Chapter 43: Yi Shang Entertainment
As Jiang Yanya predicted, after Friday night, Xu Rong immediately took action, and a smear campaign against Gu Wanrong began to brew.
Gu Wanrong was completely unaware of this. Her attention and energy this week were almost entirely focused on Yi Shang Entertainment.
The first day after the holiday, Tong Shenwu, the newly appointed CEO of Yi Shang Entertainment, flew back to Heng City from abroad. After a day of rest, she officially took office.
Yi Shang Entertainment was a small company with only a few artists, lacking a complete film and television production team. The styling, publicity, operations, and other organizational departments were a disorganized mess. Only the company structure itself was somewhat complete.
The previous owner of Yi Shang Entertainment was well aware of the company’s situation and lacked the funds and resources to support it, so he decisively abandoned it.
Now, with Gu Wanrong taking over, she had ample funds to invest, fashion resources from Louis Vuitton, promotional resources from Douyin (the largest short-video platform in China), and six professional talents recommended by the system who were about to join Yi Shang.
Adding to this, the newly appointed CEO, Tong Shenwu, brought with her years of contacts from Hollywood, along with her excellent work abilities. Yi Shang Entertainment’s rise was imminent.
Tuesday, Tong Shenwu’s first day back in the country.
“Here are seven personal information files. I’ll send them to you,” Gu Wanrong said, working on her computer during a video conference with Tong Shenwu.
Tong Shenwu opened the files Gu Wanrong sent and browsed through the seven profiles.
They were: Wu Yongzheng (TV director), Gao Zhimei (screenwriter), Liu Lan (screenwriter), Li Mengyun (online novel author), Tang Tiantian (variety show director), Ma Yuanzhi (actor), and Bai Xiaosi.
Three of them—Wu Yongzheng, Gao Zhimei, and Ma Yuanzhi—were veterans in the entertainment industry with numerous high-quality works to their names. Liu Lan and Tang Tiantian were rising newcomers. Li Mengyun, as an online novel author, seemed out of place.
Tong Shenwu thought this and asked the question aloud.
Gu Wanrong had already asked the system the same question. “Li Mengyun has three published works that are considered suitable for film and television adaptation. However, no company has acquired the adaptation rights to any of her novels.”
“So it’s related to Yi Shang Entertainment,” Tong Shenwu thought.
Gu Wanrong continued, “The reason she holds onto the copyright is that she’s not confident in others adapting her works. She wants to adapt them herself.”
Both understood without further explanation.
Current film and television companies, in pursuit of faster and higher profits, often require screenwriters to add trendy elements to novels they adapt, often distorting the original work beyond recognition.
Li Mengyun’s goal in joining the adaptation team was to prevent her works from being altered and to take responsibility for them, making it impossible to negotiate with film companies that buy copyrights.
“So, CEO Gu, you want to buy the copyright to Li Mengyun’s three works and give her the right to participate in the adaptation.” But Tong Shenwu still didn’t understand why she had to recruit Li Mengyun into Yi Shang Entertainment. Couldn’t they just collaborate as partners on the adaptation?
“Of course, besides that, Li Mengyun also has high talent as a screenwriter,” Gu Wanrong explained. Li Mengyun graduated from Beijing Film Academy’s directing department and was a top student in her class.
At this point, Tong Shenwu fully understood Gu Wanrong’s plan to achieve two goals at once: securing the copyright and acquiring talent. “CEO Gu has a discerning eye and a far-sighted vision.”
“The last person, Bai Xiaosi, played the female antagonist in the hit drama ‘Ask Willow,’ we must sign her.” Bai Xiaosi had a tragic fate in her past life, so Gu Wanrong wanted to save her.
Tong Shenwu had just returned to China, and no matter how much preparation she did, she couldn’t possibly know about Bai Xiaosi, an unknown eighteen-line actress who hadn’t even graduated from university. But seeing Gu Wanrong’s emphasis on this, she took the matter more seriously.
“The Qian Yuan Group’s wholly-owned subsidiaries are only Guang Le Housekeeping, Xi Yuan Lai Foods, and Yi Shang Entertainment. Let’s leave Xi Yuan Lai Foods aside. I’ll invest 100 million yuan as a starting fund for Guang Le Housekeeping, and I won’t favor one over the other for Yi Shang Entertainment—also 100 million yuan as a starting fund.” Gu Wanrong finished speaking, operated her phone a few times, took a call, and then transferred 100 million yuan into Yi Shang Entertainment’s account.
