Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Chapter 1437 2008
A piercing ringtone shattered the morning tranquility, dragging Qin Hao from his deep sleep.

He groggily reached for the bedside table, his fingers touching the cold casing of his phone. He barely opened his eyes; the screen displayed a number that was both unfamiliar and somewhat familiar. He pressed the answer button, his voice still heavy with sleep.

"Hello, who is it?"

A hurried female voice came from the other end of the phone, her tone full of exasperation: "Qin Hao, today is our first day independently in charge of business, and you've caused me this mess? The client is almost here, why aren't you at the company yet?"

That voice… Qin Hao quickly searched his mind for the corresponding face. In that instant, a flood of memories that didn't belong to him rushed into his mind.

The caller was Tang Jing. They were classmates in university, and after graduation, they both went on to pursue postgraduate studies. Now, they both work at Bianti Consulting, having just completed their first year of full-time employment. This project was their "graduation exam" assigned by their supervisor, He Han—a strategic planning project for a small company.

Tang Jing, as I remember her, came from an ordinary family; her parents were both working-class people who completed their studies through scholarships and part-time jobs. She cherished this opportunity and devoted almost all her energy to her work.

The original owner, Qin Hao, was completely different—he came from a well-off family, his parents ran a sizable trading company, and he never had to worry about money growing up. This difference in their upbringing led to frequent disagreements between the two regarding their work attitudes: Tang Jing was meticulous and conscientious; the original owner, on the other hand, was easygoing, often arriving at work on time and occasionally taking leave for personal matters.

"Okay, I'll be there in half an hour." Qin Hao glanced at his watch—9:10, the client had scheduled a meeting for 9:30. He gave a casual reply and hung up the phone.

On the other end of the phone, in the conference room of Bianti Consulting, Tang Jing listened to the busy tone on her phone and was so angry that she almost threw it on the ground. But this was the first phone she bought after receiving her first paycheck after becoming a full-time employee, and in the end, she couldn't bear to part with it.

"I'll settle the score with you later!"

She turned and walked to the long table in the conference room, giving a final check of the projector, the PowerPoint presentation, the printed copies of the plan, and the prepared tea and snacks. She had already checked every detail three times, but she couldn't help but check it again. This was the first project she and Qin Hao were independently in charge of; they absolutely couldn't afford to mess it up.

In an office directly opposite the conference room, He Han was quickly flipping through a document. He was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit, with sharp and focused eyes.

Although Qin Hao and Tang Jing were only assigned a small company this time, a project he specifically arranged for his two apprentices to practice on, He Han didn't intend to ruin his reputation because of it. He was already prepared to step in and clean up the mess for them when necessary.

"Mr. He..." The secretary knocked softly and then pushed the door open, placing a stack of documents awaiting signature on He Han's desk: "These are the contracts that need your review today."

"Just leave it there." He Han said without looking up.

Just as the secretary was about to leave, He Han called out to her, "Where's Qin Hao? Hasn't he arrived yet?"

The secretary hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously, "We haven't seen Qin Hao yet. Should I give him a call?"

"No need, I understand. You can go ahead and do your work." He Han still didn't look up, his voice calm and unwavering.

After the secretary left, He Han frowned and looked through the glass window at the conference room across the room. Tang Jing was busy inside, her figure appearing somewhat slender yet resolute. He stared at her for a while before lowering his head again to continue reviewing the documents in his hands.

Meanwhile, Qin Hao had already gotten into a taxi. After giving the company address, he immediately took out his laptop from his bag, turned it on, and quickly opened the folder containing customer information.

"Wukesong Sporting Goods Co., Ltd..." Qin Hao murmured the client's name, his mind racing.

After quickly skimming through the client's basic information, Qin Hao opened the business plan that the original owner and Tang Jing had previously collaborated on. This plan was over fifty pages long, covering various sections such as market analysis, competitor research, development strategy, and financial forecasts.

Consulting firms, simply put, are like "corporate doctors." On the one hand, they need to identify the problems of a company and come up with solutions to address them; on the other hand, they are also responsible for developing strategic plans for the company and pointing out the direction for its development.

Qin Hao quickly flipped through the business plan, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. It wasn't that the plan was bad—in fact, from a professional standpoint, it was well-structured, data-rich, and logically clear; it was a competent consulting report. The problem was that it was too conventional.

