LWDC Chapter 28

Chapter 28 – Rejection and Initiative

Chapter 28 – Rejection and Initiative

Chapter 28 – Rejection and Initiative

Ning Fei left Duan Yunhong’s place the next day and soon received a message from him: [You forgot your flowers.]

Ning Fei replied: [They’re yours, so you don’t have to ask about every flower my fans send.]

Duan Yunhong: [They aren’t even your fans.]

Ning Fei: [OKOK, they were mini bouquets that some other fan gave me along the way, alright? Next time, I’ll bring dumplings and eat them off you.]

It’s unclear whether Duan Yunhong didn’t understand this roundabout teasing, or if he understood but didn’t want to reply. In any case, he fell silent.

Ning Fei also didn’t press his advantage and continue teasing him, because he had a mountain of work offers waiting for him. Su Cenxi didn’t have any work this morning, so Ning Fei had his assistant go with him to the gym. The rest of the staff were at the studio, taking stock of recent work. Carislin handed Ning Fei a tablet, which displayed a PPT with each page detailing a different job offer.

Ning Fei carefully reviewed the important jobs at the beginning, but he quickly swiped past most of the later ones after just looking at the name and producer. He also gave instructions: “A reality show about budget travel? I’d have to get insurance on his skin and limbs, don’t even think about it, rejected.”

“A farmhouse-style reality show? Don’t be ridiculous. He wears couture every time he goes out. He’ll get roasted if he wears that to farm.”

“A reality show where he swaps lives for a week? Are you kidding me?”

“A couples’ observational reality show? Who’s even bringing this up? Do you want Gu Hechen to curse us to death? Don’t waste my time…”

All the reality shows were basically rejected. He only accepted two shows where Su Cenxi would make a one-time appearance. The focus of the work remained on endorsements and fashion events. In fact, some reality shows offered very high prices, but Ning Fei and Su Cenxi’s goal wasn’t to make money right now, so the price was a lower consideration.

Ning Fei was arranging the docking times for these new jobs when the public relations manager suddenly chimed in: “Brother Fei, Lin Man just suddenly reposted a public service post. Should we follow up? I sent it to you on the chat app!”

“What public service thing is so sudden…” Ning Fei said, pulling out his main phone, opening the chat app, and carefully browsing the post.

It was a post by a volunteer about a twelve-year-old girl with cancer. The girl was already in the terminal stage of cancer, and although the hospital had predicted she only had a few years left, her family was still struggling to support her. Now, a welfare organization had selected her as a beneficiary. After following up, the volunteer learned that her greatest interest was in fashion design. When she had nothing else to do in the hospital, she drew many fashion designs. Although the tools were simple, the strokes were still childish, and the body proportions and color schemes were amateurish, the dozens of imaginative designs showed that she was passionate about this and also had a bit of talent in design. After the volunteer posted her designs and story, it received tens of thousands of likes, comments, and reposts, and the popularity was still on the rise.

Many netizens said they wanted to donate money to the girl, and some people who knew how to make clothes said they could make some of the clothes. Comments below said, “As long as the money from the sales is donated to the girl, I’m willing to buy them and wear them.” After this information fermented for three days, Lin Man’s account reposted the post, expressing her willingness to donate 100,000 yuan and find a professional studio to make some of the designs into ready-to-wear clothes for a small fashion show. Of course, she herself would also help with the display as one of the models.

After Ning Fei finished reading the post, he immediately decided: “We’re in too.”

The public relations manager asked, “What specific conditions?”

“Use Su Cenxi and Gu’s combined name to donate 500,000 yuan.” Ning Fei’s mind worked quickly, and he immediately gave a preliminary plan. “Contact Lin Man’s side and ask about their timeline, which studio they plan to use to make clothes, and where they’re going to hold the show. If they haven’t decided yet, we’ll be responsible for making clothes and putting on the show. If they have, we’ll contribute some money and get a main organizer spot.”

The public relations manager: “Then this post…”

“I’ll reply to it. You contact Lin Man’s side and discuss cooperation. If they agree to cooperate, then pass it on to other departments to communicate specific details.” Ning Fei logged out of his current alt account and logged into Su Cenxi’s account, directly reposting Lin Man’s post: [Count me in!!! [Raising hand][Raising hand][Raising hand]]

Everyone in the studio received a special attention notification.

Carislin took out her phone and looked at it, asking, “Just post this? Don’t say anything about donating money?”

“I’ll inform Gu Hechen first, and then post something else after confirming the details, possibly with Lin Man.” Ning Fei picked up his phone and stood up, preparing to go into the office to make a phone call. “Carislin and the public relations department will follow up with Lin Man’s charity event.”

“Okay.”

Everyone nodded, and then dispersed to do their own things.

Ning Fei first called Su Cenxi to inform him that he was going to do this charity, telling him not to let it slip later. Then he called Gu Hechen and told him directly that he would donate 500,000 yuan in both of their names, but that it would all be counted in Chen Xi Studio’s deduction quota.

