Chapter 411: Strategic Moves and Heartfelt Ties
by xennovelFor the ‘Head & Shoulders’ ad campaign, young Xu Chen offered some specific and detailed suggestions.
Procter & Gamble is a major foreign client after all, and this endorsement is incredibly important for Xie Bingran.
The ‘Head & Shoulders’ ad has a media budget starting in the tens of millions, which offers huge exposure value for Xie Bingran’s image.
……
Xu Chen’s suggestions weren’t numerous; they mainly targeted a few awkward spots in Sun Aimi and Tang Xiaowei’s script.
He also wove in the creative concept ‘Help me win clean and clear’ to enhance the story’s logic.
Tang Xiaowei tapped away at his keyboard, carefully noting down young Xu Chen’s feedback.
He stayed silent, but inside, he couldn’t help marveling repeatedly……
This was his first formal project meeting with young Xu Chen, and his first real glimpse of Xu Chen’s professional skills.
Before, it was just Sun Aimi and Gu Xinxi’s descriptions and hearsay; today, he finally saw it firsthand.
That slogan ‘Help me win clean and clear’ truly hit the mark, like the perfect punchline.
Compared to it, their line ‘Fresh and unbeatable’ felt bland and clichéd.
Plus, just using ‘fresh’ didn’t cleverly tie into the endorser’s champion status.
‘Help me win clean and clear’ cleverly linked to the anti-dandruff product’s function, matched Xie Bingran’s Asian Games champion identity, and fit his sharp, no-nonsense image……
It achieved three goals at once.
No denying it, he had to be impressed.
Young Xu Chen’s tweaks to the ad script seemed minor at first glance, but dig deeper and they hit the core.
Though Tang Xiaowei was new to the industry, he’d worked at a foreign 4A agency like Yangshi.
Listening to Xu Chen’s feedback, he could see the strategic and creative depth.
Even if Xu Chen wasn’t the boss, he held his own against international 4A creative directors.
That explained……
Why Sun Aimi respected and admired young Xu Chen so much.
And why East Morning Star Advertising, a small unknown firm, snagged projects like Jeep, Vanke, and Kunlun Mountain.
That nagging doubt surfaced in Tang Xiaowei’s mind again:
Young Xu Chen was just a university student who hadn’t even graduated yet……
……
Su Rong listened to young Xu Chen’s feedback too.
She pouted a little, feeling a bit deflated inside.
Xu Chen, her classmate and peer.
He was impressive.
Even some of Xu Chen’s points went over her head.
Was it because she hadn’t paid enough attention in class?
She glanced at Xie Bingran……
Well.
No wonder Xie Bingran liked Xu Chen.
They were both so capable.
……
Sun Aimi called Gu Xinxi into the office.
Xu Chen said:
“Xinxi, schedule the presentation with the ‘Head & Shoulders’ team.
The plan’s almost ready; Aimi can tweak it over the next couple of days and then you can present.”
Gu Xinxi nodded:
“Boss, you’re coming back after New Year’s Day, right?
What date works for you?”
Xu Chen thought for a moment:
“I won’t go……
Xinxi, Aimi, Tang Xiaowei—you three can handle it.
Check with Fei Jie; if she’s free, she can back you up.”
Sun Aimi blinked her round eyes:
“Boss, you’re not going?……”
Clearly, presenting to a big foreign client like Procter & Gamble made Sun Aimi a bit nervous.
She didn’t know about the last encounter Xu Chen, Fei Jie, and Gu Xinxi had at Procter & Gamble.
Xu Chen: “Dealing with Procter & Gamble is a hassle; I don’t want to ruin my mood……”
Sun Aimi paused, glancing at Gu Xinxi.
Gu Xinxi whispered:
“I’ll fill you in later……”
Xu Chen paused, then smiled and added:
“Don’t worry about the presentation; the plan’s solid.
And they have no choice but to accept it……”
Sun Aimi and Tang Xiaowei exchanged looks, puzzled by their boss’s words.
Xu Chen turned to Gu Xinxi:
“Remember our terms.
No bidding, no haggling.
If they suggest any changes, don’t agree on the spot.
Just say you’ll report back to me.”
