182: Chapter 180: Highway Tragedy 182: Chapter 180: Highway Tragedy “You knew Huangfu Jing from before?” Liu Shanshan suddenly asked.
“No, I didn’t know her before, but I should know her now,” Tangyu said.
Liu Shanshan pursed her lips, feeling a strange unease, and said, “Do you always take the initiative to chat up beautiful women like this?”
“No, I wasn’t hitting on her, I had business,” Tangyu said.
Was he that kind of person?
At most, he might have had such a thought, but he wouldn’t act on it; he really did have business.
Liu Shanshan pursed her lips again, and at this moment, Zhao Xinxin walked over.
Her face was slightly flushed, clearly having had quite a bit to drink.
A woman slightly intoxicated exudes a more enchanting allure.
Zhao Xinxin at this moment possessed a fairy-like charm, and her appearance caught the attention of many in the hall.
“Xin sister, you finished up so quickly?” Liu Shanshan said.
Zhao Xinxin smiled and replied, “When I, your sister Xin, take the lead, naturally things are as good as done.
I have plenty of ways to handle men.
This Manager Wu is just someone with lustful thoughts but no courage, a low tolerance for alcohol, and soft ears, easily floored by my drinks.
Okay, let’s go, we’ll talk more in the car.” Zhao Xinxin seemed in a good mood, apparently having gleaned some useful information.
Once in the car, Zhao Xinxin said, “Dali Group’s new product is their heaviest hitter this year, it’s also Dali Group’s entrance into the soft drink market.
The soft drink segment is currently growing at an impressive and stable rate; it’s a big fat market, and so many companies are clamoring to break into it.
Dali Group has traditionally focused on side food products, but now they’ve set their sights on this big chunk of the market.
Therefore, it’s been the biggest strategy they’re implementing this year, and the company’s top brass place enormous importance on the new product.
According to Manager Wu, the first phase of the company’s budget for promoting the new product is two hundred million.
Furthermore, they plan to allocate three hundred million for further promotion.
Most importantly, this is Dali Group’s major venture.
If it’s effective, Dali Group will surely increase its efforts in the new product sector, leading to more investments in advertising.
So, if we can secure this account, it would be of immeasurable significance to our company.
If we secure this account, I estimate our company’s performance this year will double over last year’s, and the resulting benefits and impact would be like an invisible fortune,” Zhao Xinxin said, appearing quite excited, her enthusiasm possibly heightened by the drink.
“The greater the investment, the more difficult the account will be to handle, right?
It’s not necessarily all to our benefit.
It feels like securing it will be even more challenging,” Tangyu said.
Zhao Xinxin’s smile faded a bit, and she nodded seriously, “Yes, that’s right, indeed securing and managing it will be more difficult.
The challenge presented to us in all aspects will no doubt be huge.
However, I am very confident that we can win this battle and do so beautifully.
I won’t give up this opportunity no matter what.”
“Yes, confidence is the most important thing, I also believe in you, sister Xin, but what exactly do they value the most?” Tangyu said, nodding in agreement.
“Star power,” said Zhao Xinxin.
“Manager Wu revealed that Dali’s upper management wants to invest a huge sum in soft media promotion, using star power to make the new product’s name famous in a very short time.
That’s their main focus.”
Speaking of stars, Tangyu immediately thought of Huangfu Jing, who could be considered a top-tier star.
He couldn’t help but think, if they could get Huangfu Jing to endorse their side, would their victory be assured?
Liu Shanshan quickly said, “We just saw Huangfu Jing checking into the Xianggelila Hotel.
Could Dali Group be interested in her?”
“Oh, Huangfu Jing, I didn’t notice that bit of news.
It seems then that the fans in the hall earlier were indeed Huangfu Jing’s.
What I’ve learned from Manager Wu is that they have several hot stars in mind, and naturally, Huangfu Jing is at the forefront.
However—as far as I know, Huangfu Jing never signs any endorsement contracts, and she rarely even participates in events.
Getting Huangfu Jing is almost impossible.
Of course, with Huangfu Jing’s fame and influence, if we could secure her, I estimate we could practically win over this account.
Huangfu Jing came to Donglin City, but for what?
Could it be that she was invited by Tianyi or Zhang Guoli?”
Liu Shanshan shook her head and said, “That’s unlikely.
I heard it’s Huangfu Jing’s world tour concert at Donglin Station, and it’s sponsored by Tianyu this time.
However, now that Huangfu Jing is in Donglin City, I guess they’ll all try to talk to her, right?”
“Naturally, but trying to secure a star for endorsement is very difficult.
Moreover, this time Dali Group has directly passed us by regarding this issue, and they’ve also set a price limit.
From what I’ve heard from Manager Wu, they’re offering Huangfu Jing at most one hundred million for a five-year endorsement contract, and for other stars, the amounts vary from ten million to sixty million, with a minimum of five-year deals, and some even going up to seven years.
Furthermore, they want the endorsement to be for a series of products, not just one specific kind.
This increases the difficulty substantially, as Dali Group probably won’t involve in this,” Zhao Xinxin said.
“So, you’re saying Dali Group is quite the cunning fox, playing a good game of getting more for less,” Tangyu said.
