Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 223 The Spring of the Little Round Face
Inside the office, Liu Yan was also overjoyed: "Chairman, in just a few days, a large number of celebrities have denounced Sanlu Group on Weibo, attracting a lot of attention from netizens."

The number of Weibo users has increased by more than ten million, and this incident has established a strong public image of fairness and justice, which is invaluable.

Song Ci sneered, revealing a cold indifference to the world: "They're nothing but a bunch of opportunists!"

If I hadn't taken precautions and gotten Peking Union Medical College Hospital to step in and crush the Sanlu Group, how many celebrities would have dared to publicly support us before the matter was settled?

Now that things have basically settled down, everyone is jumping out to cultivate a friendly and charitable persona, simply to gain public favor and benefit themselves.

Wang Jing chimed in softly, "That's only natural. People in the entertainment industry are all shrewd; not many celebrities are willing to risk their reputation and future to cheer for Tengda."

Regardless, the fact that so many celebrities have spoken out does objectively contribute to the growth of Weibo users, so it can be considered somewhat useful.

Song Ci slowly turned around, her gaze deep and unfathomable, as if she could see into people's hearts: "But I am still a little disappointed. It's one thing for others to act this way, but those who have worked with Tengda before, and even some of the company's artists, didn't immediately come to the company's aid."

Haven't you heard the saying, "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter"? The company usually provides them with resources and promotes them, but when it comes to crucial moments, they're nowhere to be seen. It's truly disappointing.

Wang Jing smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Actually, besides Shishi, another artist in the company also publicly took sides on Weibo right away."

"Who is it?" Song Ci became interested upon hearing this. It seemed that among those opportunistic people in the entertainment industry, there were still one or two people with foresight.

"Zhao Liying, a newcomer who has just joined the company."

"Oh, it's her."

"A very endearing little girl, with a charming and adorable appearance."

"It's rare to find someone who's on the same page as the company at a critical moment," Song Ci praised, then frowned slightly, her tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
“Unlike Wang Luodan and Lü Yi, who remain silent on important matters and are incapable of shouldering heavy responsibilities. Sister Jing, please tell Zhang Zhao that Tengda Culture will focus on cultivating Zhao Liying and allocate more resources to her.”

He only found out that the company had actually signed this future top-tier actress born in 85 when Zhao Liying and Yang Mi had a conflict.

We should take advantage of this opportunity to give her a strong boost and see if she can reach the same level as in her previous life and create more value for the company.

Wang Jing was slightly startled. She was quick-witted and immediately guessed that the chairman probably had a negative opinion of Tengda Culture's two leading female artists because of this matter.

It doesn't stop there; it's likely that Song Ci harbors resentment towards all the artists in the company, which is not a good sign.

In China, competence is never the most important thing; choosing the right side at crucial moments is paramount. If the actions of a few artists lead the chairman to develop a negative view of Tengda Culture as a whole, that would be extremely disastrous.

Song Ci, of course, was unaware of Wang Jing's current worries; her expression remained unchanged, and she simply gave the instructions:

"Brother Yong is away on a business trip, and I have family matters to attend to tomorrow, so I won't be coming to the company. These are special times these days, so Sister Jing, please keep an eye on things down there and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Wang Jing snapped out of her daze: "Okay, Mr. Song, don't worry."

Knock, knock, knock—a knock came at the door.

"Come in!"

Assistant Song Xueying, dressed in an elegant white suit, walked gracefully into the office, carrying a beautifully packaged high-end gift box in her hand.

He first greeted Wang Jing and Liu Yan, then gently placed the gift box on the desk and smiled, "Boss, I have prepared the birthday gift you requested. Are you satisfied?"

Song Ci walked to the desk and her gaze fell on the gift box that radiated a warm luster.

Wang Jing and Liu Yan also came over to join in the fun, thinking that this must be the reason why the chairman wouldn't be coming to the company tomorrow; it must be because an elder in his family is celebrating a birthday.

Seeing the three people gather around, Song Xueying calmly opened the gift box and carefully took out the gift inside, which turned out to be an exquisite jade ruyi.

While holding the jade ruyi with both hands and handing it to Song Ci, he introduced it as follows: "President Song, this is a ruyi carved from Hetian jade. It has a delicate texture and natural patterns, symbolizing good fortune, happiness and well-being."

In traditional culture, the ruyi (a type of scepter) is not only an ornament but also a token conveying good wishes. It is therefore perfectly suited as a birthday gift.

Assistant Song, a sophisticated and beautiful woman, spoke softly and professionally, clearly having put a lot of effort into preparing this birthday gift.

Song Ci took the jade ruyi, weighed it in her hand, and felt that the weight was just right and the surface was smooth and lustrous.

