Internet moguls are being held hostage by the entertainment system!

Chapter 345 Xiaotian Knocks on the Door in the Middle of the Night

In the restaurant, seeing Sun Zhonghuai's hesitant expression, Chen Xiu picked up her coffee for the third time.

"Mr. Sun, have you considered the release date for 'The Xuanwu Gate Incident'?"

"Hmm? Well, I guess it won't be until the end of the year at the earliest, right?"

Sun Zhonghuai smiled on the surface, but in his heart he was thinking: "Our side is clearly taking the initiative to seek peace, but Pony is demanding that we can't make too many concessions. Tsk tsk, how can we even ask for such an excessive request?"

Chen Xiu took a sip of coffee and nodded, saying, "Director Xue Jijun also meant the same thing. At that time, 'The Xuanwu Gate Incident' will be broadcast on CCTV-8."

"What about the review process?"

"Of course it will be fair and just."

"understand."

Sun Zhonghuai's smile relaxed a bit, but he still didn't know how to get down to business.

Chen Xiu held his coffee and pondered for a while. Seeing that Sun Zhonghuai was still hesitating, he also didn't want to wait any longer.

Stroking her coffee cup, Chen Xiu took the initiative and said, "Mr. Sun, we've pretty much finished discussing the project. Is there anything else?"

"Forehead……"

Now that the conversation had progressed this far, even if Sun Zhonghuai was in a difficult position, he had no choice but to speak.

He sighed, carefully choosing his words, and said, "Mr. Chen, you are one of Tencent's shareholders, and we have always cooperated. You also have a good personal relationship with Martin and Pony. Are there some things we can sit down and talk about?"

"What's going on?"

Chen Xiu pretended not to know, intending to test the penguin's sincerity and bottom line.

Sun Zhonghuai nodded and clicked his tongue in astonishment. After a moment of silence, he continued, "Regarding the competition between Weishi and Douyin, is it possible for us to negotiate in a more amicable manner?"

"Mr. Sun, if you want to talk, let's stop beating around the bush!"

Chen Xiu sat up straight, slammed down her coffee cup, and stared blankly at Sun Zhonghuai.

"Based on my understanding of Pony and Martin, they will at least try every possible method before they actually sit down to talk. There's really no need to negotiate now, because I certainly can't meet your demands."

"You really know them well..."

Chen Xiu pursed her lips and nodded, while Sun Zhonghuai helplessly pursed his lips.

After a moment, Sun Zhonghuai felt that he could not explain himself with such an outcome, so he changed the subject back.

"Ahem, Mr. Chen, why don't you listen to Pony's request?"

"Sure! Go ahead and say it."

Chen Xiu knew that Sun Zhonghuai had come with a mission, so she didn't make things difficult for him.

Seeing Chen Xiu's indifferent expression, Sun Zhonghuai guessed the outcome.

However, since he had been given the order, he still had to say it.

"Pony's point is that he hopes Douyin will launch its next round of financing as soon as possible, with Tencent investing solely, which would diminish the significance of Weishi..."

"Yes, I will seriously consider this request."

Chen Xiu nodded insincerely, then looked up and asked, "Is there anything else I need to say to make it easier for you to explain yourself?"

"……No."

Sun Zhonghuai waved his hand, thinking to himself: As an actor, you should at least act it out. Saying it so bluntly will make me feel very awkward!

The two finished their coffees in silence. As they said goodbye and turned to leave, a faint smile appeared on Chen Xiu's lips.

Once inside the elevator, where no one else was watching, Chen Xiu finally let out a hearty laugh.

"Hahaha!"

The laughter was hearty, but not unrestrained.

Chen Xiu held onto the elevator with one hand and covered her face with the other to suppress her laughter.

Although the negotiations with Sun Zhonghuai were fruitless, the attitude he expressed proved that Penguin had already decided to back down.

At this point, Chen Xiu knew that not only could she not compromise, but she also had to continue to expand and maintain her advantage, so that Tencent would completely give up the competition in the short video field.

As for the condition of investing in a single round of financing, that is absolutely impossible to agree to.

If you can be in charge of your own life, who would want a stepfather?
As the elevator ascended to her floor, Chen Xiu suppressed her laughter and walked out with light steps.

It was indeed a pleasant thing to have the penguins bow their heads, and the brief respite from work made Chen Xiu feel incredibly relaxed.

The only pity is that Meng Ziyi and Reba are not here, otherwise we could have had a proper celebration!

Back in her room, feeling it was still early, Chen Xiu simply used her phone to search for content banned by the light and electricity restrictions, then projected it onto the television and watched it intently…

Meanwhile, in Tian Xinwei's room.

Zhou Ye, who had come over to freeload and eat snacks, was looking at her best friend with a puzzled expression.

"Xiaotian, are you going to rob someone?"

"What do you mean?"

Wearing a dark gray hooded sweatshirt and fleece-lined sweatpants, with a mask on but not yet wearing sunglasses, Tian Xinwei's almond-shaped eyes revealed a hint of confusion.

Zhou Ye remained silent, but pouted and looked her up and down.

Realizing what had happened, Tian Xinwei's eyes flashed with embarrassment as she tried to cover it up, saying, "I've already met some people outside, I'm afraid of being photographed!"

"Ok?"

Zhou Ye's eyes suddenly lit up, and he leaned closer in a suggestive manner, asking, "Who is it? Do I know them? Are they from our crew or the crew next door?"

