Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 386 A New Script for Minority Shareholders (8.3k)
……

……

"Boss, it seems to be called Douyin... Douyin plans to officially launch its own app this year, focusing on the short video market."

Judging from the initial plans, the content format is somewhat similar to the current Kuaishou (筷手) project, but it seems to place more emphasis on music and a younger demographic.

Zhao Ya took out a beautifully bound document from her briefcase and handed it to Gu Qing, explaining, "This is their app's preliminary proposal and a draft of a cooperation agreement."

Their business team leader is currently in the capital and has expressed a very strong desire to discuss specific cooperation projects with you in person.

She paused slightly, observed Gu Qing's expression, and then cautiously added, "Boss, I think... perhaps we could find some time to meet with them."

"Ok?"

Gu Qing took the document and was about to open it when she heard this and looked at Zhao Ya with some surprise, "Why do you say that?"

In his memory, his daughter Xiaoya was quite dull, except for being well-versed in fan culture and palace intrigue literature.

"I've looked into it carefully,"

Zhao Ya lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of excitement from her research, "The parent company of this app is 'ByteDance,' and their core product, 'Toutiao,' was incredibly popular yesterday."

With an astonishing number of daily active users, it is a technology-driven and very powerful emerging internet giant.

In 13 alone, it completed tens of millions of US dollars in financing, and possesses a huge user base and strong channel promotion capabilities in China.

She analyzed clearly: "They are now ambitiously entering the short video field, clearly aiming to challenge the current industry leader, Kuaishou."

Competition at this level is often driven by market forces, and may even involve unseen factors such as support or preferential treatment to prevent a single company from dominating the market.

This is a huge advantage for a new platform.

"Furthermore, boss."

Zhao Ya said with a hint of relief, "Now that Kuaishou has such a bad relationship with us, they've been taking advantage of your traffic and popularity for free. After we sent them a lawyer's letter, the relationship has dropped to a freezing point, and there's basically no possibility of reconciliation."

If we can become the spokesperson for Douyin, or even the exclusive spokesperson, it would be equivalent to directly standing on the opposite side of Kuaishou.

In this way, Kuaishou's focus and development efforts will inevitably shift more towards competing with Douyin on the platform, rather than continuing to concentrate resources on targeting you personally, Boss.

Her eyes gleamed: "Let these two big companies fight each other, while we sit back and relax, not only can we get hefty endorsement fees, but we can also..."
They can also ride this wave to gain massive traffic and attention for free—a win-win situation where when two rivals fight, a third party reaps the benefits!

After listening to this long, logically sound, and insightful analysis, Gu Qing couldn't help but look up and re-examine Zhao Ya, her eyes revealing genuine surprise: "Sister Xiao Ya, you're amazing! Did you come up with this whole set of analytical techniques all by yourself?"

"Uh...this..."

Zhao Ya's straight back instantly went limp. Her face flushed, and she lowered her head somewhat guiltily, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers. She whispered, "Actually... it was Brother Xu Wei who taught me to say that."

He had carefully studied the situation and felt that this was the best way to break the deadlock.

He was worried that you, the boss, would be dissatisfied and insist on going head-to-head with Chopsticks.

Although our family is large and powerful, and we are indeed no less influential than them, Xu Wei said that in the business world, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

If the fight really escalates to mutual destruction, the only ones who will benefit are the other spectators, which would be a huge loss.

"Brother Xu has considered everything very thoroughly."

Gu Qing nodded, closed the proposal in his hand, glanced at his watch, and said, "That makes sense."

It's still early. Why don't you book a quiet afternoon tea restaurant and arrange to meet with their manager?

"Okay, boss! I'll arrange it right away!"

Seeing that Gu Qing had adopted the suggestion, Zhao Ya immediately picked up her phone with great enthusiasm and began making contacts.

……

the other side,
The Douyin business team, which was staying at a star-rated hotel in the capital, was also excitedly busy after receiving news that Gu Qing had agreed to meet.

If they were only meeting with ordinary second- or third-tier celebrities, they might not be so excited.

But the other party is Gu Qing—the top influencer in the entertainment industry today, with the most popularity, the most buzz, and the greatest commercial value, which makes all the difference.

