Just as Xia Zeyu had anticipated, Shen Congjin opted against dropping over fifteen million yuan to sign Chi Wei. Instead, he chose to recruit a second-tier up-and-coming actress, reportedly shelling out over thirty million yuan for a six-month endorsement contract.
Viewed in that light, securing Chi Wei for five million yuan for a full year was an absolute bargain, especially since Chi Wei was destined to vault into the second tier within a month purely off the back of that supporting role.
In his original world, Xia Zeyu had rarely laid eyes on truly exquisite women’s attire; female character fashion in male-oriented web novels tended to be absolute disasters consisting almost entirely of black stockings or spaghetti-strap slips. Consequently, he chose not to meddle excessively, delegating the task of selecting, pairing, and matching accessories entirely to the young female employees within his department.
Ultimately, they settled on two distinct sets of Song-dynasty-style Hanfu, complemented by mature and poised makeup styling, paired with bespoke antique-craft jewelry handcrafted by veteran artisans. Everything was set.
The moment Chi Wei’s official promotional stills dropped, even Xia Zeyu’s eyes lit up. Oozing an aura of regal elegance, she radiated the commanding presence of a true matriarch of an ancient household. No wonder she proved capable of rendering such immense assistance to Shen Congjin later on; the casting was flawlessly suited to her.
Spurred by this success, Xia Zeyu stepped back into the fighting ring for a few more brawls, pulling in ten million yuan to fund the installation of a massive digital billboard on the exterior wall of the company building, reserved specifically to broadcast Chi Wei’s promotional commercial when the time arrived.
Throughout the past few days, his father and Xia Zexing spared no opportunity to toss snide, passive-aggressive remarks his way, accusing him of losing his mind and wasting money on a whim. Ignoring them entirely, Xia Zeyu kept his head down and focused squarely on executing his own plans.
Following a dozen-plus days of intense preparation, the scheduled release date for the promotional stills and advertisements finally arrived. The product publicity department buzzed with anticipation as they awaited the stroke of twelve noon to broadcast Chi Wei’s campaign across various major digital platforms.
Yet true to nobody’s expectations, at 11:30 AM, Shen Congjin preemptively launched his own competing campaign, securing top-tier placement across five major trending search slots.
Panic instantly consumed the entire department.
“What do we do now, Director Xia… should we postpone our release?”
Anxiety hung thick in the air as department employees sighed despondently. Shen Congjin’s preemptive strike delivered a devastating blow; with internet algorithms currently saturated by the Shen Corporation and their newly signed starlet, who would possibly care about a campaign released a mere thirty minutes behind schedule?
Xia Zeyu, however, remained entirely unperturbed. Lifting his teacup to take a calm, unhurried sip, he stated smoothly, “We proceed with the release right on schedule.”
Exchanging bewildered glances, the employees dared not talk back to Xia Zeyu, leaving them no choice but to follow his directives.
The original novel dedicated roughly two chapters of narrative weight to Chi Wei; she remained a supporting character of considerable significance. Why had Shen Congjin so casually cast her aside?
Interesting, Xia Zeyu mused. Let’s see whether Shen Congjin’s protagonist halo holds more sway, or if the sheer momentum of the original plot’s narrative force reigns supreme.
At precisely 12:00 PM, Chi Wei’s commercial went live across all target platforms. Xia Zeyu’s long-dormant corporate social media accounts suddenly flooded with organic traffic, prompting random passersby to snap photographs of the massive exterior billboard and post online inquiries demanding to know the identity of the woman featured.
Within a single afternoon, related search tags organically clawed their way into the top ten trending slots. Though it occupied a solitary spot, barely surviving between the cracks of the Shen Corporation’s dominant trending topics, it remained an impressive feat considering Xia Zeyu had spent virtually zero budget on paid placement trending slots were exorbitant, and he remained fiercely protective of his funds.
So this is the legendary era of internet dominance and celebrity worship? he thought. I used to think stories of celebrities earning 20.8 million a day were exaggerated historical artifacts, but reality turned out even more absurd.
Good grief, I should’ve just become a celebrity instead of brawling in fighting rings. Picked the wrong starting class.
Racked with lingering financial regret while scrolling through the comment sections, Xia Zeyu alternated between laughing and crying.
[Oh my god, this sister is the ultimate goddess crush for every lesbian!]
[How did Xia Jewelry suddenly upgrade their aesthetic? Didn’t they used to hire plastic-surgery-inflated internet influencers?]
[She was literally born to star in martial arts epics and grand historical dramas!]
[Turns out gold and jade weren’t tacky at all, I’m just the tacky one.]
[Holy shit, the craftsmanship on these jewelry pieces must be worth a mansion, right? I was laughing at the Xia family going bankrupt just the other week, but looking at this now, I realize I was the ultimate clown.]
[Is the precision on this phoenix coronet genuinely 100% handmade? Absolutely mind-blowing!]
