The Early Spring - Chapter 122

Chapter 122 - Morning Light

The day after seeing off the agency leadership, Shang Zhitao truly began auditing her resources.

Opening her contacts list, she dialed numbers one after another: "Hello, this is Shang Zhitao."

"You're asking if the pandemic affected our company? It's a long story. Though there's been an impact, we're still conducting business as usual."

"Not only are we doing business as usual, but we've also secured an internet advertising license. So, Director Wang, would you like to shift a bit of your budget over to give us a try?"

She repeated these words over and over with tireless patience. Some agreed, while others declined. None of that mattered; as long as someone agreed, it was a good beginning.

She had no idea that while she was making calls, Luan Nian was also making phone calls at home.

As a person, he had always disdained pulling strings, accustomed to his high and mighty pride. Today, however, he bowed his head to make calls, reaching out to Jiang Lan first.

Jiang Lan picked up and asked him, "What's wrong? It's rare for you to take the initiative to call me."

"Are the ad budgets for your regional branch offices calculated separately?"

"Yes, they're allocated to each region to use at their own discretion."

"A friend of mine opened an agency in Harbin. How about allocating some budget over there to give it a try?" Luan Nian didn't care for pleasantries. "Let's put it this way: what I'm introducing to you is the most professional internet advertising team in the industry."

Jiang Lan chuckled. "Say no more, I get it. It's Shang Zhitao. Fine, you owe me a favor."

"I'll buy you dinner."

"Deal."

Luan Nian placed call after call. He forwarded Fu Dong's phone number to clients and friends, having Fu Dong handle the follow-ups. Fu Dong expressed his gratitude: "I definitely have to tell the boss."

"No need," Luan Nian told him. "There's no need to tell her. I'm merely bridging the connection; whether it works out depends on your negotiation skills. Success will be the result of your own hard work, so don't mention it to Shang Zhitao. It's unnecessary."

Although he put it that way, the dozen or so contacts he passed to Fu Dong were all guaranteed to transfer budget over.

Shang Zhitao's internet advertising agency business officially took off.

Having stepped into a new track, she needed to master new business logic, and there were so many things she didn't understand. Thus, she requested that the channel manager stay in Harbin rather than head back. Arranging an office for him at the company, she went to find him eight hundred times a day. She was humble and sincere, dedicating herself wholeheartedly to the work, and the channel manager was equally willing to teach her. Within a single month, Shang Zhitao launched over twenty client accounts. As if possessed, she spent every day on her phone scrolling through app ad feeds, discussing ad placements with her employees as she scrolled. They practiced refined operations, meticulously tracking peak traffic down to the exact hour and minute. In just one month, they established a benchmark case study for superstores.

In his report, the channel manager noted: This newly opened agency in Harbin is exceptionally professional. I believe we can grant them access to tracks for other licenses as well.

Through the tireless efforts of herself and her entire staff, Shang Zhitao won her initial battle, earning respect along the way.

During the period when she was meeting clients and managing ad campaigns day and night, Luan Nian came over three times, yet they didn't manage to meet even once. On all three occasions, Shang Zhitao happened to be out of town—the first time leading a team-building trip, and the other two times meeting clients. It looked like she was intentionally avoiding him, but Luan Nian didn't mind. He continued staying in Shang Zhitao's guest bedroom. Every time he went, he would buy heaps of groceries from the supermarket to stuff her fridge, spending two days earnestly keeping Luke company. Before leaving, he would make delicious food for Luke and leave it in the fridge; on a couple of occasions, he even cooked a few dishes that Shang Zhitao could eat right after heating them up upon her return.

They still didn't communicate much. Luan Nian maintained that delicate boundary, keeping things within a reasonable scope so as not to cause her worry or distress.

Sometimes his friends teased him: "Running off to Harbin week after week—any results? Doesn't she still ignore you?" Despite teasing him like this, they were also anxious on his behalf. Chen Kuannian remarked, "Do you think an iron tree can blossom? Will Luan Nian ever get to kiss his little Peach sister?"

"Luan Nian might as well castrate himself," Tan Mian chimed in. "He's not using it anyway."

Luan Nian remained silent while listening to them chatter, sitting there lost in thought. He had once asked Fu Dong, "Does your boss go on dates often?"

"Our boss? She gets off work after ten at night. Where would she even go on a date?"

Occasionally, the two of them would exchange a few words.

Whenever Shang Zhitao encountered a concept she couldn't figure out and the channel manager couldn't explain clearly, she would anxiously call Luan Nian: "I want to consult you on a question."

"Speak."

"The fast-moving consumer goods track model we're running isn't right."

"How is it not right?"

"I just feel the campaign logic shouldn't be like this."

"Send it over for me to take a look."

