73: Chapter 73 Field Mission

April 28, 2025, Monday, Rain, 16 ~ 25°C.

"What's the situation with the photographer?"

Li Yong leaned forward: "We have an appointment; he should be here this afternoon."

Qiao Yichen nodded, then looked at Meng Zhi: "What about the channels?"

Meng Zhi flipped open her notebook, speaking slightly faster than last week: "Over the weekend, we confirmed several directions for driving traffic, including Dianping and local lifestyle accounts. But the main issue now is the price—it's about ten percent higher than the budget breakdown we calculated. Brother Yong said the budget is tight, so I didn't dare confirm it directly."

Qiao Yichen didn't immediately respond, his gaze shifting to Li Yong.

Li Yong spread his hands: "Boss, the budget really is that tight. If the channels exceed it, we have to cut from other areas."

Qiao Yichen pondered for two seconds: "No rush to cut yet. Send me the vendor's quote; I'll handle the negotiation."

Li Yong acknowledged him.

Qiao Yichen finally looked at Shen Bowen: "What about the packaging?"

Shen Bowen pushed up his glasses and handed over his phone: "The design team has already produced the drafts based on the direction you set last time. We have gift boxes for the three main featured products: minimalist, matte, and embossed with a subtle pattern."

Qiao Yichen took the phone and quickly scrolled through the images, nodding: "Good. We're heading to the Old Shop today anyway, so I can show these directly to the owner and let him feel the effect of the actual material."

He stood up, checked the time: "Pack up; we're heading out on a field trip shortly."

Meng Zhi left the conference room and headed toward the restroom.

At the corner of the hallway, someone was coming toward her—

Liu Yanran.

Liu Yanran was emerging from the restroom, continuously wiping her hands with paper. She kept her head down while accurately tossing the used paper into the trash can by the hallway wall.

When she looked up, her gaze met Meng Zhi's.

Meng Zhi stopped in her tracks.

Meng Zhi instinctively straightened her body: "Good morning, Director Liu."

Liu Yanran’s gaze paused on her face for a moment, she gave a slight nod, and then walked past her.

Her high heels striking the floor tiles made a crisp, rhythmic sound.

Only after Liu Yanran had passed did she dare to breathe.

She glanced back at that retreating figure—straight shoulders, brisk steps, even the back of her head screamed 'Keep your distance.'

Then, the scene she saw at the mall last Saturday suddenly popped into her mind:

A black knit top cinching her waist, a pink skirt hem just above her knees, hair loosely draped down, the whole person leaning against Team Leader Qiao, smiling so that her eyes curved into crescents.

Meng Zhi stood in the hallway, momentarily feeling a sense of detachment.

—The contrast between her professional and private demeanor is just too huge.

Then, she suddenly began to understand.

...

The four of them met at the elevator bank.

The elevator doors opened, and Shen Bowen stepped in, directly pressing 'B2.'

Li Yong paused: "Hey, why are we going to the underground garage? We're catching a taxi on the first floor."

Shen Bowen pushed up his glasses: "The Team Leader has a car."

Li Yong said, "Oh," and asked no further questions.

The elevator descended, the numbers ticking down.

They arrived at B2.

Shen Bowen walked forward with practiced ease, stopping next to a white Audi A4L.

Li Yong crowded over, peering through the window—beige seat covers, an exquisite air freshener hanging inside, and a small throw pillow tossed in the back seat.

His mouth split into a grin: "Yo, a girl's car?"

Shen Bowen had already pulled open the rear door and said without turning back, "Sister-in-law's car."

Qiao Yichen pressed the key fob; the car lights flashed once, and he said nothing.

Li Yong squeezed into the back seat, still muttering, "Sister-in-law? Team Leader, when did you..."

Before he could finish, Shen Bowen nudged him with his elbow, silencing him.

Meng Zhi stood by the car, hesitating for a second.

Shen Bowen leaned out from the back seat: "Meng Zhi, take the front passenger seat."

Meng Zhi opened the door and got in.

There was a faint, elegant, and soft fragrance inside the car.

Her gaze dropped—

On the floor mat lay a pair of women's slippers, light gray, made of soft velvet.

