Seeing Lisa's slightly furrowed brow, Cheng Daqi had a good idea of what she was worried about.
As he was thinking about how to cement the initial impact of his scare tactic,
two volunteer girls came over with faces full of curiosity.
"Lisa, what happened?"
Cheng Daqi smiled and nodded at them, making a greeting.
"Nothing's wrong. Do you ladies need a temporary security guard?"
The questions from these two girls gave Cheng Daqi an assist.
Before Lisa could clear her thoughts on whether to leave or not, Cheng Daqi had already steered her options onto the track he desired through her colleagues.
He couldn't give Lisa too much time to think, after all the 'shock' was just a tactic.
It's not some seductive spell that could control a person's mind.
If Lisa hesitated for even a moment, she might realize that Cheng Daqi was actually exaggerating the danger.
Vagrants are certainly a risky group, but few would attack those distributing aid.
Who would bite the hand that feeds them?
He was sure that Lisa and her group of girls would not understand the ecological logic of Red Street.
This move seemed like a bluff from the streets, but it was actually an overwhelming dominance in perception.
First, by using threatening language to magnify the danger, then offering them a plan to cope with possible threats,
and guiding them with that leverage, leading them to make a decision that could be beneficial to himself.
"Chan, your idea is good. You can call me Lisa; I hope we can get along well."
Lisa's smile was very stiff.
From the start of this conversation until now, she had been led by the nose by this black-haired, black-eyed Asian man.
She came here to give out aid, and now she was hiring someone 'with a lot of clout in this neighborhood' as security.
What was this? Protection money?
Lisa felt terrible.
"You can call me Lisa, Lisa Qiong, brand manager for OC Perfume in the Saint Rodu area."
"It's just that I don't know how much US dollars it would cost to employ someone like you, someone who is well, a person of influence."
This poor manager didn't know that the 'neighborhood influencer' she was hiring had been in America for less than a month.
Influence?
If eating two meals a day of American relief food could bankrupt America, then Cheng Daqi's influence really should not be underestimated.
But Cheng Daqi didn't really need to have any influence.
It was still the same logic—vagrants would not smash their own rice bowls.
The vagrants of Red Street would not harm these aid distributors, even if they were insane.
Even if one or two were lustful and took an interest in these girls, they wouldn't dare act in broad daylight.
In other words, the chip that Cheng Daqi was using for the trade didn't exist.
It was a bit like the Secret Keeper from Lord of Mysteries.
He used nonexistent chips to obtain and participate in the transaction.
By constructing scenarios with possibilities for Lisa, planting a potential demand, and then using his own 'value' to complete the cooperation.
The value Cheng Daqi provided was making the lady feel safe!
That was enough.
After all, Abe, as a Prime Minister, received this kind of service.
Lisa, a mere manager, was now enjoying head of state-level treatment!
Lucky her.
"One thousand dollars, as long as you are on Red Street and don't cause trouble, I can guarantee your safety."
Cheng Daqi's face did not appear too eager; he didn't even show much emotion.
One thousand dollars?
Was this a robbery?
Lisa was about to speak when Cheng Daqi, unhurried and assertively firm, continued.
"After all, there are far too many vagrants here. You need to follow my arrangements, be cautious with your words and deeds. Understand?"
What did he mean?
Lisa's fingers pressed tightly into her palm. She wasn't sure what the Asian man before her meant.
Or rather, following Cheng Daqi's previous guiding prelude, she now heard a threat in his words.
Poor thing, seen by heaven.
Cheng Daqi just wanted to start with a high price and bargain down.
His mental expectation was two hundred, just two hundred.
Asking for such a high amount was to prompt Lisa to initiate the negotiation, and then willingly hand over two hundred to him.
As Lisa hesitated whether to speak up and ask Cheng Daqi to clarify,
A voice spoke up—one of the two female volunteers who had followed along.
"A thousand dollars! The BOSS only approved a budget of ten thousand for the entire promotional event, Lisa, he's asking for too much!"
