Chapter 59: What Schemes Is He Plotting This Time?

Although he hadn’t been included in the New Year’s Gala planning, Yang Bing immediately thought of a way to seize this opportunity!

Yu Zhile was a man who valued loyalty and friendship—he couldn’t let down the excellent chance for promotion that Yu Zhile had created for him.

Gratefully, he replied, “No need for words of thanks! Old Yu, if you ever need anything, just ask—no matter how risky or difficult, I’ll do it!”

Yu Zhile typed back, “Now that’s too formal! It’s just a small favor. If I don’t help you, I’d only be helping someone else. If you really want to thank me, just treat me to dinner at our usual place another day, and make sure to save me a ticket for the New Year’s Gala, one of the better seats up front.”

“No problem, I’ll get to work right away!” Yang Bing hurried off to find Director Zhang. This year’s New Year’s Gala was under Director Zhang’s charge; the most direct way to get information about the event’s planning and latest developments was to consult him.

Knock, knock. Yang Bing rapped twice on the door of Director Zhang’s office.

Director Zhang looked up and asked, “What brings you here?”

Yang Bing stepped in and said, “Director Zhang, Mengniu Group is interested in sponsoring the New Year’s Gala. I’d like to look at the event plan so I can explain it to them.”

Director Zhang frowned in puzzlement, “What’s Mengniu Group’s possible sponsorship got to do with you? How did you get involved in this?”

Yang Bing answered frankly, “I have a friend who knows someone high up at Mengniu. He said Mengniu’s Yogurt Drink is interested in being the event’s official beverage, and he introduced me to their contact, telling them I was the planning lead at the station. They assumed I was organizing the New Year’s Gala as well, and I couldn’t embarrass my friend by correcting them, so I just went along with it.”

Director Zhang was momentarily surprised. “Are you talking about the yogurt drink endorsed by Qin Haiyu?”

“Yes, that’s the one.” Yang Bing nodded.

Director Zhang’s expression brightened, and he murmured, “I heard Mengniu spent fifty-one million yuan to have Qin Haiyu endorse that yogurt drink! If they sponsor our New Year’s Gala, the sponsorship fee should be substantial!”

Yang Bing continued, “If Mengniu really wants to sponsor the event, we could make the Gala much more grand! And since last night, their ad video and theme song have gone viral online. Riding this wave, the Gala’s viewership will surely get a big boost!”

“You’re absolutely right! The scale of the Gala depends on both the station’s budget and the sponsor’s investment. If Mengniu throws in tens of millions, we’ll be able to invite many more popular stars!”

Director Zhang beckoned him over. “Come here, this is the current event plan and the list of confirmed guests. Since you have someone who knows Mengniu’s leadership, this will be much smoother! Get familiar with the plan—Mengniu’s sponsorship is in your hands now! The highest sponsorship we’ve ever gotten for the Gala was twenty-five million; this year, our bottom line is twenty million. Negotiate from there.”

“Understood, I’ll do my best!” Yang Bing reviewed the documents, then asked, “Was Qin Haiyu not invited? If she doesn’t attend, I think Mengniu will definitely try to lower the price.”

Director Zhang frowned. “I’ll follow up again and try to get Qin Haiyu to attend.”

“All right, Director Zhang, please send me the event plan. I won’t keep you any longer.”

After leaving, Yang Bing sent Yu Zhile a message: “Old Yu, did your wife turn down our invitation to the Gala?”

Yu Zhile saw the message and replied, “Yes, she doesn’t want to go—she’d rather celebrate the New Year at home.”

Yang Bing revealed, “I just spoke to Director Zhang. I told him Mengniu is considering sponsoring the Gala, and now he’s very eager to invite your wife.”

Yu Zhile typed back, “Old Yang, you just went straight to the boss with this? Aren’t you worried I’m bluffing, and if Mengniu isn’t really interested, you’ll be left embarrassed in front of the leadership?”

“I trust you.”

Yang Bing sent those four simple words.

Yu Zhile smiled and replied, “That’s all I need. Just wait—unless something unexpected happens, Manager Chen from Mengniu will contact you within the hour.”

Meanwhile, Xu Ling received a call from the station. She answered, “I’ll explain the situation to Miss Qin Haiyu, but whether or not she agrees to attend is beyond my authority.”

After hanging up, she glanced upstairs just as Yu Zhile came down and hurried over. “The station called again! Didn’t you say you’d handle this? What’s going on? Are you going to accept their invitation or not?”

Yu Zhile asked, “What did they say this time?”

Xu Ling replied, “They raised their offer again! The appearance fee is now four million! That’s on par with many A-list celebrities—it shows they genuinely want Haiyu for the Gala!”

Yu Zhile said, “Four million… No rush, let’s keep them waiting.”

Qin Haiyu asked curiously, “Honey, what kind of scheme are you plotting this time?”

Yu Zhile answered, “How can you call it a scheme? It’s all about timing. We can’t agree too quickly, or it’ll cheapen your worth.”

“Cheapening my worth?”

Xu Ling looked puzzled. “You mean four million isn’t enough? Do you think they’ll offer more?”

Yu Zhile replied, “You can look at it that way. But it’s not about gouging them for money—appearance fees in this industry represent status and fame. I think my wife’s standing and reputation in the music world are worth more than that.”

Xu Ling sighed, “A lot of A-listers only get this much! If you refuse again, the station will probably give up.”

Yu Zhile said confidently, “Just wait. They’ll keep coming back! After this, my wife’s status will be on par with the top stars.”

“…”

I can’t help but think you’re dreaming!

Xu Ling wanted to complain—she thought Yu Zhile was being far too optimistic. If it were up to her, she’d rather spend the money bringing in several young internet celebrities!

“Honey, give me your phone.”

Yu Zhile took Qin Haiyu’s phone, opened Weibo, and posted: “My husband says: New song to be released on New Year’s Day!”

Xu Ling felt she’d been force-fed a mouthful of sugar and commented, “You’re trying to leverage the new song’s popularity to make the station raise their offer, aren’t you?”

“So shallow!” Yu Zhile replied. “This isn’t about the money—it’s about the appearance fee reflecting my wife’s status and fame in the music world. We can’t devalue that!”

Qin Haiyu rolled her eyes. “I haven’t even agreed to attend the Gala, and here you are selling me off already!”

Yu Zhile coughed. “Ahem, honey, you’re the sole breadwinner at home now! Spending a few hours to earn a few million—why not?”

Qin Haiyu couldn’t argue with her husband and simply let him handle things as he wished.

At that moment, Manager Chen called Yang Bing…