Chapter 16: The Pie Is Falling From The Sky

Chapter 16: The Pie Is Falling From The Sky

The Crisis at Haiyue Advertising

Donghai City, in the building of Haiyue Advertising Co., Ltd.

The atmosphere within the company was unusually tense.

For weeks, business had been slow. The once-lively work environment was now filled with whispers, anxious glances, and quiet discussions.

Sales were dropping. No major contracts had been signed for a while. Rumors spread like wildfire.

"Have you heard? The company's performance has been terrible lately."

"They say we might have layoffs soon…"

"Damn it, I have a wife and kids! If things get worse, I'll have to start looking for a new job."

"Same here. If the company really collapses, we're screwed."

The middle managers did their best to suppress the panic.

"No more gossiping!" A department manager snapped. "The company is not bankrupt, and there are no layoffs planned. Stop spreading baseless rumors!"

But their reassurances lacked conviction. After all, they themselves were uncertain about the company's future. If Haiyue Advertising collapsed, they would lose their positions and have to start over. That was an even greater loss for them than for ordinary employees.

Finally, unable to handle the pressure, some senior executives decided to report the situation to Shen Jiaoyue.

"Chairman Shen, the employees are getting anxious," one of them said cautiously. "They're starting to believe the company is in trouble."

Shen Jiaoyue, seated at her desk, looked up calmly. "I understand."

Her voice was steady, but her hands were clenched under the table.

"The company will not go bankrupt," she stated firmly. "You can tell the employees that."

The executive, reassured by her confidence, nodded with a smile. "Understood, Chairman Shen. I'll make sure to pass on the message."

Once he left, the professional mask on Shen Jiaoyue's face cracked.

She sighed, exhaustion visible in her expression. Her delicate features looked pale, and although she had applied light makeup to cover them, the dark circles under her eyes were still faintly visible.

The truth was, those rumors weren't completely false.

Haiyue Advertising was indeed in trouble.

She picked up her phone book, trying to decide who to call for potential business. But before she could dial a number, there was a sudden knock at the door.

A Visitor Bearing a Fortune

"Come in." Shen Jiaoyue straightened up, putting on her composed expression once again.

The door opened, and her secretary stepped in. "Chairman Shen, there's a man named Tian Fu outside. He's requesting a meeting with you."

"Tian Fu?" Shen Jiaoyue frowned slightly, trying to recall the name.

She didn't recognize it.

"Who is he? Did he make an appointment?"

"No, Chairman Shen," the secretary replied. "But… he said he has a 50 million yuan advertisement deal for our company and wants to discuss it with you."

"50 million?!"

Even the experienced Shen Jiaoyue couldn't suppress her shock.

At a time when the company was struggling, someone was offering a deal worth that much? This was either a godsend… or a trap.

She quickly composed herself, coughing lightly to cover her reaction.

"Bring him in," she said. "And remember, be polite."

The secretary nodded and left.

Not long after, the door opened again, and Tian Fu entered the office, accompanied by a young woman.

The first person to step in was a middle-aged man in a neatly tailored suit. He wore glasses and had a calm, confident demeanor.

Shen Jiaoyue's sharp eyes scanned him instantly.

'This man has an artistic air about him… but judging by his outfit, he should be in the clothing industry.'

She had met countless businessmen before, and most of them wore suits from well-known tailors. But Tian Fu's suit was different—clearly custom-made, but not from any brand she was familiar with.

That meant one thing.

This was his own brand.

'Interesting,' she thought. 'He must be here to promote his clothing business.'

Then, she shifted her gaze to the woman beside him.

The assistant was a sweet-looking, elegant young woman wearing a matching custom-made women's suit.

And from the way she carried herself—graceful but not overbearing—it was obvious she wasn't just an employee.

The answer clicked in Shen Jiaoyue's mind.

'This must be his daughter.'

Sure enough, as they approached, Tian Fu introduced them.

"Chairman Shen, it's an honor to meet you," he said with a polite smile. "This is my daughter and assistant, Tian Rui."

"Nice to meet you, Chairman Shen," Tian Rui greeted with a professional yet friendly tone.

Shen Jiaoyue smiled warmly and gestured toward the seating area.

"Welcome, Mr. Tian. Please, have a seat."

The 50 Million Deal

Once they were seated, the secretary brought over coffee for everyone.

Shen Jiaoyue took a sip and leaned slightly forward.

"So, Mr. Tian," she began, "what kind of advertisement does your company want?"

Tian Fu turned to his daughter.

"Rui'er, give me the contract."

Tian Rui put down her orange juice and retrieved a document from her bag, handing it to her father.

Tian Fu placed the contract on the table and slid it toward Shen Jiaoyue.

She picked it up and glanced at the name on the front.

"Xiao Tian Clothing Co., Ltd."

She raised an eyebrow. What kind of strange name was that?

Sensing her reaction, Tian Fu chuckled.

"I changed the name last night," he explained. "The 'Xiao' in the name belongs to our major shareholder."

"A major shareholder?" Shen Jiaoyue's interest was piqued.

Tian Fu nodded. "Yes. Thanks to Mr. Xiao's investment, my small company was able to grow. He specifically asked me to come to you for this advertisement deal."

"Mr. Xiao?" Shen Jiaoyue's eyes flashed with curiosity.

There were many businessmen with the surname Xiao, but only one came to mind when she heard "Mr. Xiao"—the legendary figure in the U.S. business world.

'Could it be him?' she thought.

Still, she set aside the thought and carefully examined the contract.

To her surprise, everything was fair and reasonable. There were no hidden clauses, no excessive demands.

She looked up, impressed.

"This is a very good contract."

Tian Fu smiled. "Then, Chairman Shen, let's work together."

Before she could say anything, he added, "Make the ad look as grand as possible. We'll provide the clothing. That's all."

Shen Jiaoyue blinked.

"…That's all?"

She had been expecting a long list of requests, detailed creative input, or at least some specific demands for the advertising strategy.

But Tian Fu was acting as if 50 million yuan was just pocket change!

"That's all," Tian Fu confirmed.

She looked at him in disbelief.

"…Your Mr. Xiao must be very generous," she muttered.

Tian Fu chuckled. "That's just his style. I've learned a lot from him."

A brief silence followed as Shen Jiaoyue processed the situation.

Then, a rare genuine smile appeared on her face.

"This is a pie from the sky," she murmured to herself.

She had been desperate for business, and now 50 million yuan had just fallen into her lap.

She would have to thank Mr. Xiao properly in the future.

After signing the contract, Tian Fu stood up.

"We'll be in touch," he said, handing her his business card.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for a meal?" Shen Jiaoyue offered, still feeling like this deal had happened too easily.

Tian Fu politely declined. "Maybe another time, Chairman Shen."

And with that, he and Tian Rui left.

The Call to Mr. Xiao

As soon as they were gone, Shen Jiaoyue grabbed her phone and dialed a familiar number.

Meanwhile, at that exact moment—

Xiao Cheng was picking up Sisi from school.

His phone rang.

He glanced at the screen. Tian Fu.

"Hey, Tian Fu."

"All settled," Tian Fu said cheerfully.

"Good."

Just as he was about to say more, Sisi climbed into the front seat, pushing at his arm.

Xiao Cheng chuckled. "We'll talk later."

And with that, he hung up—completely unaware that Shen Jiaoyue was about to find out who he really was.