For some large companies that have already entered a stable phase, such a proposal might be easier to approve, because large companies place greater emphasis on risk control and prefer a stable development strategy. But this company is different—it's a typical startup, only three years old, and its owner, Mr. Li, is not yet forty, a time when he's full of ambition and drive. Such a conservative proposal is unlikely to impress them.

Qin Hao closed the planning document and reopened the raw market research data. His eyes quickly scanned the screen, his brain processing the information like a high-performance computer: the domestic sporting goods market's annual growth rate was 15%, the proportion of online sales was increasing year by year, and young consumers were paying more attention to brand personality than price...

Suddenly, an idea formed in his mind. Qin Hao created a new document and began typing rapidly on the keyboard.

Time ticked by, and just as the taxi finally stopped in front of the Bianti Company building, Qin Hao pressed the save button. He closed his laptop, paid the fare, and strode into the building.

At the reception desk of Bianti Company, Tang Jing paced anxiously back and forth. She looked towards the elevator for the umpteenth time, then glanced at her watch—9:25, only five minutes until the client arrived.

"What on earth is Qin Hao up to!" she muttered to herself. She had been working overtime for two weeks straight for this project, almost always the last person to leave the company. Now, her partner was nowhere to be seen, and all the pressure was on her shoulders.

Just then, the phone at the front desk rang. After answering it, the receptionist turned to Tang Jing: "Tang Jing, your client has arrived and is at the front desk."

Tang Jing's heart sank. She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down: "Okay, I'll be right there, thank you."

As she jogged towards the front desk, she cursed inwardly, "Qin Hao, you're dead meat! If you mess this up, I'll never forgive you!"

Upon arriving at the front desk, Tang Jing quickly composed herself, adopting a gentle yet professional smile: "Mr. Li, welcome, welcome! Was your journey smooth?"

The group of three clients was led by a young man in his thirties, dressed in a casual suit, his face displaying the shrewdness and competence of an entrepreneur. He was Li Wei, the founder and general manager of Wukesong Sporting Goods Co., Ltd. Behind him were the company's marketing director and financial manager.

"Hello, Xiao Tang." Li Wei shook hands with Tang Jing, then glanced around behind her. "Where's Xiao Qin, who was with you last time? Wasn't this project something you two were jointly responsible for?"

Tang Jing's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and forced a slightly apologetic smile: "Oh, Qin Hao... he has other projects to attend to and can't make it today. So, I'll explain our proposal to you, Mr. Li, today."

Li Wei raised an eyebrow, didn't ask any more questions, and simply nodded: "Okay, let's begin then."

Tang Jing secretly breathed a sigh of relief and led the clients to the conference room. After they were seated, she turned on the projector, connected her laptop, took a deep breath, and began her presentation using the PowerPoint slides.

"General Manager Li, Director Wang, Supervisor Liu, thank you all very much for taking the time to come today. After a month of market research and data collection, we have formulated this three-year development strategic plan for Wukesong Sporting Goods Co., Ltd..." Tang Jing's voice was clear and firm. Despite her inner trepidation, her professionalism was impeccable.

Following the order of the PowerPoint presentation, she began with market environment analysis, then gradually explained competitor research, target customer profiling, product line planning, and finally the specific implementation steps and financial forecasts.

However, just fifteen minutes later, Li Wei raised his hand to interrupt her explanation.

"Xiao Tang, if we follow your plan, how much initial investment do I need to open these 300 directly operated stores? And how long will it take to recoup the costs?" Li Wei's question went straight to the heart of the matter, his tone already carrying a hint of impatience.

Tang Jing was visibly nervous at being abruptly interrupted. She quickly took a few breaths, trying to keep her voice steady: "According to the market information we've gathered, the initial investment for opening a directly operated store in a first- or second-tier city is approximately between 300,000 and 500,000 yuan, including rent, decoration, initial inventory, and staff training. The total investment for 300 stores is approximately between 90 million and 150 million yuan."

She paused, then continued, "Based on our financial model, the average payback period for a single store is around eighteen to twenty-four months. Of course, this is a conservative estimate; if the market responds well, the payback period could be even faster..."

"So, I need to spend at least 100 million to achieve the effect shown in your PPT?" Li Wei's brows furrowed even more, his fingers tapping lightly on the conference table. "And it will take two years before it starts making a profit?"

