Chapter 0914 Persuasion

To Dong Chenxi, Zheng Yao was more than just a superior; from the moment she entered the workplace, Zheng Yao had always been a guide.

In other words, Zhao Fusheng and Dong Chenxi were more often friends and colleagues, while Zheng Yao was the one who truly earned Dong Chenxi's heartfelt respect.

Zhao Fusheng had called Zheng Yao over naturally to dispel Dong Chenxi's doubts.

"So, were you taken aback?"

Zheng Yao asked Dong Chenxi with a smile. From the moment Zhao Fusheng told her he intended to let Dong Chenxi manage Future Capital, she knew Dong Chenxi would be shocked by Zhao Fusheng.

After all, if it were herself, she probably couldn't accept such a fact either.

Dong Chenxi smiled bitterly at this and nodded: "To be honest, I really didn't expect it."

"Yeah, a golden planner turns out to be the company's behind-the-scenes boss." Zheng Yao chuckled: "Not just you, I reckon everyone who knows the truth will be flabbergasted."

She paused, then added mischievously: "Especially those folks at Oriental Advertising and Perfect Advertising—they've always been itching to poach Fusheng."

With a snort, Dong Chenxi couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

There was no helping it; this was the funniest thing she had ever heard. She used to think their perseverance was admirable, but now it seemed no different from a joke.

Since even Future Advertising belonged to Zhao Fusheng, how could he leave his own company to work for someone else?

Thinking this, Dong Chenxi looked at Zheng Yao: "President Zheng, was that how you were tricked into boarding his pirate ship back then?"

Clearly, she felt Zhao Fusheng must have hidden some things from Zheng Yao as well.

Zheng Yao shook her head: "To be honest, back then it wasn't him tricking me; it was me tricking him. I withheld all his planning fees and put them directly into the company's development fund. Then I kept taking money from him, and that's how Future Advertising grew from a studio into a company, moved to Binzhou, and became what it is today."

Dong Chenxi was taken aback; she hadn't expected such hidden circumstances.

Giving Zhao Fusheng a strange look, Dong Chenxi nodded inwardly—this guy was indeed a good partner.

Zheng Yao smiled: "To be honest, he's a pretty good boss. At the very least, he never interferes in things he doesn't understand and rarely meddles in company affairs, so you don't have to worry about autonomy."

Dong Chenxi blinked but said nothing. She could see that Zheng Yao was here to persuade her on Zhao Fusheng's behalf.

"Chenxi, you've been by my side since you joined the company. Though you were supposedly his assistant, it was actually me who mentored you." Zheng Yao looked at Dong Chenxi seriously: "You're very capable and enthusiastic about work, but you have a fatal flaw: you lack confidence and need someone to push you forward. You admit that, don't you?"

Dong Chenxi was startled, then nodded with a wry smile. She had to admit that Zheng Yao was absolutely right.

Hesitating and overthinking—that was truly her nature.

Everyone has their own character flaws; unless one is a saint, perfection is impossible.

"That's why I hope you'll go work under Fusheng." Zheng Yao gave Dong Chenxi a penetrating look: "In a lifetime, opportunities to change one's destiny are rare. Only by encountering and seizing them can one truly change their fate."

Having said what she needed to say to Dong Chenxi, she fell silent.

Dong Chenxi sat there, silent, not speaking.

Zhao Fusheng wasn't in a hurry; he ate at his leisure, occasionally chatting with Zheng Yao, as if he hadn't given the matter much thought.

Zheng Yao had a meeting at the company, so after sitting for a while, she got up and left, leaving only Zhao Fusheng and Dong Chenxi in the room.

"So, have you decided?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Dong Chenxi and sat up straight.

At that moment, he didn't seem like a young man at all, but rather a wise elder.

Dong Chenxi looked at Zhao Fusheng, was silent for a few seconds, then finally spoke: "I want to know, what is your goal?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "The goal is simple: to make money. And I can tell you clearly, this investment company won't be involved in international finance, or if it is, very little. Your main task is to manage the shares under my name. There are four companies now, and there will definitely be more in the future."

He paused, as if choosing his words, but finally said frankly: "Overall, you are my spokesperson, walking under the spotlight on my behalf."

"Hmm?"

Dong Chenxi raised an eyebrow: "You mean you don't plan to appear publicly?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled and nodded: "Yes."

"Why?" Dong Chenxi was puzzled.

