Chapter 72: Plastic Brotherhood
As per tradition, when a Party A client visits a Party B contractor’s headquarters to discuss business, Party B is responsible for the hospitality.
If multiple Party B entities are involved in a bid or a joint collaboration, the client’s total visit time is divided by the number of contractors; everyone gets a day or two, or perhaps a meal or two, to play host.
However, Yong Ming, backed by a powerful conglomerate and feeling emboldened, refused to yield even a single segment of the hospitality rights to Shou Jiaxun.
The “Huancheng” itinerary involved a five-day stay in the Imperial Capital. Shou Jiaxun pleaded, “At the very least, give me two days, right? I’ll take the last two.”
Yong Ming refused. “Huancheng” executives were heading straight to Shanghai after leaving the capital. He intended to facilitate a seamless handoff to East China and would personally accompany them there. Therefore, during those last two days, he had to keep the clients firmly by his side.
His reasoning wasn’t purely to make things difficult for President Shou; it was because the “Dentsu” Group was so massive that there was fierce competition between regional branches.
Yong Ming wanted to be the “Alpha Wolf.” Since he had initiated contact with this major client, he was determined to follow through to the end, giving no chance for the East or South China branches to hijack the deal.
Shou Jiaxun said, “Then I’ll take the first two days.”
Yong Ming sneered. “Are you joking? ‘Dentsu’ is signing as the ‘Lead Agency.’ Do you think the airport reception debut is something I’d just hand over to you?”
Shou Jiaxun furrowed his brows. “Otherwise… what about the middle two days? You take Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and I’ll take Tuesday and Thursday.”
Before he could finish, he burst into a self-deprecating chuckle. This wasn’t a school timetable. If they shuffled the clients around like that, the clients would end up confused, and neither of them would sign the deal.
Their lunch lasted until after two in the afternoon, by which time they were the only table left in the restaurant.
Shou Jiaxun slumped back in his chair, tilted his head back, and sighed. “D*mn… whatever. I’ll send my regards via email. I won’t interrupt your ‘honeymoon’ with the bosses.”
He dared to say this because he knew that even if he didn’t seek out “Huancheng,” the client would specifically ask to see him.
It was just that “Guoran” would appear more passive when that happened.
Yong Ming lit a cigarette and took slow, contemplative puffs until it was finished. “How about this? I’ll carve out five seats for you. You bring four colleagues and join ‘Dentsu’ for the entire duration—from the airport reception to the send-off—every meeting, the whole way.”
Shou Jiaxun didn’t nod immediately, but his mind was already drafting the team list. The “Four Great Guardians” would definitely be two sales leads and two creative planners. The lead planner would be Yu Heng, and Yu Heng would bring an assistant.
On the sales side, one needed to have excellent English and eloquence to assist him at any time and maintain client relationships; the other needed a high alcohol tolerance to be the primary force for “table culture.”
Yong Ming urged, “Well? Is it a yes or no? Give me an answer.”
“Yeah, fine.” Shou Jiaxun nodded. “Split the hospitality costs fifty-fifty?”
“Tch…” Director Yong chuckled. “‘Dentsu’ isn’t short of those few pennies. My treat.”
“Heh, alright then.” There was no need for Shou Jiaxun to be polite, as “those few pennies” weren’t coming out of Yong Ming’s own pocket anyway. In fact, splitting the reimbursement accounts would have been more of a headache.
After leaving the restaurant, they went their separate ways. Shou Jiaxun returned to the office and spent the afternoon writing emails—English and Chinese, internal and external. Just before the end of the day, he held a meeting with Yu Heng’s group from the Advertising Department, announcing that they would officially begin following the “Huancheng” project next week.
Manager Yu Heng immediately selected a traveling partner. Naturally, that choice was not the newcomer, Liang Bo.
A “rookie” like Liang Bo was usually relegated to staying at the company to provide data support, and this time was no exception.
The company closed at six. Shou Jiaxun barely managed to dismiss the meeting by seven, lamenting to himself, Sigh… another overtime session.
But the group that was “dragged” the worst wasn’t actually this one. Just as Shou Jiaxun returned to his office, the Financial Director knocked on his door.
President Shou assumed the man was there to discuss the progress of the IPO preparations.
His CFO was an Alpha in his fifties, with a head of salt-and-pepper hair, lean and efficient. He entered the room with a wry smile before speaking. “We’ve been reported by our peers again.”
“Oh, haha…” Shou Jiaxun understood the subtext immediately. “Are they saying we’re engaging in unfair competition? Is the Price Bureau coming to audit our inventory turnover?”
The old accountant nodded. “Mm-hmm. But this time, the reporting entity isn’t a single shop. It’s an organization called the ‘Imperial Capital Fresh Supply Ecological Chain Joint Protection Association.'”