Looking down at this work of art closely, every detail is carved with lifelike realism.

Song Xueying stretched out her long, slender fingers: "President Song, look at this. The cloud pattern design on the head of the jade ruyi symbolizes longevity and prosperity; the lines at the tail are smooth, as natural and harmonious as flowing water."

After admiring the Song Ci for a while and listening to a detailed explanation, Song Ci was very satisfied with the gift that her assistant had carefully selected: "Senior, you're so thoughtful."

It was a little after 4 p.m., the sun was about to set, and there was less than half an hour left before Tengda Culture closed for the day.

Upon receiving a notification from her agent, Yang Tianzhen, Zhao Liying didn't dare to delay and rushed back to the company from the Dream of the Red Chamber film set, heading straight to her agent's office.

The office door was wide open, and Yang Tianzhen, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately stood up when she saw Zhao Liying arrive, grabbed her hand, and walked out.

"Ms. Zhang has been waiting for you. Come upstairs with me to see her."

Zhao Liying jogged to catch up with Yang Tianzhen, panting and with a fine layer of sweat on her forehead. Her voice was broken as she said, "Sister Zhen, slow down! President Zhang, is there something he needs from me in such a hurry?"

Yang Tianzhen smiled mysteriously: "I heard it's good news! I don't know the specifics."

Zhao Liying felt a little relieved, her previously uneasy mood eased, and she couldn't help but look forward to the "good news" her agent had mentioned.

The two hurried upstairs to the general manager's office, and after receiving permission, they pushed open the door and entered.

Zhang Zhao was reviewing documents and, without looking up, casually said, "Sit down."

After waiting for about five minutes, Zhang Zhao closed the file and looked at the two people in front of him directly: "I have a few things to discuss with you two."

Zhao Liying sat upright with her back straight, her posture very proper, though she seemed a little nervous. General Manager Zhang Zhao had a very authoritative face, and she always felt somewhat uncomfortable when facing him directly.

Seemingly sensing the girl's nervousness, Zhang Zhao softened his tone and reassured her, "Liying, don't panic, it's a good thing."

As he spoke, he leaned back in his leather seat and sighed, "You all know about what happened between the group and Sanlu a few days ago, right?"

Yang Tianzhen immediately flattered him: "I know, Chairman is kind-hearted and speaks out for the victims!" Zhang Zhao nodded. The skill and strategy that Song Ci displayed in this matter were frightening, but this was not something he should worry about.

"Liying, it is commendable that you were able to support the group at the first opportunity. The chairman and President Wang Jing are both very satisfied with you."

Zhao Liying was overjoyed, knowing that she had made the right bet!
On September 1st, the group held a press conference to publicly criticize the three milk powder brands. At that time, all the celebrities and well-known public figures chose to wait and see before the matter was resolved.

She hesitated at the time, but in the end she chose to take the gamble. At worst, if she lost the bet, she would have to work in a factory as a factory worker, screwing in screws.

I gritted my teeth and immediately posted a message on Weibo to support the company, all in order to leave a good impression on the leaders.

Unexpectedly, the chairman's series of strategic moves later swiftly and decisively crushed the Sanlu Group. Other celebrities only spoke out after the fact, making her seem like she and the company were of one mind.

With a shy smile, Zhao Liying said softly, "I just trust the company; I haven't thought much about anything else."

Zhang Zhao's expression was inscrutable: "Yes, trust the company! You succeeded, but others have greatly disappointed the group's leaders."

This morning, Ms. Wang Jing and I spoke on the phone. The chairman expressed strong dislike for several individuals, believing their stance was problematic.

Yang Tianzhen was shocked upon hearing this. Lü Yi and Wang Kai were artists in her group. She hurriedly asked, "President Zhang, is the matter that serious?"

Zhang Zhao shook his head: "I don't know what the leaders are thinking! Let's not talk about the others for now; I'll talk to them one by one later. Let's finish talking about Liying's matter first."

Yang Tianzhen was anxious, while Zhao Liying was delighted. The two stared at Zhang Zhao, waiting for him to speak.

"The chairman has decided that the company will focus on developing Liying from now on. Your benefits will be upgraded, and you will have everything that Wang Luodan and Lü Yi enjoy."

"Ah!" Zhao Liying exclaimed in surprise, but as soon as she finished speaking, she realized that she had lost her composure and quickly covered her mouth.

There was still a hint of confusion in her eyes; happiness had come too suddenly, and she never imagined that her luck would turn around.

I am extremely grateful that I mustered up the courage to recommend myself to Zhang Zhao that day. Tengda Culture is truly a blessed place for me.

Yang Tianzhen was also taken aback, and couldn't help but sigh at how wonderful life's encounters were. The young girl who had only joined the company not long ago had actually caught the eye of the group's senior management.

