An unprecedented move prompted the upper echelons of Huanya to urgently convene a meeting, and the conference room was dead silent.
Zhao Shuqin thought she had a good understanding of the domestic entertainment industry, but to her surprise, Diyang was willing to spare no expense in throwing money into such an event.
As a result, there was no need for any further promotion for "City of Temptation".
However, this also had a drawback: a large amount of money had been spent upfront. If "City of Temptation" didn’t break even, then all the money thrown into it would be equivalent to water off a duck’s back.
A formal promotion wouldn’t have cost nearly as much.
Diyang was clearly challenging Huanya.
Huanya’s reforms were ongoing, and the conflict between Zhao Shuqin and Xi Elder was escalating. The elder Xi had warned her repeatedly.
If she disregarded the interests of Huanya in favor of problematic reforms, then the Xi family would step in and revoke the promise of letting Huanya operate independently.
Zhao Shuqin and the elder Xi fought every three days over major issues and every two days over minor ones.
It was during this ongoing stalemate that Diyang pulled this audacious move.
No one understood what Diyang was thinking. Did they have so much money they were burning through it recklessly?
Or were they simply too bored?
Regardless of external speculation, after Diyang launched the lottery event, they went silent—effectively heating up the entire market while turning its order on its head and then disappearing without a trace.
In Huanya’s conference room, the atmosphere was tense. No one understood what Diyang was trying to achieve with this daring operation?
The shareholder with the largest stake jeered unabashedly in the meeting room, "Do we even need to talk about why Diyang is doing this? They clearly disdain playing those low-grade tricks and reducing their standards.
Diyang just throws money until you admit defeat. Huanya has money too, but do we have the courage to make such expensive gestures? I don’t think so!"
His mockery was not unreasonable. Holding a good share of Huanya’s stocks, he got substantial dividends, and before Xi Nian officially joined Huanya, the bonuses given to the shareholders by Huanya were simply... ha...
He did not want to say another word.
Zhao Shuqin’s sharp gaze swept over him, "Shareholder Lin, I don’t know why you always feel that things cannot go well with Huanya. What exactly are you insinuating?"
Old man Lin snorted coldly, "Oh, blaming me for your poor management? Who do you think you are? Dream on about getting your hands on my shares in this lifetime."
Zhao Shuqin’s brows furrowed, "You do realize that even though you hold eight percent of the shares, without your eight percent, the absolute controlling interest in Huanya is still in my hands."
Shareholder Lin pretended not to hear and changed the subject, "As for the impact of this wave from Diyang, Director Zhao, you better solve this first before we talk further."
Zhao Shuqin flushed, looking at her son, "Xi Gu, do you have anything to say?
"Rose" is your project. Diyang’s move is clearly a challenge in your arena; they stand with "City of Temptation", and on your end, are you confident?"
Xi Gu’s impression of Diyang was downright negative, and setting aside the absence of direct conflict between the two companies before now, it was one hundred percent certain after the promotional video for "Rose" that Diyang’s provocations meant they were going head-to-head with Huanya.
Xi Gu couldn’t understand why Diyang would do such a thing. Could it be because of Xi Nian?
He subconsciously did not want to believe such a possibility.
Now that he was directly asked, Xi Gu’s pen, which he had been twirling in his hand, tightened its grip. He scanned the circle of people, speaking in an unhurried tone, "Everyone knows the lengths we’ve gone to for the quality of ’Rose’;
although the current situation is somewhat grim for us, I ask you all to believe in the quality and storytelling of ’Rose’;
as well as the appeal of its leading actors. From any aspect you consider, our ’Rose’ is on the advantageous side. I hope everyone will not worry too much."
Shareholder Lin snorted coldly, "Not worry too much? I just want to ask Mr. Xi Gu one thing, if ’Rose’ loses money, who’s to blame? Surely you won’t be expecting to squeeze it out of our heads again, right?
Before Mr. Xiaoxi joined Huanya, I was truly ashamed for all of you at Huanya. Do you know why?
Because of your insatiable greed. Mr. Xi Gu, please answer my question, a question that everyone has."
This matter, long concealed, though the page had turned, was still a thorn in many people’s hearts. Thus, when Shareholder Lin raised this issue, it was nothing short of confrontational.
Certainly, he had struck a chord with everyone: if ’Rose’ loses money, then who is responsible?
Huanya had been around for so many years, and before Mr. Xiaoxi joined, taking half of Xi Gu’s empire, the shareholders had a hard time. If a shareholder favored a project and recommended it to the company, if it made a profit, after deducting the cost, profits were split fifty-fifty with the company.
But if that project lost money, sorry, you, as the advising investor, bear full responsibility, no matter how much penalty or loss, don’t even think the company will cover a penny for you.
The pulse of competition controlled by capital was about hegemony, where the big fish eat the small, in a vicious cycle.
In the past, people dared not speak their anger, but after Mr. Xiaoxi, Xi Nian, took office, he was openly and secretly struggling with Xi Gu, all to help them, to reorganize Huanya’s rules, so that shareholders holding Huanya stocks could earn more. It was from this time that Xi Nian’s reputation began to grow.
And from Xi Gu’s hands, he forcibly seized half of the empire.
Xi Gu was stunned by this question. Hadn’t he been present when Xi Nian changed this clause?
Xi Gu couldn’t remember at all and his face turned awkward, "Everyone knows the rules, don’t they?"
Shareholder Lin persisted relentlessly, "Mr. Xi Gu, I understand what you mean. It’s the old rule: whoever invests in a project must ensure it makes a profit and brings both financial gain and fame to the company. But, should it fail, by the old rules, the losses still need to be covered.
So, if ’Rose’ fails at the box office, that would be on Mr. Xiaoxi, wouldn’t it?"
Shareholder Lin was waiting for this moment, and Xi Gu, caught in a difficult position, darkened his expression. The two had a bet agreement originally set at a bottom line of 20 billion yuan in box office revenue.
Before Xi Nian’s incident, Xi Gu was confident, believing that 20 billion yuan was nothing; Catherine’s fame alone could carry it.
But the shareholders were too difficult to handle, and there were also many supporters of Xi Nian.
So their repeated confrontations irritated Xi Gu. Suppressing his anger, he said, "The bet between me and Xi Nian certainly exists, but who will be the final victor, who knows right now?"
Shareholder Lin nodded, "Of course, knowing this gives me more confidence."
Xi Gu’s voice was icy cold, "What about you? What if you lose?"
Shareholder Lin, "Simple, simple. My shares will unconditionally be transferred to you, with absolutely no complaints."
That’s exactly what Xi Gu had been waiting to hear. He thought Shareholder Lin was truly ignorant of the ways of the world, having made a show of being loftily clean all his life. Xi Gu wondered how he would handle the outcome after making such a statement.