Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 510 A Dazzling Array of Flowers

Bright sunlight streamed through the eaves of the antique-style buildings in Hengdian, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone pavement of the "The Imperial Doctress" film set.

In the afternoon, during a break from filming, the atmosphere was relaxed and subtle.

In a corner of the film set, next to a prop box, two production assistants stole a half-day of leisure.

Xiao Zhang sat on a small stool, his gaze passing over the busy staff and landing on the spacious resting shed in the distance, which belonged exclusively to the female lead.

He nudged his colleague, who was sipping coffee, with his elbow and said, "What a lucky day it is today? All the ladies visiting the set are flocking here."

Xiao Li slowly swallowed his coffee, looking completely unfazed.

"Who cares? Why bother with something that's fallen from the sky? It's a good thing that someone's visiting the set. Let's all get some free food together."

Not long ago, Tang Yan arrived with her "heartfelt wishes," and then Jing Tian also arrived gracefully.

When the two big stars came to visit the lead actress on set, they naturally didn't come empty-handed. Milk tea, coffee, fruit, and all kinds of pastries were piled up almost all over the set.

This made even grassroots crew members like Xiao Zhang and Xiao Li happy to enjoy this unexpected benefit.

"That's true." Xiao Zhang took a big sip of his bubble tea with relish, chewing on the chewy black tapioca pearls, his eyes glancing towards the rest area.

"I have a feeling this isn't over yet. Maybe some important guests will be arriving soon? The film crew is really having a lively time today."

In the distance, inside the female lead's resting shed, a different scene unfolded, a dazzling display of starlight.

Tang Yan, Jing Tian, ​​and a group of actresses including Jin Chen, Li Chengyuan, Hu Bingqing, and Yuan Bingyan, who were also filming on set and had come to join in the fun, surrounded Liu Shishi, who was dressed in a gorgeous costume, like stars surrounding the moon.

The air was filled with the sounds of warbling birds and the gentle laughter of children, creating a joyful and harmonious atmosphere.

Tang Yan sat affectionately next to Liu Shishi, her beautiful eyes darting around as she carefully examined the elaborately embroidered and elegantly colored costume worn by the leading lady.

A hint of calculation was hidden within the sincere praise:
"Shishi, this Mingfei costume is absolutely stunning. It looks so elegant and graceful on you. The costume and makeup team of Tangren Media is truly meticulous."

While praising her, he was secretly calculating in his mind:
"Perfect Couple" will most likely finish filming and post-production around the same time as the first female lead's "The Imperial Doctress," so their broadcast schedules must be kept separate.

We also need to avoid the production team of the popular drama "Joy of Life" next door.

Those in the industry know that viewers' time and attention are limited within a given timeframe, and most people can only watch one drama a day.

Once a big-budget, highly-rated drama series becomes a hit, it acts like a giant sponge, absorbing the vast majority of viewership and online buzz, leaving other dramas airing at the same time with extremely limited room to survive.

For dramas starring top actresses like Liu Shishi, who have strong viewership appeal, the presence of a leading lady is something that all competitors in the same time slot need to be wary of, or even actively avoid.

Jing Tian, ​​on the other hand, was much quieter, holding a cup of warm tea and focusing his gaze more on the First Sister herself.

Watching Liu Shishi's every move, every smile and frown revealing her gentle and graceful charm, it seemed as if it wasn't an act.

Rather, it exudes a classical elegance from its very core, blending seamlessly with the surrounding antique environment in a way that is truly astonishing.

She secretly admired her: Senior Sister is indeed a chosen one from the ancient times. This sense of immersion, as if she had traveled through time, is definitely not something that can be achieved overnight.

Tang Yan glanced at Jing Tian, ​​who was quietly drinking tea beside her, and a sense of irritation inexplicably rose in her heart.

If she had known he would be coming today, she would have changed the date for her visit.

Now everyone is sitting in a circle, which seems lively but is meaningless. There is no chance to speak to Liu Shishi alone.

She had originally planned to help her boyfriend Luo Jin get the male lead role in "Lady & Thief," but under the watchful eyes of everyone, she absolutely couldn't bring herself to say it.