Gu Xinxi: “Got it, boss!”
……
……
The meeting ended as dusk settled in.
Xu Chen quickly sent Gu Xinxi, Sun Aimi, and the others home.
Jiang Yuze and Sun Lingfeng were still working, so Xu Chen stopped by to chat and told them not to overdo it.
……
……
That evening.
In the reception room, Xu Chen opened a bottle of red wine and shared it lightly with his father Xu Zhiquan.
Fang Jun and Xie Bingran had already headed back to the hotel and dropped Su Rong at her dorm on the way.
Xu Zhiquan had come with Nie Fei.
As soon as they arrived, Xu Zhiquan told Nie Fei and the two guys still working to go home and rest.
With just father and son left, Xu Chen led Xu Zhiquan to the eighth-floor wine cabinet and let him pick a bottle.
Old Xu crouched down, examined the options, and pulled out a bottle of red wine:
“Without meat, let’s go with red wine.”
Xu Chen: “You have good taste; that 8-year Penfolds is the most expensive wine here.”
Xu Zhiquan chuckled:
“I’ll pay you back later!”
Xu Chen: “You’re too kind, Dad.
If you like it, I’ll buy a few more bottles and send them home to you.”
……
The father and son sipped red wine, chatting in a relaxed, enjoyable way.
Xu Chen shared some stories from school and his studies over the past half-year, while Xu Zhiquan talked about home life.
The conversation wandered from daily life and studies to business in the end.
Xu Zhiquan took a drag from his cigarette, a hint of pride in his voice:
“Nie Fei filled me in on Ran Bing Sports earlier today.
Son, this business has real potential……
Nie Fei’s savvy; she explained brand management for Anta, Li Ning, and Jordan.
I had no idea Xie Bingran’s name was worth so much!
I never thought selling shoes and clothes could be so profitable……”
He looked at his son with an affectionate smile:
“You’ve got the vision and the guts!”
Xu Chen: “It’s all thanks to you as my strong support, Dad.
And the investment from Lifeng Footwear……
Without your sharp decisions back then, Ran Bing Sports wouldn’t be where it is now.”
Xu Zhiquan laughed heartily:
“There’s luck involved too.
Honestly, I’m starting to believe we father and son have good fortune.
Starting a business is tough, full of bumps and rivals who might sabotage you.
But we always turn dangers into opportunities……”
Old Xu paused, lost in thought:
“Acquiring Bright Factory was a huge hurdle.
Since we cleared that, everything’s been smooth sailing.”
Xu Chen knew exactly what his father meant by that ‘hurdle’.
The Bright Factory acquisition was complicated and downright dangerous.
Back when Old Xu got stabbed in the parking lot, it still made Xu Chen shudder.
As his father said, though, once they took control of Bright Factory, success followed.
In Xu Chen’s eyes, his father Xu Zhiquan’s mindset had transformed since founding Chenfeng Technology.
That ancient idea of ‘vital energy’ probably captured it.
Old Xu took another puff and continued:
“Your grandfather used to say that achieving anything big means crossing three major hurdles.
We might face more challenges ahead……
But I have absolute faith that nothing can stop our luck now!”
The words sounded bold and overconfident, but from Old Xu, they carried pure sincerity and spirit.
Maybe it was the wine, but Xu Chen felt a surge of emotion.
He raised his glass and clinked it with his father’s.
The two shared a smile and drank it down.
……
Xu Zhiquan discussed the current state of Chenfeng Technology.
Production, technology, distribution, promotion……
He said it was to get more advice from his son, but Xu Chen could tell Old Xu was already a pro.
He didn’t need any lessons.
“Chenfeng Technology” was running smoothly in operations.
They were expanding production and bringing in advanced tech and lines……
With Wu Yongming and city support, they had a great environment and resources.
Old Xu took a drag and said:
“The biggest challenge now is with Guo Liang.
Next is expanding into the northern market, mainly building the distribution network and sales team.”
Xu Chen thought it over:
“Guo Liang’s got solid skills, but he lacked experience in this field before.
Now that the company’s on track, we’re attracting better talent……
If needed, we can poach someone.”
Xu Zhiquan shook his head:
“It’s not about people.
