Chu Shichen opened his eyes. He couldn't see his back, but he never cared. Everyone has a spine. It doesn't matter if it's not crooked or twisted. It doesn't matter if it's pretty or not.
"Don't you believe it?" Xiang Mingzhang described, "The reason why you feel pain when you lie on your desk is because your back is too thin and your shoulder blades are too bony to withstand the hardness."
Chu Shichen said: "Are you talking nonsense?"
Xiang Mingzhang added: "And the spine, it's straight without any bends, the waist is very thin, and the dimples on both sides are very shallow. The skin on the back is not exposed to the light, it is white and smooth without any flaws, except for a small red mole on the right shoulder, which is too small and can't be seen when the light is dimmed."
Chu Shichen felt panicked after hearing this. He lay on the bed with his face buried, and everything in front of him was dark. He thought that Xiang Mingzhang was just a little more clear-headed behind him, but it turned out that it was more than that. He actually saw through him inch by inch.
Chu Shichen moved his lips but was speechless, so Xiang Mingzhang simply sealed his mouth with a kiss, rubbing his lips and tongue, and then exaggeratedly regretted: "Since you are not used to it, don't use that position in the future."
Chu Shichen was in a dilemma, as if he was the one who was overbearing. He was serious about discussing: "Don't you like the front?"
Xiang Mingzhang's sweet talk was crushed in an instant. He lifted the corner of the quilt and leaped forward to press down on him: "Shen Ruozhen, don't test me like this."
The wind started to blow, and the sound was like crying.
Every time Chu Shichen spent the night with Xiang Mingzhang, his concept of time would become blurred. The tall building turned into a cloud and rain platform, and he could only remember the light and darkness outside the window.
He was drowsy and his cheeks were flushed as if he was drunk. Xiang Mingzhang carried him to the bathroom, and they tossed and turned for another hour and a half.
The bed sheets were unbearable to look at, they dripped when I just got out of bed, and the carpet beside the bed was also stained.
Xiang Mingzhang carried Chu Shichen into another guest room. No one had ever lived there and the bed was cold. Chu Shichen cuddled into his arms in a daze.
The two of them slept until the afternoon of the next day. Xiang Mingzhang woke up first, and when he moved a little, Chu Shichen also woke up in his arms.
Their eyes met, and it took a while for them to recover. Xiang Mingzhang said, "Can I get you a glass of water?"
Chu Shichen said: "Not thirsty."
Last night was the first time that Xiang Mingzhang didn’t use anything else. He almost lost control. He wasn’t sure if he had done it cleanly, so he asked, “Does your stomach feel uncomfortable?”
Chu Shichen felt hot and sour in his abdomen, but it was not unbearable. He had consumed a lot of energy the previous night and was too lazy to get up. He stared at Xiang Mingzhang with eyes that were too clear, like a pool of water.
Xiang Mingzhang felt his face burning: "Why are you staring at me?"
Chu Shichen said: "On Valentine's Day, shouldn't I see you?"
Xiang Mingzhang chuckled: "Do you think we're just going to sit there and watch Valentine's Day? The store downstairs spent hundreds of thousands of dollars decorating for this day, what's the point?"
Chu Shichen suddenly realized: "We still have to go shopping."
Xiang Mingzhang kindly reminded: "Your clothes are torn."
Chu Shichen remembered it. Because he was going to Bomanjia, he specially wore an outfit that suited him. Unfortunately, it didn't suit Xiang Mingzhang's liking, so he destroyed it without mercy.
His shoulders were exposed and felt a little cold. Chu Shichen didn't pull up the quilt, but took Xiang Mingzhang's hand and put it on his shoulder: "Cover me up."
Xiang Mingzhang was so dazed that he asked, "What else do you want?"
Chu Shichen rarely asked for things, and then he said, "Compensate me for the clothes."
"Okay." Xiang Mingzhang asked, "Anything else?"
Chu Shichen talked about morality and rules, and said: "No need for anything else, I am just claiming compensation normally, not trying to blackmail you."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "You can blackmail me."
The two of them had exchanged sharp arguments in the serious business field, on the podium of the bidding meeting, and on the conference table. Now they were all buried in the quilt, throwing away logic and concepts, and chatting about all sorts of things.
Finally, they were thirsty and got up to wash. Xiang Mingzhang gave his own clothes to Chu Shichen to wear. The underwear was new, and the sweater and pants were basic styles.
Although Chu Shichen was thin, he was tall, with flat shoulders and long legs that could support his clothes. Xiang Mingzhang's size was just a little loose on him.
Xiang Mingzhang contacted the apartment's private butler. In addition to making an appointment for cleaning, he also applied for an additional card for Chu Shichen, which would allow him to enter and exit his apartment on his own.
The downstairs of Bomanjia was bustling with couples, red roses were placed at the door of every luxury store, and the windows were changed to special Valentine's Day displays.
The suit Chu Shichen wears has to be custom-made, and the size cannot be the slightest bit off, but other clothes are not so particular.