[If you could manufacture stuff like this from the start, you should’ve just said so! Stop pushing those tacky, mass-produced ‘520 heart-to-heart rose’ monstrosities!]
[Xia Jewelry finally remembered what foundations built their empire! This is the unique, high-end bespoke craftsmanship we need!]
[Did the Xia enterprise finally swap out their marketing planners? Watching them throw away their high-end positioning to chase assembly-line trash previously nearly gave me an aneurysm talk about smashing your own brand signboard!]
Splendid. The public reception exceeded expectations. The narrative momentum accompanying Chi Wei still proved remarkably formidable; although their raw metrics lagged behind the Shen Corporation’s powerhouse campaign, it far surpassed their initial projections.
Over the ensuing week, inquiries from prospective bespoke clients flooded in. The reception lobby at Xia Jewelry enjoyed a long-overdue surge of bustling activity, while branch store sales experienced a steady, upward climb. This quarter’s financial report wouldn’t look nearly as horrific anymore.
His father and Xia Zexing promptly clamped their mouths shut, completely shedding their previous passive-aggressive sneers and even taking the initiative to drop by and inquire whether Xia Zeyu planned to come home for dinner.
Summoning the pair into his office, Xia Zeyu found himself lacking a sofa or any extra chairs, forcing the father and son to stand rigidly before his desk like students serving detention.
Blowing gently across the surface of his steaming tea, Xia Zeyu took a slow sip before speaking in an unhurried drawl: “Pardon the cramped quarters, gentlemen subjecting the two of you to such poor hospitality.”
Catching the underlying implication in his words, his father offered an awkward smile. “You should move into that larger corner office outside.”
“Oh? Wasn’t that office previously earmarked as a reserved backup for Xia Zexing? Didn’t you claim I lacked the qualifications to utilize equipment of that caliber?”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” his father stammered, putting up a stubborn defense. “I said that merely to motivate you. Look at the concrete results we’ve achieved now…”
“You certainly possess a remarkable talent for gilding your own lily,” Xia Zeyu interrupted, his voice dropping into an icy chill. “During all the grueling work I pulled off recently, did either of you lift a finger to assist? I had to personally beg those veteran artisans to return, funded their craftsmanship fees out of my own pocket, and watched my budget proposals sit on your desk gathering dust without a single signature of approval. Every single cent of expenditure up to this exact second was wrenched out of an underground fighting cage while risking my life. What purpose do you serve other than generating headaches?”
“Don’t phrase it so maliciously,” Xia Zexing protested indignantly. “You merely managed a single department! The company as a whole is massive and isn’t run by you alone Dad and I poured in just as much effort as you did.”
“If your supposed efforts consistently fail to generate positive returns, then I strongly suggest you save yourselves the trouble and stop trying.”
“You!”
“Furthermore, how did Shen Congjin manage to precisely time his advertising campaign to clash with mine? Don’t tell me one of you ran your mouth over dinner with him?”
“How would I know? Maybe your own department leaked internal information!”
Catching a fleeting flash of panic ripple through Xia Zexing’s eyes, Xia Zeyu couldn’t help letting out a cynical, mocking chuckle.
To lock down Shen Congjin as their son-in-law, they were willing to sell out the company wholesale. They weren’t blind to the relentless effort Xia Zeyu poured into executing the endorsement campaign, yet they still harbored zero hesitation in trying to sabotage his hard work.
Waving a dismissive hand, Xia Zeyu lacked the patience for further dialogue. “Have someone completely gut and renovate that office; I despise its current aesthetic layout. Now get out.”
Livid over his blatant disrespect yet inhibited by the proximity of the office staff outside, his father swallowed his rage, dragging Xia Zexing away in silence.
Massaging the bridge of his nose, Xia Zeyu felt a wave of exhaustion washing over him. The physical stamina of this body lagged drastically behind his original self; despite rigorous training and utilizing supernatural energy to replenish his vitality, he still couldn’t match his former peak output.
If it were back in his old world, he could have instantly summoned a bolt of lightning to fry Shen Congjin into cinders how much simpler life would be.
[Host, kindly retract your lethal inclinations.]
“Noted. Peaceful era can’t go around murdering people willy-nilly.”
Just as Xia Zeyu contemplated ordering a beef over-rice delivery, his phone suddenly chimed with an incoming call from an unfamiliar number.
A foreboding premonition prickled along his spine.
Sure enough, the moment he accepted the call, Fu Dongyan’s velvety voice echoed from the earpiece.
“Director Xia, Chi Wei’s brand campaign turned out exceptionally successful. My congratulations.”
“Where did you even acquire my private number?” Xia Zeyu demanded with a touch of irritation.
“Is running a trace on a phone number difficult for me?”
“State your business.”
“Am I forbidden from simply calling to enjoy a casual chat with you?”
“Hardly.” Xia Zeyu rejected him flatly.
