My Boss Always Flirts With Me - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Unexpected Event

The press conference venue was packed. Cheng Wen saw Fang Ci walk up from backstage to the center of the spotlight. Behind him, a large screen displayed their latest product. The host had already warmed up the crowd. As the product manager, Fang Ci had to control the pace and fill up 40 minutes. In those 40 minutes, he had to clearly explain the company’s strategy, market research, and product performance, which was a huge challenge for anyone.

Cheng Wen and Xiao Zhu sat in the audience with their team members, listening to the sound of cameras clicking behind them. Their palms were sweating.

After getting through the first 10 minutes, Cheng Wen relaxed a little and said to Xiao Zhu, “Our manager’s stage presence is pretty good. I thought he would be nervous on stage.”

Xiao Zhu: “That’s you. I saw Xiao Ci Ci preparing for so long. He must be confident.”

Cheng Wen was used to Xiao Zhu’s unconditional praise. Normally, he would retort, but today, since it was about the honor of the department and even the company, he didn’t care how Xiao Zhu praised him. He was fine with her putting him down to praise someone else.

On stage, Fang Ci took out the new product and showed it to the audience and the media. With the dynamic effects on the presentation screen, the AP product in his hands seemed to turn into a shining star. Xiao Zhu watched for a while and suddenly let out a soft “hiss.” She whispered, “Cheng Zi, don’t you think this presentation style and speech logic seem familiar?”

Cheng Wen stared at the big screen and was slightly stunned. He said, “Aren’t all product launch events like this? But we definitely can’t compare to the Kilby Company.”

Xiao Zhu said, “That’s not what I mean. Do you normally watch speeches?”

Cheng Wen said, “Yes.”

Xiao Zhu gave him a blank look and didn’t say anything else. A few minutes later, Fang Ci mentioned terms like “modular upgrade.” Xiao Zhu grabbed Cheng Wen. “I know!”

Cheng Wen: “?”

Xiao Zhu: “I remember who Xiao Ci Ci’s speaking style resembles.”

Cheng Wen: “Who?”

Xiao Zhu: “CEO He!”

Cheng Wen didn’t understand. “How can you tell? Isn’t the framework of the speech script all the same?”

Xiao Zhu: “The metaphors and conjunctions he used! Xiao Ci Ci used a pyramid model for two examples, and CEO He also likes to use it in his speeches. There’s also the dialectical method, where he overturns the points he just made to re-examine them.”

Cheng Wen was confused and looked at her in disbelief. “You can tell all that?”

Xiao Zhu smiled at him. “You work at Zhiyoun, and you never watch your boss’s speeches, do you?”

Cheng Wen: “…” Is it possible that he didn’t remember those details?

Xiao Zhu said, “Brother Cheng, your observation skills and dedication are not good enough. When Xiao Ci Ci is done, I have to tattle on you.”

Cheng Wen: “…Thank you for your supervision. I’ll make up for it when I get back.”

Xiao Zhu laughed.

Cheng Wen said, “Maybe Fang Ci watched the speech just like you did. The boss is also watching in the audience. It’s a great opportunity to showcase himself.”

Xiao Zhu thought about it and agreed. Fang Ci’s learning ability was already very strong.

40 minutes was quite long for the AP department, like an exam. When Fang Ci’s speech was over, Cheng Wen went backstage to go over the process and remind the invited experts to go on stage as rehearsed and check for any omissions.

Fang Ci walked off the stage to a round of applause. The lights in the venue flickered, but he could still find He Chi in the first instant. Their eyes met for a brief moment and then parted. Fang Ci’s heart finally settled down.

His seat was a certain distance from He Chi’s, and he could only vaguely see his back.

“Congratulations, Xiao Ci Ci, you were amazing just now! It was a great start!” Xiao Zhu shook his arm, her tone a little excited.

Fang Ci: “Thank you.”

He then asked, “Is Cheng Wen back?”

Xiao Zhu was about to reply when she saw Cheng Wen running through the crowd towards them, his steps hurried. Both Fang Ci and Xiao Zhu’s hearts skipped a beat.

“One of the experts had a problem on the way and probably won’t be able to make it.”

Fang Ci quickly asked, “Did they say why? Wasn’t this confirmed repeatedly before?”

Cheng Wen: “We called them. There’s also a contract. His assistant said there would definitely be no problem. But they got into an accident on the way. The person is fine, but they’re definitely going to be late.”

The team members around them were a little flustered when they heard the news. The press conference process was fixed. Even if each person’s time on stage was short, it couldn’t be changed, as the press releases had already been sent out.

Xiao Zhu said, “What should we do? He was supposed to talk about smart technology, right?”

Fang Ci held the script in his hand and was silent for a moment. He said to Cheng Wen, “He was scheduled for the third segment. Move the following segments up and leave the last part empty.”

Cheng Wen and Xiao Zhu were stunned. “Just leave it empty?”

Fang Ci nodded. “I’ll fill it in.”

Everyone was surprised. “You’re going to give the speech yourself?”

Fang Ci said, “As long as there’s content, it’s fine. It can connect with the final price reveal segment.”

The few of them looked at each other. Xiao Zhu couldn’t help but worry. “Are you sure? The expert’s script is very professional. The teleprompter only has the key points highlighted.”

Fang Ci pursed his lips and said, “It’s fine.” To be honest, he wasn’t completely confident, but he had read the script and could probably get through it. And he had rehearsed it once yesterday. Just like Teacher He told him, there would be a solution to every problem.

Xiao Zhu and the others were unsure about the final result and were a little worried, but they still trusted his judgment. They quickly informed the backstage crew and rearranged the process.

