Starting from a Bar to Sign Internet Celebrities-Chapter 59 - 57: Coming to Ask for Cooperation

Chen Jincheng and Sister Hong hadn’t expected to run into Liu Qing from Jinglan Women’s Clothing, the boutique across the way, right as they arrived.

Her destination, it seemed, was their agency, Second-Life Star.

"President Liu, fancy seeing you here!" Chen Jincheng said with a smile.

Despite their past unpleasantness, it wasn’t a deep-seated grudge. In business, it was always best to keep things amicable on the surface and greet people with a smile.

Liu Qing, however, was poised and direct. "Mr. Chen, I’ve come to Second-Life Star specifically to see you. I’d like to discuss a potential collaboration."

"And what kind of collaboration might that be?" Chen Jincheng asked with a smile.

The tables had turned.

Before, he was the one going to them to pitch his services, only to be slighted. Now, thanks to the successful campaign for Jinghong Women’s Clothing and the data from millions in orders, she was the one coming to him to ask for a partnership.

Liu Qing said with a smile, "We at Jinglan Women’s Clothing would like to hire Miss Jiang Xiaobai from Second-Life Star for a promotional print ad. She’s trending right now."

Hearing this, Chen Jincheng replied apologetically, "President Liu, that puts me in a bit of a tough spot. Xiaobai has already taken on an ad for Jinghong Women’s Clothing, and her contract prevents her from accepting ads for any other apparel."

Liu Qing shook her head. "It’s not for apparel, it’s for a women’s handbag. Jinghong doesn’t make handbags, so the product categories don’t conflict. Jinglan is prepared to offer 200,000 yuan for the print ad!"

"President Liu, please, come in." Chen Jincheng invited her in without a moment’s hesitation.

’Jinglan Women’s Clothing and Jinghong Women’s Clothing may be rivals,’ he thought, ’but since the product categories don’t conflict, there’s no reason to turn down the money.’

’Besides, 200,000 was more than Jiang Xiaobai’s current rate. A reasonable price for one of her print ads right now would be 100,000.’

’President Liu was clearly making a serious offer.’

And so, he and Sister Hong escorted President Liu into Second-Life Star and led her toward the reception room.

Quite a few of the girls had already arrived at the office. Seeing him and Sister Hong, they all called out greetings in sweet voices. Once the three of them had disappeared into the reception room, the girls’ faces blossomed into smiles as they started to gossip.

"Lin Qing, did you cash out yet?" one of the girls couldn’t help but ask.

Lin Qing smiled and nodded. "Yep. I made 1,800 from my stream last night."

"I’m so jealous. I only made 900," the girl said, her envy palpable. "Of the four of us who came from COLLBAT, your numbers are the best."

Lin Qing chuckled. "Making 900 for three hours of streaming is still better than getting wasted at a bar, isn’t it?"

"That’s true!" the girl agreed.

Back at the bar, if a customer requested a dance, she’d have to drink herself silly and would only make a little over 1,000. Now, streaming for three hours was way less hassle and not nearly as exhausting.

Most importantly, it was a respectable job.

Before, whenever friends or family asked what she did for a living and if it was hard, she’d have to hem and haw before vaguely mentioning she was a dancer.

But now, if her family asked, she could proudly tell them she’d become an influencer. It might even make her friends and relatives jealous.

Another girl chimed in, "Did you see the numbers Sister Hong posted in the group chat? Jiang Xiaobai makes way more. Her stream last night brought in 5,400 yuan, and her cut from the Jinghong Women’s Clothing ad was over 280,000. I’m so jealous!"

Lin Qing felt a pang of envy at those numbers, too.

But what could she do? They’d all come from the nightlife scene, and anyone with eyes could see the relationship between Jiang Xiaobai and the boss.

That was why the boss always funneled resources her way.

