From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

I didn't beat around the bush; I went straight to the point and explained my idea of ​​starting a media company.

The short wait of just a few minutes inexplicably made my heart tighten.

Finally, Qiqi's message popped up: "Is this the company you run?"

"Yes, I'm in charge of organizing it. Would you be interested in giving it a try?"

I thought she would hesitate, struggle with the decision, or even make excuses and refuse, but I didn't expect her reply to be so decisive and straightforward:

"Sure, I happen to be free right now."

Surprised, I immediately sent her another message:

"How about now, at that teahouse where we met earlier?"

"No problem, I'll be right there."

I replied with an OK emoji and just put my phone away.

Su Qing, who was standing next to her, immediately leaned in and asked anxiously, "How did it go? Did she agree to meet?"

"Hmm, she agreed to meet and talk in detail. Judging from her attitude, there's a high chance we'll get a chance," I replied casually, feeling a bit relieved.

Su Qing immediately smiled and nodded vigorously: "Being willing to sit down and talk is already half the battle won! This opportunity is crucial, you must seize it!"

I nodded in response and turned to go back inside to change my clothes.

I specially dug out the formal suit I wore when I last visited her parents. It was clean, neat, and appropriate, and I used it specifically to make a good impression when discussing cooperation.

As soon as I changed my clothes and came out of the room, Su Qing immediately looked me up and down, then frowned.

"The clothes are quite proper, but the hair is too messy, making her look sloppy. No way!"

I was both amused and exasperated: "I'm going to discuss business cooperation, not a blind date. There's no need to be so formal, is there?"

"Why wouldn't it be necessary!"

Su Qing said earnestly, "First impressions directly determine how much trust others have in you. If you seem perfunctory and casual, people will think you're unreliable from the bottom of their hearts and won't seriously discuss cooperation with you!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the bathroom.

"Go wash your hair, I'll take care of it for you, I guarantee you'll feel refreshed and full of energy."

I couldn't resist her enthusiasm at all, so I had no choice but to obediently wash my hair.

When I finished washing my hair and came out of the bathroom, Su Qing was already waiting at the door with a hairdryer.

She sat me down on a chair in the yard, plugged in the power, and carefully dried and styled my hair.

She was even more nervous and attentive than I was, her eyes focused, her fingertips carefully arranging each strand of hair.

Her earnest demeanor made it seem as if she were the one going to discuss a collaboration.

After I finished tidying up, I looked at myself in the mirror.

I felt instantly refreshed and energetic, looking much more vibrant than before.

Finally, Su Qing even sprayed some hairspray to set my style. Looking at my completely refreshed appearance, she nodded in satisfaction.

"That looks much better! Go on, stay calm, and try to win her over in one fell swoop!"

I gave a wry smile: "With such high expectations of me, aren't you afraid I'll mess things up and disappoint you?"

Su Qing chuckled and gently patted my shoulder:

"Don't be afraid or feel pressured. Just perform normally. We're starting from scratch anyway, so just take it easy."

I nodded, and without further delay, pushed my electric scooter out the door.

The courtyard is located in a remote area with no direct public transportation (buses or subways) nearby, making travel very inconvenient.

I rode my electric bike for several kilometers to the subway station, parked it, and then took the subway straight to the teahouse we had arranged to meet.

When I arrived, Qiqi was already seated and waiting.

She was wearing a loose-fitting light-colored T-shirt and light makeup, with a gentle and quiet demeanor, just like when I last met her—clean and comfortable.

I quickly walked over and sat down. We exchanged a few simple pleasantries without any unnecessary formalities, and got straight to the point.

Qiqi was the first to look up at me, and asked tentatively, "Brother Lin, you said you started a media company? Is it already operational?"

I didn't hide anything and told the truth: "It hasn't been officially registered and launched yet; it's just a preliminary plan. But I've thoroughly figured out the entire operational strategy and development direction. I'm contacting you today to have a good talk and see if there are any opportunities for cooperation."

"Is that so..."

Qi Qi hesitated for a moment, then frowned slightly, her tone sincere:

"To be honest, Brother Lin, the media industry is a very complex field. You've never been involved in it before and have no experience. Starting from scratch is really too difficult."

"Everything is difficult at the beginning. As long as you get off to a good start and take the first step steadily, and then gradually cultivate the skills, there is nothing you cannot accomplish."

Qi Qi nodded thoughtfully, but the worry in her eyes did not diminish at all.

I understand her perfectly.

To be frank, I'm starting from scratch. I have no practical experience in the industry, no substantial financial resources or connections like Fangheng Xingyao Media, and no top streamers with millions of followers to back me up.

No one would dare to gamble their future on a business based solely on passion and a plan.

Seeing her hesitation and worry, I didn't let her dwell on it any longer and took the initiative to speak:

"I understand your situation. After you left Xingyao, you've been streaming all by yourself. No one helps you manage it, no one plans content for you, and no one helps you connect with traffic. Your account has been lukewarm, you've been struggling, and your income is extremely unstable."

"If you're willing to work with me, I'll handle everything from account management and traffic generation to livestreaming schedules and content planning. You won't have to worry about any of the hassle; you can just focus on doing your livestreams well and being the best version of yourself."

I paused for a moment, then cut to the chase: "I'd like to ask, how much do you earn on average per day when you're livestreaming?"

Qi Qi frowned and remained silent for a few seconds before truthfully replying, "When traffic is good and popularity is high, I can earn over a thousand a day. When the market is bad and there's no popularity, it's only a little over a hundred. On average, it's only about five hundred a day."

This result was entirely within my expectations.

I've seen her work before. She doesn't have a large fan base, her videos don't generate buzz, her live streams lack rhythm, and despite her good looks, she squanders her advantages because she doesn't know how to manage her career and has never been able to make it big.

I nodded slightly and continued frankly, "I know you have many concerns and are hesitant to easily trust my newly established team. That's only natural. If I were in your shoes, I would be cautious too."

"So I won't play games with you, I won't make empty promises, and I certainly won't sign any unfair contracts to bind you."

"The cooperation model I'm offering you is absolutely flexible and fair. During the initial adjustment period, I'll give you a fixed base salary of 500 yuan per day, a guaranteed income that you won't lose. All the revenue from gifts during the live streams will be yours; I won't take a single penny."

"As long as I fail to build up your account and provide you with stable traffic and revenue, you can leave at any time without any penalty or loss."

"Once the account is fully established and traffic revenue is stable, we can discuss a formal exclusive contract and revenue-sharing agreement. A steady, two-way approach—do you think this plan is reliable?"

Qiqi listened attentively to my entire plan, then lowered her eyes and fell into deep thought.

The hesitation between his brows slowly dissipated, replaced by a hint of emotion and weighing of options.

I didn't urge her, and sat quietly waiting for her reply.

I have laid out my utmost sincerity and bottom line.

The rest is up to her to decide.