We moved to Golden Courtyard

In Bronya's office, as the CEO was preparing the storyboard for the next episode, a knock sounded on the door.

When Bronya saw that it was Xu Qi, she wasn't surprised at all.

"You've finally come to find me?"

"You should already know about Delta."

"Yes, that's right."

Xu Qi stood in front of Bronya's desk, his expression momentarily complicated.

“I should have realized it yesterday. You are Delta’s best friend, but when this happened to her, you didn’t say a word yesterday.”

Bronya stopped writing, looked up at Xu Qi, and a smile slowly appeared on her usually calm face.

"What do you think I should do? Like you, angrily confront her?"

Of course not...

That's why Xu Qi's expression was so complicated.

"It doesn't matter. Everyone has their own ambitions. Even if she wants to leave ET, I will still consider her a friend and respect all her choices."

Bronya was undoubtedly more accepting of Delta's departure.

Perhaps this is the perspective of someone with a higher vantage point.

For them, the company can do without anyone...

"Even without Delta, I still have you. I've seen your growth over the past six months, and I've overseen the overall progress of the animation... You can do this job too."

You just need someone to assist you, and Susana is perfectly capable of that. Therefore, even from a purely self-interested perspective, Delta's departure won't have a significant impact on Seed.

There might be, but it will only be short-term. Our company is large enough that we have enough resources to allow you to make mistakes.

Xu Qi gave a wry smile.

Is it really okay to trust me this much?

Bronya stood up, walked out from behind her desk, and hugged Xu Qi.

Her tall figure allows her to easily rest her head on Xu Qi's shoulder without having to tiptoe.

"You are my lover. If I don't trust you, who can I trust? But regarding Delta... all I can say is that I'm sorry."

Xu Qi has a gentle smile.

Everyone has different desires. Perhaps what I'm looking for is the kind of life where I can lean on an older sister and live off her? Just kidding...

But Xu Qi was indeed at ease.

This company has Bronya; I can't think of any reason why it might not succeed.

Xu Qi gently patted Bronya on the back and said, "Don't feel sorry, Duck. I'm here to talk to you about some business."

"it is good."

Leaving Xu Qi's embrace, Bronya leaned against the desk, her peach-like buttocks slightly deformed by the pressure of the desk.

Her figure is absolutely amazing...

"Tell me about it."

"I would like to increase Director Delta's salary and benefits."

"In the early stages of animation production, personnel costs are taken into account. We have a very strict budget standard. If we want to increase someone's salary..."

Either you receive an equivalent return, or it will be deducted from somewhere else. And Xu Qi, there's something else I need to remind you of.

That's a problem with the studio's salary structure. Theoretically speaking, no matter how much Delta's salary increases, it can't, and won't even come close to, your current salary.

Xu Qi, what is your current annual salary?

"40w".

“Very good. Delta’s annual salary, if I remember correctly, is between 28 and 30. To be honest, even if we ask her for a raise, the increase won’t be significant. But do you know… what’s the highest annual salary for a production manager at Tencent?”

Xu Qi frowned.

"45, even better than your salary as a manager! That's Tencent for you. They're so rich and powerful that they poach people from all over the industry. Their HR department plays a key role in this."

Do you know what they're called in the industry? "Hounds"... and the most notorious "Hound" among them is your uncle, the HR manager—Xu Houde.

That guy really does have some skills...

"Of course, not everyone will switch jobs for a higher salary. In places like Tencent, although the salary is high, there are a lot of rules and regulations."

They're willing to compromise on anything for money, especially for production managers and supervisors—it's hell... because you have to listen to the investors and do whatever they say.

So this is why, despite poaching so many people from the industry, they still haven't produced any good works.

628. The only one who can truly respond to Xu Qi is himself.

"However, occasionally we'll encounter one or two excellent investors who give the production team ample room to maneuver. At that point, TX's team will teach the industry a lesson."

Tell us... what constitutes a production of the year, what constitutes excellent animation. And even those rubbish works, as long as they're released quickly enough to seize the market first, can still make money.

This is the reason why Tencent continues to grow stronger—by plundering manpower and markets; in short…like bandits, everything is done through plunder.

After saying that, Bronya let out a long sigh.

"But you have to admit... they pay a lot of money—the production manager alone can get 45! We ETs could never offer that kind of salary."

Xu Qi fell into a long silence.

On one hand, I was shocked by Tencent's domineering style, and on the other hand... I felt a dark sense of powerlessness.

"Furthermore, I already have inside information—your Uncle [Hound] is coming here with the belief that TX Group will win."

