Chapter 107 Jiang Yan Joins
After a long conversation with Jiang Yan, they finally reached an agreement: Jiang Yan would join with a 15 million appearance fee and an additional 5 million in cash. After the shares were diluted, Su Chen would hold 58%, Lu Yuanqing 22%, and Ji Xiangyang and Jiang Yan would each have 10%.
According to Jiang Yan’s investment, she shouldn’t have been able to get that much, but Su Chen noticed she had undervalued her appearance fee and didn’t want her to lose out, so he took a little from his own share to make up her 10%.
Just as they finished talking, word came from the provincial TV station. Su Chen quickly wrapped up the conversation.
“Bai Shu, arrange for legal to come with me to Zhejiang Provincial TV at 10 a.m. the day after tomorrow to sign the contract with Zhejiang South Satellite TV.”
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These past few days had been tormenting for Ji Lin.
After the notice came that their team was being outsourced, unease swept through everyone. Those with connections tried every way to transfer to other teams for safety. Those without were quietly preparing to jump ship or send out resumes to other TV stations.
There had once been thirty people on the team, with eight core members. After a few days of turmoil, only eighteen remained, and of the core, just five were left.
But there was nothing Ji Lin could do; everyone’s future was at stake. He couldn’t stop them at a time like this. To be honest, if he had a good place to go, he’d have left himself.
He’d expected things to get bad, but not this bad.
In their team’s designated workspace, a few people sat scattered about. Some of the dozen or so remaining were out for a walk. The rest sat quietly at their desks, either resting with their eyes closed or playing games.
Only one young woman was focused intently on a software tool, working diligently.
A male colleague, apparently tired from gaming, put down his phone, stretched, pulled over a chair and sat beside her.
Rubbing his eyes, he said, “Xiaoyi, still studying?”
The sudden voice startled Wang Xiaoyi.
“Ah! You scared me!”
The man apologized sheepishly.
“Are you planning to look for a new job?”
Wang Xiaoyi shook her head.
“It isn’t that easy to find one right now. I just have some free time, so I’m using it to learn a few things.”
The man smiled.
“That’s good! You’re still young. Coming from the provincial station, you’ll have no trouble finding work. You could go to another provincial station. Worst case, you could always try a city station.”
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“For people like me, older, it’s not so easy,” he sighed.
Wang Xiaoyi couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s not as bad as you say. I just graduated. You all have much more experience than I do; it’ll definitely be easier for you.”
The man shook his head, adopting a world-weary tone.
“Young people don’t know how harsh the world can be. Our industry is in decline now. The market is terrible, and after all these years, there’s no way back for me. But you, you still have a chance to change paths.”
Wang Xiaoyi shrugged indifferently.
“I honestly don’t mind where I work. As long as I’m learning something, it’s fine. Whether it’s the provincial station or a media company, it’s all just a job.”
Her colleague glanced at her in surprise—he hadn’t expected the young woman to be even more philosophical than he was.
He was about to reply when he noticed a young man standing behind Wang Xiaoyi.
With striking brows and features as if carved from stone, he wore a gray suit and exuded an indescribable charisma. Could he be an artist here to record a show, who’d lost his way?
“And you are…?” the man asked, unconsciously polite.
Wang Xiaoyi turned and froze in surprise.
“Why are you two still working so late?” Su Chen asked them with a smile.
“Huh? Oh… not really, we’re just learning some video production stuff!” Wang Xiaoyi answered, blushing slightly.
“Is it hard?”
“Not really. I interned on some projects in college, so I know the basics. Now I’m just learning new techniques and ideas.”
Su Chen nodded. “That’s great!”
He guessed she must have just graduated—how rare.
“And you are…?” Wang Xiaoyi finally realized she didn’t know who this person was, and wondered why he was asking. Who was he to care?
“I’m here to see Director Ji,” Su Chen replied.
Hearing that, her colleague hurriedly stood up.
“Oh, you’re here for Director Ji—please, this way!”
He led Su Chen to the door of Ji Lin’s office.
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The few people left exchanged glances and quietly began to gossip.
“Who was that? What does he do? Looking for Director Ji?”
“Has Director Ji already arranged his next move and is about to leave?”
“What’s going to happen to us?”
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Inside the office, when Su Chen revealed his identity, Ji Lin’s surprise was plain on his face.
So young, creating variety shows—music variety, at that—and investing his own money. Was this one of those legendary “young and rich fools”?
“Time is tight. I still have to sign a contract with Director Zhou, so I’ll be brief,” Su Chen said. “Is there a projector here?”
Ji Lin quickly turned on the big-screen TV in the office. Su Chen cast his phone screen to the TV and smiled.
“I’m sure you’ve anticipated the situation. I’ve seen your file: you were once head of the gold-medal production team. I have no doubts about your ability—that’s why I chose you.”
Ji Lin nodded. That explained everything. No wonder he’d been picked, though a twinge of regret ran through him for ever adding that experience to his résumé.
“But I think you’re not very familiar with the show we’re about to make. I came today partly to check in on the team, and partly to reassure you. Here’s my proposal. I’ll give you the main idea—I believe you have the expertise to judge it fairly.”
“The Voice of China.”
A plain-sounding name, but as Su Chen explained, Ji Lin grew more and more excited.
He didn’t even need all the details to know this would be a smash hit.
And not just him—when the show aired on Blue Star, who wasn’t amazed and awestruck at the novelty, marveling at how a show could be done this way? Insiders in the industry beat their chests with regret that they hadn’t thought of the idea themselves.
When Ji Lin looked at Su Chen again, his gaze changed completely.
He was no longer just a media company boss, but a dazzlingly talented young man.
With both identities combined, there was something almost magical about him.
At last, Ji Lin understood why Zhou Qi was pushing a music show at this time. The value of this proposal was incalculable.
On a larger scale, it could even shake the entire variety show industry.
If he could be the one to produce this show…
Who would care about some TV station in the future?