The moment Fan Qing saw that headline, he understood immediately.
This advertiser was trying to ride on his popularity to climb higher!
Using Hual as a figurehead for the ad was just a pretext.
Their eagerness to work with whoever responded fastest—it was all for this purpose!
“Interesting,” Fan Qing mused.
He wasn’t angry about being used as a pawn.
This advertiser had some brains, at least.
After all, the one whose reputation was really blowing up recently was Nie Luo.
Nie Luo’s red carpet appearance, Nie Luo being visited on set…
And coincidentally, both news items were linked to people from Tenghuang.
One involved Yuan Jing, the other involved himself.
For the advertiser to think of using Hual as a stepping stone, then piggybacking off the buzz from his previous visit to Nie Luo’s set—that was a bit clever.
But…
Fan Qing’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Clever, yes—but only a little.
Truly smart people don’t make so many enemies for themselves.
And certainly, they shouldn’t provoke him.
The incident had indeed stirred up some attention.
The main reason was exactly what Fan Qing had guessed:
Both his name and Tenghuang’s name were fresh in people’s minds.
Especially his own.
He had just been tied to Nie Luo in trending topics; it was hard for people not to know who he was.
As soon as the news broke, Jiang Mian rushed over, her presence announced before she even entered.
“Fan Ge, luckily Second Young Master Jin didn’t sign that contract! This advertiser is really shameless!”
Fan Qing slowly typed a question mark.
Was that the focus?
Well… in a way, she wasn’t wrong.
But… normally, was that the first thing one should think of?
The next moment, Fan Qing understood why.
Behind Jiang Mian came the Second Young Master himself.
One after the other.
The posture made it obvious what had just happened.
Clearly, upon hearing the news, Jin Yi hadn’t gone straight to Fan Qing.
Going to Fan Qing wasn’t the point!
The point was going to Jiang Mian!
He had just gone to find her, and she happened to see him.
When they met, she immediately understood why he had come.
Hence, the two of them arrived at Fan Qing one after the other.
Jiang Mian had barely spoken when Jin Yi nodded fiercely.
“Exactly! That advertiser is shameless, and to dare ride Fan Qing’s reputation for their own gain—my brother will have people deal with them secretly!”
Her face went pale, like she had seen a ghost.
What did she just hear?
The Second Young Master wanted to have the advertiser ‘taken care of’ secretly?
Was that something a small manager like her should even hear?
“Second Young Master was just joking, don’t get worked up.”
Jiang Mian—so easily fooled?
Fan Qing suddenly realized this.
“…Oh.”
Jiang Mian’s voice sounded disappointingly flat.
Fan Qing: ?
Why did that sound so deflated?
Did she really want to see the Second Young Master send people to deal with the advertiser?
This was the modern era!
Fan Qing looked at Jiang Mian.
She turned to Jin Yi.
He slowly looked at Fan Qing.
“…Can’t deal with them secretly?”
Fan Qing laughed in exasperation.
“You could try contacting the Eldest Young Master.”
He hadn’t called him Eldest Young Master Jin in a long time—it was obvious the Second Young Master had amused him.
Jin Yi pouted.
“If not, then not.”
Wait, when had his brother become so restrained?
All his life, people had said his brother could do whatever he wanted—secretly handle someone, even pour cement for the sharks.
Could it be… because of Sheng Ge?
The power of love?
Jiang Mian was also regretful.
She had only heard about Eldest Young Master’s reputation in stories!
Damn it, she couldn’t witness it firsthand.
Oh well.
She sighed, thinking seriously.
“Fan Ge, how should we handle this? They’re using your name to stir up trouble—we can’t just ignore them, right?”
If it was just about Hual, it would be minor.
But since it involved Fan Qing, she couldn’t help feeling… furious.
The advertiser was way too shameless!
Riding someone else’s heat, yes—but using Fan Ge’s name? How dare they!
Thinking about it made her even angrier.
After a moment’s thought, she asked for his instructions.
“Fan Ge, should I deal with this?”
There was no way to really let the advertiser succeed, right?
They had no right to step on Fan Qing to climb up.
Moreover, when she checked before coming, it had already stirred quite a bit of online chatter.
“Seeing this news, am I the only one not surprised? This Fan Qing… I’ve seen through him. Clearly just a manager, yet always trending. To think he’s a genuine, purely professional manager? I don’t buy it. He’s one to stir things up, and naturally, the people under him speak boldly.”
“This headphone brand is pretty well-known and good—I remember liking it. But Fan Qing’s new artist? He only has Jian Feiyang, right? Does he even need this endorsement? But if it’s true, the artist looking down on it makes sense—everyone knows Jian Feiyang comes from a wealthy family.”
“Using the word ‘newcomer’ definitely doesn’t refer to Jian Feiyang, but now I’m curious—does Fan Qing have anyone else under him? I only seem to know about Jian Feiyang.”
“Tch, that’s why I said this Fan Qing is just a poser of a manager. Can’t even find a second artist under him and still acts all impressive.”
Jiang Mian couldn’t help but scoff at those comments.
What did these people know?
Did Fan Ge really have no one under him?
