Chapter 53

Chapter 53

The fulfilling weekend life helped Jiang Yicen integrate more quickly into modern life; he had almost fully adapted to 21st-century life, and learning to drive made him feel like he'd gained another skill.

After returning to the company on weekdays, he immediately submitted a proposal to sponsor the Twin Stars off-road racing team.

After Nan Shuyi became the marketing director, he had a lot more to handle.

Although the two lived under the same roof, Jiang Yicen often wouldn't even see him.

The two million yuan wasn't given to Twin Stars right away. Nan Shuyi had professional technicians inspect the vehicles. Only after confirming the results did he sign the contract and send the sponsorship fee.

Not long after, Zhong Zixing led the team to compete in the French leg of the competition.

Around that time, the candy project that Jiang Yicen was working on began its new teaser campaign. As soon as they made the official announcement on their Weibo, it caught the attention of *Smiling Life* fans.

In the first teaser, they only hinted at the confirmed collaboration, which wasn't well-received by fans.

In the second teaser, the operations specialist posted official images of the collaboration's plush toys and blind boxes on the official Weibo, and fans started getting excited.

In the third teaser, the official Weibo announced the launch time of the collaboration, with limited-edition sales of the plush toys and blind boxes.

Jiang Yicen had been in communication with the director of *Smiling Life*, and the director at Youqian was also aware of the launch timeline on this side, coordinating with Nanyuan Candy for promotion.

However, previous communications were all polite and work-related. This time, Director Pan contacted him because of an earlier joke.

"Yicen, your Nanyuan young master once promised us that after signing the contract, he would cooperate on a promotional event. I see your teaser campaign is almost done, and the online and offline launches are the day after tomorrow, right?"

Jiang Yicen thought it was just a joke, but Director Pan was serious. Since they had agreed, it had to be done. In business, integrity is essential for long-term success.

"What does Director Nan need to do to assist with the promotion?"

Pan Yamin sent an animated emoji.

"All he needs to do is post a video of unboxing a blind box. I've seen the actual product of the blind box you made, and my boss and I really like it. It's made with great care—it would be a waste not to promote it."

"Okay, I'll discuss with Director Nan about posting a promotional video."

"It would be best if you two shoot the video together. You don't have to appear on camera, but he definitely should, hahaha. That's just my personal suggestion."

"That's fine."

Jiang Yicen felt that Director Pan might have sensed something, but both were smart, so there was no need to spell it out.

Currently, *Smiling Life* fans weren't very optimistic about this collaboration, since Nanyuan candy was far less famous than the *Smiling Life* brand.

This time, Jiang Yicen specifically discussed with the product department to adjust the candy's flavor, creating one that matched the collaboration. It was a new attempt for Nanyuan, and many internally disapproved, thinking Jiang Yicen was wasting manpower and money. They just wanted to sell off the existing inventory rather than produce new candies that might not sell and add to the backlog.

Jiang Yicen argued vigorously with the product department, and in the end, Nan Shuyi stepped in to support him. Fortunately, Nan Shuyi stepped in, replacing Jin Huanxin, and backed Jiang Yicen's decision. Otherwise, the optimal launch time would have been delayed.

But Director Pan's request was rather odd. The operations department had already done plenty of promotion, so a single video from Nan Shuyi seemed unnecessary.

Jiang Yicen asked Nan Shuyi, who was currently at Fuyu.

Fuyu was the cosmetics company Nan Shuyi had taken over earlier, and he was in the process of restructuring it. Buying the Yutu brand also required funds, and Jiang Yicen worried whether Nan Shuyi had enough money for all his expenses. Jiang Yicen had done the math: all the Shiyi stores had new products and new suppliers, plus the purchase of the Yutu patent, and the two stores he bought for Jiang Yicen—Nan Shuyi had spent no less than one billion yuan in a short time.

He also realized that Nan Shuyi seemed quite wealthy, indeed a rich young master who never blinked at spending money.

Just how much available cash did Nan Shuyi have?

He knew that besides these two companies, Nan Shuyi had many other investments, but he never asked, and Nan Shuyi never told him.

Jiang Yicen took some time at noon to ask Nan Shuyi about shooting the video.

Nan Shuyi had been in a meeting all morning about relaunching the cosmetics brand. His team had differing opinions on whether to use old products or restart under a new brand, and they argued all morning. He had a headache and still hadn't made a decision. He had originally planned to go back to Nanyuan to have lunch with Jiang Yicen.

After a frustrating morning, he finally sat down and received a message from Jiang Yicen.

Nan Shuyi replied to Jiang Yicen. Nan Anru had called him in the morning, asking him to come home for dinner, so he arranged with Jiang Yicen to go home for dinner that evening.

