Chapter 53 Annual Meeting [VIP]

Chapter Summary: So this is her art style!

Lanxing Media, General Manager's Office.

Before the Spring Festival holiday.

He Zhiyue called the brokerage director Ji Binghe and special assistant Lu Ke to his office, and the three of them held a meeting to discuss and formulate the company's plan for the new year.

The discussion inevitably touched on the company's financial pressures.

Special Assistant Lu Ke: "The company's financial report from last year shows that we signed 16 artists. So far, only 7 artists have seen a proportional return on investment. The top three highest-earning artists are Liu Rui, Mao Hongjun, and Xia Xinyan..."

Seven people, less than half.

At present, Lanxing Media is constantly pouring money into the company, and the monthly rent and employee salaries alone constitute a large expense.

He Zhiyue flipped through the data analysis report prepared by Lu Ke: "Most of the artists we signed are well-regarded and talented actors, but their star power is not high, which makes them somewhat weak in terms of business cooperation..."

Xia Xinyan topped the list in endorsement income, having secured 13 endorsements since her debut, including group endorsements.

Actress Liu Rui, who is considered a second-tier actress, has only one high-end luxury endorsement, which was secured through a partnership with her company. She has received two or three other brand collaborations since then, which is quite ordinary.

Ji Binghe: "Brands prefer popular celebrities with high national recognition and popularity."

Actually, when we talk about this topic, it's not about trying to tap into the potential of our artists in terms of endorsements. Actors mainly focus on taking on roles and filming, developing their careers in film and television.

The core issue is that Lanxing Media needs to quickly develop a top actor/artist to become a billboard for the company.

After discussion among the three, two actors were selected: Best Actress Liu Rui and rising star Mao Hongjun.

They're currently at the second-tier level, just one or two more significant works away from taking them to the next level.

"Director Ji..."

"President He..."

He Zhiyue and Ji Binghe spoke at the same time.

He Zhiyue raised his hand, indicating that Ji Binghe should speak first.

"I'd like to add one more person, Mu Zhi."

He Zhiyue: "She is a newcomer."

"I know that Mu Zhi hasn't published a single work yet, and it will take at least two or three years to promote her. But she has something that Liu Rui and Zhou Xiuran don't have."

Based solely on the official announcement of her new drama and her performance on the red carpet at the Boiling Night event, the brand I was negotiating with for Mu Zhi to become a brand ambassador for Yao Nai'er cosmetics has already agreed. After a three-month evaluation period, Mu Zhi already has a group of loyal fans, and I am very optimistic about her future commercial value.

Ji Binghe believes that Mu Zhi can become an artist with both status and popularity, which will undoubtedly bring the highest return to the company. From a newcomer to a first-line female artist, playing such a card will make Lanxing Media's name even more famous.

Therefore, while Ji Binghe wanted to promote Liu Rui and Mao Hongjun, she also wanted to devote some of her energy to mentoring Mu Zhi.

"OK, approved."

"Mr. He, what were you trying to say just now?"

He Zhiyue chuckled and shook his head: "I have nothing to add."

Ji Binghe immediately understood her boss's meaning and also thought highly of Mu Zhi.

When she decided to return to the entertainment industry, Lanxing Media and the three major talent agencies all extended offers. One of the reasons she chose Lanxing was that she and her boss, He Zhiyue, thought alike.

"By the way, what about the group's headquarters..."

The investment and returns for the artists under its management have not yet been balanced, and the company's investment projects will take at least one to two years to recoup their investment, all of which require time.

But business people are driven by profit; they can't keep throwing money at something without seeing results.

Every sum of money received requires corresponding stakes to be placed.

Ji Binghe learned some information about the He family from He Zhiyue, including the power struggles within the wealthy family, which were probably no less dramatic than those shown on television.

The pressure and risks that boss He Zhiyue carries are unimaginable.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it."

"The game is already set, and no one will easily give up until they've doubled their chips back."

After the meeting.

He Zhiyue inquired about the progress of the annual meeting.

Ji Binghe: "All 16 artists will be present."

