Would you work for free to shoot an ad for the group?
This condition… Mr. Liu felt a tiny bit tempted, about the size of a fingernail.
But the temptation was so small, Mr. Liu easily brushed it off.
“Ms. Liang, what do you take me for?”
Mr. Liu laughed at his own question, “Of course the group wants to save on promotion costs, Ms. Liang’s suggestion is considerate, if the spokesperson was some A-list star, doing it for free could save millions!”
But is Xu Mei an A-list star?
Of course not!
Li Mengjiao isn’t either.
No matter how much Mr. Liu likes Li Mengjiao, his loyalty lies with the group.
So-called ad endorsements are paid based on a star’s status, whether it’s Xu Mei or Li Mengjiao, the dairy group hired them to align with Hunan TV’s promotion plan, both were winners of last year’s talent show, tying them to this year’s show feels seamless.
Mr. Liu is pleased with this plan, but beyond that, neither Xu Mei nor Li Mengjiao has the fame or status to be chosen as the group’s spokesperson!
Newcomers have newcomer rates, Mr. Liu wasn’t planning to pay much anyway, so he was puzzled by Liang Dan’s offer to save costs.
—What gave Liang Dan the impression he’d care about such a small amount?
Compared to the spokesperson’s fee, the real expense is the title sponsorship fee the group pays to Hunan TV!
Having spent the big bucks, choosing an unsuitable spokesperson just to save a little would make Mr. Liu question if Liang Dan was insulting his intelligence.
Seeing Mr. Liu still smiling, Liang Dan tried to plead, “Mr. Liu, Xu Mei has a fanbase and is a priority artist for our station, we’re not just collaborating once—”
“How about an 80% discount?” Mr. Liu cut her off.
“What 80% discount?”
“The title sponsorship fee, 80% off!”
Mr. Liu’s condition made Liang Dan smile bitterly, the sponsorship fee goes to the station, she couldn’t approve even a 99% discount.
Mr. Liu’s face darkened, “Not even 80% off, no sincerity at all, I don’t like being played, if you want to convince me, show me something real.”
A discount on the sponsorship fee was out of the question.
As for the “real stuff” Mr. Liu wanted, Liang Dan thought hard but came up empty… wondering if Mr. Liu was the lecherous type.
But even if Xu Mei agreed, Young Master Cao would not.
Playboys like Cao are hypocritical, they can fool around, but won’t let their girlfriend’s hat turn green!
Liang Dan vaguely invited Mr. Liu for a casual dinner tonight, suggesting they could decide after, the dairy group’s waited this long, half a day won’t hurt.
Dinner, huh?
It’s either money or seduction.
Money’s great, but as a group executive, Mr. Liu’s income is steady, how much could Liang Dan bribe him for Xu Mei’s endorsement?
Forget it, with Xu Mei’s fame, Liang Dan’s offer would be limited, not worth risking a watermelon for sesame seeds.
This sponsorship for the talent show is to promote a product line, if successful, the profits would be in the billions, such a critical task entrusted to Mr. Liu shows his capability.
But because of this, many rivals within the group are waiting for him to stumble.
They don’t just want to see him fail, they want to tear chunks off him, ideally pulling him from his position.
Money’s like that, and so is lust, a blade hangs over desire, each cut bone-deep!
Mr. Liu’s face turned cold, “How many years have you worked, Ms. Liang?”
Liang Dan wondered why he brought this up, but him talking was good, so she recalled, “Since graduating university and joining Hunan TV, this is my twelfth year.”
Mr. Liu clicked his tongue, “Ms. Liang, you’re truly accomplished.”
“You flatter me, my small role can’t compare to your importance in the group.”
Twelve years to climb so high, impressive for anyone, let alone a woman, TV stations have just as many snakes and demons as the dairy group.
No wonder Liang Dan was so confident!
In media, Liang Dan’s a veteran… she’s probably arranged plenty of dinners like tonight’s, right?
Some are willing to give, others to take, it’s not Mr. Liu’s business, he’s no saint, he just stated a fact, “I’m not like that, started at 19 after technical school, assigned to the dairy plant, only became deputy director at 36, a late bloomer, at 38 I was set to be director, but the plant was acquired by the group in 1999. Now I’m 44, finally climbed back up, do you think I need tonight’s dinner?”
Liang Dan took 12 years to earn the right to talk to Mr. Liu, but he spent 25 years to reach his current role.
From 19 to 44, a man’s prime 25 years of career struggle!
How much sweat, how many falls, to become “Mr. Liu,” he won’t let anyone, for any reason, ruin his career.
Liang Dan was speechless.
Mr. Liu was still in the mood to vent, “Who’s capable, who’s not, I judge for myself, no need for your meddling, the saved endorsement budget? The group doesn’t care, neither do I!”
Think he’s an idiot?
The saved money doesn’t go into his pocket, the group sent him to Hunan to spend, not save, they’ve spent the money, they want the best promotion results!
…
Mr. Liu and Liang Dan talked in the office for ten minutes.
When Mr. Liu returned to the audition site, Liang Dan didn’t follow.
Wow, talks collapsed!
Wen Ying wanted to buy firecrackers to celebrate for Li Mengjiao.
Sure enough, when Mr. Liu reappeared, he was ready to bulldoze all obstacles and confirm Li Mengjiao as the spokesperson.
“Mr. Liu, recording the song takes time…”
“Record it, it’s only noon, can it be done this afternoon?”
Mr. Liu didn’t ask Yuan Fenghui, only Li Mengjiao.
Li Mengjiao thought about the song she sang, found it simple, and nodded.
Mr. Liu laughed heartily, “Little girl, I like your straightforward attitude!”
The promotional song could be recorded this afternoon, but the ad needed time to shoot, no big deal for Mr. Liu, today’s Saturday, tomorrow’s Sunday, a whole day for filming!
This time, Mr. Liu didn’t ask Li Mengjiao, but the ad director.
The director, knowing Mr. Liu’s temperament, agreed readily, and Mr. Liu laughed, “Everyone work hard, finish the ad tomorrow, I’ve got red envelopes for you!”
As expected, Mr. Liu was adding money!
The ad director’s last bit of reluctance vanished.
Mr. Liu arranged everything clearly, only after Yuan Fenghui and others left did she smile and discuss the endorsement fee with him.
Mr. Liu glared, “Ms. Yuan, know what Liang Dan just told me? She said if I pick Xu Mei, she’d do the ad for free, fully cooperating with all promotions!”
Meaning, Xu Mei’s doing it for free, so Yuan Fenghui better not ask for too much.
Whoever thinks Mr. Liu’s foolish is the real fool, he’s sharp as a tack!
