Chapter 074: Misplaced Anger

Just as Wang Dong's boss had anticipated, when Jin Youqian learned that Song Wan had actually accepted an endorsement, he immediately became somewhat angry.

Gao Xiang was called to the office, her face full of confusion. “President Jin, is there something you need from me?”

Song Wan was currently filming, and as long as she didn’t have to leave, it was best for her to stay put.

Jin Youqian’s gaze was icy. “You arranged an endorsement for Song Wan?”

“Yes.” Gao Xiang was momentarily stunned. Was there something wrong with that? As an agent, wasn’t securing endorsements for her artist exactly her job?

Jin Youqian looked at her, his eyes dark and displeased. “Why didn’t you consult me first?”

“Huh?” What did that mean?

It was Gao Xiang’s first time meeting Jin Youqian; she had no idea what kind of person he was. Noticing he was clearly angry, she felt at a loss, so she answered cautiously.

“President Jin, the endorsement I secured for Song Wan is as the chief spokesperson for Hao Han Luxury Goods. Hao Han is one of the top brands in Jiuzhou; it won’t negatively affect Song Wan’s future prospects.”

As Jiuzhou’s top agent, no one understood better than Gao Xiang the dangers of accepting endorsements indiscriminately in the early stages of a career. After climbing to the top, such choices could become major obstacles—

Top brands would no longer invite you to endorse them, or even to appear in their advertisements.

Gao Xiang had once, under social pressure, taken on an artist whose career was going nowhere. She invested many times the effort she gave her other clients just to get him to the same level as the rest, but in the end, he never managed to go further.

When his family suddenly fell into dire straits and needed money, Gao Xiang approached countless companies that fit his image, only to find that none were willing to hire him as a spokesperson or even for a commercial—no one wanted him.

In the end, that artist was nearly driven to desperation. Only after much maneuvering did she finally persuade one company to let him shoot a commercial—note, just a commercial, not an endorsement.

After his crisis was resolved, Gao Xiang tried everything, investing countless time and effort, even asking her other artists to help boost him, letting him ride on their coattails for many high-end resources, until he finally shed the image he had in the eyes of those top company executives.

—Even though he was the first to leave her and start his own company, the effort she invested back then still haunted her.

Therefore, she would never arrange random endorsements for Song Wan.

Yet Jin Youqian was unmoved, his gaze turning even colder. “Doesn’t Pinnacle International have similar products?”

Gao Xiang was taken aback. “I…” How was she supposed to know?

Jin Youqian lifted his chin slightly, exuding an air of superiority and making Gao Xiang feel utterly small.

“Pinnacle International’s products cover every sector. Are you really worried Song Wan won’t get good endorsements?” He looked at Gao Xiang, his tone displeased. “Didn’t Song Wan tell you she’s about to become my wife?”

Gao Xiang narrowed her eyes and then suddenly understood. “You want Song Wan to be the face of all Pinnacle International’s brands?”

Jin Youqian fixed her with a stare, neither confirming nor denying, but in Gao Xiang’s eyes, that was already an answer.

She was astonished. “President Jin, if that’s your wish, I would naturally be thrilled, and Song Wan would be overjoyed as well. But you may not realize… With her current status in the industry, Song Wan simply can’t handle such an arrangement.”

Jin Youqian remained unmoved, but Gao Xiang grew anxious. “President Jin, Song Wan has only just managed to squeeze into the second tier; her status is stable for now. But if you have her… No, even if you just have her endorse any of Pinnacle International’s well-known brands, her status won’t match.”

Jin Youqian’s eyes grew even colder.

Gao Xiang couldn’t help but shiver, hurrying to explain. “Song Wan told me you agreed not to make your engagement public.”

Jin Youqian looked at her, a suffocating anger building in his chest, impossible to express or swallow.

“If you’re not going to announce Song Wan as your wife, then as I see it, Hao Han is already the best endorsement resource she could possibly get. Anything better, and people will start to suspect.” Gao Xiang paused. “Even Hao Han’s endorsement is already a stretch for Song Wan’s current status.”

But it was still within Song Wan’s ability to handle, and Gao Xiang was confident she could manage any fallout.

But to be the face of all Pinnacle International’s brands? She might as well announce their marriage—that would be more straightforward, open, and above board, and no one would question it. Yet, as a mere second-tier star, if Song Wan really became Mrs. Jin, the voices criticizing her would only get louder.

Ultimately, Song Wan simply wasn’t famous enough. Her status wasn’t high enough, nor her background solid enough.

Jin Youqian understood this as well, but he didn’t care. “Are the PR teams at Imperial Entertainment all freeloaders?”

Gao Xiang: “…”

Why did she suddenly feel like mourning for her colleagues at Imperial Entertainment?

Gao Xiang sighed, risking Jin Youqian’s wrath. “I trust our PR department, and I’m sure they’ll be very busy soon.”

She lowered her head. “President Jin, the endorsement contract with Hao Han Luxury Goods has already been signed.”

Song Wan was a clear-headed and self-aware person. She had never imagined she’d get a Pinnacle International endorsement. So when offered Hao Han’s, she was genuinely happy.

