A Divine Farmer

Chapter 239 - Waiting for You!

After departing from Su Mei's, Zhang Xiaolong headed to Essence Dragon Company, where the atmosphere was bustling with the final stages of production preparation. The samples he had previously developed had passed quality control, meaning that at his command, the production line could spring into action.

”Seeing you all in such high spirits, is there some good news?” Zhang Xiaolong asked as he walked in, noticing the cheerful expressions on Yang Jingjing and Zhou Li's faces.

“Yes,” Yang Jingjing replied, her demeanor much more animated than when he first met her. “You wouldn't believe the looks we got when we went to collect the quality inspection report. It was incredibly gratifying. They said our cosmetics were nothing short of miraculous and that it would be a travesty if they didn't take off.”

“That's great to hear!” Zhang Xiaolong said with a smile, though he wasn't entirely taken aback by the news.

It was a similar story with Elegant Dragon Drinks; the discovery of numerous nutritional elements in their product had astounded the quality inspection bureau. This success was no different.

“I've promised to gift each of them a set from the first batch of Essence Dragon's products as a keepsake,” Yang Jingjing said with a grin.

”There's no chance this could backfire on us, is there?” Zhang Xiaolong asked, a hint of concern in his voice. He had always been meticulous and honest in his approach, avoiding any shortcuts. A single misstep could give his detractors just what they needed to cause significant trouble.

”No need to worry. I sold the sets to them at a special introductory price—it wasn't all free. But it's certainly a lot cheaper than the final retail price,” Yang Jingjing assured him, winking slyly. As a journalist, she was adept at uncovering the secrets others couldn't, so she was careful not to leave any glaring vulnerabilities.

”By the way, Qingyang is hosting a cosmetics expo in a few days,” Zhou Li chimed in excitedly. “Many well-known brands will be there, and it's an excellent chance for new brands like ours to stand out. We only found out about it through the Quality Supervision Bureau—if not for them, we might have missed out on this opportunity.”

“Oh?” Zhang Xiaolong felt that the timing of this opportunity couldn't be better.

Their new product was on the verge of launching, and the trade show was coming up—what a stroke of luck! Wasn't this a golden opportunity?

If they used Chu Wenwen as the spokesperson from the start, people would surely think that this obscure new cosmetic line was merely capitalizing on Wenwen's current fame. The quality of the product might be questioned.

But if they first built a reputation and then brought in Wenwen to boost their profile, it would be the icing on the cake, leaving no room for criticism.

“Xiaolong, will you join us?” Yang Jingjing asked, full of hope.

“Um…” Zhang Xiaolong hesitated, “I'll have to check my schedule.”

In truth, he wasn't keen on revealing his association with Essence Dragon prematurely. It might not be in the company's best interest.

“Okay, then,” Yang Jingjing said, a touch disappointed but not surprised. She had an inkling of his reluctance. “I still need to figure out how to make a bigger splash at the trade show.”

Zhou Li preferred a more cautious approach: “I think we should advertise, but we shouldn't go overboard. I've done some research, and many of the cosmetics brands attending are well-known both domestically and internationally. If we're too aggressive, we'll draw unwanted attention from our peers. It might help us in Qingyang for now, but in the long run, it could make us a target for many brands, complicating any future market expansion.”

“Only the mediocre or the exceptionally strong avoid envy,” Zhang Xiaolong stated with confidence. “I'm convinced that Essence Dragon is the latter. Our products are so advanced that our competitors couldn't catch up even if they flew. However, I agree with your point. Sometimes the best strategy is to have no strategy at all. Since it's a trade show, let's let the consumers be the judge.”

Yang Jingjing and Zhou Li exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

Essence Dragon Makeup had an innate regal quality, like that of royalty. With its noble air, it would naturally stand out. In fact, it didn't need any gimmicks—just the chance to reveal its true elegance.

Attending the trade show was always meant to be an opportunity to make an impression, so was there really a need for any additional tactics?

Put another way, while the trade show was a great opportunity, Essence Dragon Company didn't have to place such high importance on it. Their product quality spoke for itself, undeniable by anyone. If they didn't stand out at this event, they were bound to do so at the next one.

It's like with Elegant Dragon Drinks; once the first person takes a sip, you don't need to do any more advertising. Word of mouth will take care of the rest, with people eagerly spreading the word for you.

Two days passed, and the exhibition opened as planned. Yang Jingjing and Zhou Li, having received their booth assignment in advance through the Quality Supervision Bureau, arrived early to set up.

While they were arranging their booth, someone else strolled over.

“I'm surprised to see you're also in the cosmetics business. You must still have a passion for it, right?” Chu Peng remarked.

“That seems to be none of your concern,” Zhou Li replied, her tone icy. She had anticipated running into him, but not quite so soon.

“Zhou Li, I know my past actions were somewhat reprehensible, but I want you to understand that everything I did was out of love for you,” Chu Peng said with a pained expression. “I've never felt this way about a woman before. You know…”

“That's probably because you've never experienced not being able to have a woman,” Zhou Li retorted, well aware of his reputation.

Since her start at the company, she had heard the stories. The turnover for Chu's secretaries was the highest in the company, with the longest tenure being a mere five months, never even reaching half a year.

The record for the shortest tenure kept getting broken, culminating in a woman who was fired after just one day.

The speculation continued: would there be another who would be dismissed just minutes after leaving Young Master Chu's bed?

“Yes, I'll admit that initially, my interest was purely physical because I couldn't have you, and that only made me want you more,” Chu Peng confessed frankly. “But as time went on, I realized that my feelings were genuine. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone to such lengths to find you and tried everything to bring you back into my life. I've lost interest in all other women.”

“I'm sorry, but I'm just not interested in you,” Zhou Li stated icily.

“Fine, I'll leave now,” Chu Peng sighed. “However, I'll be waiting for the day you change your mind.”