Chapter 436: You didn’t lie to me, did you?

On the top floor attic of a building in Shenzhen, the space was cramped, and the curtains around the room were drawn tightly. There was no light in the room, only an unpleasant odor in the air. Smoke lingered, and cigarette butts littered the floor.

At a computer near the window, a figure was furiously typing on the keyboard.

On the desk, various books were scattered about, along with several notebooks filled with dense writing.

The person at the desk was none other than Bai Runqi, the director who had not taken the initiative to contact Shen Fei.

At this moment, Bai Runqi was staring at his messy hair, his eyes dark and sunken. He hadn’t left the house for several days, and his total sleep time hadn’t even reached twenty-four hours. His focus was solely on fervently revising the script.

His phone was set to vibrate as a reminder of the passing time. Whenever it vibrated for a long time, he would immediately hang up without even looking at it.

As he flipped through the script, his phone vibrated again.

Bai Runqi heard the sound, frowned slightly, then immediately pressed the call to hang up, turning back to immerse himself in the script.

Meanwhile, Shen Fei was bewildered when he saw that the call had been ended abruptly. He called Bai Runqi, and the call was instantly rejected.

What was going on here?

In short, if Bai Runqi was working with him, Shen Fei would be the boss!

After a pause, Shen Fei called again.

The result was the same as last time.

Seeing this, Shen Fei felt a bit displeased. He knew that Bai Runqi had a peculiar temperament, but it wasn’t to this extent. Given that Shen Fei had helped him out, invested in him, and gave him an opportunity, Bai Runqi should be treating him like a benefactor, not like this!

After thinking for a moment, Shen Fei called again.

This time, the call wasn’t rejected immediately. Bai Runqi answered the phone.

However, the next second, a harsh voice came from the receiver.

“Are you crazy? You hang up once, twice, and still dare to call again?”

“Hmm? Can you say that again?” Shen Fei replied indifferently.

Shen Fei had set aside his pride as the boss to call him, and not only did Bai Runqi not pick up immediately, but he also started scolding him!

When Bai Runqi heard Shen Fei’s voice, he immediately froze, a wave of fear suddenly sweeping over him.

It was… Shen Fei!

Once he snapped out of it, Bai Runqi’s attitude immediately became extremely humble.

Even though Shen Fei couldn’t see him, Bai Runqi still stood up from his chair.

“Mr. Shen, I’m so sorry! I didn’t check who was calling. I got too anxious, sorry about that!”

“What are you doing?” Shen Fei asked, confused.

“Mr. Shen, I’m working on improving and revising the script, so I wasn’t paying attention to my phone!” Bai Runqi answered obediently.

“Hmm? Improving the script?” Shen Fei asked.

“Yes, after the meeting, I stopped dealing with the mess at Jiexing Media and focused on myself. I’ve been reworking and improving the script I wrote before,” Bai Runqi replied.

“So, you’ve been staying at home all this time?” Shen Fei asked with a slight smile.

Hearing this, Shen Fei couldn’t help but laugh. This behavior matched the rumors he had heard about Bai Runqi in his past life.

It was said that before becoming famous, Bai Runqi had once gone a whole month without any recognition. During that month, he lived off instant noodles and porridge. This isolation was completely for script creation.

Shen Fei hadn’t expected that Bai Runqi would have such an obsessive attitude even now.

“Yeah, that’s right! Mr. Shen, you believe in me, so I can’t disappoint you! That’s why I’ve been going through the scripts I wrote before, researching them to find a few that could be presented!”

Bai Runqi said earnestly.

“Hmm?” Shen Fei suddenly became curious.

He wanted to know whether the scripts in question were the ones that, in his past life, had become internationally acclaimed Chinese films.

“Mr. Shen, you’ll see soon enough!” Bai Runqi said loudly.

With a mysterious smile, Bai Runqi suddenly said:

“Mr. Shen, you’re looking for me because…”

“There’s something serious. Jiexing Media called me. If I’m not mistaken, in two days, I’ll be able to proceed with the acquisition of Jiexing Media! At that time, you can start looking for scripts, and we’ll provide sufficient funding! Once the acquisition is completed, if you have good scripts, filming can begin right away!” Shen Fei said seriously.

Upon hearing this, Bai Runqi’s face immediately filled with excitement and hope.

“Mr. Shen, you’re not lying to me, are you?” he asked in disbelief.

