Superstar Assistant [GL] - Chapter 27

Chapter 27

That manager surnamed Zhao wouldn’t let the matter go. He laughed and said to President Qin, “President Qin, did you hear that? We should tell Sister Luo later that her assistant said the endorsement might be swapped to Sister Liang for the same price. You’d really be making a profit then!”

Zhou Tiantian didn’t feel embarrassed by his words. Instead, she gave President Qin a helpless, slight smile, as if to say: I’m sorry, I can’t salvage the atmosphere from someone with this level of IQ.

President Qin hadn’t thought much of it initially, but seeing a soft, sweet girl like Zhou Tiantian give him such a helpless look made him feel that Manager Zhao was being quite indiscreet. If even a small assistant was trying her best to adjust the mood while this manager was nitpicking over trifles, perhaps collaborating with such a person wasn’t a wise choice.

He looked at Manager Zhao and acted as if he hadn’t taken the comment to heart. “Xiao Zhao, it’s just a joke. If I really took that to Sister Luo, I’d be taking things way too seriously.”

The manager was instantly struck with awkwardness.

Just then, Luo Na pushed the door open. Seeing the atmosphere even more strained than when she left, she exchanged a look with Zhou Tiantian. Zhou Tiantian gave a small shake of her head to indicate it was nothing major. Reassured, Luo Na continued chatting with President Qin and his team.

Throughout the meal, Luo Na never once mentioned the endorsement, placing zero pressure on them. This made Manager Zhao look even more mercenary and undesirable as a partner.

…

On the way back, Zhou Tiantian told Luo Na everything that had happened. Luo Na nodded in praise. “You did well. That’s exactly how you take the wind out of their sails.”

When Li Ziyu saw Zhou Tiantian return in high spirits, she strolled over with a smile. “Why so happy? Did something good happen?”

Zhou Tiantian nodded. “Usually I’m just a background prop when I go out with Sister Luo, but today I finally spoke up and helped her out. She even praised me.”

Li Ziyu reflexively reached out and pinched her nose, eyes sparkling. “Then you’re truly amazing. Sister Luo thinks highly of you; learn well from her. She’s a famous manager for a reason. Once I graduate and start working full-time, you’ll see just how powerful her methods are.”

Zhou Tiantian shyly dodged her hand. “I know she’s great. I’ve looked up her history.”

Luo Na was indeed resourceful. She didn’t want Li Ziyu to lose this deal, so she kept in touch with President Qin. Eventually, he leaked some info: “Don’t worry, Li Ziyu fits our product best. Barring any accidents, the endorsement is hers.”

Luo Na was finally at ease. However, Zhao Kai—the manager of Liu Xinxin—wasn’t willing to give up.

…

Zhao Kai managed Liu Xinxin, who was in the same company as Dong Minsi, but while Dong was an A-lister, Liu was an “18th-tier” starlet struggling for relevance.

“The news I have is that there’s an 80% chance it goes to Li Ziyu,” Zhao Kai told Liu Xinxin. “I think we should give up. You know Luo Na’s methods.”

Liu Xinxin’s eyes flashed with resentment. “Brother Kai, I don’t care about the fee. I just want to be tied to this brand. They advertise everywhere. If I’m the face of it before the drama airs, I’ll be all over TV and the internet. I could go viral overnight. Isn’t there any other way?”

Liu Xinxin was approaching 30. If she didn’t make it big now, she’d be stuck playing supporting roles for the rest of her life.

Zhao Kai thought for a moment. “There is a way, but it depends on if you’re willing.” He paused. “You know how men are. Some things are hard to negotiate at a dinner table, but different in bed.”

Liu Xinxin hesitated. She had avoided this “shortcut” when she first started, fearing it would become a permanent requirement. But now, with younger girls entering the industry every day, she felt her window closing. She bit her lip. “Okay, Brother Kai. I’ll do it. Please arrange it.”

Three days later, Luo Na received a call from President Qin. His voice was laced with apology. “Miss Luo, I’m so sorry. Our company cannot sign the contract with Li Ziyu.”

Luo Na’s heart sank, but her voice remained professional and pleasant. “President Qin, why apologize? The contract wasn’t finalized, so there’s no breach. It’s perfectly fine.”

Relieved, President Qin added, “Though you missed this one, the contract for another of our products—not as famous as the makeup, but still good—is expiring soon. Would you be interested?”

Luo Na thanked him, but hung up feeling bitter. She could accept losing to a bigger star, but losing to a third-tier talent using “underhanded” means was hard to swallow. She began using her own network to see if she could snatch the deal back.

