Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 262, Section 260: The Canary and the Dome
Jiangcheng has three towns.

Wuchang is an important administrative and educational center, Hanyang is relatively remote and is the cradle of industry, while Hankou has advantages in commerce and finance and is the most prosperous area.

The night was exceptionally beautiful, turning Hankou into a dazzling, detached land of gold leaf.

A white Panamera drove across the Yangtze River Bridge, cutting into the dazzling torrent of lights.

Inside the car, there was an almost absolute stillness.

Zhou Mingyuan gripped the steering wheel, with the most sought-after top dancer on Douyu sitting beside him.

He was only wearing a turtleneck sweater, with the sleeves casually rolled up to his forearms, revealing his wrists with smooth lines and a powerful presence.

There was no music, no idle chatter, only the deep, resonant sound of the air conditioner blowing hot air.

And the safety charm on the rearview mirror swayed back and forth in the air.

"."

Du Jianuo lowered her head and looked repeatedly at the small mirror in her palm, feeling as if she were inside a precision instrument, and even her breathing became tense involuntarily.

She spent several hours just thinking about what to wear today.

A tailor-made, jet-black knee-length dress perfectly accentuated her curvaceous figure, paired with a sharply tailored short jacket. Following the "short + tall" styling formula, she exuded both charm and chic.

It was both appropriate for the occasion and carried the unique charm of her age.

The bridge was very congested, and Zhou Mingyuan's gaze would occasionally sweep over there.

His right hand was not resting on the center armrest as usual, but instead placed on the middle of his thigh at the slit of the passenger side skirt.

In the past, such teasing touches would have made her flustered and confused.

But today, my senior couldn't get into the zone for a long time.

"The navigation will take you there soon."

She seemed unable to withstand some kind of pressure, and spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

"So what if we get there?"

Zhou Mingyuan appeared completely nonchalant.

"No, I'm a little nervous."

"Feeling stage fright?"

Before Du Jianuo could finish speaking, Zhou Mingyuan said with a smile.

"It's just having a meal with President Chen, isn't it?"

Tonight's banquet is actually of different significance to Zhou Mingyuan than usual.

It seemed like a simple business dinner, but the other party was someone special.

When dining with brand representatives like Dai Ying, Du Jianuo is able to easily crack jokes and crack banter.

But this time, it was a dinner party organized by Douyu's boss, Mr. Chen.

It's no wonder Du Jianuo was nervous.

This was also Zhou Mingyuan's first direct contact with key figures from both the platform and the investors.

If the previous dinners arranged for brands as the host had a bit of a social obligation feel to them, then today's meeting with Mr. Chen from Douyu and well-known investors was undoubtedly a genuine business dialogue.

Data, and more data.

The influence of a million-dollar GMV extends far beyond just one MALA ACTIVE Taobao store.

Upon learning of this news, Douyu immediately extended an invitation to Mr. Chen to a dinner party.

After a brief consideration, Zhou Mingyuan decided to attend with Du Jianuo.

In business, it's important to make friends all over the world.

Even the pursuit of immortality in cultivation requires "wealth, companions, methods, and location," and similarly, commercial success today cannot be separated from these four aspects.

Track, resources, connections, and execution.

Choosing the right track is a prerequisite, the ability to integrate resources determines speed, a network of contacts paves the way, and ultimately, execution is the key to overcoming all obstacles.

There's also a saying: If you blossom, flowers will come.

Once you achieve considerable success, connections will naturally come your way.

Therefore, when this opportunity was presented through official channels, Zhou Mingyuan did not hesitate at all.

Earning money is only the first step in socialization.

Corresponding resource connections and integration into relevant circles also need to be followed up in a timely manner.

Of course I have to come for this meal.

"That's President Chen! And it seems there are also investors from Douyu. They're all big shots!"

Du Jianuo blinked, looking somewhat unsure.

"Big shot, what a load of crap."

Zhou Mingyuan chuckled and lazily glanced at the river flowing past the window.

"Don't think of others as incredibly capable, and thus underestimate yourself."

"His initiative to invite us is to build a reputation for Douyu's commercialization capabilities and prove that his fertile ground can grow golden wheat."

"Don't get too caught up in the drama and think you can't function without his stage. Our value doesn't need any platform to define it."

"."

Du Jianuo bit her lip, lost in thought.

A dozen minutes later, the car slid onto a quiet path shaded by trees and stopped in front of an inconspicuous black iron gate.

There are no signs or plaques, only a minimalist metal cutout number above the lintel.

"It seems like this is it."

