Reborn as a comedic artist

"Strategy...? Aren't we supposed to be artists? Why are we getting into military strategy...?"

Wang Shuo let out a burp and brought his greasy face closer.

"Does being an artist mean you don't need to eat...? You don't need to worry about being stabbed in the back...?"

Cheng Ming rolled his eyes at him, then grabbed a few napkins from the table and threw them at Wang Shuo's big face.

Wang Shuo frantically grabbed a napkin and wiped his chubby face haphazardly: "Hehe, as long as I follow my godfather, I'll do anything, from building high walls to repairing the Great Wall! What do you say we do...!"

Joking aside, everyone's ears perked up.

This past month has felt like a dream. Now that we've woken up, everyone is afraid of returning to that mundane reality.

Cheng Ming took a deep breath, the air in the private room filled with the mixture of food and alcohol, and the burning sensation made him even more awake.

He spoke, his voice not loud, yet it drowned out all the noise.

"The studio is just a small-scale operation. In the future, we will be dealing with platforms and capital. I plan to start a media company."

As soon as he finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the private room.

Start a company?

It's only been a few days since it became popular? Isn't it taking too big a step?

The chicken nugget in Li Qiang's mouth fell into the plate. Lin Yiyi's almond-shaped eyes widened, and even Gu Xiao, who had seen the world, tightened her grip on her wine glass slightly.

We all prosper together, and we all suffer together!

Cheng Ming, who was about to build a community of shared interests, ignored the surprised expressions of the crowd and said, "Through the filming of the Shuyin Trilogy, everyone here has worked together very well, whether it's the production crew, actors, composers, filming, or post-production editing. You are all talented people…!"

"Next, I will use all the profits from the 'Shuyin Trilogy' as seed money to register a company. Everyone here is a veteran. Since everyone recognizes me so much, of course we should make money together..."

Chollima often has it, but Bole doesn't often have it.

Without Cheng Ming, Li Qiang and the others would still be lifting weights at the gym, the three music sisters would still be fighting to the death with Abbess Miejue, and Wang Shuo and Li Feng would just be keyboard warriors flaming others in the game, now just working slaves after graduation.

As for Huang Yuxi, she might be a little better, but she's basically just following the established routine...!

"Done...!"

Li Qiang was the first to shout, veins bulging on his neck: "Brother Ming, whatever you say goes! I'll give you a toast!"

"Count me in. I'll also toast you..."

"Yes, and me too...!"

.............

Cheng Ming gestured for everyone to calm down.

"Since it's a company, there must be rules. The establishment of a company is just a shell. The key is how to fill that shell and how to make it work."

"As I just said, the first step is to build high walls."

Cheng Ming's gaze swept over the mess on the table and landed precisely on Gu Xiao.

This usually aloof "housekeeper" had a hazy yet lucid gaze.

"Gu Xiao".

"exist."

Gu Xiao put down her wine glass, sat up straight, and exuded an air of elite sophistication that seemed ingrained in her very being.

"You're meticulous, and your family has a business background, so you're familiar with this process. I'll put you in charge of the company registration, finance, and legal affairs..."

"You must hire professional accountants and legal counsel to carefully calculate every expense. In this industry, you can earn less money, but you must keep everything clean..."

At this point, his expression became unusually serious.

"We must never cross the legal red line; that's the bottom line! There will be many people watching us on the internet from now on. One wrong step and we'll be in deep trouble."

In this era where traffic is king, Cheng Ming had seen too many stories of people rising to great heights and then collapsing in his previous life.

Many top internet celebrities have disappeared overnight due to tax issues, leaving no trace.

Gu Xiao felt a slight chill run down her spine as she looked at Cheng Ming's serious face.

She never expected that Cheng Ming, who was usually playful and quirky and somewhat abstract, would be more cautious on matters of principle than those seasoned veterans who had been in the business world for years.

This contrast made the light in her eyes shine even brighter.

This is the kind of person who can achieve great things.

"Leave it to me."

Gu Xiao nodded slightly, her voice clear and firm: "I will keep a close eye on it. I will calculate the source and destination of every single penny. There will be absolutely no problems in this regard."

When it comes to serious matters, she doesn't need unnecessary words; a simple promise is enough.

After arranging things for Gu Xiao, Cheng Ming turned his gaze to Huang Yuxi, who was sitting on the other side.

The beautiful counselor was resting her chin on her hand, watching him give orders with great interest, as if she were watching her beloved child finally succeed...

"Advisor."

"Hey, I'm here. What are your instructions, Boss Cheng?" Huang Yuxi teased, a smile playing on her lips.

Don't make fun of me.

Cheng Ming smiled, his tone softening slightly: "You should be very familiar with the company's overall operations, how to connect with the platform, how to select partners, and especially how to utilize the school's resources..."

"After all, we are still students starting a business. It's good to have a powerful backer. We should still make use of the Shuyin brand..."

The school not only has venues and equipment, but also countless high-quality laborers—those students eager for opportunities.

This is their natural advantage; it would be foolish not to use it.

Huang Yuxi tossed her hair, giving him a charmingly disdainful look: "So you want me to go and exploit the school...?"

"How can you call it 'fleecing' when it's something for scholars...? This is called school-enterprise cooperation, industry-education integration..." Cheng Ming said without batting an eye.

"Okay, okay, you're right."

Huang Yuxi chuckled and scolded, then said seriously, "Don't worry, as long as you have good content, I'll make the most of the operations for you. I'll talk to the school and guarantee to get you the maximum support. After all, you are the face of the school now."

What's more, she's now a beneficiary of the system, and she has to work hard for her "dowry"... I mean, for her share of the profits.

........

"good!"

Cheng Ming picked up a chopstick from the table and drew a circle in the air, as if demarcating a territory.

"The so-called 'stockpiling of grain'"

"Our foundation is too weak right now. Apart from the 'Shu Yin Trilogy' and 'The Wind Rises,' we have no other cards to play!"

"Next, we'll start with short videos to expand our brand awareness, and incidentally reach out to promising and talented individuals within the industry to explore collaborative opportunities and build a solid foundation..."

Learning from the past is a guide for the future.

Only a constant stream of new works can retain those fickle fans.

"Wang Shuo, Lao Li!"

"exist!"

The two spoke in unison, their voices so loud that the empty wine bottles on the table vibrated.

Wang Shuo, in particular, was in a state of high excitement, as if he were "a scholar would die for one who understands him." His voice was so loud it was like a broken gong, causing Lin Yiyi next to him to cover her ears.

"You will be responsible for video editing, filming, and technical support."

Cheng Ming pointed at the two of them: "Next, we'll start gathering information nationwide, especially for Brother Shuo, who may have to take on multiple roles."

"We need to get out there!"

Cheng Ming suddenly waved his hand, as if to cleave through the fog before him.

"Art originates from life. We can't just stay in school like flowers in a greenhouse. We need to go out and see the beautiful landscapes of our motherland, and explore the stories hidden in the everyday life. Music adaptations and video performances should cover all age groups and be close to the working people..."

"By the way, let's also promote each other's hometowns and build up our reputation. What we want to do is not to be high and mighty artists, but the most down-to-earth creators..."

..........