"Okay." He gestured for Ji Binghe to go and get busy.

Regarding the annual meeting, He Zhiyue had specifically inquired about how other companies handled it. Some entertainment companies organized quite large events, treating them as small-scale galas, arranging red carpet walks and having each artist prepare a performance.

Lanxing Media mainly signs actors, most of whom are not very outgoing, and they are not familiar with each other. Some artists have never even met each other.

In the end, we decided to simplify things.

We booked a large banquet hall at a restaurant, set up a few tables, and had a simple meal together.

Employees will receive more year-end bonuses, and there will be no more lucky draws.

One of the core values ​​of Lanxing Media is practicality.

The company's annual meeting is scheduled for the day before the Lunar New Year.

Mu Zhi arrived at the restaurant by taxi right on time. When she left, she grabbed a piece of clothing from the closet and wore the black down jacket she had worn on the day she went to Lanxing Media to discuss the contract.

Enter the banquet hall.

At a glance, although she only recognized Xia Xinyan as an artist in the company, there were a few other artists she had only met briefly at the company.

However, judging from their clothing and appearance, the people sitting at several tables were staff members.

"Mu Zhi."

Looking in the direction of the voice, Mu Zhi saw her agent calling to her and walked over.

Ji Binghe explained, "The artists were seated at two tables according to their age, and there were nameplates on the tables."

"Come on, let me introduce you to your colleagues."

She led Mu Zhi to the innermost table, where the company's senior colleagues were seated. When Ji Binghe introduced Mu Zhi, she did so in order of age from oldest to youngest.

"This is Professor Feng Chongxian."

An elderly man in his sixties with gray hair.

A veteran artist who received a "Lifetime Achievement Award," a true veteran actor.

"Hello, Professor Feng Chongxian."

Mu Zhi guessed that before her, Ji Binghe had also brought other junior artists to this table one by one to introduce them. When she came to greet them, the seniors all behaved very calmly and peacefully.

"This is Professor Yin Xiuran."

A handsome and refined man stood up.

With a gentle smile, she extended her hand to Mu Zhi: "Hello."

Mu Zhi shook hands with him: "Hello, Teacher Yin."

Yin Xiuran: "My younger sister is 15 years old this year and is your loyal fan."

Mu Zhi: ? Her work hasn't been broadcast yet. Did Yin Xiuran's sister become a fan of hers after watching "Chasing the Light"?

"Thanks?"

There are nine chairs on this table, two of which are empty.

Ji Binghe explained, "President He has some urgent business to attend to and will be a little late. The other seat is for Teacher Liu Rui. She just finished filming this afternoon and flew back to Beicheng. She was delayed a bit by getting her hair and makeup done, but she's already on her way."

After saying hello.

Mu Zhi looked around and spotted Xia Xinyan. She walked towards that table.

I quickly found my seat by following the nameplate on the table.

Mu Zhi and Xia Xinyan were seated facing south and north, respectively. After sitting down, they looked at each other and smiled slightly as a greeting.

The artists at this table are all young people of similar age, so the atmosphere is quite lively.

The people sitting next to each other chatted in twos and threes, each one looking very interested.

"Muzhi, we've met before, do you remember me?"

Mu Zhi turned her head and saw that the girl who greeted her was the one she had recorded "Celebrity Kitchen" with and who had been Xia Xinyan's assistant.

He is the youngest artist signed by Lanxing Media, but his strength should not be underestimated. Last year, he won the Golden Horn Award for Best Newcomer, one of the three major film awards.

"Hello, You Chan."

The young girl crossed her arms, her face tense, and looked Mu Zhi up and down: "Although you are 3 years older than me, when we sit together, it's not obvious who is older or younger."

Mu Zhi: ? Is this a compliment? If you ignore the obvious contempt in You Chan's eyes.

Celebrities usually address each other politely as "sister" or "teacher XX".

You Chan had just addressed him by his full name, clearly sending an unfriendly message.

He was wondering what this young girl was up to.

You Chan leaned over, put her hand on Mu Zhi's shoulder, and whispered in Mu Zhi's ear, "I overheard Director Ji making a phone call in her office and learned about the movie 'Back to 17.' I want to audition for the lead role."

