Li Min walked out of the room and soon returned with the man and woman who had been butting heads before.
They sat far apart from one another. "Still engrossed in your fight?" Qian Meng asked.
"No," both said at the same time. Qian Meng smiled before turning the computer screen towards them. "The video is here. What do you think?"
She played the video and watched the expression on either person's face. It was disbelief and disgust at first and then relief.
"This proves that we were not in the wrong," the marketing director, Ma Qui said.
"In this case," Xiong Fen added without ceremony.
"I think we should make a statement about what really happened and get an end to this. What about you?" he turned to look at the woman.
Xiong Fen looked perturbed. "From a crisis management point of view, we can't publish a statement outright when a lot of people are involved."
Ma Qui scoffed. "What's there to think about? Just post the video. It is self-explanatory. People will turn on the celebrity just like that."
"Absolutely not," Xiong Fen protested. "While some people will feel like the celebrity was wrong, others will think their opinions about being discriminated against was being suppressed."
"Averting the crisis is the most important thing right now. The shift is launching worldwide in ten days. Do you know how much dragging this will cost the company?" Ma Qui raised his voice to ask.
"Ma Qui is right in this aspect," Qian Meng agreed. "But you are thinking from a hardcore sales perspective," she supplied to the man. "Xiong Fen, what do you want to do? I want your opinion."
The woman bit her fingers as she thought. "According to me, the best plan of action would be to contact Shi Yuhan or her managing company. We talk to her about why she posted false rumors and ask her to clear it up."
Qian Meng thought about it. "But this will take time. You're keeping the video as a last resort, is that right?" Xiong Fen nodded.
"Boss, I don't see the point in delaying releasing the real events. It's a straight cut way."
"You marketing people don't think about reputation. You are sales-driven. But part of the reason why sales grow higher is how clean a company looks," Qian Meng explained. "Our plan should be the one that makes us look clean. Not the one which makes us come on top. This is not a face-slapping story where we fight tooth and nail. We need to think about the revenue for the next five years."
Ma Qui buried his head in his hand. "I'm not trying to go against you, Boss. But I know what I am doing."
Qian Meng chuckled. "I know that you do. That's why I employed you. But in this case, we need to tread carefully. We have a launch coming up and if we don't look good by the end of it, forget about sales."
Xiong Fen hummed. "I have a gut feeling that a 'Ban Venus' style movement will start tomorrow. We need to act fast and get to Shi Yuhan before it does," she claimed.
Qian Meng flinched. "Those are two words I never want to hear together. No banning. We need to avoid this at all costs, understood?" Qian Meng said loudly. "I don't care what sources you use. Even if you have to dig out someone's grave, do it and find Shi Yuhan's management's number. I want all conversations recorded."
"And don't make threats!" she called from behind, knowing Ma Qui was a little eccentric when it came to such things. But he drove up sales like nobody's business. So, Qian Meng wouldn't mind.
As long as he stayed within the line.
Qian Meng read through each and every article that came out, her mind on overdrive as she highlighted what phrasing was being used. The people who had stayed back at the company looked dog tired but that was another case altogether. There was still work to be done.
The team was in a conference when Xiong Fen's phone rang. She looked at the screen and surprise flashed through her face.
"It's Shi Yuhan's management company!" she exclaimed before she put the phone to her ears. "Hello, I am a representative from Venus," she began soon. There were some harsh sounds from the other side, but Xiong Fen's face remained stoic.
After the phone was hung up she looked at the crowd and frowned. "As expected, they refused to give us their artist's number."
"They must think we are trying to strike up a deal, don't they?" Qian Meng asked.
"It seems so. They don't seem pleased with how the media storm has taken shape but they are also not upset about the attention Shi Yuhan is getting."
"I would think so. She received 300,000 new followers since this began," Qian Meng grumbled. "Keep asking them. If they make a fuss, tell them it's a sponsorship and modeling opportunity that we wanted to discuss."
"Yes, Boss."
The meeting finished and everyone scattered. Qian Meng slowly walked towards her office and was about to open the door when she felt someone walk up behind her.
She turned over to look over her shoulder and felt a small smile creep up on her lips. "What are you doing here?" she asked with delight.
"Brought you breakfast," he told her. "Your instincts have improved a little," he complimented.
"I was a ninja, to begin with. You were the only one who thought otherwise," she scoffed as she pulled him into the office.
"I tried my best to stomp as I walked. You wouldn't have noticed me otherwise," Mo Qingchen retorted smoothly.
He walked over to the table without ceremony and started to unpack the paper bag he had brought along with him. There was a container for drink boxes of food.
"You brought a lot," she said, peering over his shoulder.