Huayu98: Starting with mentoring pop divas

Devil

When a bus came to a smooth stop in front of the Ruijin Hotel in Shanghai, Li Shuo was still dozing off in the back seat.

"Class, we've arrived at the hotel."

The teacher leading the group, Hanji, turned around and shouted.

Li Shuo opened his eyes and rubbed his neck.

I was busy from the airport all the way, helping my juniors with their luggage and getting them on the bus. I wasn't tired, but I was just overwhelmed by the hassle.

The teacher leading the group was already calling everyone to get off the bus.

The exchange group from Hanji consisted of 25 people, all of whom were junior high school students in grades 9 and 10, except for Li Shuo.

He was starting to regret it; he had casually checked "photography" on the interview form to get extra points.

Now I'm honored to be the "accompanying photographer".

He had a Hasselblad camera hanging around his neck and a Sony VX1000 on his shoulder; both were provided by the school.

With that look, anyone who didn't know better would think he was a reporter on a film set.

"Li Shuo, you just said you were going to ask for leave to go see your aunt?"

The teacher in charge of the group was surnamed Zheng, in his thirties, wore glasses, and was quite friendly to him.

"So, are you going back to the hotel?"

"I'll stay here with you."

Li Shuo picked up the Hasselblad camera and took a few photos.

"It'll save you trouble. I'll leave my things and go talk to my aunt about something. I'll be right back."

Teacher Zheng nodded and began distributing room cards.

Li Shuo dragged his suitcase toward the elevator, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the corner of the lobby.

A group of people were hurriedly pushing equipment out.

Film and television crew?

He glanced at it again.

In the middle of the crowd was a rather young girl, wearing a hat and thick, vintage-style clothing.

The girl next to him, who looked like an assistant, was holding a military overcoat!

Li Shuo looked down at the short-sleeved shirt he was wearing.

In early June, the temperature in Shanghai is at least 27 or 28 degrees Celsius.

What are you filming? Won't this make you get heat rash?

Remembering his own affairs, he hurriedly dragged his suitcase into the elevator.

Huicui Garden.

This is Baiteng Real Estate's first foreign-related apartment project in Shanghai. It consists of six low-rise buildings, and the residents are mainly senior executives of foreign companies and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The community isn't large, but it's strictly managed. The security guards at the gate are wearing uniforms with epaulets, which look quite intimidating.

When Li Shuo entered, Li Dongli was sitting in her office on the second floor of the sales office, looking at documents.

I noticed that my second aunt had cut her hair short and looked much more capable than when I last saw her.

Li Shuo thought to himself... This is wonderful!

Since we avoided the crisis in Singapore, Dad is fine, Aunt is fine, everyone is fine.

Li Dongli looked up, saw him, and a smile immediately appeared on her face.

"You're here?"

"Um."

Knowing he had to get back before his afternoon exchange with schools in Shanghai, Li Shuo got straight to the point.

"Aunt, what's the progress of the merger between Baiteng and Jiade Land?"

Li Dongli glanced at him. "Kid, have you been paying a lot of attention to financial news in Singapore lately?"

"The negotiations are almost complete, and we can announce it to the public as early as the end of the year. The new company will be called CapitaLand, and we will lead the business in China."

She was somewhat curious.

"Why are you asking this? Did you call me to discuss something important with me about real estate in China?"

Li Shuo took a document out of his bag, placed it on the coffee table, and pushed it forward.

"I want to do something. I've discussed it with my cousin, and we're thinking of starting a media company to do this, but we need to talk to Baiteng, or rather, to you, my aunt, who will be handling the complex CapitaLand China business in the future."

Li Dongli put down her teacup, picked up the documents, and flipped through them. The more she flipped through, the more her brows furrowed, until finally she looked up at him.

"The building elevator is down?" She put the documents on the coffee table. "What's this?"

Li Shuo leaned back on the sofa and shifted into a more comfortable position.

"Auntie, what do you look at when you're waiting for the elevator on your way to work every day?"

