Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 129 Tang-Song Cooperation
Liu Shishi was clearly having a nightmare; in her sleep, she was frowning, looking uneasy, and even her breathing became rapid.

His hands unconsciously clenched into fists, as if he were fighting against the fear in his dream.

Song Ci slowly reached out, intending to smooth the wrinkles between his girlfriend's brows.

Liu Shishi suddenly woke up with a start. After looking around, she realized she was on the bus home. She patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief: "It was just a dream!"

Song Ci gently patted Miss Liu's small hand and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

Ms. Liu sighed deeply, looking at her boyfriend with an extremely resentful expression: "What a strange dream! I dreamt that you were surrounded by beautiful women, and I was being neglected by you, you scumbag! Is this some kind of ominous sign?"

Upon hearing this, Song Ci replied irritably, "Liu Daidai, can't you wish for something good between us? Stop being so suspicious."

"I had a nightmare, and you not only didn't care about me, but you even yelled at me. What you read online is true, men don't cherish what they have once they get it. My life is so miserable."

After saying this, Liu Shishi looked distressed and pretended to wipe away non-existent tears.

Song Ci rolled her eyes, too lazy to pay attention to her dramatic girlfriend: "Liu Daidai, you've gone too far. Stop watching that nonsense online. We're at the neighborhood, get out and go home." With that, she pushed open the door and got out of the car first.

"Hmph!" Liu Shishi got out of the car as well, affectionately linking her arm with her boyfriend's, and said with a grin, "Mr. Song, guess who I just dreamed about?"

"I have nothing to do with anyone else."

Liu Shishi glanced at Song Ci and asked in a cryptic tone, "Shen Sisi has nothing to do with you either?"

Upon hearing the name, Song Ci felt a moment of disorientation. His only female friend during his two years at university, whom he could neither be lovers nor friends with, had ultimately parted ways with him.

A sense of melancholy seemed to linger in his mind: "I've lost contact with her."

Liu Shishi, unaware of her boyfriend's unusual emotions, took small, quick steps and said to herself, "It's one thing to dream about her, but I even dreamed about Yang Mi."

It's so strange. I've only met her twice, so why would I dream about her? Shen Sisi is my rival in love, and for her to appear in my dream along with Shen Sisi is ominous, extremely ominous.

Upon hearing this, Song Ci thought to herself, "You two are indeed destined to be best friends, always fighting and loving each other. In a few years, the competition among the '85 Flowers' will probably still be inevitable!"

Just as I was about to say a few words to comfort my girlfriend and tell her not to overthink things, I suddenly caught a glimpse of Liu's father standing on the balcony, staring intently at me with an expression that clearly looked like he wanted to kill me.

"Shishi!" Song Ci interrupted his girlfriend's incessant chatter.

"Ok?"

Song Ci gestured with her chin, indicating that she should look up: "Uncle is watching us."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi looked towards her balcony and saw her father staring intently at her and Song Ci, his face terribly gloomy, as if shrouded in a thick layer of dark clouds.

Miss Liu's heart skipped a beat, and she became extremely anxious. "Oh no, oh no!"

Although Mr. Liu doted on his daughter, he absolutely forbade her from staying out all night except when she was filming on set. Her father's long-standing authority made Miss Liu subconsciously feel flustered and uneasy.

Song Ci quickened her pace, "Don't panic, didn't I already tell your mother yesterday?"

Miss Liu suddenly realized, patted her head, and became smug again: "That's right, I reported it yesterday, what am I panicking about!" With her mother backing her up, Liu Shishi was full of smugness again.

Under Liu's father's watchful eye, the two walked briskly back home. As soon as they entered the living room, Liu Shishi saw her parents sitting on the sofa.

Mom remained calm, with a faint smile on her face, just as expected. Dad, however, had a long face, staring intently at his boyfriend beside him, his expression full of displeasure.

Having slept with someone's daughter, one should naturally be courteous. Song Ci bowed respectfully and greeted her, "Uncle, Auntie."

As always, Mrs. Liu was very welcoming, smiling and saying, "Please sit down, Xiao Song." Mr. Liu snorted coldly, his displeasure clearly evident.

Seeing this, Liu Shishi quickly walked over to her father and sat down, then affectionately took his arm. "Good morning, Dad and Mom!" Liu said sweetly, trying to ease the tense atmosphere between her father and boyfriend.

Mr. Liu turned away from his beloved daughter and said angrily, "Morning? What time is it! Liu Shishi, do you even want to be right? Do you know how worried your mother and I were last night? What if something happened?"

Shaking her father's arm, she said, "Oh, Dad, didn't I tell Mom last night? Besides, nothing will happen if I'm with Yi Yi."