“Of course not! How could I joke about something this important?” Shen Fei replied.

“Mr. Shen, if that’s the case, then don’t bother looking for other scripts! The ones I have are more than good enough! Though they’re still being perfected, they can already compete with those mature scripts! Plus, I’m confident that if our work is made into a film, the box office will definitely be guaranteed!” Bai Runqi said firmly.

After speaking, fearing that Shen Fei might not believe him, he quickly added:

“Mr. Shen, I’m not boasting! The scripts I have now, if sold, would definitely attract many buyers! But I haven’t considered that. Even though the situation is tight, I want to keep these scripts for my own films! But if Jiexing Media is at risk of breaching contracts and paying penalties, I might sell one of them.”

“You’re so sure about that?” Shen Fei asked, slightly surprised.

“Of course! The quality of the scripts I created is top-notch! They may not be divine masterpieces, but films made from them will absolutely outperform even the hottest films at the box office! One of the reasons is that the market expansion potential is much broader!” Bai Runqi said earnestly.

His words were filled with confidence.

If outsiders heard this, they might think he was too arrogant or that Shen Fei had lost his mind. After all, in the entertainment industry, how many people dared to speak like this and actually deliver?

And those who could deliver were already well-established directors with great reputations.

But Bai Runqi?

He was a nobody, with only experience as an assistant director.

To be honest, such a person didn’t even have the capital to carry shoes for the big-name directors.

But others might not believe it, Shen Fei, however, had complete trust.

Everything that happened in his past life couldn’t have been a lie.

In his past life, Bai Runqi had earned billions at the box office by himself.

What’s more, that was when Bai Runqi’s reputation wasn’t even good.

Later, Bai Runqi skyrocketed, earning many awards and recognitions.

“How’s the script coming along? How much more do you need to perfect it?” Shen Fei asked with curiosity.

“Almost done! Give me three more hours, and it should be ready!” Bai Runqi responded proactively.

“Alright! Let’s meet tonight and discuss the post-acquisition matters! Also, bring the script so I can take a look!” Shen Fei said.

Bai Runqi didn’t respond immediately, instead staying silent for a while before finally gritting his teeth and saying:

“Okay!”

—————- END —————-

Chapter 437: Do You Think We Should Help?

White Runqi didn’t immediately answer Shen Fei, as he had his own concerns.

He and Shen Fei had only met once in a hotel before!

Even though Shen Fei was now a famous and wealthy nouveau riche, at the time, the promise he made to White Runqi to be the chief director was merely words, not put into writing.

White Runqi didn’t care whether Shen Fei’s promises about providing him with all the resources were true or not. What he cared about was whether, after establishing the company and forming his film crew, Shen Fei would act like other capitalists and fill his team with superficial celebrities who only knew how to pose.

If that were to happen, he would sever ties with Shen Fei, even if it meant paying millions in breach of contract fees.

Although he was still an unknown director, he knew the importance of his reputation. Once his principles and bottom line were crossed, he would never force himself to continue.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have argued with Jiexing Media that day, nor would he have incurred the breach of contract fee.

Now, given that he didn’t fully trust Shen Fei’s assurances, it would be quite risky to show him his script. But since he had decided to work with Shen Fei, he felt he should show some sincerity.

After thinking for a while, White Runqi nodded with a complicated expression.

Shen Fei didn’t dwell on the matter too much, as he knew White Runqi’s career development plan. The reason he wanted to see the script was simply to check if it contained the same content as those internationally acclaimed films from his previous life.

After hanging up, Shen Fei cleared his thoughts and began to recall the content of those films from his previous life. Once he sorted out his thoughts, he started the car and headed to the market in Shenzhen.

He bought vegetables, picked up the kids, and made dinner.

The time as a leisurely family cook passed by bit by bit.

After dinner, the family relaxed in front of the TV, watching the news.

This surprised Han Xinyan, as since Shen Fei had turned his life around, he had started watching the news daily, something he had never done before.

But compared to his old habits of drinking and gambling, this new interest seemed much more respectable.

“Xinyan, why are you staring at me? Go ahead, tell me, what’s going on?”

Noticing Han Xinyan’s unusual behavior, Shen Fei suddenly smiled.

“Ah?”