She shifted her gaze and noticed the air freshener hanging near the center console—simple metallic texture, perfectly matching the overall atmosphere of the car.

Also, the contour of the seats, the small ornament hanging from the rearview mirror, the corner of a tissue package peeking out of the passenger side storage compartment...

Every detail served as a reminder of who owned this car.

The image of that face flashed in Meng Zhi's mind again.

Liu Yanran.

Director Liu.

The car started and smoothly drove out of the garage.

The windshield wipers swung back and forth rhythmically.

Meng Zhi leaned against the passenger seat, watching the rain outside, suddenly feeling a bit relieved that she was sitting in the front—that way, she wouldn't have to see the expressions the two people in the back were making.

A little after ten-forty, the car stopped at the entrance of an Old Street.

Blue bricks, black tiles, old wooden doors; the old district in the rain exuded an ancient charm.

The sign for "Taste Bud Memory" was right ahead.

The Old Shop had arrived.

...

The four of them pushed open the glass door of "Taste Bud Memory," and the wind chime hanging on the door jingled once.

The inside was the same as before—a wooden counter, old-fashioned glass display cases, and the sweet aroma of baked pastries lingering in the air.

Seated by the wooden tables against the wall were several elderly people with graying hair, slowly drinking tea and eating snacks.

The Master Craftsman behind the counter looked up, recognized Qiao Yichen who had visited last week, and smiled: "Young man, you're back again?"

Qiao Yichen walked up, his manner respectful: "Master Craftsman, we have an appointment with Boss Chen today to discuss business."

The Master Craftsman nodded and called toward the back, "Old Chen, your guests are here."

A few minutes later, a middle-aged man in his fifties wearing a dark gray jacket walked out from the inner room.

"You must be Mr. Qiao?" He stepped forward to shake hands, "My surname is Chen; I'm the owner of this shop."

Qiao Yichen shook his hand and gestured to his colleagues, "These are my colleagues: Li Yong, Shen Bowen, and Meng Zhi."

After some brief pleasantries, Qiao Yichen got straight to the point. He took out several samples from his backpack and arranged them sequentially on the counter.

They were the new packaging designed by the art department according to his requirements—matte material, feeling slightly granular to the touch, with only a single embossed pattern pressing the four characters for 'Taste Bud Memory,' simple and clean.

One box each for the three main featured products: Walnut Crisp, Mung Bean Cake, and Cloud Slice Cake.

Boss Chen picked up one box, examining it back and forth several times. He then touched the material, and his eyes lit up slightly.

"This texture... is better than I expected." He looked up at Qiao Yichen, "Should we proceed with this design?"

Qiao Yichen nodded: "If there are no issues, we can finalize the order today. Subsequent mass production can be ready within a week."

Boss Chen looked again at the box in his hand, then at the other two models on the counter, pondered for two seconds, and then a smile spread across his face:

"Fine, let's go with this one."

Qiao Yichen turned and made an 'OK' gesture to the three standing by the door.

Li Yong grinned, Shen Bowen adjusted his glasses, and Meng Zhi also let out a sigh of relief.

When they exited the shop, the rain was still falling.

The four found a noodle shop nearby and each ate a bowl of noodles with slurping sounds.

They returned to the shop before one o'clock. There weren't many customers. The Master Craftsman ushered them to a table by the window and brought over a pot of tea.

Li Yong leaned back in his chair, looking at the sky outside, and suddenly sighed.

"I checked the weather forecast earlier; it was supposed to be sunny today," he mumbled. "With this rain, what about the photoshoot?"

Shen Bowen held his teacup and said nothing, while Meng Zhi also looked toward Qiao Yichen.

Qiao Yichen glanced out the window—the rain fell in fine, dense threads, splashing tiny droplets onto the bluestone pavement.

He thought for a moment and then spoke: "It doesn't necessarily have to be sunny."

The other three looked at him.

"Rainy days have their own atmosphere," Qiao Yichen said. "The light inside the shop will be softer, and the Old Street outside will look damp, which actually creates atmosphere in the photos. We can communicate with the photographer about it; we don't necessarily have to reschedule."

Li Yong scratched his head: "Will that work?"

"Let's try it," Qiao Yichen raised his teacup. "If the results aren't good, there's still time for a reshoot."