His image, reputation, and immense appeal among young people make him an ideal partner for a new product that is positioned as young and fashionable and urgently needs to increase market awareness.

Don't say anything else,

With just Gu Qing's face, who wouldn't be confused? She would be popular in any situation.

The team leader even felt that if they could sign Gu Qing, with this performance record, they could do whatever they wanted within the company.

"Everyone, pay attention! This meeting is crucial; it determines whether our app's launch will be a resounding success!"

The person in charge was a middle-aged man named Liu An, who was of respectable appearance and had a calm and capable demeanor.

He repeatedly reminded his two young subordinates, a man and a woman, who were with him, "Negotiating contracts is a serious business matter. Be professional when you're there."
Don't act like a fangirl, immediately asking for autographs or photos. That seems very unprofessional and disrespectful, understand?

"Understood, Mr. Liu!"

The two young employees quickly made assurances, but the excitement and curiosity in their eyes about meeting the big star was hard to completely hide.

After repeatedly confirming the details, Liu An and his team, filled with trepidation and anticipation, set off for the agreed-upon restaurant.

……

This afternoon tea restaurant, located in a bustling commercial district yet secluded and tranquil, boasts an elegant and refined ambiance. Upon entering, one is greeted by the gentle flow of water and the verdant bamboo groves, while the air is filled with the delicate fragrance of flowers and tea, creating a serene and sophisticated atmosphere.

However, the atmosphere in the restaurant today was subtly different from usual.

Those well-trained, conscientious waiters who always greet customers with a standard smile...
Their gazes, however, kept drifting involuntarily to a corner inside the restaurant, exchanging excited glances.

Inside the restaurant, in a private booth near the floor-to-ceiling windows, a figure seemed to have a spotlight effect, attracting all eyes.

At this moment, Gu Qing simply sat there quietly, the warm afternoon sunlight streaming through the glass window, casting a soft halo around him.

He wore a soft, light gray cashmere sweater that made his skin appear even whiter, paired with simple dark casual pants, making him look fresh and comfortable.

He lowered his head slightly, his slender fingers flipping through the decorative books placed to the side of the restaurant for guests to read. His profile was smooth and beautiful, and his long eyelashes cast a faint shadow under his eyes.

The way he sat there quietly didn't look like he was waiting for a business negotiation; it was more like a carefully composed portrait painting of light and shadow, or a close-up shot frozen in an art film.

A calm and focused atmosphere naturally emanates from him, transcending mere physical handsomeness and adding a touch of intellect and ineffable charm.

No wonder even the waiters, who were used to seeing all sorts of elites and celebrities, showed a rare moment of unease.

Liu An's team gave the reserved location and followed the waiter to that corner.

Even though they were still some distance away, the three of them slowed down their pace, their eyes fixed on the figure.

The young male employee behind them stared in disbelief, while the female employee instinctively covered her mouth to prevent herself from gasping out in amazement.

How can the difference between people be greater than that between dogs?

"Teacher Gu! Teacher Gu, hello! I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Liu An was the first to come to his senses, quickened his pace and stepped forward, a warm but measured smile on his face, and extended his hands, "My surname is Liu, and my given name is An, meaning peace. Liu An is the person in charge of this project."

"Hello, Mr. Liu."

Gu Qing looked up at the sound, closed the book, gently placed it back on the bamboo bookshelf next to her, then stood up and politely shook hands with Liu An's outstretched hand.

After taking a seat,
His gaze swept gently over the three people Liu An had brought, then turned to the waitress beside him, whose face was flushed from the close contact and who was so excited that she didn't know where to put her hands and feet.

Gu Qing smiled slightly, revealing a gentle smile that was as warm as a spring breeze, and nodded in acknowledgment, "Everyone is here, would you like something to drink? Don't be shy, it's on me."

"Teacher Gu, you're too kind! We shouldn't let you spend the money; it should be our treat."

Liu An quickly waved his hand and then said to the waiter, "Just bring us three mochas. Thank you."

He then turned to his two assistants and said, "Xiao Jun, Xiao Qian, you two go and rest at the next table. Teacher Gu and I will have a chat first."