Han Xinyan was caught off guard by the question. She quickly snapped out of her daze and said, “Well, there’s something, but I feel it’s unnecessary to mention…”

Shen Fei immediately had some guesses about what Han Xinyan was referring to.

“Come on, what’s going on with your relatives now?”

“Huh? How do you know?” Han Xinyan exclaimed.

Shen Fei smiled slightly and explained his reasoning.

“It’s easy to guess. If it were work-related, you would have mentioned it the moment you got home. Since you didn’t, it must be personal. Thinking about what happened today, Yang Yue and Zhao Yuanzheng are your aunt’s pride. Every year, they boast about their superiority, so if something big happened and Yang Yue’s family got rejected, your aunt wouldn’t just sit back. If she couldn’t find us, she’d definitely go to your parents!”

Han Xinyan bit her lip and nodded.

“Yes, you’re right! This afternoon, she got my contact info from my parents, called me, and kept begging us to help Zhao Yuanzheng. She wanted President Duan to remove him from the blacklist. No matter how much I refused, she wouldn’t believe it. She kept insisting we could do it and that we should be magnanimous!”

“Do you think we should help?” Shen Fei smiled.

Han Xinyan was stunned for a moment, and after a while, she casually said, “This is not my business. I just wanted to let you know, so you’re aware of it.”

Seeing Han Xinyan’s attitude, Shen Fei understood and smiled lightly, sharing his own thoughts.

“Xinyan, here’s how I see it. If Zhao Yuanzheng hadn’t smashed the car and had just asked us nicely, I might have helped him a little. With my relationship with Gu Xiang, if I spoke, he would definitely give me face. But does Zhao Yuanzheng and Yang Yue’s family deserve that? If Zhao Yuanzheng hadn’t been so excessive, would Gu Xiang have acted this way? The Mercedes we own was smashed by him, and we didn’t make him pay, that’s already showing extreme generosity!”

He paused for a moment and continued, “Of course, that’s just how I see it. If you want me to help, I’ll listen to you! I’ll call Gu Xiang, and even if he’s not happy about it, out of respect for us, he’ll still help.”

“Forget it! I’ve already said, I won’t get too involved. I just wanted to let you know about it, so you’re prepared in case my aunt comes to you. I’m saying all this because I don’t want you to help him. With what Zhao Yuanzheng did, any company would find it unacceptable!” Han Xinyan said.

“Okay, as long as you agree with me, I don’t need to think about it anymore. If your aunt comes to you, just refuse her, or send her to me. I’ll put an end to any ideas they have!” Shen Fei said with a smile.

“Okay!”

Once Han Xinyan finished talking, she let out a long breath.

She wasn’t soft-hearted.

But only if someone had once helped her or never ridiculed her.

But her relatives?

No.

That inherent sense of superiority had been especially obvious over the past few years.

So even if they begged her, she couldn’t forgive them.

“Xinyan, now that we’ve talked about this, I’ve got something to discuss too!” Shen Fei suddenly changed the topic.

“Huh? What is it?” Han Xinyan asked, confused.

“I’m going out later to meet with White Runqi. You stay here with Yueyue tonight,” Shen Fei smiled.

“Huh? White Runqi? Has Jiexing Media been acquired?” Han Xinyan asked, puzzled.

“Not yet! But Jiexing Media called me today, and in two days, we should be able to finalize the acquisition! After that, we’ll just go through the acquisition procedures. Since Duan Guxiang, Jiang Tiancheng, and Hu Yuantai want to join this sector, I’ll give each of them 6% equity and leave the details to them to handle!” Shen Fei explained in detail to Han Xinyan.

“Got it! That’s good! With them on board, the resources and connections will definitely expand!” Han Xinyan nodded.

She then quickly changed the subject.

“Alright, since you’re meeting with White Runqi, go ahead. Don’t keep him waiting!”

“Okay!”

—————- END —————-

Chapter 438: What’s Your Budget?

Unbeknownst to him, Han Xinyan was mistaken in her assumptions.

Shen Fei arrived at Z.G.C. Restaurant ten minutes early.

However, he had to wait for Bai Runqi for a full half hour.

It wasn’t until Shen Fei had lost his patience that Bai Runqi finally sauntered to the restaurant door.

Had it not been for Shen Fei’s prior instructions and the fact that he was a member of the restaurant, the staff would have likely turned Bai Runqi away the moment they saw him.

