Chapter 18 [18]
reason
The next morning, Luo Qingyue arrived at Mingyue and bumped into Song Tao. The two walked together toward the office building.
Song Tao unbuttoned her sun-protective clothing, and Luo Qingyue moved the parasol closer to her. She heard Song Tao say, "The magazine featuring our CEO Lu's interview is out, right? It's incredibly hard to find. My friends couldn't buy it and asked if my company would distribute copies, the kind that everyone gets a copy of. I said, how could that be? Even Mingyue employees can only participate in the lottery on the official platform."
When Luo Qingyue got home last night, she didn't rush to take a shower.
Sitting on the sofa, I immediately opened "Car Rider" and went straight to the section with Lu Mingxiao's interview.
All of these are automotive industry-related topics, and some contain obscure and difficult-to-understand terminology.
Amazingly, she watched it from beginning to end and enjoyed it immensely.
Good things should be shared with everyone, and this is also a good opportunity to promote Lu Mingxiao.
Luo Qingyue spread all ten magazines out on the coffee table, took a picture, and posted it on Xiaohongshu. Comments quickly flooded in.
Some people say that with pre-sales selling out instantly and both online and offline stores constantly needing restocking, where does she get so much stock?
Some even offered to buy her at exorbitant prices, and before she could refuse, she was labeled a "scalper" by many netizens.
Half an hour later, the post with 2,000 likes was reported and deemed to be in violation of regulations due to "inappropriate content".
Jealousy, it's all just jealousy.
Although it was somewhat upsetting, this was the first time Luo Qingyue had a clear understanding of Lu Mingxiao's influence.
Therefore, Song Tao's words did not surprise her at all.
To maximize the magazine's effectiveness, Luo Qingyue stored them separately at home.
One on the dining table, one by the bedside, one in the entryway... you can see it no matter where you go.
She had originally planned to bring a copy of the company book, but then she thought better of it; the gift was precious and should be kept private.
It wasn't until her third week at Mingyue that Luo Qingyue truly felt her work was on track.
On the one hand, she wanted to pass the probationary period as a phase goal; on the other hand, after talking with Lu Mingxiao, she changed her mindset, transforming her desire to lie down into a more accepting attitude, making the matter more acceptable.
Of course, she still dislikes the overtime culture in the office and cannot understand why some colleagues take pride in working overtime.
It's understandable to not finish the tasks, but to be forced to do more when there's nothing to do... Aside from eating late-night snacks at the cafeteria and getting taxi fare reimbursed, she couldn't think of any other reason.
With half an hour left before Friday's end of the workday, Luo Qingyue stretched after finishing her work, intending to slack off at her workstation for a while.
While scrolling through hilarious short videos, I had just forwarded one to Jingxi when a message popped up in the department group chat from Director Lin.
[Director Lin]: @All Members
[Director Lin]: We need manpower to support the advertisement shoot tomorrow afternoon.
[Director Lin]: This is a major event for our marketing center, and it is highly valued by General Manager Cheng. Please be mindful of collective honor and do not be absent without a valid reason.
The marketing center is divided into different groups.
The group that Luo Qingyue and Xu Jie belong to is responsible for market research and brand image building, while advertising media is handled by a separate group.
Tomorrow is Saturday, so providing support is tantamount to working overtime in disguise.
Adding to the fact that Director Lin was using a sense of collective honor to morally blackmail Luo Qingyue, she felt quite uncomfortable.
She can't be absent without a valid reason, but she has one, so why can't she?
Luo Qingyue was bombarded with a series of "received" messages on her computer screen and was thinking about what excuse to come up with when Xu Jie sent her a private message.
[Xu Jie]: I heard that Lü Shuyi was invited to shoot this advertisement. I saw you promoted her drama on your WeChat Moments. You must be a fan of hers, right?
[Xu Jie]: You're on paid time chasing after your idol, and you're showing your lucky streak again. Remember to take a photo with her and get her autograph tomorrow.
Lu Shuyi is a very popular female celebrity in the entertainment industry. Luo Qingyue is very familiar with this name.
After a moment of silence, she changed her mind and looked forward to meeting Lü Shuyi again on the set.
——
The next day at noon, Luo Qingyue hitched a ride with Xu Jie and arrived at Yanghu Film and Television Base.
For this shoot, the advertising team rented a large photography studio.
When Luo Qingyue and Xu Jie entered, their colleagues had already begun setting up the site and organizing materials.
Xu Jie accompanied Director Lin, the advertising team leader, and the director to discuss shooting details, while Luo Qingyue was assigned to check the prop list with Song Tao.
The car model featured in the advertisement is the flagship "Starry Night" series of the Mingyue, which is being promoted this year.
Its streamlined exterior, unique interior design language, precise and stable handling, and self-developed intelligent vehicle system combine to make it stand out among its peers, dominating the sales charts for three consecutive months.
The prop car is aurora purple, with a pearlescent sheen on its paint surface that shines brilliantly under the lights.
Luo Qingyue and Song Tao stood by the car, working diligently. They were quick and efficient. After finishing, they walked to the side of the field and picked up bottled water.