Given Zhao Fusheng's current wealth—a fresh college graduate who started from scratch and amassed a fortune worth hundreds of millions—even in this era, he was a legend.

Yet this Zhao Fusheng didn't like fame and even wanted her to be his spokesperson.

Honestly, Dong Chenxi really didn't understand.

Zhao Fusheng's expression was quite calm, without any emotional change. He simply explained to Dong Chenxi: "It's actually simple: because I don't like it. I prefer peace and quiet. Being constantly watched by the media would make me uncomfortable."

Dong Chenxi was speechless. Thinking about it, this really fit Zhao Fusheng's personality.

He was indeed the type who disliked being in the limelight. Even with advertising planning, he avoided appearing whenever possible, like a hermit.

But the more he did so, the more advertisers flocked to him, especially after his advertising campaign for Mercedes-Benz officially launched in the market, boosting his reputation even further.

The Mercedes-Benz ad was released in early July, and sales increased by ten percent that month. According to Mercedes-Benz headquarters' survey results, even the European market quite approved of Zhao Fusheng's latest ad.

In other words, one ad by Zhao Fusheng had boosted Mercedes-Benz's global sales.

This result thrilled the Germans. It was said that some bigwigs at Mercedes-Benz headquarters had proposed that the company's global advertising for the next year should be designed by Zhao Fusheng.

And the planning fee was already set at an astronomical five million US dollars!

They say knowledge is productivity, but in Dong Chenxi's view, knowledge is wealth.

Because Zhao Fusheng had proven it!

"Alright, you win." Dong Chenxi was at a loss for words.

Zhao Fusheng grinned triumphantly, thought for a moment, and said: "I won't give you shares in the company, but your annual salary will be five million RMB."

How much?

Dong Chenxi was dumbfounded. She had imagined many scenarios, but never that Zhao Fusheng would offer her an annual salary of five million RMB. This was insane!

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly, as if expecting this reaction, and said seriously: "Don't think that five million is easy to earn. The company only has a few professional managers and traders recruited by Zhang Qian. The rest you'll need to recruit yourself. And I suggest you recruit domestically or in Hong Kong, so communication will be relatively easier."

He paused and chuckled: "Those not of our race are bound to be of a different mind. After you finish the first investment, I think you can fire those recruited by Zhang Qian."

Dong Chenxi nodded, indicating she remembered.

She knew she still had much to learn. Zhao Fusheng sent her not because she was exceptionally capable, but because she was someone he could trust.

"Alright, here's to our success." Zhao Fusheng raised his juice glass, clinked it with Dong Chenxi's, and they both drank up, laughing heartily.

With this settled, a weight lifted from Zhao Fusheng's mind. Dong Chenxi then said to him: "After I leave, Future Film should be fine under Bai Jie."

"Yeah, I know. Zheng Yao said she's capable." Zhao Fusheng nodded.

That was true. Bai Jie was beautiful, and her private life might be criticized, but her character and ability were top-notch. In fact, she might be even more suitable than Dong Chenxi to lead Future Film.

The reason was simple: Bai Jie was smooth enough to maintain good relations with everyone, unlike Dong Chenxi, who sometimes got too caught up in formalities.

But that didn't mean Dong Chenxi was inferior to Bai Jie; they just had different personalities and approaches to work.

However, for Future Film as it stood now, perhaps having someone as smooth as Bai Jie at the helm would make it easier to integrate into the film and television circle.

"By the way, does Fan Baobao know about your current wealth?"

Dong Chenxi suddenly thought of a question and looked at Zhao Fusheng with a sly smile.

She thought of this because she realized that although she had known Fan Baobao for a long time, Fan Baobao always thought Zhao Fusheng was Future Advertising's golden planner and never showed any sign of knowing he was the major shareholder behind the scenes.

That meant this guy Zhao Fusheng had kept it from his girlfriend.

"Ahem..." At Dong Chenxi's question, Zhao Fusheng coughed awkwardly, his face turning red. He quickly took a big gulp of his drink to calm down, then glared at Dong Chenxi.

"Why do you have to bring up the one thing that shouldn't be mentioned?" he said irritably, quite annoyed.

"Hahahaha..." Seeing Zhao Fusheng's reaction, Dong Chenxi couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.

When she was almost breathless from laughing, she looked at Zhao Fusheng and said: "Seriously, I can't wait for the day you tell Fan Baobao the truth. Please, let me be there to watch."

Zhao Fusheng suddenly felt that her laughter was quite malicious.