When Bai Runqi was led to Shen Fei, his face was full of guilt and apologies.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Shen. I’m late! I know being late is wrong, but when I was finishing up the script, time got tight. To make it here, I ran through ten red lights!”

“Mm, so, Director Bai, when someone in your crew is late for this long because of their own matters, how would you handle it?” Shen Fei suddenly asked.

“Fire them immediately!” Bai Runqi replied without hesitation, not shying away from his own mistake.

Though he felt embarrassed—after all, it was he who had been late—he stuck to his own approach: he would dismiss anyone who showed up late without mercy.

For a moment, Bai Runqi’s face turned red with shame.

“Mm, you’re aware of that!” Shen Fei teased.

“Mr. Shen, I truly was wrong this time!” Bai Runqi admitted voluntarily.

“Mm! We’ll let it slide this time, but next time, no need to be so precise about the timing,” Shen Fei said seriously.

“Understood! I’ll be more careful in the future!” Bai Runqi quickly nodded.

“Alright, what would you like to drink?” Shen Fei changed the topic, not dwelling on the issue.

“Iced Americano! The more concentrated, the better!” Bai Runqi said directly.

“Hmm? Are you sure? It’s evening!” Shen Fei was surprised.

Drinking iced Americano at night would make you more awake, wouldn’t it?

“Mr. Shen, you don’t know… Over the past few days, I’ve had less than twenty-four hours of sleep while refining this script! So now I’m a bit tired!” Bai Runqi scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Hearing this, Shen Fei noticed the dark circles under Bai Runqi’s eyes.

“Old Bai, creative work is great, but health is the foundation. If you wear yourself out, you’ll lose your capital!” Shen Fei frowned, giving him advice.

But then he remembered that in his previous life, Bai Runqi had still been alive and well when Shen Fei died, so he felt a little more at ease.

“Mm, I understand that! But when inspiration strikes, I have to grab it while I can!” Bai Runqi smiled and quickly explained.

Shen Fei smirked, then ordered an iced Americano for Bai Runqi.

Once the coffee was served, Bai Runqi drank half of it before pulling out three scripts from his bag.

“Mr. Shen, these are the scripts I’ve created! Although the acquisition of Jiexing Media hasn’t gone through yet, and we haven’t signed a contract on paper, I believe in you. I believe you’re my talent scout! These three works represent the culmination of my first half of life!”

He spoke straightforwardly, without hiding anything.

Shen Fei picked one of the scripts at random, smiled, and said, “One day, you’ll be extremely glad you made this choice.”

He then began flipping through the script.

When he saw the contents, Shen Fei’s eyes lit up.

What a coincidence!

The script was exactly the one that had made Bai Runqi famous in his previous life, marking the start of his legendary career in China’s film industry.

The movie was about a young man during a time of ancient warfare, using his intelligence to end the conflict and open the country’s gates through diplomacy.

This film told the story of Sino-foreign friendship, propelling Chinese cinema to international fame, earning it the label of “Hollywood film.”

In Shen Fei’s past life, this film grossed over a hundred billion at the box office and was immensely popular overseas.

The details in the movie deeply touched audiences, with many viewers returning to theaters multiple times after watching it once.

Numerous critics praised the film, boosting its reputation and making it a major success.

As the director, Bai Runqi gained instant fame, going from an unknown to a household name in a very short period of time.

Although the film didn’t win any awards at Cannes due to some business factors, it undoubtedly sparked a wave of rising quality in domestic films.

After this movie, Bai Runqi was hailed as one of the top directors in the industry.

At that moment in Z.G.C., as Shen Fei carefully read the script, his excitement grew.

In his past life, some had pointed out a few flaws in the film, saying it was good but could have been even better.

Having seen those critiques, Shen Fei was particularly cautious as he flipped through the script now.

After reading through it all, he saw that the flaws had been fixed.

Shen Fei nodded in satisfaction.

He was confident that once the film was made, with the backing of capital and promotion, it would cause a new wave in the industry. And with that, the film’s box office couldn’t possibly be low.

Once the costs were covered, his profits would likely reach fifty billion.

Thinking of this, Shen Fei couldn’t wait any longer.

Meanwhile, Bai Runqi remained calm.

After drinking three cups of coffee, Shen Fei finally put the script down in satisfaction.

“Mr. Shen, what do you think?” Bai Runqi asked.

