Xie Xi made an unexpected detour to the electronics floor and picked out a watch. When he came down, Xu Qingwei's gaze fell on his wrist, and she couldn't help but ask curiously why he was wearing that kind of watch.
Xie Xi simply said it looked nice, offering no further explanation.
But once the show aired, it inadvertently served as an unofficial advertisement for Tianqiu Tech.
Last time, the items that sold out online were some screaming toys. This time, while not exactly selling out, the sales figures for this watch model showed a noticeable increase.
As sales went up, the probability of detecting issues naturally increased. A few days later, a blogger suddenly posted a long Weibo post, tagging Tianqiu Tech's official account to thank them for developing this watch, and also tagging Xie Xi, saying her idol had saved her life.
People were puzzled and clicked in to read.
This blogger had nearly a million followers. She was a skilled illustrator, a fan of Xie Xi, and initially gained popularity by frequently drawing fan art of him.
Whenever Xie Xi had a new show, this blogger would watch it immediately. She would search for and buy any product related to Xie Xi on Taobao. After watching the new episode of "Their Lives" and seeing Xie Xi choose a watch costing three to four thousand yuan, she was instantly captivated.
She couldn't casually buy those watches costing hundreds of thousands or millions, but this one was a luxury she could afford.
She placed the order that very night. The watch arrived the next day, and she immediately set it up, putting it on with delight.
The watch required setting an emergency contact, which the manual stated was for accident prevention.
The illustrator wasn't close to many people. Besides working on commissions in her rented apartment, she had almost no friends. Usually, only colleagues who were urgently chasing her for manuscripts would come by.
She thought for a long time, unsure who to set as the emergency contact. Just then, a colleague from above was pressing for the manuscript, so she informed them and set the contact as this colleague she rarely saw, maybe once every few months.
Once she received the commission details, the illustrator started working day and night. She drew until her vision went dark, a sharp pain struck her chest, and she collapsed headfirst onto the floor.
The watch on her wrist detected the abnormality and immediately dialed the emergency contact. The colleague was asleep at home. After hanging up the late-night call, it rang again shortly after. When no one spoke, the colleague realized something was wrong and rushed to the illustrator's home, shocked to find her on the floor with a head injury.
Fortunately, the arrival was timely; had it waited until morning, she might have bled out.
As soon as she recovered, the illustrator immediately posted a long Weibo. First, to thank her idol and Tianqiu Tech for the watch, and second, to warn others not to keep such irregular hours.
【Is this for real? Isn't this watch just an IQ tax?】
【I bought one a few days ago for my grandma. The blood sugar alerts and other reminders are really convenient.】
【As a doctor, I can genuinely recommend this watch. Technology has indeed advanced. For common conditions, detecting surface symptoms can now allow for early warnings.】
...
Because of this blogger's long post, another wave of users bought the watch, finding it impressive. For a time, it became a trend: giving Tianqiu Tech watches as gifts was a must. The watch seemed suitable for all age groups.
"...So, Xie Xi inadvertently promoted it on the show?" Ye Qiusuo asked after hearing the company's investigation results.
The watch sales had risen unusually during this period, so she had asked someone to look into the cause.
"Yes, and a blogger also posted a long article promoting our watch."
The company's marketing department was also stunned. The watch hadn't been out long, and they hadn't even started advertising yet. Sales suddenly shot up at a near-vertical angle. After investigating, they realized it was because of Xie Xi.
"Perhaps we could seize the opportunity and ask Xie Xi to be our spokesperson." The marketing department had already discussed it. They had felt rather idle at the company over the past few years, having only placed webpage ads. They had never had a real celebrity endorser.
Ye Qiusuo rejected the proposal: "The company has no money to spend on a spokesperson. Since sales are already up, we just need to perfect the system."
Tianqiu Tech had never used celebrity endorsers, relying solely on word-of-mouth to attract customers, except for the recent damage to its reputation from the mushroom incident.
When Ye Qiusuo had some free time later, she curiously opened "Their Lives" to see how Xie Xi had done the promotion.
That night, for the first time ever, Professor Ye wasted three hours on a variety show instead of working.
...
The facts proved that competitors weren't so willing to let Tianqiu Tech rise again easily. Now, whenever any positive news about the watch surfaced, the comments below would inevitably be flooded with people bringing up the mushroom incident to smear Tianqiu Tech.
Although there was some exaggeration, it was true that the mushrooms caused hallucinations and led to incidents.
Ye Qiusuo personally stood at the company entrance to invite the original team members back, hoping they could eliminate the side effects of the mushrooms.
Professor Ye had never intended to abandon the medical mushroom project from the start. As Zhang Chengjue had said earlier, the profits in the medical field were too high, and everyone wanted a bite.
Other companies had even obtained samples of the medical mushrooms earlier and were privately researching them, hoping to replicate them.
When Zeng Liqing walked back into the lab, his eyes were slightly red. As a researcher, everyone dreams of a good laboratory, and Tianqiu Tech was indeed a leader in this regard. He remembered the excellent atmosphere when he first joined. It was a pity...
But now with Ye Qiusuo in control of the company, things should get better.
"Once the company's funds recover, we'll build a separate building on the empty land next door, dedicated to your biotechnology work." Ye Qiusuo pointed to the vacant lot on the left.