Tang Jing's heart sank, but she still tried to explain, "President Li, these are all plans we've made based on market information to ensure the most prudent approach. The initial return on investment may not be very attractive, but we believe that steady development is crucial for a growing company like Wukesong..."

“It’s not just that.” Li Wei shook his head, interrupting Tang Jing, his tone clearly displeased: “Little Tang, I know that Bianti serves large corporations, and investments of hundreds of millions are probably commonplace for you. But have you ever considered that I simply can’t come up with that one hundred million?”

He leaned forward, looking directly into Tang Jing's eyes: "Wukesong has only been established for three years, and its turnover last year was just over 20 million. Where do you expect me to find 100 million to open 300 stores? Bank loans? Do you think the bank will lend me that much money?"

Tang Jing was speechless for a moment, standing there at a loss. She opened her mouth, but found herself unable to refute Li Wei's question. Indeed, when creating this proposal, she had focused more on the ideal development plan, neglecting the client's actual financial situation.

The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly froze. The marketing director and the finance director exchanged a glance and both shook their heads slightly. Li Wei sighed and stood up from his seat: "If this is the development plan you've devised for Wukesong, then I can only say that I'm very disappointed. What we need is a practical and feasible solution, not castles in the air."

Just then, the conference room door was pushed open.

Qin Hao strode in. He first nodded apologetically to Li Wei and his group, then placed his laptop on the conference table and quickly connected it to the projector.

"Why did you take so long to arrive?" Tang Jing lowered her voice and glared at Qin Hao, her eyes filled with both reproach and a barely perceptible plea for help.

Qin Hao smiled at her, offering no explanation, but instead turned to Li Wei, his tone calm and unhurried: "I'm sorry, Mr. Li, for keeping you all waiting. Tang Jing was just explaining our initial draft, but this—" He opened a file on his laptop: "is the official version that Tang Jing and I revised."

Tang Jing looked at Qin Hao in shock, then at the projection screen. The screen displayed a completely unfamiliar PPT cover, titled "Wukesong Sporting Goods Co., Ltd. Online and Offline Integration Development Strategy (Revised Edition)".

She knew perfectly well that there was no new version of the plan at all! What was Qin Hao up to? If the client found out, not only would the project be completely ruined, but their reputations in the industry would also be destroyed!
Tang Jing's heart was in her throat, but at that moment she was powerless to stop Qin Hao. She could only watch helplessly as Qin Hao opened the PowerPoint presentation and began his explanation.

“Mr. Li, we have re-examined the current situation and market environment of Wukesong and believe that the original asset-heavy expansion model does indeed have the problem of excessive financial pressure.” Qin Hao’s voice was calm and confident, not at all like he was making something up on the spot: “Therefore, we have adjusted our development strategy and proposed a brand new plan.”

He switched to the next slide, which showed a concise strategic framework diagram.

"The core idea of ​​the new plan is 'light assets, fast turnover, and online-offline integration'. Specifically, we suggest that Wukesong abandon its plan to open a large number of directly operated stores across the country, and instead selectively open a dozen or so brand flagship stores in the core business districts of first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, as well as new first-tier cities."

Li Wei was about to leave, but upon hearing this, he sat down again, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "A dozen or so stores? Well, Xiao Qin, I have a question. With only a dozen or so stores, how will I manage my sales? How will I achieve my growth targets?"

Qin Hao had anticipated this question, and he calmly switched to the next page: "Mr. Li has hit the nail on the head. These dozen or so offline stores only serve the purpose of brand display, product experience, and customer service. We suggest that the main sales channel be online, that is, online shopping platforms."

“The internet?” Li Wei frowned. “But as far as I know, most of the online shopping platforms in China, like Taobao and eBay, are run by individual merchants, and their sales are generally not very good. Wukesong is a brand, after all. It's not appropriate for us to associate with those individual merchants, is it?”

Qin Hao smiled calmly: "Mr. Li is right. Currently, online shopping platforms are indeed dominated by individual merchants. But precisely because of this, now is the best time for brands like Wukesong to join."

"Oh? Tell me about it." Li Wei leaned forward slightly, clearly intrigued.

“Any business, once all the conditions are ripe, will definitely be overcrowded and fiercely competitive.” Qin Hao switched to the PPT, which showed a set of e-commerce development data: “Precisely because there are not many brand merchants on online shopping platforms at present, in order to improve their own image and product quality, online shopping platforms will give legitimate brands like Wukesong the greatest traffic support, the best display position and the most favorable cooperation conditions.”