After Zhao Liying calmed down a bit, Zhang Zhao continued, "The company's filming schedule is already full this year. Next year, the company will prepare two TV series for you as the female lead. As for the specific types, we'll discuss that later."

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Zhang!" Zhao Liying's voice trembled, her eyes slightly reddened, and she thanked him repeatedly.

"Do a good job!" Zhang Zhao encouraged him. Although he felt that a round face was not an advantage in the entertainment industry where beauties were everywhere, he had to do something since the chairman had spoken.

The performance of Tengda Culture's artists in the three milk powder scandal greatly damaged his image in front of the chairman, and he must find a way to salvage the situation.

Stepping out of the office, Zhao Liying felt completely dizzy, as if everything that had just happened was unreal. She cupped her delicate face in her hands, letting out a silly giggle every now and then.

Seeing her like this, Yang Tianzhen smiled with satisfaction. This little girl has really risen to the top in one step. Indeed, you can't judge a book by its cover. People with drive and courage are more likely to make a name for themselves in the entertainment industry, where opportunities and challenges coexist.

"I'll keep an eye out for scripts where you'll be the lead next year, and choose one that highlights your looks and personality. Now come with me to the talent agency department, and I'll pick out a personal assistant for you."

"I'll do whatever you say, Sister Zhen." Zhao Liying nodded obediently, her steps light and cheerful. At this moment, she truly felt that everything was different from before, and she was really getting better.

Around 7 p.m., Zhao Liying was in a great mood and treated her agent and newly appointed assistant, Li Lan, to dinner to get to know each other better.

At this time, Liu Shishi flew back to Beiping from Hengdian, but she did not go to Jingyuan today and returned to her home in the community.

As soon as she entered the house, Ms. Liu tossed her suitcase aside in the living room and collapsed onto the sofa, exclaiming, "So tired!"

In the morning, I was filming under the scorching sun, and in the afternoon, I rushed from Hengdian to Donghai, and then transferred to fly back to Beiping. After several hours of traveling, I was exhausted both physically and mentally.

Seeing her daughter looking so haggard, Liu's mother asked with concern, "Have you had dinner?"

"I ate on the plane! Where's my dad?" Liu Shishi asked weakly, looking around the house but not seeing her father.

"Your dad is very busy with work lately, and he won't be home until later."

"Old Liu works so hard, Mom, you have to persuade Dad to take care of his health. He's almost fifty and doesn't have the energy of a young person."

"Don't even mention it. Ever since the three milk powder scandals were exposed, your dad's 'Kid King' store, which mainly sells high-end imported milk powder, is doing incredibly well. The store is sold out every day."

Your dad sees the company is doing well, and now he's working tirelessly from dawn till dusk, practically living on air. He's even planning to open a new store in Tianjin next month.

Liu Shishi's mouth gaped open in surprise, forming an "O" shape: "Dad's so amazing! He's already opened a shop in Tianjin! Is he planning to take it public?"

Mrs. Liu smiled slightly, her face showing a hint of pride: "You know what, there's real hope for going public. Your dad's company is doing very well right now."

A while ago, Xiao Song's uncle helped him out, and ICBC even approved a low-interest loan for him. With this financial support, "KidKing" is now thriving, operating both online and offline.

Miss Liu stared wide-eyed in surprise, then chuckled and teased, "Seriously? I'm already self-reliant and able to earn money, and now you're telling me I can become the daughter of a listed company's CEO!"
But something is better than nothing. In the future, my father and my husband will both be CEOs of listed companies, and I'll be able to roam freely in this little entertainment industry.

Seeing her daughter's unrestrained speech, Liu's mother rolled her eyes helplessly and urged softly, "If you're tired, hurry up and wash up and get some rest."

"Oh right, Mom, did you buy me a birthday gift?" Just as Liu Shishi was about to get up, she suddenly remembered something important and hurriedly asked. This was of utmost importance; she couldn't lose face in front of Mr. Song's family tomorrow.

"Don't you trust me to handle things? The things are in your room."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi went straight to her room, turned on the overhead light, and saw a beautiful pure gold peach on her desk.

The surface of the golden peach has clearly been finely polished, and it gleams with a silky luster under the light, like a fine work of art.

"How is it? Is it good?" Liu's mother, following behind her daughter, looked proud. She had specially commissioned a famous goldsmith in Beiping to make this gold peach, and the exquisite craftsmanship was truly ingenious.

Liu Shishi beamed and hugged her mother, giving her a quick kiss: "Thank you, Mom?"

"Go away, go away, you've got drool all over my face." Liu's mother pretended to be disgusted and gently pushed her daughter away, but the love and care in her eyes could not be hidden.

(End of this chapter)