At lunch, I told Zhang Tingmei and Liu Xue about being reassigned to assist the advertising department.
“Brother Nan, that tigress is obviously trying to sideline you and force you to quit. You don’t need to do that kind of work.”
“Exactly, Brother Nan. Don’t fall for it. Brand positioning and celebrity endorsements are none of your expertise. Why go?”
Both Tingmei and Liu Xue tried to persuade me.
“What can I do? The advertising team wants to sign Liu Yan as brand ambassador. They’ve asked me to select the ten best-selling sample styles based on sales data, deliver them personally, and be on call to visit factories whenever needed. Damn it, that tigress is making me run errands for advertising,” I said quickly.
“Liu Yan? The superstar Liu Yan?” Zhang Tingmei gasped the moment she heard the name.
Liu Yan was a top-tier celebrity: stunningly beautiful and famously curvaceous. Some maliciously claimed she had risen through her b00bs, but that was clearly far-fetched. I knew that if a star of her calibre endorsed us, the fee would be astronomical.
“Yes, Liu Yan. The advertising department must be in chaos right now. If she actually had availability, it would have been settled long ago instead of dragging on,” I explained.
“I’m a huge fan of Liu Yan!” Zhang Tingmei exclaimed.
“Tingmei, focus. We’re talking about Brother Nan being turned into an errand boy,” Liu Xue reminded her.
Seeing Zhang Tingmei so excited, I gave a helpless smile and continued, “Anyway, your bonuses and commissions this month will be substantial. We should celebrate.”
“Haha, all thanks to Brother Nan!”
“Exactly!”
Watching them beam, I turned my thoughts to my own schedule: a factory visit this afternoon, a stop at advertising, plus tomorrow’s tasks.
I handed my current workload to Zhang Tingmei and Liu Xue, then drove off after lunch.
On the road, I took a call. He Lulu would arrive in Shanghai at three. I had to settle her in. And tonight, I still needed to deal with Sun Dan.
After collecting over a dozen top-selling samples from the factory, I went to the advertising department. Since Sun Dan had already briefed them, Manager Lan received me in her office.
“Supervisor Lin, sorry to trouble you personally this time,” Manager Lan said, looking surprised.
Lan Xinmei, manager of Daifen’s advertising division, was not only strikingly beautiful but also an overseas returnee who had contributed immensely to our brand image.
“Not at all, Manager Lan. Here’s to pleasant cooperation,” I replied quickly.
“Indeed. The difficulty is that, while Liu Yan perfectly fits our brand, Yadie Company is also pursuing her endorsement,” Lan Xinmei nodded, then smiled bitterly.
“Yadie?” I frowned.
“Yes. In Shanghai, Yadie has always been our main rival and keeps us suppressed,” she explained.
“Then what? Celebrity deals usually go to the highest bidder, right?” I said, resting my chin on one hand.
“Exactly. Tomorrow evening, colleagues from PR and I will treat Miss Liu Yan’s agent to dinner, hoping to gauge the likely fee,” she continued, then added, “Supervisor Lin, if you’re free tomorrow night, you’re welcome to join us.”
I considered it briefly and agreed.
“Very well. See you tomorrow evening. Nothing urgent today anyway,” Lan Xinmei smiled.
“Perfect,” I nodded, glad for the breather.
Since Sun Dan had sent me here, I would follow Lan Xinmei’s lead. She said tomorrow, so tomorrow it would be.
Leaving advertising, I contacted He Lulu and drove to pick her up at the train station.
After the National Day holiday apart, He Lulu looked even more beautiful. She wore an Adidas tracksuit, hair in a high ponytail, graceful and radiant, pushing a suitcase.
“Brother Nan!” She waved when she spotted my car.
I stopped in front of her, loaded the suitcase into the trunk, and gestured for her to get in.
“Lulu, how’s the job hunt?” I asked while driving, glancing at her in the passenger seat.
“I’ve got a flat modelling gig with a company in Xuhui,” she answered softly, a blush rising when our eyes met.
“Good. Stay at my place tonight. Tomorrow I’ll help you find an apartment,” I smiled.
“Thank you, Brother Nan,” she murmured, biting her lip shyly.
Just thinking of He Lulu spending the night at my apartment sent heat through me. Tonight I could finally cherish her properly.
“Let’s head home first, then have dinner,” I said.
Back home, I tidied the bedroom, then took her to a nearby restaurant for a simple meal.
“Brother Nan, watch a movie with me tonight?” He Lulu asked after dinner.
“I’m afraid not tonight. I have to go out later. You’ve just arrived; go home, shower, and rest. If I’m back early, I’ll join you,” I replied after a pause.
“Brother Nan… Sister-in-law won’t be coming home tonight, right?” she asked, blinking up at me.
“Of course not. She’s abroad and won’t return until Christmas,” I assured her.
Only then did He Lulu relax.
Because tonight I had to punish Sun Dan, I had already booked a suburban hotel room and ordered her to appear.
As dusk fell, I arrived at the room, checked everything, and took out a pair of black stockings.
I certainly wouldn’t let Sun Dan see my real face. I wore casual cl0thes bought specially for tonight, completely unlike my usual style.
“Miss Sun, where are you? Why aren’t you here yet?” I messaged from my alternate WeChat.
“At the hotel. Coming up now,” Sun Dan replied anxiously.
I walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down. A white Infiniti had just pulled into the car park.
It was Sun Dan’s car. She opened the door, glanced around cautiously, then stepped out.
From this distance I could only make out a baseball cap and large sunglasses; obviously trying not to be recognised.
Hmph. Tonight I’ll deal with you properly.
I smirked coldly, pulled the black stockings over my head, cut two eyeholes, checked the mirror in the bathroom, confirmed she wouldn’t recognise me, and finally allowed myself a satisfied smile.