"Sister Xiaoya, could you go and keep Mr. Liu's two colleagues company and take care of them?"

Gu Qing also gave Zhao Ya instructions at the opportune moment.

"Okay, boss."

Zhao Ya understood, stood up and smiled as she led the two young assistants to sit down a little further away, where they chatted and eased their tension.

"Mr. Gu, this is a more detailed proposal for our app, as well as the preliminary details of our endorsement cooperation agreement. Please take a look."

Liu An took out a thick stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them to Gu Qing with both hands, his attitude respectful.

Although she had already read the abridged version, Gu Qing still took it and carefully opened it.

His gaze fell on the simple yet dynamic musical note-shaped app icon on the first page, and he nodded, his tone tinged with appreciation:

"The icon design is quite nice, simple and vibrant. Compared with some of its competitors on the market, it looks much more sophisticated and doesn't appear... well, tacky at all."

"Haha, Teacher Gu, what you said really hit the nail on the head!"

Liu An couldn't help but laugh, with a hint of pride in his voice. "To be honest, our internal team also feels that the icon design concepts of some competitors are indeed... ugly and do not conform to the aesthetics of our target users."

The meaning of "other families" that Gu Qing mentioned was understood by both sides without being spoken of.

There are two reasons why their company values ​​Gu Qing so much.

Firstly, Gu Qing's top-tier popularity and high profile are undeniable. His previous success in popularizing an unknown ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) platform is sufficient proof of his formidable appeal and ability to "turn lead into gold" among young people.

Secondly, and most importantly right now, Gu Qingzheng's relationship with the Kuaishou platform is strained, to the point that he has even issued a lawyer's letter. For someone of his top-tier status to suffer such "injustice" is...
Its huge fan base, the "Gu family," was already indignant, and even launched an online campaign to "uninstall Kuaishou and support Gu Qing," which caused Kuaishou to lose a number of active users in a short period of time.

This is a golden opportunity for them!

It was as if someone had just brought water to my lips when I felt thirsty. If we could sign Gu Qing as the platform's spokesperson at this moment...
Not only can it leverage its influence to instantly boost Douyin's popularity and gain a positive reputation for "discerning talent" and "respecting artists," but it can also directly slap Kuaishou in the face and attract Kuaishou users who left due to dissatisfaction to its own platform.

It can be described as killing three birds with one stone, taking full advantage of the opportune time and place.

"Mr. Liu, there's something I'm curious about,"

Gu Qing closed the file, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Liu An. "The short video market currently appears to be dominated by a single player."

As a latecomer, what core advantages and confidence does your company possess that enable you to break through in this red ocean market, and even surpass others?

Although he had already decided to seize this opportunity, he still needed to maintain the proper business negotiation skills and protect his own commercial value.

He knew very well that at this point in time, even within ByteDance, facing the rising star Kuaishou, they probably didn't have a definite chance of victory.

therefore,

The sheer volume of traffic and popularity he represents is his biggest bargaining chip, giving him the upper hand in this negotiation.

"Professor Gu, you've hit the nail on the head."

Liu An was clearly prepared; upon hearing this, he immediately straightened his back, spoke confidently and eloquently, "We and that... well, that platform with a more 'down-to-earth' style..."

Although both are in the short video market, their product positioning and core user groups are fundamentally different.

"Their strategy is to pursue coverage of all age groups, emphasize universality and life records, and include a wide range of content."

However, this has led to a polarized user base – either too young or too middle-aged and elderly.

In reality, many young users who pursue trends and have good aesthetic sense are somewhat repulsed by the platform's noisy and somewhat primitive content ecosystem.

"Our app has a very clear and focused goal—to only make things that young people like!"

Liu An emphasized, "We are not simply creating a recording tool, but rather building a youthful, fashionable, and creative short music video community."

Music will be our core driving force, allowing users to create, express themselves, and connect with each other through music.

"Our eagerness to collaborate with you, Professor Gu, is based on this very positioning."

Your musical works, especially those in the traditional Chinese style, enjoy high popularity and positive reviews among young audiences.

