Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 216 New Moves on Weibo
On the evening of August 8, 2008, the world-renowned 29th Olympic Games grandly opened at the Bird's Nest in Beijing.

As dusk settles, the Bird's Nest shines like a dazzling pearl. Inside, every seat is filled, and the stadium is bustling with activity.

As the countdown began, the entire venue fell silent. A massive drum array of lights and shadows flickered, numbers flashed, and the drumbeats were powerful and awe-inspiring, heralding the start of an oriental prelude.

As the ceremony progressed, the scroll was unfurled, and the dancers used their graceful movements to depict mountains and rivers, creating a dreamlike and enchanting scene where a thousand years of civilization flowed before their eyes.

The movable type printing array changes, with the character "和" (harmony) standing out, showcasing ancient wisdom and the wish for harmony.

"Director Zhang lived up to expectations, showcasing the grandeur of a great nation!" Song Ci, watching from the stands, witnessed the breathtaking scene and couldn't help but applaud and exclaim in admiration.

"Zhang Yimou is truly amazing!" Song Zhang and Liu Xiaoxian beside him nodded repeatedly, their eyes full of admiration.

Song Ci managed to get a few tickets to the Bird's Nest, so today he accompanied his parents, Liu Shishi's family, and his uncle's family of three to watch the Olympic opening ceremony.

My little cousin Liu Yuqing beamed with joy, taking photos from different angles with her phone while proudly showing off her new phone:

"My brother is so helpful; he brought me here to see it in person. Next semester, I can brag about it to my sisters throughout high school."

Upon hearing this, my aunt muttered, "All you do is compare yourself to others with such useless things. You should focus more on your studies!"

The little girl's face immediately fell, and she retorted unhappily, "Mom, can you please stop spoiling the fun outside!"

She studies at Beiping No. 4 Middle School and will be a freshman next semester. However, she may have been born with all her attributes focused on looks, so her academic performance is only average. She has not inherited the academic genes of the Liu family at all.

Song Ci comforted her, saying, "My little sister goes to No. 4 Middle School. No matter what, she won't have much trouble getting into a top-tier university in the future. If all else fails, we can pull some strings."

Upon hearing this, Auntie's expression tightened, and she said sternly to Song Ci across the two people, "New Year's Day, you can't do this..."

"Alright, let's talk about it when we get back. Don't you know what kind of occasion this is?" Liu Xiaochen patted his wife's arm at the right moment, stopping her from continuing.

My nephew's status is now extraordinary, and what he just said was well-intentioned. How could I contradict him in public and embarrass him?

My aunt seemed to realize that her words were inappropriate, and she stopped talking in annoyance, continuing to watch the opening ceremony.

Seeing that his wife had quieted down, Liu Xiaochen continued his conversation with Liu Shishi's father, who was sitting on his left: "Brother, go on, what's the next step for 'King of Kids'?"

Mr. Liu was excited, his eyes were on the performance in the center of the Bird's Nest, but his mind was full of his business plans.

With her mother no longer nagging, Liu Yuqing regained her liveliness and tugged at Liu Shishi's arm, saying coquettishly, "Sister, let's take a picture together."

Liu Shishi smiled and leaned closer, snuggling up to the little girl, striking a pose, and snapping photos together.

"Brother, do you want to come along?"

"Let's take a picture together outside the Bird's Nest after the closing ceremony. You can watch the opening ceremony quietly now."

The little girl playfully stuck out her tongue: "Okay, Song Yiyi."

Song Ci feigned helplessness: "You're being disrespectful. Your sister will be jealous soon. She won't allow anyone to call me that."

Liu Shishi covered her mouth and chuckled, showing great tolerance and generosity towards the young girl: "I've given special permission for Yuqing to call you Yiyi."

Laughter and cheers filled the stage, and the atmosphere below grew increasingly enthusiastic, until finally the most exciting moment arrived: the lighting ceremony.

Fireworks lit up the night sky, and Li Ning, stepping on "auspicious clouds," ran through the air and lit the main torch. The blazing flames soared into the sky, and cheers erupted.

Athletes from all over the world gathered here, of different skin colors but with the same passion. At this moment, the Bird's Nest is the center of the world, where a magnificent chapter of sports and culture begins, showcasing the splendor of China to the world.

The next day, a radiant Liu Shishi rushed to the Hengdian film set again to immerse herself in the intense filming of "Chinese Paladin 3".

The Olympic Games have officially begun, and athletes from all countries are preparing to compete on the field.

China's first gold medal!

The exciting news spread, and the entire Weibo trending topics page had turned into a bright and dazzling Chinese red.

This top trending topic was pinned to the very top of the homepage, ensuring that everyone who logs into Weibo knows about it immediately.

"Chinese athlete Chen Xiexia won the women's 48kg weightlifting championship and broke the world record."

It was summer vacation, and August 9th was a Saturday, so countless netizens were relaxing online.

The news of China winning its first gold medal instantly ignited a sense of pride among countless citizens, who flocked to check Olympic news, eager to learn the latest details of the competition.