So you snatched this resource, huh.

She glared at Mu Zhi and raised her delicate eyebrows: "I specifically asked Director Ji about it today, and she said you got this movie role. You're pretty amazing."

After speaking, he carefully observed Mu Zhi's reaction, and found that Mu Zhi's expression was very calm.

No reaction at all? What's going on?

You Chan asked curiously, "Aren't you angry when I tease you like that?"

Mu Zhi asked with a hint of amusement, "Do you need me to give it a score?"

Upon hearing this, You Chan's eyes widened, and the next second she deflated like a punctured balloon: "Was my acting that bad? Go ahead and hit me, I want to hear the truth."

"59 points. Your lines are ambiguous in terms of praise or criticism, and the emotions conveyed by your tone are not clear. They do not help you establish your character in the previous performance. The main reason for the deduction is your body language."

You hate that I shouldn't lean on my shoulder so intimately and whisper sweet nothings.

You Chan said listlessly, her eyes dim: "It must be because I haven't filmed in a long time, and my acting skills have become rusty."

Mu Zhi: "You were bored while sitting and waiting, and you only started performing on a whim when you saw me. Plus, the environment here is too noisy, which affected your performance. I'll give you 1 point. Your impromptu performance just now was 60 points, which is passing."

You won the Best Newcomer Award at such a young age, which shows you have talent in acting. The acting profession has a long career span, so focus on doing your best in the present; there will be many more opportunities to act in the future.

You Chan's eyes lit up, and a smile bloomed on her face: "Thank you for the 60 points, I feel comforted!"

"Actually, the lines I just said weren't all made up on the spot. I did want to audition for 'Back to 17,' but Director Ji said that I couldn't handle the adult scenes of the character."

Also, I haven't filmed for a year because I was preparing for the art college entrance exam and the national college entrance exam. My parents and Director Ji won't let me take on any roles. Sigh, I'll listen to you guys and focus on finishing the exams before thinking about acting again.

In a cooking variety show that she recorded previously, You Chanyang told Ji Binghe that she arranged the schedule because she was afraid that fans would forget her.

You Chan extended her hand to Mu Zhi in a formal greeting.

"Sister Muzhi, I'm You Chan. It's nice to meet you. I just wanted to practice my performance in the pop quiz with you. You're not angry with me, are you?"

Mu Zhi shook hands with You Chan: "No, it's because I'm three years older than you."

Don't stoop to the level of a little girl.

You Chan smiled happily and said, "I think you're quite different. We're close in age and get along well. Let's be friends? The kind of friends who will become good friends in the future."

Mu Zhi thought to herself: I'm more than 3 years older than you.

You Chan is a child star. When she appeared on the show "Celebrity Kitchen", she spoke very little and appeared very mature and sensible. Now, she shows a somewhat childish side in private.

It's good that she can maintain the mindset of a teenager.

Before Mu Zhi could answer, You Chan's attention was diverted, and she excitedly grabbed Mu Zhi's arm.

"Actress Liu Rui has arrived."

The artists at the same table also stopped talking and all looked towards the door.

A woman with long, wavy hair, exquisite makeup, and bright red lips wore a red sequined halter dress and a white fur coat.

Liu Rui held her head high, exuding a strong aura. She was surrounded by four team members, and her high-profile entrance attracted the attention of everyone present.

You Chan muttered softly, a hint of disappointment in her voice: "So this is her style, so flamboyant."

He was the first to turn his head back.

Mu Zhi also withdrew her gaze and offered no comment.

Liu Rui is now the undisputed number one star of Lanxing Media, and her appearance naturally attracts everyone's attention. I heard that she just returned today after finishing filming her movie, so it's understandable that she would like to make a beautiful appearance.

However, in terms of taste in clothing and appearance, he may lack the composure and sophistication that befits his status and age.

However, none of this concerns me.

Mu Zhi only cared about when the food would be served, so she could finish eating sooner and go home earlier.

The nights in the northern part of the city are too cold in winter, and I'm worried that it will be difficult to get a taxi when I get back.