Your music and personal image perfectly align with the tone our platform aims to create.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Liu An proposed a deeper level of cooperation: "If possible, we would like to invite you not only to be our spokesperson, but also..."
We would also like to obtain copyright licenses for all of your musical works so that our platform's users can use them for video editing and creation.

Gu Qing nodded thoughtfully, but did not respond immediately. Instead, she opened the contract details regarding the endorsement fee.

"Thirty million, annually. Three-year contract."

Liu An announced the figures with a solemn tone, "Teacher Gu, I can say with certainty that this endorsement offer is the highest level among all similar platforms, fully demonstrating our sincerity."

ByteDance has always been known for its long-term vision and willingness to invest.

They clearly see that the short video sector will inevitably become one of the mainstream entry points to the internet in the future.

Entering the market now isn't too late, but it's not too early either.

To achieve a breakthrough, real money must be invested in the most crucial aspect—and Gu Qing is, at present, the most perfect "trigger point."

"Furthermore, we will give you the utmost respect and freedom in terms of the content of our cooperation."

Liu An added, not forgetting to subtly criticize competitors, "The contract will not include any mandatory or unreasonable clauses."

Simply share snippets of your life or behind-the-scenes moments whenever it's convenient, just like you do on Bilibili. We believe in your creativity and influence.

I've heard that some platforms ridiculously require you to post a fixed number of videos every week, and they only pay you if the data meets certain standards.
This is an absolute insult to your business value and influence!

"Mr. Liu, you flatter me. I am not worthy of the title of 'most popular' in the entertainment industry."

Gu Qing said modestly, but in his heart he was already inclined to accept the generous terms.

Just as he was about to agree, his fingertips touched the contract he had picked up, under which was a noticeably thinner document.

"This is……?"

Gu Qing picked up the contract, which consisted of only a few pages, with a hint of doubt, and looked at Liu An.

A fleeting hint of embarrassment crossed Liu An's face. He coughed lightly and explained, "Professor Gu, this is a draft of a cooperation agreement regarding equity incentives. You... you don't need to worry about it too much."

He hesitated for a moment, but decided to be honest: "Actually, before coming here, the company had prepared two plans for cooperating with you."

"One package, which is the three-year, 90 million yuan endorsement plan that I just explained to you in detail."

"Another set..."

Liu paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "They are some of the company's shareholders. They... well, they admire you very much, you could say they are your loyal fans."

Therefore, they proposed a more... long-term partnership idea, hoping to invite you to become one of our true 'own people'.

The words were beautifully spoken, but the underlying meaning was clear to everyone present.

Zhao Ya, who had been chatting happily with Liu An's assistant, immediately stopped talking, frowned, and looked over with a hint of reminder and worry in her eyes, hesitating to speak.

Her heart pounded: What a joke!
Isn't this just a way to use some vague, uncertain startup equity to get something for nothing and bind the boss to top-tier traffic?

Once they become "one of us," wouldn't a lot of promotion and publicity become "our job," and wouldn't the endorsement fee be greatly reduced?

"Using three years' worth of endorsement fees... in exchange for '1%' equity in your company's platform?"

Gu Qing quickly skimmed through the core clauses of the contract, looked up at Liu An, and repeated the condition.

A bead of sweat appeared on Liu An's forehead, and he quickly explained, "Teacher Gu, please don't misunderstand! This is absolutely not because the company underestimates your value!"
On the contrary, it is precisely because of the extreme importance placed on the long-term strategic value you may bring that shareholders proposed this plan.

He further explained, "Our app uses an AB share structure, where each B share has 10 votes. The company's shareholding structure has undergone several rounds of financing and has become quite complex."

Apart from the chairman personally holding a significant proportion of Class B shares to ensure control, the remaining 80% or more of the equity has already been divided up by nine well-known domestic and international venture capital funds and strategic investment institutions.

"This 1% equity stake was squeezed out from between the fingers of various shareholders through our efforts. Although the share may not seem like much, the difficulty in acquiring it was really great."

Liu An's voice became less and less confident and loud as he spoke.