Gu Hechen didn’t care where the quota was counted, only saying, “Then I’ll put out another 500,000 yuan, so we’ll donate a million together?”

“A million yuan is an exaggeration. We’re only donating to one person. The 500,000 is only so much because it’s including your name. Otherwise, Lin Man is a senior, and it wouldn’t be good for Su Cenxi to blatantly outshine her by too much. But if he doesn’t outshine her, people will say he’s so stingy even though he found such a rich boyfriend.” Ning Fei could now communicate with him calmly, so he explained a little more. “If President Gu wants to donate more, find another way to do it. We have enough money here. Besides, money is a small matter. The main thing is to hold this event.”

President Gu said, “Then, if the studio has trouble with the expenses needed to hold the event, I can pay for it personally.”

Ning Fei: Please don’t flaunt your money! You haven’t learned “keep your wealth hidden” at all, have you?

“It’s not certain that we’ll be the ones hosting it. Let’s talk about it after it’s confirmed.” Ning Fei felt like he was losing his patience again, and he quickly ended the call.

He didn’t have any other calls to make for the time being, but he sat alone in the office, twirling the phone in his hand a couple of times. He still sent a message out.

[Director Duan, did you see Lin Man and Su Cenxi’s posts?]

*

Duan Yunhong didn’t reply to the message for half an hour, but then he called Ning Fei’s main phone directly.

Ning Fei went back into the small office to answer the phone: “Hello?”

“It’s me.” Duan Yunhong’s tone was very businesslike, getting straight to the point about work. “How far along are your discussions with Lin Man about the fashion show for the cancer girl?”

“I just finished contacting Lin Man’s side. They’re just starting to plan. I’m going to her studio this week for a meeting.” Ning Fei knew he would be interested in this matter, and he replied just as directly. “Is Director Duan interested in participating?”

“I discussed it with the competition program team, and we’ve tentatively decided to lead an extra small show to display the girl’s clothes.” Duan Yunhong replied, “This charity event segment can be cut into the official broadcast of the program, and then a complete extra version can be released separately. The runway models will include Lin Man, Su Cenxi, ST will also send people, and then a few of those new people.”

“Wow, Director Duan, is this your tentatively determined plan? Isn’t it all planned out? No wonder you’re from headquarters, you’re really used to doing charity.” Ning Fei leaned against the desk, lowering his eyes and smiling. “You’re so smoothly stealing Xi Xi and Lin Man’s credit.”

“Su Cenxi and Lin Man are both program guests. It’s good for the program team to take over. It puts you at the forefront. Isn’t it easier for you if the program team handles it?” Duan Yunhong paused, then said, “Besides, you sent me a message, didn’t you want me to take over?”

“How should I put it, Director Duan?” Ning Fei said leisurely, “I wanted to repay your kindness in giving us Xi Xi’s spot. Why else would I remind you of this?”

Duan Yunhong: “Even if you didn’t say it, we would have monitored it.”

Ning Fei: “But you can’t deny that I took the initiative to say it first.”

Duan Yunhong: “…”

After two seconds, he finally opened his mouth to answer: “Alright, I thank you for thinking of me and taking the initiative to tell me. But I’ll also make it clear that giving Su Cenxi that spot wasn’t to make you owe me anything.”

“I know, Director Duan—” Ning Fei actually didn’t care about owing favors. He always ran away after collecting debts, not caring about future troubles, so many of his words were just off the cuff. Duan Yunhong didn’t like to hear about “favors,” so Ning Fei changed his tune. “Since you’re thanking me, what will you use to thank me?”

Duan Yunhong was silent again, replying, “…Not talking about this now, I’ll tell you later.”

Ning Fei found it even funnier: “What are you thinking! It’s working hours, you wouldn’t have a dirty mind, would you!”

He wouldn’t admit that he had deliberately asked that question.

Duan Yunhong completely stopped chatting with him: “Hanging up, I still have to arrange other work.”

“OKOK, go busy yourself.” Ning Fei felt as if he could see the man’s face forcefully tensing up in front of him, and he silently smiled at the thought. “Then, don’t we and Lin Man have to worry about this matter? Just wait for the program team’s arrangements?”

“Yeah, you can. The program team will talk to you later.”

After saying this, the two really hung up the phone.

Ning Fei walked out of the office, and Carislin came to meet him: “Ning Fei, Lin Man’s side…”

“Don’t follow up with Lin Man’s charity event.” Ning Fei directly interrupted her. “The model competition program will take over this matter. Afterward, it will be made into a charity event and added to the program, and there will also be an extra episode. Just wait for the program team’s arrangements.”

Carislin paused for a moment before reacting: “Ah? How did the program team take over?”

Ning Fei didn’t say that he was the one who sent the message. He just smiled: “It just happens to be a hot charity event that’s very relevant to fashion. How could the program team let it go? But we’ll still donate the money as usual. Contact Gu’s charity foundation and have them establish a targeted donation project. Then, confirm the time with the program team and see if they want to film this segment.”

Carislin nodded: “Okay.”