Ji Ling listened to Yan Yixuan speak, lifting his gaze to glance at the night sky outside the window. Even though it was already deep into the night, the darkness wasn’t complete. The lights painted the sky a reddish hue, and Ji Ling couldn’t help but wonder how many business opportunities lay hidden among the neon lights and the bustling nightlife.
He responded to Yan Yixuan, “I’ve told you before, if I really can’t make it, I’ll come to you with my head in my hands. But for now, there’s no such worry.”
Yan Yixuan chuckled again, his laugh lazy and suggestive, drifting in and out like it was far and near. “If you’re willing to come see me now, I could give your company some extra funding.”
Ji Ling snorted.
Here he was, trying to tease him again. If he went to meet Yan Yixuan now, he’d probably be devoured without a trace. Everything was finally on track for him now, so it wasn’t like back when he had to borrow money. There was no need to go looking for trouble.
Yan Yixuan didn’t get angry when he heard the snort. Instead, he said, “Oh, so your wings are strong now, huh? Don’t even need the sugar daddy’s money anymore? Looks like those chips were worth it after all.”
Ji Ling couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. Yan Yixuan knew all about the little snack company. Compared to Yan Yixuan’s billion-dollar turnover, his own small efforts, like hiring some bots and writing soft articles, seemed insignificant.
Ji Ling replied, “Young Master Yan, don’t tease me. Your family’s loaded, and I’m already feeling nervous enough just borrowing those few bucks. I wouldn’t dare ask for more.”
What he meant was that there was only borrowing, no giving, between him and Yan Yixuan.
If he really accepted more money from Yan Yixuan, that would solidify the whole sugar daddy thing, and he didn’t want that.
Yan Yixuan understood what he meant. It was hard for a small company to get funding, and every penny had to be counted carefully. Ji Ling had turned him down so clearly—either he was too confident or too cautious.
Ji Ling glanced out the window again and said, “It’s so late. Why don’t you get some rest, Young Master Yan?”
“Hmm…” Yan Yixuan seemed to check the time. “You’re right. Although you’re unwilling to accept my good intentions, I still want to send you a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Wait for it tomorrow.”
With that, Yan Yixuan hung up the phone.
Ji Ling stared at his phone, noticing the number displayed on the caller ID. He saved it quietly, but his mind was still trying to figure out what Yan Yixuan was up to.
He thought about it for a while but couldn’t figure it out. So, he gave up. Yan Yixuan had too many tricks up his sleeve, and it was impossible to predict them all. It was better not to think too much about it and just take things as they came.
Ji Ling put the thoughts of his sugar daddy aside and dove back into work.
The next day, Ji Ling quickly understood what the ‘gift’ was.
Early in the morning, a young woman in a well-tailored suit, high heels, and a flawless makeup look walked into the company and stood in front of Ji Ling.
“Hello, Mr. Ji. Vice Chairman Yan sent me here to assist you. My name is Mo Yulan.”
Ji Ling’s first thought was that this woman must be one of Yan Yixuan’s lovers, right?
But then he quickly dismissed that idea.
Although she spoke politely, her face was cold, and as she walked in, aside from checking in with the front desk, she kept her eyes forward, showing no interest in anything around her.
Ji Ling finally understood and couldn’t help but chuckle.
This wasn’t a discarded lover; this was someone who had been sent away after falling out of favor—like a banished court official.
Ji Ling asked her, “Assist? I’m curious, what exactly did Young Master Yan want Miss Mo to assist me with?”
“Vice Chairman Yan said that Mr. Ji can treat me as just another employee here.”
“Then what position did Miss Mo hold under Young Master Yan?”
Mo Yulan didn’t answer immediately. She paused before saying, “…I used to work in the secretary’s office.”
No wonder she seemed so unwilling. She had been doing well as a secretary in a big company, and suddenly, she was assigned to this shabby little company. Anyone in her shoes would be upset.
Ji Ling almost couldn’t hold back his laughter.
Yan Yixuan was truly a man who knew how to handle things from every angle. No wonder he had a reputation and even attracted people who kept throwing themselves at him. Even though his personal life was wild, he still had a great reputation in the business world.
He knew exactly where to scratch to make people happy.
Earlier, Ji Ling had been worried about the staffing situation, but now Yan Yixuan had sent him a strong helper, someone who could help him take on the world. This was a hundred times better than if he’d just thrown money at him.
Although Yan Yixuan had sent her over with some intention of keeping an eye on him, Ji Ling didn’t have anything to hide at the moment. He looked Mo Yulan up and down and said, “But I don’t have the money to hire Miss Mo.”
Mo Yulan finally couldn’t keep the corner of her mouth from twitching as she said, “Vice Chairman Yan said that my salary comes from him, so you just need to tell me what to do.”
Ji Ling clapped his hands loudly. “Well, that’s great! We’re about to have a discussion meeting. Why don’t you join us, Miss Mo?”
Ji Ling really was preparing for a meeting.
At the moment, he had a case that he wanted to discuss with everyone. Most of the projects his company was handling came from low-budget productions or small businesses. He worked quickly, kept costs low, and had short timelines. He’d become a favorite of third-tier clients in the entertainment marketing industry—almost a friend to small productions.