Liu Rui walked over to the table where Ji Binghe was. Seeing that the boss's seat was empty, she was about to ask He Zhiyue where he was.

Rising star Mao Hongjun quipped, "Did Teacher Liu come with President He?"

Liu Rui smiled but did not explain. She picked up a wine glass, poured some red wine, and said that she was punishing herself for being late by toasting everyone.

Ji Binghe introduced the artists at the table to Liu Rui one by one. Liu Rui maintained a gentle smile throughout, appearing very poised and approachable.

After greeting this table, Liu Rui, led by Ji Binghe, walked towards another table.

We arrived at Mu Zhi's table.

He happened to be standing next to Xia Xinyan: "Your name is Xinyan, right? I've been filming on set recently and I've heard Five Flowers' new song."

Xia Xinyan stood up, feeling flattered: "Hello, Teacher Liu, thank you for your support!"

"I heard the company recently officially announced the signing of a junior female colleague? Where is she? Let me meet her."

As Liu Rui spoke, her gaze swept over all the artists sitting at the table, finally settling on Mu Zhi's face.

Mu Zhi, who was sitting opposite and whose name was called, stood up.

"Teacher Liu Rui, I am Mu Zhi, hello."

Their eyes met, and Liu Rui's smile froze for a moment.

A few days ago, while I was filming on set, I came across a video clip of Mu Zhi attending the Boiling Night event on Weibo.

Mu Zhi is like a flower bud about to bloom. It is not yet fully open, but it has already begun to attract attention. One can imagine how beautiful and charming it will be when it is in full bloom.

Liu Rui told herself: She's just a little girl.

Having a pretty face is nothing to worry about or care about.

When I came to this table to greet her, I specifically called out Mu Zhi's name. I wanted to see what kind of expression this newcomer would have on her face when facing me. Would she be flattered? Panicked from never having seen the world before? Shy or awkward?

At the very least, he'd force a fawning smile at his seniors, right?

None of them came out.

Mu Zhi's eyes and expression were like a calm lake, without a ripple, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

When he stood up to answer, his tone was calm and his attitude was neither humble nor arrogant.

What almost made Liu Rui lose her composure was that Mu Zhi's long hair was tied in a low ponytail, her down jacket was draped over the back of the chair, and she was wearing a simple black turtleneck sweater. Her face was as pure and beautiful as a lotus emerging from the water, young, natural, and clean.

Her carefully chosen attire and glamorous entrance were made to appear deliberate and gaudy in comparison.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Liu Rui quickly regained control of her expression.

He said to Mu Zhi in a kind and gentle tone, "We're all from the same company, so there's no need to call me 'teacher.' You can call me 'senior sister.'"

Turning to the others at the table, he said, "You're the same. I came here just to say hello and get to know you."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone whispered, "The boss is here."

Upon hearing this, Liu Rui's face lit up with joy. She forgot about the red wine she was holding, glanced at Mu Zhi, and swayed back to her own table.

"Look, Brother Zhiyue is here, he's so handsome!"

You Chan tugged at Mu Zhi's sleeve, her face full of infatuation.

Mu Zhi: "..." She discovered that You Chan, this little sister, was quite easily excited.

The food hadn't been served yet, and we were getting bored sitting there, so we followed everyone's gaze and looked towards the door.

He Zhiyue, wearing a black overcoat and leather boots, strode in, her long legs drawing attention.

And his aura was very cold.

But as he approached the crowd, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Sorry I'm late."

Upon noticing the empty table, they exclaimed, "Hasn't the food been served yet? Tell them to serve the food immediately!"

He Zhiyue frowned: "Didn't I tell you not to wait for me?"

Ji Binghe spread her hands: "Teacher Liu Rui is also late. She only waited for a while. She told the restaurant manager two minutes ago that the dishes will be served soon."

He Zhiyue finally relaxed his brows, took off his coat and casually draped it over the back of the chair, and was about to sit down.

Liu Rui came over with a bottle of red wine and an empty wine glass.

I poured half a glass of red wine.