Her happiness had influenced Gao Xiang too, making her momentarily forget that Song Wan’s circumstances had changed.

Jin Youqian frowned. “Song Wan is satisfied?”

Gao Xiang glanced at him, then quickly looked down again. “Song Wan knows perfectly well that Hao Han is the best endorsement she could get.”

Jin Youqian narrowed his eyes, unable to hide his displeasure.

But since Song Wan had already signed, there was no need to break the contract.

Jin Youqian’s eyes flickered. “What’s the penalty? How long is the contract?”

Gao Xiang’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t dare hide anything. “Because Song Wan’s prospects are promising, I negotiated terms with the company equal to those given to top-tier artists.”

Naturally, the penalty was also at top-tier level.

“One hundred million. The contract lasts three years.” Gao Xiang’s voice was tinged with bitterness. “Because I know, given Song Wan’s trajectory, in three years Hao Han’s endorsement will no longer match her status.”

But who would have guessed President Jin would be dissatisfied?

All the benefits she’d fought for might be meaningless in his eyes.

Sure enough, Jin Youqian’s glare grew even more irritable.

But what was done was done. However displeased Jin Youqian was, there was nothing more he could do.

Thus, Hao Han Luxury Goods became Song Wan’s first career endorsement.

Even though Jin Youqian looked down on Hao Han, in reality, every artist whose image fit the brand had been eyeing this endorsement for a long time.

Artists like Wang Fan, Zhou Qile, Xi He, and Liu Yang—who had already started negotiating with Hao Han; as well as other lesser-known artists, even some who had been rejected outright—all were trying everything to get this deal.

Their teams had truly pulled out all the stops since the news broke that Hao Han would be selecting a new spokesperson for the season.

Scandals broke out one after another—this one caught up in a controversy, that one accused of diva behavior, others labeled as having poor acting skills…

If not for the rumors about Song Wan latching onto a powerful backer, and her “scandal” with Jin Youqian, these headlines would have dominated entertainment news.

But since they were all negative stories, those artists were almost happy to let Song Wan take over the headlines.

However, once Hao Han announced their new spokesperson, that happiness vanished—

Song Wan? How could it possibly be Song Wan!

Everyone was stunned, especially the top-tier artists who had already entered negotiations with Hao Han.

There was fierce competition among them, so they all kept close tabs on each other, firmly believing the new spokesperson would be chosen from among themselves. They paid no attention to outsiders and targeted only each other with their schemes.

Now, after all their maneuvering, it turned out to be for nothing?

Xi He was furious, smashing everything within reach onto the floor.

His agent, however, remained calm and clear-headed. “Why are you so angry? You never had more than a twenty percent chance of getting the endorsement. It’s not surprising you lost.”

“Less than twenty percent?” Xi He’s hand froze, cup raised in midair. “There were four of us competing. That’s a twenty-five percent chance. Wang Fan, Zhou Qile, Liu Yang—each of them has more scandals than I do. My chances were clearly better.”

The agent adjusted his glasses, his voice cool. “That’s just your perception.”

Xi He refused to accept this, glaring at his agent. “Am I wrong? That’s exactly what Director Zhou said…”

“Director Zhou is only a minor shareholder.” The agent pointed out calmly. “There may not be many like him at Hao Han, but there are at least ten shareholders of similar standing.”

“Just as you had Director Zhou’s support, the others had backing from different board members of similar rank, which is why you’ve been at a stalemate.”

“But…”

“Don’t forget, no matter how many directors there are, who really makes the decisions at Hao Han?”

Xi He was stunned. The agent continued, “Think back—throughout all this time, while you four were fighting and your backers argued heatedly, did President Ji ever say a word?”

“So what? That just means President Ji doesn’t care about something as minor as an endorsement…”

“Are you joking?” The agent looked at him with open disappointment. “In any company, the choice of a brand ambassador is of utmost importance. Saying President Ji doesn’t care only shows how naïve you are.”

Xi He felt a stab of embarrassment and turned away.

The agent sighed, letting the matter drop. “In fact, a week before the announcement, I already guessed the new spokesperson wouldn’t be one of you four.”

“Why?” Xi He was indignant. “We all have excellent public images, and we fit Hao Han’s brand perfectly…”

“President Ji’s silence meant he wasn’t satisfied with any of you,” the agent said bluntly, unwilling to beat around the bush. “But he probably hadn’t found a better choice, so he let the other directors argue.”

Once a better candidate appeared, the four of them—imperfect stand-ins—were no longer needed.

“Song Wan isn’t even top tier…”

“She’ll break into the top tier very soon—within a month, at most.” The agent’s gaze was enigmatic, filled with complexity. “If you knew whose production she’s starring in, you’d understand President Ji’s decision.”

Moreover, only two episodes of “Upward, Stars!” had aired, yet with ratings surpassing all other variety shows and rivaling hit dramas, Song Wan’s rising popularity was given another powerful boost. Just two episodes in, she was already knocking at the door of the top tier.

One more project—so long as it made a splash—would secure her position.

“Whose production?”

“Zhao Qing’s ‘Girlfriends,’ with dual female leads.”

Xi He’s mouth fell open in shock; he was instantly dumbfounded.