…

While the two sides were fighting, Dong Minsi heard a rumor from another actress.

“It’s not about who gets the deal anymore,” the actress whispered. “There’s a massive power struggle at the top of Mengjiao. People want to oust the current leader. They found out one of their products has a major quality issue, and they’re going to use that to take him down.”

Dong Minsi was shocked. She immediately contacted Zhou Tiantian.

“Tiantian, free for lunch?”

To avoid Li Ziyu’s “jealousy,” Zhou Tiantian scheduled the meeting for a day when Ziyu had a full day of classes. Dong Minsi chose a mushroom specialty restaurant—safe for pregnant women—and also a place owned by Zhao Qing, hoping for another “chance encounter.”

At the restaurant, Dong Minsi got straight to the point. “I suggest you don’t take the Mengjiao endorsement. It’s not a good resource.”

Zhou Tiantian was confused. “Why? Sister Luo thinks it’s great.”

“Internal power struggles,” Dong Minsi whispered. “The product Li Ziyu is supposed to endorse is going to have a major problem. Whoever represents it will be left holding a ‘hot potato’ they can’t get rid of.”

Before she could explain more, a cold, low voice came from outside the door: “Tiantian, Miss Dong, are you in there?”

It was Zhao Qing. She entered with her “iceberg” persona, sat down, and offered to comp their meal. After some awkward “Top vs. Bottom” roleplaying between Zhao Qing and Dong Minsi, Zhou Tiantian made an excuse to leave, sensing the heavy atmosphere.

Once alone, Zhao Qing and Dong Minsi shared a bottle of expensive red wine. Zhao Qing, trying to be cool, accidentally drank too much. As soon as she stepped out of the room, she collapsed into her manager’s arms. “I told you,” the manager muttered. “You can’t drink a single glass, yet you tried to stay for half an hour.”

…

Zhou Tiantian went straight to Luo Na’s office and told her Dong Minsi’s warning.

Luo Na realized the gravity of the situation. “Dong Minsi is an A-lister in the same company as Liu Xinxin. She has no reason to lie for her. If the product is faulty, it’s a trap.”

Luo Na immediately shifted her focus to the secondary, safer product President Qin had mentioned. Li Ziyu was fine with the change. “I trust your judgment,” she told them.

However, the industry began to mock them. Manager Zhao Kai was boastful: “I guess a ‘gold-medal manager’ isn’t so tough after all.” Even within Li Ziyu’s own company, people whispered that Luo Na was losing her touch or that the company was abandoning Ziyu.

Luo Na just smiled. “Success in this industry isn’t always visible in the short term.”

The contracts were signed. Liu Xinxin got the high-profile makeup line, while Li Ziyu got the newer, less famous daily-use product. Zhao Kai even mocked Luo Na in the elevator. “Did the ‘pressure’ get to you, Sister Luo?”

“Yes,” Luo Na replied calmly. “That product brought a lot of pressure, so I gave it up.”

…

On the day of the drama’s opening ceremony, Liu Xinxin’s advertisements were everywhere. Zhao Kai had spent a fortune on trending topics. Liu Xinxin felt like she was finally on top of the world.

But at the press conference, things took a sharp turn.

Reporters ignored the drama and thrust microphones at Liu Xinxin. One asked, “Miss Liu, what do you think about the news that just broke online regarding toxic substances in Mengjiao Cosmetics exceeding safety limits?”

Liu Xinxin was stunned. “Toxic substances?” She hadn’t seen the news. “Don’t spread rumors,” she laughed nervously. “I use it myself. My makeup today is all Mengjiao.”

Another reporter asked, “So you know about the netizen whose face was severely burned and ulcerated from using the product? You think it’s just her personal skin issue?”

“Everyone’s skin is different,” Liu Xinxin said, digging her own grave. “If she knew it didn’t suit her, she should have stopped. It’s likely her own constitution.”

In the audience, Dong Minsi whispered to Li Ziyu, “This is the stupidest woman I’ve ever seen. She’s so desperate for fame she’s lost her mind.”

Li Ziyu watched coldly. “She’s too eager for quick success.”

As the conference ended, Liu Xinxin’s phone buzzed. She checked Weibo, and her legs went weak. The hashtag #MengjiaoCosmeticsCausesDisfigurement# was trending at #1.

The report showed a girl with a severely ulcerated face. And Liu Xinxin had just told the entire national media, on camera, that the girl brought it on herself.