Overwhelmed with excitement for winning glory for her country, Chen Xiexia shared her joy on Weibo, and countless netizens flooded her page to send their blessings.

As the Olympic Games progresses day by day, the Chinese delegation continues to achieve good news.

One Olympic champion and medalist after another registered an account on Weibo to share their Olympic journey, attracting a large number of new netizens and causing another surge in Weibo users.

On August 19, the Olympics had been underway for ten days, with all events in full swing.

That morning, Weibo CEO Liu Yan was in a very good mood, looking at the latest data reports in his office.

Thanks to the company's meticulously planned "Olympic promotion plan" in the early stages, Weibo's influence has grown exponentially, with registered users exceeding 100 million, making it one of the most dazzling stars on the Chinese internet.

As a result of her outstanding achievements, her status in the entire group rose accordingly, and she became highly respected.

A crisp knock broke the silence of the office.

"Please come in."

The door opened slowly, and the secretary stood in front of it: "Mr. Liu, Ms. Su Mang has arrived."

"Please come quickly!" Liu Yan hurriedly stood up and instructed, "Xiao Wei, quickly pour Editor-in-Chief Su a cup of tea."

Secretary Xiao Wei led Su Mang to the guest sofa in the office and hurriedly went to pour water and make tea for the guest.

"Mr. Liu, I'm sorry to bother you!" Su said with a smile, shaking hands with Liu Yan who stood up to greet him.

"Please have a seat, Editor-in-Chief Su."

The two ladies settled on the sofa, and after the secretary served them tea and exchanged a few pleasantries, they tacitly began to discuss business.

After savoring the aroma of the tea, Su Mang put down the teacup and took out a beautifully bound document from his bag: "President Liu, this is the proposal for this year's Bazaar Charity Night. Please take a look."

Liu Yan took the materials and carefully looked through them. This year, Weibo was the number one sponsor of the Bazaar Charity Night, so she needed to have a detailed understanding of the event.

The paper turned gently between his fingertips. Liu Yan looked up and asked, "How many guests were invited to this party?"

"No fewer than 300 people have already agreed to attend, including not only celebrities from the entertainment industry, but also many business and political figures."

Speaking of this, Su Mang was beaming with pride, her eyes brimming with joy. This year's Bazaar Charity Gala was an unprecedented success.

Liu Yan nodded, acknowledging that the event was indeed quite large: "How is the seating arranged? Which table will our chairman sit at?"

She has been informed that Song Ci will continue to participate in the Bazaar Charity Gala this year, so she is paying close attention to some details involving leaders.

Su Mang leaned slightly closer, gestured for Liu Yan to turn to page eight, and then pointed to a table in the front row of the seating chart:
“We’ve arranged for President Song to sit with several business tycoons. If President Liu feels it’s inappropriate, we can make adjustments.” After all, Tengda is the primary sponsor, so the organizers will definitely make adjustments to accommodate any dissatisfaction.

Liu Yan glanced at the list, thought for a moment, and then waved his hand with satisfaction: "Very good. Editor-in-Chief Su has considered everything carefully and made the arrangements very well."

"Speaking of which, we must thank Chairman Song. Last year, his attendance added luster to the entire charity gala. This year, many business people are willing to contribute to the charity gala."

Liu Yan deeply agrees; indeed, the participation of the top ten richest people has significantly enhanced the prestige of the Bazaar Charity Gala, making it no longer limited to a few celebrities in the entertainment industry, but truly a major platform attracting attention from the entire society.

Her slender fingers continued flipping through the proposal. When her gaze fell on a certain detail, Liu Yan suddenly frowned slightly. After considering it for a moment, she spoke in a consultative tone:
"Editor-in-Chief Su, I have a question here. Is it true that the winner of each auction item is given an award?"

Su Mang, who had been smiling confidently and thought the proposal was perfect, looked puzzled when he heard Liu Yan's question.

She didn't see anything wrong with this procedure: "Yes, this is the usual practice. Is there a problem, Mr. Liu?"

Liu Yan shook his head slightly: "This part is fine in itself, but I think the presenter should be changed?"

Su Mang straightened up slightly. Being a perfectionist, she quickly asked, "Please enlighten me, Mr. Liu."

Liu Yan shared his thoughts: "This year is different from previous years; many business tycoons will be participating."

If the auction winner is a company CEO, I don't think it's appropriate to have several celebrities present the award. Some of those celebrities aren't worthy of their attention!

"This!" Su Mang was taken aback. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that Liu Yan's words made sense.

Since Bazaar Charity wants to expand its influence, it certainly cannot be limited to the entertainment industry. Although celebrities are famous, their social status is still somewhat different from that of business tycoons and political figures.

Thinking of this, Su hurriedly asked, "Mr. Liu, you're right. It was my oversight. How about this?"

There are eleven items in total for auction. I'd like to invite eleven business executives and celebrities to present the awards to the winners to make the occasion look more harmonious and dignified. Is that alright?