Liu's father glared at Song Ci again, "You can't stay out all night no matter who you're with! There's no going back once you've suffered a loss."

Liu's father's words were pointed, making Song Ci feel extremely awkward, unsure whether to stand or sit.

Mrs. Liu quickly stopped her husband from nagging: "Alright, our daughter is back now, Lao Liu, stop talking. Xiao Song, why are you still standing? Come on, sit down."

Seeing the way her daughter walked away, she knew the young couple must have consummated their marriage last night. What's the point of dwelling on this nonsense now that it's already happened? Song Ci was the son-in-law she approved of; she didn't want to upset him.

Liu Shishi also repeatedly tried to persuade him: "Yes, Comrade Lao Liu, please don't be angry."

His wife and daughter both favored outsiders, which infuriated Liu's father, who lowered his head and remained silent.

Mrs. Liu knew her husband was just feeling down for a moment and would be fine in time. "Don't mind Dad, let him sulk here by himself. Let's eat, I made you some red date soup, it's good for replenishing blood."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi understood her mother's implied meaning and immediately blushed, saying, "Thank you, Mom."

Song Ci, quick-witted and agile, also went to set out the bowls and chopsticks, which made Liu's mother praise her good son-in-law.

The family farce finally ended during lunch. Liu Shishi coaxed and praised him, and Song Ci also smiled apologetically, which eventually made Liu's father turn from anger to joy and tacitly approve of his daughter's good relationship with Song Ci.

April is the most beautiful time of the year! Time flies like water, and the Qingming Festival, which was filled with rain, has just passed. On April 8th, Cai Yinong, president of Tangren Media, flew from Donghai to Beiping with his top star, Hu Ge, to discuss cooperation matters related to "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" with Tengda Culture.

Inside the Tengda Culture building in the Zhongao Building, the spacious and brightly lit conference room shines brightly on the carefully arranged long conference table.

Representatives from Tangren Media and Tengda Culture sat on either side of the conference table. Cai Yinong sat at the head of the table, his well-tailored dark suit perfectly highlighting his capable yet graceful figure.

Her meticulously styled long hair was elegantly pinned up, revealing her clear face and confident eyes. Her makeup was understated, perfectly highlighting her natural charm, making her even more adept at navigating the business world.

Liu Shishi, who was standing to the side, kept glancing at the female boss. Cai Yinong was one of the women she admired the most.

Every time K-sister puts on a suit, she exudes both the competence and decisiveness of a workplace elite, while retaining the gentleness and delicacy of a woman, inspiring respect and admiration in everyone.

In the month following her birthday, Liu Shishi's life was like a vibrant and colorful painting, filled with leisure and freedom.

Aside from rehearsing graduation dances at school, I occasionally read Mr. Song's novels in the warm spring sunshine. Or I might sleep in late, and then go shopping with my roommates, wandering through the bustling malls.

Or perhaps they dress up carefully and go on a date with their boyfriend full of anticipation. After tasting the forbidden fruit, the young couple becomes addicted and obsessed with each other.

If Cai Yinong hadn't come to Beiping and dragged her to Tengda Company, Liu Shishi would have been preparing to go to a coffee shop with her boyfriend, order a cup of fragrant coffee, sit by the window, watch people come and go outside, and enjoy a leisurely time.

Tangren Company sent a total of five people to Tengda for this cooperation negotiation: Cai Yinong, the company's top male and female employees, an assistant, and a legal counsel.

Liu Shishi and Hu Ge were there to boost their numbers; Cai Yinong mainly wanted to broaden their horizons and, incidentally, build relationships with the higher-ups at Tengda Culture.

Cai Yinong was all smiles, beaming with pride, as he bowed his head and signed his name on the cooperation agreement.

After two months of in-depth exchanges and consultations, Tangren Media and Tengda Media finally reached a consensus on cooperation regarding the TV series "The Legend of the Condor Heroes".

After signing the document and putting down his pen, Cai Yinong politely said, "Mr. Zhang, please."

Upon seeing this, the secretary standing to the side quickly picked up two copies of the agreement and gently placed them in front of Zhang Zhao.

Zhang Zhao sat at the head of the table on the other side, dressed in a sharp suit, and his usually stern face was unusually adorned with a smile.

Sitting beside him were Zhuang Liqi, the company's newly recruited vice president, the legal director, and artists Lü Yi and Wang Kai.

Zhang Zhao already knew the contents of the contract by heart. Without saying a word, he quickly signed the agreement. His handwriting was swift and powerful. After making the last stroke, the agreement was officially generated.

The TV series "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" is expected to have a total investment of 40 million yuan. Tangren Media will contribute the film and television adaptation rights as equity and invest 18 million yuan, owning 60% of the rights and interests of the TV series; Tengda Culture will invest 22 million yuan, accounting for 40% of the share.