Left with no other choice, they had to keep looking for topics to talk about and try to maintain the lively atmosphere, hoping to solidify their sisterly bond first.

Seemingly remembering something, she turned to the eldest sister, her face showing concern: "Shishi, I heard that 'The Imperial Doctress' is director Li Guoli's final work? After filming this, he will retire completely and no longer act?"

Liu Shishi took a small sip of water, put down her glass upon hearing this, nodded in confirmation, and her eyes revealed respect and regret.

"Yes! After filming 'The Imperial Doctress,' he'll go home to enjoy his grandchildren and live a good life."

"Oh, what a pity." Tang Yan immediately cooperated by showing a regretful expression.

She first gained attention for her role as Zi Xuan in "Chinese Paladin 3" and even thought about having the opportunity to work with Li Guoli again.

She sighed softly, her gaze seemingly piercing through time: "It feels like the days of filming 'Chinese Paladin 3' were just yesterday, and so many years have passed in the blink of an eye."

Speaking of which, it seems like it's been a long time since any of us main actors from 'Chinese Paladin' have gotten together. It would be wonderful if we could all get together sometime."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi simply smiled gently, her voice soft yet pointing out the reality:
"Everyone's busy with their own things right now, it's hard to coordinate schedules. Besides, Lao Hu and Mimi..."

The words were left unsaid, but everyone present understood the unspoken meaning. As time flows and people change, the friendships formed on screen may not necessarily translate into the complex realities of the entertainment industry.

Jing Tian exclaimed, cleverly steer the slightly sentimental topic toward a positive note: "Chinese Paladin 3 is truly a star-making masterpiece."

"A single drama launched the careers of five A-list stars; looking across the entire entertainment industry, it seems no other drama has achieved such a remarkable feat."

These words immediately resonated with the other girls present, and Jin Chen, Li Chengyuan, and others nodded in agreement.

Of the six main actors in "Chinese Paladin 3", only Yuan Hong's career has been slightly less successful, with her status hovering around the second tier.

The other five are all top-tier celebrities, especially Liu Shishi and Yang Mi, who are among the most popular.

This fantasy drama, with its unique charm and star-making ability, has created an industry legend that is still talked about today, a fact that no one can deny.

At this moment, the richest man's convoy has arrived in Hengdian.

Outside the car, extras dressed in various costumes were either resting by the roadside or hurrying to the film set, interspersed with excited tourists taking photos with their mobile phones.

Inside the car, Sun Tongyu was completely unmoved by this "world within the play".

Leaning forward, facing Song Ci, his expression focused and serious: "President Song, the new platform must differentiate itself from competitors."

We absolutely cannot compete head-on with Taobao and JD.com in areas where they have an advantage, such as apparel, cosmetics, 3C digital products, and home appliances.

He became more and more engrossed in his speech, his eyes shining, and his finger even gesturing in the air:
"The entry point must be the category that is weakest in their industrial chain and that they look down on the most, such as fresh fruits, household goods, and fast-moving consumer goods."

Imagine a housewife from a third-tier city initiating a group-buying link for mangoes in a WeChat group.

Based on social relationships, this link spread rapidly and multiplied, quickly gathering 20 or even 50 people.

Sun Tongyu's tone became increasingly excited, "She bought goods directly from the place of origin and eliminated all intermediate links at an astonishingly low group-buying price."

Not only did it save money, but it also gave people a sense of participation and joy in finding bargains together with friends and accomplishing something together.

For orchards, the "pre-sale group buying" model enables them to produce according to demand, process large orders at once, and reduce storage losses and price pressure from middlemen.

This is a win-win, or even multi-win, situation! The essence of this model is something that Taobao and JD.com simply cannot replicate!

Seeing Sun Tongyu's enthusiastic, even somewhat engrossed state, Song Ci chuckled softly, interrupting him with a hint of helplessness and teasing:
"Alright, Lao Sun. Your brain hasn't stopped working since we left Hangzhou for Hengdian; it's been all about e-commerce plans. Take a break; your CPU is about to burn out."

I brought you to Hengdian to help you relax, not to hold a mobile strategy seminar. From this moment on, no more work-related discussions, especially about e-commerce.

