Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 515 Settling in the Capital
Early in the morning, Zhao Liying walked briskly through the company's spacious and bright office area.

Today, she wore a taro purple dress, her slightly wavy long hair casually draped over her shoulders, and her makeup was stunning, radiating the charm of a superstar.

"Good morning, Sister Ying!" "Sister Liying, you look great today!"

Amidst the rising and falling greetings, the warmth was palpable. Zhao Liying smiled slightly and nodded in response to each greeting.

Once upon a time, she was just an insignificant nobody who needed to greet people first. Now, she has finally risen to a respected senior position in the company.

He was filled with emotion, but showed no sign of it on his face; only his eyes revealed a calm and composed demeanor.

"I brought coffee and milk tea for everyone and left them at the front desk. Please go and get them yourselves."

A small cheer suddenly erupted in the office area.

"Thank you, Sister Ying!" "Long live Sister Ying!"

Amidst cheers and expressions of gratitude, Zhao Liying smiled and pushed open the door to her agent's office.

Ge Maoliang was intently staring at the computer screen when he heard the door open. He looked up and gestured for Zhao Liying to sit down opposite him.

"Liying's here? Have a seat." Her voice held an incredulous exclamation. "How rare!"
It's surprising that a poorly made short drama like "Unexpectedly" could become so popular.

In comparison, at least "Men's Diary" has quite a few celebrity cameos to keep things going!

Zhao Liying gracefully took her seat. She had also been paying attention to this dark horse short drama that had suddenly appeared a few days ago.

LeTV, Youku, and iQiyi have been engaged in fierce competition and frequent moves recently, leaving netizens eagerly anticipating what big moves industry leader ByteDance Video will make to solidify its dominance.

Unexpectedly, what we got was a mini-series with a unique style and a strong "grassroots" feel.

"Unexpectedly" quickly swept the entire internet with its unique dry humor, absurd plot, and barrage of laughs.

The line from the show, "Become CEO and marry a rich and beautiful woman," has become a popular meme among young people.

This has once again impressed many industry insiders and netizens, who agree that Toutiao Video truly lives up to its reputation as an industry leader; when it does release a product, it's a blockbuster that ignites the market.

Ge Maoliang shifted his gaze from the computer screen to the female celebrity in front of him, who was already one of the company's pillars.

The huge success of "Unexpected" proves that the previously overlooked micro-drama market has enormous potential.

The company is also paying more attention to Dapeng's "Men's Diary 3".

If you have time, you could do a cameo role or two in it, just to show your face. It would be a way to show your support and increase your exposure.

"No problem, Mr. Ge." Zhao Liying readily agreed. It was just a small favor, and she was happy to do someone a favor.

"Dapeng is indeed a talented and insightful person."

Ge Maoliang spoke calmly, revealing a hint of appreciation, "The company has initially decided to support his transition to film directing."

Da Peng is preparing the script himself; whether it will be successful depends on his luck and ability.

The speaker may not have meant anything by it, but the listener pays close attention.

Zhao Liying felt a slight stirring in her heart, recalling the several new directors that the company had supported in recent years, all of whom had delivered impressive results and established themselves in the film industry.

Da Peng has already proven his comedic talent and audience appeal in the online drama field. If he can get preferential treatment from his company and transition to the big screen, he may well be able to replicate his success.

He silently kept this information in his heart.

In the entertainment industry, connections and vision are equally important. Establishing good relationships with promising creators in advance is often the beginning of a win-win situation.

Ge Maoliang straightened up slightly, and the conversation officially got down to business. When artists return to the company, the core issue is naturally discussing their upcoming work arrangements.

He casually pulled a bound script from a stack of documents on the table, handed it over, and began to introduce it.

"Juku Culture has recently put together an urban romance drama project, which is adapted from Gu Man's novel."

They felt your image and temperament were a perfect fit for the female lead, and strongly encouraged you to take the role.

Zhao Liying curiously took the script, her gaze sweeping over the title "Shan Shan Comes to Eat" on the cover. She couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Oh, it's a novel by Gu Man. I really like her stories; they're lighthearted and heartwarming. I've read this one, 'Shan Shan Comes to Eat.'"

Ge Maoliang nodded and further explained: "Gu Man's novels are indeed very suitable for film and television adaptations. They are emotionally delicate and have a strong readership."