Shang Zhitao sent him the overall proposal and data. He took one look and said, "Shang Zhitao, have you worked yourself into a daze? Look at your target audience and product—do they even match?"

"If your brain is too exhausted, take a break once in a while. Don't end up breaking your brain."

"Oh. So that's how it is." Shang Zhitao pulled out the product information to examine, and it really was flawed right from the source. Feeling a bit happy to have solved a problem, she said to Luan Nian, "Thank you. I really didn't expect that even as you approach forty, your brain still works so well."

Finishing her sentence, she hung up the phone.

Shang Zhitao had mocked his age twice in a row, as if reminding him that his youth was slipping away. Luan Nian thought nothing of it. Yet one day, while flipping through a print magazine, he came across a creative piece of copy. The content was simple—black text on a white background: Who doesn't like a younger guy?

Luan Nian stared at the picture for a long moment before cursing under his breath: "What kind of fucking trash ad is this?!"

He called Shang Zhitao: "Let me ask you, do you like younger guys?"

"Huh?" Shang Zhitao was stunned by his question.

"Young, handsome younger guys."

Shang Zhitao finally reacted: "Who doesn't like younger guys?"

"You're out of your mind!" Luan Nian snapped before slamming the phone down.

Shang Zhitao held the phone in a daze, and after a moment, she burst out laughing.

"Boss, what are you doing?" Fu Dong asked her.

"Someone is acting weird."

Another day passed, and Luan Nian's long-barren Moments feed suddenly featured a photo. It was a cover shot taken for him by a magazine: dressed in a black shirt, he leaned sideways against a sofa, his shirt collar slightly unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his chest muscles and a striking bodily silhouette.

The comment section was equally brilliant.

Song Qiuhan: A matchmaking photo for your Moments?

Tan Mian: A middle-aged, elderly, lonely, empty-nester?

Chen Kuannian: @Shang Zhitao

Shang Zhitao had both Chen Kuannian and Song Qiuhan as friends, so she naturally saw the replies under Luan Nian's post. Tapping the image to view it full-screen, she thought to herself that Luan Nian would probably always be like this. In his twenties, he was an exasperating youth; in his thirties and forties, he was an exasperating middle-aged man; even in his seventies or eighties, he would surely be an exasperating old geezer. How could God favor him so excessively?

She thought that was the end of it, but Chen Kuannian actually sent it to her privately, asking: How about it? Could you reluctantly sleep with him?

Shang Zhitao was almost killed by laughter: I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare.

What's there not to dare? It's not like you haven't slept with him before. Chen Kuannian was truly anxious for his brother. If this kept up, Luan Nian really was going to end up a lonely bachelor. And with his personality, he was never willing to bow his head—flying to Harbin every week to look at a dog. Looking at the dog was fine and all, but he couldn't even catch a glimpse of the person. Anyone who didn't know better would think the only thing he actually loved was that dog!

"By the way, you opened an advertising agency, right?" Chen Kuannian asked her.

"Yes."

"I have a friend in Harbin who does jewelry. I'm heading over there soon, so let's get together and chat."

"Sure thing, thank you, Director Chen. Dinner's on me."

"Sounds good."

His friends figured that relying on Luan Nian alone wasn't going to work, so they devised a strategy. They planned to take turns bringing Luan Nian to Harbin under the guise of introducing clients. This time, Shang Zhitao wouldn't be able to hide and avoid meeting him, right?

When Chen Kuannian said he would go, he actually sprang into action. He first contacted his friend, and when booking the tickets, he casually bought two and dropped them into the group chat: Your brother here is accompanying Director Luan to pursue his wife. At my own expense. Hope Director Luan remembers your brother's devotion and buys me more drinks in the future.

"Nonsense," Luan Nian threw back a response.

Despite saying so, he still tagged along.

Clients truly commanded respect; Shang Zhitao really hadn't gone anywhere, even coming to the airport to pick up Chen Kuannian. Luan Nian walked beside Chen Kuannian and saw Shang Zhitao, whom he hadn't seen in a while, wearing large sunglasses.

Taking off her sunglasses revealed a pair of eyes that had pulled many late nights.

"I'm sorry, the business just launched recently and many things haven't been smoothed out yet. I pulled a few late nights, so I look a bit disheveled," Shang Zhitao apologized to them. She would also sigh on occasion that she was no longer in her early twenties. Back then, even after pulling several late nights in a row, getting up in the morning to brush her teeth, wash her face, and pat on a bit of foundation would leave her looking radiant as ever.

Luan Nian's heart ached for a moment. But he wouldn't ask her again: What are you striving for? Is it money? I have plenty! He wouldn't say such things anymore. Shang Zhitao wanted to pursue her life's worth, and that in itself was a wonderful thing.