The studio space is large, and even with the air conditioning and fans running continuously, it is still stuffy and hot.
Luo Qingyue took out a wet wipe from her backpack and handed one to Song Tao. Song Tao drank half of her mineral water and then took the wet wipe.
As she wiped her forehead, she asked Luo Qingyue, "Of all the dramas starring Lü Shuyi, I like 'Goodnight, My Dear' the most. What about you?"
Luo Qingyue thought for a moment and said, "When Fireworks Shine, I was totally shipping her and Han Cheng back then. I almost thought they were actually dating. But I later found out it was just a promotional stunt for the show."
Song Tao was shocked: "There are rumors online that 'Yicheng Shanshui' are already living together, getting their marriage certificate this year, and having their wedding next year. It's all fake!"
"Yicheng Shanshui" is the couple name for Lü Shuyi and Han Cheng.
Luo Qingyue blurted out, "The marketing accounts are making this up. They're just colleagues. Han Cheng isn't Lü Shuyi's type, and they don't have much interaction in private."
Seeing her certainty, Song Tao believed her: "You know that too."
Not only did she know, but Lü Shuyi herself told her.
Luo Qingyue chatted with Song Tao about the variety shows they were watching when a commotion suddenly broke out behind them.
Luo Qingyue looked in the direction of the sound and at the same time heard Song Tao's suppressed voice.
"Isn't it President Cheng coming over? Why did it become President Lu?"
"And he was alone; he didn't bring his assistant, Xie."
Cheng Wang is in charge of the marketing center, and Director Lin said he would come to watch the filming.
Lu Mingxiao's appearance was unexpected by everyone, including Luo Qingyue.
Lu Mingxiao wore a light brown long-sleeved shirt with the cuffs rolled up, paired with off-white trousers, a fairly casual outfit.
But given his status and title, coupled with his cold expression, his aura was no less imposing.
Luo Qingyue's gaze followed Lu Mingxiao as he approached.
Song Tao took her hand and said, "How about we go somewhere else? I don't want to be too close to Lu Zong."
Their positions are rather unusual; if Lu Mingxiao walks in a straight line, he will bump into them, and there is no way to avoid it.
Unlike Song Tao's fear, Luo Qingyue was delighted: "But here we can watch Lü Shuyi filming up close."
Song Tao was caught in a dilemma, but Luo Qingyue comforted her: "It's okay, you don't need to stay with me. Find a comfortable place to stay. I haven't done anything wrong, so President Lu won't do anything to me."
"I'll be going now, see you at the end!"
Song Tao timed it perfectly and retreated eight zhang to the other side of the passageway.
In an instant, the tall figure landed beside Luo Qingyue, standing at the same level as her.
Before Luo Qingyue could even greet Lu Mingxiao, the on-site director and Director Lin came over and showered the big boss with concern.
Director: "Mr. Lu, there are chairs over there by the monitor. I'll have someone brew you a pot of good tea."
Director Lin: "Mr. Lu, are you hot? Would you like me to bring you an air cooler and some ice packs to cool you down?"
Lu Mingxiao politely declined, saying, "President Cheng had something come up, and I just happened to be passing by. You all go about your business and don't worry about me."
Director Lin wanted to say something, but hesitated and finally looked at Luo Qingyue.
"Xiao Luo, then you stay with President Lu and don't neglect him."
With Director Lin's instructions, it was only natural for her to stand next to Lu Mingxiao.
Luo Qingyue gave an "OK" sign: "Please rest assured, Director, I guarantee the mission will be completed successfully."
As the others left one after another, Luo Qingyue turned her head to look at Lu Mingxiao.
Noticing her curiosity, Lu Mingxiao took the initiative to explain, "Cheng Wang's son wasn't feeling well, so I took him to the hospital for a checkup. I had just arrived at my office when he called me over."
This advertisement requires a significant investment, so someone has to keep an eye on it.
According to gossip, Lu is always single, and so is Cheng.
Son? Luo Qingyue was filled with respect: "So President Cheng is a single father. He must have had a tough time."
His son is a Ragdoll cat.
"……oh."
Lu Mingxiao raised his hand and looked at his watch.
"What time does filming start?" he asked Luo Qingyue.
Luo Qingyue answered two points.
Seeing Lu Mingxiao's sullen face, she took out her phone from her pocket; it was already 2:20.
Everyone knows Mingyue. Lu Mingxiao is extremely strict about time management and hates it when others are late for appointments.
If it were anyone else, she wouldn't have bothered, but Lü Shuyi...
With her heart in her throat, Luo Qingyue opened WeChat and sent a message to Lü Shuyi, asking where she was.
Lu Shuyi didn't reply, so Luo Qingyue casually made up an excuse for her: "They're coming from the hotel and will be going through the Long Island Tunnel. The tunnel is prone to traffic jams on weekends, so it's understandable."
Lu Mingxiao's voice was cold: "Then we should leave even earlier."
There is absolutely no way to refute it.
Luo Qingyue was terrified and didn't dare to say a word. She found a colleague who was in charge of liaising with the artist's team and immediately contacted them to urge them to hurry up.
Upon receiving the news, she immediately reported to Lu Mingxiao: "They're already on their way and should arrive soon."
