The Negotiation
Yu Chen sat composedly at the head of the conference table, his legs crossed, one hand turning a ring on his finger—a habit hard to break, a symbol of quiet domination that commanded the space. The soft light reflected off the dark wooden table surface, highlighting his face which remained cold, elegant, yet imbued with an aura of authority.
"Yes… this is business," Yu Chen stated, his voice low, firm, yet sounding natural, like someone who is never rushed but always accurate. "When an opportunity arises, we seize it. That is human nature, is it not? X Dragon is prepared to incur the penalty if our cooperation proposal is rejected. That is not difficult."
For a moment, he gazed at the entire Chenxi She management team, his eyes seemingly penetrating their thoughts, asserting dominance without needing to shout.
"So, what if you accept this employment contract? Miss Xiao will remain a Chenxi She editor; all rights and obligations remain with your company. All decisions rest in your hands."
The meeting atmosphere fell silent. The aroma of coffee, the tension, and the sound of the monitor displaying the project schedule merged to form an elegant yet dramatic ambiance.
The managers exchanged glances, the gravity of the decision clear on every line of their faces. Several leaned forward, trying to decipher Yu Chen's expression, which remained cold, yet every word spoken made the conference room seem to pulse with undeniable professional authority.
Yu Chen twirled the ring again, a brief, thin smile appearing—not an ordinary smile, but the smile of someone who knows precisely his bargaining power, who knows how to balance firmness with elegance. Jiang Fan sat beside him, his hands clasped on the table, ensuring the conversation remained structured, strategic, and controlled.
"This decision," Yu Chen continued, "is not about who wins or loses. It is about professionalism, opportunity for growth, and the sustainability of quality work. If you view the opportunity objectively, I am certain the best decision will surface."
Every detail, from the light reflecting on the glass, the slow-moving shadows, to the moments of silence before an answer, created a tense meeting atmosphere.
Jiang Fan leaned forward, his gaze serious, his voice calm yet firm cutting through the room.
"We are cooperating with X Dragon Studio," he stated, every word carefully chosen, asserting professionalism while applying subtle pressure.
"We only request that Miss Xiao be located at the X Dragon workplace. Chenxi She can, of course, still assign her editing tasks, but only one script per period. Do not overburden her; simply provide competent manuscripts for Miss Xiao. Not everything must be handled by Xiaoxi."
He took a breath, meeting the eyes of the Chenxi She managers. "It's no wonder Miss Xiao looks malnourished; it seems inhumane. How can you allow a gifted employee like her to be so exhausted?"
His words were like a subtle whip, triggering a mixture of shame and introspection on the managers' faces. The meeting atmosphere instantly grew tenser, yet remained elegant. Several members moved their hands to cover their mouths, stifling discomfort, while others lowered their gaze, realizing the sharpness of Jiang Fan's jab—firm yet still professional.
Yu Chen remained seated beside Jiang Fan, his expression cold, his eyes sharp, silent but full of authority. He did not need to add a single word; his dominant aura was sufficient to make everyone realize the power of X Dragon Studio's offer.
Jiang Fan glanced at Yu Chen briefly, then looked down at the documents before him. Yet his tone flowed assertively:
"If you are willing to accept this scheme, everything will proceed smoothly. If not… well, the consequences will certainly be different. But I trust that a wise decision will emerge."
The conference room remained silent for a moment, broken only by the ticking of the wall clock and the stifled breaths of the Chenxi She managers processing the words of Jiang Fan and Yu Chen. The atmosphere was tense yet elegant, every gesture of the executives' eyes and hands seemingly carrying its own weight.
Mr. Wang finally spoke, his voice calm but sounding convincing, "I believe this is not a bad decision. We can cooperate with X Dragon Studio. Of course, this collaboration will benefit our company in the long run."
He paused briefly, then continued, "If we refuse this opportunity, we also risk losing Miss Xiao, one of our most valuable assets. She possesses extraordinary ability, and she will certainly flourish under X Dragon Studio's guidance."