He paused, then continued, “Moreover, online sales have many advantages: First, they break through geographical limitations, allowing a single online store to reach consumers nationwide; second, their operating costs are far lower than those of physical stores, eliminating the need for high rents and substantial labor costs; third, they can quickly collect user data for precise marketing; and fourth, they can directly interact with consumers, build brand communities, and enhance customer loyalty.”

Li Wei nodded thoughtfully and whispered a few words to the marketing director beside him. The marketing director also showed an expression of agreement.

Tang Jing was completely absorbed by Qin Hao's explanation and had long forgotten her worries that the plan was made up on the spot. She realized that although Qin Hao's approach was completely opposite to her original plan, it was indeed more in line with the actual situation in Wukesong and was more feasible.

She discreetly observed Qin Hao's profile and suddenly sensed that her old classmate was different today. Usually, Qin Hao, though intelligent, always gave off an air of nonchalance and cynicism. But today, his eyes were focused, his logic clear, and he exuded a convincing aura in every gesture.

“Xiao Qin, your plan is indeed quite interesting.” After a moment of contemplation, Li Wei raised a more in-depth question: “However, we have also considered online sales, but we have two concerns: First, how receptive are consumers to buying sports equipment online, which requires trying on and testing? Second, how much traffic do online shopping platforms actually have? Is it worthwhile for us to invest our main efforts in it?”

Qin Hao knew that the success or failure of the plan would be directly determined by how well he answered this question. He took a deep breath and turned to the last page of the PPT—which contained the e-commerce market data he had just compiled in the taxi.

“Mr. Li, your concerns are very reasonable. However, the data speaks for itself.” Qin Hao pointed to the chart on the screen: “Take Taobao, the largest online shopping platform in China, as an example. In 2006, its annual transaction volume was only 169 billion RMB, but in 2007, the annual transaction volume soared to 433 billion RMB, with a growth rate of over 150%.”

He paused for a moment to let the customer process the figure, and then continued, "This year, Taobao has already completed the transaction volume of the entire previous year in just the first half of the year, and it is expected to break through the 1000 billion mark for the whole year."

A low gasp rippled through the conference room. Li Wei and his team were clearly stunned by the number.

"And most importantly," Qin Hao emphasized, "currently, users lack confidence in online shopping, worrying about counterfeit goods and quality issues. But this is precisely our advantage. If customers have doubts, we can let them buy in person offline. If there are no stores in their city, we can also send photos of the stores to customers to dispel their concerns."

Li Wei nodded repeatedly, then turned to discuss the matter in hushed tones with the marketing director and finance manager. Their expressions shifted from initial skepticism to serious consideration, eventually revealing clear interest and approval.

Tang Jing also took the opportunity to walk to Qin Hao's side and asked in a low voice, "Why have you never told me about this plan? When did you make it?"

Qin Hao shrugged and casually made up a story: "I suddenly thought of it last night and rushed to finish it. I had no choice but to use it since you couldn't handle President Li. I didn't expect it to work so well."

Tang Jing didn't believe Qin Hao could come up with such a complete, detailed, and logically sound plan in just one night. She secretly thought to herself: This guy must have had this idea for a long time, but he's been keeping it hidden, just waiting for the crucial moment to bring it out and show off, to outshine me.

However, despite feeling somewhat resentful, Tang Jing had to admit that Qin Hao's proposal was indeed much better than hers, and more in line with the client's actual needs. Looking at Qin Hao's confident and composed profile, she suddenly realized that she might have always underestimated her old classmate.

"Hmph, don't get too cocky." Tang Jing muttered under her breath, "I won't lose to you next time."

Qin Hao turned his head and looked at Tang Jing's expression—clearly admiring her but pretending to be unconvinced—and couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He remembered Tang Jing as always serious, meticulous, and earnest; he hadn't expected her to have such a proud and aloof side.

"Xiao Qin." Li Wei and the others stopped their discussion and turned their attention back to Qin Hao: "Your plan is very creative and persuasive. However, I have one more question: What are the specific implementation steps for online sales? What preparations do we need to make? Approximately how much investment is required? How long will it take to see results?"

These questions were quite professional, hitting the core of the plan's implementation. Tang Jing couldn't help but feel worried for Qin Hao—if he had only acted on a whim and hadn't thought deeply about the implementation details, he could easily slip up here.