It was a large men's clothing store. Xiang Mingzhang had no experience in accompanying others to buy clothes, and he believed that Chu Shichen's taste did not need any reference, so he said, "You choose, I'll wait."
The clerk spoke softly and invited Xiang Mingzhang to sit down slowly. Usually, they prepared Perrier and biscuits for customers, but today they had milk and chocolate limited to Valentine's Day.
There were three or four pairs of customers. They held hands when choosing clothes and whispered in each other's ears when giving advice. It was openly corny on this day.
Chu Shichen picked out a set of clothes, all in his size. The knowledgeable clerk asked, "Would you like to help the other gentleman choose a set as well?"
Chu Shichen recalled that in the bathroom last night, Xiang Mingzhang tore his clothes, but he took them off in an orderly manner, and said, "He doesn't need it."
The clerk smiled and said, "Okay."
Xiang Mingzhang walked over and walked with Chu Shichen through half of the store, saying, "The clerk has already asked, how can you refuse?"
"Why can't I refuse?" Chu Shichen asked, "If I agree to his proposal, wouldn't that be a forced sale?"
Xiang Mingzhang deliberately said: "On Valentine's Day, we should give each other gifts. If only one party gives the other party, people will think you are my mistress."
Chu Shichen revealed the truth: "It's just a business trap, just to make people spend money."
Xiang Mingzhang thought to himself, he is indeed a business tycoon who owns a bank, he is too hard to fool.
Chu Shichen tried on the suit he had chosen. It fit him well, except that the sweater was too light in color, which made it look too plain. He didn't like to wear jewelry, so a ring was all he needed.
For fear of embarrassing others, Xiang Mingzhang did not leave any marks on Chu Shichen's neck. His slender neck was lightly wrapped by the collar, and his skin was so white, with purple veins visible.
Xiang Mingzhang picked out an extra necklace, a very simple style, and he put it on Chu Shichen. It looked very nice, but this person was good-looking no matter what.
After visiting this store, Chu Shichen went to another one and commented on the "traps of doing business", but he was not immune and picked out seven or eight bottles of cologne and aftershave for Xiang Mingzhang.
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Isn't that too much?"
"You use it every day anyway." Chu Shichen liked the scent he smelled when he was close to Xiang Mingzhang. "Apply more. It would be best if I could smell it even on the twelfth floor."
Chu Shichen spent Valentine's Day with his lover. He and Xiang Mingzhang were doing fine together. When he returned home in the evening, he felt a little uncomfortable, with a stomachache and no appetite.
Aunt Tang said he must have caught a cold, and Sister Xiu guessed he had eaten something bad outside.
He didn't touch dinner and went back to his room to rest with his remaining sense of shame. There was no one in the next room. Mrs. Chu said that Li Heng had taken Chu Shihui for a date.
When Chu Shichen went to work on Monday, he had regained his spirits. There was only one meeting scheduled for the morning, and both Xiang Yue and Yi Si's business department heads had to attend.
As the president of the company, he has to hold meetings with various departments at the beginning of each year. It is a rule and a necessity of the job. Xiang Mingzhang was not available last week, so he made time today to gather everyone together.
After returning from Lao Xiang Yue, Xiang Mingzhang went straight to the conference room, which was full of people, including the heads of many departments.
Xiang Mingzhang saw Chu Shichen at a glance. After not seeing him for a day, his face seemed even more handsome, making people wonder if he had not eaten seriously.
Chu Shichen was wearing a shirt and vest. He was the only one present who was not wearing a tie. He also undid one button of his shirt for the first time, revealing a section of his necklace just right at his collar.
Feng Han pulled out the chair at the head of the conference table: "Mr. Xiang, we can start now."
Everyone looked towards the president's seat, including Chu Shichen. Just now, Xiang Mingzhang passed by behind him and he smelled the cologne on the other person.
Xiang Mingzhang sat down and said, "We are all here today, from the marketing department, pre-sales and sales department, and customer success department. From the beginning to the end of a project, the three major links of discovery, acquisition, and after-sales rely on everyone's cooperation."
Xiang Yue’s Customer Success Department was established less than six years ago, which is younger than other departments, but it operates smoothly and has helped Xiang Yue form a complete one-stop model.
The company's projects are basically long-term operations, and subsequent optimization, maintenance, and technical training for Party A are required. Party A will renew the contract, and if the cooperation is satisfactory, the project will be further upgraded.
Therefore, after-sales service is very important. Some companies are responsible for it under the sales department, while the customer success department will do a more comprehensive and systematic job. In addition to solving various problems that customers have after signing the contract, they will also analyze customer data to deepen conversions.
Chu Shichen has studied the sales performance of Yisi last year and said: "As we expected, the signing rate actually increased after the implementation of the 'refund mechanism'."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Last year, there were changes in personnel and systems. It was not easy. We need to stabilize it this year. The cultural tourism project has made a good start. Yisi and Xiang Yue can cooperate more in business."