"Good, I'll look forward to it." Zeng Liqing felt a surge of emotion, reigniting the fighting spirit he had when he first joined.
For a company to operate, money is paramount. The huge sum Ye Qiusuo borrowed from Xie Xi had already been fully invested in the company. The research team underwent a major overhaul, useless projects were scrapped, but new projects also required funding.
Ye Qiusuo prioritized funding for crucial projects. After going back and forth, she found her new project once again facing a broken funding chain.
No money.
Every day when Professor Ye woke up, her first thought was poverty.
As time passed, the company gradually got back on track, but her new project still couldn't get funding.
"Professor Ye, someone is here to see you."
As soon as Ye Qiusuo entered the office building, the security guard at the entrance greeted her.
When she went to her office, she found two middle-aged men sitting inside, discussing something in low voices.
"You were looking for me?" Ye Qiusuo assessed the two men. They didn't look like parents or researchers.
"Professor Ye, this is the director of 'The Lake,' and I'm the producer," said the shorter middle-aged man in a black cotton-padded jacket with a smile. "We'd like to invite you to make a cameo appearance as a character in our series."
As a professor with daily work and various responsibilities, Ye Qiusuo almost had the refusal on her lips.
But Rong Shiyun's words suddenly echoed in her mind: The entertainment industry is the fastest way to make money.
"I don't know how to act," Professor Ye said, gesturing for the two to sit, clearly indicating she was open to discussion.
The director smiled and said, "Our series is set in the late Republican era. Professor Ye would only need to make a cameo as a professor—it's practically your own profession."
They sought out Ye Qiusuo, naturally because she possessed the aura of a scholar from that era. Furthermore, she was good-looking and well-liked by audiences, having been quite famous recently. The director felt she was more than suitable for this role.
"Besides, no one knows how to act from the very beginning. Our series has many newcomers, and with ample budget and time, we can take it slow and polish things."
Ye Qiusuo frowned slightly; her time wasn't that plentiful.
"What about the filming schedule?" Ye Qiusuo taught at a university and had winter and summer vacations. She completed her university tasks quickly, not requiring much time, and the dean had specifically reduced her administrative burdens from the start, so she didn't have to handle many things.
As for her research projects, those already on track only needed her review once a week, with people below taking care of them. Projects that hadn't gotten off the ground had all stopped due to lack of funding.
These two people certainly came prepared.
"We can start filming soon. The cast is mostly set, with only the professor role left." The director had thought it through carefully. "Professor Ye's scenes can be filmed first."
Ye Qiusuo calculated the time and found it feasible, so she asked about the compensation. Her direct manner didn't surprise the two, clearly indicating they had done their homework before coming.
Fortunately, the timing worked out, the pay was substantial, and Professor Ye signed on without much hesitation.
...
"After you go home, read more papers. Remember to check the journals I pointed out every month."
Before the term ended, Ye Qiusuo called her students into the classroom for a meeting, specifically outlining the reading materials.
She quite liked these students; they were motivated and not rigid.
They had recently won first place in a competition, reportedly breaking records set by previous seniors. However, the department head had scoffed, saying Ye Qiusuo had an unfair advantage because she took her students to Celestial Sphere Tech.
Ye Qiusuo paid no mind. A win was a win. Why wouldn't she use the resources she had for her students? Besides, other advisors weren't without their own methods, taking students to visit companies where they held positions. The department head himself didn't prioritize his students, and after losing, he resented others for having resources.
Professor Ye didn't understand that kind of thinking and stopped dwelling on it.
"Professor, have you watched 'Their Lives'? Xixi is in it too!"
Before leaving, Sun Jiajia tried to make a recommendation.
Sigh, one an outsider to the industry, the other an insider—shipping them as a couple wasn't easy.
"Let's go." Lin Lu pulled Sun Jiajia away by the collar, lest she annoy their professor.
Professor Ye closed her meeting notebook, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her lips, clearly reminded of Xie Xi's performance in the show.
So childish.
...
Just a few days into the winter break, Ye Qiusuo received a notification to report to the film set.
Ye Qiusuo had never been to a set before and didn't know what to prepare, so she just went directly.
Fortunately, they weren't filming immediately but preparing for the opening ceremony.
Ye Qiusuo wasn't a lead actor, so she only needed to offer incense from the back, unlike the main cast who also had to pray to the deities.
"Are you Professor Ye?"
Standing to the side, Ye Qiusuo had already been asked the same question by several staff members. She nodded.
"Are you here to film too?"
"Yes."
Hearing her reply, two girls nearby covered their mouths, their faces blushing as they giggled.
Professor Ye didn't notice, however. Her gaze was fixed on the person kneeling in worship: Was Wan Yurou also filming in this series?
"Lake"?
Ye Qiusuo thought about it. In the original book, she forgot the name of the movie Wan Yurou filmed, only knowing the other male lead was the powerful, deeply devoted supporting male character from the original story.
That supporting male character was called...
"Is that You Feibai?" Ye Qiusuo pointed at the man in the very center, kneeling alongside the director, and asked a nearby staff member.
The staff member glanced at the person Ye Qiusuo pointed to. "Yes, that's You Feibai. They say our director spent over half a year persuading him before the film emperor agreed to come."
After speaking, she looked back at Professor Ye, her face blushing again.
Professor Ye had an even more commanding aura than on TV! Her legs felt weak.
