Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 151 Vice Chairman
The warm winter sun shines through the glass onto the desk, creating dappled light and shadow.

In the spacious and bright office, the atmosphere was heavy and subtle because of what had just been said. Liu Shishi sat quietly at the desk, her heart open and her eyes firm and sincere.

Cai Yinong felt a mix of emotions. Looking into Yi Jie's sincere eyes, a warm feeling welled up in his heart, but it was soon followed by a sense of doubt.

Liu Shishi's suggestion was undoubtedly a lifeline for Tangren, but on the other hand, she couldn't help but doubt the true motives of the top female star and worried that it was an attempt to take advantage of the situation.

It's feared that Liu Shishi might be trying to take advantage of the company's crisis to join forces with outsiders to seize Tangren's shares at a lower cost, since 2400 million is definitely not something a young girl could afford on her own.

Cai Yinong frowned slightly, a complex light flashing in her eyes. Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, making rhythmic sounds. At this moment, her heart was caught in endless entanglement and struggle.

"Shishi, I am very grateful for your kind intentions." Cai Yinong spoke slowly, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of hesitation.

"But this is not just a simple matter of money; it is also about the future and equity structure of Tangren Media. Giving up too many shares at once will inevitably affect my control over Tangren."

If my efforts to save Tangren Media result in losing control of the company's operations, then everything I'm doing now will have been meaningless. Therefore, I need to think carefully.

Seemingly anticipating Cai Yinong's reaction, Liu Shishi nodded gently, expressing her understanding of her boss's frankness. Leaning slightly forward, her eyes clear and sincere, she spoke softly:
“Sister K, I understand your concerns, but I want to reiterate my position. My proposal to subscribe for shares is entirely out of affection for Tangren and trust in you, Sister K. I believe that if we all unite as one, the company will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties.”

"I don't want to take advantage of this opportunity to gain more company shares. I just hope to do my part at this crucial moment," Liu Shishi said in an incredibly gentle tone, full of anticipation for Tangren's future.

“Sister K, if you think giving up 30% of the shares is a bit too much, then less, 25% or 20%, or even less, I can accept it.”

After all, I'm not cut out for business. The company's management will have to rely on you, K-sister. Taking a larger percentage of shares would be meaningless to me.

Liu Shishi smiled warmly and spoke eloquently, expressing her trust and support for Cai Yinong. After all, the source of the company's crisis was an accidental car accident, not a mistake in K-sister's management.

Cai Yi Nong gazed at the First Sister and saw only the purest sincerity and care in the depths of her eyes. His doubts and anxieties gradually dissipated, replaced by a feeling of being understood.

After a moment of contemplation, Cai Yinong made up his mind to accept the little girl's kindness:

"Shishi, I feel your sincerity and I accept your subscription. However, 30% of the shares is too much. Director Li and I will transfer a total of 22% of the shares to you according to our shareholding ratio."

From this day forward, you will be the second largest shareholder of Tangren Media, after me. I hope that we can work together to revitalize the company.

There's a reason behind this 22% stake: she's the largest shareholder of Tangren Media, holding 70% of the shares, while Li Guoli holds 30%.

Currently, Liu Shishi has subscribed to 22%, Hu Ge has subscribed to 2%, and other employees have subscribed to less than 3% in total. Together, they need to transfer out about 27% of their shares.

After the equity change, she still holds more than 51% of the shares, maintaining absolute control over Tangren Media.

Upon hearing Cai Yinong finally agree, Liu Shishi was immediately filled with an indescribable excitement and joy. She was now a shareholder of a company. Just now, Sister K had said that she was the second largest shareholder of Tangren Media. It wouldn't be too much for her to be given the title of vice chairman in the future, would it?

When my boyfriend and I publicly announce our relationship, the news will say things like, "Mr. Song Ci, Chairman of Tengda Group, and his wife, Ms. Liu Shishi, Vice Chairman of Tangren Film and Television, are a perfect match!"
Seeing the eldest sister lost in thought and grinning foolishly, Cai Yinong suddenly felt that his decision might have been a bit hasty! "Shishi, wipe your drool."

Liu Shishi snapped out of her beautiful fantasies about the future, subconsciously touched her red lips, only to find that there was nothing on the corner of her lips. She said coquettishly, "Sister K, why did you lie to me?"

Cai Yinong rolled his eyes at Miss Liu and said seriously, "Tell me, where did this money come from?"