Lu Mingxiao turned on his phone's timer and selected five minutes. He crossed his arms, and everyone could sense his displeasure.
Luo Qingyue stood beside him, watching the numbers on the screen tick by second by second, glancing occasionally toward the entrance, hoping for Lü Shuyi's appearance.
However, when the timer rang to signal the end of the countdown, the area remained quiet.
Director Lin had already arrived upon hearing the commotion. Lu Mingxiao faced her and spoke in a deep voice.
"The collaboration with Lü Shuyi has been cancelled, and the filming plan has been readjusted."
As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion erupted, but it quickly subsided.
Lu Mingxiao added: "For cars, people can be a plus, but they are by no means a must."
Director Lin convened an emergency meeting with the advertising team. After the crowd dispersed, Luo Qingyue finally spoke: "You're wrong."
Lu Mingxiao looked down at her: "Something's not right."
A low-pressure atmosphere filled the air as Luo Qingyue stared intently at Lu Mingxiao, showing no sign of backing down.
"Cars are made to serve people. They only have meaning when people drive, ride, and interact with them."
"If I just want to look at the car, why can't I find pictures on the official website? Since it's going to be made into a video, the chemical reaction between the person and the car is indispensable; otherwise, it's cold and lifeless, and the number of views will definitely not be good."
Lu Mingxiao remained silent, his eyes dark and deep.
Although Luo Qingyue had already eaten at the same table with him, work and personal settings are not the same.
The person standing in front of her now was not Luo Hanzhou's close friend, but the ruthless and decisive BOSS Ming Yue.
With her hands rubbing together behind her back, it would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous.
Her body temperature hovered around freezing. After a while, Luo Qingyue heard Lu Mingxiao speak.
"Lü Shuyi is your friend."
I didn't make it too obvious, did I?
Luo Qingyue was astonished and admitted she was impressed by the intelligence of the top student from University A.
"Yes, but what I just said wasn't to plead for her,"
She argued, "I feel that since we've already spent the money, we should do it to the best of our ability. Even if we have to find a new model, I have no objection."
As soon as she finished speaking, a commotion erupted in the studio again. Lü Shuyi appeared in a light purple dress, attracting much attention.
Luo Qingyue's gaze fell on her, and she leaned her arm close to Lu Mingxiao's, saying weakly, "But I can't bear to leave someone to die. Lu Shuyi is usually very dedicated, there must be some emergency."
Beside Lü Shuyi was her agent, Sister Jing, and two assistants.
As they approached, Lu Shuyi noticed Luo Qingyue first, rather than the renowned President Lu.
She stopped in her tracks, paused for a moment, and then looked at the name tag hanging around Luo Qingyue's neck.
Luo Qingyue winked at Lü Shuyi, signaling her to calm down the big boss beside her.
At the same time, Sister Jing's voice came: "President Lu, our Shuyi suddenly suffered from gastroenteritis. After finishing her IV drip at the hospital, she rushed over immediately. We apologize for being late. Please rest assured, she has recovered and will definitely not delay the filming schedule."
Lu Shuyi also said, "My health is my problem, and I will not shirk it. I cherish this cooperation with Mingyue. I will give all staff members compensation red envelopes, and I will personally bear the venue rental fee."
Luo Qingyue secretly sized up Lu Mingxiao; the man's indifferent expression remained unchanged.
As the person in charge of Mingyue, whatever decision he makes is perfectly justifiable.
It was just because of her relationship with Lü Shuyi that she secretly hoped Lu Mingxiao could show some humanity.
Luo Qingyue held her breath and dared not move an inch.
A fraction of a second later, Lu Mingxiao's voice reached my ears: "How much do you know about the car model you're filming this time?"
Lü Shuyi had clearly done her homework, as she was very familiar with the colors, configurations, and selling points of the "Starry Night" series.
Lu Mingxiao nodded and instructed Director Lin to accompany Lü Shuyi to discuss the filming details. Luo Qingyue's brows relaxed, and she finally felt relieved. She handed Lu Mingxiao a bottle of mineral water.
Lu Mingxiao unscrewed the bottle cap: "I need a reason to convince myself."
Luo Qingyue smiled and replied, "Understood."
Just like how she came to work overtime today, it was because of Lü Shuyi that she was willing to be here.
Suddenly, Lu Mingxiao said, "In comparison, you come to Mingyue and don't even know who the president is. Isn't that a bit much?"
The dignified BOSS of Mingyue is actually resorting to this kind of comparison and belittling. Luo Qingyue glanced at him sideways, her tone both righteous and self-righteous.
"If you could use Lu Shuyi's appearance fee to pay me an equivalent salary, I would gladly change my phone wallpaper and profile picture on all my social media apps to your photo, let alone memorize your resume by heart."
[Author's Note]
Xiao: She! Loves! Me! [Let me see][Let me see][Let me see]
Cheng Wang: He released the sea! He released the sea! [eating melon seeds][eating melon seeds][eating melon seeds]
"Goodnight, Darling" and "When the Fireworks Shine," original works by myself [winking emoji][winking emoji][winking emoji]
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