Coincidentally, Nan Anru also called Jiang Yicen himself and asked if he was free. Jiang Yicen thought the father and son were quite interesting—he could detect a hint of eagerness to please in Nan Anru's tone.

Nan Anru said they could leave work together, and Jiang Yicen naturally agreed.

In the afternoon, Jiang Yicen borrowed a set of filming equipment from a colleague in the operations center.

Ever since Nan Shuyi bought him a camera, he had started studying other filming tools and even found time to learn simple video editing on his phone.

Jiang Yicen had a relatively flexible work schedule, so leaving a bit early wasn't a big problem. Since Nan Shuyi had arrived, he no longer had to worry about perfect attendance bonuses and had become much freer.

That day, they were going back to the Nan house for dinner. He was supposed to leave with Nan Anru, so he clocked out early.

He carried five sets of blind boxes and the filming equipment, then got into the car.

Jiang Yicen had become much more familiar with Nan Anru. "Dad."

Nan Anru genuinely treated Jiang Yicen as one of his own. "What are you carrying?"

Jiang Yicen explained, "The new blind boxes for our candy. The collaboration partner has asked Brother Shuyi to shoot a promotional video."

Nan Anru knew Jiang Yicen had ideas for the company, and this was his first planning proposal since joining Nanyuan.

He became curious about this trendy concept for young people. "Oh? Blind boxes—it's all about luck. How many sets do you have?"

"I took five sets. I'll give one to the little brother, and we'll use the remaining four for the shoot."

"Give me one to play with too. Since it's our own product, I can help with promotion."

Jiang Yicen was more than happy with that. "Great. How about we shoot the video after dinner? We have exactly five sets, so each person can open one."

Nan Anru looked forward to this after-dinner activity.

When they arrived at the Nan house, Nan Shuyi was already there. He was sitting cross-legged in the living room playing games with Nan Shuqi, nearly reducing his little brother to tears.

Nan Shuyi saw Jiang Yicen come in and put down the controller.

He looked at Nan Anru. "You're carrying so much stuff?"

Jiang Yicen said, "Not much, just a few blind boxes."

Nan Anru immediately guessed what Nan Shuyi was thinking. "What are you looking at me for? I said I'd carry them, but he wouldn't let me."

Nan Shuqi, who had been tormented for half an hour, finally had a break and perked up at the mention of blind boxes.

"Brother Cen, I want to open a blind box!" Nan Shuqi bounced in front of Jiang Yicen and eagerly reached for the bag, but before he could touch it, Nan Shuyi grabbed him and pulled him away.

Jiang Yicen told them about Nan Anru's plan. "We can open them after dinner. It's exactly five sets. Let's see who can get the hidden edition."

Nan Shuqi wasn't mad that his brother had taken the blind boxes away; he could open them in the evening.

Today's dinner time was shorter than usual. Normally, Nan Shuqi would mess around with his mom and eat slowly, but today he ate surprisingly earnestly.

After the meal, the much-anticipated blind box filming time was about to begin.

Nan Shuqi was even better at fiddling with the pile of filming equipment than Jiang Yicen. The two sat on the carpet, studying and discussing, while Nan Shuyi had already assembled the tools during their discussion.

He aimed his phone camera at the spot they were going to film: "Like this?"

They chose to open the blind boxes in the living room leisure area. There was only a carpet there, making it a very comfortable reading area, and today it became the video filming background.

Jiang Yicen walked over to Nan Shuyi's spot and stared at the phone screen with him: "Brother Shuyi, you sit over there. Let me try."

When he came over, Nan Shuyi had just finished recording the video, and used his phone to test the setup.

He sat down where Jiang Yicen had just been sitting: "Is this okay?"

Jiang Yicen nodded: "Looks good, right in the center. Who goes first?"

Nan Shuqi raised his hand: "Me first, me first! After me, it's Dad and Mom, and finally Big Brother and Brother Cen!"

Nan Shuyi looked at Jiang Yicen: "What do you think?"

Jiang Yicen nodded: "Alright."

Nan Shuyi walked over, sat next to Jiang Yicen, zoomed in on his phone screen and aimed it at Nan Shuqi: "Nan Shuqi, start opening."

Nan Shuqi finished opening, but no hidden one showed up.

Nan Anru and Yao Mengxun also joined in for fun, but similarly didn't get a hidden edition.

It was Nan Shuyi and Jiang Yicen's turn. Nan Shuqi volunteered to be their cameraman. Jiang Yicen didn't mind; Nan Shuqi was clever and was even better at using a smartphone than him.

Jiang Yicen said to him: "Shuqi, just point the camera at your Brother."

Nan Shuqi gave them an OK sign: "Got it!"