Although I suspect the 2400 million was most likely provided by the top star's boyfriend, I still want to know for sure, just to have a clear understanding.

Liu Shishi pursed her lips and replied softly, "Borrowed, from my boyfriend."

Upon hearing this, Cai Yinong sighed, assuming the young woman was still determined to marry into a wealthy family, and couldn't help but offer some advice:

"Shishi, some money isn't so easy to get. Once you become famous and can earn more, you should pay this money back as soon as possible. Life in a wealthy family isn't as glamorous as it seems from the outside."

Becoming a wealthy wife may sound glamorous for female celebrities, but the hardships and sacrifices involved are often untold to outsiders.

Living in a wealthy family often means more constraints and rules. You may need to give up a lot of personal freedom and choices and be subject to the control of the man.

Whether that kind of life is truly right for you, whether it's what you truly desire in your heart, you need to think about it carefully.

Liu Shishi nodded, seemingly digesting Cai Yinong's words. She wondered if Mr. Song would restrict her. It seemed not; he was still very supportive of her having a career, otherwise he wouldn't have lent her money.

Seeing that Sister Yi seemed to have taken it to heart, Cai Yi-nong continued, "Furthermore, the lives of the rich second generation are colorful and they are also quite playful."

They find it difficult to remain devoted to one person and walk down the aisle like ordinary people. Is such a relationship truly worth the risk?

As is often said, Liu Shishi neither agreed nor disagreed with Sister K's words. The rich second generation may indeed have the problems she mentioned, but she was dating a self-made man. Doesn't she understand the value of childhood sweethearts and first love?

"Sister K, your words have benefited me greatly. I will seriously consider my future."

Liu Shishi gave a vague answer, thinking that she would find an opportunity to introduce Mr. Song to Cai Yinong next time, so that Cai Yinong would not always think that she was dating a rich second-generation.

Cai Yinong felt helpless, wondering if Liu Shishi had taken his words to heart. Now that the young woman was Tangren's top female star and a shareholder, he hoped that she would focus on her career and work with him to save Tangren and make the company bigger and stronger.

Soon, it was the last day of December 2006, and the location was still Cai Yinong's office in Xiaobailou, Hengdian.

With a determined look in her eyes, Liu Shishi swiftly signed the subscription agreement without hesitation, acquiring a 22% stake in Tangren Media for 1760 million yuan, becoming the second-largest shareholder after Cai Yinong. Meanwhile, Hu Ge and other employees also lent a helping hand, and the share subscription funds flowed like a river from a trickle.

Tangren Media suddenly received more than 2000 million yuan in working capital, which was like a long-awaited rain after a drought. The gloom that had been weighing on the hearts of everyone in the company for a long time was dispelled and replaced by a look forward to the new year.

On the eve of New Year's Day, after completing the equity subscription, Liu Shishi asked the director of "Strange Tales of Liaozhai" for leave and rushed back to Beiping to celebrate Song Ci's birthday with her.

On January 1, 2007, as the New Year's bells seemed to still be ringing, a press conference that shocked the entire entertainment industry was being held in a high-end hotel in the capital.

In the bright and grand press conference venue, an exquisite long table was placed in the center of the stage. Behind the table, on the backdrop, the words were prominently displayed in large gold lettering:

"Fan Bingbing Studio Establishment and Launch Conference for the TV Series 'My Love from the Star'".

At the brightly lit press conference, flashbulbs popped and shone, illuminating the entire venue as if it were daytime.

The stage was brightly lit, and the four people sat high on it, quietly waiting for the press conference to officially begin.

Fan Bingbing sat in the center, looking especially beautiful today. She wore a well-tailored red dress, the hem of which swayed gently, as delicate and charming as a blooming rose.

Her makeup was exquisite, her red lips vibrant, and her eyes sparkled with confidence and allure. Her long, glossy black hair was gently pulled back, revealing the graceful lines of her neck. The overall look was both elegant and sophisticated, dazzling and captivating.

To Fan Bingbing's left sat her new agent, Mu Xiaoguang. Mu Xiaoguang is from Taiwan and is a well-known agent in the Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment circles. He has invested in many film and television productions and is now developing his career in mainland China. He chose to cooperate with Fan Bingbing to help her establish her own studio.

To Fan Bingbing's right, Zhang Zhao, general manager of Tengda Culture, and Qiao Zhengyu, the top executive, sat side by side.

