Chapter 47: Strategic Move

On someone else's turf, even Assistant Cui Jin trailing Boss Sang started putting on airs. Made Boss Sang even more eye-catching.

People watched the luxury car B-roll from The Favored One, so they knew Boss Sang's build. Back then, conspiracy theories ran wild. Some guessed Boss Sang wasn't good-looking IRL—that he'd found someone with a nice build to appear on camera to run the IP. A Stunt Double.

"Sang-produced" projects now pull more traffic than famous directors or top-tier celebrities. Hasn't it become its own IP? People are visual creatures. Someone who looks like the young CEO boss from novels always sparks more curiosity. Faces blurred, who knows real from fake, but it nailed market expectations. Not real!

Now look at the face. The whole vibe is solid—not the "heavy features" vs "light features" divide Domestic Entertainment loves. Easy on the eyes, relaxed. Face plus aura equals "Boss Sang"—it's an adjective. When people have money, they radiate confidence. Domestic Entertainment's got plenty of stars who blow up but freeze up in interviews, fidgeting, barely squeaking out words. Makes you cringe, brow furrowed, toes curling for them.

Among a crowd of middle-aged bosses, Boss Sang's the youngest—and the most striking. Compared to the others, he doesn't dress like a boss—casual vibe, black jacket plus trousers. Simple overall, but the design and tailoring? Pricey as hell. Totally fashionable yet understated, elegant yet relaxed. ...Is this old money aesthetic?!

If Sang Yu could hear that, he'd reply: "I just felt a bit cold going out so I added a jacket" aesthetic.

Before, when Sang Yu had serious business, he'd think about dressing properly so people wouldn't laugh. Not anymore. Pure waste of time. No matter how properly he dressed, the people across from him would listen seriously. Also because his wardrobe upgraded. "Respect the clothes before the person" always applies—when your everyday clothes are all fancy, people respect you too.

In an environment where "I don't even have to do anything and the whole world's already catering to me," Sang Yu becoming a celestial being is only natural. The willpower to turn back from the edge rivals a cat owner refusing an affectionate cat asking for cuddles. (Yeah, Sang Yu's bragging.)

This time at Guangwen Entertainment, since it's just noon, and because he's late, no dramatic entrance. Guangwen Entertainment's employees aren't... When they connect the Boss Sang they see in person with Y03 on Weibo, their scalp tightens. Boss Sang is definitely someone who gets things done, masterful moves, young and accomplished.

Compared to him, Xiao Zhai Zong looks like something a nouveau riche family would produce. Uh, he actually is a nouveau riche. Old Zhai Zong made his fortune in '09, set up Guangwen Entertainment in '12. Based on Xiao Zhai Zong's age, he became a rich second-gen in his twenties. The foundation he grew up with can't be changed—otherwise Xiao Zhai Zong wouldn't have nothing else to do at the company except hooking up with female artists. Old Zhai Zong tried for another kid too, but fate didn't bless him. Gave up on natural conception, went IVF, and unexpectedly dropped dead. Looking at it that way, Guangwen Entertainment's fate is rough too...

Bao Qiuying and the others stood up together. Boss Sang smiled casually and nodded at the crowd; everyone quickly nodded back. Manager Li brought up the rear, whispering: "Boss Sang's heading to the conference room. Get everyone ready. He might pick people to question." "Got it!" After saying that, Manager Li acted like nothing happened and became one of Boss Qi and Boss Fan trailing behind Boss Sang with sycophantic smiles.

Conference room. The C-spot is Sang Yu's. The others quickly yielded, one by one sitting down. Guangwen's board meetings were dead air. Now renamed Shaoguang Entertainment, it's alive. After all, Guangwen Entertainment has no capital to play with—every meeting they agonize over the same old assets, it's nauseating. This time with a new owner, Boss Sang, everyone's spirit is refreshed, feels like there's hope for the future! Having seen Boss Sang's thunderous methods in Domestic Entertainment, no one won't respect him, no one won't be a proper employee. Manager Li unethically sighed—Thanks to Xiao Zhai Zong. Though he dragged the company down for over a decade, annoying everyone, he finally did one good thing before leaving. Guangwen Entertainment has a chance to rise from the dead!

Sang Yu sat in the chair, facing a projection wall that usually projects new quarterly plans and financial reports. Sang Yu scooted the boss chair forward a bit. Guangwen Entertainment will officially rename to Shaoguang Entertainment next month. —The name Sang Yu picked, nothing fancy, "Guang" generation.