Fan Ge clearly had too much on his plate, and all of Tenghuang could be considered under his management!
Right!
With that thought, her eyes suddenly lit up.
Jiang Mian took quick little steps over to Fan Qing, chattering excitedly.
“You mean… publicly reveal my real position?”
Fan Qing was slightly surprised.
This was a bold idea from Jiang Mian.
She nodded vigorously, a little indignant.
“Yeah! We can’t just let them disparage you like this, can we? It’s clearly their problem—why should they ride on your popularity? I think it’s better if we flip the script, reveal your status publicly, and maybe even guide some attention toward Hual. What do you think, Fan Ge?”
It was a suggestion he hadn’t considered—but surprisingly, it sounded pretty good.
Fan Qing thought for a moment, a subtle thrill rising.
He wanted to reveal his relationship with Nie Luo, and he couldn’t stay completely passive.
At least, in terms of public identity, he needed to keep updating it.
Currently, to the online audience, he was at most just Jian Feiyang’s manager and Yao Ge’s collaborator.
If they followed Jiang Mian’s idea, his public role could indeed be elevated…
Wait.
Fan Qing’s expression suddenly became subtle.
He slowly turned to look at the Second Young Master, who had been quietly cracking sunflower seeds without a word.
Jin Yi cracked open a seed and froze.
Why was Fan Qing staring at him so ominously?
Had he accidentally cracked a seed onto his own face?
Jiang Mian didn’t understand either.
“Fan Ge… is that not okay? Why are you looking at Second Young Master like that?”
Surely Fan Ge wasn’t thinking of having Second Young Master handle this?
That would be impossible!
Second Young Master couldn’t handle it!
Fan Qing’s gaze was inscrutable.
After a long moment, he exhaled slowly.
“It’s nothing. Just thinking the Second Young Master should give me a promotion.”
Jiang Mian froze.
Jin Yi froze.
Jiang Mian glanced at Jin Yi slowly.
His eyes blank for two seconds, then he suddenly slapped his thigh.
“Damn! I completely forgot! You’re still officially a manager in the company!”
Jiang Mian: ???
She was shocked.
She was bewildered.
She looked at Jin Yi with a scolding glare, like one of those old-fashioned shrewd overseers watching a lazy worker.
“So Fan Ge does all this work, and Second Young Master only gives him a manager title? Then what about Fan Ge’s compensation?!”
Her tone was practically outraged.
Fan Qing had done her a favor!
She came to Tenghuang because of him, and yet the Second Young Master of Tenghuang treated Fan Ge like this?
Her expressive eyes made Jin Yi jump in surprise.
He hurriedly tried to explain.
“No, his compensation is good… um…”
He hesitated mid-sentence.
Jin Yi looked at Fan Qing in confusion.
Speaking of which, what was Fan Qing’s compensation again?
“Alright, enough joking around.”
Fan Qing thought for a moment and pulled out his phone.
“I need to talk to Mr. Jin about this.”
Although the Second Young Master was the nominal owner of the company, the real decision-maker was still Mr. Jin.
Fan Qing’s benefits were actually determined by him.
Whether it was company shares, authority, or perks like choosing his assistants—was that something the Second Young Master could decide?
Ask his brother, then?
No problem.
In an instant, Jin Yi went back to quietly cracking sunflower seeds like nothing had happened.
After all, his brother would handle it properly.
He didn’t care; whatever his brother decided for Fan Qing, it would be fine.
Jiang Mian was stunned for a moment.
Huh?
This… company matter had to be asked of Mr. Jin?
She instinctively looked at the Second Young Master.
And saw him, casually cracking seeds, entirely unconcerned.
Jiang Mian was silent.
So, in fact, the Second Young Master was just the company mascot?
…Fan Ge has worked hard.
Fan Ge is amazing.
Ignoring the little antics of Jiang Mian and Jin Yi, Fan Qing called Mr. Jin.
“?”
Mr. Jin answered, looking exasperated.
“For such a trivial matter, you have to come ask me?”
Trivial?
Fan Qing was equally speechless.
“Shouldn’t I ask you? After all, the company technically belongs to you.”
Mr. Jin waved casually.
“Giving it to Jin Yi is giving it to him. Aren’t you the one managing things now? Just promote yourself—why ask me?”
He paused, his tone playful.
“Where’s that thick-skinned attitude from when you called me big brother before?”
Fan Qing remained expressionless.
“You still have to inform your big brother, so he pays more attention when needed.”
He knew it all along.
Mr. Jin laughed and scolded the “little brat.”
“Tell me, you were planning to stay low-profile before, right? Now why suddenly so high-profile?”
Fan Qing glanced at Jiang Mian.
Jiang Mian: ?
Why was Fan Ge looking at him?
Fan Qing withdrew his gaze, calm and natural, like he was just contemplating what to eat tomorrow.
“Of course, it’s to pave the way for me and Nie Luo to make our relationship public. There’s no way Nie Luo would only be paired with a lowly manager like me.”
Jiang Mian’s mind went completely blank.
Before she could say anything, Jin Yi’s dropped sunflower seed exploded loudly in her ear.
“Wha—? You and Old Nie are going public with your relationship?”