Internet moguls are being held hostage by the entertainment system!

Chapter 249 A lone man and woman alone in a room

January 26, the 1th day of the lunar calendar.

The day before Lunar New Year's Eve, Chen Xiu returned to Shanghai, but as soon as he stepped into his long-missed home, he received an "extraordinary" welcome.

"Mom, I'm home, huh?"

"Get out of the way, no one's following you outside, right?"

The loving mother, Zhao Lu, rushed over and pushed Chen Xiu aside. Then she peeked out and cautiously surveyed the surroundings outside the door.

Chen Xiu, who was pressed against the wall, couldn't help but laugh when she saw her mother's guarded posture. "Mom, what are you doing?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lu's relaxed expression instantly turned into one of disgust.

"It's not because of you!"

"What's wrong with me?"

"Ever since the TV series 'Love O2O' aired, all my old colleagues have been coming up to ask: 'Is that your son in the TV series?' These questions are easy to answer, but you're always so busy, coming up with something new every few days. Yesterday you even did a live stream with Ma Yun, and my colleagues came over again asking: 'Is Xiao Xiu going home for Chinese New Year this year? Has the young man found a girlfriend? I'll come over to your house sometime…'"

Zhao Lu's non-stop output left Chen Xiu somewhat bewildered and a little apologetic.

He hesitated for a moment, glancing at his tired mother and his father sitting on the sofa reading a book, and said, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

"Trouble? No problem!"

Zhao Lu shook her head, looking completely indifferent.

“I told my colleagues that you have settled in Beijing and will not be coming back for the next few years. I will come to see you after I retire.”

"Hmm? I still prefer Shanghai..."

“I like it too, so why don’t you go out and buy a house? I know all the neighbors here. If they see you come back, they’ll probably bring their daughters and nieces to visit tomorrow.”

"Am I being kicked out of my home like this?"

Chen Xiu looked at her mother in surprise, not expecting that the first thing she did after returning from so far away was to buy a house and move out.

Zhao Lu stared at him intently for two seconds, then simply clicked her tongue.

"There's nothing we can do. You're both a celebrity and an entrepreneur, and so many people are paying attention to you. If you don't move out, your dad and I will be ruined. Anyway, you only stay at home a few days a year. Buy a house, come back to live there during the New Year, and your dad and I will go to your place to celebrate the holidays. Isn't that the same thing?"

"That's true."

Chen Xiu nodded, then immediately thought, "This year?"

"Tsk, since you're already here, do you think I'd kick you out?"

Zhao Lu shook her head in disgust and helplessness. Her expression was exactly the same as Chen Xiu's when her parents were called in during junior high school.

Chen Xiu smacked her lips, showing no trace of the aura of a powerful figure who had dominated the entertainment industry. Instead, she appeared ashamed because she had affected her parents' lives.

After arranging her son's "future," Zhao Lu slammed the door shut and instructed, "Don't go out for the next couple of days. Once the Lunar New Year is over, head back to Beijing as soon as possible..."

"No, I'm going out in a bit."

"Didn't you hear what I just said? If you go out and run into someone you know, that's troublesome, but if you get spotted by a reporter, are your dad and I going to have to move?"

"Um... I'm going to see Sister Xiaoxiao to talk about some work-related matters."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lu, who was about to lash out, immediately stopped talking, and her accusatory gaze softened into understanding.

"Oh, then go ahead! Don't come back for dinner tonight."

The Chen Xiu family and the Su Xiao family have been on good terms for many years. It is common for the younger generation to visit each other, have meals together, and discuss work, which is an important business.

"Okay, I'll head over then..."

"Hey, wait a minute, I have something to say!"

Chen Mingjie, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly stood up and interjected.

Chen Xiu and Zhao Lu looked at him at the same time, and saw Chen Mingjie walking over with a package in his hand.

"This is Xiao Xu's new book, along with his thank-you letter, which he asked me to give to you together."

"Zijin Xu's new book?"

Chen Xiu took the package and took out the book inside, which was still sealed in plastic. The title on the cover was "The Long Night Is Hard to Brighten".

The thank-you letter was very simple. It thanked Chen Xiu for making him the screenwriter of "The Untouchable Crime" and for giving him the right to participate in the filming and production of the series. It also subtly mentioned that the copyright of the new book was still valid.

Chen Xiu held the book, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes, but she didn't rush to read it.

"Dad, thanks. I'll talk to Xu Zijin about it."

"Well, you go."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiu, who had intended to rest at home before going out, had no choice but to hand the novel back to her father and turn to leave.

Once on the street, considering that there were indeed many familiar uncles and aunts nearby, Chen Xiu could only pull up her mask and put on her hat, and quickly walk towards Su Xiao's house.

When Chen Xiu arrived at her destination, she only saw Su Xiao who came to greet her; the rest of her family was nowhere to be seen.

"Where are your uncle, aunt, and Xiaoyu?"

"They took Xiaoyu on a blind date and they won't be back tonight."

"A blind date? And he's not coming home tonight?"

Chen Xiu stared wide-eyed in surprise, thinking to herself: What kind of blind date is this? It even involves staying overnight... If staying overnight, then Su Xiao will be home alone? No, wait, it's like there are two of us.

