Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 451 Online Romance

Time flows silently, and the winter solstice arrives quietly.

Inside the National Convention Center in Beiping, the dazzling crystal chandeliers illuminated the entire venue as if it were daytime.

The red carpet at the National Drama Awards was a dazzling display of star power.

The ladies arrived gracefully, their flowing skirts creating a flowing feast, a torrent of colors and light that instantly captivated everyone's attention.

The men formed another striking sight, like composed and steady pillars on the red carpet, exuding their own unique charisma.

Backstage at the gala, Yang Mi stood gracefully in a flowing tulle dress that seemed to flutter in the wind at any moment. The dress was adorned with tiny crystals that shimmered like stardust under the lights.

Tang Yan, standing beside her, looked on with envy and whispered in admiration, "Honey, with Shishi not around, all the other actresses are probably going to be overshadowed by you!"

Yang Mi nodded, a sly smile playing on her lips. With the top actress continuing her absence from the National Drama Awards, it was a moment when no one could rival her.

She had already prepared a large number of press releases, determined to use the popularity of this National Drama Awards to trend on social media several times.

"Mimi, when do you plan to officially announce the termination of your contract with Tengda Culture?" Tang Yan suddenly asked.

"Next week," Yang Mi replied, feeling a pang of nostalgia. Time really flies; in the blink of an eye, her three-year contract with Tengda Culture was about to expire.

The company is currently repurchasing the 1.8% virtual equity she holds. Once these financial matters are settled, the company will officially announce that it will not renew her contract.

At this moment, Yang Mi was filled with mixed feelings. Tengda Culture was indeed a legitimate and large company.

She parted ways amicably with her former employer, without any dramatic disputes. The company also strictly adhered to the original subscription agreement and repurchased her shares, making it a satisfactory ending.

"You!" Tang Yan shook her head helplessly, unsure of what to say.

So many people are scrambling to get into Tengda Culture, yet her best friend is oblivious to her good fortune. Now that Tengda Culture is no longer there to protect her, does she really think the entertainment industry is so easy to navigate?

Yang Mi naturally understood Tang Yan's worries. A hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. There was no turning back now; she was determined to make a name for herself through her own abilities.

He then asked, "Tangtang, don't just talk about me, what about you? How are your resources going lately?"

Tang Yan shrugged, sighed, and revealed her true feelings: "Chentian Entertainment's business is getting worse and worse, and it has no quality resources at all."

I find acting roles on my own anyway, so I'm not short of work. I don't plan to renew my contract when it expires.

Yang Mi asked curiously, "How much longer do you have left on your contract with Chen Tian?"

"It's still early, there are still two and a half years left." Tang Yan said with a worried look. After graduating from the Central Academy of Drama in 2006, she signed a ten-year contract with Chentian Entertainment, which would not expire until May 2015.

Now that Chentian's power is waning, she has to find resources on her own during this period, which is really difficult.

After discussing their careers, the two leading ladies from the "Chinese Paladin" series naturally moved on to their relationships.

A hint of gossip flashed in Yang Mi's eyes, and she asked with a mischievous smile, "Tangtang, how's your relationship with Luo Jin going? I think he's interested in you."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yan glanced around guiltily and whispered, "We're just ordinary friends."

Yang Mi chuckled: "Are you really just ordinary friends?"

Tang Yan seemed even more guilty: "Mimi, don't overthink it, I have a boyfriend."

"Tangtang, can't you be a little more assertive? If you're going to break up with that Qiu guy, then break up cleanly. What kind of image is this, all this lingering on-again, off-again relationship?" Yang Mi felt sorry for her friend.

Tang Yan didn't want to dwell on this topic any longer, so she quickly changed the subject: "You've only talked about me, what about you? I heard that Lao Liu wants to get back together with you?"

"I'm not like you. Once we break up, we break up cleanly. A good horse doesn't turn back to eat the grass it already grazed." Yang Mi's tone was resolute.

"Besides, I'm about to start my own business, so I have to focus all my energy on my work. I don't have the time or inclination to think about romance."

She has already resolved to become a career woman, and right now, love is far less important to her than her career.

The red carpet of the National Drama Awards has been laid out like a golden river. Stars dressed in gorgeous clothes walked in under the light, their flowing robes weaving a dazzling galaxy. The clamor of the crowd overflowed the barriers and surged into the night.

But no one noticed that the WeChat app on their phone in their pocket was brewing a silent revolution.

At the same time, the chill of the winter solstice was creeping up the windows of Tsinghua University.

Inside a female dormitory at Tsinghua University, Liu Yuqing curled up on the headboard, her fingertips twirling the earphone cord as she spoke to her mother via WeChat voice message.

"Mom, I'm not coming home tomorrow. My sister-in-law is picking me up to try on my bridesmaid dress, and then I'll stay at Jingyuan for one night. I'll go straight back to school on Sunday."

