The Entertainment Industry in Turmoil: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top

Chapter 334 AKA Ice Cream Cone TV

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The conference room at LeShi headquarters was filled with a chilling and anxious atmosphere.

What should have been a gathering of the core power structure has become strangely tense due to the arrival of an uninvited guest.

The conference room door was pushed open, and Chen Jun, dressed in a dark gray custom-made suit, with his hair styled meticulously, appeared.

As the director of Mohen's strategic investment department, he not only brought Mohen's will, but also several cold-faced bodyguards. His sharp aura instantly overwhelmed all the distraught directors present.

"Mr. Chen, this is the internal board meeting of LeShi. You seem to have come to the wrong place."

One of the directors slammed his fist on the table and, though outwardly fierce, inwardly rebuked him.

Chen Jun calmly pulled out an empty seat and gestured for his assistant to slam a thick legal document onto the table.

"Wrong place? No, I'm right on time."

Chen Jun looked around, his tone indifferent.

"Mohen has accepted the entrustment of celebrity shareholders such as Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang to hold all of their LeShi shares on their behalf, and the total amount has now exceeded 6%."

"According to the articles of association, I have the right to attend meetings and make recommendations on the company's survival."

The directors looked at each other in dismay. That 6% might not be decisive under normal circumstances, but with a large portion of Jia Yueting's shares frozen, it was a potentially fatal factor.

"Gentlemen, the music test has reached the edge of a precipice."

Chen Jun crossed his arms and leaned forward, exuding an aggressive and oppressive aura.

"It's better to die with a rotting limb than to die with it."

"I propose that we immediately sell off non-core assets such as LeShi Video Network and LeShi Pictures."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Chen Jun sneered and continued to throw out bait.

"Everyone must recognize reality. The focus of LeShi and Mr. Jia's dream are cars and mobile phones, which are also the foundation for LeShi's comeback."

"Sell the website and film studio, use the money to pay off those suppliers who are practically smashing down the door, and quell the run on us."

"As long as the core components are still there, LeShi is not dead yet."

"Otherwise, if the stock price falls to the point of forced delisting and then the court forcibly liquidates it, your shares will be worth less than a piece of toilet paper."

In the dead of night in America, Jia Yueting listened to his wife Gan Wei's account from across the ocean, and felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

He finally understood that the target of this hunt, which started in the secondary market, was actually Mohen, whom he looked down on and wanted to acquire.

With trembling hands, he dialed Shen Mo's number. As soon as the call connected, his long-suppressed anger erupted like a volcano.

"Shen Mo! You greedy madman who takes advantage of the chaos!"

"You actually resorted to such underhanded tactics? Trying to take over my platform? You're dreaming!"

"Sweet rain! It'll ignite your wild side!"

Shen Mo calmly put his phone aside on the table and leisurely took a sip of coffee.

No matter how much the person on the other end of the phone roared, he remained unmoved.

Five minutes later, when the voice on the other end became hoarse and weak, Shen Mo picked up his phone again.

"Are you done hurling insults? If you're done, let's talk business."

Shen Mo's voice was calm and undisturbed.

"After all, when it comes to underhanded tactics, Le Shi didn't hold back when targeting my Mohen before. I was just retaliating in kind."

Jia Yueting on the other end of the phone took a deep breath and did not refute.

"Mr. Jia, there's something I think you should be aware of."

"Almost all of your personal stocks have been frozen by the bank."

"In other words, I only need to win over some shareholders, and the deal I proposed can still be completed."

Shen Mo chuckled softly. "By the way, let me remind you, wait two more days until LeShi's stock price hits rock bottom, then I'll continue accumulating shares on the secondary market, plus the ones I hold on behalf of others."

"Perhaps we should be able to apply for a change of chairman, and it won't be difficult to take control of you then."

At this point, Shen Mo snorted coldly, and the mention of replacing the chairman sent a chill down Jia Yueting's spine.

"If you don't cooperate to complete the transaction, I'll strip you of even your board decision-making power. Then, whatever you sell will be none of your choice!"

A deathly silence fell over the other end of the phone.

Shen Mo made his final offer.

"50 billion in cash, plus the more than 20 billion in debt I have."

"At this price, I'll buy your LeShi.com and LeShi Pictures."