Su Xiao knew Chen Xiu well, and seeing him purse his lips and look down when he heard the news, she already guessed what he was thinking.

"They went to Suzhou for a blind date. They had just left and met for dinner at a hotel. It was quite late when they finished, so they decided to stay at the hotel and go back tomorrow. What are you thinking?"

"Cough, it's nothing." "Really nothing?"

"Hey, Xiaoxiao, since your uncle and aunt aren't home, why don't you come home with me for dinner?"

Upon hearing the invitation, Su Xiao stared at Chen Xiu with interest for a moment, then chuckled.

"I've made something simple; you can eat first if you're hungry."

"I'm not that hungry."

"Let's talk about work first. Come with me."

The two sat down side by side on the sofa.

Su Xiao was wearing slippers and loungewear at home. After sitting on the sofa, she kicked off her slippers, sat cross-legged barefoot, and placed an open laptop on her lap.

Chen Xiu and Su Xiao were sitting almost touching, and her warm, soft ankle was occasionally caught by the corner of her eye.

"...Yesterday you mentioned the idea of ​​splitting up TikTok and raising funds again. I did a simple analysis of the feasibility. If we do that, Douyin and TikTok will be in a controlling and controlled company relationship. After raising funds several times in the future, the shareholding will gradually decrease, but it will also be beneficial for TikTok to list separately overseas."

"Yes, I think it would be best to bring in both overseas and domestic capital."

Which domestic capital?

"This is something Lao Zhang should be responsible for. As for overseas capital, I already have some ideas."

Chen Xiu said thoughtfully that he had actually considered the idea of ​​spinning off TikTok long ago, after all, the story of this company in his previous life was too turbulent.

It's clear that Douyin's power alone is not enough to protect this company.

Rather than waiting to be forcibly taken over in the future, it's better to break it off now, then bring in domestic resources and international capital, let the big players compete, and earn some profits and valuations for ourselves.

Su Xiao was unaware of Chen Xiu's concerns about the future; she simply thought the plan to split the business and then raise funds was excellent.

What are your thoughts on overseas capital?

“When I was discussing financing with Didi, I chatted with Zhou Shouzi for a bit. He used to work at Goldman Sachs and was the head of DST in China. Now he’s in charge of Xiaomi’s IPO. He should have connections in the overseas capital circle.”

Why would he help you?

"Hehe, having more friends means having more options!"

Chen Xiu said meaningfully that the future TikTok, which will be separated from the company, will need a helmsman, and Zhou Shouzi is the best candidate.

Once Xiaomi successfully goes public next year, Zhou Shouzi will probably have some ideas...

Su Xiao knew that Chen Xiu was not one to boast, and hearing his confident words, she knew that he was certain of success.

"If we decide to use this approach, then we need to first spin off TikTok, then launch Douyin's Series B funding round, then use the funds raised to buy TikTok, and finally use TikTok to raise funds to acquire Musical.ly."

"After the New Year, talk to Lao Zhang again and tell him that the plan was your idea."

"Yes, if we hurry up, there's still enough time."

"That solves the problem."

Chen Xiu smiled. Although the plan was only on paper at the moment, the idea was there, and the rest would be simple.

When people relax, their attention begins to wander.

From the angle from which Chen Xiu leaned back on the sofa, she could see Su Xiao's graceful and slender back, as well as the fair and jade-like skin on the back of her neck.

After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly said, "Sister Xiaoxiao, I'm planning to buy a house. Should I leave the next-door apartment to you?"

"..."

Chen Xiu could clearly see that Su Xiao's back trembled slightly, and then she heard the sound of the laptop being closed and thrown onto the sofa.

Su Xiao slowly turned around, her bright eyes fixed on Chen Xiu, her gaze unwavering, the corners of her mouth curving into a half-smile.

Why should I live next door to you?

Chen Xiu was stunned for a moment. Her usually quick-witted mind went blank, and she didn't know how to answer the question.

To be honest, he considered himself a womanizer, selfish, narrow-minded, cold-hearted, and opportunistic person.

It is precisely these human weaknesses that make him want Meng Ziyi, yet unwilling to give up Reba, and now he is also thinking about Su Xiao... However, if he wants something, he should just take it; there's nothing wrong with admitting it!

Thinking of this, Chen Xiu smiled slightly and reached out to hold Su Xiao's hand.

“When we come back for Chinese New Year in the future, I can come to your house for dinner, or I can cook for you.”

"can you cook?"

"Learning it shouldn't be too difficult."

Su Xiao turned her head to the side, looking at Chen Xiu with an ambiguous expression.

"If you beg me, I'll stay."

"Eh?"

Chen Xiu looked at Su Xiao with some surprise. As her thoughts raced, she realized that she didn't feel troubled by the request.

"Then I beg you."

A hint of surprise flashed across Su Xiao's eyes. She knew Chen Xiu and was well aware of how rare it was to hear the word "beg" from this proud "younger brother".

Her lips curled up quickly and then flattened again. Su Xiao turned around completely, straddled Chen Xiu, and faced him directly.

"Let's go! Let's go have dinner."

"Pfft~~mua~"

(End of this chapter)