She sang great!
That comment sealed the deal for the entire audition.
Xu Mei felt like a clown, while Liang Dan took a deep breath, trying to reason with the dairy group’s team leader, “Mr. Liu, there are other contestants waiting outside. They’ve been waiting so long… Why not take a look at them?”
If Xu Mei didn’t cut it, there were still several others to choose from!
Any one of them getting picked would keep the meat in the company’s pot—no loss there.
In her haste, Liang Dan spoke less tactfully, not considering that Xu Mei was still present or how she might feel.
Mr. Liu waved his hand dismissively, “I’m not interested in the rest. If there were anyone good, you’d have pushed them in front of me already.”
Choosing last year’s runner-up to endorse this year’s competition made sense.
Someone not even in the top three—why should they represent the competition?
Truth be told, Mr. Liu was a bit dissatisfied.
He’d watched last year’s competition footage, expecting Li Mengjiao to take the crown. When the results came out, he felt like a fangirl who’d bet on the wrong CP, utterly disappointed.
If only Li Mengjiao had been last year’s champion.
The annual champion endorsing this year’s competition would’ve been fitting, and it’d align perfectly with the group’s ambition to be No. 1 in the domestic industry… Thinking of this, Mr. Liu was a bit annoyed, “Why didn’t Li Mengjiao win last year?”
Liang Dan’s smile completely faded.
What was she supposed to do?
Hit a rewind button and hand the annual championship to Li Mengjiao?
It wasn’t her fault. The blame lay with Li Mengjiao, who didn’t want to give up her “freedom” or sign a contract yet still wanted to be champion. If they’d set such a bad precedent, future contestants would follow suit.
Besides, not winning didn’t stop Li Mengjiao from landing this year’s competition endorsement and a highly influential ad deal for a newcomer!
Liang Dan’s heart grew heavier.
At this point, she didn’t know who to blame.
Xu Mei for not stepping up, or her husband for letting Li Mengjiao slip away?
Liang Dan took a deep breath, lowering her stance, “Mr. Liu, can we talk privately?”
Mr. Liu didn’t want to talk—he wanted to chat with Li Mengjiao.
But with so many eyes on them, and Liang Dan being the chief planner and person in charge of this year’s competition, what if she sabotaged the group’s ad campaign out of spite?
Mr. Liu reluctantly nodded, and Liang Dan invited him to the next office.
Before leaving, Mr. Liu turned to reassure Li Mengjiao, “You sang really well. This song was made for you!”
Li Mengjiao singing made the company’s product sellable—her voice gave the lyrics credibility.
If Xu Mei sang “sour and sweet, that’s me,” Mr. Liu, imagining himself as a consumer, wouldn’t want to buy.
Xu Mei’s vibe was better suited for herbal tea ads, with her hint of bitterness perfect for a cooling, detoxifying campaign.
Mr. Liu went to the next office, full of unspoken complaints.
Yuan Fenghui wasn’t worried at all and didn’t chase after to stop Liang Dan’s private talk with Mr. Liu.
A winner needs some grace.
Yuan Fenghui even asked Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao if they were tired, “You two, sit and rest for a bit.”
The audition office had only a few chairs.
When Xu Mei was auditioning, everyone else sat watching her.
Now, with Liang Dan gone, one chair was free, and Mr. Liu’s seat was empty too.
Yuan Fenghui wasn’t bold enough to let Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao take Mr. Liu’s chair—that’d be awkward when he returned.
But the other chairs were fair game.
Yuan Fenghui’s gaze swept over, and Pan Li, who’d been trying to stay invisible, instinctively moved to offer her seat. But someone beat her to it:
“Sit here.”
Shockingly, it was Young Master Cao.
Pan Li was stunned.
Young Master Cao, are you out of your mind?
Your girlfriend Xu Mei is right there watching!
Pan Li was shocked, while Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui grew wary.
Especially Wen Ying, who’d been unnoticed earlier and had been observing everyone’s reactions during Li Mengjiao’s audition.
Young Master Cao had been off since earlier, his gaze toward Li Mengjiao a bit too intense.
Li Mengjiao was an underage high school girl… Young Master Cao, you greasy second-gen creep!
Xu Mei couldn’t stay in the audition office any longer. Earlier it was humiliation; now it was embarrassment.
This was not the time for her boyfriend to play the gentleman!
Doing this, where did it leave her?
If it were Qin Yi, he’d never do this. Qin Yi would never let her feel embarrassed in any situation. Xu Mei’s humiliation and grievances broke her limits, and she turned, opened the door, and rushed out of the office.
Pan Li followed her out, and Young Master Cao, with an awkward chuckle, realised his comment was poorly timed and went after his girlfriend.
Now there were plenty of chairs—pick any one.
Yuan Fenghui had Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao sit to rest, while she went to chat up the ad director with a smile.
The director, seeing Mr. Liu’s attitude, knew they’d likely work with Li Mengjiao. With Liang Dan gone, he spoke frankly, “You came prepared today, didn’t you? This entrance was perfect for the ad.”
For the shoot, they could replicate something close to Li Mengjiao’s look today.
The backpack was a must.
The twin pigtails had to stay.
The skirt could change, maybe to a full preppy outfit.
Yuan Fenghui humbly deflected, while Li Mengjiao excitedly shook Wen Ying’s arm, “Did you hear that? The director’s praising you!”
Wen Ying felt a bit guilty.
Was this cheating?
With her past-life memories, she knew what product the dairy group was promoting. Li Mengjiao happened to fit the brand’s needs perfectly, and Wen Ying’s job was to highlight those qualities to make the brand leader instantly smitten.
She’d played a role in this.
But the key was still Li Mengjiao herself.
If the brand didn’t like her, today’s entrance would’ve seemed contrived.
It was precisely because they already liked her that Li Mengjiao’s appearance hit Mr. Liu’s sweet spot.
More than the director’s praise, Wen Ying was curious about what Liang Dan would say to Mr. Liu.
At this point, what could Liang Dan do to turn things around?
Promise Mr. Liu that choosing Xu Mei would mean more ad exposure?
Unlikely.
That would backfire.
Mr. Liu, as the sponsor’s representative, would be furious: You’d increase exposure for your pick but limit it for ours?!
It had to be something else.
With the endorsement contract unsigned, Wen Ying was still a bit worried. Though talking with Li Mengjiao, her thoughts drifted to the next office.
…
Mr. Liu went with Liang Dan, carrying a bit of a grudge.
In the next office, Liang Dan closed the door, but Mr. Liu insisted on keeping the window open.
Who knew what a woman like Liang Dan might do? He feared if she shut the door and window, she might strip and accuse him of being a creep, putting him at her mercy.
Liang Dan found Mr. Liu’s caution laughable but had no mood to beat around the bush. She laid out her terms directly, “If you choose Xu Mei as the spokesperson, she’ll do it for no fee.”