The first girl suddenly spoke up again. "Lin Qing, I think the boss had a bit of a soft spot for you during that ’window wiping’ dance practice. He was holding your butt while teaching you the moves. You never wanted to be kept by those rich old men at the bars, but our boss is handsome. And getting resources from him means getting fans, which means getting money."

The other girl agreed. "Yeah, Qingqing, you have to seize the opportunity. If you make it big, you can help us out, too. You’re in a good position to compete for his attention right now."

Lin Qing rolled her eyes at them. Of course she knew what they were implying.

Soon, more of the girls from Second-Life Star began to arrive, and the office grew loud and lively.

Inside the reception room.

Chen Jincheng and Sister Hong finished negotiating the print ad collaboration for the handbag with Liu Qing. The bag had originally been part of a package deal with Jinglan Women’s Clothing’s new line of sleepwear, with the ads for both featuring the celebrity Li Yueling.

However, Jinglan Women’s Clothing’s latest campaign had been completely overshadowed. Even if people saw their ads, the explosive popularity of Jinghong meant most would simply ignore Jinglan.

This was a huge blow for the company. Their promotional video wasn’t bad, but it was mediocre at best.

That’s why she now wanted to market the handbag independently, have Jiang Xiaobai shoot a print ad for it to leverage her popularity and claw back some attention, and, of course, use the opportunity to mend fences with Second-Life Star.

After signing the contract, Chen Jincheng shook Liu Qing’s hand. "President Liu, it’s a pleasure working with you. Xiaobai is already scheduled for another apparel print ad today, so she’ll have to come to Jinglan Women’s Clothing tomorrow."

"That’s fine. It gives us some time to prepare as well," Liu Qing said with a nod and a smile.

After Chen Jincheng and Sister Hong saw President Liu out, he noticed that most of the girls had arrived. He clapped his hands to get their attention. "Everyone, gather around for a minute."

Seeing this, the girls quickly gathered around him.

Sister Hong smiled and began, "Alright, I have three announcements. First, the company just landed another print ad for Xiaobai, this time for a handbag. Xiaobai, it’s going to be a busy couple of days for you, shooting two print ads back-to-back."

A wave of envy washed over the other girls, and all eyes turned to Jiang Xiaobai.

’Seriously,’ they thought, ’she’s getting one ad after another, and her streaming numbers are better than ours. We’re all women, but some people are just born luckier than others.’

Only Yinyin’s gaze was fixed on Chen Jincheng, her eyes filled with a flicker of hopeful anticipation.

"It’s no trouble at all, Sister Hong," Jiang Xiaobai said, beaming as she basked in the others’ envy.

’And it’s true,’ she thought. ’It’s just a print ad. It’s not hard at all—even easier than shooting one of the boss’s videos. It’s practically free money.’

Sister Hong continued, "Second, the boss is planning a yacht-based video shoot and we need to select fifteen people to participate. This time, we won’t be choosing based on follower count. I’ll post the list of names in the group chat, so make sure everyone gets the message. Once you know, go get your bikinis ready. And remember, make them sexy. If you want to get famous, you have to be able to capture the audience’s attention."

Her words sent another wave of excitement through the girls.

After all, a shoot planned by the boss meant a chance to gain followers, which in turn meant more money. Plus, they were all thrilled at the prospect of a yacht; it would be like getting paid to go on a trip.

’Now it all comes down to who gets picked.’

Then Sister Hong announced the third item. "Also, Xiaobai, since you have to get to your shoot, you won’t be participating in the yacht video. And Yinyin, you’ll be co-hosting the ’romance script’ segment for the boss’s livestream today."

In an instant, the broad smile on Jiang Xiaobai’s face froze. She looked over at Chen Jincheng, a sour feeling churning inside her.

If you had to describe her state of mind:

One moment: Tee-hee!

The next: No more tee-hee.

"I’ll do my best, Sister Hong!" Yinyin, in contrast, giggled happily.

She promised, her gaze already locked onto her boss. Her eyes grew moist and seemed to spin a silken thread, pulling him in.