When getting into the car, Chen Kuannian pretended to take the front passenger seat, only for Luan Nian to slap his hand away from the door handle. He gave a chuckle and dutifully sat in the back seat instead.

This time, none of them carried the polite reserve of a first meeting. Shang Zhitao took Chen Kuannian and Luan Nian directly to the old tavern for drinks, with Fu Dong keeping them company. Seeing Luan Nian, Big Zhai turned around and headed into the kitchen: "Taotao's ex-boyfriend is here."

Hearing this, Old Shang walked out and finally laid eyes on Luan Nian.

Turning back around to walk inside, he actually smiled.

Puzzled, Big Zhai asked him, "What are you smiling about?"

"I'm smiling because Taotao went on all those blind dates for nothing." He gestured toward the outside with his chin. "Looking proper and decent—aside from being a bit older, the rest looks passable, doesn't it?"

Shang Zhitao came in to greet them, and hearing the old couple's whispered chatter, she cleared her throat: "Get back to work! In a few days, they'll make you close down for epidemic prevention again! You'll lose money until you're completely cleaned out!"

Big Zhai tapped her forehead: "You talk too much. Your dad's been so stressed lately he can't even sleep well."

"I'm just joking. What's there to be stressed about? If we don't make money, we don't make money. At worst, we just stop doing business!"

"Don't. I can't sit idle. Business has been much better lately."

Shang Zhitao brought out a plate of peanuts and set it before Luan Nian: "Here, Director Luan's favorite."

"Your company's level of hospitality gets worse every time."

"Even the General Secretary advocates diligence and frugality!" Shang Zhitao refused to back down, retorting instantly.

Seeing Luan Nian suffer a setback, Chen Kuannian smirked on the side, live-blogging the grand spectacle of the two bickering into the group chat, attaching a caption: Truly refusing to yield a single word—he deserves to be a lonely bachelor.

Luan Nian's friends were all reliable; when they said they'd handle something, they definitely delivered. While they were still drinking, the other party sent over the time and location, arranging the meeting details.

"Care for a drink?" Chen Kuannian asked her. "Still taking medicine?"

"Having two men drinking with you isn't satisfying enough?" Luan Nian chided him. "Clamoring to drink every day—no wonder Xiaomei makes you sleep in the living room." Drinking alcohol after pulling late nights—wasn't that just begging for a sudden cardiac arrest? What business was worth throwing one's life away for?

Chen Kuannian gave a chuckle.

While the group was eating, Luan Nian stood up to pay the bill. Big Zhai turned the QR code face down on the table: "Taotao's treat, no need to pay."

Luan Nian flipped it over, scanned the code, and asked Big Zhai, "How much?"

"No need for all these formalities." Big Zhai took his phone and closed the payment screen. "Go eat, and drink less alcohol in the future."

"Alright," Luan Nian agreed, adding another line: "Thank you."

After finishing their meal, the group stepped outside.

Chen Kuannian asked Luan Nian, "Do you have important business again?"

"Yes."

"Alright then, off you go!"

Luan Nian walked beside Shang Zhitao. Having drunk a bit of alcohol, his face was slightly flushed.

"How's your business?" he asked Shang Zhitao.

"Pretty good," Shang Zhitao said to him. "Fu Dong told me that many of the clients we onboarded recently were introduced by you."

"Mm."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

After entering the apartment, Shang Zhitao curled up on the sofa while Luan Nian went out to walk Luke. He walked the dog a bit longer and ran into Shang Zhitao's neighbor again. Having greeted each other several times, the neighbor felt somewhat acquainted with Luan Nian, asking him while waiting for the elevator, "When are you getting married?"

"Next year," Luan Nian casually made up a response.

"Next year... Isn't that coming up real soon? That's great, that's great. What do you do for work?"

"An advertising agency."

"Oh, oh, ad sales! I get it, I get it."

Luan Nian smiled at her, feeling quite averse to this uncalled-for enthusiasm. Entering the door, he saw Shang Zhitao curled up on the sofa fast asleep; she didn't even wake up when Luke went over to rub against her—she was truly exhausted.

Luan Nian walked over, leaned down, and scooped her up. Shang Zhitao opened her eyes slightly, and hearing Luan Nian say, "Go sleep in bed," she closed her eyes again.

Carrying her to bed, Luan Nian went to the guest bedroom.

A bit later, Chen Kuannian asked him: You didn't head back to the hotel—did the deed get done?

?

Did the little brother come in handy?

Get lost.

Opening her eyes the next day, Shang Zhitao heard activity in the kitchen. Pushing open the door, she saw Luan Nian standing in the morning light making breakfast. The multigrain porridge in the electric cooker was rich with aroma while he was frying egg rolls stuffed with bell peppers and onions—another dish Shang Zhitao particularly loved.

