Chapter Twenty-Two: Blueprint's Generosity

Chen Qi stared at them in shock, utterly clueless as to what was happening. He could guess that the news of his advertisement being selected had dealt them a heavy blow, but surely not enough to leave them in such a state? Had their spirits truly become so unsettled?

“Brother Chen…” the five of them, eager to please, seemed about to say more.

“Wait, wait!” Chen Qi quickly interrupted, forcing a pained smile. “Could you… just talk to me properly?”

Hearing this, the five paused, then, looking resigned, wiped the sycophantic smiles from their faces and stared at him, wide-eyed and exasperated.

“Seriously… what on earth are you all playing at?” Seeing them regain some semblance of normalcy, Chen Qi relaxed a little. At least their minds were still sound.

“We just want you to save us some face, and if any good opportunities come up, take us along,” they said, on the verge of tears.

They truly felt their jobs had become impossible. Before today, who could have imagined the five veteran employees would be so thoroughly outdone by a newcomer?

Yet, they genuinely admired Chen Qi. If earlier in the day, upon hearing his ad had been selected, they still felt a twinge of jealousy or resentment, it had all vanished now.

After watching the advertisement, they understood that Chen Qi was simply in a league of his own.

He was practically a jack-of-all-trades! Coming up with a good idea wasn’t extraordinary—sometimes inspiration struck them too—but that was usually as far as it went. Chen Qi, on the other hand, not only conceived the idea, but also directed the shoot, determined the content, coordinated each shot—he handled everything.

That was the work of a true advertising director—a position respected even by the general manager.

Moreover, he composed the music himself, and personally oversaw the editing and post-production. He wore every hat, executed each task flawlessly, and did it all in record time.

Thinking about these details alone was enough to send a chill down their spines.

After watching the ad and coming to their senses, they couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—no wonder he came from Beijing University!

Based on these points alone, they were convinced that given time, he would surely become a star in the advertising world.

If there was ever a time to cling to such an influential figure, it was now.

As veterans of the workplace, keen judgment was second nature to them. With such obvious advantages, it would be sheer foolishness to ostracize him instead.

There was simply no need. Sometimes, acknowledging someone’s talent wasn’t so difficult.

What’s more, they couldn’t help suspect that he had connections within the company. Even if he didn’t, his abilities were reason enough to befriend him.

Standing by, listening to their earnest and humble words, Chen Qi found the situation both amusing and exasperating.

He had to admit, the five of them were indeed insightful and sophisticated—no wonder Blueprint boasted such a strong team.

Seeing them so shaken by the advertisement, nearly doubting their own worth, he couldn’t help feeling a pang of sympathy.

Please, don’t compare yourselves to me. I’m using a cheat code here—competing with me is just asking for a bruising.

Besides, joining Blueprint’s ad department was never his intention. The advertisement’s success was a fluke. If not for the money, he wouldn’t have made such a splash. More importantly, he had no plans for a long-term future at Blueprint—he’d always intended to leave after his probation period.

Of course, he couldn’t say any of this. Since they were willing to lower themselves to win his favor, how could he possibly refuse?

So, he modestly attributed it all to luck, adding that he still had much to learn from them.

Seeing that Chen Qi wasn’t the least bit arrogant despite their humble attitude, the five were pleasantly surprised.

See? Just look! A Beijing University graduate really does have a different outlook!

“How about this,” suggested the curly-haired young woman, “it’s just about lunchtime. Let us treat you, as a way to strengthen our camaraderie.”

“Yes, yes!” the others chimed in enthusiastically.

Chen Qi frowned slightly, casting them a meaningful look. He couldn’t shake the feeling there was an ulterior motive.

“Alright,” he replied shamelessly.

The five fell silent, their voices abruptly cut off. They stared at him in disbelief.

Did he really not understand their hint, or was he just pretending? Did he truly not know what they were getting at? He’d just received a hundred thousand yuan bonus—shouldn’t he be treating them to a good meal? After all, they were his colleagues.

“Come on, let’s go!” Chen Qi urged, heading out.

The five exchanged glances, all feeling a wave of helplessness wash over them.

They’d nearly forgotten—this guy didn’t play by the rules. Now they’d dug a pit and fallen right in themselves.

On the way to lunch, Chen Qi continued to attract envious, admiring, and even worshipful glances.

No one had expected that a single advertisement would instantly make him Blueprint’s newest star.

They ate at a nearby restaurant, thoroughly enjoying the meal, and during their casual conversation, Chen Qi gained a more detailed understanding of the company.

Of course, he paid for the meal. As shameless as he could be, he wasn’t brazen enough to let them foot the bill.

On their way back, he received a call from the young mother.

Blueprint had contacted her, expressing their interest in signing her son. Unaccustomed to such situations and perhaps out of trust for Chen Qi, she called him for advice.

After listening, Chen Qi was momentarily at a loss. How could he give such advice lightly?

But since she’d reached out to him, and after considering her family’s situation, he ultimately suggested agreeing to Blueprint’s offer, provided it didn’t interfere with her son’s schooling.

He had no idea how much the advertisers might pay, but he was certain it would be a significant sum—enough to improve their lives.

Rather than let her, inexperienced as she was, negotiate with cunning advertisers, it was better to have Blueprint act as their agent. After all, Blueprint was a reputable, professional company; with them involved, at least she wouldn’t be taken advantage of.

Not long after hanging up, the lunch break was nearly over.

Instead of returning to the office, Chen Qi headed straight for the post-production department to find the beautiful music teacher.

It wasn’t that he wanted to learn music for its own sake; he simply wanted to know the names and sounds of the unfamiliar instruments.

He still vividly remembered the agony and frustration of composing ad music. Since he was determined to make a splash in the entertainment industry, he felt it necessary to understand these basics.

It was at this moment that his phone buzzed with a message from the bank.

His account had just been credited with 150,000 yuan.

After confirming he hadn’t misread it, Chen Qi burst out laughing.

Blueprint was truly generous. He had only casually mentioned the possibility of a bonus, yet they’d added another 50,000 yuan.

With the bonus in his account, the last of his worries melted away, and his mood brightened considerably.