Chapter 121: The Unexpected Expert

Gu Xinxi walked into the conference room, her expression anxious.

She slipped behind Marketing Director Zhao Nan, leaned in, and whispered a few words in her ear.

…

The five people in the room were the judges for this pitch competition.

Renhe Pharmaceuticals’ Vice President Lu Wenhua was the “big boss” among them, holding final decision-making authority.

Marketing Director Zhao Nan was the lead on this project and the subsequent Fuyan Jie campaign.

Sales Director Li Cui handled channels and sales—responsibilities similar to Guo Liang’s role.

Besides these three, two external experts were present.

Medical expert Liu Kang was a middle-aged doctor with thinning hair.

Advertising expert Wang Jian was a professor in Shanghai’s university advertising department…

After a full day of dry presentations, all the judges looked clearly fatigued.

…

After Gu Xinxi finished whispering, Zhao Nan frowned, her face darkening.

Liu Huachun pushed the door open and entered, hurrying to Zhao Nan’s side.

Seeing their expressions, he realized Gu Xinxi had just run something by the boss.

He seemed eager for some drama and spoke in a low voice—yet loud enough for others to hear:

“East Morning Star Advertising’s creative director is only eighteen? How could someone so young handle our product?”

“…”

Zhao Nan’s face turned even grimmer in an instant.

Sales Director Li Cui spoke up:

“What? Eighteen?”

Liu Huachun replied, “We went to pick him up and saw a very young boy.

I checked his ID with Admin and confirmed he’s only eighteen.”

Li Cui scoffed, “That’s still a high schooler—at best a freshman!”

Medical consultant Liu Kang paused and glanced at Vice President Lu Wenhua:

“Mr. Lu, an eighteen-year-old boy probably can’t grasp a women’s cleansing product…”

Lu Wenhua frowned and looked at Zhao Nan:

“Director Zhao, was this firm a last-minute addition?”

Zhao Nan looked embarrassed. “Yes. We must’ve overlooked the details.”

Lu Wenhua didn’t get angry. He glanced at his watch and said calmly,

“Let’s wrap up soon. They’ve come a long way.

We’ve still gained some valuable proposals—one or two are worth further discussion.”

Sales Director Li Cui asked, “Mr. Lu, should we still invite Ye’s Advertising?”

Lu Wenhua thought for a moment. “No need. Black Duke’s and Shengshi Great Wall’s drafts are enough for a shortlist.

Ye’s quotes are too high, and they don’t join pitches anyway. Once they produce a proposal, you must pay in full…

Their contract terms are too domineering.”

Ye’s Advertising was the firm Xu Chen’s previous self hired to create the “Wash Well for Health” campaign.

But they never joined pitches, and their fees were exorbitant.

Not joining pitches meant clients paid even if they didn’t use the proposal.

When Xu Chen heard about this pitch, he knew Ye’s Advertising wouldn’t be among the contenders.

He even had Guo Liang find out which agencies were here, partly to confirm Ye’s absence.

Indeed, as expected.

Perhaps in the previous timeline Fuyan Jie did this pitch but didn’t get good results and ended up hiring Ye’s Marketing.

Now Xu Chen had preemptively intercepted that move.

…

Medical expert Liu Kang stood up.

“Mr. Lu, Director Zhao, I have a work call to take outside. Please feel free to start without me.”

Lu Wenhua replied,

“No problem, Professor Liu. Feel free to go ahead. This firm probably won’t amount to much anyway.”

Liu Kang smiled and left promptly.

…

…

It was five o’clock.

Gu Xinxi led Xu Chen, Fang Jun, and Yu Mei from the small meeting room into the main conference room.

As the three entered, everyone looked up, their gazes landing on Xu Chen with an expression of, “So that’s him.”

Gu Xinxi looked embarrassed and gave them seats, then briefly introduced the judges.

Lu Wenhua and the others nodded politely at Xu Chen and his team.

They were cordial but not warm—no one even took out a business card.

Fang Jun and Yu Mei, having never been to such an event, felt nothing was amiss.

But Xu Chen sensed the chill and slight dismissal.

He remained calm and introduced,

“I’m Xu Chen from East Morning Star Advertising.

This is our Strategy Director, Fang Jun.

And this is our invited medical consultant, Dr. Yu Mei from Huashan Hospital.”

At Yu Mei’s name, several people looked surprised.

