Chapter 208: Warmth in the Shadows

Xu Chen turned off his phone screen but couldn’t hold back a smile.

He felt genuinely happy that Xie Bingran was willing to go out with Wu Feifei and Huang Qianqian.

Though she was ‘Bing Ge,’ she was still a girl at heart, and besides his buddies like Li Rui, Zhao Feng, and Fang Tao, making friends with girls her age would do her good.

Luckily, Wu Feifei and Huang Qianqian were both optimistic and kind-hearted, so Xie Bingran would likely find some warmth and support in their company.

This kind of nurturing from peers was something the old ‘Bing Ge’ had never experienced.

Back in middle school, Xie Bingran’s personality and family background made her unpopular with girls her age, let alone making friends.

She even faced indifference, exclusion, and bullying…

And after becoming ‘Bing Ge,’ she grew even more distant from typical girls, surrounded only by tough, rough-around-the-edges guys…

In Xu Chen’s mind, Xie Bingran seemed split into two people.

One was the fierce, loyal Bing Ge, the 17-year-old cool big sister.

The other Xie Bingran felt stuck in their middle school days—reserved, insecure, pitiful, and never quite growing up…

Around others, she usually kept up the Bing Ge facade.

But only with Xu Chen did that timid, vulnerable desk mate Xie Bingran occasionally surface.

Like when she’d sneak into his room late at night, just wanting to hang out a bit longer, reminding him of that hungry, pitiful desk mate from middle school.

Or yesterday evening, that lonely girl waiting outside the gym, eyes red from recent tears…

For this second side of Xie Bingran, Xu Chen handled things with extra care.

Maybe the three years of distance from middle to high school left him with deep guilt, afraid of letting her down or hurting her again…

…

…

A knock on the meeting room door snapped Xu Chen from his thoughts.

“Come in!” Xu Chen called out.

A bob of hair peeked in—it was Sun Aimi, with her round face and round-framed glasses.

“Mr. Xu, I have some professional questions I’d like to ask you…”

Sun Aimi said softly, cradling her laptop.

Xu Chen smiled. “No need to be so formal, Sun. Go ahead.”

Sun Aimi walked over, laptop in arms, and sat next to Xu Chen.

“We at Black Duke Marketing pitched for the Fuyan Jie project too.

I was on the project team, but I didn’t go to Shanghai for the pitch, so I never met you then.”

Xu Chen nodded, waiting for her to continue.

Sun Aimi went on:

“I thought our proposal was solid.

Like the slogan we suggested: ‘Clean Once, Fresh All Day.’

And we recommended Yang Lan as the spokesperson.

I really felt it was a good fit and expected us to win the project.

But we lost anyway…

The client chose your plan after comparing options.

As someone involved, I was too close to see clearly, so I have some points I don’t fully get. I wanted to ask you directly.

How did you come up with the slogan ‘Wash Well for Health’ and pick Ren Jing and Fu Disheng as spokespeople? And how did you convince the client?”

Xu Chen glanced at Sun Aimi and nodded with a smile.

No wonder in his past life, when Xu Chen joined Black Duke, Sun Aimi was already a senior design lead and quickly rose to creative director.

She had a real drive and curiosity for the work.

Xu Chen shared the strategy behind the project openly with Sun Aimi.

He also compared and critiqued Black Duke’s slogan and spokesperson choices.

All of this had come up during the pitch to Renhe Pharmaceuticals, and Xu Chen had answered on the spot.

Sun Aimi listened intently, not saying a word.

Once Xu Chen finished, she sat quietly for a moment.

“Thank you so much for sharing, Mr. Xu. I’ve learned a lot.

I was a bit resentful at first, but after hearing your explanation, I totally get why the client picked your plan.

Honestly, yours is way better.”

Xu Chen added:

“Your slogan might be more straightforward, and your spokesperson has more fame and expertise…

But in advertising, there’s no such thing as the best plan—just the right one.

What I pitched was tailored to Renhe Pharmaceuticals and Fuyan Jie under the current circumstances.

Plus, the slogan, spokesperson, scripts, and ads are all part of a whole—you can’t judge them separately.

Especially when convincing clients, you need them to buy into the full package, not just one piece.”

Sun Aimi thought it over and said:

“I don’t fully grasp it yet, but I’ll remember what you said, Mr. Xu.”

She smiled shyly:

“Thanks again, Mr. Xu!”

“You’re too kind, Sun. I might need your design advice later!”

Sun Aimi paused, then smiled. “I’d be honored—feel free to reach out anytime!”

She hesitated:

“I heard your company is in Shandong Province?”

It wasn’t surprising she asked; most top ad firms were in Beijing, Shanghai, or Yangcheng—even Pengcheng was rare.

Let alone a place like Tiancheng in Shandong, which she’d never heard of…

Xu Chen: “We’re planning to move to Shanghai. The new company is already registered.”

Sun Aimi: “Oh, I see. Next time I’m in Shanghai on business, I’ll stop by.”

She packed up her laptop. “Anyway, I won’t take up more of your time. Thanks again, Mr. Xu.”

With that, she stood, bowed slightly, and left.

Fang Jun glanced at Xu Chen with a blank expression:

“Why go to all that trouble explaining everything in detail?”

“She’s a good one—might be worth bringing on board at East Morning Star Advertising someday.”

Fang Jun: “You can do that?”