She stood there watching him for a while, feeling that waking up in a morning filled with the fragrance of food was truly an incomparable happiness.

Yet it was merely a passing thought.

Life continued on just like that.

By November, Shang Zhitao came across a female empowerment initiative. She was shocked by the stories within the initiative and moved by the noble ideals of its founders. So she said to Luan Nian, "I want to donate the money from selling the bags."

"Donate it to whom?"

"A female empowerment initiative."

"Is the founder Lin Chun'er?"

"Yes. Why do I feel like that name sounds a bit familiar?"

"Because the founder is Song Qiuhan's girlfriend. I'll have her contact you."

The day Lin Chun'er called Shang Zhitao, the first snow of that year fell in Harbin. Shang Zhitao had just stepped out of the company and squeezed onto a public bus. Answering the phone, she heard a very gentle voice say, "Is this Shang Zhitao?"

"Yes, and you are?"

"I'm Lin Chun'er. Luan Nian mentioned you have a sum of money you'd like to donate."

"Yes. A total of one million yuan." Shang Zhitao had added a bit more to round it up.

Hearing the bus stop announcement on Shang Zhitao's end, Lin Chun'er said to her, "Thank you, Shang Zhitao. I'll add you as a friend and send over the donation details later."

"Great, I'll arrange it right away after I look it over."

For some reason, after exchanging just a few words, the two felt an exceptional kinship. Shang Zhitao said, "If you get the chance, come over to my home for a drink!"

"I'm really not one to stand on ceremony—I'll go in December!"

Just like that, that sum of money turned into acts of goodwill, reaching the places it ought to go. If it could help someone, nothing could be better.

In her donation message, Shang Zhitao wrote: May you live a life free of worries. May you forever possess the courage to break through any deadlock.

It seemed that after turning thirty, days sped past at the pace of a hundred-meter sprint. Shang Zhitao was constantly busy, with endless work always waiting for her.

One morning, upon waking up, she realized Luke wasn't there to greet her.

Searching all around, she found Luke lying by the window with his eyes tightly closed, looking as if he were in great distress. Shang Zhitao ran over to cradle his head: "What's wrong, Luke?"

Luke stood up, retched a few times, and threw up.

Shang Zhitao had never seen Luke like this before. Terrified beyond belief, she called Luan Nian: "Luan Nian, Luke seems to be sick. He threw up, and when I call him he won't get up." Shang Zhitao was frightened out of her wits, unaware that she was already crying.

"Don't cry," Luan Nian told her. "Take him to the pet hospital. I'll head to the airport right away."

By the time Luan Nian arrived, it was already afternoon. Luke was receiving an IV drip at the pet hospital while Shang Zhitao sat beside him with her lips tightly pursed, deeply distressed.

Luan Nian sat down next to her and asked, "What happened?"

"They said it's gastroenteritis." Shang Zhitao felt immensely guilty; she had been too busy lately and had neglected Luke's care. When he walked back and forth on the floor with anxiety last night, she hadn't even realized he might be sick.

Luan Nian squatted down in front of Luke, his hand gently grasping the dog's snout: "Look at you now! You even know how to get sick!"

Luke let out a soft whine and rested his head in Luan Nian's palm. When Luan Nian pulled his hand back, Luke nipped his hand back over, insisting on using it as a pillow.

Luan Nian pulled up a chair to sit in front of him, extending one hand for the dog to rest on while taking out his phone with the other to call Dr. Liang: "Yeah, it's nothing serious. I might head back the day after tomorrow."

"No problem. Where are you?" Dr. Liang asked him.

"I'm in Harbin."

"You're at Shang Zhitao's place?" Dr. Liang felt his whole being perk up in an instant.

Luan Nian glanced at Shang Zhitao and let out a soft "Mm."

"Can I talk to her?" Dr. Liang asked him.

"No. I'm hanging up." Luan Nian hung up the phone and sent Dr. Liang a text message: We're not dating, so I can't let you talk to her.

It's fine, I won't talk to her. Go ahead, stay a few extra days.

Dr. Liang chuckled and hung up.

"If you have things to attend to..."

"I don't have anything to do," Luan Nian interrupted Shang Zhitao. "Aren't you very busy? Go to the company."

"I brought my laptop."

"Then you can work here."

"Okay."

Shang Zhitao truly had a mountain of work piled up. Having secured the license less than half a year ago, the conversion rates requested by clients had to be achieved—otherwise, how could they expect repeat investments? So she opened her laptop and clattered away on the keyboard. Luan Nian watched her for a long time before finally speaking:

"Shang Zhitao, how about I take care of Luke together with you?"