However, to her surprise, Qin Hao answered fluently.

“Mr. Li’s questions are all key ones.” Qin Hao calmly switched to a new PPT page, which showed a detailed Gantt chart of project implementation: “First, we need to build a dedicated e-commerce team, including positions such as operations, customer service, graphic design, warehousing and logistics. The initial team size is recommended to be around 8-10 people.”

"Secondly, regarding platform selection, we suggest starting with Taobao, as it currently has the largest traffic and is actively promoting brand merchants to join. At the same time, you can simultaneously build an online store on your official website as a platform for brand image display and membership management."

"Third, regarding the investment budget." Qin Hao presented a detailed cost estimate: "The total investment for the first year is approximately between 300 and 500 million yuan, mainly including platform deposit, technical service fees, team personnel costs, initial marketing and promotion expenses, warehousing and logistics system construction, etc..."

Qin Hao looked at Li Wei seriously: "If everything goes smoothly, we can complete the basic work such as team building, store opening, and product listing within three months; we can open up the market through marketing activities within six months and achieve monthly sales exceeding 100 million; and we can achieve stable profitability within one year, with annual sales reaching 3500-5000 million."

He paused, then added, "Of course, this is just a conservative prediction based on market data. If operated properly and with effective marketing strategies, the actual results could be even better."

After listening, Li Wei remained silent for a moment. The conference room was so quiet that the faint sound of the air conditioner vents could be heard. Tang Jing's heart began to race involuntarily; she knew that this was the crucial moment that would determine the success or failure of the project.

Finally, Li Wei raised his head and smiled: "Xiao Qin, I'm very interested in your plan. How about this, send us a detailed copy of the plan, and we'll go back and study it and give you an answer as soon as possible."

Qin Hao shook his head: "President Li, I understand you need time to consider. However, market competition waits for no one. As far as I know, many domestic brands have already started to develop online channels. If Wukesong cannot seize the opportunity, it will be difficult to enter the market once it has been divided up."

He looked directly into Li Wei's eyes, his tone sincere and firm: "I can send you the proposal today, but tomorrow or the day after, other consulting firms may offer similar proposals to your competitors. Time is the most valuable resource right now."

Li Wei was stunned; he hadn't expected Qin Hao to exert pressure so directly. But upon reflection, Qin Hao's words did make sense. In business competition, timing is often more important than the plan itself.

The marketing director leaned close to Li Wei's ear and whispered a few words. Li Wei pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "If we sign the contract today, what kind of follow-up services can you provide?"

Qin Hao was overjoyed, knowing his opportunity had arrived. He quickly replied, "If we sign the contract today, we promise: First, to submit a complete implementation plan within a week; second, to send a dedicated person to provide on-site guidance for the e-commerce team's establishment and initial operations for three months; third, to provide regular market data analysis and strategy adjustment suggestions for one year; and fourth, to give priority to providing Wukesong with follow-up strategic consulting services."

Li Wei exchanged a glance with the two executives, and all three nodded simultaneously.

For the next hour, the two sides engaged in intense negotiations regarding the contract details. Tang Jing was able to chime in a few words at first, but she quickly found herself completely outmatched by Qin Hao's pace. His understanding of the contract terms, his grasp of the client's psychology, and his application of negotiation strategies far exceeded her expectations.

Finally, when Li Wei signed his name on the contract, Tang Jing could hardly believe it—it was done just like that? Their first project, which they were independently in charge of, not only didn't go wrong, but they even signed a three-year contract on the spot?
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in He Han's office was somewhat subtle.

He Han was prepared to step in and clean up the mess for Tang Jing at any moment. He saw through the glass window that President Li and his group stood up with displeased expressions, about to push open the door to save the day, when Qin Hao suddenly appeared and stabilized the situation.

To his surprise, the atmosphere in the meeting room quickly changed. Judging from the body language of Mr. Li and his entourage, they gradually went from initial disappointment and impatience to interest and attentive listening, and eventually even started chatting and laughing.

This piqued He Han's curiosity. He knew Qin Hao's abilities—smart and resourceful, but not very grounded, and not always fully focused on his work. He had never seen Qin Hao so serious before. Could this kid be a pragmatist?
He Han thought for a moment and pressed the internal intercom button: "Xiao Zhang, come in for a moment."

The secretary quickly pushed open the door and entered: "Mr. He, what are your instructions?"