“Yes, they’re playing this game quite craftily.
If our three companies want to win this account, the battle for the stars becomes key.
Tianyi is very ambitious; they might rather take a loss themselves to strengthen their partnership with Dali Group, and Tianyi is financially strong enough to afford this loss.
And there’s no need to talk about Zhang Guoli—he’d likely bid even if he loses money, and Zhang Guoli’s network in entertainment is well known.
If the ultimate determinant for Dali is the effect of star power, then Zhang Guoli undoubtedly has the biggest advantage.
Of course, Tianyi might not hesitate to spend big.
In comparison, our position is the weakest,” said Zhao Xinxin, her expression turning grave.
“The business world is indeed very complex,” Tangyu shook his head.
Liu Shanshan also said, “A hundred million can’t even get Huangfu Jing to endorse?
Such a price, that’s an astronomical figure.”
Zhao Xinxin shook her head and said, “A hundred million is indeed an astronomical figure for us, but it might still not be enough to invite Huangfu Jing.
In her view, a hundred million might not be much.
You must know that her income last year alone was at the top among Hua Country’s artists, reaching nearly five hundred million.
That’s just one year’s income.
Think about it, does a hundred million over five years seem like a lot to her?
Plus, this income is because she basically doesn’t accept any advertising endorsements.
If she were willing to, her income could probably at least double.
It’s said that Huangfu Jing comes from an extremely powerful family and really isn’t lacking in money.
So trying to move her with money is basically impossible.
Huangfu Jing could be considered a unique existence in the entertainment circle.
Other superstars, as long as there’s a suitable price, are generally attainable.
It’s just that it’s a minimum of a five-year long-term contract, and it also bundles a lot of things, such as a series of promotions, some events, and the like, which not just anyone can accept.
Most importantly, the price they’re offering is too low, but it would be fine if they were willing to pay the right price.
And if we want to win this case, we must go for a superstar with enough fame, which naturally means their worth won’t be low.
I’ve done the math, and we’d have to add another seven or eight layers to Dali’s fixed price to be able to take those superstars down.
That is to say, we need to offer tens of millions more.
If this case goes through, the profit is estimated to be just twenty to thirty million at most, rightly capped at thirty million.
In such a case, not to mention profit, we would be digging into our original investment.”
“Oh, it’s that complicated, huh?
So what do we do?” Liu Shanshan asked.
After a moment of silence, Zhao Xinxin rubbed her temples and said, “I’m thinking of what to do.
I’ll find an opportunity to meet Huangfu Jing.
If we can get her support, we can be fully confident in winning this battle.
If all else fails, I can only seek out some connections and see if I can enlist the help of another superstar.”
Driving the car, Tangyu’s lips curved up slightly, a glint flashing in his eyes that others couldn’t detect.
“Hmm, there’s been an accident up ahead,” Tangyu noted, his gaze sharp,.
Zhao Xinxin and Liu Shanshan also looked over and saw several police cars parked ahead, their lights flashing.
The road ahead was almost fully occupied by vehicles, resembling the aftermath of a car accident.
“Looks like a car accident.
Let’s turn around and take another route,” Zhao Xinxin suggested.
Just then, Tangyu saw a familiar figure.
A police officer came up and stopped the car, gesturing for Tangyu to turn around.
Tangyu decided to pull over instead.
“Why are you stopping?
We can just turn around,” Zhao Xinxin glanced at Tangyu and said.
Tangyu turned around and replied, “It’s not just that, Xin.
I ran into a friend.
Let’s get out and see, it doesn’t seem like any ordinary car accident.”
Zhao Xinxin gave Tangyu a look.
Whether it was a car accident or not, it wasn’t our business, but since Tangyu had spoken up, she could only say, “Alright then, we won’t get out.
You go on your own, but don’t take too long, it’s getting late.”
“Yeah, I’ll see what’s happening and come right back,” Tangyu nodded.
It wasn’t too late; it was just past eight.
After getting out of the car, Tangyu walked over there.
The police officer, who had stopped Tangyu’s car, immediately came over and barred his way, scanning Tangyu before saying, “We’re in the middle of an investigation.
You’re not allowed to go through.”
“Tangyu, what brings you here?” A somewhat surprised voice rang out, as Song Qingyu spotted Tangyu and walked over.
Seeing Captain Song recognizing Tangyu, the police officer wisely stepped aside.
“I was just passing by, saw you here, and decided to stop and check it out.
What happened here?” Tangyu said, feeling a different kind of beauty in seeing Song Qingyu unexpectedly after a few days.
People are like that, always with a sense of novelty about things.
Some people, after seeing them for too long, might just think they’re ordinary.
But if you don’t see them for a while, there’s an instant feeling of a different charm.
Of course, this is just the subconscious at work.
“Oh, the specifics aren’t clear yet, we’re still investigating the scene.
It doesn’t seem to be a car accident.
Judging by the scene, there was an intense battle, and even a gunfight took place.
We came in response to a call from the public, and the traces at the scene are quite horrifying,” Song Qingyu frowned and explained.
“A gun battle!” Tangyu also scanned the scene and recognized the severity of what had taken place.
Clearly, a fierce fight had occurred.