They offered Delta a 50 yuan annual salary! 50 yuan... I've also heard that Tencent has been eyeing Delta for a long time, or rather, they've been eyeing everyone for a long time.

However, I didn't expect that [The Hound] would choose this time to attack Delta. Is it because April is approaching, and they plan to weaken us by poaching Delta?

Bronya smiled dismissively.

"That would be underestimating us too much."

Whether he underestimates or not is irrelevant; Xu Qi only cares about one thing... Delta's fate.

Whether it's 50 or 45.

In fact, when Xu Qi heard the term "salary structure," he already understood that it would be difficult to secure more benefits for Delta.

Currently, Delta is earning the highest salary among all the production managers in the company.

A significant increase would disrupt the overall salary structure.

Even if Bronya were the chairman, let alone just the president, she wouldn't be able to easily make a decision on this matter.

Moreover, although Bronya, as the second director, is on the same side as Walter.

But if she dared to propose raising Delta's salary to... not 50, but 45, it would probably be rejected by Walter immediately.

The interests of the company's top management are not so easily shaken.

Is there really no other way?

Xu Qi squinted his eyes.

He was somewhat skeptical...

Delta is right—he's a rich young man who has no concept of money.

Even though we're criticizing him, sometimes it might be a good thing, right?

"Bronya, I have a proposal that I hope you will listen to."

······

As I walked out of Bronya's office and returned to the large office where production was underway, I saw Delta checking the schedule with a child.

From her, you could not see in the slightest the behavior one would expect from someone about to depart this world.

Is it a case of giving up and doing nothing?

None of these can be seen.

This is Delta's sense of responsibility, and it's also the reason why Xu Qi... insisted on keeping her!

If someone like that were given to Tencent, I definitely wouldn't be able to sleep soundly.

"Delta, come to my office."

Delta sat up abruptly, and Rita and Ellie quickly looked in Xu Qi's direction.

What does this mean?

Delta frowned slightly. She glanced at the many productions still underway in the office, suppressed her doubts, and waited until she entered Xu Qi's office before asking.

"What? Do you want to continue yesterday's argument?"

"I won't argue with you anymore, Delta."

For some reason, Delta would rather hear the other person berate her than have Xu Qi treat her like this.

This made her clench her fists.

Xu Qi tapped on his desk and said, "There's a contract here, take a look."

Delta looked puzzled. She stepped forward and picked up the contract, which was clearly newly printed—a labor contract…a renewal agreement?

"What do you mean?"

"Let's watch it first and then we'll talk."

……

Delta frowned, seemingly having anticipated this, but still opened the revised contract.

After flipping through just a few pages, her face turned frighteningly gloomy. She pointed the contract at Xu Qi and asked, pointing to the section on wages and benefits.

"What...does this mean?"

"Literal meaning."

"An annual salary of 33, and... 20 in labor compensation. What is this labor compensation?"

"The explanation is below: as long as you can help the company and achieve your performance targets as expected, you can get this 20..."

Delta rudely interrupted Xu Qi.

"I can read! ...The budget for the animation production was decided from the very beginning, where would there be an extra 20!? Where did this money come from!?"

Seeing Delta's determined attitude and relentless questioning, Xu Qi seemed to suddenly understand something.

He asked, "What? Is it important? This money?"

"Nonsense!" Delta slammed the contract on the table, pointing at Xu Qi and yelling, "20! Even more! If you're talking about deductions from 3D effects or original artwork..."

In other words, at least one episode will be significantly less effective! Xu Qi! Didn't you say that Alahato was your childhood idol?!

"Didn't you say you were determined to create the most perfect Alahatto?! Why would you cut corners on the animation just for my sake?! This is the biggest betrayal of this animation!"

……

Xu Qi suddenly couldn't suppress the smile on his face and burst out laughing.

"No... this money wasn't deducted from any stage as you think."

Delta was taken aback.

"What? That...that is?"

“It’s my money that’s being deducted.” Xu Qi gazed calmly at Delta. “Didn’t you say that I don’t care about money? You’re right—I don’t care about money.”

So... this money will be deducted from my salary, Delta, I hope you can..."

Delta slapped the contract document across Xu Qi's face.

At this moment, Xu Qi couldn't even understand Delta's expression. Moved? He couldn't say. Resentful? It didn't seem so either... This action seemed more like Delta deliberately trying to act out that he was very angry.

It was an extremely complex expression.

If Greta were here, she might be able to see what a colorful darkness truly is from Delta's heart.