Shaoguang Entertainment's different areas have huge gaps in renovation quality. Sang Yu saw it all when he visited. The outer hall's workstations are spaced tight, looks cramped, let alone working. This conference room is only half the hall's size but only holds a tenth of the people, yet it's made to look grand and luxurious. The company Sang Yu worked at before was the same, so Sang Yu, who "got rained on," had Aurora Entertainment deliberately do the opposite. Unified the renovation—Conference rooms can be grand and luxurious for face, but employee workstations also need to be spacious, comfortable, with various functions. So at first glance at this "old" layout, Sang Yu's a bit unused to it. Will fix it later. After all, Guangwen Entertainment will rename and become Aurora's "little brother." Though a blended family, equal treatment.

Alright, back to business. Cooking competition, item one. Sang Yu turned: "Boss Fan, I recall the company did variety shows before?" The pre-acquisition documents were all prepared thoroughly for review. Sang Yu didn't read them carefully but grabbed the key points. Fande Ya nodded quickly: "Yes, Guangwen did music variety shows, idol selection shows, and civilian dating shows." Following the big trends, whatever's hot. Plus malicious editing—ahem, leading the narrative, so they made some money. Fande Ya suddenly felt like an "ugly daughter-in-law meeting the in-laws"—Boss Sang's a pro at Domestic Entertainment, might not look kindly on this trend-chasing...

"Mm." Experienced teams can handle it.

Sang Yu prepared to "officially announce": "I don't know if you've heard, but I'm doing a nationwide linked xianxia scenic area." Boss Qi—Qi Feiyi—had vaguely heard rumors. Because this kind of scenic area would definitely get government policy support. Needs to be public, not secret. This kind of long-term plan takes at least two or three years to complete. Wait... only knew one district in Linjiang was under construction?! Nationwide linked?! Huh?! Everyone was stunned by Boss Sang's move. Conservative guess, at least three, right? Otherwise "nationwide linked" is too big a term. Fande Ya's lips were trembling. Boss Sang... big moves!

Sang Yu twirled a pen and continued: "The scenic area is my project, not Aurora Entertainment's. I'll make everything in the scenic area fit the xianxia continent concept better. So for food, I originally planned to crowdsource wisdom, use prize money to find people, develop some 'fairy realm dishes.' For the scenic area's use, not only faster speed, but more variety too. 'Guangwen Entertainment's idle anyway, might as well help me run a cooking competition. Boss Qi, Boss Fan, what do you think?'" Sang Yu looked at the others. In his mind: his low-level rhetoric is working again. What's "idle anyway"? Feels like looking down on people.

Fande Ya: "Of course!" Almost no thinking. Not just because Boss Sang has money, she saw the big picture Boss Sang laid out. Right! Fande Ya's famous for PR, more sensitive to "topic heat" than anyone here. Aurora Fairyland has nothing to do with Aurora Entertainment? Who believes that? Same name. During development, Aurora Fairyland, like the promotional campaigns for those blockbuster dramas Boss Sang ran before, won't be boring. Plus, a nationwide linked xianxia scenic area, if it really gets developed, how terrifying is its economic web? A fairy realm dish cooking variety show can prove everything. —The vanguard promoting Aurora Fairyland. There must be follow-ups later. Like that esports competition... like that 3D infinite flow movie... Don't underestimate content that's fixed; to add related content, isn't it just Boss Sang moving his mouth, one sentence? Fande Ya felt she'd touched the truth. Otherwise why would Boss Sang make some anti-routine investments, to pave the way. Fande Ya could almost imagine: Aurora Fairyland bringing local tourism resources, cultural IPs, fan economy. ...These things aren't independent, they support each other, feed each other traffic, forming a self-sustaining loop. A perfect closed loop. Boss Sang, terrifying...

Sang Yu didn't know people were making assumptions. Alright, next item. Look at resumes. Second big item. Because Sang Yu's poaching some people, putting them into Aurora Entertainment's pipeline. They're short on people there. Besides comics, novels, animation that need co-production, the thirteen projects set to be adapted into TV, film, short drama. Yin Rong made a list. Production teams are department-based, need studios, fill in the ones found, leave empty the ones not. Sang Yu today, definitely filling a few more blanks—having some Guangwen Entertainment employees prepare resumes. If Sang Yu were an employee, he'd hate this kind of "interview," but as a boss, he'd skillfully switch sides. Don't forget the original.

Mm, start screening. ...