Sun Tongyu was taken aback by this "order," then realized what was happening and quickly assured them, "It's my fault! I won't say anything more, relax, completely relax!"

I turned my gaze to the window and tried to focus my attention on the antique-style buildings along the way.

"Speaking of which, Hangzhou is not far from Hengdian, but this is my first time here. I'll take this opportunity to visit and see how TV dramas are filmed."

After a brief silence, gazing out the window at the figures rushing about to film, I don't know what chord in my heart was touched.

Suddenly, he let out a soft sigh, his words filled with endless emotion, reminiscence, and wistfulness: "President Song, I truly envy you and your wife. Childhood sweethearts, perfectly matched in love."

In this era where self-interest reigns supreme and people are restless, to have such love is truly an extremely fortunate and beautiful thing.

He paused, his voice tinged with undisguised melancholy, "Everyone says that the future is more important than love, but only after experiencing it do you realize that a sincere love is often more precious than a bright future."

Upon hearing this, Song Ci fell silent for a moment, realizing that Peng Lei's incident had deeply affected him, a trauma that outsiders could hardly empathize with.

Carefully choosing his words, he gently comforted him: "Old Sun, you still have a long and wonderful life ahead of you, full of endless possibilities. Perhaps in the near future, you will meet the right person again."

You'll find that the right person won't be an obstacle to your future; she will understand and support you, stand firmly in your path, and walk alongside you.

Sun Tongyu kept his gaze fixed on the scenery rushing past the window, and let out a long sigh, as if he wanted to release all the pent-up emotions in his chest.

"I hope so! But I don't have the time or the inclination to think about romance right now. I just want to get the new company up and running. That's the right thing to do."

Seeing this, Song Ci reached out and patted his shoulder firmly, her tone light and encouraging:

"That's right! Stop looking so bitter and resentful. Cheer up! Look at the wonderful world outside!" As they talked, the vehicle arrived at the gate of the "The Imperial Doctress" film crew.

Having learned from her previous experiences visiting the set, Song Ci instructed the driver to drive the car directly inside to avoid parking at the entrance and causing unnecessary crowds and congestion.

Liu Shishi's two assistants, Lin Xia and Su Xiaoxiao, had already been notified and were waiting at the door.

Upon seeing the black luxury car approach, they quickly signaled the security guards to raise the gate. The car slowly drove in, and the rear window rolled down.

Lin Xia and Su Xiaoxiao saw Song Ci in the car and greeted him respectfully: "Hello, Chairman Song! Senior Sister is over at the rest area. You can see her as you drive the car in."

The car continued deeper into the film set.

After getting off the car, Song Ci looked at Sun Tongyu, who was curiously looking around at the various filming equipment and ancient costume scenes, and a mischievous feeling rose in her heart.

He chuckled lightly, teasingly repeating his earlier words: "Old Sun, stop thinking about fishing and those old things. Look at the prosperity of this world, the flowers blooming in all their glory, and your mood will naturally improve."

On the other side, Liu Shishi, who was talking with others in the rest area, spotted her husband in the distance and her face instantly lit up with a bright and delighted smile.

Ignoring the crowd around him, he immediately stood up and walked briskly to meet them.

This action immediately drew surprised glances from Tang Yan, Jing Tian, ​​and others. The female celebrities looked in the direction indicated and then realized that it was the richest man who had arrived.

"Oh! Mr. Song is here too!" Hu Bingqing's eyes widened instantly, and he subconsciously nudged Yuan Bingyan next to him with his elbow, exclaiming in a low voice.

The last time Song Ci visited the set of "Silent Notebook", the two of them were also there, but unfortunately they didn't even get a chance to go up and say a word. I didn't expect to run into them again today.

Jin Chen's eyes lit up, and he cleverly suggested, "Since President Song is here, we can't just sit here. It would be impolite of us to go over and greet him."

“That makes sense.” “Let’s go together.” Everyone agreed, quickly tidying their appearance and following Liu Shishi to greet her.

Liu Shishi walked quickly to Song Ci, her face beaming with uncontainable joy, her voice brimming with excitement: "Husband!"

Their words were filled with the intimacy and longing of a couple reunited after a long separation.