Xu Chen suddenly remembered something and pulled out his phone to message Gu Xinxi from Renhe Pharmaceuticals’ marketing department:

[Gu, Black Duke has two cost quotes that need my sign-off. But East Morning Star wasn’t directly involved in procurement, so I’m not clear on the details. Is it okay for me to sign?]

A while later, he got a reply from Gu Xinxi:

[Don’t worry, Xu. It’s just a procedural sign-off. Since Black Duke is handling production, your approval is for the items only. We’ll review the amounts with them.]

[Got it, thanks.]

…

They hung around a bit longer, then went out to check the set changes.

The director and Black Duke team were busy, so Xu Chen didn’t interrupt.

Fang Jun said, “Can we go explore downstairs?”

“Of course.”

He messaged Li Fengfeng, then headed down with Fang Jun.

Stepping out of the studio, they looked around.

“This used to be a cotton mill,” Fang Jun said, eyeing a sign nearby.

The sign explained how the old workshops had been converted into this space.

They wandered around; Fang Jun found it all pretty novel.

Design studios, galleries, trendy cafes…

Who knew a state-owned cotton mill could turn into a creative park like this.

Fang Jun thought for a moment: “Was Xixi Cultural Tourism’s acquisition plan to make Bright Factory into something like this?”

“These creative parks only work in big cities.

In Tiancheng, there aren’t enough small creative firms to rent space.

I think Xixi wanted to build an amusement park, but even that might not sustain in Tiancheng long-term…”

They stopped at a cafe; Fang Jun ordered a Flat White.

Knowing Xu Chen didn’t drink coffee, she got him a lemon water.

“When we shoot those two stars tomorrow, can you get me an autograph?” Fang Jun asked.

Xu Chen smiled. “Didn’t know you were a fan of Ren Jing and Fu Disheng.”

Fang Jun: “It’s for my parents—they always sing their songs at karaoke.”

She sipped her coffee: “What about your dad? Any stars or songs he likes?”

Xu Chen thought. “A long time ago, he took me to a gathering twice. He grabbed the mic and belted out ‘Tears Behind Bars’…”

Fang Jun: “??”

…

They sat for a bit before Xu Chen got a message from Li Fengfeng.

“Let’s head back up.”

They got up and hurried toward ‘No Man’s Land Film Studio’…

Back in the meeting room, Li Fengfeng was already there.

He held some documents and forced an awkward smile:

“Mr. Xu, these need your sign-off.”

Xu Chen took them and skimmed through—the content was extensive:

“I’ll go over this carefully. Shooting’s tomorrow, so better catch any issues now.”

Li Fengfeng blinked and grinned: “Take your time, Mr. Xu. I’ll step out for a bit!”

Xu Chen nodded with a smile as Li Fengfeng left.

Once the door closed, Xu Chen pulled out the two cost quotes and handed them to Fang Jun.

Fang Jun took them silently, sat down, and started reviewing.

Xu Chen went through the rest—details on tomorrow’s shoot, including today’s tweaks. Nothing major, so he signed under ‘Producer Approval.’

Fang Jun was still going over hers line by line. She shook her head:

“Can’t spot any problems. It’s all detailed procurement quotes—big ones like spokesperson fees, shoot costs, broken down fine…

Even stuff like spokesperson hospitality, meals, set design, modifications, and labor.”

She paused, pulled out her phone, flipped open her Motorola flip phone with a snap, and snapped a few photos.

“The suppliers are noted—can check them later.”

She passed the sheets back to Xu Chen.

Xu Chen nodded: “Once the ad’s done tomorrow, there’ll be a final report. We can cross-reference then.”

He glanced over them quickly—seemed fine at first blush.

But could profit-hungry Li Fengfeng resist temptation?

Xu Chen signed under ‘Producer Approval’ on the quotes anyway.

Soon, Li Fengfeng waddled back in, walking a bit oddly—like his backside still hurt from an earlier fall.

He eyed the signed documents and smirked: “If you two are done, no need to stick around.

We’ve got the changes sorted—I’ll snap pics and send to the group for confirmation.”

Xu Chen nodded: “Appreciate it, Li.”

Li Fengfeng: “All part of the job. I’ll get a car to take you back!”

“Thanks, Li.”

Xu Chen said goodbye to the director, then left with Fang Jun.

Li Fengfeng played the perfect host, escorting them downstairs where a white Honda Odyssey waited.

The young account manager, Chen Xiaolong, was driving.

“Straight to the hotel, Mr. Xu?” Chen Xiaolong asked.

“Zhongshan Memorial Hall.”

He chose it because that’s where Xie Bingran and the others were.

…

On the way, Fang Jun scrolled through her phone, probably still checking those quotes.

She started to say something to Xu Chen, but he gestured for silence, remembering the driver worked for Li Fengfeng.

Fang Jun caught on and stayed quiet.

Half an hour later, they pulled up at Zhongshan Memorial Hall.

Chen Xiaolong politely saw them out: “See you tomorrow morning at the hotel, Mr. Xu and Ms. Fang.”

“Sounds good. See you then.”

…

Zhongshan Memorial Hall was like a big park, with the hall itself in the center—it had been a presidential site once…

Xu Chen had visited multiple times in his past life, even caught a few plays there.

Fang Jun was seeing it for the first time and found it fascinating.

They entered through the main gate and wandered around.

Xu Chen scanned the area and spotted Xie Bingran under a tree about fifty meters away, sitting alone on a bench with her brown backpack hugged close.