Ye Zhi calmly analyzed, "Those big brands will be more cautious. They value their reputation, and programs that lower brand image are generally not considered. However, for companies eager to gain fame, it's hard to say."
"That's right," Zhan Ruoqing agreed. "It's estimated that as long as the other party is willing to pay, even if the sponsor is a sub-par, uncertified product, Ou Minghan will accept it. He's done this before!"
"I do have a guess..." Ye Zhi paused, then changed her mind. "Never mind, I won't say it."
"Wait, you have to say it!" Zhan Ruoqing exclaimed, "How can you say half a sentence? Aren't you deliberately teasing me?"
Ye Zhi chuckled, "Okay, okay, I'll say it. I was thinking, doesn't the Cen family have a jewelry company called Shanjin Jewelry in the country? Will Ou Minghan give the naming rights to Shanjin Jewelry and also collect a large naming fee?"
"Ah?" Zhan Ruoqing was a little confused. "I remember that both Feilong Live and Shanjin Jewelry are under Cen Ya's name. I can understand Shanjin Jewelry sponsoring, but why would there be a large naming fee? What's the point of transferring money from one hand to the other like this?"
"But the problem is, the money in the left hand belongs to the Cen family, while the money in the right hand, whether it belongs to Cen Ya or Ou Minghan, is uncertain," Ye Zhi said gravely.
Zhan Ruoqing's eyes widened as she understood Ye Zhi's meaning.
Although Feilong Live nominally belonged to Cen Ya, it was completely controlled by Ou Minghan. If, as Ye Zhi guessed, the Cen family's money came to Feilong Live in the form of a naming fee, Ou Minghan would definitely not return it.
She was astonished. "No way?! Putting aside everything else, Cen Ya is practically devoted to Ou Minghan, giving him money without a second thought. And he's still scheming against the Cen family's money? He's too much of a scoundrel! Isn't he afraid Cen Ya will be angry?"
"What belongs to the Cen family doesn't necessarily belong to Cen Ya, and Ou Minghan knows this very well. As for whether Cen Ya will be angry..." Ye Zhi said with certainty, "I think you're overthinking it. It's likely that in Cen Ya's mind, the Cen family unconditionally helping Ou Minghan is a sign of love for her."
After all, Cen Ya resented the Ye family because they refused to give her their property. Now that the Cen family were her real relatives, she would naturally have the same expectations of them.
Zhan Ruoqing was silent for a while and then asked, "I'm truly impressed! What on earth is Cen Ya thinking? If she's capable, she should hold onto the money tightly herself. If she's not capable, having the money in the Cen family is still her solid backing. But she actually gives the money to Ou Minghan. What does she gain from this?"
"Perhaps... she gains self-satisfaction," Ye Zhi said faintly.
"If I ever lose my mind in the future, I'll think of her," Zhan Ruoqing said with emotion. "Suddenly, I feel full of motivation!"
Ye Zhi was exasperated, not expecting Cen Ya to have such an effect.
Afterward, Zhan Ruoqing hung up the phone.
Ye Zhi's guess was correct. "Beauty Challenge" soon attracted quite a few sponsors, and Ou Minghan did plan to give the naming rights to Shanjin Jewelry.
Cen Ya naturally had no objections. However, Qi Guanghua, the vice president of Shanjin Jewelry, directly barged into Gu Sheng's office, elaborating on the pros and cons, hoping he would retract the decision to sponsor "Beauty Challenge."
Gu Sheng was also in a difficult position. Of course, he didn't want Cen Ya to have too many entanglements with Ou Minghan. However, Cen Ya had come to him specifically for this, and he really didn't want to disappoint her.
After listening to Qi Guanghua, Gu Sheng pondered for a while and finally made up his mind.
"Isn't this program quite popular recently?" Gu Sheng said. "Shanjin Jewelry needs recognition. By leveraging this program, won't it gain more visibility faster?"
"Mr. Gu! This is different!" Qi Guanghua said with great distress. "Jewelry should follow a high-end route. This program is popular, but it's not classy! If people associate Shanjin Jewelry with a borderline program in the future, who will be willing to buy our jewelry?!"
"Vice President Qi, aren't you exaggerating a bit?" Gu Sheng frowned. "If the program is really that bad, why are other companies also sponsoring it?"
Qi Guanghua was indignant. "Mr. Gu, just look at the quality of the other sponsors! Look at these: Charmingly Rich Rejuvenating Dew, Youthful and Beautiful Noblewoman Cream. These are makeup brands I've never even heard of! I investigated, and these brands made their fortune through a model similar to pyramid schemes!
And these, 'Brothers, Hack Me' and 'One Strike 999,' are reskinned browser games. These trash browser game companies hire employees to play with wealthy players, tricking them into topping up!
As for those unreliable financial products, training institutions, and loan companies, not to mention them. If they're placed alongside these advertisements, Shanjin Jewelry will be labeled as inferior in the future!
Once this label is attached, it will be difficult to remove! By then, when people see our jewelry, they'll just think it's fake and not worth the price!
Mr. Gu, for such an important decision, please truthfully tell Mr. Cen and ask for his opinion! Are you really going to let Shanjin Jewelry be ruined in your hands?!"
Faced with Qi Guanghua's questioning, especially the last sentence, Gu Sheng hesitated.
However, he had promised Cen Ya that he absolutely would not tell Cen Xiucheng about it.
"How about this," Gu Sheng thought. "Xiao Ya's mother is arriving tonight. I'll explain the situation to her then, and she can make the decision."
Qi Guanghua was very disappointed that even this couldn't change Gu Sheng's decision. It seemed he could only place his hope on Cen Ya's mother. He heard she was a Duchess, so she shouldn't let Cen Ya continue to be reckless.
"Alright," Qi Guanghua reluctantly agreed.
Gu Sheng said somewhat guiltily, "Vice President Qi, you're busy with selecting a spokesperson recently, aren't you? You've worked hard. I'll give you a raise. How about a 30% increase?"
Qi Guanghua was taken aback. Was Gu Sheng trying to buy his silence with a salary increase?
He was already in the position of vice president, and his salary was not low. A 30% increase was not a small sum. Of course, who would refuse a raise?
"Then thank you, Mr. Gu," Qi Guanghua's expression improved slightly, and he left directly.
Gu Sheng called Cen Ya and asked her to come back. After Cen Ya returned, he saw the hickey on her neck and could only pretend not to see it with a heavy heart. Then, they went to the airport to pick her up together.
*
In the evening, Ye Zhi and Qi Xuan went to the newly opened Jufuyuan restaurant in Kyoto for dinner. This meal was with the Ye family.
Today was originally the day Ye Zhi was supposed to return to the Ye family. She wanted to bring Qi Xuan with her, but when she called, Ye Yongxian and Liu Lingyu resolutely refused.