Although dressed casually, Qiao Zhengyu's star quality was still undeniable. His handsome face and eyes exuded a sense of untamed confidence. As the leading man of Tengda Culture, his appearance undoubtedly added more highlights to the press conference.

Seeing that it was almost time, Fan Bingbing, the protagonist of today's event, picked up the microphone and said, "Hello, friends from the media!"
Today, I am thrilled to announce an important decision—I will be establishing my own studio, officially embarking on my solo career.

The cheerful female voice was clear and powerful, instantly attracting the attention of all the reporters present.

As soon as he finished speaking, the venue erupted in excitement. This was the first time a celebrity had ever left their agency to establish their own studio and work independently in the Chinese entertainment industry. Reporters immediately raised their hands to ask questions, eager to obtain more information.

Facing a group of reporters, Fan Bingbing appeared unusually composed, a smile on her face. After scanning the entire room with her captivating eyes, she continued:
"At the same time, I am very honored to announce that my new studio has reached a cooperation agreement with Tengda Culture, which will invest 5000 million yuan to jointly produce a TV series, 'My Love from the Star.' And I will personally play the female lead in this series."

These words instantly brought the atmosphere in the venue to a climax, with reporters whispering among themselves and the scene becoming noisy.

"My goodness, a TV series costs 5000 million yuan to produce."

"A super-large production that's rare to see in recent years!"

"Fan Bingbing has hitched a ride on Tengda's coattails; no wonder he dares to go it alone!"

Fan Bingbing maintained an elegant smile, ignoring the commotion, and quietly gave the reporters time to process the information. After a while, she spoke into the microphone again: "Now it's time for the Q&A session."

Upon hearing this, the reporters all raised their hands, eager to be the first to speak and ask a question.

Fan Bingbing glanced around the room and casually said, "Ladies first, the reporters in white in the first row, please ask your questions."

A young female reporter in a white suit stood up and asked with a smile, "Bingbing, hello. I'm a reporter from Entertainment Express. Why did you choose to go solo after terminating your contract with Huayi?"
It's important to understand that without the support of a management company, it's incredibly difficult for an artist to build a successful career independently; the pressure they face is unimaginable.

Fan Bingbing paused for a moment, seemingly organizing her thoughts: "My decision to open a studio was also based on my career development."

After all, working in my own studio offers greater freedom, giving me more decision-making power and control over my work, which allows me to better shape my personal brand and performing image.

In addition, I can more flexibly expand my business scope. Besides the performing arts, I can also get involved in film and television investment, artist management and other related fields, and gradually develop towards diversification.

As for pressure, there will definitely be some, so I asked Mr. Mu Xiaoguang to be my agent. Mr. Mu is an experienced agent who will help me build a team and plan my business.

Seeing the female reporter in white nod in satisfaction and sit down, Fan Bingbing continued, "Next." She then pointed to a reporter in the back row.

"I am a reporter from Entertainment Weekly. Ms. Fan, is your studio solely owned by you, or has it received investment support from other companies?"

"That's a trade secret, I can't disclose it, but I can tell you that my studio is definitely run by me, and I can make my own decisions. Next!"

"Bingbing, I'm a reporter from Southern Metropolis Daily. May I ask what kind of TV series 'My Love from the Star' is, and why Tengda Culture chose you as the female lead?"

Finally, someone asked about her new drama, and Fan Bingbing revealed a bright smile, looking charming and beautiful.

She chose today to launch the press conference for "My Love from the Star" in order to increase the popularity of the drama. This is the first project after the establishment of her studio, and it is of great significance. It can only succeed and cannot fail.

"My Love from the Star is a fantasy romance drama set in the city. The subject matter is very novel. The screenwriter of this drama is a super genius writer, Mr. Song Ci, the chairman of Tengda Group."

She dropped a bombshell, immediately stunning the entire audience. Fan Bingbing took in the surprised and excited reactions of the crowd, a smug smile spreading across her face. She had deliberately brought up Song Dynasty poetry precisely to achieve this explosive effect.

"Internet mogul," "Top Ten Richest Man," "Billionaire heir," "Peking University's Number One Campus Heartthrob in a Century"—Song Ci's dazzling array of accolades alone can add a lot of hype to "My Love from the Star," increasing its exposure by 20% out of thin air.

(End of this chapter)