The copyrights to several early novels, such as "My Sunshine" and "Love O2O," are still held by the company and have not been touched for the time being.

She published "Shan Shan Comes to Eat" two years ago, but the copyright was snapped up by Croton Media.

Now, Juku Culture has approached us, hoping to collaborate on development. After evaluating the project, our company found it feasible and agreed.

This can be considered a trial run. If the market response is good, the company can then move on to adapt Gu Man's other novels into film and television.

He paused, then looked at Zhao Liying, "That's roughly the situation. If you're willing to take on this role, I'll officially reply to Juku."

Zhao Liying gently stroked the script cover with her fair fingers, not answering immediately. Although she liked the original work, she couldn't accept projects solely based on personal preference.

She looked up at her agent, her eyes asking, "Mr. Ge, from your professional perspective, should I take this project?"

Ge Maoliang paused briefly, then analyzed clearly: "I think it's a good idea. The script is solid, and Gu Man's works have a solid fanbase."

While urban idol dramas may lack depth, they are remarkably effective at attracting fans and solidifying popularity.

He then deliberately emphasized his tone, "More importantly, I need your popularity to reach the next level!"
Next, the company plans to secure some high-end fashion resources for you. A large audience base and sustained high popularity are important bargaining chips in negotiations.

After listening to her agent's professional advice with a long-term perspective, Zhao Liying already had her answer.

She nodded slightly, making her decision: "Alright, since you say so, Mr. Ge, then I'll accept! But..." she then asked with a slight hesitation, "Has the male lead been cast? Who is it?"

"Zhang Han. His popularity, built up through several idol dramas, is relatively stable, and his appearance also meets the requirements of the roles."

"Zhang Han, he's alright, I guess." Zhao Liying's tone was flat, but involuntarily, various rumors about Zhang Han's highly publicized girlfriend, Deng Shuang, flashed through her mind.

That girl has a rather unconventional style and often causes trouble. I just hope this collaboration goes smoothly and that it won't be affected by any off-screen factors, causing unnecessary trouble.

"By the way, Mr. Ge, what's the schedule for this drama? I might not be able to find the time recently," Zhao Liying said, remembering another important matter. "Filming is expected to start in the fall," Ge Maoliang replied, looking puzzled. "Do you have any special plans lately? Apart from a few commercial shoots and magazine interviews, I haven't scheduled any other work for you yet."

Mentioning this, Zhao Liying's face instantly lit up with a bright and radiant smile, and even her voice was filled with uncontrollable joy.

"I need to get busy with the house renovation! Finally, I'll have a real home in Beiping!"

"You bought a house?" Ge Maoliang looked slightly surprised, then nodded knowingly. "Congratulations! Which location did you buy in?"

He knew all too well how difficult it was for celebrities like these, who were often hampered by the household registration policy, to buy a house and settle down in Beiping.

"Yes! In the east of the sun." Zhao Liying's eyes crinkled with joy, unable to hide her happiness.

He cherishes and anticipates this first property, which represents most of his savings and symbolizes his commitment to settling down in this city. He has already decided to personally participate in every detail of the design and renovation.

"Sunny East, what a great place. Congratulations, that's really not easy," Ge Maoliang said sincerely.

What often prevents many celebrities from buying a house in Beijing is not their income, but rather the restrictions on their eligibility to purchase a house. He himself is still renting a house in Beijing because of his household registration issue.

"Yes, it's been five years," Zhao Liying sighed softly, her voice tinged with weariness and relief. "It's really not easy to settle down in Beiping!"

Although Tenda Technology Group is a multinational corporation, it receives a very limited number of Beijing residency quotas each year, which are usually allocated to top technical talents.

Even top-tier celebrities like them have virtually no chance to enjoy the benefits of settling down with the group.

According to the policy, non-Beijing residents must provide proof of having paid social insurance and personal income tax continuously in Beiping for five years or more in order to be eligible to participate in the lottery for purchasing a house in Beiping.

Over the past five years, she worked diligently and finally reached the required years of service. During this time, she also used connections to help others and successfully bought the house.

Ge Maoliang also sighed a couple of times, then composed himself and steered the conversation back to work: "There's some good news too."

Next month, for the Magnolia Awards ceremony, the company went to great lengths to secure you an Elie Saab haute couture gown from the current season, and you'll be the first in Asia to wear it.

