Chapter 0082: Headhunter

If Zhao Fusheng were twenty years younger, he might easily be captivated by a beautiful woman's appearance, but although he was now twenty years old, he possessed the mindset of someone over forty.

Therefore, Zhao Fusheng always did not hesitate to judge others with the utmost malice.

Winning his trust was no easy task.

It was for this reason that, after meeting the woman named Meiyu, Zhao Fusheng felt something was off, but with his parents present, he couldn't bring it up with Zheng Yao. He blinked and said meaningfully, "Teacher, from now on, do you plan to collect all the advertising plans for our studio from us students?"

Zheng Yao was taken aback, thinking Zhao Fusheng was trying to confuse his parents. She smiled and said, "Yes, you students have sharp minds, more open-minded than those established designers. Sometimes you can come up with novel ideas."

Father and Mother Zhao were naturally overjoyed. Zheng Yao's words meant their son still had a chance to earn money.

The four of them ate a little and each had some wine. Zhao Fusheng, seeing that it was getting late, said to his parents, "Dad, Mom, I think it's late. You should go back first. The baby is at home, and you have to take care of Aunt Li and Beibei. Besides, Dad is carrying money, which is inconvenient."

The last sentence immediately caught Mother Zhao's attention. Even though Father Zhao insisted he would be fine even if they encountered a bad guy, Mother Zhao wouldn't have it. She pulled her husband away, said goodbye to Zheng Yao, and the couple paid the bill and took a taxi home.

After seeing his parents into the taxi, Zhao Fusheng turned around, seemingly bidding farewell to Zheng Yao, but said in a low voice, "Who is that young lady?"

Zheng Yao was startled, then realized he was referring to Meiyu. She smiled and said, "Didn't I tell you? My college classmate, Wang Meiyu. She works in Beijing now."

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Remember, no matter who asks, you must not say that our company's ads were planned by me alone."

"What do you mean? Do you think there's something wrong with her?"

Zhao Fusheng chuckled lightly: "I hope I'm overthinking it."

Zheng Yao was a bit puzzled but said nothing more and went back to the studio.

Watching her retreating figure, Zhao Fusheng shook his head gently. There were some things he couldn't tell Zheng Yao directly. The darkness of the advertising world was far more terrifying than she imagined, which was why he had agreed to let Zheng Yao set up a studio rather than a company.

After all, a studio had fewer employees and a relatively simpler structure. If they formed a company, they would inevitably face all kinds of problems.

For now, he really hoped he was just overthinking.

But the next morning, he received a call from Zheng Yao.

"You were right." Zheng Yao said angrily over the phone.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback: "What was I right about?"

"That bitch Wang Meiyu!" Zheng Yao cursed furiously. "She really came to poach me!"

Zhao Fusheng was startled: "How do you know?"

"Don't even mention it. She first contacted Qin Wentao and Bai Jie in Beijing, then came to Ninghai." Zheng Yao said bitterly. "Bai Jie accidentally leaked your information to her."

"Oh." Zhao Fusheng nodded. "That's it?"

"Isn't that enough?" Zheng Yao was practically gritting her teeth.

"What exactly does she do?" Zhao Fusheng asked curiously.

"Something like a talent consulting firm..." Zheng Yao said impatiently, clearly still furious.

Talent consulting firm?

Zhao Fusheng frowned. He had a general idea of Wang Meiyu's identity. If he wasn't mistaken, she was from a headhunting company.

The so-called headhunting, whose full English name is Headhunting, originates from Latin and originally referred to the practice of cannibal tribes in the Americas who, during battles, would cut off their enemies' heads and hang them at their waists as trophies. The term truly became known as headhunting after World War II. After some European and American countries emerged victorious, they sought out scientists they needed from Germany and other nations. Like hunting in the jungle, they dispatched professional companies everywhere to help them identify outstanding individuals. This term was later borrowed to refer to the search for talent, and when it came to China, the original meaning was adopted and called headhunting.

Headhunting is vastly different from general corporate recruitment, talent referral, and employment agency services. The targets of headhunting are always fixed on individuals who embody the trinity of high education, high position, and high compensation. It seeks out professionals and managers with high levels of education, rich practical experience, and outstanding performance.

In short, headhunting can be understood as an intermediary for senior talent, playing the role of a matchmaker between senior talent and enterprises.

It was only in the mid-1990s that headhunting companies appeared in China. What Zhao Fusheng didn't expect was that just a few years later, someone would be poaching him.

In fact, there are too many ways for headhunters to poach talent. Some follow industry rules and only make normal contact, while others stop at nothing, using seduction, cutting the ground from under someone's feet, or even resorting to unethical methods—all of which are common occurrences.

"Alright, leave this matter to me. You don't need to worry about it," Zhao Fusheng said with a smile to Zheng Yao. "You didn't give her my phone or pager number, did you?"

"I didn't say anything, but that bastard Qin Wentao told her your name." Zheng Yao was particularly angry, now in a state of rage.

After all, she had always trusted the people around her, and she never expected to be betrayed. Although Bai Jie and Qin Wentao hadn't done it intentionally, this incident still made her very angry.

As for Wang Meiyu, Zheng Yao no longer wanted to talk about this woman. A woman who would deceive even her classmates and friends was truly hateful.

Zhao Fusheng, however, did not share her resentment. In his view, although Wang Meiyu's behavior might be somewhat despicable, from the perspective of a headhunting company, it was all normal conduct.

She treated socializing as a job, so she would use all kinds of means to achieve her goals.

Those who follow different paths cannot make plans together. The foundation for people to happily play together is that both sides have the ability to overturn the table and the cultivation not to do so.

If it doesn't feel right, then just part ways.

"Alright, you don't need to bother with this matter. I'll handle it," Zhao Fusheng said to Zheng Yao.

Since the other party was targeting him, sooner or later they would definitely come to him. Otherwise, why would they travel all the way from Beijing to Ninghai?

As it turned out, Zhao Fusheng's guess was absolutely correct.

In the afternoon, while he was in the dormitory, the dormitory superintendent downstairs called him, saying someone was looking for him.

"That was fast," Zhao Fusheng muttered to himself as he headed downstairs.

Arriving at the dormitory entrance, sure enough, Wang Meiyu stood there, smiling at him.

"They say heroes emerge from youth, but I still didn't expect you to be so young." Wang Meiyu's voice matched her appearance—very pleasant, soft without being cloying, with a gently rising tone that could make most men's hearts flutter.

Unfortunately, Zhao Fusheng was not among them.

"Miss Wang, may I ask what business you have?" Zhao Fusheng asked calmly.

"Heh, you're quite direct. Since that's the case, may I ask if you have time now?" Wang Meiyu smiled.

"Sorry, I don't have much time," Zhao Fusheng said solemnly.

The implication was clear: he didn't want to talk much with Wang Meiyu. Headhunters aimed to recruit talent, but Zhao Fusheng knew well that he was talent they couldn't afford.

Frowning slightly, Wang Meiyu seemed not to have expected Zhao Fusheng's attitude. After a moment's hesitation, she said directly, "Since that's the case, I won't beat around the bush. I'm here on behalf of Perfect Advertising Company to have a chat with you."

Perfect Advertising?

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then said in surprise, "The Perfect Advertising?"

If he remembered correctly, Perfect Advertising was currently the largest advertising company in the country, and even a dozen years later, its reputation in the domestic advertising circle would still be thunderous.

Now, they had their eyes on him?

For a moment, Zhao Fusheng suddenly felt a sense of pride.