A writer has arrived in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Just as the three founders of Mihayu were brainstorming ways to deal with Youxing's dimensional reduction attack, Su Liu and An Wenxiu were receiving the newly recruited artist director in their office on Huashan Road.

This woman, who looks to be around thirty years old, is named Chen Si. She graduated from the University of London and is an experienced agent who has gradually begun to get involved in production and supervision in the past two years. She was introduced to us by Li Haifeng of Fuxin Pictures and has extensive connections in the industry.

"Ms. Chen, why did you give up on Fuxin and come to us?" An Wenxiu asked.

To outsiders, Fuxin Pictures is backed by Fuxin Group, a leading enterprise in Shanghai with deep roots. Fuxin Culture, on the other hand, is merely a copyright management company for writers, and even with its foray into film and television production and artist management, it remains a minor player.

Chen Si has a classic oval face with a full forehead and slightly upturned eyes, giving her a cool and aloof air.

"Fuxin Group doesn't actually value the film and television industry. Fuxin Pictures isn't even listed among their four major business segments. Their involvement in film and television investment is simply an attempt to boost the group's stock price by manipulating film and television projects."

Her tone was calm, with a kind of androgynous beauty. "To be honest, I don't have a high opinion of them. It just so happens that Mr. Li said you're setting up a new subsidiary, so I came."

"You actually think highly of us?" Su Liu asked.

Chen Si looked into Su Liu's eyes and smiled slightly. "President Su, you acquired a game company, right?"

That's right.

"Novels, film and television, games—the whole chain is very clear. What else does Mr. Su want to do?"

Aside from film and television companies, making games was not originally in Su Liu's plans; it was just a whim.

However, at times like these, one must put on an air of being a master strategist, capable of winning from afar.

Su Liu smiled. "Aren't you afraid my investment will fail and I'll go bankrupt?"

"If it goes bankrupt, I'll just find another company." Chen Si shrugged, his tone as nonchalant as if he were discussing the weather.

"But what we need right now is an artist director. Ms. Chen, isn't this a bit of an overkill?" An Wenxiu felt that Chen Si was not only ambitious, but also had a strange confidence in Fusui Culture, which was really odd.

"I applied for the position of artist director. Ms. An, Ms. Su, we both need time to get to know each other."

Su Liu and An Wenxiu exchanged a glance, then stood up and extended their hands to Chen Si.

"It's a pleasure working with you, Director Chen."

After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Si had to get to work immediately, as the three artists under Fusu Culture had been idle for several days.

"Sister Chen, you'll be in charge of arranging the executive agents for Xiaotong, Dilraba, and Li Xian. You have a wide network of connections in this area."

"No problem. But before that, let's get involved in those big events at the end of the year and let them make an appearance."

"What are you planning to do?"

"The National Drama Awards on the 18th was organized by Enlight Media. Your company just finished filming a movie, and Enlight Media was one of the partners, right?"

Su Liu immediately understood, "That's right, I can contact Mr. Liu from Guangxian and ask him to arrange a few positions."

"And there's the LeEco Awards Ceremony on the 19th, we can ask the organizers for a few invitations." At this point, Chen Si frowned and thought for a moment, "Since we're going to walk the red carpet, we need to find a professional styling team as soon as possible."

"You're the artist director, so all these things are entrusted to you." Su Liu explained smoothly.

Hearing Su Liu's words, An Wenxiu couldn't help but chuckle. She had witnessed this practiced, hands-off manager's attitude far too many times.

"Wenxiu, what are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing at you for shirking your responsibilities." An Wenxiu glanced at her sideways. "You don't want to do any work."

Su Liu stated confidently, "I call this the art of management; leave professional tasks to professionals!"

Chen Si watched the two bickering, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips. She quite liked this atmosphere; it brought a long-lost sense of relaxation.

She continued, "There's also the Marie Claire Fashion Gala at the end of the month. Fashion resources are one of the standards for measuring the value of female artists, and we need to pay attention to this aspect."

In short, it all boils down to wearing formal attire and walking the red carpet. Chen Si will handle all of this. The Marie Claire annual gala will be held in Shanghai, so getting a couple of invitations through connections will be a piece of cake.

The most urgent task right now is actually to move. The three-story building of Fusu Culture is already feeling very crowded with the ever-expanding population.

Su Liu simply waved his hand and rented another floor in Chuangyi Space, right above Youxing Building. Then he spent two days moving the company there.

Dilraba arrived at the new company immediately. Even though she had her own lounge, she insisted on staying in Su Liu's office.

"Teacher Su, look!" Reba brought over a pot of round cacti and placed it on Su Liu's desk.

Su Liu glanced at it disdainfully, "You could at least buy me some decent plants as a gift."

"Cacti are great, they're easy to care for." Reba's tone was full of concern, as if she were saying "it's for your own good." "You're so lazy, other plants won't survive more than three days in your care."

Just then, Li Fei from Shanghai Film Studio called. Seeing Su Liu answer the phone, Reba quietly moved to the sofa nearby.

"Director Su," Li Fei said on the other end of the phone, "the group is preparing to release 'Knives Out' during the Spring Festival."

"The Spring Festival film season? It's less than three months away! Is there enough time?"

Li Fei said calmly, "Post-production of the film is not complicated and can be completed in about a month. The review process is also simple; the content is not sensitive and can be approved in half a month."

"What about the publicity? Starting to promote now seems a bit rushed."

Most of the major films scheduled for the Spring Festival are released six months in advance, and the fact that they only get to release three months later is like cutting in line at the last minute. It's difficult for cinemas, distributors, and media to cooperate.

"We have no choice but to go for it."

Su Liu sensed a hint of weariness in Li Fei's tone.

"Mr. Li, what happened?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before the voice continued, "The group's annual report this year is terrible; the losses from the film projects far exceeded expectations. And what's more, most of these money-losing projects were led by me."

Shanghai Film Group is a state-owned enterprise, and its performance evaluation and accountability mechanisms are very strict, involving the crucial indicator of preserving and increasing the value of state-owned assets.

The film and television industry is high-risk, and it is normal for one or two projects to lose money, but if the overall losses are serious, it is considered a serious failure to meet the standards.

Li Fei is the president of Shanghai Film Investment Company, and the person directly responsible. Her current situation is probably not good.

What if "Knives Out" doesn't perform well at the box office either?

"Then I'll just wait to be held accountable or reassigned."

"Don't worry, Mr. Li. I have complete confidence in our film." Su Liu had barely finished making this boast when he quickly asked, "What films are scheduled for release this Spring Festival?"

He thought to himself, "I hope we don't run into a box office monster like last year's 'Lost in Thailand'!"

陈思