Tong Shenyi had previously told Tong Shenwu about Gu Wanrong’s work style—generous and unstinting. She hadn’t expected Gu Wanrong to transfer 100 million yuan to stabilize Yi Shang before even officially starting her job.
“【Huaxia Bank】Bao Fu transferred 200 million yuan to your account ending in 6188. Please check.”
Hey, another 200 million yuan in rebates.
Next, Gu Wanrong outlined her requirements for Yi Shang Entertainment:
First, the employee salary, benefits, and welfare packages established for Xi Yuan Lai employees should be followed by Yi Shang Entertainment.
Second, Yi Shang Entertainment should prioritize producing high-quality works centered around screenwriters and directors, and funds and resources should be invested without being stingy.
Third, there should be strict discipline regarding the conduct of the company’s artists. Those who should stay should stay, and those who should be terminated should be terminated. Weekly training schedules for the artists should be implemented. Fair competition for company resources is mandatory. Underhanded tactics are not permitted. Anyone caught engaging in such tactics will be immediately dismissed without exception.
…
Wednesday.
9:10 a.m. Tong Shenwu, dressed in a sharp and elegant suit, opened the door to the Yi Shang Entertainment conference room.
“Do you know what the new CEO’s background is?”
“No, do you have any information?”
“I don’t know, she’s very mysterious.”
“What about the new owner?”
“I don’t know even less.”
“I accidentally overheard the former CEO on the phone; it sounded like her last name was Gu.”
The people in the conference room were either whispering to each other in small groups or sitting in silence. This scene met Tong Shenwu’s eyes as she entered.
Unhurriedly, Tong Shenwu walked to the empty CEO seat and stood.
Years of giving orders at MDM had taught her that a commanding presence was enough. She stood there, her gaze sweeping across the room, and those present felt the weight of her authority.
The conference room fell silent. Everyone sat quietly in their seats, not daring to make a sound.
“Is everyone here?” After several seconds of silence, Tong Shenwu spoke. Without waiting for a response, she continued, “Let me introduce myself. My name is Tong Shenwu. From today onwards, I will serve as the CEO of Yi Shang Entertainment.”
“Clap, clap, clap,” applause erupted.
Tong Shenwu raised her left hand, and the applause stopped. “The first order of business today, with all department managers and team leaders present, is this: all resignation applications submitted by you and your staff will be processed today.”
The people in the conference room looked at each other in surprise. They hadn’t expected the new CEO’s first act to be firing people.
No one got up to leave. Tong Shenwu sat calmly, watching the motionless group. After a few minutes, a few people gradually got up and left the conference room.
After another few minutes, no one else left.
“Okay, let’s move on to the main topic of today’s meeting,” Tong Shenwu broke the silence. “Manager Zeng, please explain the new employee salary, benefits, and welfare treatment requirements the Chairman requested yesterday.”
Zeng Lei, the head of the administrative department at Yi Shang Entertainment, was one of those who had been sitting silently before Tong Shenwu’s arrival. Now, standing in front of the large screen on the left side of the conference room, he excitedly described the company’s new salary and benefits package, effective this month.
No matter how high-level an employee is, who wouldn’t be happy to hear about higher salaries and better benefits, especially when the adjusted treatment is at least 30% higher than similar positions in the market?
Then it was the chief financial officer, Chen Lixia. Her speech was simple, focusing on the 100 million yuan initial investment by Chairman Gu Wanrong.
After ensuring that the managers’ personal interests were protected and improved, Tong Shenwu moved on to the next item: the company’s future development.
Tong Shenwu stated that Yi Shang Entertainment currently possessed Douyin video resources provided by Gu Wanrong, fashion resources from Louis Vuitton, and her Hollywood contacts.
She emphasized that Douyin was not only the largest promotional platform in China but also a major platform overseas. The fashion resources were rare and among the best in the domestic entertainment industry. Now, Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury goods group, was selecting Yi Shang as its primary partner in China. The difficulty of entering Hollywood was well-known. As long as Tong Shenwu stayed at Yi Shang, the company’s connection to Hollywood would remain strong.
After her speech, everyone in the conference room felt hopeful about Yi Shang Entertainment’s future.
Gu Wanrong did not attend the meeting, but she was mentioned throughout, leaving a strong and mysterious impression on the executives.
“Meeting adjourned. Manager Zeng, and you, come with me.”