“How much is your budget for the shooting of this film?” Shen Fei asked, turning the question back on him.

“Not much, just three hundred million!” Bai Runqi tried to remain calm.

Despite his words, he was anxious inside.

After all, compared to his experience and achievements, he didn’t rank highly.

His reputation was also far from stellar in the public’s eyes.

If Shen Fei really gave him three hundred million, wouldn’t that seem like madness?

Aware of his own limitations, Bai Runqi didn’t expect much after saying that.

“Three hundred million? That’s not enough. I’ll give you five hundred million! You can start preparing the crew now. Once we complete the acquisition of Jiexing Media, you can start filming immediately!” Shen Fei said directly.

“Five, five hundred million? Mr. Shen, you’re not joking, are you?”

Bai Runqi had expected Shen Fei to refuse, but instead, the amount was even higher than he imagined.

He was utterly shocked and could hardly believe it.

“Mm! Do you have confidence?” Shen Fei smiled.

“Of course! Mr. Shen, with your trust in me, I will certainly achieve something to repay you! Don’t worry, as long as we make the film and promote it well, we’ll definitely make a profit! If we can’t even cover the costs, I’ll work for you for free for the rest of my life!” Bai Runqi said excitedly.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 439: Am I in Demand?

For Bai Runqi, the two-hour conversation felt like a dream.

Everything that Shen Fei had said sounded like the sweetest music to his ears.

All three of his scripts had been approved by Shen Fei.

If the films were to be made, Shen Fei had given his full endorsement, meaning all three scripts could be turned into movies.

Although Shen Fei had only verbally confirmed it and there was no written contract yet, Bai Runqi was still deeply moved.

To have three movies in a row means that, even before his abilities had been tested by the market, Shen Fei was willing to invest money in him.

This kind of limitless trust was something Bai Runqi had never felt before.

And to think, he and Shen Fei had only met twice, yet Shen Fei trusted him so much…

To say he wasn’t moved would be a lie.

What filled him most was the desire to repay this trust by producing better results.

It all felt like a dream.

Bai Runqi didn’t fully come back to his senses until he had walked quite a distance from the Z.G.C restaurant.

He turned around in shock and looked at the grand restaurant, realizing that the people inside were all elites from the deep market.

And he had just walked right in.

As he came to his senses, a surge of joy filled his heart.

He could finally achieve his dream!

…

After parting ways with Bai Runqi, Shen Fei drove back home.

Just then, a call came in.

The caller ID showed Jiang Tiancheng’s name.

“Tiancheng?” Shen Fei asked, a bit confused.

“Bro Fei, I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Jiang Tiancheng said cautiously.

“I’m out, getting ready to head home. Is something going on?” Shen Fei asked.

“Bro Fei, here’s the thing. Old Du told me and Yuantai about that matter today. A 6% share for each of us. I didn’t expect this! Bro Fei, thank you! I can’t believe you’re letting us be a part of this!” Jiang Tiancheng said.

“What’s there to thank for? After this, you’ll have to go through the formalities, just give it your all when the time comes!” Shen Fei scoffed, then immediately saw through Jiang Tiancheng.

“Come on, we’ve been together for so long. You think I don’t know you? If you were really thankful for the entertainment sector shares, you would have called me earlier! So, what’s this really about?” Shen Fei said.

“Well…” Jiang Tiancheng chuckled awkwardly, not directly responding.

“Spit it out!” Shen Fei gave no chance for hesitation.

Seeing Shen Fei’s tone, Jiang Tiancheng finally said, “Bro Fei, I really didn’t want to bother you tonight, but… there’s someone who practically begged me, almost on his knees calling me ‘dad’…”

“Get to the point!” Shen Fei interrupted.

“Ah, right! Bro Fei, you remember Zhou Zhengji, right?”

Jiang Tiancheng cautiously asked.

“Zhou Zhengji?” Shen Fei muttered. “Isn’t he the child of the head of the Liberation District?”

He had just been thinking about the connection with Han Xinyan, and the past of the head of the Liberation District.

He recalled how the head of the district had been tricked by Yinshi Company into starting a resort project, which eventually failed. The case was investigated by the inspection office, and he had been punished and pushed into the background. Shen Fei had planned to find a chance to remind them.

But as he thought about it, there seemed to be no way to offer that reminder.

Now, just as he was about to go to bed, the opportunity had arrived.