Zhou Mingyuan turned off the engine, removed the key, and got out of the car with Du Jianuo.

The door opened silently inward.

The scene that comes into view is not particularly magnificent, but rather a courtyard that perfectly blends minimalism with Eastern Zen aesthetics.

Dry landscape garden, green bamboo, linear light strips, geometric space.

"This way, you two, please."

A waiter dressed in a long gown appeared silently like a shadow, bowed slightly, and led the way quietly.

The private room is called "Guanlan".

A young man was standing at the door. The moment he heard footsteps, his face switched to a warm smile.

"Hey! Mingyuan, Nuonuo, we've been waiting for you!"

The young man is none other than Mr. Chen, the founder of Douyu Live.

Mr. Chen is exactly thirty years old this year. He wears black-rimmed glasses and has a scholarly air about him, but his sharp words and actions cannot be hidden.

He strode forward quickly, his goal clear, and extended his hand to Zhou Mingyuan first, his smile radiant.

"Mingyuan, you're so young!"

The two looked at each other, sizing each other up.

"you are welcome."

Zhou Mingyuan smiled and touched hands with President Chen briefly before parting ways.

"You know what, I watch Nono's videos all the time, but I didn't expect her to be even prettier in person than in the live stream! Nono's been really popular lately, her private messages for advertising must be overflowing!"

As if he had just noticed Du Jianuo, President Chen's eyes lit up and he blurted out his praise.

"Let alone the brands, even our Douyu backend data is dazzling. 6610 has almost become a frequently used word in the board report! It has really made our platform look good."

Du Jianuo also stepped forward, responding with a beaming smile.

"Mr. Chen, you really know how to talk. I'm just taking advantage of the platform's success!"

After exchanging pleasantries, the door to the private room was pushed open again.

"Damn, the traffic is terrible today!"

"Ah Jie, aren't you going to introduce him to me?"

The newcomer was visibly taken aback when he saw the other two faces in the private room.

"Who are these two?"

President Chen stood up, first welcoming the visitors to the main seat, and then introducing Zhou Mingyuan and Du Jianuo.

"This is Mr. Shen, Shen Beipeng, from Sequoia Capital." As an investor, Shen Beipeng clearly had a very close relationship with Chen Shaojie.

"Xiao Zhou, right? It's a pleasure to meet you."

Shen Beipeng turned his gaze to Zhou Mingyuan.

Their hands clasped together in mid-air.

"Mr. Shen, I've long admired your name."

Zhou Mingyuan remained unfazed, his eyes showing not a trace of the awe or enthusiasm one would expect when facing a financial giant.

Everyone took their seats.

In business dinners like this, as the host, Mr. Chen naturally took on the responsibility of leading the conversation.

This platform executive is indeed well-versed in business networking, speaking eloquently and maintaining the pace of the conversation from industry development trends to content ecosystem building, from traffic operation to user growth.

"I've been observing Jieyou Media for quite some time now; they're very professional."

Mr. Chen raised his glass and gave Zhou Mingyuan a thumbs up: "Very professional."

"Young people are quick-witted, have many ideas, and are unconventional; they just look different."

"Ah Jie, you're only thirty years old yourself!"

Shen Beipeng couldn't help but interrupt.

"It's different. Mr. Shen, you deal with too many industries, but young people in the Internet industry are really different."

As the conversation deepened, Mr. Chen couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

This young CEO Zhou across from me is really good at marketing!

This was Mr. Chen's first impression of him.

At the dinner table, Zhou Mingyuan displayed a maturity beyond his years in every gesture.

He could handle any topic with ease, and his occasional insightful remarks drew nods of approval from everyone present.

He possesses both a keen business sense and the innovative thinking of a young person.

"Mr. Zhou's understanding of the industry is indeed far beyond that of his peers."

After a few words, the way Mingyuan addressed him changed from "little brother" to "President Zhou."

Mr. Chen, who became obsessed with games in the fifth grade of elementary school, often spent all night playing games in internet cafes during his college years.

He was not optimistic about his major and chose to drop out of school. He founded a game platform called "Zhangmenren" and sold it to Shanda at the end of 2009 after acquiring more than 450 million users, earning his first pot of gold.

During this process, Mr. Chen learned a valuable lesson.

An excellent platform manager must first be an outstanding ecosystem builder.

Over the years, he has witnessed many entrepreneurs, but he has never seen a young person with such an outstanding understanding of the content ecosystem.

Zhou Mingyuan not only has a thorough understanding of the business model of the content industry, but also has insightful knowledge in professional fields such as platform operation, traffic distribution, and user growth.