He Han asked casually, "What's the situation in the conference room right now?"

The secretary was completely bewildered by the question: "Huh? The conference room? I'm not quite sure..."

He Han waved his hand impatiently: "If you don't know, go in and take a look, maybe bring some water or something."

"Oh, okay." The secretary picked up the kettle and carefully walked towards the conference room.

Two minutes later, the secretary returned with a surprised expression: "President He, it sounded like President Li was quite satisfied with Qin Hao's proposal. They were chatting and laughing the whole time. I even heard President Li complaining about why Qin Hao didn't come up with the new proposal sooner."

"Qin Hao's new plan?" He Han frowned. "What new plan?"

"It seems to be a revised plan, quite different from what Tang Jing prepared before." The secretary recalled the fragments she had overheard: "Qin Hao was talking about something about online-offline integration, asset-light operation, and so on..."

"Alright, that's all for you. Go back to your work." He Han dismissed his secretary and turned his gaze back to the conference room.

Through the glass window, he could clearly see President Li chatting and laughing with Qin Hao. The two were pointing to the content on the PPT from time to time, discussing it very enthusiastically. Tang Jing, standing to the side, couldn't get a word in edgewise and could only nod occasionally in agreement. Her expression was a little awkward, but also showed undisguised surprise and admiration.

He Han couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. As their superior and mentor, he believed he knew his two apprentices quite well. In terms of professional ability, work attitude, and diligence, he had always favored Tang Jing. As for Qin Hao, he had talent, but he was too restless and lacked focus.

"Could it be that he suddenly had a breakthrough?" He Han muttered to himself, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table.

Just then, the conference room door opened. Mr. Li and his entourage walked out, beaming. Qin Hao and Tang Jing followed closely behind, escorting the clients to the elevator. Watching the elevator doors close, Tang Jing let out a long sigh of relief.

Qin Hao, however, remained energetic and turned to go back to the conference room to pack his things, just as he bumped into He Han, who was pretending to pass by unintentionally.

"How did the talks go?" He Han asked casually, as if it were just a casual question.

Tang Jing's answer surprised him: "It's already signed, and it's a three-year contract."

"Signed? A three-year contract?" He Han rarely showed such surprise. He took the copy of the contract from Tang Jing, quickly glanced through it, and after confirming it was correct, looked at Qin Hao: "Impressive, signing a three-year contract for your first project independently. How did you manage that?"

Qin Hao smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "We just adjusted the approach based on the client's actual situation. Mr. Li is quite interested in online sales, so we focused our efforts on that direction."

"Oh? Let me see the new plan." He Han's interest was completely piqued.

The three returned to the conference room, where Qin Hao connected his laptop to the projector and replayed the PowerPoint presentation. He Han stood in front of the screen, arms crossed, watching intently.

Fifteen minutes later, He Han turned off the projector, turned to Qin Hao, and asked with a scrutinizing look, "Did you complete this plan independently?"

Before Qin Hao could speak, Tang Jing took the initiative to say, "Teacher He Han, I didn't participate in this plan; it was indeed completed independently by him."

Although she sounded somewhat resentful, her tone was frank. She might lose this time, but she could win next time. Tang Jing disdained taking advantage of others, and she would never lie about her achievements just to save face.

He Han stared at Qin Hao for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled and gave him a thumbs up: "Well done, really well. Clear thinking, solid data, highly targeted, you've completely grasped the client's pain points. This solution is better than many consultants who have been working for two or three years."

He paused, then added, "Keep it up. By the way, send me a copy of this plan so I can use it as a template for other new employees during internal training."

Hearing this, Tang Jing's eyes practically overflowed with envy. To be used as a model in Bianti's internal training—what an honor! It meant Qin Hao's name would spread throughout the company, and his abilities would be widely recognized. If only her own proposal could one day receive such recognition…

However, Qin Hao's reaction was beyond her expectations.

"Whether it's a model or not is secondary." Qin Hao stroked his chin, revealing a slightly sly smile: "It's best if the reward is something tangible."

He Han was slightly taken aback, then laughed and scolded, "Money-grubber! Fine, considering your outstanding performance this time, I'll submit a report to apply for a raise for you. Keep up the good work, don't let me down."

Tang Jing was even more envious. A raise and fame were doubly tempting for her, a newcomer who had only been working for a year.

