Huayu: You were supposed to be a top star, but you've become capital?

Chapter 98 I Want to Create a Trendy Toy Brand

Pushing open the wooden door, you'll find a small courtyard with a few bamboo stalks and a bluestone path leading to the main house.

The environment was very quiet, with only the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind.

Chen Duling walked in with practiced ease, pushed open a door, and turned back to wave at him: "This room, this room, I booked it in advance."

Lin Shen walked in and found himself in a small private room, simply and elegantly decorated with a wooden table, a few chairs, and a small courtyard outside the window.

Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, creating dappled patterns that looked quite beautiful.

Chen Duling took off her coat, draped it over the back of the chair, sat down, and began to complain: "If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble to find a place."

Lin Shen sat down opposite her, smiling as he looked at her.

Chen Duling continued, "If you weren't a big star, I'd want to take you to eat at the school cafeteria. Our school cafeteria is delicious, cheap, and affordable; a meal only costs around ten yuan."

Lin Shen laughed: "Then next time I go to China Southern Airlines, will you treat me to a meal in the cafeteria?"

Chen Duling blinked, a little surprised: "You're really going?"

"Sure, go ahead," Lin Shen said casually. "Just experience university life, what's wrong with that?"

Chen Duling stared at him for a few seconds, then laughed: "Okay, you said it. Don't complain about how shabby it is later."

"Not at all, not at all."

The waiter came in to pour tea and handed over the menu. Chen Duling took it, flipped through it, and casually ordered a few dishes, seemingly having done her homework beforehand.

The waiter left, and the private room became quiet.

Chen Duling picked up her teacup, took a sip, and suddenly asked, "Hey, those fan site admins you mentioned earlier, you really have no say in the photos they take?"

Lin Shen knew she was still thinking about what had just happened, and smiled, "It's none of your business. They took the photos in a public place, what can you do about it?"

Chen Duling nodded, then asked, "What if someone takes bad photos? Like unflattering ones?"

Lin Shen found her curious expression amusing and said, "Then just buy it."

Chen Duling's eyes widened slightly: "You can do that?"

"Of course," Lin Shen said. "In the industry, it's called public relations. If some photos leak out, it will affect your image, so the team will contact the other party and negotiate a price to buy them out. If they can't reach an agreement, that's when the real trouble starts."

Chen Duling nodded thoughtfully, then muttered to herself, "The waters here are much deeper than I thought—"

Lin Shen laughed: "This is nothing."

The dishes arrived one after another, several of them being local Nanjing specialties: salted duck, braised lion's head meatballs, stir-fried water spinach with dried tofu, and more.

There was also a bowl of chrysanthemum brain and egg soup. It looked light, but it was quite appetizing.

Chen Duling picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of duck, and her eyes lit up immediately: "Mmm! Delicious!"

Lin Shen also picked up a piece with his chopsticks, and it was indeed very good; the meat was tender and the saltiness was just right.

After they took a few bites, Chen Duling suddenly put down her chopsticks and looked at him: "Hey, what about those figurines you mentioned earlier—what are they for?"

Lin Shen also put down his chopsticks, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

He had been looking for an opportunity to talk to her about it, and now that she had asked him about it herself, it was perfect timing.

"Didn't I mention it to you before?" Lin Shen said, "I want to create a trendy toy brand."

Chen Duling blinked: "Trendy toys? You mean those limited-edition figurines?"

"More or less, but not entirely." Lin Shen thought for a moment. "Most of the figurines on the market are derivatives of IPs, such as animation, comics, and games. The content comes first, and then the merchandise. What I want to do is to have an image first, and then attract people with the image itself."

Chen Duling listened attentively, her brows slightly furrowed.

Lin Shen continued, "For example, a cartoon character that is very cute and easily recognizable can be made into blind boxes..."

Ornaments and collaboration items.

It doesn't need an animated film or a game first; the character itself alone makes people want to buy it.

I want to add this to my collection.

Chen Duling nodded thoughtfully: "Like Doraemon?"

"Doraemon has an anime," Lin Shen laughed. "It's more like—well, how should I put it—the kind of independent dolls that designers make. They don't have much of a story background; they're just pretty, cute, and unique. Some people like that kind of thing."

Chen Duling thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up: "I know! I saw her on Weibo before, there was someone named Molly, a little girl with pouty lips, like that?"

Lin Shen smiled; she actually knew Molly.

"Yes, that's the kind," Lin Shen said. "Molly was designed by a designer named Wang Xinming."

Chen Duling nodded, then asked with a hint of curiosity, "So you know him?"

"I don't know them yet," Lin Shen said, "but someone has already helped me make contact."

Chen Duling blinked, waiting for him to continue.

Lin Shen looked at her and suddenly asked, "Are you quite interested in these things?"

