Huayu: The Big Players Behind the Scenes

During a dinner party

Yang Chen inadvertently let slip the details of MK2's deal.

The moment this news broke, the entire entertainment industry went crazy.

Even CCTV's financial channel dedicated a special episode to two experts analyzing the overseas revenue of 91 Company's two films.

The data they provided shows that "The Hunt" was packaged with MK2 for $400 million, and additionally sold for $100 million each in some Asian countries, for a total revenue of $500 million.

"The Seaside Town" was a huge success, selling for 1600 million euros, with $300 million coming from Asia.

I don't know, I was taken aback.

In just one year since his debut, Zhuang Huai'an has amassed a staggering 2.5 million RMB, a figure comparable to the annual revenue of a listed company.

This episode did generate some controversy after it aired.

But many people believe that Zhuang Huai'an won those awards for bringing glory to the country, and that he earned foreign exchange!

If you're envious of foreigners' money, go earn it yourself.

Even Zhuang Kaixuan, the father, was somewhat doubtful of life after he learned about this. "My son's work in one year is equivalent to my work in three years."

Zhuang Huai'an was somewhat dismissive of this, thinking that his income in later generations would be nothing more than Shuangzi's income for 100 days.

The outside world's turmoil had nothing to do with him, but the constant congratulatory phone calls gave him a headache.

No one knows who leaked my private number, but people I knew called and strangers sent me text messages. For a while, even the legendary Nokia phone couldn't keep up.

This made him realize it was time to hire an assistant.

Zhuang Huai'an had just told Yang Chen about this when, unexpectedly, Yang Chen brought two people to his office.

"Hello Director Zhuang, my name is Du Hua, and I graduated from the Department of Media Studies at Peking University."

"Hello Director Zhuang, my name is Zhong Lifang. I just returned from the UK, where I studied marketing and risk management."

what?

Zhuang Huai'an was stunned. Was Yang Chen's judgment really that accurate?

"Oh, hello, please have a seat."

Looking at Du Hua and Zhong Lifang's still somewhat green faces, Zhuang Huai'an thought for a moment that with their abilities and ambitions, it was a waste for them to only be his assistants. He looked at Yang Chen.

Yang Chen immediately realized he had misunderstood, so he quickly shook his head and explained, "These two are here to apply for the positions of artist director and production director. For positions at the middle management level and above, you will need to conduct the interviews in person."

"Oh, oh, oh," Zhuang Huai'an nodded. This was something he had instructed Yang Chen to do before.

Although the company currently only has five artists—Wolong and Fengchu are under director contracts, and Sanxiong are under actor contracts—the company will have more and more TV drama projects in the future, and will definitely need to sign other artists.

While movies are highbrow, TV series are the real way to promote stars. You can't use your own projects to promote other people's actors, can you?

So Zhuang Huai'an set up a separate agency, which was separate from 91 Company's production. He jokingly named it "Madou".

After his own Wolong Wang Zhiyong went to become a director, there was no one in charge of the production, so naturally they had to recruit a few from outside.

I just didn't expect to not get those two S-level talent cards.

"OK,"

Zhuang Huai'an knew about the abilities of these two people anyway, and made a decision on the spot: "Du Hua will become the artist director of Madou Media, and Zhong Lifang will become the production director of 91 Company."

what?

If they were that straightforward, the two women wouldn't know what to do.

No, shouldn't an interviewer ask about the background?

How can two recent college graduates be appointed as middle-level managers?

Seeing that the two women were somewhat lost in thought, Yang Chen deliberately coughed, and the two women immediately came to their senses and stood up.

"Thank you, Director Zhuang," ×2

"Yes, don't be shy, sit down and talk."

Zhuang Huai'an smiled and continued, "President Yang will explain the company's specific situation to you. I only have one request: I'll give you one month to prepare and quickly assemble a qualified team. Can you do that?"

The two women knew this was also a test from Zhuang Huai'an, but they were confident in their abilities and nodded in unison, saying, "Yes!"

"Great, that's very energetic!"

Zhuang Huai'an nodded in satisfaction. "You guys go back first, pack up and start work tomorrow. Yang, can you see me off?"

"Thank you, Director Zhuang." The two women bowed slightly.

Yang Chen escorted the two downstairs and then returned.

"I do have someone in mind for your assistant position."

The two sat down to make tea. Zhuang Huai'an tossed him a cigarette and asked, "Who is it?"

"Liu Lei's niece."

"Huh?" Zhuang Huai'an was somewhat surprised. "Brother Liu has a niece?"

"you do not know?"

Yang Chen was also a little puzzled. These two would sit and drink tea and chat all day long when they had nothing to do, acting like close friends despite their age difference.

"I don't know, can you tell me?"

"His niece is named Zhang Lu. She is a top student from Renmin University, majoring in secretarial studies. After graduating last year, she joined a foreign company and just resigned last month."

"Then why did she resign?" Zhuang Huai'an asked.

"Because of their exceptional work abilities."

"Huh? Workplace bullying?"

"It's not bullying."

Yang Chen explained with a smile, "That girl became the general manager's assistant in just one year, but the company had a rule that if a middle-level manager wanted to be promoted, they had to go to the grassroots level for two years of training. So the company assigned her to South Africa, but she didn't want to go, so she resigned."

Is this really that bizarre?

Zhuang Huai'an also found it somewhat amusing; how come foreign companies, after entering the domestic market, have even picked up this kind of tactic?

"Okay, I'll call Brother Liu and ask."

Zhuang Huai'an took out his phone and called Liu Lei, asking directly, "Brother Liu, why don't you ask your niece if she'd be interested in working for me?"

"Haha, Old Yang told you, right?"

Liu Lei's hearty laughter came through the phone, "Okay, I'm with my sister right now. Don't hang up, wait a minute."

"it is good."

Zhuang Huai'an had just lit a cigarette when Liu Lei continued, "What a coincidence, this girl is also a fan of yours. She was overjoyed when I mentioned it to her."

"Oh, what a coincidence! Do you have time to bring her to the company for a visit?"

"Okay, I'm not far away, I'll be right there."

hang up the phone.

Not long after, Liu Lei led a short-haired girl in. Before Zhuang Huai'an could greet her, the girl walked past Liu Lei and extended her hand, her smile carrying a hint of the decisiveness unique to girls from Beijing.

"Hello Director Zhuang, I've always heard my uncle brag about you to me, but today I'm finally meeting you in person."

Zhuang Huai'an reached out and touched her hand briefly before letting go, then laughed and said, "Your uncle hasn't been secretly talking badly about me, has he?"

"No, not at all," Zhang Lu laughed heartily, "He almost praised you as the greatest genius of all time, but I agree with him."

"Haha, really?" Zhuang Huai'an laughed. "They say that if you eat someone's food, you're obliged. The fact that your uncle said that proves that my good wine and tea weren't wasted."

Come, come, sit down and let's talk.

Liu Lei chuckled to himself but didn't interrupt.

Although it was only their first meeting, Zhuang Huai'an had already developed a certain level of acceptance towards the girl.

After all, she was his assistant, so they were basically together every day. If their personalities clashed, even if she was very capable, it would be too boring.

Another important reason is that Zhang Lu has a good personality, but she is quite ordinary-looking.

Although it might sound hurtful, Zhuang Huai'an can rest assured.

After all, he's a normal man. If he spends every day with a beautiful woman, they might accidentally have sex one day.

Zhang Lu was no longer afraid.

Although I am this kind of person, you are not cut out for it.