Chapter 128: Zhang Tianfeng's Trump Card, The Champion Team's Endorsement

Was Gao Ran beautiful? Of course she was. In Hong Kong, she could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Miss Wang and Miss Zhang.

But Zhang Tianfeng didn't dare make a move.

On one hand, he had eyes on Qin Lin—a speculator whose true strength and asset range remained a mystery to him.

On the other hand, he wanted to gather more beautiful confidantes.

Having been reborn, he naturally wanted to live a carefree and unrestrained life. Settling down too quickly would only invite trouble later on.

“We...”

Seeing Zhang Tianfeng's nervous expression, Gao Ran burst out laughing.

She slipped out from beneath the quilt, revealing her snow-white shoulders.

“I was the one who initiated it. You don't need to overthink things.”

“May I ask why?”

“I've always known you aren't one to stay quiet. Yesterday, seeing you speak so eloquently in the classroom and watching the way those girls looked at you, I felt a sudden impulse.”

At this point, Gao Ran sighed.

She still hadn't figured out how the two of them should get along. She had constantly told herself to think this through completely before taking any further steps.

But after yesterday's scene, it kept swirling in her mind, stimulating her senses.

Jealousy, fear, and the long-suppressed flutter in her heart had erupted like a volcano the moment she saw a drunken Zhang Tianfeng.

“Don't worry, I will definitely take responsibility.”

“Take responsibility for what? If you want me to spend the rest of my life with you, it won't be that easy. You'll have to pass my tests first.”

Gao Ran tossed aside the quilt, revealing a long silk nightgown.

“Let's leave what happened last night in the past. Just like you and that foreign woman—we both got what we wanted.”

Got what they wanted? That only applied when both parties were sober. As for last night, Zhang Tianfeng couldn't remember a single thing.

“Alright. If you ever need me, just let me know.”

“Who else would I look for? If you run away, I'll go straight to your house.”

Yes, that was exactly the problem—a rather serious one.

Noticing Gao Ran's slight limp as she walked, Zhang Tianfeng said, “Lie back down and rest. I'll make breakfast.”

Gently lifting her back onto the bed, he asked, “What ingredients do you have in the kitchen?”

“Nothing at all. I rarely come here; I usually stay at the school dorms.”

“Okay, I'll go downstairs and buy some. You rest for a bit.”

There was an undeniable authority in Zhang Tianfeng's tone, giving Gao Ran a different sense of security. Previously, only her father had made her feel this secure.

After buying breakfast downstairs and returning, he saw Gao Ran waving his mobile phone.

“Wang Tiancai called you. He said he has something to report.”

“It seems he's wrapped things up.”

Detecting the relief in his voice, Gao Ran pondered for a moment and asked, “Is this your move against the Xu family?”

“Yes. Weren't you asking me how I was going to deal with them? I can tell you now. Turn on the TV.”

The apartment was fully furnished, equipped with a large color TV, a spacious refrigerator, and air conditioning.

As soon as the television flickered to life, a news broadcast was airing.

[Following the Stuttgart World Athletics Championships in August, the Ma Army shattered world records at the 7th National Games, letting the entire world hear the roar of the dragon from the ancient East. Next, we bring you a detailed report...]

Gao Ran casually picked up the remote and began changing channels.

“Why do you look so annoyed?” Zhang Tianfeng asked with a smile.

“You have no idea. Lately, news about the Ma Army has been absolutely everywhere. My ears are practically calloused from hearing about them.”

Claims of the greatest coach in history, of horses finding their legendary talent-scouts. Her initial curiosity had turned to admiration, but under the media's relentless bombardment, she had developed total fatigue. Now, just hearing the name 'Ma Army' triggered an instinctive aversion in her.

“Do you know why that is?”

“Why else? Exploiting national pride to keep the TV ratings up.” Gao Ran popped a steamed bun into her mouth and mumbled, “Our country has only just begun to integrate with the world, emerging from a century of humiliation. We need to prove ourselves. Winning glory on the international stage is the best way to boost the nation's sense of happiness. Right now, the media and TV stations treat the Ma Army like their own parents. They practically worship them.”

“So, what kind of reaction do you think it would cause if they endorsed an advertisement right now?”

“It would definitely cause a nationwide sensation.”

As soon as she said this, Gao Ran froze. She suddenly remembered that when she and Zhang Tianfeng took over the toy factory, she had dug up an endorsement contract from a pile of documents. It was for the Ma Army.

“Fengzi, your counterattack... it couldn't be getting the Ma Army to shoot an ad, could it?”

“Bingo.” Zhang Tianfeng nodded firmly.

Before leaving the factory, Zhang Tianfeng had told Wang Tiancai that any routine scheduling matters should be handled through Zhong Xiaoyi. If Wang Tiancai was calling him directly, it meant the advertisement the Ma Army shot for the Blue Square Toy Factory was finished, edited, and already being dispatched to various television stations.

“Ah, I should have realized sooner!” Gao Ran slapped the mattress in frustration and glared at him. “I was the one who found that contract for you! That means I practically set this up. Tell me, how are you going to thank me?”

“How about... we get what we want from each other one more time?”

Meeting Zhang Tianfeng's burning gaze, Gao Ran felt a sudden pang of apprehension. Only then did she realize that her long, pale thighs had somehow slipped out of the covers and were exposed to the air. They looked flawlessly fair under the morning light.

......

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was September 30th—just one day before National Day.

The entire nation was in a festive mood as citizens began their holidays, celebrating the country's birthday in their own ways.

In Shenzhen, at the Tianlong Company office in the Dragonhead Port CBD.

Losing the last lawsuit had little impact on Tianlong Company. At worst, they would just stop manufacturing toys. It was nothing but a shell company anyway. If one collapsed, a thousand more subsidiaries would rise in its place.

At this moment, Xu Kuangdao was standing in the office, delivering an impassioned speech.

“Everyone, our advertising campaign is practically complete. We have utterly crushed our opponent, leaving them with no room to fight back. Don't worry about after-sales service; we are only doing this once. And don't worry about anyone getting sick or developing cancer from our products. Those issues will all be blamed on our opponent. Right now, all you need to do is put every ounce of effort into making money. Harvest season is here. Deploy all the promotional tactics I taught you. By tomorrow night, your wives, children, and families will all be set to live comfortable lives abroad. Do you all hear me?”

“We hear you, Boss!”

“Good. Get to work then, and strive for a bright future.”

After nearly a month of grueling work and racking his brains for strategies, the time to reap the rewards had finally arrived.

Dismissing his key subordinates, Xu Kuangdao stood before the French windows, watching the bustling traffic below as he happily lit a cigar. This time, he had mobilized almost all of the Xu family's connections—not to help the factories, but to sever any visible links between the counterfeit workshops and the family. Once successful, he stood to pocket tens of millions, draining both the customers and the distributors.

“Boss, they've all boarded the shuttle to the airport. They'll be at their posts in two hours,” his secretary, dressed in a pencil skirt, reported as she walked in.

Xu Kuangdao glanced at her and asked, “What about Zhang Tianfeng? Any news from his side?”

“Nothing yet. The informants we bought off haven't sent back any intelligence.”

“Keep a close eye on him. That kid is as slippery as a fox. He might catch us off guard when we least expect it.”

Almost the instant the words left Xu Kuangdao's mouth, the brick phone on his desk began to ring. His heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason, a sudden wave of apprehension washing over him.