"Too low! This is outrageous!" Jia Yueting roared.

"robbery?"

Shen Mo chuckled lightly, his tone turning cold.

"Mr. Jia, think about your current situation before you speak!"

"LeShi's stock price is still hitting the daily limit down. If you can't even get this much cash flow in a few days, you'll really have to stay there and go back to China next week for the rest of your life."

Jia Yueting closed his eyes in despair.

Shen Mo's words were both reasonable and threatening. Although he knew that Shen Mo was unlikely to continue increasing his shareholding in order to seize the chairmanship and take over this mess, he was still worried.

However, he dared not gamble, because Shen Mo could easily set up a shell company to seize the chairmanship, dismantle Le Shi, and then dissolve the company on the spot.

He also knew that this was the only way out that Shen Mo had given him. After all, he didn't want to give up his hard work of many years unless absolutely necessary.

"Okay—I'll sign."

The moment the agreement was reached, Shen Mo's tone changed instantly.

He added gently, like an old friend.

"Mr. Jia, keep up the good work and make money! If LeShi can resume normal operations, the 6% stake I hold on behalf of others will also benefit."

Jia Yueting suddenly remembered the artists who had betrayed him, and spat out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"Something that's good for nothing but causing trouble —"

After hanging up the phone, he slumped onto the sofa in his mansion, feeling utterly desolate.

Now he has lost half of his fortune in Shen Mo's hands. Even if he has a chance to make a comeback in the rest of his life, it seems that he will still have to work for Shen Mo, the mastermind behind the scenes.

As soon as the official letter announcing the signing of the acquisition agreement by Mohen Asset Management was posted online, the entire media circle instantly went into a frenzy.

The Billion-Dollar Hunt Concludes: Shen Mo's Masterpiece of "The Snake Swallows the Elephant," Marking the End of the LeEco Era and the Rise of the Mohen Empire!

Major upheaval in China's entertainment industry! Mohen Video officially listed, transforming from a "top producer" to a "platform tycoon"!

A Deep Dive into the Logic Behind Inkmark's 70 Billion Yuan Gamble: Gong Yu and Sun Zhonghuai May Be Sleepless Tonight

Mr. Jia, who was scheduled to return to China next week, ultimately became a sacrifice at Shen Mo's coronation ceremony.

On social media, fans went wild.

Fans of the artists from the Ink Trace series practically set off cyber fireworks.

"From now on, will we be able to watch all the dramas our brother stars in on our own platform? We won't have to pay for memberships on those platforms that are just ripping people off anymore!"

"Before, we had to beg big companies for publicity and distribution; now, big companies will be begging President Shen for the copyright. Our eldest son has finally become the legitimate heir!"

"Some fans, stop being so sour. Your idol is still a humble worker next door, while my idol is already a proper platform princess."

"From now on, when watching dramas on Mohen Video, can we apply for a ban on haters? We should keep our own territory quiet."

"Is this the romance of top producers? Seeing you being wronged, I'll just buy the stage for you."

"I support Mohen Video removing the faces of all its artists from other companies; we don't even have room for our own artists yet."

"Those who talk about monopoly should blame their masters for being short-sighted and not coming to surrender before President Shen became successful."

"From now on, there will only be two types of artists in the Chinese entertainment industry: those who follow the 'Ink Trace' group, and those who envy the 'Ink Trace' group."

However, the fans of the rival artist, who were already extremely anxious, lost their temper and started attacking him in response to such provocation.

"The darkest day in the Chinese entertainment industry: capitalists not only want money, but also the knees of the entire industry."

"Will artists who aren't part of the 'Ink Trace' group be unable to even get featured on app covers from now on? How is this any different from industry bullying?"

"Just wait and see. This highly centralized model will collapse sooner or later. Let's see how long he can support those few plastic surgery faces."

"When a platform and a production company team together, isn't that just a close-knit product? The content they produce will definitely be nothing but industrial sweeteners fed to their fans."

.

"Isn't anyone going to regulate this behavior of acting as both referee and player? Is Shen Mo turning the Chinese entertainment industry into his private harem?!"

"I feel so sorry for my brother. He is clearly a better actor, but he is going to be demoted and blacklisted just because he didn't join the Ink Trace Gang."

