The Heiress's Game

The news of the second season of "Walking with Brilliance" was officially announced at the Hunan TV investment conference.

The PPT clearly stated: The second season of the phenomenal reality show "Walking with Brilliance" will be produced by the original team and have the original core cast. It is expected to be launched in the first quarter of next year.

Less than half an hour after the investment promotion conference ended, it became a trending topic, with the comment section filled with jubilation.

Fans flooded the comments section with celebratory messages like "Finally!", "See you in season 2, Chen Cui!", and "Xingyao Media, you are my only sister!" The number of reposts exceeded 100,000 within ten minutes.

Gu Mingyue stared at the trending topic on her phone screen for a long time.

"Walking with Brilliance" - the most popular reality show in the country. The camera follows Chen Cui's family's daily life 24 hours a day, vividly capturing the trivialities, intrigues, sisters' bickering, and mother and daughter's quarrels.

Viewers are hooked because this family is so dramatic—Chen Cui is the pillar of the family, with a mother, a younger brother, and three younger sisters, all of whom are incredibly good-looking but have vastly different personalities. When they come together, it's a never-ending melodramatic soap opera.

After the first season ended, Chen Cui went from an ordinary person to a top-tier celebrity, her brother Chen Shuo gained two million followers, and her three sisters also received brand endorsements.

Thanks to this show, the entire Chen family went from being unknown to becoming the most popular family brand on the internet.

The mastermind behind this program is Gu Yunjin's Xingyao Media.

What bothered Gu Mingyue even more was that Chen Cui, who used to carry her shoes, held her gift boxes at her birthday party, stood outside the fitting room with her bag while she went shopping, and held up a parasol for her when she attended events, was now her little follower.

Now, Gu Yunjin has made her one of the most popular celebrities in the country. Fans call her the "chosen variety show personality" and the "goddess with zero scandals." When interviewed by a magazine, she casually said, "I am grateful for that period of reflection."

All the glory, the glory that Gu Mingyue longed for most, is now all surrounding Chen Cui.

Chen Cui is like a nail stuck in Gu Mingyue's heart, and every now and then, it gets twisted up through trending topics, making it more and more painful.

Gu Mingyue turned off her phone and made a call.

Two days later, at a secluded private restaurant in Wan Chai, Gu Mingyue hosted a dinner for Zhang Wei.

Zhang Wei was one of the few people Gu Mingyue got along with. She was thirty-one years old and came from a family that started in the textile business.

The company is neither too big nor too small, but she did not inherit the family business. Instead, she started her own small talent agency, which manages a few second- and third-tier actors and models. The business is not very successful.

She is known in the industry for being well-informed and tight-lipped. She has known Gu Mingyue for several years, and their relationship is neither too close nor too distant, but they both know what kind of person the other is.

After several rounds of dishes, Zhang Wei, holding her teacup, looked at Gu Mingyue across from her, who exuded an air of refinement from head to toe, and smiled.

"Miss Gu, you've invited me to such an expensive meal today, it can't just be about catching up, right? Just say what you want to say, no need to beat around the bush."

Gu Mingyue put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and moved with elegance and composure.

"How's your agency doing lately?"

"It's alright, not too bad, we won't starve, but we won't get rich either. So, Miss Gu, are you interested in investing?"

"Investing is a small matter," Gu Mingyue said, leaning back in her chair.

"I do have an idea that I'd like to discuss with you."

Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow and gestured for Zhang Wei to speak.

"Have you considered this?" Gu Mingyue picked up her teacup and took a sip.

"You want to poach Chen Cui to your company?"

Zhang Wei's fingers paused on the teacup.

She looked up at Gu Mingyue but did not answer immediately.

"Chen Cui is now a contracted artist with Xingyao Media."

Zhang Wei spoke up, "Xingyao Media is your sister Gu Yunjin's company. You want me to poach her trump card from Gu Yunjin?"

"right."

Zhang Wei was silent for a moment. "Chen Cui is holding the contract she signed with Xingyao Media."