Guo Liang’s capable and knows distribution and sales cold.
He’s figured out the electric bike side in the last half-year……”
Xu Chen poured more wine for his father and waited.
Xu Zhiquan exhaled smoke:
“It’s competition.
The northern market has two or three big electric bike factories.
We want to break into their territory and take their share; they won’t just sit back.
Especially in their home base……”
Xu Chen recalled his initial research when convincing his father about electric bikes.
He knew those factories were around Tianjin.
As local producers, they had scale, market hold, and maybe some unseen influence.
Old Xu went on:
“The plus is, they rely on dealers too.
If we secure those big dealers, we can get our products out.
Once they’re out, with ‘Chenfeng Ice Power’s’ competitiveness, sales will follow.”
Xu Chen pondered:
“So, those dealers……
They’re not exclusive?”
Xu Zhiquan smiled and clinked glasses:
“That’s my clever son, spotting the issue right away.”
Xu Chen sipped his wine and just smiled.
Xu Zhiquan stubbed out his cigarette:
“You’ll be on winter break by month’s end, so bring Guo Liang and let’s brainstorm.
He’s out checking the market now; we’ll know more when he returns.”
Xu Chen nodded:
“Sounds good!”
……
……
The evening wasn’t too cold.
Xu Chen walked with his father around the campus before dropping him off at the Tonghai University Guesthouse entrance.
He watched his father head upstairs, then wandered the grounds a bit more before taking the elevator to the top floor.
……
He gently rang the doorbell.
The door opened to reveal Xie Bingran, fresh from a shower, soft and fragrant.
Xu Chen stepped inside and glanced at the bed.
“I was worried you might have brought Su Rong back again.”
Xie Bingran blinked her big eyes and whispered:
“I want to sleep with you……”
Xu Chen’s heart softened instantly.
Maybe it was the wine; his gaze grew a bit hazy.
He didn’t care that he hadn’t showered; he pulled Xie Bingran, in her white robe, into his arms.
As he leaned in to kiss her, Xie Bingran shrank back and murmured:
“You haven’t showered……”
Xu Chen: “Let me hold you first, kiss you first!
Once I’ve held you enough, kissed you enough, gotten my fill……
Then we’ll shower together.”
Xie Bingran caught the playful intent in his words, her face a mix of innocence, helplessness, and blush.
Xu Chen breathed in her sweet, soft scent and couldn’t hold back, pressing his lips to her tender ones.
Xie Bingran flinched, her arms pushing lightly against his chest.
But in the end, she gave in……
……
In their tender moment.
Their lips parted slightly, but their noses still touched.
Xie Bingran traced Xu Chen’s handsome jawline, hearing his heavy breathing:
“You’ve been drinking.” Xie Bingran said softly.
Xu Chen: “I have, and now I want you even more.”
Xie Bingran nestled closer in his arms, holding him tighter:
“I’m scared of you.”
Xu Chen: “Bing Ge fears nothing under the sun……”
Xie Bingran: “I only fear you.”
Xu Chen: “You’ve barely thought of me, always hanging out with Su Rong.
Xie Bingran was quiet for a moment, then hugged him tighter:
“If you don’t like it, I won’t talk to her anymore.”
Xu Chen inhaled the scent of her hair and held her even closer:
“I was just teasing.”
“Oh.”
……
……
Xie Bingran remembered something and said excitedly:
“I bought you clothes yesterday!”
Xu Chen: “Really?”
Xie Bingran turned and opened the closet, pulling out two large bags.
From one, she took a long white down jacket.
“Fang Jun said it’s still cold in the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau, so I got two down jackets.
This one’s for you!”
She held it up, blinking like a child waiting for praise.
Xu Chen slipped off his coat and put on the long jacket.
He checked himself in the mirror beside the closet:
“It looks great!”
Xie Bingran smiled with her lips pursed.
From the other bag, she pulled out an identical one and put it on.
They were matching……
Standing side by side in the mirror, Xu Chen slipped an arm around Xie Bingran’s waist.
Xie Bingran gazed at their reflection, lost in thought for a moment.
She leaned in closer and planted a gentle kiss on Xu Chen’s cheek.
……