rebirth—just live off his family fortune and wait for life to drift by.

But oh well…

His father Xu Zhiquan’s business was still in its early stages. Better wait until it really took off before he eased up and indulged himself.

……

Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door.

Xu Chen opened it to find Fang Jun holding two large bags of food.

“I packed some takeout. Let’s eat together.”

Xu Chen smiled. “Thanks, Teacher Fang.”

He held the door wide as Fang Jun carried the delivery inside.

Xu Chen left the door propped open against the wall.

It wasn’t to air out the food smell but an instinctive act of propriety.

Though Fang Jun was seven or eight years older and might see him as a “kid”…

Two strangers of opposite genders sharing a hotel room still needed a safety boundary.

In his past life, Xu Chen had traveled with female colleagues on business trips.

When men and women had to share a room, leaving the door open was basic etiquette—a mutual safeguard.

Not just for female colleagues, but male ones too.

He still remembered a good male supervisor in his past life who closed the door while chatting with a female colleague.

After she left, she called the police, accusing him of impropriety.

No one could verify what really happened inside.

With no concrete evidence, he faced no legal charges.

Yet his company fired him, his career ruined in an instant.

Fang Jun set down the packages and noticed the laptop on the desk—Xu Chen really was hard at work.

After a full day together, Fang Jun’s doubts about Xu Chen had long since vanished.

At first, she didn’t believe he could craft the proposal himself and pitch it.

She even suspected the Shanghai project was fake…

Or that East Morning Star Advertising had secretly assigned someone else, and “the boss’s son” was just a figurehead.

She’d worked with plenty of bosses’ kids before—she’d seen it all.

But today’s journey convinced her Xu Chen had no outside help; he truly made the proposal himself.

The only time he’d “called for backup” was asking Fang Jun to find a doctor.

She knew bringing in a doctor was just a plus, never essential to the pitch.

And President Xu really hadn’t lent him any help at East Morning Star Advertising.

Xu Chen didn’t need his father’s funding, client introductions, or professional guidance…

As Xu Zhiquan had said, Xu Chen was “independently managing” the agency.

Fang Jun had taken part partly to expose the lie.

Hearing that the boss’s eighteen-year-old son ran the company solo and pitched in Shanghai was hard to believe.

She knew many wealthy second-generation and official offspring—none had such ability at eighteen.

What surprised her most was Xu Chen’s sheer work ethic.

He really was one of the most diligent, self-disciplined people she’d ever met.

From the airport to the hotel, he either worked on the proposal or studied.

He could squat in an airport corner for an hour and hammer out a PPT, finish two math sets on a 90-minute flight.

Even in transit breaks, he stayed in touch with clients, refining his pitch for tomorrow…

Yet at eighteen, he should be carefree.

And with a good family background, he didn’t need this kind of grind…

Beyond his work ethic, his knowledge, skills, EQ, problem-solving approach…

None of it was typical for an eighteen-year-old boy.

Fang Jun’s doubts had turned into admiration—and confusion.

……

……

Xu Chen, unaware of her thoughts, cheerfully joined her in unpacking the takeout.

All authentic local dishes, clearly from a top restaurant.

Braised pork, crab roe rice, Hujiang spare ribs, smoked fish…

Rich, savory Jiangnan flavors.

Even the takeout choice reflected Fang Jun’s upbringing.

Compared to northern cuisine, Jiangnan’s sweetness can be tough for outsiders.

Luckily, Xu Chen’s past-life trips to Shanghai had gotten him used to it.

He’d also lived in Hangzhou for years and learned to enjoy Jiangnan dishes.

……

They finished the meal quickly and cleared the containers. Xu Chen took the trash outside.

Back inside, he left the door wide open again.

Fang Jun hesitated, then understood his motive.

She couldn’t help but wonder, Is this kid really only eighteen?

……

Around eight o’clock Fang Jun’s phone buzzed. She checked the message, then said,

“The doctor I found is ready for a call.”

Xu Chen: “Great. Let’s begin.”

Fang Jun: “My mom arranged it. Her name is Yu Mei. Let’s call her Teacher Yu.”

Xu Chen nodded and opened a document on his laptop.

It listed the questions he’d just prepared—a consultation outline.

Fang Jun glanced at it.

“You even prepared this thoroughly…”

Xu Chen smiled.

“To avoid missing anything and make things efficient.

This doctor was arranged by you, Teacher Fang.

If I don’t know what to ask or sound unprofessional, it’ll embarrass you, right?”

Fang Jun fell silent, then said,

“You’re really thoughtful…

You seem like you’ve worked for years, not still in school.

And you’re in high school…”

Xu Chen didn’t reply, only chuckled.

Fang Jun dialed the number and put it on speaker.

A gentle female voice came through.

【Hello.】

【Hello Teacher Yu, I’m Fang Jun, and with me is my colleague Xu Chen.】

【Hello Teacher Yu, I’m Xu Chen!】

【Hello both. Let’s start directly… sorry, I only have an hour before my next consultation.】

Xu Chen wasted no time and began consulting according to his outline.

Teacher Yu spoke concisely and precisely, answering his questions with minimal but accurate explanations.

Xu Chen, mindful of the limited time, fired off question after question.

He focused on medical and pharmaceutical knowledge related to feminine cleansing products.

Teacher Yu answered everything professionally and clearly.

For overly technical or obscure points, she only elaborated when Xu Chen pressed.

Microbial balance, acidic environments, antioxidants, mucosal pathology…

Her answers gave Xu Chen a comprehensive understanding of the product category and user needs in a short time.

Due to the topic’s sensitivity, Fang Jun felt a few awkward moments listening in.

But Xu Chen treated it purely as work, his cool, meticulous attitude dispelling all embarrassment.

It also made Fang Jun realize…

Xu Chen’s detached professionalism is exactly the right approach to business.

……

About forty-five minutes later, Xu Chen finished asking all his questions.

He then sincerely thanked her.

Teacher Yu politely replied,

“No problem. It’s a favor I had to do.”

Fang Jun took the phone and thanked Teacher Yu as well.

They confirmed the arrangements for tomorrow’s pitch.

Teacher Yu would arrive tomorrow afternoon—just in time for Xu Chen’s presentation.

……

……

After hanging up, Xu Chen stared at the document, frowning in thought.

He paused, noticing Fang Jun watching him, and hurriedly said,

“Sorry, I was tweaking the proposal again.

Thanks so much, Teacher Fang. Without you, I couldn’t have pulled this off!”

“I’m glad I could help,” Fang Jun replied.

Xu Chen checked the time—it was nearly nine.

“Teacher Fang, please get some rest. I still need to revise this plan.

All the information Teacher Yu gave was invaluable!

I need to optimize our communication strategy and user insights.”

Fang Jun nodded and didn’t linger, standing to leave.

At the door, she paused, turned back, and said,

“I hope you win tomorrow’s pitch…”