When Chen Changqing left with Lin Beichen, his face bore an extra hint of frostiness - a calm facade barely concealing a sliver of murderous intent.
Lin Weiwei observed this and was quietly astonished.
She had no idea what the two vice-presidents had discussed during this brief interval to have parted on such bad terms.
While there was competition between the two departments, surely it did not warrant such hostility - it was verging on another kind of dangerous brinkmanship.
"Xiaosheng, what did you and that Chen Changqing talk about? His complexion seemed really off," she remarked.
After closing the door, Lin Weiwei switched to a more personal address when questioning Bai Xiaosheng.
This was a matter she could not broach publicly, but as a private aside, it was something she could inquire about.
Lin Weiwei asked out of concern for Bai Xiaosheng.
For a girl who understood protocols like her, using a personal address in the office was unprecedented.
Bai Xiaosheng was well aware of this and gave Lin Weiwei a smile.
"We didn’t discuss much?"
Bai Xiaosheng’s response was casual with not the slightest hint of irregularity showing.
Lin Weiwei silently nodded; she did not press further.
"Alright, starting tomorrow, we’ll officially kick off our campaign plan. Now’s not the time to rest, nor to relax!" Bai Xiaosheng said with a smile to Lin Weiwei, "Gather our team, it’s time for a meeting!"
The mention of the campaign invigorated Lin Weiwei, who no longer dwelled on Chen Changqing’s issues.
A few minutes later, the entire management of the New Media Internet Department converged in the conference room, with Bai Xiaosheng taking the head seat.
"How are the preparations, my fellow stakeholders?" Bai Xiaosheng joked.
The managers were all excited, as if they had been waiting for Bai Xiaosheng to ask this very question.
"The venue setup is complete, no problems!"
"The equipment scheduled for delivery tomorrow has already half arrived today, and they are being assembled and tested—no issues!"
"The gifts are anticipated to arrive tomorrow morning, we will recount them!"
One by one, the managers reported in turn.
Everyone had a specific area of responsibility that had been allocated long ago.
Assigning individual accountability was an organizational principle Bai Xiaosheng firmly believed in.
For this campaign, everyone was a stakeholder, with interests aligned, so everyone gave their all—perhaps even two hundred percent.
After all, if the event was a success, not only would they achieve performance targets but also reap substantial rewards—something everyone would be happy about.
Although the department’s employees couldn’t invest in this campaign, Bai Xiaosheng had decided to give them a "dividend." After all, if they won, the New Media Department would secure the substantial bonus of one and a half million from the Online Game Operations Department.
He could not be stingy with this money for the employees.
The matter of the dividends was announced in private by the managers, and while the employees were aware and informed that it couldn’t be shared externally, the news had significantly boosted their morale.
"Excellent, the progress you’ve made is much faster than I anticipated!"
After hearing the final report, Bai Xiaosheng couldn’t help but praise, "This campaign aims not only to accumulate clients but also to consider our wager with the Online Game Operations Department. Thus, we cannot proceed with the usual contracts and payment collections—it won’t suffice."
Bai Xiaosheng said to the managers of the editing team, with a smile, "You are the ones who know the big players, so you need to handle the negotiations. Make it clear to them that we are using the real estate approach this time—contracts to be signed on-site, payments made immediately. We have prepared only twenty special contracts!"
The editors’ team managers nodded in agreement.
"Later on, I’ll assign you a task of the utmost importance," Bai Xiaosheng said mysteriously, "We’ll discuss it privately!"
The managers nodded, and while the others were curious, no one pressed for details.
Then, Bai Xiaosheng arranged some other tasks; everyone had their own important role.
"From now on, everything we do must be kept confidential," Bai Xiaosheng stated gravely, "We can’t let outsiders know!"
This "outsider" referred to Lin Beichen, as well as Chen Changqing and Song Changkong!
The team understood and nodded in unison.
Nothing was more motivating or ensured confidentiality better than having their own interests involved.
Once the meeting was over, the managers hurriedly dispersed.
Bai Xiaosheng held a private meeting with the editorial team behind closed doors.
Bai Xiaosheng, accompanied by Lin Weiwei, left the meeting room and returned to his office.
On the way, Bai Xiaosheng thought of Chen Changqing’s smug expression and a cold smile curled up at the corner of his mouth.
Chen Changqing, you self-righteous bastard, thinking you can chase girls all the way to my doorstep!
This time, don’t blame me for playing dirty!
Bai Xiaosheng chuckled to himself.
He had a trick up his sleeve, one he hadn’t wanted to use, but it was Chen Changqing who was asking for trouble, coming at him and making him unhappy.
Following Bai Xiaosheng, Lin Weiwei was startled by his sudden sly smile and couldn’t help but give him a stern look when no one was watching.
Our Mr. Bai seems to be up to no good...
"Weiwei, call those people we picked last time to my office," Bai Xiaosheng told Lin Weiwei.
Lin Weiwei was taken aback and said in surprise, "Are you really going to do that?"
As an assistant, Lin Weiwei had been involved in the selection of staff and had heard Bai Xiaosheng casually mention a "sneaky tactic."
"Think I’m despicable?" Bai Xiaosheng teased.
"Business is like a battlefield; there’s nothing despicable about it," Lin Weiwei, recalling Chen Changqing, retorted coldly with a curl of her lip, "Besides, I don’t like that man, and since it’s him, there’s no need to hold back!"
Bai Xiaosheng smiled, pushed the door open, and entered his office.
Lin Weiwei turned and left.
In the New Media Internet Department, what’s the greatest asset?
The power of the pen!
And what’s the greatest resource?
These days, Bai Xiaosheng had been doing one thing: digging for talented writers.
He collaborated with Lin Weiwei and a few trustworthy managers to handpick several people.
Each one of them was a master of the written word, capable of moving a grown man to tears with just five hundred carefully crafted words.
This is the power of the pen!
This time, Bai Xiaosheng was going to let these big guns show some of their might.
In less than ten minutes, Lin Weiwei had gathered everyone.
There were five in total.
Bai Xiaosheng looked at them and smiled.
"As you all know, we have a bet with the Online Game Operations Department. To win against us, they have spared no effort, creating one event after another in the games, and now online, they’ve provoked a nasty public backlash."
Bai Xiaosheng looked at them and said with a smile, "I want you to expose the dangers of such practices from an objective and fair viewpoint. Your words should be so compelling that they strike right at the heart and make it clear to anyone who reads the true severity of the issue."
The group nodded repeatedly.
"Then, shall we post it online?" one of them couldn’t help but ask.
"Have you lost your mind?" Bai Xiaosheng said with a laugh.
"We’re still part of the same company as the Online Game Operations Department; stabbing our own people in the back is not our style!"
Bai Xiaosheng paused.
"There’s only one reader for your writing."
He wants to stay neutral, simply watching from the sidelines. There’s no such easy way out. This time, Bai Xiaosheng was going to drag him into the fray to deal with Chen Changqing.
Oh, Chen Changqing...
Bai Xiaosheng sighed.
All this, you shameless bastard, is because you’ve pushed me to it!