Bao Qiuying and the others, like everyone else, waited outside, constantly listening for sounds. Thought it'd drag on, but unexpectedly Boss Sang booked a restaurant for employees to eat, then they could go home and rest. The restaurant's a famous spot nearby, selling on expensive, clean, and delicious. Normally people can't bear to order. Even more shocking—"Let me go home and rest?!" Everyone couldn't believe it. "Sis, after going back, can we come to work tomorrow?" "Isn't the company getting a major overhaul?" "Layoffs?" News spread like wind. —Facing huge uncertainty, people's instinct is to huddle for warmth. That meal, wouldn't it be a farewell dinner? With that mood, people went to eat dejectedly. What else? Even if the sky falls, you still gotta eat.

The restaurant isn't the business-exclusive kind, specializes in leaders' daily meals. So all cuisines are available. Bao Qiuying took a bite of clear-braised beef short rib, so good she almost cried. Delicious, and just one bite costs twenty, even more delicious. But her mood, like when the company was in crisis back in Shaxian—don't know if she can work tomorrow.

"Xiao Qiu, gotta think about the future too." "Boss Sang will definitely lay off most people then have Aurora Entertainment fill in. Last drama's results were so bad, what to do?" The man following beside her was Lin He, deputy director of the marketing department, nearly twelve years older than her, a full cycle. Lin He's pursuing her. Bao Qiuying hates it. Because Lin He's pursuit directly puts a colored filter over everyone. Rich, ugly, middle-aged man's pursuit. For women, it's poison. Seriously rejected, but the guy's thick-skinned like a fat pig. Often sends flowers, that's nothing—uses the identity of a future boyfriend to order milk tea for coworkers, send snacks. Some coworkers with subtle malice will play along. These things, as a friend Pu Qianlan can't completely block. One day, Bao Qiuying had enough. Bao Qiuying lost it in the group, pointing at Lin He who was visiting, loudly said she was breaking down because of the pursuit. And exposed all of Lin He's little tricks—face-con, even if all the men in the world died she'd never choose Lin He. Coworkers quieted down for a bit, Lin He lost face but didn't give up. Changed from sugar-coated bullets to behind-the-back rumors. Every time got a chance, mocked. "Xiao Qiu, you're already thirty, think you're that hot? Looking for handsome ones, they won't look for you, got a way?" "Got to face reality, if you really get laid off, where can you go? Got to find someone to marry, that's more stable." Bao Qiuying couldn't stand it, would talk back. "I haven't faced reality, I have." "In front of me is a bald, bad-breath, trash-character, no-skills finding a wife, harassing employees bastard." Got the guts to fire me? First, marketing can't interfere with director department's business, plus there's a contract, the shackles also protect. Pu Qianlan: "Pfft." Mocking. Friend's mouth is too sharp. Lin He's facial fat twitched: "While you can be smug now, be smug. I'm middle management, layoffs won't touch me." "As for... hmph." ...

Gotta say, Lin He's words are exactly what both are worried about—the future. Bao Qiuying returned to the dorm, took off her coat, collapsed on the bed sighing. Pu Qianlan: "Don't worry too much, retreat's hard to find but not nonexistent, headhunters gave me a lot of replies, take it one step at a time." "Leaving's also good, at least won't be grossed out by Lin He openly and secretly." Everyone's pretty pessimistic. But the next day, there was a turn. The company rename succeeded, and the variety show group started moving. Former Guangwen employees knew. This wasn't hidden. Employees got a jolt: "?!" Job saved?! There's more exciting new developments—some screenwriters and directors were directly packaged and sent to Aurora Entertainment. Doesn't that mean they're Aurora direct?! Bao Qiuying got anxious. Really anxious! Especially since her peers from the "New Director Training Program" were all poached by Aurora Entertainment. Her side had no movement. Means... not selected. Not being disappointed would be fake. Bao Qiuying was letting hope stretch a bit more, giving one more chance. So she kept waiting. Her inbox only had company notices, department mass emails, and spam ads. Waiting anxiously, disappointed. Bao Qiuying accepted reality, maybe a bit short, so not selected. Current Shaoguang Entertainment backed by Aurora Entertainment, conditions much better than before, opportunities at least more than before. Bao Qiuying comforted herself. Phone buzzed. Picked it up, an unknown number: "Hello?" "Hello, Director Bao Qiuying, I'm Yin Rong, Aurora Entertainment's CEO assistant. Are you free tomorrow afternoon?" Bao Qiuying froze: "..." Huh? "I'm free! May I ask, what do you need me for?" Bao Qiuying silently listened, while pinching herself. Pu Qianlan came to find her for lunch, saw the mark! "Really?!" Bao Qiuying's eyes were dry: "I thought I was dreaming..." Otherwise, Boss Sang's side invited her to direct a film. A film called I Am Live Streaming in the Infinite Flow, known throughout the industry, Aurora Entertainment's next ace film.