“You’re remarkably consistent in being the very first person to reject me so bluntly.”
Xia Zeyu wrinkled his nose in mild disgust, wearing the expression of someone who had just swallowed a fly.
What kind of archaic, cheesy CEO dialogue is this?
Unfazed by the cold shoulder, Fu Dongyan cheerfully pressed forward: “Care to step out for a celebratory drink together tonight? My treat.”
“Not—” Xia Zeyu paused, briefly mulling over a thought before shifting gears. “Fine. Name the time and place.”
“Excellent. I’ll reach out shortly.”
Having secured the desired response, Fu Dongyan terminated the call with crisp efficiency without lingering for conversational padding.
Testing the waters, are we? Fine by me—I’ve been itching to probe you, too.
Whether Fu Dongyan stood as an enemy or an ally, and whether his actions posed a disruptive variable to his own master plan, were questions weighing heavily on Xia Zeyu’s mind. Playing a single-player campaign only for it to abruptly shift into competitive multiplayer mid-run felt profoundly annoying.
At 9:30 PM, Xia Zeyu arrived promptly at the coordinates provided by Fu Dongyan. Situated in a slightly secluded corner of the city, the bar maintained an inviting ambiance retaining a lively energy without devolving into deafening chaos or sliding into the stifling boredom of a quiet lounge.
He scanned the patrons’ attire as he walked past; luxury wristwatches and high-end designer footwear abounded, marking it clearly as an exclusive playground catering strictly to society’s elite heirs.
An R&B band performing live on stage caught Xia Zeyu’s ear, matching his personal musical palate, prompting him to pause for a moment to absorb the rhythm.
Barely seconds into lingering, a hand brushed against his shoulder before sliding down to squeeze.
“Hey there, gorgeous. Haven’t seen you around here before? first time?”
Xia Zeyu cast a sidelong glare at the groper, then violently batted his hand away.
“Oho, spicy temperament. I like your style got a wild kick to it.”
“My temper packs an even wilder punch. Care to test drive it?”
“Bring it on.” The man spread his arms wide, a greasy, self-satisfied grin plastered across his face.
Just as Xia Zeyu raised his palm to deliver a stinging slap, a sudden shove from behind jolted him forward.
Reacting on instinct, he spun around, his impending curse evaporating the instant his eyes registered the identities of the individuals stumbling into his field of view.
Three sleazy, disreputable-looking punks were dragging a stumbling, inebriated Tang Tang forward, muttering a string of vulgar, degrading obscenities under their breath.
“Damn, this kid actually cleans up nice. Initially, I felt a bit squeamish about touching a guy, but seeing him up close now, I guess I can swing it.”
“Never imagined I’d actually get lucky enough to score Shen Congjin’s little pet canary.”
“Make sure you snap plenty of photographs later the more scandalous, the better.”
Discarding the obnoxious greaser trying to flirt with him entirely, Xia Zeyu abruptly masked his personal energy aura and slipped silently into their trailing wake.
He tracked the group all the way to the tenth-floor suite corridor, lurking quietly in a blind spot while watching them drag Tang Tang into one of the rooms.
“System, how does this sequence play out in the original text?” Xia Zeyu inquired.
[Shen Congjin’s corporate rival lures Tang Tang out under false pretenses, gets him heavily intoxicated, and hires three thugs with the intent to violate him. Right at the moment they’re about to succeed, Shen Congjin bursts through the door, thrashes the three scumbags, executes a classic hero-saves-the-beauty rescue, and successfully squeezes out an extra tier of romantic affection from Tang Tang.]
“Trite,” Xia Zeyu muttered in disdain. “Trite enough to make my scalp crawl.”
[What are your intentions?]
“What am I going to do?”
A cynical smile crept across Xia Zeyu’s lips as he strode purposefully toward the door, raised his fist, and delivered a single devastating punch that shattered the electronic lock before kicking the door wide open.
A shrill alarm klaxon pierced the corridor air security here apparently operated on a competent standard.
Inside the suite, Tang Tang had been stripped down to a solitary pair of underwear, surrounded by three naked, repulsive men a visually revolting spectacle.
“W-Who the hell are you?!”
Without wasting breath on words, Xia Zeyu strode forward, clamped a hand directly onto the hair of the speaker, and effortlessly hurled him flying off the bed and crashing onto the floor.
The remaining two thugs opened their mouths to yell, but before a sound could escape, Xia Zeyu delivered a lightning-fast one-two combination of stinging open-hand slaps, perfectly calibrated to induce temporary, disorienting deafness.
Capitalizing on their delayed disorientation, Xia Zeyu tossed the pair to the floor alongside their cohort, jammed a sturdy chair beneath the doorknob to jam the exit, and turned around to flash them a chilling, predatory smile.
“I’ve been carrying a bit of pent-up stress lately. Would you three gentlemen mind helping me blow off some steam?”