Upon hearing this, Liu Yan secretly praised Su Mang's resourcefulness: "A two-pronged approach, that's a good idea, it works!"

Su Mang received the affirmation, and his mind became even more active. He thought of an excellent candidate: Tengda Group had a ready-made big shot.

So I tried to suggest: "I wonder if Mr. Liu could invite Chairman Song of your company to be an award presenter?"

"I need to ask for instructions."

Liu Yan acted swiftly, immediately pulling out her phone to call Song Ci. She really hoped Song Ci could be the presenter, as her boss was a natural-born internet celebrity, radiating charisma and presence.

"Mr. Song, is this a convenient time for you? I have something to report to you, it's about Weibo's sponsorship of the Bazaar Charity Project. Oh yes, Editor-in-Chief Su is here today, would you like to see her? Sure!"

"Editor-in-Chief Su, our General Manager Song has always been passionate about charity and is quite concerned about this matter. He would like to meet you. Please come over."

Su Mang couldn't be happier. Despite her glamorous life in the entertainment industry and her reputation as a "fashion icon," she rarely even gets to see these big shots.

Given such a good opportunity, he readily agreed: "Please lead the way, Mr. Liu."

When Liu Yan led Su Mang to the chairman's office on the 39th floor by elevator, they happened to run into Jiang Tiantian coming out with a stack of documents in her hand.

"Director Jiang!"

"Mr. Liu!"

The two colleagues greeted each other and passed by. Liu Yan slowed his pace, turned slightly to the side, and lowered his voice: "Director Jiang, how is President Song's mood today?"

Jiang Tiantian chuckled softly, "The group has successfully completed an acquisition that had been under negotiation for a long time. The chairman just signed the papers, so he's in a good mood right now."

"Thank you!"

The office door was ajar, but Liu Yan knocked and waited for permission before leading Su Mang inside.

"Chairman!"

"Hello, Chairman Song!" Su Mang followed behind, slightly reserved, greeting him while subtly observing Song Ci's spacious and luxurious office.

Everywhere you look, there are high-end ornaments and antique calligraphy and paintings, showcasing the owner's extraordinary taste and substantial wealth.

After more than half a year of concerted efforts from everyone in the company, the acquisition of Jingjiang Literature Network was finally completed. With this matter finally settled, Song Ci was in an exceptionally good mood.

He gestured with one hand to the two ladies, his attitude gentle: "Sit down and let's talk."

Knowing that the chairman prefers to be concise and get straight to the point when discussing work, Liu Yan didn't waste any time. She quickly organized her thoughts and gave a brief report on what she and Su Mang had just discussed.

"No problem!" Song Ci readily agreed after hearing the answer.

He wasn't particularly keen on being an award presenter, but since his subordinates had brought it up, and considering it would benefit Weibo's development, he naturally wouldn't object to it—it was just a small favor.

Su Mang and Liu Yan exchanged a glance, both overjoyed. They hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. With Song Ci leading the way as an award presenter, communication with other business tycoons would be much easier.

"What items are up for auction this year?" Song Ci asked curiously.

Last year, he also bought a crystal necklace and gave it to Liu Shishi. If he has anything he is interested in this year, he might as well continue to buy it, which can also be considered as contributing to charity.

"Please see! The auction item description is on page 18 of the proposal." Su Mang immediately stood up and respectfully handed the proposal to Song Ci with both hands.

After taking the book, Song Ci leaned back in his chair and quickly flipped through it, reading ten lines at a glance. In just a few seconds, he reached the seating chart on the eighth page.

Am I to sit at table number two?

Su quickly replied, "Yes. Table number one is for some leaders and international friends. If you would like to..."

"No need, everything is arranged perfectly!" Song Ci waved her hand, her expression calm. There was no need to take such a small matter too seriously.

As Song Ci scanned the tables of names, a slight regret crept into his heart. Miss Liu's seat was towards the back, and it wouldn't be appropriate for her to sit at the same table as him.

I quickly reached page 18, with eleven items up for auction. My eyes swept over them rapidly, and I thought to myself: bicycles, travel bags, leather handbags, what kind of nonsense is this?

"That's all?"

Seeing that Song Ci's expression changed slightly, Su Mang guessed that she didn't like the auction items, and carefully explained: "Chairman Song, most of these were provided by other sponsors."

Song Ci understood Su Mang's meaning: although Weibo was the primary sponsor of the gala, some of its brands also provided luxury goods for auction.

This way, it would be considered both sponsoring the gala and supporting charity, and Tenda couldn't easily change that.

"How about this, I'll personally provide another item, an enamel gradient diamond-encrusted phoenix tail brooch."

My girlfriend bought it for me in Germany; it cost 12 euros, which is probably more expensive than all eleven of these items. I guess it was the grand finale.

"That's great! Thank you!"

Su Mang was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't expected Song Ci to be so generous. As expected of a billionaire, his level of sophistication was truly extraordinary. He could just throw out an item worth millions.

(End of this chapter)