But looking at Qin Hao again, he had an indifferent expression, as if a raise and becoming a role model were nothing out of the ordinary. After He Han left with the copy of the contract, Tang Jing finally couldn't help but ask, "You don't seem very happy? A raise and fame, so many people would love to have that."

While packing up his laptop, Qin Hao casually replied, "What's there to be happy about? A promotion only adds a little over a thousand yuan to my salary, which isn't even enough to cover the rent increase."

"It's easy for you to say that when you're not in my shoes." Tang Jing rolled her eyes at him. "Do you know how envious I am? If I could get a raise, even just 500, I could eat a few more good meals."

"That just means your standards are too low." Qin Hao closed his laptop bag, looked up at Tang Jing, and said, "Let's go eat. Want to come along?"

Tang Jing glanced at her watch; it was already 12:30 PM. After a morning of intense stress, she was indeed starving, but she refused to back down: "You're treating."

"Why should I?" Qin Hao raised an eyebrow.

"Look at how stingy you are! You just got a raise, what's wrong with treating your old classmate to a meal?" Tang Jing said matter-of-factly. "Besides, if I hadn't done so much preparation beforehand, could you have come up with this plan on the spot? I did all the basic data and market analysis."

Qin Hao was amused by her absurd reasoning: "A raise won't be paid until next month's salary. You're asking me to treat you now? That's highway robbery, you know?"

"So what if I robbed you?" Tang Jing raised her chin. "Who told you to not give me any warning beforehand and deliberately try to embarrass me? Making you buy me a working meal is too lenient. If you do this again, I won't forgive you even if you have to treat me to a month's worth of lavish meals."

"No." Qin Hao gestured for him to stop. "What you're saying could be misunderstood. People who don't know the situation might think you're pursuing me."

Tang Jing's face flushed red, and she glared at him: "Chase you? If anyone should be chasing someone, it should be you chasing me!"

"Why don't you just ask anyone and see if you're pursuing me or I'm pursuing you now?"

Tang Jing was speechless for a moment, forced to admit that in terms of looks, she really couldn't compare to Qin Hao. Back in college, Qin Hao was the most handsome guy in his department, and after years of working, he had gained an even more mature and charming appeal. Looking at herself, although she was pretty, standing next to Qin Hao, she certainly didn't seem like the type he would actively pursue.

"Alright, alright, stop being so vain." Tang Jing waved her hand, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Let's go eat, I'm starving."

The two bickered all the way to a small restaurant they frequented near the company. The restaurant wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy, and the prices were reasonable, making it a popular lunch spot for nearby office workers.

After ordering a few home-style dishes, the two sat facing each other. Tang Jing watched Qin Hao skillfully rinsing the dishes and chopsticks, and suddenly said, "Old Qin, you seem like a different person today."

"Really?" Qin Hao didn't even look up. "That's because you were too arrogant before and didn't realize how outstanding I am."

"Tch, you're getting cocky just because I said you're fat." Tang Jing retorted, but in her heart she couldn't help but recall the incident.

From the moment she entered Bianti, her gaze was drawn to He Han's aura of a "successful, mature man." He Han's professional competence, his way of handling things, and even his taste in clothing all inspired her admiration and respect.

In contrast, Qin Hao, her old classmate, although also excellent, always gave people the impression of being not calm or focused enough, so she didn't pay much attention to him.

Looking back now, Qin Hao was actually quite intelligent. In college, he rarely paid attention in class, but he always passed exams with ease; in graduate school, although he submitted his papers late, he always received high praise from his supervisor. It's just that his intelligence was often masked by his casual and carefree demeanor.

"Maybe I really have been ignoring him too much," Tang Jing thought to herself.

The dishes were served one after another, and the two chatted about the morning's projects while eating. Tang Jing asked many questions about the details of the online sales plan, and Qin Hao answered them all. As they talked, the topic gradually shifted to company gossip, industry trends, and even memories of their university days.

"Seriously," Tang Jing picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and asked casually, "How long did you prepare that plan? Don't tell me you finished it in one night, I don't believe it."

Qin Hao smiled, but instead of answering directly, he asked in return, "Does it matter? What matters is that the client approves and the project is signed. The process doesn't matter; the result is what matters."

“It’s very important to me.” Tang Jing looked at him seriously. “If it’s the result of your long-term thinking, I’ll accept defeat wholeheartedly. But if it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision… then I’ll have to reassess your abilities.”

