Starting from a Bar to Sign Internet Celebrities

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Meanwhile, Sister Hong relayed the news about the investment in *Nezha: The Demon Child's Descent* to Sun Ji.

Sun Ji had been incredibly busy lately. The LeTV Film and Television division was being merged into Second-Life Star, which meant first moving the business operations to Coastal City. The logistics of transferring or letting go of employees was one issue, and data migration was another.

Additionally, their boss had sent down an order: the LeTV Film and Television Network had to be integrated with the Second Life Star Official Website. This required negotiations between the programming engineers from both sides. The LeTV Film and Television app also needed new integration code to merge with Second-Life Star's official mini-program, ultimately creating a new Second-Life Star Film and Television app.

Furthermore, although the Second-Life Star film website had the TV series, movies, and anime previously acquired by LeTV Film and Television, they were all old titles. There was no new content.

To attract people to sign up for memberships online and earn advertising revenue, they needed sufficient audience traffic.

After LeTV Film and Television Network ran into trouble, its traffic had plummeted. While the Second Life Star Official Website had over ten million registered users, that was still far from what was needed for big data applications.

And the fastest way to attract audience traffic was to acquire new shows.

Especially by acquiring a new hit show.

Acquiring the right blockbuster could be a massive boost for a streaming website. He was currently researching potential titles. Once the LeTV Film and Television division moved to Coastal City, he could report to the boss immediately and let him make the final decision.

He trusted his young boss's judgment. At the very least, the man was incredibly bold, daring to invest 310 million in the movie *Wandering Blue Star*.

He had also invested in so many other film and television projects in one go, transforming their entire department from a forgotten entity into the new darling of the film industry.

When he received the message from Sister Hong that the boss wanted to invest 100 million in *Nezha*, and that if 100 million wasn't enough, it could be 200 million, he was stunned.

'An animated film is getting this much attention from the boss?'

And those words the boss had Sister Hong relay—if that director, Dumplings, heard them, wouldn't he be moved to tears?

After all, the total investment in his animated film was only 80 million. Now, someone who believed in him as a director was offering 100 million at the drop of a hat, with the possibility of 200 million if that wasn't enough.

'With the boss being this generous, I'm afraid even more directors short on funds will come knocking on our door in the future.'

Take Wu Jing, for example. He had specifically come over to invite him to dinner, vaguely mentioning that he wanted to shoot a movie about special forces.

'It must be for his movie, *War Wolf*, right?'

He'd wanted to make this movie for a long time and had even considered selling his villa to finance it. But in the end, he chickened out, not having the courage to risk it all. He had a wife and kids, after all. Now that he saw how generous the boss was, he wanted to come and fleece the flock.

The key issue was that Wu Jing had never been a director before. Sun Ji felt that this *War Wolf* project was a bit unreliable no matter how you looked at it.

Sun Ji obviously didn't know that in another world, "War Wolf" Jing had gone all-in, sold his villa to make the movie, and then *War Wolf* had become a massive hit.

If his boss knew about this, he would've invested with a wave of his hand.

But for now, Sun Ji couldn't possibly know any of this.

After getting the reply from Sister Hong, he immediately picked up his phone and dialed director Dumplings' number.

Meanwhile, inside Dou Douke Film and Television Company, Dumplings stared helplessly at a special effects sequence on the screen.

The money had run out, but this single sequence still wasn't perfect.

If he stopped now, the movie could still be released, but by his own standards, it was only 70% complete. Releasing it like this would leave him with a lifelong regret.

His phone rang. Seeing the caller ID was President Sun from Second-Life Star Film and Television, he answered immediately. "Hello, President Sun! Is there any news about the investment?"

He had approached Second-Life Star primarily on a friend's recommendation. He'd heard how the company dared to invest 310 million in *Wandering Blue Star* even when its final budget was projected to reach 600 million, and he admired their determination to support China's domestic hard sci-fi film industry.

That's why he wanted to give it a shot, thinking they might also be willing to support a domestic animated film.

However, an animated film wasn't comparable to a hard sci-fi movie like *Wandering Blue Star*, and the prospects were not as favorable. Therefore, he wasn't confident about securing the 50 million in funding he needed.

As soon as the call connected, Sun Ji said with a smile, "Director Dumplings, congratulations! Our boss has agreed to invest in your film, *Nezha: The Demon Child's Descent*. If you have time, you can make a trip to Coastal City. Our film division's official seal and finance department are located there."