“Guoran Hen Ai Ni” was reported every year. Originally, several local fruit chains took turns being the “organizer,” with the core demand being to force them to raise prices.
Shou Jiaxun sneered. “Doesn’t sound like an official organization, does it?”
The old accountant smiled apologetically. “It’s not official. At most, it’s an industry alliance. Our competitors have joined forces.”
“Competitors… sigh, haha.” Shou Jiaxun hummed twice with an expression of boredom. “Ignore them. I’m not even running on the same track as them.
Tomorrow, I’ll have Fan Xiao find you. They have a new social media specialist over there. Tell them about ‘Guoran’ being reported for ‘malicious price bidding’ and let them stir it up through social media.
Then, start working on changing the business scope on your end. I want to change ‘Guoran Trading’ to ‘Guoran Technology.’ It’s best to complete this concurrently with the listing.”
The old accountant’s expression turned awkward. “A technology company needs to have corresponding technological products to operate, right?”
“There will be.” Shou Jiaxun’s expression was certain. “We can launch a set of digital client terminals, leveraging ‘Guoran Fresh Fruit’s’ private traffic, combined with offline marketing, to build a supply-and-demand ecological chain that truly belongs to us.”
“…?” The old accountant raised his eyebrows and stared, indicating he was listening intently but didn’t understand.
President Shou waved his hand and chuckled. “It’s nothing, I’ll handle it. You just host the Price Bureau first. And then… how are the preparations for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing accounts coming along?”
“They’ll be sorted out this week. I’ll send them over to the financial firm in Hong Kong next week for a look.”
Shou Jiaxun nodded. “Let me know whenever there’s progress. Show them to me before you send them.”
Then, he used his phone to send a meeting invite to the Marketing Manager: Tuesday at 10:00 AM sharp. Topic: Regarding “Guoran’s” Digital Transformation.
After the old accountant left, he pulled out a stack of white paper and began sketching out his new technological world.
As a workaholic, he needed a plan and an appointment for everything—except for working overtime.
Around eight o’clock, Guo Ran suddenly called. “What are you doing? Have you eaten? Are you still at the office?”
“I’ve eaten, I’m eating right now, I’m not at the office, I’m already home.” Shou Jiaxun lied through his teeth, but the fact that someone cared about him made the corners of his mouth turn up uncontrollably.
Uncle Guo gave a soft “oh” and started talking business. “Manager Liang from ‘Fanrong’ just called me. He said he wants to invite you to their headquarters this week for a tour and to discuss cooperation.”
“Sure.”
“Tomorrow?” Guo Ran asked, seemingly wanting to finalize the appointment as soon as possible.
“Tomor… row might not work.” Shou Jiaxun thought it was best to wait until they had dealt with the Price Bureau. Besides, in the next two days, aside from meetings, he wanted to personally interview several candidates for the Special Assistant position.
Uncle Guo: “Then I’ll give your WeChat to Manager Liang. He’ll add you in a bit, and you guys can set it up yourselves.”
“Mhm, okay.”
Uncle Guo added, “He’s the biological son of the elder Manager Liang. Very young, an Alpha, single. I think he’s a decent person.”
“Ah…” President Shou’s tone was hesitant as he deliberately misinterpreted Uncle Guo’s intent. “I have to find him a partner too? The only Omega I’m close to is you, Uncle. Are you interested in him?”
Uncle Guo: “Bah!”
Shou Jiaxun: “Bah bah bah…”
The two Omegas, young and old, hung up amidst a long string of disdainful “bahs.”
Near nine o’clock, voices suddenly drifted from the open office area, which should have been empty.
President Shou, who was immersed in sketching his new business blueprint, slowly looked up and listened intently.
At first, he thought it was a thief, but as the two people got closer, their voices became louder, and hearing them clearly only made him want to laugh.
Bai Fan shouted, “Aiya? The boss hasn’t left yet?”
Liang Bo said, “Maybe he just forgot to turn off the lights.”
Bai Fan said, “Then I’ll go turn them off for him.”
Liang Bo said, “Or maybe he hasn’t left. If he sees you, he’ll keep you for overtime.”
Bai Fan: “…”
The sound of footsteps grew closer. Soon, the glass door to Shou Jiaxun’s office was pushed open a third of the way, and two faces, one above the other, peeked through the gap.
Shou Jiaxun stared at them. “What’s the… meaning of this? You came back to keep me company for overtime?”
Liang Bo handed in a supermarket shopping bag filled with snacks and placed it by the door.
Bai Fan helped clarify: “Two hundred and eighty yuan.”