"Mr. He is late. Should he punish himself with a drink?"

Two or three people joined in the commotion.

He Zhiyue reluctantly accepted the red wine Liu Rui offered: "Yes, I was late and kept everyone waiting for so long, so I should be punished with a drink."

Raising his glass of red wine, he addressed not only his table but also the other tables of artists and staff, saying, "The Spring Festival is just a few days away. I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy new year in advance."

After saying that, he downed a glass of red wine in one gulp.

"But I must remind everyone: Lanxing Media does not promote drinking culture. We're all gathered here tonight to have a pleasant meal together. Don't drink and drive, safety first!"

Mu Zhi: ? He Zhiyue, this boss, speaks in a very down-to-earth way.

Everyone applauded and cheered.

Finally, the waiters filed in, carrying plates of food.

At the table where Mu Zhi was sitting, a waiter accidentally spilled soup on her sleeve while serving the dishes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

The waiter hurriedly grabbed a few tissues to help Mu Zhi wipe her sleeves.

The soup had seeped into the sweater, and it still felt a bit oily after wiping it with a tissue.

But Mu Zhi didn't make things difficult for the waiter: "It's alright."

I got up and planned to go to the bathroom to wash myself.

After arriving at the restroom, Mu Zhi rubbed her sleeves a few times with water, wrung them out, and then grabbed two tissues to cover her cuffs to absorb the water as she walked out of the restroom. The tissues were soon half-wet.

I had to roll up the sleeves of my sweater, which were about 70-80% wet, otherwise my wrists would feel a bit cold against the damp fabric.

He crumpled up the half-damp tissue in his hand and threw it into the trash can next to a large, lush green plant that was about half a person's height.

The paper ball missed and landed in the planter's pot.

Mu Zhi walked over, but didn't see any crumpled paper in front of her, so she went around to the back of the green plant. Just as she squatted down to look for it, she heard footsteps approaching.

They stopped about two meters apart.

The footsteps sound like a man and a woman?

Mu Zhi found the crumpled paper she had thrown away among the leaves of the green plants. Just as she was about to stand up, she heard a conversation.

A man asked, puzzled, "Mom, why did you call me to this restaurant? Who are you taking me to see so mysteriously?"

"He Zhiyue is having dinner here with all the employees of Lanxing Media tonight. Let's go and make an appearance."

"Why would I show my face at the company he manages?"

"Today, your dad called him to headquarters. I heard the new company went over budget. He Zhiyue signed a performance-based agreement. Your dad didn't reveal the contents of the agreement, but if He Zhiyue loses the bet, the boss of Lanxing Media will be replaced."

The middle-aged woman said to her son with a hint of exasperation, "You're the vice president of the group company, but you don't have any real power. Why don't you take over Lanxing Media...?"

The voice trailed off and became softer and softer, making it impossible to hear what was being said.

The mother and son stood and chatted for about two minutes before walking away.

From behind the greenery, Mu Zhi peered through the leaves and saw a middle-aged woman and a young man push open the door and enter the banquet hall where Lanxing Media was having a dinner party.

After the person left, she tried to stand up again.

Two more people passed by, their voices filled with barely concealed excitement as they discussed something.

"Hey, did you notice? Actress Liu and President He arrived one after the other tonight!"

"They might have come together! To avoid suspicion, they let the other party come up first, which is just burying their heads in the sand."

"Yeah, I remember there were rumors about them the day the company officially announced their artists..."

Judging from the gossip, the two people who just walked by must be employees of Lanxing Media.

Now that everyone was finally alone, they didn't care whether anyone was there or not.

Mu Zhi's legs were getting numb from squatting, so she threw the crumpled paper in her hand into the trash can in front of her.

Just as I stood up, a deep voice suddenly came from behind me.

"Are you squatting here playing at picking up trash?"

Mu Zhi:? ? ?

The voice sounded familiar; if I'm not mistaken, it seemed to be the boss, He Zhiyue.

[Author's Note]

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 15:52:44 on June 6, 2022 and 23:03:27 on June 8, 2022!

Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: I planted 3 fruit trees;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!