On the contrary, it was the young people who were talking animatedly at the table.

From UGC ecosystem to PGC upgrade, from advertising monetization to membership system, from community operation to cross-border cooperation, he can speak to the heart of the matter.

After a few drinks, to keep the conversation flowing, the topic naturally turned to the only woman present.

President Chen said to Shen Beipeng with a smile.

"Mr. Shen, you may not know this, but Nuonuo's successful transformation this time has given our platform a strong boost in exploring e-commerce models!"

"This fully demonstrates that the spending potential and loyalty of fans accumulated through live-streaming entertainment far exceed those in the gaming section!"

"is it?"

Shen Beipeng put down his small wine glass, glanced at Du Jianuo, and stared directly at Zhou Mingyuan, his gaze fixed on the mastermind behind it all.

This is not a question, but a conclusion, awaiting the other party's explanation and supplement.

"Algorithms are static, rules are set by people. It's simply about seeing through the most basic aspects of human nature: the yearning for ultimate beauty and the reliance on trustworthy people."

"Dance satisfies the former, and the product relies on the latter. What we are doing is simply making Nono a super symbol that can perfectly carry both of these emotions at the same time."

Zhou Mingyuan spoke casually, simplifying a complex set of operational logic to an extreme degree.

Du Jianuo listened attentively and subconsciously looked at Shen Beipeng.

Shen Beipeng's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly, clearly not expecting Zhou Mingyuan to react this way. Instead of being humble, Zhou Mingyuan looked down on him with an air of knowing full well what was going on.

"The super symbol?"

He leaned back slightly, his interest clearly piqued.

Does this symbol actually have any ability to withstand risks?

Can the emotional connection of dance fans truly and effectively translate into purchasing power in a sustained manner?

"There is still a ceiling for live streamers. Can your MCN company produce one like her and achieve a systemic breakthrough?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingyuan chuckled softly, as if he had heard a question that was both expected and somewhat naive.

He finally raised his eyes, his gaze sharp and intense, and stared directly at Shen Beipeng.

"copy?"

"Mr. Shen, Sequoia Capital invests all over the world, are they looking for nothing more than identical copies?"

“The work we MCNs do is never to copy another Du Jianuo.”

"Instead, we will build the same underlying logic and operating system."

"The next success story may be in the gaming industry, or it may be in relationship experts."

"But the core remains the same: building trust through in-depth content and achieving precise commercial monetization in vertical fields."

"As for the risks..."

He paused briefly, then spread his hands out.

"Placing all your hopes on celebrity anchors is risky."

"I don't think there's any need to discuss the ceiling of live-streaming e-commerce at all."

Zhou Mingyuan leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, creating a very imposing posture. His gaze swept over Shen Beipeng and President Chen, and his tone was resolute.

"The so-called ceiling at this stage is nothing more than a nautical chart of the old world, unable to depict the outline of the new continent."

"Personally, I believe that the ultimate goal of live-streaming e-commerce is not simply for anchors to help sell goods."

"It is about building a new type of consumer community based on trust and shared interests, and it is about completely reshaping the relationship between brands and users."

"This is it."

The man tapped his temple with his fingertip.

"The cognitive dimension is the only true boundary."

"Unfortunately, within my cognitive framework, there is no ceiling."

He's so arrogant!
Du Jianuo's eyes widened, she almost held her breath, her palms instantly became sweaty, and her heart pounded.

She had never seen this side of Zhou Mingyuan before—so sharp, so domineering, and so captivating.

Mr. Chen fell into thought, his chopsticks stuck to his hand for a long time, unable to think of anything to say.

As they talked, he discovered that Zhou Mingyuan was far from what he had expected.

This young man hardly seems like a fearless, entrepreneurial youth.
Zhou Mingyuan's knowledge, eloquence, and the arrogance and confidence that emanated from his words and actions were exactly like those of a powerful figure he had met.

They may not show off in ordinary times, but when they talk about their area of ​​expertise, they will definitely have some profound insights.

No wonder.

No wonder they were able to turn an ordinary streamer from YY into a mainstay of Douyu's evening programming in just a few months.

This is unusual.

Shen Beipeng remained silent for a full five seconds, his eyes behind his glasses narrowing slightly as he carefully examined Zhou Mingyuan, as if he were truly getting to know this young man for the first time.

He didn't seem unhappy at all.

Instead, it revealed a hint of inquiry.

"This is the first time I've heard this viewpoint."

The investor finally spoke up: "That's interesting."

"Breaking through the boundaries of cognition is indeed the starting point for all great innovations."

(End of this chapter)