Guide To Lying Flat And Getting Rich As A Kept Alpha - Chapter 68

68

As a result, the originally scheduled DVD release date had to be postponed.

The project manager stated that, after investigation, Fengxing Group’s DVD production scale was massive, employing a large number of technical talents. It wasn’t a small-scale operation but a serious endeavor treated as a major industry.

Cheng Corporation held a meeting to discuss countermeasures and proposed several plans. Some suggested switching to a different supplier to ensure the original release schedule, as the upcoming promotional activities were tightly coordinated, and disrupting the schedule would require reworking every step. Others proposed preemptively entering the promotional phase to counter Fengxing’s momentum, which seemed well-prepared. However, this would lead to insufficient supply, and an overly extended promotional cycle could cause issues. Thus, a preliminary decision was made to pursue both plans simultaneously: one department would work on finding new suppliers quickly, while another would contact promotional channels.

Just three days later, Fengxing’s DVD advertisements appeared on television.

The ads were overwhelming, not only on TV but also in newspapers and magazines. They were well-produced and quickly garnered significant attention from the public. Some people even started visiting Qiancheng Electronics, asking when Fengxing’s DVDs would be available for sale.

“They’re clearly targeting us this time. Fengxing must have spent a fortune,” the project manager said.

Cheng Youqing was sipping tea, a habit she had recently picked up. Perhaps it was because she was married and had a child, gradually moving toward a more refined and composed demeanor.

“No matter what, we’re in a very passive position this time. Many of our original plans are either delayed or forced to start early. They’ve seized the initiative, and to fight back, we’d need to invest even more resources to make an impact.”

Cheng Youqing was the most familiar with the group’s financial allocations. The e-commerce platform project was progressing quietly, but the project manager had frequently reported numerous obstacles during its implementation. Cheng Youqing gradually realized that while the idea was promising, it wasn’t a project that would yield quick returns. The so-called e-commerce platform was, in essence, about building a mutually beneficial commercial platform with no transaction fees, encouraging merchants nationwide to participate in the e-commerce industry. Beyond technical challenges, its growth depended heavily on internet coverage, which was currently far from sufficient.

However, since the decision had been made to pursue this project, Cheng Youqing had allocated the necessary funds without cutting corners. At present, she didn’t have enough money to spare and had no intention of investing more in the DVD sector.

It seemed like they were heading toward a dead end, making the situation extremely tricky.

Cheng Youqing poured a cup of tea and handed it to the project manager, who quickly stood to accept it.

“How did Fengxing suddenly become so bold? It doesn’t seem like Chen Feng’s style.”

“I don’t know. Everyone in the industry knows Chen Feng’s health isn’t great. Their company lacks talent and experience in entering the DVD sales market. This move is a risky gamble. Either someone’s giving him advice, or they’re backing him with money and resources. Otherwise, where would he get such confidence?”

After finishing the tea and hearing no response from Cheng Youqing, the project manager couldn’t help but probe, “Does Chairman Cheng have any ideas?”

“One word: maneuver.”

The project manager was puzzled. “Huh?”

“Don’t resist, don’t give up. Play the long game with them. We can create some momentum to counter them, but we can slow down the DVD schedule. Take your time finding suppliers. If we find suitable ones, we’ll buy. Other suppliers might jack up prices when they hear it’s us, so we can wait for our original supplier. Investigate why Fengxing is so confident and look into their sales channels. I’ll handle the rest.”

The project manager left.

Cheng Youqing finished her tea and started making phone calls.

Li Baiwu arrived at the private restaurant in the evening, giving a wry smile as he entered. “Next time, can you pick a less expensive place? People might think I’m corrupt.”

“I’m treating you to dinner. If it’s not a bit extravagant, it wouldn’t suit my status.” Cheng Youqing replied.

“Hah, you’ve gotten cheeky lately. The sun must be rising in the west.”

Cheng Youqing hadn’t noticed it herself, but perhaps spending so much time with Luo Hetu had rubbed off on her, picking up some of her casual, street-smart vibe. She gave a light smile.

“Congratulations on your promotion. Becoming the city bureau chief at such a young age—your future is bright.”

“Thanks, and here’s to Chairman Cheng’s prosperity. The development zone in the east is gaining momentum, and the city government even praised it in a meeting. Looks like we’ll have plenty of opportunities to collaborate in the future.”

After some small talk and a bit of dining, Cheng Youqing got straight to the point. “I have a small matter to discuss.”

She briefly explained the DVD rivalry with Fengxing.

“This is a small matter? Isn’t DVD your company’s main project? What do you need me to do?”

“Put some pressure on Fengxing’s promotional momentum. Some people have complained that their ads are too frequent and annoying. Also, a company with no prior experience in household appliances is rushing to launch a new product. We don’t know if their production facilities meet standards. They need to be thoroughly inspected to ensure they’re not overstepping.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes, that’s it. I wouldn’t dare ask for more.”

Li Baiwu rolled his eyes. “Don’t give me that ‘wouldn’t dare’ nonsense. Others beg me for favors left and right. Aside from our years of friendship, you’ve always been discreet, methodical, and trustworthy, never causing trouble. Just tell me what you need. If I can’t help, I’ll say so. If I can, I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen.”

Cheng Youqing raised her glass with a smile. “Thank you.”

Li Baiwu was true to his word. Beyond what Cheng Youqing requested, he even got the audit department to conduct a month-long investigation into Fengxing, which uncovered some issues.

With Chen Feng’s limited energy and health, he was now preoccupied with handling the audit and pulling strings to resolve problems. As a result, Fengxing’s aggressive DVD market push slowed down significantly.

