Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 254 Killing the Chicken to Make an Example

The atmosphere in the senior management meeting room at the headquarters of Tengda Group was tense and oppressive, as an emergency meeting had been going on for over an hour.

"I'm emphasizing this again: I'm not discussing this with you, this is an order!"

Within a week, TT Games platform and its mobile game division must implement a refund policy for minors and a system to control game time fatigue.

Song Ci sat upright at the head of the conference table, his piercing gaze sweeping over the assembled executives, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority.

Faced with the chairman's sudden and forceful demands, Huang Sheng and Jiang Yuwei, the two presidents in charge of the game business, looked distressed.

The two men's lips moved slightly, but they both swallowed back the words that were about to come out. Under the pressure of the group's top leader, they dared not easily complain.

"President Song, aren't these two requests a bit too hasty? While the fatigue issue is relatively easy to solve—it's simply a matter of controlling account login time—adding restrictions to our company's games will inevitably lead to widespread user dissatisfaction."

Refunds for minors are even more complicated. First, accurately distinguishing between adults and minors is a major challenge.

Furthermore, building the refund system involves many aspects such as algorithms, finance, and operations, and it's not something that can be solved overnight. Your requirement to complete it within a week is simply too tight a timeframe.

Although Zhang Yong didn't understand why Song Ci was in such a hurry, he still had to bite the bullet and try to dissuade him, explaining the many difficulties his subordinates were facing, all for the sake of the company's interests.

Song Ci nodded slightly, realizing that he had indeed been a bit too hasty. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said:
"Let me give you a heads-up: the entire gaming industry is about to face an unprecedented crackdown. The rampant growth of online games in recent years has caused some negative social impacts."

I have concrete information that someone harbors malicious intentions and wants to use the game as a pretext to target the group. If this situation escalates, it will inevitably cause a huge shock to the entire gaming industry, so we need to prepare in advance.

However, a week is indeed a bit tight. Here's what we'll do: Mr. Huang, Mr. Jiang, after you return, your two departments should work together to develop a rectification plan for me as soon as possible. But it can only be delayed until the end of the month at the latest; the two requirements mentioned above must be completed.”

With a little more time to spare, Huang Sheng and Jiang Yuwei breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied, "Understood, President Song."

Upon hearing this, the executives present were all greatly alarmed. The gaming business was the main source of Tengda Group's profits and a key pillar for the group's survival and steady development. If something went wrong, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhang Yong adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, his expression serious, and his voice unconsciously lowered a few decibels: "President Song, which competitor is trying to target us?"

Song Ci squinted, his aura turning cold, and coldly spat out two words through gritted teeth: "Quick Play".

Zhang Yong nodded, his gaze quickly turning to the group's chief legal officer: "I understand, Kuaibo is trying to turn against us before it dies, dragging us down with it! President Peng, when can the infringement case between the company and Kuaibo be closed?"

Peng Nuo immediately responded: "Kuaibo has lost the second instance, but the other party is not satisfied with the judgment and continues to appeal. However, in the face of irrefutable facts, Kuaibo's loss in the infringement case is a foregone conclusion. They are just stalling for time now."

Song Ci understood that litigation would take a long time, and Kuaibo was a large internet company with over 100 million users, so it couldn't be resolved easily.

However, this time the other party touched his sore spot, so he decided to teach Kuaibo a lesson and make an example of it to deter others.

"Originally, I wanted to give them a way out, make them pay some money, stop the infringement, and let the matter be over."

However, since Kuaibo has dug its own path to ruin, the company has no reason to exist. It's also a good opportunity to show some of my still-delusional internet peers whether my title as the richest man is merely empty boasting!

Song Ci's tone was calm, but Zhang Yong and Wang Jing, who knew him well, knew that the chairman was furious to the extreme.

Kuaibo has long relied on stealing and rebroadcasting content from TT Video Network to attract users, which is illegal in itself. Not only did it not repent, it even attempted to target Tengda Group's core gaming business, which undoubtedly made Song Ci want to kill it.

Zhang Yong bowed slightly, leaned forward, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of probing yet full of loyalty, "President Song, is there anything I can do for you?"

He had a private discussion with the chairman before, and the most fatal problem with Kuaibo was its involvement in pornography. He guessed that Song Ci was also planning to take action on this sensitive issue, and might send all of Kuaibo's senior executives directly to jail.

However, the chairman's position is special, and if he takes action personally, it will have a huge impact and could potentially arouse the vigilance and collective hostility of the entire internet industry. If he does it himself, there will be room for maneuver if problems arise.

