“We signed a one-year endorsement contract with Li Heng for the ‘Deep Sea’ jewelry series, which expires in a month. Given the positive response to the jewelry series he endorsed, we proposed renewing the contract.”
“Just when we were about to sign the renewal contract, he suddenly changed his mind and demanded a higher endorsement fee. His attitude was firm—no reduction whatsoever.” Assistant Wen stood before the desk, reporting the situation to his boss.
Ji Qingyan leaned back in his chair, lips pressed tightly together. His slender fingers lightly tapped on the desk as he slowly spoke, “How much does he want?”
“Five million. The original contract drafted was for three million per year.”
The other party had skyrocketed to fame with a hit idol drama, rising to the ranks of top-tier celebrities, gaining countless fans and becoming immensely popular for a while.
Assistant Wen added, “There’s news circulating that Song Group recently extended an olive branch to his agency, offering him an endorsement for their high-end products, but the agency’s stance is ambiguous.”
Both Song Group and Haidens have luxury jewelry and fashion brands under their portfolios, and they have always been in competition—it’s fair to say they are rival companies.
Looking at the other party’s profile in his hand, Ji Qingyan was clearly displeased, his tone cooling slightly.
“He’s not worth five million, and his image doesn’t align with the ‘Deep Sea’ jewelry brand either. The sales performance is barely acceptable, not meeting my expectations. Who exactly hired this artist?”
“Director Li insisted on selecting him personally from a pool of many artists, despite differing opinions.”
“Li Chengwei? I’ll talk to him properly later.”
Ji Qingyan slapped the documents onto the table with a “thud,” his expression grave, carrying an imposing aura of authority. “Tell him we don’t accept his demands.”
The position of endorser for the ‘Deep Sea’ jewelry series was now vacant. Ji Qingyan looked at the thick stack of artist profiles before him, flipping through a few pages casually. A photo of stunning, bold beauty caught his eye—the name column read Xie Yantang.
He pulled out that profile and glanced at it a few more times. This one was far more suitable than Li Heng.
Ji Qingyan said, “Have the advertising department head come to my office.”
“Okay, President Ji.”
Ji Qingyan and Lu Qi’s companies were very close. For half a month straight, Lu Qi had been coming to his office for lunch, sometimes ordering takeout, sometimes eating out.
Many people in the company had become familiar with this young master Lu. Whenever lunchtime approached and they saw Lu Qi appear in the company, they would tease, “Coming to eat with President Ji again?”
Lu Qi always smiled cheerfully and said, “Yes.”
That day, after lunch, Lu Qi sat on the sofa watching a basketball game on Ji Qingyan’s computer. He wore a simple white T-shirt and black pants, head lowered, slightly long bangs covering his brows and eyes, yet not diminishing his handsome face at all.
Ji Qingyan seemed to have grown accustomed to it. He walked over and sat beside Lu Qi, placing his coffee on the table before them. “Still not finished watching?”
Lu Qi glanced up at him briefly before quickly shifting his gaze back to the screen. “Almost done. 47:35—I told you this team would win, but you insisted on arguing with me.”
“Enough already, will you stop?”
Through their interactions over this period, the two had become much closer and familiar with each other. Ji Qingyan had thought Lu Qi might avoid him after that day, but unexpectedly, this person came to the company every day to share meals with him.
Ji Qingyan gently nudged Lu Qi’s leg with his knee. “Hey, aren’t you so poor you can’t afford food, treating my place like a cafeteria?”
“Wow, I hid it so well but you still found out. On the surface, I’m a glamorous rich kid, but actually I’m a pitiful little guy exploited by my uncle, working for him without pay, with no money to spare.”
Lu Qi put his laptop aside, sighed, and leaned onto Ji Qingyan’s shoulder, clutching his arm, pretending to sob a few times. “If it weren’t for President Ji’s help, I’d have starved to death on the street.”
Ji Qingyan mercilessly pushed his head away, softly saying, “Then you should just starve on the street.”
“No, President Ji.” Lu Qi shook his shoulders.
“Enough, I’ll kick you out right now if you keep going.” Ji Qingyan felt dizzy from the shaking.
Hearing this, Lu Qi stopped his performance. He stood up, walked behind Ji Qingyan, placed his hands on his shoulders, and diligently massaged him.
“You dislike how much I eat? Then I’ll eat less next time.”
“You don’t like me coming over? Then I won’t come anymore. It’s just a bit lonely eating alone, but I’ll get used to it.”
It sounded somewhat pitiful, making Ji Qingyan feel like he was bullying him.
He explained, “I don’t dislike how much you eat, and I don’t dislike you coming over.”
Lu Qi immediately grasped the key point. He leaned down, bringing his head close to Ji Qingyan’s ear, a smile on his lips, whispering in a slightly suggestive tone, “So you like me coming over, right?”
The warm breath from the other person reached his ear, making Ji Qingyan uncomfortably tilt his head away.
Finding no response, Lu Qi reached from behind to touch his neck, rubbing it with his fingertips a few times, seemingly fixated on an answer, persistently pressing, “Right?”
Just as Lu Qi thought he wouldn’t respond, he heard his calm voice.
“Yes.”
The man grabbed the fingers wandering on his neck. Lu Qi looked down at his own hand being held, not pulling away but instead actively moving closer to let him touch.
Ji Qingyan used his thumb to gently trace the veins on Lu Qi’s hand, like finding something fun, occasionally squeezing a few times.
This gesture had crossed the boundaries of friendship. They couldn’t have been unaware, but why they didn’t avoid or speak up, perhaps only they themselves knew.
Lu Qi straightened up, his hand still held by Ji Qingyan. He idly massaged him with his other hand, his gaze lingering on the slender nape of the other’s neck—not long ago, he had gripped that nape and forcefully kissed him.
At this moment, Lu Qi’s mind again harbored inappropriate thoughts, but he quickly stopped them.
Soon, Ji Qingyan released him. Lu Qi calmly withdrew his hand, letting it hang by his side. “Are you free this weekend?”
“Yes, what plans do you have again?”
Lu Qi walked around the sofa, returning to his original seat, stretched lazily, and looked sideways at Ji Qingyan. “Let’s play tennis, haven’t done it for a while.”
“Sure, I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”