Following behind, a group of actresses including Tang Yan, Jing Tian, ​​and Jin Chen greeted him in a cacophony of sweet voices: "Hello, Chairman Song!" "Good afternoon, Mr. Song!"

Song Ci smiled aloofly yet politely and nodded slightly to everyone, saying, "Hello, everyone."

While Liu Shishi was happy, her gaze fell on the slightly reserved and unremarkable middle-aged man next to her husband, and she asked with curiosity, "Honey, who is this?"

Song Ci introduced with a smile: "This is Mr. Sun Tongyu, the founder of Taobao and my new partner. I brought him to the film set today to relax and unwind."

These words seemed to possess extraordinary magic, instantly attracting the attention of all the female celebrities, and everyone's eyes "whoosh" focused on Sun Tongyu.

Just now, no one paid attention to the seemingly dull middle-aged man in front of them, who was wearing an ordinary polo shirt.

But at this moment, the combined honorary titles of "Father of Taobao" and "New Partner of the Richest Man" reflect the dazzling light of top-tier resources, capital, and powerful connections in their eyes.

Liu Shishi immediately displayed the remarkable demeanor of a hostess, smiling and nodding to Sun Tongyu: "Mr. Sun, hello, welcome to the film crew."

Sun Tongyu was caught off guard by the attention of a group of glamorous female celebrities. He hurriedly returned the greeting, saying, "Hello, Madam, I apologize for disturbing you."

Behind the top female boss, the girls, each with their own agendas, were not to miss this opportunity to get acquainted with the big boss. They immediately greeted him in unison with even sweeter voices and brighter smiles: "Hello, President Sun."

Liu Shishi smiled gently, took her husband's arm with graceful poise, and extended an invitation to Sun Tongyu:
"Mr. Sun, please come to the rest area and have a cup of tea. My husband and I will be hosting a dinner tonight, please do us the honor of joining us."

Song Ci's lips curled into a mischievous smile.

"Shishi, Lao Sun is a 'single aristocrat.' He used to be busy with work every day, but later... he just kept thinking about fishing."

I brought him to the film set specifically so that he could have a change of scenery and relax.

"I'll arrange for a reliable person to show Lao Sun around the film set later, so he can see a different side of 'human life'."

The word "single" was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples in the hearts of the female celebrities, and their gazes toward Sun Tongyu became even more intense.

This is a true internet mogul and the newly appointed partner of the richest man in China. Although actresses are glamorous, they rarely have the opportunity to come into contact with people at this level.

Liu Shishi sensed the teasing and deeper meaning in her husband's words, and couldn't help but give him a reproachful glance, but she didn't refute him, only her smile deepened.

The group moved to a spacious rest area and sat down.

Tang Yan took the initiative, revealing a sweet smile and speaking in a soft, gentle voice: "President Sun, I've heard so much about you! I never imagined you were so young and accomplished!"
To be honest, I buy almost all my daily necessities from Taobao now! Although she has a boyfriend, it doesn't stop her from getting closer to the big shot.

Seeing that Tang Yan had seized the initiative, Jin Chen could no longer contain himself. He leaned forward slightly, his bright eyes filled with curiosity as he looked at Sun Tongyu.

His tone was urgent yet tinged with just the right amount of admiration: "Mr. Sun, Mr. Sun! May I ask you a question?"

I've always wanted to open an online store, selling clothes or handmade jewelry. Do you think there's still a chance for a small shop like mine in the current market?

Seeing this, Li Chengyuan silently got up and brought over a pot of freshly brewed, fragrant flower tea.

Her voice was gentle as water, and her actions were considerate: "Chairman Song, Sister Shi, President Sun, the weather is dry, have some hot tea to soothe your throat."

He first handed a cup of clear, warm tea to Sun Tongyu: "Mr. Sun, is this your first time on set?"

She takes the route of being intellectual, considerate, and understanding, which contrasts sharply with Tang Yan's sweetness and Jin Chen's directness.

Seeing Li Chengyuan, who is usually quite low-key and taciturn on set, so openly displaying her gentleness, Jin Chen couldn't help but secretly grumble to herself:
"Sure enough, none of the women in this circle are easy to deal with. They're usually quiet, but they really know how to get things done when it matters!"