Dumplings was thrilled. "Fifty million? They agreed so quickly?"

He could hardly believe it. After all, for a 50 million investment, the other party would surely need to hold meetings and conduct research. The whole process should take at least half a month, if not more than a month, right?

Sun Ji chuckled. "Director Dumplings, it's not 50 million. Our boss plans to invest 100 million to support the domestic animated film industry. Moreover, our boss said he has seen your previous animated works. He believes in you as a person and is willing to invest in you. If 100 million isn't enough, then it will be 200 million."

"Huh?" Dumplings was floored by his words.

His heart began to race, and an indescribable warmth surged through him.

He was a self-taught animation director. He never imagined he would one day be valued so highly by someone. Besides feeling deeply moved, he couldn't find the words to describe his emotions.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

'With this 100 million, if I don't make *Nezha: The Demon Child's Descent* perfect, I'd be letting him down.'

Sun Ji's voice came through again. "Director Dumplings, 100 million should be enough, right?"

"Enough! It's enough! It's more than enough!" Dumplings replied instantly.

Sun Ji chuckled. "In that case, please make your way to Coastal City as soon as possible. The General Manager of Second-Life Star, President Chu Hong, will receive you."

"Okay, yes! I'll buy a plane ticket to Coastal City right away," Dumplings immediately agreed.

...

Time passed.

By evening, Chen Jincheng had driven Sister Hong, Lao Chen, and other company executives to the VIP reception area of Coastal International Airport.

President Lei was a major shareholder of Second-Life Star. Since this was his first visit to Coastal City, it was only natural for the Second-Life Star management team to come and greet him, meet him face-to-face, and then have dinner together in the evening.

Before long, President Lei emerged from the VIP channel, flanked by an assistant and two bodyguards.

Chen Jincheng went forward to greet him. "President Lei, welcome, welcome."

"President Chen, we meet again," President Lei said with a smile as they walked outside together. "Seriously, I was watching your livestream today and you gave me quite a scare. Those three guys were wanted criminals."

"Haha, well, I was pretty confident in myself," Chen Jincheng said with a laugh. "Let's get you checked into your hotel first, President Lei. We'll have a casual dinner tonight, and once you're well-rested, I'll give you a proper tour of Second-Life Star tomorrow."

"I'll follow your arrangements, President Chen," President Lei said with a smile.

There were a few other entrepreneurs from Coastal City in the VIP channel. Seeing Lei Xiaojun and Chen Jincheng emerging while talking and laughing, they couldn't help but look over, some even giving Chen Jincheng a second glance.

In this internet age, they naturally knew who the young man was. He was extremely famous in Coastal City.

Chen Jincheng had booked Lei Xiaojun a room at the best five-star hotel near Second-Life Star. After President Lei had rested for a bit, Chen Jincheng picked him up and they went to the restaurant together.

The department heads of Second-Life Star, led by Sister Hong, were already waiting. And, of course, Sister Hehe was there to crash the dinner.

During the meal, Chen Jincheng had the people from each department of Second-Life Star report to President Lei on their current status and the completion progress of their projects.

After dinner, he handed President Lei over to Sister Hong, telling her to arrange for someone to take him back to the hotel and to immediately handle any needs he might have.

After seeing President Lei off, he walked with Sister Hehe toward the Porsche 918.

Seeing that Sister Hehe had been with him all day, he asked her, "Dinner's over. Want to go see a movie, or maybe hit a bar for a bit?"

Sister Hehe shot him a look of utter exasperation. "To the hotel."

"In such a hurry?" Chen Jincheng teased. "I was just thinking, since we haven't seen each other in so long and you rarely get to visit, I could take you to a movie."

Sister Hehe rolled her eyes at him. "Chen Jincheng, do you think I've never seen a movie before? Can we please skip these useless steps? You know I rarely get to visit, so just get straight to the point."

Chen Jincheng suggested again, "How about we go clubbing at a bar then? My own place, Extreme Bar, is pretty good."

Sister Hehe couldn't take it anymore. She pulled him into the car. "What's the point of clubbing? Chen Jincheng, save your energy for where it's needed. Don't you know that this afternoon, with your fingers..."

"I can't stand it anymore, got it? To the hotel. Fuck me to death!"