The role of Guo Jing, the male lead, is undisputed to be played by Hu Ge, the top male star of Tangren Media, because Tangren Media is backed by Hong Kong and Taiwan capital. Cai Yi Nong also helped Taiwanese actress Lin Yi Chen win the female lead role of Huang Rong.

Although the male and female leads were also core interests, Zhang Zhao thought that since it was their first collaboration, he should show some sincerity and nodded in agreement. He didn't argue with Cai Yinong about the female lead, but he did manage to get two supporting roles for the company's artists, Lü Yi and Wang Kai, Cheng Yaojia and Lu Guanying.

As for the role of Mu Nianci, the second female lead that Cai Yinong had promised to Liu Shishi long ago, Zhang Zhao would not object at all, and basically the casting was left entirely to Tangren Media.

After signing the contract, Zhang Zhao and Cai Yinong exchanged a glance, then stood up and walked to the center of the conference table. In front of everyone, they shook hands firmly.

Liu Shishi was the first to applaud. She was the happiest of all the people that Tangren and Tengda were able to cooperate successfully. One side was her agency, and the other was her boyfriend's company. She sincerely hoped that the two companies could be as close as one family.

Team members from both sides then realized what was happening and applauded to celebrate the collaboration between the two companies.

Zhang Zhao was in a good mood. Tangren's period dramas consistently had high viewership ratings, and investing in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" would surely bring in a profit for Tengda. "I'll need to trouble President Cai to take care of the subsequent preparations for the production team."

Cai Yinong humbly replied, "Mr. Zhang, you're too kind. It's just my job." She is the producer of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." Tangren Media has an excellent behind-the-scenes team, and she was very familiar with the pre-production work.

Once the cooperation was finalized, the relationship between the two parties immediately became closer, and everyone chatted casually in the conference room.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was relaxed, so Cai Yinong asked about something he had been concerned about for a long time: "President Zhang, when will the TV series 'Fleet of Time,' starring Hu Ge, be broadcast?"

The first two installments of Tengda Culture's youth trilogy, "So Young" and "My Old Classmate," achieved good ratings.

Cai Yinong naturally has high expectations for the third installment of "Fleet of Time," hoping that Hu Ge can make a breakthrough in modern urban dramas and take her career to the next level.

Zhang Zhao then explained the plan in detail: "Because a large part of the audience for the Youth Trilogy is students, the first two parts were broadcast during holidays, and the same is true for 'Fleet of Time'."

Tentatively scheduled for release in July during the summer vacation, and to be broadcast on Beiping Satellite TV, with the previous two installments already establishing a solid reputation for the series, "Fleet of Time" is expected to achieve even better ratings.

Cai Yinong nodded, seeing that Zhang Zhao had already arranged everything, so he stopped worrying.

Hu Ge was thrilled upon hearing this: "Thank you so much, Mr. Zhang, for giving me this opportunity!"

He valued "Fleet of Time" very much. Although Tangren was strong in period dramas, an actor can't always film period dramas. It was rare to have the opportunity to film a modern drama, so he worked very hard and seriously when filming.

Zhang Zhao waved his hand, saying that it was just a transaction with Tangren, and both sides were simply getting what they needed. However, he still politely said, "We'll cooperate again if there's an opportunity in the future."

Cai Yinong seized the opportunity: "Please also take good care of Shishi, Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Zhao thought to himself, "The boss's wife doesn't need my care at all. The chairman has taken good care of his girlfriend!"
"Shishi and Tengda have always cooperated. We use familiar people instead of strangers. When there are good things, we will naturally not forget her. After the Youth Trilogy, the company reserved a leading role for her in the Zhenhua Trilogy."

Upon hearing this, Lü Yi looked at Liu Shishi in surprise, as the Zhenhua Trilogy was also a key project of Tengda Culture.

The first female lead in "With You" was given to Wang Luodan, and she was assigned to the second "Orange Born in Huainan". Originally, everyone in the company was still speculating about who would get the third female lead in "Hello, Old Times", but unexpectedly, the female lead was given to Liu Shishi again.

A pang of jealousy welled up inside me. My classmate was truly blessed; her debut film grossed over 50 million, a meteoric rise to fame. She's about to play Mu Nianci in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," and if she lands another campus drama, she's probably on the verge of stardom.

Even Wang Kai, who had been keeping a low profile, looked at Liu Shishi. Compared to the two female artists in the company, this one seemed to be the real daughter.

There have been rumors lately that the company wants to poach another female artist. Could it be this one? But then I think about it and it doesn't make sense. Tengda just started working with Tangren, so they probably wouldn't poach their top female artist at this time.

(End of this chapter)