"Don't always bother your brother." The mother's words of advice carried a warm feeling.

"Okay," Liu Yuqing replied with a smile.

When I hung up the phone, a notification suddenly popped up at the top of my phone screen—WeChat version 4.0 update, adding Spring Festival red envelope function and optimizing voice communication experience.

"Red envelope?" Liu, the campus belle, paused slightly. Her brother's WeChat, which he treasured, hadn't added any new features in a long time.

I was thinking about it while I started updating.

As the update progress bar finished quickly and the WeChat icon lit up again, a new icon resembling a New Year's red envelope appeared at the bottom of the chat interface, with the words "Red Envelope" standing out prominently in the dimly lit dormitory.

"Is WeChat bugged? Where did this red envelope button come from?" My roommate Liu Jiajia exclaimed in surprise.

"Jiajia, don't jump around like that, you scared me." Yu Ying rolled her eyes and typed, "Are you stupid? Didn't you see the update notification? Don't you understand the new features?"

Liu Yuqing fiddled with it for a while, and just as she was about to tap the red envelope icon, her phone suddenly vibrated.

Upon opening my friends list, I saw a red envelope popping up next to my friend "Minnesota Iron Man's" profile picture.

A red envelope, as the name suggests, definitely involves money. Liu Yuqing hesitated for a long time, but curiosity eventually overcame her hesitation.

The moment I opened the red envelope, an animation exploded with tiny golden sparks—12.21 yuan. My WeChat balance increased by exactly the same amount, down to the last penny.

"Thank you, I'll try the new feature too," she replied, not wanting to owe anyone a favor.

Just as his fingertips were about to land, the Minnesota Iron Man replied instantly: "No need! Today is the Winter Solstice. I saw the WeChat update and sent this number as a Winter Solstice greeting."

“Then I’ll go send it to someone else.” As Liu Yuqing was typing, the other party suddenly sent a pleading message: “No, Yang Liu! We haven’t chatted for days. If you’re going to send a red envelope, send it to me instead.”

Liu Yuqing was taken aback for a moment, but still sent back a red envelope of the same amount.

The other party immediately sent a message after receiving it, their words brimming with joy: "Thank you, Yang Liu! Are you going home for the weekend tomorrow?"

"No reply," Liu Yuqing felt the topic was a bit deliberate, but still replied habitually, "My brother is getting married on New Year's Day, and I'm going to be a bridesmaid. I'm going to try on dresses tomorrow." "Then you'll definitely be prettier than the bride."

"My sister-in-law is very beautiful. She has a very gentle and elegant appearance. She's the epitome of the 'light-colored' beauty category."

"You're not bad either; you each have your own strengths."

"You talk as if you've ever seen me before," Liu Yuqing said, pursing her lips.

Minnesota Iron Man was a netizen she met through WeChat's Shake feature. The two chatted for over a year but never met in person, ultimately remaining just "Iron Man" on the other side of the screen.

In a male dormitory at a university in Hangzhou, the winter wind outside the window swirls withered leaves against the glass.

The Minnesota Iron Man sat at his desk, his phone screen so bright it was almost blinding, typing and deleting text repeatedly in his WeChat chat box.

He wanted Yang Liuyi to send a photo of herself trying on a bridesmaid dress, but his finger hovered over the send button. In the end, he didn't muster the courage and pressed delete.

Having chatted with this online friend for over a year, he had long since pieced together a picture of the person from the subtle clues in their social media posts: the ginkgo-lined path in Tsinghua University, the desk lamps in the library, and the occasional mention of family gatherings...

The purity and naivety hidden in his words, like the warm light in a winter night, made him repeatedly test the boundary between virtual and reality, willingly indulging in this gentle adventure.

Because they had never met, they could confide in each other without any reservations. The fantasy and anticipation, the excitement behind the screen, and the anonymous romance made him fall in love with Yang Liuyi without realizing it.

While I was still in a daze, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

My roommate leaned over and teased, "Ah Xing, staring at that Tsinghua girl again? You've been on this online dating spree for almost a year now, haven't you?"

Another roommate chimed in, adding insult to injury: "I bet five packs of spicy strips that she might be a 200-pound fat girl, otherwise why wouldn't she post photos for a year?"

With a soft hum, the Minnesota Iron Man unconsciously traced the screen with his fingertips: "Impossible."

“Well, you’re obsessed again.” My roommate shook his head and sighed. “But to be honest, your passion for ‘loving for love’ is quite pure. There’s no material entanglement, no complicated calculations, and none of the twists and turns of reality. That’s good.”

"She really doesn't have any photos on her WeChat Moments?" someone pressed. "Shouldn't we at least know what she looks like?"