Li Dongli was taken aback.

"Besides counting floors... there's nothing else to see?"

"If there were a poster frame with some brand logos hanging in the elevator, would you look at it?"

Li Dongli remained silent.

Li Shuo continued speaking.

"Currently, the bulk of the domestic Google Play market still comes from television, newspapers, and outdoor billboards. But the problems with these channels are obvious, and I've detailed them in my business plan."

He pointed to the documents on the coffee table.

"How many projects does Baiteng have in mainland China now? Residential, office buildings, shopping malls, dozens in total, right? Once CapitaLand is established, that number will only increase. The elevator entrances, lobbies, and waiting areas of these projects are all in prime locations."

Li Dongli looked at him.

"You want to take all these positions and put the framework you mentioned, GG, in there yourself?"

"It's not just about releasing [the system]; it's about building a nationwide network."

Li Shuo's eyes sparkled with confidence.

"We've installed poster frames at all locations, and we handle all the leasing and maintenance uniformly. If a business owner wants to reach a high-end clientele, they only need to contact us. Right now, it's static posters, but as the technology matures, we can upgrade to dynamic screens, step by step."

Li Dongli remained silent for a while.

"Do you know how much money this will cost?"

"Of course I know."

Li Shuo smiled.

"Entering now, and getting on board with CapitaLand first, will significantly reduce costs. By the time others realize what's happening, I'll have already secured all the locations. As for investment... I have investors on my side, which is more than enough to support me."

He thought to himself... the profits from the projects he had arranged were enough to support him, not to mention what would follow... plus the system, hehe.

But Li Dongli still pointed out the problems she saw.

"But Xiao Shuo, just having locations isn't enough. You need a whole team for everything: attracting businesses, maintaining operations, and managing the business. How do you plan to assemble that team?"

Li Shuo had already made up his mind.

"My dad's 'vegetable basket' company has been building its nationwide distribution channels for many years, and the key personnel are now scattered all over the country. Don't underestimate them; they know their local areas well, have extensive networks, and are highly efficient."

"When the media company is established, my cousin will come back and help them lead the team in the early stages, expanding the team city by city."

He paused.

"Aunt, please help with the initial setup, starting with CapitaLand projects to test the waters. Once the model is working, we can expand it further."

Li Dongli looked at him, picked up the document, and flipped through it again.

"Okay, I'll take a look first. I'll also ask your sister later. I'm not sure if I can fully understand this part, but you young people are quick-witted. I'll just check the management and profit model first."

She closed the file and looked up at him.

"By the way, where do you live? I've reserved two apartments in Huicuiyuan, they have everything you need. You can stay here in Shanghai, right?"

"No need to go through all that trouble. It's just a few days, and the school has arranged a hotel room for me, a single room." Li Shuo stood up. "I still have to take photos for the younger students this afternoon. Okay, you can take your time looking at the plan, I'll be going now."

He walked to the door, turned back, and waved.

Li Dongli sat there, watching his figure disappear through the door, stunned for a few seconds.

This kid...

Ever since that incident in Singapore, she has come to understand her nephew less and less.

However, as long as it's a positive change, that's fine.

She picked up the plan again and began to read it carefully.

She feels that this is... very promising.

I left Huicuiyuan.

Li Shuo stood by the roadside.

I recalled my second aunt Li Dongli's reaction earlier.

There were no questions, no objections, just the direct question, "How do I do it?"

These are our own people.

As for that teacher Jiang who was "fond of giving lectures" and later went around giving lectures everywhere...

He's still working on his "Yongyi Communication" in Shanghai right now.

Besides the profits, "hijacking" this future "giant" Focus Media is most importantly a crucial "flag" in his closed-loop "empire"!

Li Shuo hailed a taxi.

"The Affiliated Foreign Language School of Shanghai Normal University!"

The school participating in this exchange in Shanghai is this very high school, whose motto is "Chinese Spirit, Global Vision".