Jiang Yicen didn't want to take up Nan Shuyi's screen space, so he moved aside a little, but Nan Shuyi wouldn't let him stay so far away. He pulled him close, his crossed knees touching Jiang Yicen's thigh.

Nan Shuyi used a small knife to cut the plastic wrap on the candy blind box packaging, then opened the box. Inside were six blind boxes.

The blind boxes were designed as figurines plus candy, with different candy colors corresponding to different figurine styles.

Nan Shuyi was used to the camera and was not camera shy. He naturally and generously first introduced what they were going to do today.

"Today we're opening a collaborative blind box between Nanyuan Candy and 'Smile of Life'."

He went into great detail.

"The blind boxes were designed by a particularly talented designer in our company. Let me show you the blind box figurine styles. Each style corresponds to a different flavor of Nanyuan candy. For example, the 'Smile Yearning for Spring' figurine corresponds to the peach flavor. Our candy uses top-notch stuff."

Nan Shuyi opened the first blind box. He unwrapped a candy and asked Jiang Yicen beside him: "Want a taste?"

Jiang Yicen had already tasted it, but since Nan Shuyi was filming, he couldn't bear to refuse and nodded.

Nan Shuyi just tore the wrapper and fed him a piece of candy.

Nan Anru really couldn't bear to watch his son; he wanted to remind him that just three months ago he'd been so against getting married. He called Yao Mengxun to go upstairs first, so they wouldn't bother the kids playing downstairs.

Nan Shuyi continued recording the video. His understanding of the concept behind this series of blind boxes was even deeper than Jiang Yicen expected—exactly what he'd been thinking. Jiang Yicen felt sweeter than candy inside; Nan Shuyi always listened to him.

As Nan Shuyi opened to the end, he said regretfully: "All regular ones, no hidden. Next set, your turn."

Their plan was to record Nan Shuyi opening the blind boxes, with no part for Jiang Yicen.

However, it wasn't a live stream; the video could be edited.

Jiang Yicen wasn't stressed about opening the next set; Nan Shuyi had already finished all of the product explaining.

When he picked up the first one: "I think I got a hidden one."

Since he designed it himself, he naturally knew what the hidden edition looked like and how it felt. The design department had reviewed the draft with him twice, and the sample was revised three times. He just hefted it and knew which figurine it was.

Nan Shuyi chuckled: "We opened five sets and didn't pull a hidden one, and you get a hidden one on your first try."

Nan Shuqi yelled: "Brother Cen, next time I open a blind box, bless me with your luck!"

Jiang Yicen didn't know what "ou yi ou" meant. He asked Nan Shuyi: "What does 'ou yi ou' mean?"

Nan Shuyi: "It means bless him with luck."

Jiang Yicen caught on quickly and deliberately teased Nan Shuqi: "So should I bless him?"

Nan Shuyi flatly refused: "No, you can only bless me."

Nan Shuqi mustered his courage and said: "Big Brother, you're so stingy. Brother Cen, secretly bless me."

Jiang Yicen said: "Alright, but then we can't let Big Brother know."

Nan Shuyi silently noted Jiang Yicen calling him "Brother". He wanted to hear him call him that when they were alone.

After the blind box recording ended, Nan Shuyi sent Nan Shuqi upstairs to do his homework.

Jiang Yicen checked the time. It was getting late.

He asked Nan Shuyi: "Are we still going back tonight?"

Nan Shuyi: "We'll stay here tonight."

"But I didn't bring anything with me." Jiang Yicen had simply thought they were just coming back for dinner.

"You can wear mine." Nan Shuyi's throat tightened slightly. "We'll have to share a bed tonight. There are no guest rooms on my floor."

When they first got married, Jiang Yicen felt that Nan Shuyi didn't have feelings for him, so he'd rather sleep separately to not be a burden. But now they had taken the first step toward becoming a married couple.

He knew that the two of them had gotten married somewhat reluctantly, but without at least a little affection, they wouldn't have done anything intimate.

Jiang Yicen showered and put on Nan Shuyi's pajamas. He was smaller than the other guy, so the clothes looked a bit loose.

At that moment, Nan Shuyi was editing the video they'd just recorded. After making sure everything was good, he posted it to his social media.

He looked up and saw Jiang Yicen tugging at his too-big pajamas. He watched Jiang Yicen until Jiang Yicen noticed how intently he was staring.

Jiang Yicen felt a bit self-conscious under his stare: "What is it?"

Nan Shuyi shook his head: "Nothing. I'm going to take a shower."

After two months, the two of them were back in the same bed again.

Nan Shuyi's excitement didn't even last two seconds before he realized that Jiang Yicen was sleeping a mile away from him. He regretted ordering such a huge bed for the first time.

After lying down, Nan Shuyi grabbed his pillow and quietly scooted closer toward the sleeping Jiang Yicen.