The other managers exchanged glances, their faces beginning to show serious consideration. Several nodded slowly, realizing that this offer actually provided a double advantage: retaining a working relationship with Chenxi She while opening the door for strategic collaboration with X Dragon Studio.
"If we consider this objectively," Mr. Wang added, emphasizing his argument with an elegant hand gesture, "the benefits we stand to gain are significant. Automatically, X Dragon will send all their drama scripts to be edited at Chenxi She. This means we still gain exposure, quality projects, and, of course, Miss Xiao remains here."
A moment of silence enveloped the room, only the sound of chairs shifting and paper rustling was audible. Gradually, one by one, the management heads nodded in agreement, signaling a unanimous decision to accept the contract with X Dragon Studio. The decision was not only logically sound from a business perspective, but also demonstrated a shrewd strategy for retaining top talent.
Yu Chen remained silent by Jiang Fan's side, his face cold but his aura of authority so strong that everyone in the room felt as if the entire decision had been ratified without the need for further lengthy debate. Jiang Fan glanced at Yu Chen, a faint smile appearing on his lips everything had gone exactly as planned.
After signing the contract, Yu Chen and Jiang Fan stood up neatly, adjusting their suits and shirts with subtle yet commanding movements. They walked toward the exit of the conference room. Every step sounded firm on the polished wooden floor, a soft echo accompanying their departure.
As they stepped into the main corridor, whispers began. Employees who were busy staring at computer screens or arranging documents suddenly turned and held their breath. "Wow… unbelievable, Wei Yu Chen… he's that visually stunning, isn't he?"
"Look at his clothes… cold yet so cool," whispered another, her eyes fixated but not daring to get too close.
The murmurs grew louder as several employees realized that Yu Chen himself was in their company. They didn't yet know the reason, but the fact that the top celebrity figure was here immediately changed the atmosphere: a mix of awe, anxiety, and curiosity.
"Why is Wei Yu Chen here? If it wasn't for something important, he wouldn't be here personally," commented one employee with a tone half-astonished, half-disbelieving.
Several other employees began discussing quietly, mentioning X Dragon Studio, the contract, and Miss Xiao, trying to connect Yu Chen's presence with a potential major project. Some bowed their heads, controlling their breathing so as not to appear too awestruck, while others quietly pulled out their phones, eager to capture a glimpse of the rare visual.
Yu Chen continued to walk calmly, his face cold, his expression unwavering, but his every movement radiated a natural aura of dominance. Jiang Fan, on the other side, observed the scene, aware of the whispers and awestruck gazes, a slight smile appearing on his lips—their strategy was working perfectly, an atmosphere full of respect, yet tinged with curiosity from the employees.
As they exited the building, the corridor returned to normal, yet the whispers still lingered, echoing faintly among the desks, making anyone who heard them realize that Yu Chen's presence here was not just routine. Everyone at Chenxi She felt the atmosphere of that day was different, as if something large and professional was happening behind the scenes, elegant yet influential.
In the Chenxi She conference room, Mr. Wang and his
team still sat with mixed expressions—relieved, awestruck, yet slightly pressured. They sighed deeply, staring at the table before them where Yu Chen and Jiang Fan had just been.
Mr. Wang looked at his team members one by one, his voice calm yet meaningful.
"It turns out… Wei Yu Chen is not just the top artist we know. He is a capable CEO, and… a very shrewd negotiator."
For a moment, silence enveloped the room. All eyes looked up at the ceiling as if re-evaluating the strategy, decision, and opportunities they had just gained.
An HR manager added, his tone lower, "He was able to control the situation, make an offer that was elegant yet forced us to consider… we were indeed outmatched in this negotiation."
Mr. Wang nodded, taking another breath, then closed the contract document firmly yet neatly.
"This is a lesson for all of us. Not just talent, but a person's vision, strategy, and authority can determine the outcome. Wei Yu Chen… he is not just a big name on the screen. He is a real force in the business world."