Qin Hao stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Are you praising me or insulting me?"

"Of course I'm praising you." Tang Jing smiled as well: "A plan that can be praised by Teacher He Han, a plan that can be signed on the spot with a three-year contract, no matter how long you prepared it, proves that you are very capable."

"Thank you for the compliment. But to be honest, that plan was indeed changed at the last minute. Your previous plan gave me a lot of inspiration; I just looked at the problem from a different perspective."

Tang Jing was skeptical, but didn't delve into it further. The two clinked glasses, and the atmosphere became even more harmonious.

Just then, Tang Jing's phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and smiled.

“Hey, Ziju… Oh, is it Ping’er’s third birthday this weekend? I know, I remember, I’ll come… Old Qin? He’s next to me… Okay, you can tell him yourself.”

Tang Jing handed her phone to Qin Hao and mouthed, "Zijun is looking for you."

Qin Hao's heart skipped a beat. Luo Zijun? Wasn't she the one who later got divorced, raised a child alone, and was still the one He Han loved to death?

A clear, pleasant female voice came from the other end of the phone: "Old Qin! Long time no see! Tang Jing told me you two work at the same company? What a coincidence! So, are you free this weekend? It's my son Ping'er's third birthday, and we're having a small party at home. Why don't you and Tang Jing come along?"

Qin Hao quickly searched his memory for information about Luo Zijun. She was Tang Jing's college roommate, and after graduation, she married her current husband, had a son, and lived the life of a full-time housewife. In his memory, although the original owner knew Luo Zijun, they weren't very close.

“It’s the weekend…” Qin Hao glanced at Tang Jing, and seeing her nod, he agreed: “Okay, send me the specific address and time. It’s your son’s birthday, so I’ll have to think about what gift to buy.”

"Just come, no need to bring gifts, that's too formal!" Luo Zijun's voice was very enthusiastic: "Then it's settled, see you this weekend!"

After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao returned it to Tang Jing and casually asked, "How is Luo Zijun doing? I haven't seen her in a long time."

"What else can I do? I'm a full-time housewife." Tang Jing pouted. "Every day I just revolve around my husband, son, and the kitchen."

"Judging from your tone, it seems you're not entirely satisfied with Luo Zijun's decision."

Tang Jing poked at the rice with her chopsticks: "Do you think a woman's destiny is destined to be the family? Luo Zijun also studied hard and graduated from university just like us. But after Chen Junsheng said a few sweet words, she naively resigned and became a full-time housewife. Thinking about it, I really feel sorry for Luo Zijun."

"That's your opinion. Luo Zijun might think that not having to go to work and staying home every day to cook and take care of the children is a happy thing."

"Maybe, but I definitely couldn't live like that for even a single day."

……

After finishing their lunch and paying the bill, the two walked back to the company together. The afternoon sun shone warmly on the street. Tang Jing suddenly said, "Thank you for today."

"What are you thanking me for?" Qin Hao asked.

"Thank you for showing up in time and saving the day." Tang Jing said earnestly, "Although I hate to admit it, this project would definitely have failed if it weren't for you. My proposal... did have problems."

Qin Hao looked at her with some surprise. Given Tang Jing's personality, it wasn't easy for her to admit her shortcomings.

"Don't look at me like that." Tang Jing felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. "I'm just stating the facts. Good is good, and bad is bad. You won this time, but I'll win next time."

Qin Hao laughed: "Sure, I'll be waiting."

The two exchanged a smile, a tacit understanding flowing in the air.

Back at the company, the afternoon's work began. Qin Hao compiled the proposal into a formal document and sent it to He Han and General Manager Li. Tang Jing, on the other hand, started handling the follow-up work for other projects.

In the office, He Han stared at the proposal Qin Hao had sent him on his computer screen, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the desktop. The proposal was indeed excellent, with novel ideas, solid data, and high feasibility. But what bothered him more was the change in Qin Hao's demeanor today—that composed, confident, and commanding aura was completely different from his previous self.

"Did he suddenly have an epiphany, or had he been hiding his strength all along?" He Han muttered to himself.

He recalled Qin Hao's family background. Qin Hao's parents ran a sizable trading company and were well-off. Children like this often fall into two extremes: one is spoiled and unambitious; the other is someone who has been exposed to business from a young age and has a keen business sense, even if it hasn't been apparent before.

"Perhaps I underestimated him before?"