Look at that, such a naive little dummy.
Cheng Daqi knew he had it in the bag.
Now, Lisa was caught in a negotiation dilemma.
And it was her own people who had pushed her into it.
Those who knew, knew.
Lisa sighed, glanced at her teammate who was as helpful as a pig, and reached up to adjust the stray hairs in front of her forehead.
The brand manager of OC Perfume in the Saint Rodu area spoke with resignation.
"All right, a thousand dollars, Chan, but you must ensure our safety," she said.
She extended her hand.
Cheng Daqi reached out his right hand and shook Lisa's, then smiled at the female volunteer who had questioned him.
Thank you, because of you, the seasons are warmed.
The skeptical female volunteer didn't understand what was happening, but Lisa had already left to find their photographer for the promotional jackets.
There was no need to clarify her noble act to the little dummy, Cheng Daqi moved straight into work mode.
The client was being so generous, he was not just going to go through the motions.
As a service provider, he had to ensure the client's experience was off the charts.
"Okay, now listen up, lovely ladies. Let me introduce myself first. You can call me Chan, like Jackie Chan's Chan. I've been around Red Street for a while. Miss Lisa greatly appreciates my abilities and has invited me to help our team ensure everyone's safety here."
In the befuddled gaze of the photographer, Cheng Daqi swiftly donned the jacket emblazoned with the slogan 'Perfume Equality' and easily blended in with the team.
"Based on my experience, the first rule for safety on Red Street is address," Cheng Daqi said, raising one finger while extending his hand, seriously educating these streetwise greenhorns on his summarized American survival rules.
"Remember, don't call anyone 'sir' or 'madam,' don't include gender!"
His gaze sternly swept over each volunteer, including Lisa, speaking slowly and forcefully to make sure everyone heard him clearly.
"If you need to interact with the homeless, start with 'hello.'
For example: Hello, would you like some of our perfume?
You can't define other people's gender, that's the most important thing! Got it?"
Hearing Cheng Daqi speak sensibly and offer solutions, Lisa nodded in agreement.
What Chan said could totally be incorporated into OC Perfume's daily sales training!
Look at that professional competence, that valuable advice—for a mere thousand dollars, it was a bargain.
Having said the first rule, Cheng Daqi confirmed another issue with Lisa, the brand manager.
"Secondly, I need to ask, Lisa, the main purpose of our distribution event is to promote the brand through the charitable act of giving out perfumes to the homeless, right?" he asked.
Lisa responded, puzzled.
"Yes, it might even get some coverage on the local channel in Saint Rodu. We'll send the photos to the TV station," she said.
She didn't see how this question related to their safety.
After listening to her response, Cheng Daqi nodded thoughtfully.
"For the promotional effect and for everyone's safety, I suggest we set up three distribution points.
This way it appears that more people are receiving perfume on camera, enhancing the charitable promotion effect and allowing the perfume to be distributed faster.
The sooner it's done, the sooner it's over, reducing the time we spend in potentially threatening environments and immensely lowering the risk of personal safety issues," he explained.
He pointed at the homeless on the street and elaborated on his plan to Lisa and the female volunteers.
"It's still morning now; the homeless have just woken up and haven't eaten yet. In the afternoon, once they've had food, their threat level will significantly increase."
Now, Lisa truly felt that a thousand dollars was not too much to ask.
So professional!
Incredibly professional!
Cheng Daqi's two suggestions were so professional that she began to doubt his identity.
Could this man be the legendary spy from North Korea?
Or a spy from Hua Country?
"Lisa? Okay then, does anyone else have any questions? If not, let's get moving, GO!"
"You guys, split the materials into three parts, and photographer, come over here to confirm the camera angles with me later."
While Lisa was still doubting Cheng Daqi's identity, he was already busy arranging the work.
The client is generous, so the contractor nurses it.
With all the vigor of a nursing child.
Just watch, I'll sort it out for you neat and clear!
A thousand US dollars well spent, this job must be done beautifully for you!
So thought Cheng Daqi.