Three weeks after Luo Hetu left, Cheng Youqing was in her office listening to the project manager’s report. “We’ve figured it out. Fengxing’s sales channel is Dahongyun Supermarket.”

Her pen twirled between her fingers as Cheng Youqing fell into thought.

Dahongyun, the most famous supermarket chain in Jiang City, was owned by Siyuan Group.

After some contemplation, Cheng Youqing suddenly thought of her alpha wife, far away in Shenzhen.

It had been three weeks since they last saw each other. They spoke on the phone daily, but ever since Luo Hetu left, she seemed like a wild horse set free, excitedly sharing how she visited factories, met young entrepreneurs arranged by Zhang Hanyu, and how Shenzhen was brimming with opportunities. The young people there were vibrant, and the city embraced new things even faster than Jiang City. She’d go to beachside bars at night, calling to say the drinks were beautiful, the sea breeze was refreshing, and everything was wonderful.

Hmph.

That carefree woman.

Cheng Youqing didn’t say much during their calls. Thankfully, Luo Hetu, knowing she was busy during the day, usually called at night. Only then could Cheng Youqing listen to her voice, place the phone on the nightstand, and, biting her lip, quietly slide her hand beneath the covers.

It had been almost five months.

And this woman was still reveling in her freedom? Hmm? Was this top-tier alpha, so fond of flaunting her pheromones, being charmed by the girls in Shenzhen, truly lost in her joy?

For three weeks, Cheng Youqing had listened to Luo Hetu’s voice almost every night, quietly indulging in unspeakable acts. Several times, when Luo Hetu asked why she wasn’t speaking, Cheng Youqing could only manage a soft “mm,” afraid that saying more would betray the strained sounds she was suppressing.

Because of Dahongyun Supermarket, the situation now involved Qin Xi. Cheng Youqing was tempted to jokingly say, “Luo Hetu, someone’s stealing your home. Aren’t you coming back?”

Of course, Qin Xi wasn’t stealing anything—it was just business, and it might not even involve her directly. But Cheng Youqing briefly entertained the idea of using Qin Xi’s name as a tool to lure that carefree dog back home.

The thought swirled in her mind for a moment before her rationality pushed it aside. Perhaps in the dead of night, hearing Luo Hetu’s voice, it would resurface—or perhaps not.

That night, Cheng Youqing held back and didn’t mention anything to Luo Hetu. Instead, Luo Hetu cheerfully shared, “I’ve met so many amazing people here. There’s a sharp-eyed woman who’s already built a mature search engine, and another brilliant woman who’s planning to start a food delivery platform at the dawn of the internet age. They’re all so impressive!”

The call ended with a busy tone. Cheng Youqing hung up.

She thought, Enough.

Even so, she didn’t stoop to using Qin Xi’s name to lure her back. It felt petty and meaningless, the chairman thought.

For now, she had stabilized the situation. Fengxing was struggling under the weight of their investments, and a few days ago, Cheng Youqing had, uncharacteristically, accepted an interview with a media outlet. She revealed the original DVD release schedule, and with Li Baiwu’s recommendation, the report gained widespread attention. The two companies were now at a stalemate, neither making a move.

Cheng Youqing rallied her spirits and began thinking about the next steps.

As for Luo Hetu?

Let that dog run wild in Shenzhen. If she got too carried away, she could just stay there.

Chen Yuanyuan had started her own small clothing business, which was doing decently. Today, her brand was selected to participate in a fashion show—an important day. After lunch, she headed to her studio.

The fashion show began in the afternoon. Dressed impeccably with flawless makeup, Chen Yuanyuan mingled at the venue, chatting with socialites and promoting her clothing line. After some networking, she spotted Su Xinghe and Qin Xi.

Qin Xi was as stunning as ever, her beauty now carrying a mature allure that was even more captivating. Beside her, Su Xinghe was radiant and delicate, like a blooming flower.

The socialites noticed them too, whispering among themselves:

“Qin Xi just keeps getting more beautiful. Her influence in Siyuan Group is growing stronger.”

“What about her sister?”

“Qin Chao? She’s calmed down a lot these years, but her personality is still odd. Best not to mention her casually. Back in the day, she made waves in society. Who knows if she has a record? Better steer clear.”

That was Jiang City’s infamous “bone-eroding flower”—get too close, and you’d be poisoned.

Someone eager for drama chimed in, “It’s a pity Cheng Youqing didn’t come today. I’d love to see what would happen if they were all in the same room.”

“Cheng Youqing’s pregnant. What could possibly happen?”

“It’s quite a twist. A beta alpha who differentiated halfway, married for just a few months and already pregnant. Just a few months ago, Cheng Youqing was still going on blind dates. Things change so fast.”

“Speaking of which, back when Qin Xi and Cheng Youqing studied abroad together, they were the perfect alpha-omega pair, a match made in heaven. Where was Su Xinghe back then?”

“It hasn’t even been that long, but time flies.”

Chen Yuanyuan didn’t join in the gossip today. She stayed quiet, watching Su Xinghe chat with others before quietly approaching.

“Qin Xi.”

Qin Xi glanced at her, offering a polite smile to the person she was speaking with. “Excuse me.”

The conversation wrapped up, and the person left. Chen Yuanyuan quickly asked, “My dad suddenly invested all his money in DVDs. Does that have anything to do with you?”

Qin Xi’s deep, narrow eyes studied her, a faint smile playing on her lips. “That’s an odd question. What does your father’s business decisions have to do with me?”

“That day, I saw you talking with my dad outside. When he came back, he started working on DVDs. Of course, it’s related to you.”

Qin Xi’s expression turned indulgent, like she was humoring a child. “Alright, let’s say it’s related to me. What does Miss Chen want to do about it?”