Part 2
Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance took three days to digest the customer traffic brought by the promotion. Now, the traffic had generally stabilized. The daily foot traffic was around 20,000, while the daily turnover maintained at 1.5 million. The shop’s items were still sold out as soon as they were listed.
Because of this data, Zhang Jun successfully obtained approval from the higher-ups to sign Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance as an exclusive shop with Starbuy.
Operator Zhang Jun: [Given that your shop’s data during the promotion was outstanding, it has been unanimously decided within Starbuy after discussion that we wish to sign an exclusive contract with your shop. The contract has been sent to you; please check it.]
“Exclusive shop contract?”
Zhu Ran opened the contract to read with some curiosity.
Signing an exclusive shop contract with Starbuy felt a bit like changing from a tenant to a property owner.
Starbuy would provide various benefits to the exclusive shop, including but not limited to more exposure, a lower commission rate, and a more professional behind-the-scenes support team.
But by the same token, a shop that signed an exclusive contract could not develop on other platforms during the contract term. Otherwise, it would have to pay a penalty ten times its cumulative turnover.
Zhu Ran carefully looked at the contract details and found no issues. He also searched on Star-search for: “How is Starbuy’s exclusive contract?”
The answer: [This is the contract most shop owners dream of! You get a high share of the profits and can obtain promotion and traffic from time to time. With Starbuy’s massive daily active users, just a few scraps of traffic could leave a shop owner stuffed.]
[Many of Starbuy’s top-tier shops started their ascent from signing an exclusive contract!]
[However, the shop owner should choose an operator to interface with who shares their temperament. For example, a ‘Salted Fish’ shouldn’t look for a ‘Volume King,’ and an influencer shouldn’t look for an ‘Old Fossil.’ Otherwise, coordinating later will be very exhausting.]
From the answers, it wasn’t hard to see that signing the exclusive contract was a good choice for Zhu Ran.
Zhu Ran then asked Zhang Jun: [If I sign the contract, will the person interfacing with me be you?]
Zhang Jun: [Yes! I will have full authority over your shop’s subsequent operational plans and build a dedicated support team for your shop.]
The cooperation between Zhu Ran and Zhang Jun during the promotion had been quite pleasant. The other didn’t interfere in the shop’s affairs and only focused on external publicity and promotion.
Zhu Ran then nodded: [Good, then I look forward to our future cooperation.]
The two swiftly signed the exclusive contract and added each other on Star-link.
In just a few minutes, a shimmering gold character for “Exclusive” appeared next to the name of the Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance shop.
Sharp-eyed netizens soon discovered this change and discussed it in small groups:
“The shop has become a Starbuy exclusive! Impressive, my shop.”
“Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance only took three weeks from opening to becoming an exclusive shop! Gold will always shine.”
“Congratulations to the shop owner for signing the exclusive contract!”
…
If it were any other shop being signed as an exclusive by Starbuy out of turn, other shop owners might have some objections.
However, since it was Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance, other shop owners didn’t feel it was undeserved.
After all, Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance was the only online shop in the entire interstellar era selling natural plants; it was one of a kind.
If Starbuy didn’t sign a contract with them, who would they sign with?
Zhu Ran later sent a message to Zhang Jun: [I plan to close the shop for renovations for one day and prepare for new products at the same time.]
Zhu Ran confirmed that the recent traffic had stabilized and the promotional traffic had been fully digested. He decided to put the listing of lavender essential oil and the shop expansion plans on the agenda.
A ten-square-meter shop clearly could no longer satisfy the growing customer traffic. Furthermore, to coordinate with the launch of aromatic products, the establishment of a holographic experience room was essential.
In that case, he might as well arrange it all together.
Zhang Jun: [Alright, go ahead and post the announcement!]
After receiving a response, Zhu Ran posted an announcement using the Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance shop account.
Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance: [This shop will be closed for renovations from 23:59 on January 14th to 24:00 on January 15th. We will not be open for business on the 14th. At midnight on January 15th, we will launch brand-new aromatic products. Please stay tuned.]
As soon as the announcement was out, the comments increased one by one.
[What? Not open tomorrow? I was waiting to buy Star Beauty QAQ]
[Ugh, a day without Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance… painful.]
[New products again? Aromatic products don’t sound like natural plants. Is the shop planning to pivot?]
[Pivoting right after becoming an exclusive shop—does this count as a contract scam?]
…
Many customers who had just fallen for Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance expressed disappointment upon seeing that aromatic products were to be launched.
Some competitors also started muddying the waters in the comment section.
What kind of aromatic products is a shop selling natural plants selling?
With the time spent researching new products, couldn’t they list a few more natural plants instead?
Has the shop owner lost his mind?
Can the shop owner just do natural plants properly? If you don’t agree, I’m unfollowing!
…
There were quite a few people voicing such dissatisfaction. However, with Zhang Jun’s help, the comment section was soon brought under control. The top comments were all “looking forward to it” and similar messages.