"I understand." Chu Shichen said, "But Yisi doesn't have a customer success department. If it's a project signed by both parties, will the follow-up be handed over to Xiang Yue?"
Xiang Mingzhang glanced at everyone, but did not make a decision directly, nor did he ask Li Zangqiu, the head of Yisi Operations, and said, "Director Chu, do you have any suggestions?"
Chu Shichen said: "It has been a year since the merger, and the business relationship will become closer and closer. I suggest that the after-sales of the Yisi project be handed over to Xiang Yue's Customer Success Department to be jointly responsible for."
Li Zangqiu touched his chin and said, "You should think carefully about it. Yisi has its own usual operating mode."
"Any model serves the business and is not static," said Chu Shichen. "In response to the serious problem of customer churn, we have made improvements - we implemented a refund mechanism, standardized sales and pre-sales, and replaced the R&D department with a capable leader. The above links have been successfully eliminated, and after-sales service must not lag behind."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "The after-sales service of Yisi has always been handled by the sales department. How is the effect?"
Li Zangqiu looked at the data: "Both the renewal rate and retention rate increased in the second half of the year."
Chu Shichen said: "It is because of the constraints of the refund mechanism that the signing rate has increased. It has only been implemented for half a year. The more sales orders are signed, the more after-sales service will be, which means half of the energy is taken away."
"That's true," said Peng Xin. "After-sales service is a long-term, irregular job. Sales should focus on the early stages of a project. Trying to do both can lead to confusion."
Chu Shichen said: "So having a dedicated person to handle the task is the best solution, and the after-sales level of the customer success department is more mature."
In recent years, Li Zangqiu has used his power for personal gain and continuously supplied resources to Du Heng. Naturally, he did not attach importance to customer retention of Yisi, and he became lax over time, just like a vault being guarded by a thief.
Chu Shichen is now the director of sales department. He is in charge of the early stage and the subsequent work will be directly handed over to Xiang Yue. This is not only a sharing of work but also strict supervision.
His purpose was quite clear. He wanted to grasp Yisi's project from both ends. Once he took it, he would not let go and would not leak even a drop of profit to outsiders.
After listening to the confrontation on the table, Xiang Mingzhang asked, "Manager Wu, what do you think?"
Manager Wu from the Customer Success Department said, "We have sufficient CS·M. Mr. Xiang doesn't have to worry about manpower. Yisi now belongs to Xiang Yue, and our taking over will also be conducive to the integration of the two sides. Besides, the more you do, the more you earn. There is no problem."
Xiang Mingzhang considered, "It's possible that a sudden change of model won't work. How about this, Director Chu, you sort out Yisi's current projects and give some to Director Wu as a test. If the results are not good, keep the status quo."
Chu Shichen said: "Okay, I have no objection."
The superior gave way, and the opponent backed down. Li Zangqiu had no choice but to compromise: "I agree too."
This approach may seem like a compromise, but once a gap has been opened, all parties will do their best to implement it and then make the transition, and eventual change is inevitable.
The meeting ended and everyone left, but Chu Shichen still stayed in his seat looking at the documents.
Xiang Mingzhang pushed the things to Feng Han and said, "You go back first."
After everyone left, the huge conference room suddenly became empty. Xiang Mingzhang waited for Chu Shichen to raise his head and said, "It's not in accordance with the rules for you to make a direct proposal without going through Li Zangqiu."
"I know." Chu Shichen said frankly, "I'm provoking him."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "I can see it."
Chu Shichen's proposal came from the heart, for Yisi's sake. He also had a selfish motive, as his suspicion of Li Zangqiu had not been completely eliminated. It didn't matter to him, but he was worried about Chu Shihui.
Rather than sit and wait for death, he would rather seize some initiative.
It was inconvenient to say more in the company, so Chu Shichen ended with a joke: "Why, is it too obvious?"
Xiang Mingzhang deliberately misinterpreted the question and stood up and said, "It's very obvious. You opened your collar and showed your necklace. Who do you want to show it to?"
Chu Shichen put away the folder and stood up. He pushed the chair under the table, then pushed the chairs next to it, one by one, until he stopped in front of Xiang Mingzhang and said, "Anyone who wants to read it can read it."
As they got closer, Xiang Mingzhang saw not only the necklace, but also a section of the collarbone. He said, "I sprayed cologne. Guess who I want to let smell it?"
Chu Shichen still said: "Whoever likes to smell it can smell it."
"You can only smell it if you are close to it," Xiang Mingzhang said. "The person sitting next to me can smell it with just one breath."
Chu Shichen couldn't refute it. The fragrance that spread when Xiang Mingzhang passed by was very short-lived, but the people next to Xiang Mingzhang could always smell it during the meeting.
He forgot that he asked the other person to apply more that day, and said regretfully: "Then you should spray less."
Xiang Mingzhang played dumb: "Why?"
Chu Shichen didn't fall for it and replied, "I'm afraid you'll suffocate me."
The author has something to say:
CS·M, customer success manager.
(End of this chapter)