Although the contract terms were not made public, it's obvious to anyone that Gu Yunjin would not have locked up her exclusive agency contract.

Moreover, you know the format of "Walking with Brilliance" better than I do; it's about Chen Cui and her entire family.

With such a large family, Chen Cui is currently the center, with her younger siblings all playing roles around her in the show.

Gu Yunjin staked everything on the entire Chen family, and Chen Cui was her biggest card.

Getting this card out of her hand will be extremely difficult.

"Difficulty does not mean it is impossible."

Gu Mingyue's tone remained reserved.

When Chen Cui signed with Xingyao Media, "Walking with Brilliance" had not yet aired, and she was just an ordinary person whom no one knew on the street.

How good can the signing terms be for an amateur? How high can the revenue share be?

How harsh can a non-compete clause be? Gu Yunjin is a shrewd businesswoman; she wouldn't offer an exorbitant contract to a complete novice.

Now that Chen Cuihong is famous, her net worth has increased more than tenfold, and her original contract is now a shackle for her.

Do you think she would willingly be bound by these shackles?

Zhang Wei didn't reply, her gaze thoughtful.

Gu Mingyue continued, "You are also aware of the current situation of the Chen family."

Although "Walking with Brilliance" is about the entire Chen family, it's the same principle as idol groups—some people become famous, and some don't.

Chen Cui is an absolute top star. Her younger brother, Chen Shuo, gained two million fans last year as a guest star and was quite eye-catching on the show, but he is far inferior to Chen Cui.

As for her mother and three younger sisters, although they are all good-looking, their popularity is on a completely different level.

How should resources be allocated? How should interests be balanced?

"You've worked in a talent agency, you know better than I do. These small, family-run teams are the easiest to work with."

"If it's difficult to recruit Chen Cui herself, you can consider recruiting her younger brother or sister."

Her younger brother, Chen Shuo, is handsome and popular, and performed well in "Walking with Brilliance". The key point is that his commercial value has not yet been fully realized.

Xingyao Media clearly focused most of its resources on Chen Cui, and didn't pay as much attention to the others.

For a newcomer, staying in a company that doesn't value them is less desirable than leaving.

If you sign Chen Shuo and promote him well, even if he doesn't reach Chen Cui's level, it will still be enough to elevate your company's standing in the industry.

Zhang Wei gave a meaningful smile.

"Sister Mingyue,"

"We're all smart people, let's be frank. You're trying to sabotage Gu Yunjin."

Gu Mingyue smiled gently and gracefully: "I am. But what does that have to do with you?"

You run a talent agency; finding good artists is your skill, and making money is your profit.

As long as business practices are legal and compliant, no one can find fault with them.

As for who might be unhappy about this business transaction—what does that have to do with you?

Zhang Wei stared at her for a long time.

"How much are you prepared to pay?"

Gu Mingyue took out a folded piece of letter paper from her handbag, unfolded it, laid it flat on the table, pressed it down with two fingers, and slowly pushed it in front of Zhang Wei.

The letter had no salutation, no signature, no date, only a number.

Zhang Wei glanced down, her pupils contracting slightly.

"Is this... a consulting fee?"

"It's just a consulting fee," Gu Mingyue leaned back in her chair, her posture relaxed and composed.

"The signing cost is separate. If you can persuade Chen Cui or someone else to switch jobs..."

You won't have to bear any of the direct costs, such as signing fees, penalties for breach of contract, or packaging fees.

"After it's all done, I'll add another sum."

Zhang Wei lowered her eyes and looked again at the numbers on the letter.

"I need time with the Chen family."

"We can't rush things. If we do, the Chen family will become suspicious, and Gu Yunjin will be even more so."

"Sister Mingyue, you know my way of doing things."

I'm slow, but I'm reliable. Since you're willing to pay this price, I'll treat this as my most important project going forward.

Gu Mingyue raised her teacup and offered a toast to Zhang Wei from afar.

"Zhang Wei, I enjoy working with smart people. It's not tiring."

Zhang Wei also raised her teacup, and the two gently clinked them together.