Every young consumer is a target that luxury brands desperately want to capture.
The earlier a customer’s spending habits are shaped, the stronger their brand loyalty becomes.
At eighteen a girl can only afford one lipstick with her pocket money.
At twenty she might stretch to a foundation.
At twenty-five she can finally buy the brand’s perfume with her own salary.
This is habit-building and customer nurturing. The girl who buys their lipstick at eighteen could become their handbag and ready-to-wear client by thirty!
This line of thinking wasn’t original to Wen Ying. In fact, all the major brands were already doing it. If they didn’t offer accessible make-up and skincare, hardly anyone could afford the expensive bags and clothing!
They did it, but no one in the domestic market had ever turned it into a marketing hook.
The rep murmured “every girl’s first lipstick upon coming of age” several times, growing fonder of it with each repetition.
Everything aligned perfectly.
Li Mengjiao had only just turned adult.
The brand had just launched a youthful make-up line.
And the copy was so direct and heart-grabbing.
The rep couldn’t help smiling. “Let me guess. If we don’t choose Li Mengjiao as spokesperson, Teacher Little Fish won’t sell us this promotion plan, right?”
Wen Ying smiled without confirming or denying.
Jiang Youjia panicked. “Director Fang, Jiaxin can produce a plan like this too—no, we can produce an even better one—”
Director Fang kept her smile, but her tone was firm as she cut him off. “I believe Jiaxin can come up with something better. Even if you don’t have the in-house talent, you can hire the best agencies in the industry. As long as you’re willing to pay, few things are impossible… But the best and most expensive isn’t always the most suitable.”
Jiaxin could commission a plan, and the brand certainly wasn’t short of money.
Spokespeople were paid from the marketing budget anyway. Promotion wasn’t just a celebrity face—it was an entire campaign!
Wen Ying’s plan might not be the absolute best in the world, but it was the most perfectly suited right now.
“Every girl’s first lipstick upon coming of age.” If executed well, that single line could become iconic across China. With a little more ambition, it could conquer Asia—or even the world!
At that thought, Director Fang’s heart raced.
She realised this could be the standout move that got her noticed by global headquarters.
In that instant she made up her mind: the spokesperson was secondary. She had to secure this plan. If Wen Ying’s condition was choosing Li Mengjiao, then Li Mengjiao it would be!
Jiang Youjia stared in disbelief at the gentle rejection.
This round wasn’t Xu Mei losing to Li Mengjiao—it was Jiang Youjia losing to Wen Ying.
His year-end bonus had flown away because of one sentence?
At a moment like this, Xu Mei was the more gracious one. She stood and extended her hand to Li Mengjiao. “Mengjiao, congratulations!”
She had already lost. Clinging on would only look petty. Better to be magnanimous. Losing to the future lady boss wasn’t shameful. She could still play the sympathy card with Yuan Fenghui later, or wait and see if the boss offered “consolation”. Xu Mei could take the L in stride.
Besides, her new drama with a bigger role than “Alley Family” was airing next month. It would bring plenty of attention.
Today one brand thought she suited them. After the drama aired, others definitely would too!
Li Mengjiao shook Xu Mei’s hand, looking dazed.
Had she just been carried to victory by Wen Ying again?
Holding Xu Mei’s hand, Li Mengjiao felt a mix of pride and guilt.
Xu Mei wasn’t inferior to her at all.
Xu Mei’s only disadvantage was bad luck—she hadn’t formed a deep friendship with Wen Ying and didn’t have a whole crew of friends shielding her.
For the first time Li Mengjiao won an endorsement, yet shame outweighed joy. Wen Ying’s earlier words echoed in her mind. She felt unworthy.
Xu Mei had no idea Li Mengjiao was having such a crisis. After releasing her hand she took the initiative to say goodbye.
Director Fang had a very good impression of Xu Mei. If not for Wen Ying’s brilliant plan, she would definitely have chosen Xu Mei.
Seeing Xu Mei remain composed despite losing, Director Fang’s opinion of her rose further. She stood to see her out and said sincerely, “Miss Xu, I’m certain we’ll have deeper cooperation in future. In fact, we have a new product launch next week. If you’re free, I’d love to invite you. Many friends from the fashion world will be there.”
Who would turn down an opportunity like that? Xu Mei immediately accepted.
Jiang Youjia snapped out of it and thanked Director Fang repeatedly.
They had lost fair and square. He wasn’t going to let the brand think less of him. After graciously congratulating Li Mengjiao and Wen Ying, he left with Xu Mei.
Once only Director Fang, Wen Ying, and Li Mengjiao remained, Director Fang’s smile grew even warmer. “Teacher Little Fish, shall we discuss your promotion plan now? I hope your fee won’t be too steep.”
A good marketing plan never came cheap.
Thanks to the right creative strategy agency, a domestic toothpaste brand had jumped from 60 million to 1 billion in revenue in two years!