Chen Duling nodded: "A little. I've always liked these things, and I've bought quite a few before. But they're mostly from Japan; I don't think there are many from China."

Lin Shen understood. He picked up his teacup and took a sip: "I'm currently setting up a trendy toy company. It's registered, and all I need are people."

Chen Duling's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Really," Lin Shen said. "There are a few designers in Hong Kong, and I'd like to have someone contact them. Go and see what they're thinking."

He looked at Chen Duling: "Are you interested in coming along to take a look?"

Chen Duling was stunned.

"Me?" she pointed to herself. "What can I do?"

Lin Shen laughed: "You don't have to do anything. Just go have some fun and give me your opinion on what those things are like from a user's perspective. Aren't you a veteran anime fan? You definitely know more than I do."

Chen Duling blinked, clearly not expecting him to say that.

"But—" she hesitated, "I don't know how to do anything."

Lin Shen waved his hand: "You don't need to know anything, just go and experience it. If you find it interesting, you can participate more in the future. If you don't find it interesting, just consider it a trip to Hong Kong."

Chen Duling fell silent, her head bowed, lost in thought.

Lin Shen didn't urge her, and picked up his teacup to continue drinking.

After a while, Chen Duling looked up at him and asked, "You—you're serious?"

Lin Shen nodded: "Seriously."

Chen Duling stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Why do you always think about these strange things?"

Lin Shen raised an eyebrow: "Is that strange?"

"Exactly," Chen Duling thought for a moment, "You're an actress, why aren't you focusing on acting? What are you doing messing around with trendy toys?"

Lin Shen laughed: "I've already started selling clothes, can't I also have some side hustles?"

Chen Duling was taken aback by his words, then muttered softly, "That's not entirely true—"

She paused, then looked up again: "When are we going to Hong Kong?"

Lin Shen knew in his heart that she was tempted.

"It's not decided yet. I'll make arrangements once I've contacted the people. Just let me know if you want to go."

Chen Duling nodded, then lowered her head, lost in thought.

After a while, she suddenly whispered, "Then—let me think about it?"

Lin Shen smiled: "Okay, I'm not in a hurry, take your time thinking about it."

Chen Duling looked up at him, a slight smile playing on her lips, then quickly looked away and continued eating.

Lin Shen picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw her trying not to laugh, and the corners of his mouth also turned up slightly.

By the time the two finished their meal and came out, it was already getting dark.

The two walked to the alley entrance, where Lin Shen's car was still parked.

Chen Duling stood by the car and looked back at him: "Are you going straight to the airport?"

Lin Shen nodded: "My flight is at eight o'clock."

Chen Duling glanced at the time: "It's still early."

"Okay, I'll take you back."

The car started and drove out of the alley.

After driving for a while, Chen Duling suddenly pointed ahead: "Hey, just stop at the subway entrance up ahead."

Lin Shen turned his head to look at her.

Chen Duling explained, "It's one subway stop away from the school. I can just take the subway back by myself. Going directly to the school gate would be too conspicuous."

Lin Shen thought for a moment, nodded, and pulled the car over to the side of the road.

Chen Duling didn't rush to get out of the car. She sat in the passenger seat, her fingers twirling the backpack strap, her gaze shifting between the outside of the car window and finally settling on Lin Shen's face.

"Did you come all the way to Nanjing today just for this?"

Lin Shen met her gaze.

Her tone was casual, but after asking the question, she was clearly waiting for his feedback.

Lin Shen paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Of course, we're here to participate in the event."

Chen Duling stared at him for a while, then said "Oh" and looked away.

She pushed open the car door, stepped out with one foot, then turned back: "What's the name of your trendy toy company again?"

"Forest-themed toys".

Chen Duling wrinkled her nose: "What an awful name."

Lin Shen laughed: "The company name doesn't matter. We can just rename the product lines we launch later."

Chen Duling blinked: "Have you thought it through?"

"No," Lin Shen said, looking at her. "Why don't you help me think of something?"

Chen Duling was taken aback: "Me?"

"Yeah, you know a lot about these things, don't you?" Lin Shen said casually. "Think of a few for me when you have time, just as practice."

Chen Duling's lips curled up, but she quickly suppressed it: "Will it cost money?"

Lin Shen smiled: "I'll give you the whole set of figurines later."

"make a deal!"

Chen Duling spoke quickly, then pushed open the car door, jumped out, and waved to him from the roadside.

"I'm off then, take care on your journey."

Lin Shen nodded.

She turned and walked towards the subway entrance, but after a few steps she turned back and called out, "I've remembered the name, don't worry about it, leave it to me!"

Lin Shen smiled and waved.

She then turned around, jogged down the subway exit, and quickly disappeared into the crowd.