“Yeah, I remember him! We met at the Junyue Club, and you guys helped me gain some courage when we went to the police station. Then, there was Gu Xiang’s wedding! Actually, I have a good impression of the guy!” Shen Fei said directly.

“Bro Fei, since you have a good impression of him, I can be straightforward then! I thought you might have forgotten him!” Jiang Tiancheng chuckled.

“So, does he want something from me?” Shen Fei asked, suspicious.

“Yeah, Bro Fei, two days from now, he’s planning to use his birthday as an opportunity to rent a dinner venue with his father, Zhou Zhenguo, the head of the Liberation District! They say it’s a celebration, but it’s really just to invite us for dinner! He’s a good guy, just you, me, Gu Xiang, and Yuantai. Oh, and do you remember Jin Liyao? His father is the director of the tax bureau in the Liberation District! Zhou Zhengji’s dad will only invite a few familiar faces, no outsiders!” Jiang Tiancheng explained in detail.

Hearing this, Shen Fei smiled faintly.

The timing was impeccable.

It seemed like fate was playing a role.

He had just been thinking of ways to help these two families, and now he had an opportunity handed to him.

“Well, I’m not really close to him or his father. Why would they want me to join? You guys go if you want…” Shen Fei hesitated, though he was clearly happy inside.

“Bro Fei, you really underestimate yourself! Right now, you’re the hottest thing in the deep market. A lot of people want to find opportunities to get to know you! Sure, some of the online people and gossipers may think you’re just a reckless spender, but the people with real vision don’t see you that way!” Jiang Tiancheng continued.

He paused for a moment, then added, “They’re all extremely optimistic about you! This has led many people to come to me and Yuantai, hoping to get introduced to you! It’s flattering for us, but we understand your personality. We’ve completely ignored those second-generation rich guys! They’re not worth our time!”

Hearing Jiang Tiancheng’s ramblings, Shen Fei couldn’t help but smile.

“Ha, so I’m still in demand, huh?”

“Exactly! When my grandfather and Secretary Yu had dinner with you, I don’t know who spread the word, but now the leaders in the deep market are keeping a close eye on you! My grandfather’s retired, but Secretary Yu’s every move is studied by many in the political field!” Jiang Tiancheng nodded.

After praising Shen Fei, he continued, “Bro Fei, let me tell you, all jokes aside, the reason I’m making this call for Zhou Zhengji is that the guy has truly changed! He’s no longer the reckless second-generation rich kid, always partying and wasting his life! And his dad, who’s been following Secretary Yu, has made remarkable contributions. He’s also become a political role model!”

“Alright, as long as it’s just us going, I’m fine with it,” Shen Fei said.

“It should be just us! Zhou Zhengji told me that’s the case! Bro Fei, I think Zhou Zhengji’s dad wants to get to know you!” Jiang Tiancheng shared his thoughts.

Shen Fei nodded with a smile.

“We’ll find out when the time comes!”

“Great! I’ll call you again then, and we’ll go together, just the three of us with Yuantai!”

Excited, Jiang Tiancheng ended the call after getting Shen Fei’s confirmation.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 440: The Shen Fei Who Sells Scar Removal Cream?

After hanging up the phone, Shen Fei drove directly back to Yunhe Mansion.

The door opened, and the house was quiet.

Han Xinyan and Shen Jiayue had already fallen asleep.

Seeing the note and the white fungus soup on the table, Shen Fei felt an indescribable warmth in his heart.

Entering the house, Shen Fei ate the white fungus soup while thinking about how to approach the situation, making sure to bring up the issues with the Zhou family without appearing too abrupt.

At the same time, on the other side, in Zhushi, a city next to Shenshi.

A certain business building housed the headquarters of Tencent Corporation.

The floor responsible for the gaming division was especially bright in the night.

A middle-aged man, the director of the gaming department, pushed open the conference room door.

“President Pan!”

When the gaming department head saw his boss, who had just entered, he was taken aback for a moment before hurriedly speaking.

Seeing that his subordinate was busy with a video conference, Pan Shi shook his head and sat down on the nearby sofa, waiting.

Half an hour later, the meeting ended.

Pan Shi then looked up at his subordinate with a serious expression.

“President Pan!”

The department head quickly turned off the conference interface, stood up from his chair, and walked over to Pan Shi.