"Yes, boss." Tian Xinwei wiped her sunglasses. She didn't intend to hide it at all, because she knew that if she didn't tell the truth, Zhou Ye would probably follow her secretly. It was better to tell her now and let her be surprised and make a fuss.

However, Zhou Ye did not shout and yell as Tian Xinwei had expected.

She just pursed her lips, reached out and grabbed Tian Xinwei's shoulder, and said with a serious expression, "Have you finally decided to sleep with the boss?"

"Huh? What did you say? What do you mean by 'sleeping with the boss'?"

"You went to see the boss late at night, wasn't it to sleep with him?"

"...Sleep my ass!"

Tian Xinwei spread her arms and instantly broke free from Zhou Ye's grip, her rebuttal revealing a clear hint of anger.

Seeing her best friend get angry, Zhou Ye quickly changed his tune, saying, "That's not what I meant. It's just that it's late at night, and you two, a man and a woman, are alone together. How could things possibly get a little out of hand..."

"You pervert, that's enough!!"

In a fit of anger, Tian Xinwei gave Zhou Ye a one-arm neck lock, her brows furrowed with a hint of shyness amidst her fury.

With Tian Xinwei holding him under his arm, Zhou Ye felt a shortness of breath and then began to beg for mercy.

"I was wrong, I was wrong! You don't want to sleep with the boss, that's why I want to sleep with him, okay! Cough cough, what are you doing..."

Zhou Ye's pleas for mercy were useless, and he only felt his breathing becoming even more difficult.

After a long commotion, Tian Xinwei finally released her neck-locking technique.

Zhou Ye, having regained his breath, coughed violently twice, and his complaints to Tian Xinwei now carried a hint of anger.

"Just kidding, why are you hitting me so hard?"

"I went to see the boss to discuss the script, not to sleep with him!"

"Going over the script, isn't that just..."

Zhou Ye's matter-of-fact attitude vanished instantly under Tian Xinwei's glare.

She pouted sullenly and asked, "How do you plan to go over the script with me?"

"I want you to take care of it!"

Tian Xinwei made a fist gesture, signaling Zhou Ye to shut up.

As she put on her sunglasses and prepared to leave, Zhou Ye's words came up from behind again.

"Xiaotian, if you're not going to sleep with the boss, then I'll go sleep with him. You shouldn't mind, right?"

The only response she received was Tian Xinwei's fist, raised high above her head, clenched tightly with cracking knuckles, and the loud slamming of the door.

Looking at the tightly closed door, Zhou Ye smiled smugly, thinking: Ha, your little tricks were exposed as soon as you tried them...

During the few seconds it took to ride the elevator upwards, Tian Xinwei kept praying that she wouldn't run into any acquaintances from the film crew, but fortunately she was lucky.

After exiting the elevator, Xiaotian glanced around the corridor, making sure there were no angles to hide from taking photos. She suddenly realized that her outfit was somewhat unnecessary.

Walking along the corridor, which was only a dozen meters long, Tian Xinwei felt particularly conflicted. The closer she got to Chen Xiu's room, the more she thought about what Zhou Ye had just said.

Honestly, after what happened with Wang Sicong at the company's annual meeting, Tian Xinwei did develop some feelings for Chen Xiu. That's why she went all out when she heard Zhou Ye wanted to sleep with Chen Xiu...

It was because she had feelings for Chen Xiu that she spoke to him several times and even took the initiative to try to get the minor role of Princess Yang, the wife of Prince Qi.

Everything was wonderful, but Chen Xiu's wealth and achievements made Tian Xinwei, who should have been courageous enough to move forward, hesitate.

She worried that her so-called goodwill would be seen as having ulterior motives by Chen Xiu...

Upon arriving at the corresponding room number, Tian Xinwei stared blankly at the door through her sunglasses, raising her hand several times only to pull it back, before finally gritting her teeth and pressing the doorbell.

"Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~~"

The doorbell rang in her ears, and Tian Xinwei couldn't help but ask herself: Are you really here to rehearse the script?
After thinking for a while, Tian Xinwei realized that she was there to go over the script, and that was all she wanted to do; she didn't intend to do anything else.

But if Chen Xiu takes the initiative, she might half-heartedly agree, right?
Tian Xinwei pursed her lips tightly under her mask. She felt that although her actions tonight were proactive, the result was that she was passively waiting for a choice.

If Chen Xiu is interested in her, then she can disregard the gap between them and boldly pursue him without hesitation.

If not, then she will keep tonight's events a secret between them, and then go back and silence Zhou Ye...

A flood of thoughts rushed through her mind, so much so that when the door was pushed open, Tian Xinwei didn't even have time to react.

"Who are you?"

"Ok?"

Tian Xinwei suddenly looked up and saw Chen Xiu, dressed in a light gray hoodie and sweatpants, looking at her with a slight frown.

Realizing that her disguise was too inconspicuous, Tian Xinwei quickly said, "Boss, it's me!"

Hearing that familiar voice and seeing the round, almond-shaped eyes revealed when the sunglasses were removed, Chen Xiu's tense muscles began to relax.

"Are you Oda?"

"Yes! It's me?"

"Dressed like that, are you planning to rob someone?"

"Oh dear, no, I came here to..."

Even as the words were on the tip of her tongue, Tian Xinwei found it difficult to explain the reason for her trip.

Just as she was struggling with how to say it, a loud noise from inside the room had already passed through the door and reached Tian Xinwei's ears.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Tian Xinwei's eyes widened suddenly, and she said to Chen Xiu, "Boss! You were actually watching..."

(End of this chapter)