After hearing this, Song Ci waved his hand and resolutely refused: "I will handle this matter personally. We must teach them a lesson."

Seeing this, Zhang Yong said no more, figuring that the boss had his own ideas and he would just cooperate fully.

Then, Song Ci tapped the conference table with her fingers, the crisp sound instantly drawing everyone's attention. Once the room quieted down, she spoke seriously:
"Let me give you a little sneak peek: the group will launch a major product in the second half of the year, which will be the core of the entire Tengda Group in the future."

This is crucial to whether Tenda can maintain its position as the number one internet company in China, and even to whether Tenda Group can successfully expand internationally and become a large multinational corporation.

I hope that the entire group will remain stable during these two months, smoothly navigate this crucial period, and make comprehensive preparations for the launch of this product.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately began whispering and discussing, curiously speculating about what kind of groundbreaking product the group would be launching.

Hearing the chairman speak so cautiously, some quick-thinking people who were good at seizing opportunities began to make plans.

The chance to become the head of the department for this highly valued product is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for rapid advancement.

After the meeting, as soon as Song Ci stepped out of the conference room, Jiang Tiantian, the office director, quickly followed: "President Song, the sales representative from Bayview Company who was supposed to meet you has arrived. They are waiting in the small meeting room next door."

"Since they've arrived, let's go meet them. Brother Yong, Sister Jing, the people from Bayview are here, you can also help them discuss things."

Zhang Yong and Wang Jing also became interested. They already knew that Song Ci planned to buy a private jet, so they went along to join in the fun.

As soon as the three entered the small conference room, the Gulfstream Airlines sales representative, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately stood up, his face full of enthusiastic smiles, and his tone respectful and confident.

"Hello Mr. Song, I am Li Ming, a sales representative from Gulfstream. Thank you very much for taking the time."

“Representative Li, please have a seat. These two are Zhang Yong, CEO of Tengda Group, and Wang Jing, COO. It’s not just me personally; Tengda Group is interested in purchasing an aircraft.”

As Song Ci spoke, she gestured for Li Ming to sit down and introduced him to the two senior executives beside her.

"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Wang, I've heard so much about you." Li Ming was overjoyed. He hadn't expected to get such a pleasant surprise during this door-to-door sales visit. If it went well, he could secure two orders at once.

Moreover, although Zhang Yong and Wang Jing are not as wealthy as the richest man Song Ci, they are still top executives of Tengda Group and potential clients of the company. They secretly decided that they must secure today's business no matter what.

In the small conference room, after everyone was seated, Li Ming quickly opened his laptop and turned the screen to Song Ci. The screen displayed a 3D model of a Gulfstream private jet and its various performance parameters.

"Mr. Song, today I'd like to recommend to you our Gulfstream G200, a super-midsize business jet. This aircraft boasts top-tier performance, comfort, and operational efficiency, making it ideal for an outstanding entrepreneur like yourself." Li Ming took out a laser pointer and pointed it at the screen, beginning to provide a more detailed introduction to the aircraft's specifications:

"The G200 has a maximum range of 3400 nautical miles, making it easy to complete a direct flight from Beijing to Dubai. Its cruising speed is close to Mach 1, which is faster than other aircraft in its class, saving you valuable time."

Song Ci nodded slightly, her gaze fixed intently on the screen, signaling Li Ming to continue.

Li Ming noticed the customer's expression and was secretly pleased, knowing that his introduction had successfully captured Song Ci's attention. He cleared his throat and spoke even more enthusiastically, his words flowing like a torrent:

"The G200's cabin design prioritizes comfort... equipped with advanced entertainment systems, high-speed internet, and a fully equipped galley, perfectly meeting your business and leisure needs."

Song Ci listened very carefully, occasionally frowning slightly in thought, and was quite satisfied with the aircraft: "What are the price and operating costs of the G200?"

Li Ming was already prepared. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he switched images and brought up a table: "Chairman Song, the G200 is priced at $2200 million, and the annual operating costs are between $100 million and $150 million, including maintenance, fuel, crew costs, and other expenses."

"What about security?"

"Safety is our top priority at Gulfstream. The G200 is equipped with the Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics system, enabling all-weather flight."

Furthermore, our aircraft have passed the most stringent safety certifications, and we have a comprehensive maintenance and support network worldwide to ensure the safety of every flight you take.

After listening to Song Ci, he slowly leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands on the edge of the table in front of him, and looked thoughtful.