“What did Longguang Media say about our acquisition proposal? Just recently, Mr. Ma asked about this! ‘Tianjue’ is so popular, rapidly encroaching on our gaming market. The higher-ups want us to take it seriously! In other words, this game will either be acquired by us, or it will disappear from the market!”

Pan Shi’s face was grim.

“President Pan, it might not go smoothly! The head of Longguang Media, Ji Jiaming, is very resistant to our acquisition offer. Even though he still smiles and plays it off, from my experience with many game executives, this person is really tough!” The department head spoke honestly.

“Hmm? Their mobile game wasn’t even developed before the company was on the verge of bankruptcy! What gives them the confidence to be so resistant?” Pan Shi couldn’t understand.

Especially with Mr. Ma’s pressure, it made him feel even more urgent.

They were a dominant force in the gaming industry, and the higher-ups wouldn’t tolerate others challenging their position. He needed to hear some good news from his department head.

Before the department head could speak, the phone on the desk rang.

Nodding, Pan Shi gestured for the department head to pick it up.

The call wasn’t long, but the department head’s face grew darker with each passing moment.

After hanging up, the department head looked even more serious.

“President Pan, I think I understand where their confidence is coming from!”

The department head said in a deep voice.

“Hmm? Where is it coming from?” Pan Shi asked, confused.

“I just received news that Longguang Media has already been acquired! The previous major shareholder, Ji Jiaming, now only holds 6% of the shares. In other words, the decision-maker is no longer Ji Jiaming!” The department head explained.

“Really? Longguang Media is no longer a small independent company?” This news was not good for Pan Shi.

“Yes! And President Pan, you won’t believe who acquired the company!”

The department head’s expression remained heavy.

“Who? Could it be one of our competitors?” Pan Shi asked.

“It’s Shen Fei!” The department head said word by word.

Upon hearing this, Pan Shi’s unease deepened, and he frowned.

“Shen Fei? Is that the Shen Fei who sells scar removal cream?”

Pan Shi knew a bit about Shen Fei.

“Yes! Now he is the major boss of Longguang Media! He has full decision-making power!” The department head also expressed surprise.

“Ugh! Who exactly is this person? He was in the beauty industry, then the tech field, and now in the entertainment sector, and now even the gaming industry?” Pan Shi, usually calm, was extremely shocked.

“President Pan, if it was just Ji Jiaming and a few college students at Longguang Media, even if things didn’t go smoothly, there was still a chance with our strong pressure. But now that Shen Fei is behind Ji Jiaming… things are a lot more difficult!” The department head swallowed hard, his tone bitter.

The current situation was already very obvious, even without him saying it.

Saying the difficulty had increased several times was an understatement. Everyone knew it was essentially impossible.

Looking at Shen Fei’s past behavior, he was a nouveau riche, with money to burn.

How could they possibly buy out the company with money?

Not just the department head, but even Pan Shi thought this was a pipe dream.

Things had escalated to a more severe level.

“If that’s the case, then we’ll have to change our approach on the original basis! We’ll still try to acquire Longguang Media, but the methods will have to change! When ‘Tianxia’ launches, if we haven’t acquired ‘Tianjue’, we’ll just launch ‘Tianxia’ ourselves!”

Pan Shi’s face became even more serious.

“Mr. Ma has given a direct order! We have no other choice! We either acquire Longguang Media or bring ‘Tianjue’ under Tencent Corporation! Only these two options! I refuse to believe that Tencent, with its dominance in the gaming world and massive user base, can’t beat a small company!”

In a desperate situation, Tencent Corporation had no other choice but to proceed this way.

If they didn’t come up with a countermeasure, their market share in the gaming industry would steadily decrease, and their dominance would be seriously threatened.

Once ‘Tianjue’ launched, many economists pointed out that it would take away Tencent’s market share.

“By the way, how is the internal testing of ‘Tianxia’ going? If we can’t acquire Longguang Media and make ‘Tianjue’ ours, can ‘Tianxia’ compete with ‘Tianjue’?”

Pan Shi suddenly asked.

“President Pan, we can still manage the internal test and the launch in two days, but Longguang Media has probably already taken precautions, with many patents registered. Even if we borrow their ideas, some of the issues will be hard to control! If it goes online, they will definitely sue us! This is different from before, and I really don’t have confidence in this! If they pursue us, we’ll definitely be accused of plagiarism!” The department head frowned.