As newcomers, Hu Bingqing and Yuan Bingyan were eager to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain exposure.

He quickly followed Jin Chen's lead, nodding repeatedly like a curious child, trying to make his presence known: "Yes, yes, Mr. Sun, we really want to try it too!"
Could you tell us some special tips or things to pay attention to when opening an online store?

Suddenly, I was surrounded by a group of beautiful women who smelled wonderful, were radiant, and had charming smiles. They showered me with compliments, advice, and caring concern like sugar-coated bullets.

Having experienced a divorce and grown accustomed to the tedium of business negotiations and the tranquility of fishing by the lake, Sun Tongyu had never encountered anything like this before.
She was instantly stunned, feeling only the chirping of birds in her ears and the dazzling sight before her eyes. Her face involuntarily flushed slightly, and she could only awkwardly accept the tea from Li Chengyuan.

Then, mechanically, she replied, "Thank you! You flatter me... You're too kind... This online store..."

The renowned e-commerce guru was at a loss, like a greenhorn fresh out of school.

Song Ci leisurely embraced his wife, watching with great interest, a playful smile always on his lips.

He thought to himself: Old Sun followed Old Ma to start the business in his early years and suffered a lot. He slept in the company every day. Just when Alibaba was starting to improve, he was "dismissed from his post with a cup of wine". He didn't get to enjoy his good fortune for long.

Later, his marriage broke down, and he became even more depressed, spending his days with the lake and fishing rod. When did he ever experience the glamorous world of the entertainment industry, with its "swords and shadows" and "soft and sweet" atmosphere?

Judging from his current appearance, he looks exactly like a raw recruit who has just entered the battlefield, completely panicked.

Watching the female celebrities, each displaying their unique talents and subtly vying for attention, Song Ci leaned close to his wife's ear and whispered, "Honey, do you think any of them have the ability to take down this 'Father of Taobao'?"

Liu Shishi felt her ears burning, secretly pinched her husband's inside arm, and glared at him reproachfully.

She gestured to him with her eyes, signaling him to "tone it down, don't be so naughty," feeling that her husband's "the more the merrier" mentality was utterly despicable.

Seeing Sun Tongyu blushing and almost cornered by this gentle embrace, he was nearly incoherent.

Song Ci then slowly cleared her throat, as if just coming to her senses, and stepped in to defuse the situation. She skillfully steered the conversation back to Jin Chen's initial question:

"The cost of acquiring traffic for opening a store is now extremely high, and the platform's golden age is long gone. Without supply chain advantages or brand effect, the success rate is probably less than 5%."

The moment the richest man opened his mouth, his commanding presence instantly brought the somewhat off-topic atmosphere back to the realm of serious business discussion.

Sun Tongyu finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling both amused and exasperated: back when he started his business with Lao Ma, he endured all kinds of hardships, from wind and rain to sleeping in the open.
When he returned home, his ex-wife Peng Lei was a career woman with a strong personality. He had never experienced such a dizzying "gentle offensive" before.
After being "rescued" by Song Ci, he looked at the female celebrities who had temporarily quieted down, but whose eyes were still fixed on him, clearly not having given up yet.

Reflecting on the arrangement of the Song poem and the expression on his face as he watched the play, a sudden realization dawned on him, and he instantly understood the true "deeper meaning" behind the richest man bringing him to the film set today.

A helpless, bitter smile welled up in his heart: "President Song's way of relaxing is truly unique and irresistible!"

However, the process was incredibly awkward, leaving this technically-trained manager feeling extremely embarrassed.

But being adored by a group of beautiful female celebrities felt like a warm current, truly dispelling the pent-up frustration in my heart.

Suddenly, it became clear that even without Alibaba, Sun Tongyu is still himself!

His experience, insight, and energy remain top-tier and scarce resources in the industry, which is why he is still valued so highly by the richest man and why he still commands so much recognition!

He can still stir up a storm and start a brand new career!

A long-lost, almost forgotten confidence and fighting spirit, like tender buds in early spring, have been revitalized.

Looking at this bizarre and dazzling film set, his eyes gradually changed.

(End of this chapter)