Although he was extremely fond of the aircraft, buying a plane is not as simple as buying groceries. It involves spending over 100 million yuan and concerns his life and fortune, so he must be extremely careful and cannot afford to be careless in the slightest.

“Representative Li, the performance and configuration of the G200 are indeed impressive. I will seriously consider it. Thank you for your introduction.”

Li Ming understood that the other party was giving him the boot. It was already extremely rare for a business tycoon like the richest man to take half an hour to listen to his detailed introduction.

He put away his laptop, then stood up and said respectfully, "Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Song. If you have any further questions or need to arrange a test flight, please feel free to contact me. Gulfstream Corporation looks forward to providing you and Tenda Group with the best service."

Song Ci also stood up, a smile on her face, and shook hands with Li Ming, her attitude friendly yet tactful: "Representative Li, I will give you a reply as soon as possible."

Watching Li Ming and the two staff members leave, Song Ci turned her gaze to her left and right-hand men, asking with a hint of inquiry, "Sister Jing, Brother Yong, what do you think?"

"The G200 is great. As the group's business continues to grow, we really need a plane for both emergency meetings and cross-border project inspections."

Zhang Yong was very satisfied with the aircraft that Li Ming had just introduced. He is usually in charge of the group's external affairs and often travels to other places on business. Having an aircraft in Tengda makes his work and travel much more convenient.

Wang Jing remained noncommittal: "Chairman Song, you can make the decision."

Upon hearing this, Song Ci smiled and said, "Then let's tentatively decide to purchase the G200. However, we can't rush into buying the planes, as it's not a small amount of money. I'll spend some time learning about other models of aircraft and making comparisons."

Before he knew it, the sun had set. Song Ci had dinner at the company's executive canteen and returned to his office to continue working overtime.

I had only been busy for a short while when my fiancée called.

Liu Shishi's sweet voice came through the receiver: "Mr. Song, are you off work?"

Song Ci smiled and deliberately changed the subject: "Shishi, how was your day on set?"

On the other end of the phone, Liu Shishi frowned slightly, her voice urgent and concerned: "Song Yiyi, you're working overtime again. Whenever I'm not around, you're busy with work every day."

"Just a little longer, I'll definitely be home before eight o'clock."

"There's really nothing I can do about you."

"How did filming go today?" Song Ci closed the file, leaned back in her chair, and looked at him with tenderness in her eyes.

"Everything went smoothly. K-jie and Lao Hu even came to visit the set this morning." Liu Shishi happily shared her daily life with her fiancé. "K-jie said I probably can't compete with Zhou Xun, which is a real pity."

Song Ci quickly encouraged her, saying, "Being nominated for Best Actress and then winning Most Popular Actress already proves that you are excellent."

"Once you bring the trophy home, I'll prepare a display case for you at home to showcase all the trophies and awards you've received."

Upon hearing this, Miss Liu became even more determined and replied arrogantly, "You underestimate me. One cabinet isn't enough; you need at least three."

Song Ci chuckled lightly, calculating in her mind that, considering all the miscellaneous honors, one cabinet definitely wouldn't be enough.

However, those formal awards are best left alone. After all, they are known as the "cursed" 85 Flowers, and in the previous life, only Zhao Liying won an award to salvage some face for the 85 Flowers.

"By the way, about the movie 'The Myth' I mentioned earlier, if you want to act in it, I can make a call and let you know. As for the audition, it's just a formality."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi was quite tempted, after all, it was a big production. But after considering it for a moment, she shook her head: "Forget it, there's no need to trouble you. Sister K is already arranging a standout supporting role for me, that's enough."

She is currently one of the four most popular young actresses, and is in high demand in the industry. She has no shortage of roles to play, and production teams are eager to cast her.

Now that she has established herself in the entertainment industry, she no longer needs to bother her fiancé with such a trivial matter.

“Then I’ll fly to Donghai on the 4th. I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up then, and we’ll go to Suzhou together.”

"Okay! Only three more days. I can't wait to see you, darling. Yiyi, you should leave work early."

Just as the young couple were pouring out their hearts to each other, the news that the audition for the large-scale historical drama "The Myth" would be held on April 5th had already spread throughout the entertainment industry and quietly climbed to the top of the trending search list.

Liu Shishi's attitude towards the lead actress was indifferent, but other actresses in the industry did not share the same mindset towards this 50 million yuan production.

Whether they had availability or not, whether they had connections or not, everyone was eager to try and win the lead role in "The Myth".

(End of this chapter)