Chapter 109 | My Acting System Only Gives Me Villain Roles

The decision to buy a sofa was executed swiftly after they finished eating their takeout.

Jiang Kaiwen dragged Chen Fei along, jumping back and forth between second-hand apps and furniture malls, studying ergonomics, fabric durability, and cost-effectiveness. His enthusiasm was so high that Su Qing suspected he must have been the top salesperson at a furniture store in his past life.

In the end, Su Qing couldn't stand them turning a simple sofa purchase into a business proposal for the furniture industry, so she went ahead and ordered two sets of gray tech-fabric sofas from a niche boutique furniture store.

After confirming the store had them in stock, she also ordered a coffee table, cushions, and a floor lamp, adding same-city rush delivery.

In the afternoon, several deliverymen huffed and puffed as they moved the items into the spacious office.

Once everything was set up, the cold, industrial feel of the space was finally softened a bit.

With unopened green plants piled in the corner, a coffee machine in the pantry still smelling of a new appliance, and the floor lamp by the window lit up, the studio finally looked like a place where they could sit down and take a breather.

Jiang Yue tested the sofa. It was neither too soft nor too hard, and the back support was just right.

“Pretty good,” he commented. Then, leaning back completely, he crossed his long legs in a relaxed posture.

His left hand habitually picked up his tablet, which displayed an industry analysis report on the dynamics of the global luxury market over the past three years.

The stylus rested on the armrest, and beside the dense data and charts, he had already left bilingual annotations in both Chinese and English.

Lamerd's ready-to-wear line in the Xia Nation region had fallen below expectations for two consecutive quarters, bookings for men's haute couture had decreased year-on-year, and they responded best to narrative-driven marketing.

This was a habit he had developed recently, taking time to study the rules and materials of industries related to show business.

Since he had already sat down at this card table, he had to figure out the rules first. Otherwise, it would be truly embarrassing to have a wealth of skills but not even know which way the arena door opened.

Meanwhile, Jiang Kaiwen performed a textbook “Ge You slouch” on the other sofa, sinking completely into it and letting out a satisfied sigh.

“Sister Qing, I think our studio is officially fully renovated now. The sofa is the soul of the place.”

Su Qing was organizing materials for the next day's meeting in front of her computer. Hearing this, she simply kept tapping away at the keyboard.

“Your soul had better not drift away before ten o'clock tomorrow morning.”

“I've emailed you the materials for the luxury brand's online meeting—brand background checks, major events over the past five years, analysis of their main competitors, and the brand philosophy they've been trying to emphasize. Get them organized tonight.”

“The boss has spent so much time researching brand case studies for this. Don't drag us down.”

Jiang Kaiwen immediately bounced up from the sofa. Though he had been slouching like he had no bones just a moment ago, his back was now straight as a board.

“Don't worry. When it comes to contracts and pricing, I will absolutely not let Third Brother down.”

The next morning, at around 9:50 AM, in the conference room of Yuchuan Media Studio.

The minimalist long conference table was polished to a shine. The massive display screen on the wall was dark, reflecting the silhouettes of the three people in the room.

Jiang Yue was dressed in a light gray linen short-sleeved shirt with the top button casually undone. Off-white casual trousers accentuated his tall and straight figure, paired with a clean and elegant pair of light brown loafers.

A simple watch on his wrist was his only accessory. His entire outfit was fresh and appropriate, striking a balance between formal and casual. It showed respect for the negotiation without losing the relaxed vibe of a young man.

He sat at the head of the table with Su Qing to his left. Her tablet displayed the meeting's key points, while a thick stack of printed materials sat ready at her hand.

Jiang Kaiwen sat on his right, sitting up straight with a notebook and pen in front of him, carrying the air of an elite assistant.

At exactly ten o'clock, the screen lit up with a clear picture as the other party joined the call right on time.

Two people appeared on the screen.

Sitting near the center was a foreign gentleman in his fifties. His hair was meticulously styled, and he wore a sophisticated dark blue suit.

The woman sitting beside him was Lin Lin, the PR Director for the Xia Nation region who had previously reached out via email. She carried a highly capable aura.

“Hello, Mr. Jiang. I am Lin Lin, the PR Director for Lamerd's Xia Nation region.”

Lin Lin wore a professional smile, introducing herself in fluent Chinese before gesturing to the gentleman beside her.

“This is our Global Brand Vice President, Mr. Alexander.”

Jiang Yue nodded slightly, keeping his gaze level, and spoke directly in fluent English.

“Good morning, Director Lin, Mr. Alexander. It is a pleasure to meet you both.”

Alexander's brow twitched slightly. He looked at the young man on the screen, his deep blue eyes carrying the shrewd calculation of a businessman.

“Mr. Jiang, your performance in the Xia Nation drama 《The Grand Game》 was highly successful.”

Alexander offered an intrigued smile, continuing in English, “Coincidentally, my daughter is very interested in Eastern art history. She was the one who showed me a video of you performing a sword dance, repeatedly insisting that it was like fluid sculpture, a piece of Eastern art.”

“But of course, that was only the beginning. What truly brought me to this table was our data team.”

Lin Lin opportunely pulled up a slide of data briefing, displaying it alongside the video feed.

“Over the past three quarters, Lamerd's conversion rate among the younger demographic in the Xia Nation region has fallen short of headquarters' expectations. Growth in our men's ready-to-wear and accessories lines has also lagged behind our competitors.”

“While our existing clientele remains stable, new consumer acquisition is insufficiently active. We need a new spark; we cannot rely solely on traditional advertising and red-carpet exposure.”

Jiang Yue understood the deeper meaning behind these words.

A top luxury brand would not make a move on a whim just because of a single video, but they would seriously consider shifting their strategy under the pressure of sales targets, an aging customer base, and market squeeze from competitors.

“You flatter me. It is simply my duty as an actor.”

Jiang Yue responded in English, polite yet poised.

With the pleasantries concluded, Lin Lin took over and cut straight to the chase.

“Mr. Jiang, our brand has plans to expand once again in the Xia Nation region this year. We need a partner who can represent our core philosophy while driving younger consumers to rediscover Lamerd.”

She looked at the camera, her tone becoming more formal than before.

“Lamerd has always emphasized the power of restraint, the precision of craftsmanship, and the contemporary reinterpretation of tradition. We do not want a partner who is merely a flash-in-the-pan sensation for a single season; rather, we hope to find someone with a stable, focused, and upwardly growing temperament.”

“Your appearance, the popularity of your work, your influence among the younger demographic, and the Eastern physical aesthetics you presented in 《The Grand Game》 all align with our expectations.”

Su Qing spoke up at the right moment. “Director Lin, we appreciate your brand's recognition. However, before we proceed, we noticed that your brand's initial email mentioned the title of 'Friend of the Brand'.”