"Oh! Really? Thank you so much, President Ge!" Zhao Liying was overjoyed upon hearing this, and her voice rose several octaves.

For female celebrities, the red carpet is nothing short of a war without gunfire.

A haute couture gown from a top brand, especially when worn for the first time, can not only increase media attention and generate buzz, but also serve as an important benchmark for measuring a female celebrity's fashion status and commercial value.

“Some netizens have been criticizing your style, saying you look unfashionable,” Ge Maoliang stated calmly.

"I've discussed this issue with Mr. Liu, so the company has decided to replace you with a completely new stylist team."

This Magnolia Awards red carpet event is the first important test of the new team's achievements.

He waved his hand and continued, "Although the company has taken the lead in the fashion industry thanks to Chairman Song's connections, it has also maintained a good relationship with European high-end luxury brands."

But you are not wives, and brands will not easily grant you high-level endorsement contracts just because of your relationship.

Fashion sense, sales conversion ability, and critical acclaim for one's work are all indispensable. Therefore, this aspect cannot be taken lightly.

“I understand, Mr. Ge.” Zhao Liying nodded solemnly, clearly understanding the difference.

The First Lady has a special status. As the wife of the richest man, she can bring a high level of style and social influence to the brand. The brand invites her to be its spokesperson mainly because of her status.

For female celebrities like them, brands have much more realistic considerations, requiring solid popularity, data, and market recognition.

Even with a good working relationship at the company level, you still need to rely on your own solid strength to get a high-value endorsement title.

After the important work matters were basically discussed, Zhao Liying stood up and gently straightened her skirt: "Then, Mr. Ge, if there's nothing else, I'll go see Ms. Liu and say hello to her."

“President Liu is not in the company.” Ge Maoliang gestured for her to calm down. “She went to South Korea with President Zhou from Toutiao Video. They just left yesterday.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liying sat down again and asked curiously, "Going to South Korea? Is there some important cooperation to discuss?"

"Yes. Mr. Liu personally went to discuss some in-depth strategic cooperation, which may involve co-production projects;"

On President Zhou's side, the plan is to purchase a large number of copyrights for popular Korean dramas to enrich the content library of Toutiao Video.

Zhao Liying nodded thoughtfully: "These days, the video websites are really using all their ingenuity to attract users and seize the market."

“This is an inevitable trend,” Ge Maoliang agreed. “Nowadays, online platforms have taken over half of the TV drama broadcasting market, and almost no drama can be broadcast online.”

Web series, and even the "online first, then TV" model, will likely become one of the mainstream trends in the future.

The two chatted for a few more minutes about industry trends before Zhao Liying got up to say goodbye. As she left her agent's office, she felt her steps were lighter.

Passing through the still bustling office area, outside the window are the azure sky and towering buildings of Beiping, the city where she had struggled for five years and finally settled down.

Time flies, and it's already late May. On the 20th, it was already sunset.

Inside the spacious conference room of the railway group's headquarters, representatives from several of the country's top technology companies were either talking in hushed tones or frequently glancing at their watches, creating a subtly tense atmosphere.

Starting at nine in the morning, the long wait of more than eight hours had already worn down everyone's energy and spirits, and many people's faces showed fatigue and impatience.

Tea was changed again and again, and the snacks on the table went untouched. Everyone's attention was focused on the tightly closed door to the bidding evaluation room next door.

Xiao Jianguang, Chief Technology Officer of Cloud Computing at Tenda Technology, stood by the window, gazing at the magnificent sunset, his brows slightly furrowed.

The composure and confidence that usually comes from technological superiority are now stirred by the long wait, causing ripples in his heart, and his fingertips unconsciously tap on the window frame.

Logically speaking, given the technical solution submitted by Tenda Technology and the company's globally leading strength in the field of cloud computing, this bid should have been a sure thing.

However, the fact that the results have not yet been announced, and the unusual signs of this, gave him a sense of foreboding.

His biggest concern is whether Alibaba Group will use the double-edged sword of "ultra-low prices" to snatch this nationally significant project, even at a loss.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jianguang's heart sank.

Just as the whispers in the meeting room grew louder, the door to the adjacent bid evaluation room finally opened with a creak.

A staff member leaned out, glanced across the conference room, and raised his voice to ask, "Is Mr. Xiao Jianguang, the bidding representative of Tengda Technology, here?"

(End of this chapter)