On October 28, four sets of promotional videos and detailed plans for the essay competition landed on Director Fan’s desk.
“You move fast, don’t you? Tough on yourself and even tougher on others. It’s the 28th, and you expect me to arrange November ad slots?”
Director Fan grumbled but secretly admired Yuan Fenghui’s efficiency. Working with her was reassuring—she wouldn’t botch things. Her only “flaw” was her unyielding negotiation style.
High negotiation skills weren’t really a flaw, just a matter of opposing sides.
Yuan Fenghui smiled, “Anyone else couldn’t pull it off, but I knew you could.”
“Hmph, no flattery. Let me see the videos.”
Director Fan reviewed the promos and plans, feeling satisfied yet regretful.
He was impressed by their quality. Despite the rushed timeline, they were executed brilliantly.
Yuan Fenghui was talented!
But it was a pity the essay competition benefited the magazine, publisher, and film company, not the TV station. Otherwise, Fan would’ve jumped in.
This showed that while Liang Dan was skilled at events, she wasn’t irreplaceable. Yuan Fenghui could deliver just as well.
If such a chance arose, Wen Ying should be involved.
Young, but with vision and ambition, she was impressive!
Fan recalled first meeting Wen Ying, sensing her potential and wanting to chat, but Fang Ping had stopped him.
Fan smirked. Fang Ping, older with a good job, lacked vision and sense, deceived by a cheating man. Truly, some only age, not grow wiser.
With Fan’s help, Yuan secured a big discount, promptly locking in the ad slots.
Yuan got a steal, but Fan didn’t lose out. Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen were huge stars, especially Yun Chen, elusive post-fame. Seeing him in Hunan TV promos would thrill fans.
The impact of Wen Ying and Zhang Yangning’s videos was untested, but Fan felt the four distinct styles avoided fatigue and suited each star’s persona. He suspected Yuan was sneaking in personal branding for the four under the guise of promoting the competition!
Yuan’s work was flawless. Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen were the biggest names, Wen Ying less so, Zhang Yangning the least. Yet, all four were treated equally as protagonists, with the same production care. Zhang Yangning was likely the most touched.
After signing the contract, Fan gave Yuan a thumbs-up, “You’re something else!”
“I’m nowhere near you. Your sharp eye backs a new company like Tianjiao and gives newcomers a shot.”
Yuan’s praise left Fan glowing.
Securing *The Princess’s New Clothes* exclusive rights was indeed his keen judgment, a station consensus.
As Yuan and Fan left, they met Xu Mei at the entrance.
Xu Mei was there to record a show.
She was a changed woman. Fang Ping was no longer her agent; at Xu Mei’s insistence, Cao Bo took over.
Pan Li couldn’t stay her assistant either.
Xu Mei shed no tears, replacing old with new. Now with seven or eight assistants and three nanny vans for a recording, her status hadn’t risen, but her entourage had ballooned.
She’d cloaked herself in flamboyance.
As the approachable “little rabbit,” even at peak popularity, station staff treated her casually.
Now, they were polite, judging by her new image.
Xu Mei wasn’t alone; Cao Bo was there.
But he lagged a step, chatting with a young girl.
The girl was unfamiliar, stunningly beautiful with youthful vitality, not generic prettiness.
Yuan realised: this was Xu Mei’s replacement for the supporting role!
A glance at Fan confirmed her guess.
Fan, annoyed by them, said, “I’ve got business, won’t walk you out.”
“Stay, your work comes first.”
Fan fled, clearly wary of Cao Bo’s crew.
Yuan found it funny. Fan feared witnessing another scandal. The scene was odd.
Yuan’s gaze shifted to the girl beside Cao Bo, beautiful but unknown. Even with Yuan’s expertise, she didn’t recognise her—a pure newcomer, likely with connections or just her looks, landing a role opposite Yu Tianlin at debut. With opportunity and beauty, she had a shot at fame!
But she didn’t seem bright.
Xu Mei and Cao Bo’s engagement was still trending, yet this newcomer was openly chummy with him. If paparazzi caught this, Cao Bo would be trashed, and she’d get no praise.
Xu Mei didn’t care, ignoring her fawning fiancé. Yuan admired Xu Mei’s sharp rebirth.
—Brain cleared of nonsense, she knew what she wanted!
As Yuan passed Xu Mei, Xu Mei greeted her first. Yuan nodded back, their smile carrying a silent understanding.
Cao Bo’s face darkened. He ditched the girl he was flattering and stepped to Xu Mei’s side.
“You’re not thinking of jumping to Tianjiao, are you?”
Forced to propose, Cao Bo saved Xu Mei’s crisis but landed himself in a stifling spot. Scolded at home, his family disapproved of Xu Mei as a future daughter-in-law, especially since he proposed without telling them, which they struggled to accept.