Two groups of people went on and off the stage. Xiao Zhu quickly typed out the expert’s speech and gave it to Fang Ci.

Fang Ci held the brooch in his pocket.

He Chi had been sitting in the audience for an hour and a half. Besides a brief appearance at the beginning, he was a spectator for the rest of the time. The company’s shareholders and investors were also here today, sitting next to him. During the intermission, they whispered to each other, evaluating the impact of the new product launch on the company.

There was a reception after the press conference. A few of them asked him to introduce the department manager to them.

“He looks very young. Although his stage presence is mature, it’s hard for him to command the stage.”

“A lot of money was invested in the AP department. I thought CEO He would choose a more experienced manager to handle the product.”

“Indeed. He’s only been with the company for two years. It’s a short time.”

He Chi gave a light cough, and the surrounding voices immediately quieted down.

“As long as the profit is guaranteed, it doesn’t matter whether we use new people or old people.”

The shareholder next to him also cared about age, but they were on the same boat as He Chi, so they naturally followed his words. The investors stopped their discussion.

He Chi looked at his watch. There were only two parts left in the process.

The lights on the stage dimmed, and the screen switched to a page about the smart technology process. The shareholder said another thing. He Chi turned to him to chat, but he suddenly heard an investor next to him say, “Huh,” in a surprised tone.

“Why was this segment changed? Does your company’s product manager also have research on smart connectivity?”

He Chi looked at the podium, his eyebrows furrowed.

When he went back on stage, Fang Ci was wearing the bird brooch and began the second round of his speech. His tone was relaxed, and he even joked with the audience. This was undoubtedly a very risky move and not entirely within his scope of duties.

It was very likely that it would be good for the company but not for himself.

The reactions of the audience showed their attitudes. Some people questioned whether there was a problem with the AP department’s process and that the department manager hadn’t coordinated well. The other part thought the company had researched smart technology and could present it without relying on an expert.

With the investors’ murmurs filling his ears, He Chi’s expression gradually became impatient. His tone also became firmer: “Okay, everyone, let’s discuss after it’s over.”

The brief conversation came to an abrupt halt.

He Chi looked ahead. After a while, he stood up and walked towards the backstage.

The speech about smart technology was only 15 minutes long. Fang Ci was very nervous at the beginning, but he got better as he went on after he found his rhythm. He managed to get through the 15 minutes.

He walked down the steps to a warm round of applause. Fang Ci smiled.

Cheng Wen and Xiao Zhu stood at the left aisle to greet him, their palms red from clapping.

Fang Ci asked, “Was it okay?”

Xiao Zhu: “It was amazing, you were so great!”

Fang Ci smiled slightly, and the huge weight in his heart was finally gone. He turned around to look for He Chi but found that he wasn’t in the audience.

Cheng Wen asked, “Are you looking for CEO He?”

Fang Ci almost thought they had figured something out and was stunned for a moment.

Cheng Wen said, “I understand. With such a serious procedural issue, you must want to know what the boss thinks.”

It seemed he had his own logic. Fang Ci breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. “Mhm, I need to report to him.”

Cheng Wen said, “CEO He went backstage to check on the situation. That expert will probably have to pay a triple penalty for breach of contract.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Ci was already gone.

Cheng Wen sighed, “…He’s so fast. Shouldn’t he be trying to avoid the boss at a time like this?”

Xiao Zhu said, “I agree. I’m afraid the boss will be angry.”

Fang Ci walked against the flow of people along the aisle. He didn’t think He Chi would be angry, and he didn’t want to go over the gains and losses of this with him. He just wanted to see him. At this important point in his career, he wanted to share it with him, whether it was good or bad.

But after searching backstage, he couldn’t find Teacher He.

“Did you see CEO He?” he asked an employee.

The person said, “I just saw CEO He go into the lounge to make a phone call.”

Fang Ci thanked him and knocked on the lounge door.

“Come in.”

In the lounge, He Chi was on the phone. He motioned for him to come in and lock the door. Fang Ci obediently locked it and sat on the sofa, waiting for him.

“…The AP product is a project Zhiyoun values. The contract terms have already been signed. If he doesn’t agree with the outcome, tell him to consider the other option.”

It seemed he was still dealing with the expert who stood them up. Fang Ci was a little taken aback.

When He Chi hung up the phone, he asked curiously, “What’s the other option?”

He Chi said, “To join the company as a consultant and report to the AP department.”

Fang Ci smiled. Teacher He is so bad. He not only wants money but also wants to buy out the other party’s labor.

“Is this outcome acceptable, Manager Fang?” He Chi asked.

Fang Ci smiled and nodded. “Thank you, CEO He.”

A moment of silence followed. Fang Ci lowered his head and then looked up. He asked, “I think I did pretty well today.”

After saying that, he blinked his eyes, waiting for He Chi’s feedback.

A reward. He wanted a reward.

But He Chi didn’t move. Instead, he said, “Not quite.”

Fang Ci was stunned.

He Chi leaned against the window and said, “Yesterday, we were eliminating variables. We rehearsed the situation of an absence.”

Fang Ci nodded. That’s right. Just find someone to replace them and fill in the blank. That’s what I did.

But then he heard He Chi say, “I wasn’t in your backup plan?”

Fang Ci was stunned and explained, “Although the topic of smart connectivity is suitable for you to talk about, I’m responsible for the mistake I made. It’s not appropriate for me to ask you to give the speech.”

He Chi looked at him for a long time. “Thinking that way is not comprehensive.”

Fang Ci was a little confused.

He Chi: “It’s not appropriate to ask your boss for help, but you can ask your husband for help,”

“Helping your partner is regardless of the occasion.”