"I've scrolled through it all, and all I see are scenes from Tsinghua University's campus, or just random snapshots." Minnesota Iron Man subconsciously clicked on Yang Liuyi's WeChat Moments.

My fingertips traced a sunset photo of a library—the photo was empty, yet it exuded an indescribable purity.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming: "But she's different."

"What's the difference?" her roommate poured cold water on her enthusiasm. "She's a top student from Tsinghua University, and her family seems well-off. She might just be using you as a casual online friend. I think it's just you having a one-sided crush."

The Minnesota Iron Man frowned, remaining silent. Those late-night sharing sessions, the instant replies to complaints, the tacit understanding to even match the amount of their red envelopes to the winter solstice date...

In the utopia built by words, everything reveals that Yang Liuyi is the person he most longs for in his heart.

“I’m going to take the postgraduate entrance exam to go to Beiping,” he suddenly said, his voice not loud, but with a hint of stubbornness, “to take the exam so I can see her.”

The roommates exchanged bewildered glances, ultimately shaking their heads in resignation. Everyone knew that this journey was fraught with uncertainty.

If things really go as planned, that "willow branches swaying" that only exists in words will probably become an irreplaceable part of Ah Xing's youthful memories, the brightest white moonlight in his heart.

After finishing her conversation with the Minnesota Iron Man, Liu Yuqing enthusiastically sent WeChat red envelopes to her friends, having a great time.

Yu Ying accepted the red envelope sent by Liu Yuqing, then turned to her quiet roommate Zhang Zetian beside her: "Xiao Tian, ​​why are you so quiet? What are you busy with?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zetian raised her elegant face and explained with a smile, "I was looking at Tengda Group's introduction to the WeChat red envelope function."

Yu Ying immediately became interested, leaned closer, and her gaze fell on Zhang Zetian's laptop screen.

Tenda Technology Group's official Weibo account just updated with the following post: Making sentiments readily available—WeChat 4.0 introduces the "WeChat Red Envelope" feature!
Dear WeChat users:

As the year draws to a close, warmth comes first! During this winter solstice season, a time for connecting us and spreading warmth, the Tenda WeChat team is thrilled to officially launch the core highlight feature of WeChat version 4.0 – "WeChat Red Packets" – to users worldwide!
This is not just a feature update, but also a warm innovation in the traditional way of conveying feelings, under our vision of "connecting everything".

I. What is a "WeChat Red Envelope"?
WeChat Red Envelopes are a brand-new electronic blessing tool built into the WeChat chat environment. It perfectly blends the millennia-old Chinese customs of "lucky money" and "gifts" with the convenience of the mobile internet.

With WeChat red envelopes, you can instantly send money carrying your blessings and good wishes to your relatives and friends in a highly ceremonial, safe, and convenient way, no matter where they are in the world.

II. Core Functional Highlights: Simple, Fun, and Directly Expressive

1. Two types of red envelopes, choose as you like:

Regular Red Envelope: Send a specific blessing! You can set a fixed amount and send it to a designated single friend or everyone in a group chat.

Suitable for occasions such as birthday wishes, expressions of gratitude, and gifts of fixed amounts, conveying a clear sentiment and undiminished affection.

Lucky draw red envelopes: ...

2. Extremely simple operation, only three steps required.

3. Customized blessings, adding a touch of heartfelt sentiment.

4. Clear and transparent collection and recording.
Friends will receive a prominent red envelope notification in the chat interface, with an "Open" button appearing prominently. Clicking the button will open the red envelope, and the amount will be instantly deposited into their WeChat Wallet.

The sender can clearly see in the WeChat Pay message or red envelope record: who received the red envelope, the amount received (for lucky draw red envelopes), and the status of the red envelope (whether it has been claimed or returned after expiration).

III. Safety and Security: We are going all out.

Tenda Technology Group and the WeChat team fully understand the importance of fund security; the WeChat Red Packet function is built upon WeChat Pay's robust security system.

IV. Limitless trial scenarios, connecting our true feelings.

V. Experience it now and let the warmth flow.

Tenda Technology Group and the WeChat team are committed to using technological innovation to enhance user experience and connect people emotionally.

The creation of WeChat red envelopes stems from our respect for traditional culture and our boundless vision for the future of mobile social networking.

We believe that this small electronic red envelope will carry the blessings and laughter of hundreds of millions of users, becoming a "palm-sized" bridge connecting us and spreading warmth this winter, during the upcoming Spring Festival, and every day in the future.

Let sentiments no longer be limited by distance; let blessings be within reach. WeChat red envelopes make every celebratory moment even warmer!

Sincerely, WeChat Product Team, Tenda Technology Group
Winter Solstice, December 21, 2012

(The second update will be a little later; there will also be a second update tomorrow.)

(End of this chapter)