The speed of comment control could be described as very timely.
Zhang Jun was also initially skeptical about the aromatherapy products, but he felt relieved upon hearing Zhu Ran say they were derivative products of natural plants.
Derivative products~ probably something like the Daisy Tea.
Even if customers didn’t understand now, they would surely fall in love once they were launched!
Just you wait to be surprised!
Zhang Jun was full of confidence.
At night, at Garan University, Mu Qingzhou finished his final exams ahead of schedule, marking a beautiful conclusion to the semester with S-grade ratings in all subjects.
He held a shuttle ship ticket to Aipus Planet in his hand. His habitually cold gaze held a hint of expectation, softening his frost-and-snow-like temperament.
“I can finally see you.”
At 23:59 that night, Zhu Ran hung a “Closed for Renovations” notice at the entrance of the Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance shop.
Zhu Ran anticipated that everyone would not understand the aromatic products, so he made an appointment with Z to record an aromatherapy explanation video in the holographic world.
He had also told Yan You in advance that he would use the villa in the virtual community on the 14th, so the villa would not be open to artists that day.
Zhu Ran then transported himself to the villa in the virtual community.
This was Zhu Ran’s first time entering this small villa. The villa came with sample renovations, using a gray-and-white minimalist style that was very popular in the interstellar world.
Zhu Ran felt this kind of renovation was a bit too cold. Thinking that he would soon be recording an essential oil massage video with Z, he changed the bedroom’s renovation to a warm yellow tone, cozy and relaxing.
Five minutes later, accompanied by a ripple in space, Z was transported to Zhu Ran’s home.
Zhu Ran looked at the newcomer, his expression slightly surprised.
Z’s Starbuy virtual image was somewhat beyond Zhu Ran’s expectations.
Z in the holographic world was using the image of a young man who had just reached adulthood.
His figure was slender and somewhat frail, looking as if he would fall over with a gust of wind. His brilliant, beautiful golden hair had lost its luster, appearing somewhat dull and yellowed.
With this appearance, no one could link him to the sharp-aura Z.
Zhu Ran opened his mouth to ask: “Z…?”
“It’s me. This is the Starbuy image I used to use. Wait until I adjust it.”
As he spoke, accompanied by a ripple of data, the figure of that poor little Z instantly changed into the form of the young man Z.
He was tall with broad shoulders and back, giving a powerful sense of security.
Z didn’t use his own face; he used the face of Officer Weier.
Brown hair, blue eyes, with a cold and faintly oppressive expression.
Having done all this, Z walked to Zhu Ran’s side. The two stood together, and both their height and aura were harmonious.
Zhu Ran was using his own young adult image from when he was twenty-two. His figure was taller, his features were more defined, and the lingering trace of childishness had transformed into softness. Because of his spirited eyes, he exuded a striking sense of beauty, as if a plant were in full bloom.
At first glance, it was gentle; at second glance, it turned into a hidden, sharp beauty.
This was also Z’s first time seeing Zhu Ran’s holographic image.
The Zhu Ran in the real world made Z feel a desire to protect, while the Zhu Ran in the holographic world made Z’s possessiveness take the upper hand.
He wanted to… hide Zhu Ran away.
“My image is constructed by imagining how I would look in my twenties; I wanted to look a bit more mature and steady.”
Seeing Z’s gaze linger on his face, Zhu Ran proactively explained.
“You look more pleasing this way.”
Z nodded. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and asked with a tilt of his head: “Then do you prefer Officer Weier, or Z’s appearance?”
Zhu Ran looked up upon hearing this.
He looked at Z’s Officer Weier face for a long time, then compared it to Z’s original golden-haired, heterochromatic-eyed face with its deeper facial contours.
After pondering for a long time, Zhu Ran’s brow even unconsciously furrowed, as if he was troubled by the question.
If Zhu Ran really had any preference, it would be for fluffy, delicate small animals…
But clearly, whether it was Officer Weier or Z, it was impossible for them to truly become fluffy.
“Either is fine; I don’t have any particular preference.”
Hearing this answer, Z was silent for a moment before replying: “Understood.”
Z believed the face under the disguise was not as attractive as his original face. However, Zhu Ran now said he had no particular preference.
Did that mean his original appearance had no attraction to Zhu Ran?
Realizing this, Z’s heart felt stifled for a second.
Zhu Ran led Z into the bedroom.
“Lie down on the bed. I’ll perform an essential oil massage on you in the holographic world and then film the explanation video.”
“I’ll process your face in post-production.”
Z walked to the bedside but didn’t sit down.
Zhu Ran was confused: “What’s wrong?”
Z sighed helplessly and sent a message to Zhu Ran.
The next moment, an electronic notification sound rang in Zhu Ran’s ear:
[User ‘Z’ is requesting to engage in an intimate interaction with you. Waiting for your consent.]
Hearing the notification, Zhu Ran’s face instantly felt a bit hot, and his gaze drifted slightly.
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