"Hang in there, everyone. As long as we don't contribute to the download volume of Mohen Video, his 70 billion yuan is just a huge waste of money!"

""

However, some netizens who are disgusted by capital operations and victims of the LeShi incident are extremely angry.

"Boss Jia is living in a villa in America, Shen Mo is holding a victory celebration banquet in the capital, and we retail investors are just looking at the scenery on the rooftop."

"Is this the legendary whale fall that brings forth all things? No, what rises up are not all things, but vultures, and Shen Mo is the fattest one."

"I used to think Shen Mo was a breath of fresh air, but now, seeing him eat the remains of Le Shi, he seems more like a plunderer than Lao Jia."

"The prosperity of the entertainment industry is just another excuse for washing away the lead. The platform has changed hands, but the underlying logic is still the same cannibalistic logic."

"I'm not concerned about who bought whom; I'm concerned about whether I can get my two thousand yuan trial membership fee back!"

Of course, there are plenty of netizens on the internet who sit back and watch the drama unfold.

"Hollywood broke up Paramount back then to prevent this kind of thing. Is Shen Mo trying to revive the studio system in the Chinese entertainment industry?"

"Having a platform doesn't guarantee traffic. Can Mohen Video withstand the onslaught from Tencent, iQiyi, and Kuaishou?"

"Shen Mo is now the newly crowned king, but he is also an enemy of the world. This plot is much more interesting than the dramas he has acted in."

"If Mohen Video fails to make a splash with its first shot, Shen Mo's 70 billion yuan investment may become the biggest joke in the Chinese entertainment industry."

"It's been a long time since such a powerful predator has appeared in the Chinese entertainment industry. Regardless of winning or losing, Shen Mo has made history."

Compared to the hustle and bustle outside, the atmosphere inside the headquarters building of Tencent Video and kiwifruit was so oppressive that it was suffocating.

Sun Zhonghuai stared at the calm-looking photo of Shen Mo on the news page on his office screen, pursed his lips, and sighed helplessly.

"Shen Mo! Shen Mo, are we not working well together?"

"Are you determined to play with fire?"

He shook his head and called his assistant.

"Pass down the notice: remove all promotional space for artists under the Ink Trace Group, and downgrade the rating of all ongoing projects to B!"

""

At the same time, Gong Yu, who was in charge of kiwifruit, also issued instructions.

"Starting today, any production team that wants to be featured on the Kiwi platform is strictly prohibited from using artists from the Mohen Group."

In just one afternoon, the two platforms reached a tacit understanding: all recommendations for "My Sunshine" instantly dropped to zero, and search keywords were blurred.

For a time, the entire Chinese entertainment industry seemed to have entered a "post-Ink Trace era" ice age, with major production companies remaining silent.

Established companies such as Zhengwu Sunshine, Tangren, and Huanrui convened their top executives overnight.

"The time has come to choose sides. Will we stick with the old gods and preserve the status quo, or gamble our lives with the new king?"

At the eye of the storm, the artists of the Ink Trace Group are experiencing the most magical moment of their careers.

When the news reached the crew of "July and Ansheng", Li Yitong was leaning back in a recliner in the rest area, studying the script.

Faced with the uncontrollable elation of her staff, Li Yitong simply smiled faintly and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

She understood Shen Mo's ambition better than anyone else, because in countless late-night whispers, she had heard that man deconstruct power.

With the platform now in place, Mohen's self-produced dramas are poised for rapid growth, and its artists will rise to prominence in tandem.

In her view, this was not an accident, but a fulfillment of her promise.

When her agent anxiously reported that kiwi and penguin had removed her from their featured positions, Li Yitong closed the script, her tone calm.

"Let them withdraw, tell the fans there's no need to fight, we need to have a broader perspective."

She looked up at the direction of Mohen Company in the distance, and a sense of belonging and peace welled up in her heart.

Shen Mo didn't just buy a website; he built a fortress for them, one that would always favor them, always protect them, and never fall.

Compared to Li Yitong's composure, Tian Xiwei seemed to be instantly ignited by a flame.

She immediately looked up the news about the censorship, and instead of being scared, she found it exciting.

Having been immersed in this industry for many years, she certainly knows how important it is to have her own video platform.