Shou Jiaxun was dumbfounded. “You two are quite close, huh?” He had made a joke about that amount to Liang Bo in the afternoon, and Liang Bo had apparently told Bai Fan in the blink of an eye.
Bai Fan gave a pleasant smile and pointed at Liang Bo. “A friend of a friend is a friend.”
Liang Bo nodded in agreement.
Shou Jiaxun nodded with a smile, suddenly feeling that the two people in front of him were actually quite a good match.
Bai Fan said, “I told him about my first love, and he told me about his. We felt a real connection.”
Shou Jiaxun continued to smile and remained silent; he didn’t know what to say.
Bai Fan asked, “It’s late at night. Aren’t you going to invite us in to sit for a bit?”
“Oh, come in then. I didn’t lock the door.” Shou Jiaxun seemed a bit slow.
After entering the room, Liang Bo went to sit on a sofa further away, while Bai Fan sat across from Shou Jiaxun’s desk, continuing to chatter. “We actually just met today. After work, I said I’d treat him to a meal to thank him for the job referral.
Then at the dinner table, we talked about high school. I said my first love was named Xiao Yu, a real hunk; he actually said he’d talked to Xiao Yu… it killed me.”
Shou Jiaxun let out a soft chuckle, but his gaze was vacant. He thought to himself, Where’s the punchline? Why don’t I want to laugh at all?
Bai Fan’s sense of humor, however, remained low, as if he were about to collapse from laughter. He leaned forward, hands resting on Shou Jiaxun’s desk. “My first love was secretly in love with his first love. My online date was his classmate. Don’t you think we’re quite fated?”
Shou Jiaxun gave a silly smile in agreement. “Really, you two are so fated.”
Bai Fan’s expression turned slightly awkward. “Shou Jiaxun, are you even listening to what I’m saying?”
Shou Jiaxun was a bit dazed, but he nodded. “I am… you said you’re very fated.”
Bai Fan turned back, looking at Liang Bo with a gaze that held a hint of pity. “You go first. I’ll sit with him for a while longer.”
Liang Bo nodded and stood up to leave the office. He was almost unnervingly obedient.
Then Shou Jiaxun stood up as well, stretching in place before going to the door to rummage through the shopping bag. He saw a box of “Mixed Nuts” and a few packs of beef jerky inside… “This little bit of stuff cost two hundred and eighty?”
Bai Fan turned halfway, crossing his legs. “Hey, I say, Shou Jiaxun, are you frigid?”
Shou Jiaxun opened the box of nuts, pulled out two bags, and returned to his desk, complaining to his old classmate. “The scope of your topics is too jumpy. I can’t keep up.”
Bai Fan crossed his arms and squinted, scrutinizing President Shou. “You say you don’t like Xiao Yu… I can understand that. He is indeed a bit chauvinistic. That ‘king of the world’ vibe can be a real headache sometimes.
Then there’s Guo Duoyu, who is so considerate! He’s also steady, has a good temper, and is easygoing. Crucially, he’s incredibly smart; he always keeps the awkwardness for himself and gives the grace to others. But you don’t like him either.
…I’ll reluctantly assume you dislike him because he’s dark-skinned.
This Liang Bo is funnier than Guo Duoyu and fairer; he’s more understanding than Xiao Yu and taller.
What exactly do you look down on him for?”
“I look down on the fact that he’s a man, haha,” Shou Jiaxun muttered under his breath.
Then, with an arrogant expression, he tilted his chin. “I like those who don’t like me. I’m naturally a glutton for punishment. For those who chase me, I feel they aren’t a challenge.
Once they ignore me, I won’t be able to stop myself from frantically… pursuing them.”
Bai Fan pursed his lips and rolled his eyes, exposing him on the spot. “Nonsense. When that time comes, you’ll run even faster.
Xiao Yu proved it four years ago. He’s gone through eight partners, and I haven’t seen you spare him a single glance.”
Shou Jiaxun finished one pack of nuts and opened another, asking Bai Fan with a confused expression, “Are you sticking up for them?”
“Hey, no. I’m jealous. Why don’t they like me?” Bai Fan gave him another massive roll of his eyes.
Shou Jiaxun frowned. “You wait… tomorrow I’ll talk to Fan Xiao about your performance review.”
The worker immediately changed his tune. “No, I didn’t, I just took a favor from Little Liang and wanted to say a few good words for him, that’s all.”
—”Please, which part of what you just said was a ‘good word’?”
“I was laying the groundwork.” Bai Fan scratched the back of his head in frustration. “Now I’m ready to say it…
It’s just that this guy Little Liang… is really quite good… and you might not be aware, his… his family is…”
Bai Fan stopped there, taking a deep breath. Unfortunately, he failed to say anything earth-shattering.
“—Actually quite wealthy.”
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