Now, finally, he had a bigger project on his hands, and Ji Ling wanted to gather everyone to talk about it.
He made sure to call He Xiaoguang over, even though the guy wasn’t familiar with the business side of things. Still, he was sharp. Ji Ling even pulled the front desk girl into the meeting, since she was now the company’s brand ambassador.
It wasn’t exactly a formal meeting; they just pushed the tables together in the lobby and sat in a circle, chatting away.
Mo Yulan clearly wasn’t used to this kind of atmosphere. She sat up straight, as stiff as a board.
Ji Ling started by introducing Mo Yulan to everyone. After some casual greetings, they dove right into the matter at hand.
“The project we’re discussing is a production company seeking funding. They want to connect with potential advertisers during the shooting preparation stage. They’re hoping we can connect them with the right clients to do product placement in the show and complete the sponsorship deals.”
Ji Ling paused for a moment, and He Xiaoguang immediately jumped in, “Well, then go find someone! There are so many brands wanting to do product placements now—there’s practically a thousand product placements in a single TV episode.”
Ji Ling continued, “The program is a documentary.”
He Xiaoguang quickly shut up.
“Because it’s a documentary, there are very few clients willing to take on the project. Also, because it needs to fit the tone of the documentary, the options for product placements are quite limited.”
“Of course. You can’t just stick potato chips in a documentary,” He Xiaoguang interjected.
“…” Ji Ling almost wanted to smack him. “So, our job is to help the producers choose product placements that align with the documentary’s theme, while also creating a plan to convince the clients to sponsor. Now, let’s hear your thoughts on this.”
“Hmmm… educational institutions? Bookstores?” He Xiaoguang suggested.
“The types are too similar, the effect would be poor. It’s like splashing ink on a blackboard—it’s hard to leave a deep impression on the audience, and in the end, it won’t meet the advertising expectations of the clients,” Ji Ling denied.
He turned to Mo Yulan and smiled. “I wonder if Miss Mo has any good suggestions?”
Although Yan Yixuan had told Ji Ling to treat Mo Yulan as an employee, he still showed her respect.
Mo Yulan’s expression softened considerably, and she said, “Since it’s a documentary, the positioning should be high-end and niche. The product placements need to be refined. At the same time, the placements can’t be too frequent; they have to grab attention, and it’s best to go for well-known brands that the audience is familiar with.”
Ji Ling nodded. “If it’s an unfamiliar brand, it’s hard to leave a lasting impression in such limited seconds of screen time. We need products that are instantly recognizable. There’s another problem, though—the production company is actually short on funds. They want an injection of money, so we’ll need big brands with the budget. Public interest or intellectual products aren’t really an option.”
Mo Yulan paused for a moment and then said, “High-end and wealthy… I think we can try foreign companies.”
Ji Ling slammed his hand on the table. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. Classic foreign brands want to create a high-end image, but they can’t lower their standards enough to fit into local entertainment programs. This type of program should align perfectly with their needs.”
“And foreign companies generally don’t expect to make money from this kind of promotion. They’re just after a brand image, so the pressure on the production company is also lower,” Mo Yulan added.
Ji Ling nodded again.
The conversation between Ji Ling and Mo Yulan was getting more and more engaging, while the front desk girl had already started reapplying her nail polish. He Xiaoguang was propping up his chin, half listening, barely keeping his eyes open.
“The high-level cloud talk of the brainy—the rest of us won’t get it,” He Xiaoguang muttered.
Ji Ling was fully immersed in the discussion with Mo Yulan and didn’t pay attention to the others. Finally, he said, “But we’re talking about foreign companies here. Their marketing departments are high up on their thrones, and for a small company like ours to make an impression, we have to come up with the best proposal.”
He narrowed his eyes and smiled at Mo Yulan. “Miss Mo, you’ve worked in big companies before, so you must have plenty of experience. Why don’t you prepare a proposal for us? I’m sure it’ll broaden our horizons.”
Mo Yulan lifted her chin slightly and said proudly, “Of course. Please provide me with the details, Mr. Ji.”
Ji Ling knew that Mo Yulan would never back down if it meant proving herself.
For the first time, Ji Ling felt like a boss. He used to do everything himself since there was no one capable under him. But now, he could delegate. Once the proposal was ready, he could review it, make some changes, and be done.
Ji Ling finally had someone reliable to take with him for business meetings. Mo Yulan’s presence was on a whole other level compared to the front desk girl, which made the receptionist rather upset, so much so that she was determined to attend tutoring classes to improve herself.
Of course, Ji Ling was more than happy for her to go—at least she’d become a vase with some substance—but he was doubtful she’d stick with it.
This project was going exceptionally smoothly for Ji Ling. The production company behind the documentary was already powerful, and with Ji Ling’s marketing support, their goal was clear. A foreign brand’s marketing division in China agreed with Ji Ling’s pitch, and they successfully signed a product placement deal.
The fee Ji Ling received from this was much higher than what he earned from placing potato chips in an online drama. Plus, he also shed the title of ‘friend of small productions,’ and now more producers, media platforms, and brands were considering him for collaborations.
Since his business was growing, it no longer made sense for everyone to stay cramped in an old building meant for both business and residential use—it was seriously damaging the company’s image.
So, Ji Ling finally made the decision: it was time to move.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
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