At the same time, she was also well aware of how difficult it would be to take over the LeShi video website and how powerful the major competing video platforms were.

At this moment, she could no longer say that if she had the ability to foresee the future, she could do the same.

The only thing that worried her was that he had never told her about the many dangers involved.

She suddenly longed to see Shen Mo, to hold him tightly in her arms, and to give him the most warmth and comfort.

On the other side, Meng Ziyi and Bai Lu were huddled in their van, while media cameras flashed wildly outside the window.

"Sister Meng, look how anxious those penguin and kiwi people are, they've taken all our advertising space."

Bai Lu stared at her phone, laughing carefree.

Meng Ziyi was slowly and methodically applying her vibrant lip gloss in front of the mirror when she heard this and let out a cold snort.

"What's the rush? Brother Mo said that our own platform will launch next week, and we'll be the only ones with that status."

"The harder they suppress us now, the more pathetic they'll look when they beg us to go back to our old ways once we gain popularity."

Many other artists associated with the "Ink Trace" group, such as Zhang Ruoyun, Zhu Yilong, Li Xin, and Dilraba Dilmurat, maintained a uniform silence at Shen Mo's behest.

Just a few days later, at the same time, they reposted the slightly cartoonish "mini ice cream cone" logo on their personal Weibo accounts.

The caption was simply two words: "Looking forward to it."

From that day on, the landscape of video websites officially changed.

Beyond penguins, kiwis, and pants, LeShi collapsed and reconstructed into a new variable: MoHen Video, AKA Ice Cream Cone TV.

Late at night, Shen Mo sat on a single sofa in his office, holding a glass of mellow whiskey.

Several cell phones on the desk were on silent mode, their screens flashing wildly. Top directors, producers, and big-name agents were lining up, eager for a chance to speak.

He didn't answer any of them.

"President Shen, President Cai." Lin Wei pushed open the door and entered.

"Sun Zhonghuai and Gong Yu have joined forces, which may significantly impact our daily active users."

Shen Mo glanced at the person opposite him on the sofa, a confident smile playing on his lips.

"It seems that they still haven't grasped the logic of this era in their cooperation with us."

"When I have the best scripts, the top actors, and the most exquisite production, their targeting is nothing more than free marketing for my new platform."

He raised his glass to the person in front of him, then tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp, his eyes as cold as knives.

"It seems we need to tell the entire industry that we will be setting the questions for this industry from now on."

Sitting opposite Shen Mo was Cai Huaijun, the newly appointed CEO of Mohen Video.

In his past life, he was the general manager of Mango Excellent Media, but now he is just an ordinary senior executive at Mango.

At that time, Mango TV was still a small platform that lost hundreds of millions of yuan every year and was ridiculed by Youku, iQiyi, and Tencent Video as an appendage of local TV stations.

In its previous life, it was after Cai Huaijun took office that Mango TV, amidst the fiercely competitive capital market dominated by BAT (Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent), managed to become the only profitable long-form video platform by relying on content-driven growth and a studio system.

During his tenure, he created phenomenal IPs such as "Sisters Who Make Waves," "Brother Pi," and "Who's the Murderer," and his operational logic is highly consistent with Shen Mo's logic of "content is king."

"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Shen."

Cai Huaijun also downed his drink in one gulp, staring intently at Shen Mo.

Shen Mo's reason for persuading him was very simple.

"No matter how good the mango is, it will eventually belong to someone else."

95

"The current Mohen Video is a blank sheet of paper worth 70 billion. I can give you absolute decision-making power and stock option incentives with three times leverage."

"More importantly—"

"Mohen's past works are enough to prove that I can provide the top-notch content in the Chinese entertainment industry. A born general should not refuse a battlefield with an unlimited arsenal."

"After all, iQiyi, Youku, and Tencent Video are just burning money to buy traffic, while I want to work with you to define the content rules for the next ten years."

Since the results of last month's monthly pass lottery were announced, no one has come to claim the prize.

So I've decided to send out lucky red envelopes in the book club group tomorrow night, with the prize going directly to the luckiest person.

If you're interested, feel free to join the group. It's usually quite lively, and even if you're not interested in grabbing red envelopes, you're welcome to chat!