Thanks to the right agency, a stationery brand had crushed competitors and become the domestic leader in no time!
These were legendary success stories.
Wen Ying alone couldn’t match an entire agency’s long-term strategic services, but her plan was perfectly tailored to the brand’s current needs. The best things in the world were expensive, and Director Fang never expected it for free.
Reaching a mutually acceptable price would already be a happy outcome.
Wen Ying looked a little shy. “How much do you think is fair? I’ve never sold a marketing plan before and don’t know the going rate. Why don’t you just make an offer? If it feels right, I’ll sell. After all, I don’t know anyone at other brands.”
On the surface it sounded fine, but the subtext was lethal.
She didn’t know other brands now, but with this plan as a calling card she would instantly have doors opened everywhere.
“Every girl’s first lipstick upon coming of age” would work just as well for any competitor launching new products aimed at young consumers!
Director Fang made a tentative offer. Wen Ying’s shy smile didn’t waver. “I really have no idea how to price these things. Whatever you think is fair works for me.”
Director Fang’s head hurt.
If only she knew Director Fan from Hunan TV—Fan would grab her and say from the heart: Stop trying to save the company money! What’s the point? The savings don’t go in your pocket, and you only end up offending the little fox. You lose far more than you gain!
Director Fang raised the offer a little.
Wen Ying still smiled.
Director Fang gritted her teeth and raised it a third time. “If that still isn’t suitable, then…”
Wen Ying seized the moment and beamed. “That’s perfectly suitable. Thank you for valuing my work.”
Director Fang let out a quiet breath of relief.
The third offer was already near her upper limit.
She could have stretched another few hundred thousand, but afterwards she would inevitably think Wen Ying was greedy.
The current price was close to her expectations without breeding resentment. Wen Ying had played it masterfully!
Watching Wen Ying and Director Fang shake hands, both eager to move straight to contracts, Li Mengjiao’s mouth hung open.
What just happened?
Who am I?
Where am I?
She had come to fight for an endorsement—how did Wen Ying end up selling a marketing plan on the spot?
Even more shocking: Director Fang paid more for Wen Ying’s plan than the brand was offering Li Mengjiao for the endorsement!
This world was too surreal.
Li Mengjiao arrived dazed and left even dizzier.
Director Fang personally escorted them to the door.
Wen Ying told her not to bother, but Director Fang insisted Wen Ying attend next week’s new product launch.
“We’ll announce the spokesperson at the launch.”
“I’ll definitely be there.”
Wen Ying promised with a smile.
Only once they were back in the nanny van did Li Mengjiao let out an ear-piercing shriek at Xiao Mei. “You have no idea how incredible Wen Ying is!”
Xiao Mei’s eyes sparkled. “I was waiting in the lounge. When Xu Mei came out first I knew you’d won. I never imagined—”
Assistants like Xiao Mei hadn’t been allowed in the room.
Seeing Xu Mei’s look today, even Xiao Mei, as Li Mengjiao’s assistant, couldn’t honestly say Xu Mei wasn’t perfect for the endorsement. She was!
Yet somehow Li Mengjiao had won.
If Yuan Fenghui had been here, a comeback wouldn’t be surprising. But today the leader was young Wen Ying.
Xiao Mei was older than Wen Ying, yet now she looked at her with pure awe. “Sister Wen, you’re unbelievable. Turning the tables like that!”
Age didn’t matter.
Ability made you the big sister!
Xiao Mei had finally found the perfect way to address Wen Ying.
Li Mengjiao glared. “Hey, you didn’t even let me finish! When I say Wen Ying is incredible, I don’t just mean she secured the endorsement—she sold the brand rep a whole marketing plan… I have no idea when she even prepared it!”
Yuan Fenghui had negotiated 3 million for Li Mengjiao’s endorsement fee—modest for a major cosmetics brand.
Director Fang paid more than 3 million for Wen Ying’s plan—higher than Li Mengjiao’s fee!
Xiao Mei’s mouth formed a perfect O.
Wen Ying had only stepped in temporarily for Auntie Wang. When on earth had she found time to create a plan worth more than the endorsement itself?
Wen Ying remained perfectly calm. “Same time I was cramming brand history with you two. I read the materials once, then felt like writing something.”
And just like that, after burning the midnight oil, she produced a plan worth over 3 million?
Xiao Mei knew Wen Ying was a genius at writing—novels and screenplays, top-tier in both.
She accepted that Wen Ying could earn millions publishing books. Normal people simply didn’t have that talent; you could only envy.
But writing a novel took months—yet staying up until midnight produced a marketing masterpiece? That was beyond genius~
For one brief moment, Xiao Mei wanted to ask if Wen Ying needed another assistant.
Not because she wanted to betray Li Mengjiao—she genuinely wanted to learn from Wen Ying!