Marketing Director Zhao Nan said,

“I didn’t expect you to bring a medical consultant.”

Xu Chen explained,

“Because the product category is far from our daily lives, we need deep product insight and user research…

So we did some product and user studies and invited Dr. Yu Mei for professional guidance.”

Yu Mei stayed composed, nodding with a gentle smile but saying nothing.

Lu Wenhua and Li Cui glanced at Yu Mei—her silver-gray hair and kind face impressed them.

Yet they still wondered if she was a genuine expert.

Some even guessed she might know nothing; after all, she hadn’t spoken a word.

Lu Wenhua looked at Liu Kang’s empty seat.

…

At that moment the door opened again and the real medical expert Liu Kang returned.

“Sorry to keep you waiting…”

He hurried back to his seat, then looked up and froze as he spotted Yu Mei.

“Dr. Yu…”

He stared in astonishment, then rushed forward, bowing slightly:

“Dr. Yu, what a surprise to see you here!”

Everyone exchanged puzzled looks.

“??”

Xu Chen said nothing, glanced at Fang Jun.

Fang Jun stayed expressionless but his single eyelid flickered with confusion.

Seeing Liu Kang approach, Yu Mei looked surprised too and rose with a smile:

“Xiao Kang, fancy meeting you here…”

“Dr. Yu! I’ve tried registering for your lectures but couldn’t get a spot. Who knew I’d run into you here?” Liu Kang beamed, reaching to support her arm.

He then looked at Xu Chen and Fang Jun, bewildered.

Yu Mei said with a smile,

“This is Mr. Xu. He consulted me on some medical issues, and we discussed them. I came specifically for this.”

Liu Kang’s eyes lit up as understanding dawned.

He quickly introduced himself politely to Xu Chen and Fang Jun, mentioning things like, “Attending Physician at Huashan Hospital” and “former underperforming student of Dr. Yu.”

Only then did Lu Wenhua, Zhao Nan, and the others realize that East Morning Star Advertising’s “medical consultant” was indeed a genuine expert.

Liu Kang chatted warmly with Yu Mei, Xu Chen, and Fang Jun, and from his words people caught a few key titles:

“Deputy Dean Yu,” “PhD Advisor,” “Special National Science Foundation Grant”…

Xu Chen glanced at Fang Jun, his expression complex.

Fang Jun blinked as if to say, “No clue.”

This “well-connected” sister had simply made one phone call and secured a Deputy Dean and PhD advisor…

Xu Chen shook his head, speechless.

When he first heard Huashan Hospital downstairs, he guessed Yu Mei’s level was high, but not this high…

Lu Wenhua and the others now realized that this expert wasn’t just any consultant…

She was a major figure in the medical field.

Though Liu Kang was eager, he seemed nervous like a schoolboy. Yu Mei gently interrupted him:

“Xiao Kang, let’s discuss more later. For now, please proceed with your presentations.”

Liu Kang hesitated, then nodded, “Alright, alright!”

He helped Yu Mei back to her seat, then returned to his own.

Yu Mei smiled warmly,

“Sorry for the delay. Please continue.”

Vice President Lu Wenhua stood and bowed, offering his business card:

“I’m Lu Wenhua from Renhe Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Yu, I look forward to your guidance.”

Lu Wenhua now fully recognized Dr. Yu as a VIP—someone normally impossible to secure.

Even important figures often didn’t carry business cards.

If they did, it usually only showed their institution and name, without title or phone number.

Lu Wenhua then turned to Xu Chen with a friendly smile.

“Mr. Xu, nice to meet you. I’m Lu Wenhua from Renhe Pharmaceuticals.”

He handed Xu Chen a business card with both hands, treating the young agency head with great respect.

He knew that securing an expert of Yu Mei’s caliber meant Xu Chen wasn’t simple.

Even if the agency or proposal fell short, he still had to be polite.

Xu Chen stood, took Lu’s card, and offered his own in return.

He added once more,

“This is our Strategy Director, Fang Jun.”

Lu Wenhua said, “Nice to meet you, Director Fang,”

and exchanged cards with Fang Jun, who was momentarily surprised.

Marketing Director Zhao Nan and Sales Director Li Cui came over to introduce themselves again to Xu Chen and Fang Jun.

In the corner, Gu Xinxi blinked large-eyed, her expression oddly unsettled.

Next to her, Liu Huachun frowned, a trace of annoyance showing.