Despite the company's confidence in the app's future, outsiders might wonder how an app that hasn't even officially launched yet and has zero users could possibly offer just 1% of its equity in exchange for a substantial 90 million yuan in cash value from top-tier traffic and a permanent endorsement deal with a future top influencer.
This certainly sounds like a fantasy.

Any artist and their team in the entertainment industry would probably choose the huge sum of cash that they could see and touch without hesitation.

For this reason, in his initial negotiation strategy, Liu An never intended to bring up this equity proposal, so as not to humiliate himself.

"Mr. Liu, please don't be nervous."

Gu Qing suddenly smiled, but the smile wasn't sarcastic; instead, it carried a surprising and intriguing quality that surprised Liu An.

"I'm not angry, just... a little surprised by the boldness your company has shown."

"what?"

Liu An was momentarily stunned, then carefully confirmed that Gu Qing's expression was genuine.

With an incredulous tone, she hesitantly asked, "Professor Gu...you mean...you...you're interested in this equity proposal?"

"Ah."

Gu Qing nodded affirmatively, and even made a suggestion that shocked Liu An even more: "I am not only interested, but I would also like to add some more to this."

Personally, I am quite optimistic about your company's concept of a 'short music video community' and its future development potential. I also need a platform to help promote it.

He pointed to the music copyright cooperation that Liu An had just mentioned:

"Didn't Mr. Liu just mention that he hopes to obtain the copyright authorization for all my music for use by platform users?"
We can also discuss the licensing fees for this part.

Whether it's existing songs or all the new songs I create in the future, I can authorize the platform to use them.

My condition is that I don't want this licensing fee in cash; I hope it can be converted into equity in the platform.

Gu Qing's tone remained calm: "As long as I hold shares in your company and do not sell them, this app has the right to use all of my music copyrights free of charge."

He subtly revealed a youthful spirit befitting his age:
"I'm sure Mr. Liu knows that I've had a bad falling out with a certain platform recently and suffered a loss in silence."

Deep down, I was still a little resentful.

If I could use your company's platform to personally witness them suffer some hardships in the future, I think I would be very happy to do so.

These words contained a wealth of information, and the change in attitude was quite astonishing.

Liu An was a little stunned. He needed time to process what he heard, and he needed to ask his superiors for instructions immediately.

He quickly stood up and said apologetically to Gu Qing, "Teacher Gu, your suggestion... exceeds the scope of my current authorization."

Please have a moment. I must immediately report your requests and intentions to our chairman by phone!

"Please."

Gu Qing gestured for him to enter, then gracefully picked up a small silver spoon and gently stirred the slightly cooled coffee in front of her.

His face remained calm.

However, his long, slender fingers, with distinct knuckles, were trembling slightly, almost imperceptibly, as he gripped the spoon handle.

1% equity stake in Douyin?
Fragments of blurry memories from her past life flashed rapidly through Gu Qing's mind.

He remembered that it wouldn't take more than five or six years for A Dou's annual revenue and net profit to exceed 100 billion!

So, this 1% equity,
What astronomical figure will the annual dividends generate in the future?

If only I could hold more...

He took a deep breath.

If he can seize this opportunity and patiently persevere for a few more years, will he still need to work so hard in the entertainment industry?
At that time, I'm afraid we'll be able to do whatever we want!
About ten minutes later,

Liu An returned, his face bearing a complex expression that combined excitement, shock, and relief.

"Teacher Gu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"

He sat down and excitedly conveyed the resolution from the highest level: "After listening to your proposal, our chairman highly approves of and appreciates your vision and courage!"

After negotiations, we have agreed to increase your equity stake by 0.5% on top of your existing 1%, for a total of 1.5% equity in the platform, in exchange for your status as a free 'lifetime honorary ambassador' for the platform.
And the free right to use all your existing and future musical works on the platform!

Liu An paused for a moment, then added another generous condition:
"At the same time, the chairman specifically instructed that although the music copyright is licensed to the platform free of charge, the platform cannot take advantage of you for nothing."

We will establish a dedicated music incentive fund. Each year, based on data such as the total number of views and downloads of your music-created videos on the platform, a special bonus will be allocated as your 'music promotion dividend'.
This means you can still enjoy the long-term benefits of music!

"I wonder... are you satisfied with this final solution?"

Liu An asked cautiously yet expectantly.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qing's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and he let out a soft breath.

He stood up, extended his hand to Liu An again, and a sincere and radiant smile bloomed on his face:

"So...Mr. Liu, is it a pleasure doing business with you?"

"It's a pleasure working with you, Professor Gu!"

Liu An excitedly grasped Gu Qing's hands tightly, shaking them, his tone becoming much more intimate, even carrying a hint of fan's shyness, "Oh no, look at how I address you! Now I should call you... Shareholder Gu!"
"Um... Mr. Gu, I... I'm actually a real fan of yours. Could you... could you sign an autograph for me later?"

"No problem at all."

Gu Qing smiled and agreed, then proceeded to explain the follow-up matters, "I will have my legal team discuss the specific details of the equity transfer agreement and endorsement contract next week."

"I will formally connect with your company's legal department after my school holidays."

"Have a holiday?"

Liu An was taken aback, then suddenly realized, and looking at the excessively young face in front of him, he couldn't help but chuckle.

He then realized that his company's important new partner, the future face of the platform, was actually a student who had just entered university and needed to attend classes on time and wait for weekends off.

The strange contrast is truly hilarious.

……

—Back in the car.

"Boss! You...you really agreed to this? And you're even willing to give up the copyrights to all your songs?!"

Zhao Ya finally found a chance to speak, her face filled with disbelief and heartache. "That's no small sum! And it's practically like we gave it to them for free!"

"How could it be free?"

Gu Qing was in a great mood. Leaning back in the comfortable leather seat, she patiently explained, "Didn't they give me 1.5% of the shares? That's the most valuable thing."

"But...but that's just an app that hasn't been released yet!"

Zhao Ya said anxiously, as if she could see the gleaming silver growing wings and flying away, "We don't have a single user. What if, I mean, what if, it fails to take off and flops?"
"Boss, aren't you just giving them free publicity? The copyright is locked up right there!"

“If the platform really fails, I will sell my shares. I will still have the copyright to the songs and can revoke the authorization at any time. I won’t lose much.”

Gu Qing smiled and said, "But on the other hand, Sister Xiaoya, if this short video platform really succeeds with my help..."

So, have you ever considered that from now on, in the entire entertainment industry, which artist will have a more powerful, direct, cheaper, or even free publicity channel than me?

He turned his head slightly to look at Zhao Ya.

"Sister Xiaoya, you're only thinking about me promoting the platform for free, but why don't you think about..."
In the future, my new songs will be released on the charts, my movies will be released, my TV series will be broadcast, my variety shows will be officially announced... and even if there are any public opinion events that I personally need to clarify.

At that time, as a shareholder of the company, how could the platform possibly not give me the best recommendation slots and the largest traffic allocation?
This means we now have our own publicity and distribution platform!

In the long run, no matter how you look at it, we've come out on top.

Listening to Gu Qing's beautiful vision, Zhao Ya thought about it carefully and couldn't help but swallow.
It seems... that's indeed the case?

The boss has always had a sharp eye.

She tried to convince herself and nodded: "Okay... Boss, I trust your judgment."

The scripts you've chosen, the projects you've favored, haven't failed so far.

Speaking of the script,

Zhao Ya suddenly remembered something else important, and quickly took out another folder from her bag and handed it to Gu Qing: "By the way, boss, there's another notebook here. It was delivered these past two days. I think it's... very special. You must take a look!"

"Sister Xiaoya, didn't I say I couldn't take on any roles for the first three months?"

Gu Qing took the folder with a hint of helplessness. "I can't even leave the school gate right now, how am I supposed to coordinate my schedule to join the filming crew?"

"Boss, this is different! It's really different!"

Zhao Ya's voice carried an uncontrollable excitement and mystery, "Just one look at the name and the story outline and you'll know!"

I feel like this project was tailor-made for you!

"is it?"

Gu Qing was skeptical and looked down at the script in her hand.

When he saw the project name on the cover, the casual look on his face vanished instantly, and he was clearly stunned.

On the pristine white cover, several large black characters were clearly printed:
"..."

……

……

(End of this chapter)