Gulp!
Gulp!
The sound of swallowing echoed.
The celebrities, who had just been about to speak, all fell silent.
Company rules?
Publicity fees?
... All were thrown to the back of their minds.
Refuse!
Who in Songjiang would dare to refuse that person? Wouldn't that be pure madness?
Not to mention they still hoped to participate in the next season of Running Brothers and The Voice of China; just considering Chairman Qin's status in Songjiang's underworld, they were afraid that if they said 'no', they might not leave Songjiang today, and tomorrow they would be front-page news:
A certain celebrity falls into a river!
A certain celebrity becomes an aerialist!
... Thinking of this, these celebrities couldn't help but shiver.
At this moment, they were incredibly grateful they hadn't rushed to speak, otherwise, it would have been completely over.
Chairman Qin's words:
Forget about asking them to post a promotional slogan! Even if he asked them to stay overnight tonight... who would dare to say anything?
They all said:
"Youth has no price, the Northern Territory is at your feet! Oh my god! These lyrics are absolutely brilliant... I shiver all over listening to them..."
"These are definitely words that can go viral across the entire internet, Chairman Qin! Amazing! I'm completely in awe..."
"The outside world says Chairman Qin is incredibly resourceful and a business genius, but now I see that what's being spread outside is still too understated..."
As they spoke, they took out their phones, incredibly proactive, as if their previous hesitation wasn't their own.
Director: ... But he had expected this. Wasn't that the result he wanted by bringing up Qin Jiang just now?
Ten minutes later.
All these celebrities "voluntarily" and "willingly" posted Chairman Qin's famous quote with pictures on their social media.
Director: "Good! Thank you for your hard work today, teachers! Our filming tasks are all complete! I will arrange carriages to send you out of the city, and we'll meet again in the next season, if fate allows!"
As soon as these words came out, the celebrities felt both relieved and pressured.
Relieved: because they finally finished the filming tasks, and this year they would most likely enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Pressure: because the director's words about "meeting again if fate allows" in the next season meant that they might not necessarily be the guests for the next season; there was a possibility of replacement.
That's right!
Many celebrities coveted such a super-popular variety show, hoping to become famous overnight, just like them, to turn over a new leaf and sing. They had anticipated this situation long ago.
But hearing the director's words, they were still a bit unable to accept it.
Who would be willing to give up a super-popular variety show?
Just then,
Bang!
The door was pushed open.
Two men walked in from outside. The one in the lead was a young man, very young! He looked to be in his early twenties, dressed in a distinctive black suit, with a calm expression. The man accompanying him was a middle-aged man in a suit, who treated him with respect.
The director was startled at this sight.
He didn't know the young man!
But he was very familiar with the middle-aged man beside him: the head of Starlight Entertainment, Tan Song!
His direct superior's direct superior!
And this important figure was respectfully accompanying a young man. The young man's identity was self-evident: a high-ranking executive of Black Dragon Group, and judging by his age, most likely one of Chairman Qin's old guard.
Gulp!
The director immediately said respectfully to Tan Song:
"Director Tan!"
Yin Yue and other celebrities belonging to Starlight Entertainment also greeted him one after another:
"Director Tan!"
"Director Tan!"
"..."
Then they all looked at the young man with anticipation... Only Su Sining first said to the young man:
"Director Chen!"
And then to Tan Song: "Director Tan!"
She had met the young man, Chen Kai, at Black Dragon Group headquarters. He was a mid-to-high-level leader of Black Dragon Group, a core member of the Lian Hua Faction, one of the two major factions, a brother from Chairman Qin's hometown, and a powerful figure in Black Dragon Group. (Appeared in Chapter 276, and Chapter 558 rescuing Qin Qing, etc.)
Tan Song also introduced him to everyone at this time: "This is Director Chen Kai, who serves as the Board Secretary at Black Dragon Group headquarters, currently responsible for assisting with the management of the Publicity and Entertainment Department..." (Note: Not all of the Lian Hua Faction's old brothers, such as Lu Nan and Chen Kai, stayed in the Engineering Department with Shen Tianci; they were seconded to various departments after being appointed as Board Secretaries for experience.)
Board Secretary!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The celebrities and the director in the room looked at Chen Kai with reverence. Even though he was very young, younger than most of them, his status was undeniable.
Board Secretary!
That was a pure high-level executive of the group. Even if he was just one of the Board Secretaries, he was someone who had a say in the group. Don't let his position fool you; he might not even be in the top twenty internally at Black Dragon Group.
But outside... he was a towering figure!
How did that saying go: 'In the group, you call me Secretary Chen, and I won't bother with you. Outside, what do you call me?'
Director Chen! Boss Chen!
Didn't even the dignified head of Starlight Entertainment have to bow and accompany him?
No one hesitated; they all greeted him in unison:
"Hello, Director Chen!"
"Hello, Director Chen!"
"..."
At the same time, they couldn't help but glance at Su Sining. This woman obviously knew him. The rumors... indeed... Chen Kai ignored the words of the people in front of him and respectfully bowed to the left in the direction of Black Dragon Group: "Brother Jiang's meaning is: Running Brothers will be filmed for many seasons, and it needs to develop long-term. Therefore, the filming personnel must be stable and cannot be easily changed."
Personnel must be stable!
Cannot be easily changed!
... And it was said by Chairman Qin!
Doesn't this mean that the next season is highly unlikely to change personnel?
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The eyes of the fixed guests of Running Brothers glowed, and their hearts settled a bit. The other guests looked at them with immense envy.
But Chen Kai's tone shifted: "Brother Jiang said that for fixed guests, long-term contracts can be prioritized for them, with a 10% annual increase in appearance fees based on this season's fees..."
"Who among you wants to sign..."
The actors and celebrities froze.
Long-term contract!
These four words always struck fear into celebrities, especially those who were already famous. And was a 10% annual increase in appearance fees a lot? Not really! Many of their appearance fees had already doubled or even more.
But should they refuse? Refuse Brother Jiang! Would that mean completely losing the possibility of filming next season? If they truly missed out on such a popular variety show, would their value remain stable?
This was a question worth pondering!
Don't look at how their value seemed to have skyrocketed now; that was due to the super high popularity brought by Running Brothers. This popularity would cause their value to increase sharply in a short period, but maintaining it was not easy.
There were only two ways:
First: quickly seize the opportunity of their renewed popularity to secure good scripts and directly elevate their status through good scripts.
Second: continue filming popular variety shows. As long as the topic is hot enough, their status can be maintained or even rise to another level.
Two choices!
Which one should they choose... or rather:
Did they really have the right to refuse? Did they dare to refuse?
Hesitation... indecision... contemplation... No one spoke, no one dared to make a decision so quickly.
After all, it was a choice that would affect the rest of their lives!
But the top leader was waiting in front of them, and they didn't dare to delay for too long, falling into silence.
They were all waiting for each other:
"Don't rush... they haven't made a choice yet... I still have time to think..."
"The law doesn't punish the masses! No one has made a choice yet, so I don't need to rush... there's still time..."
"If I wait, maybe there will be a new turning point..."
While they were thinking these thoughts,
Chen Kai said, "This matter is not urgent! I can give you time to consider, you don't have to give me an answer today..."
As soon as he said this,
all the celebrities were ecstatic.
Indeed, in the face of major issues, one must not panic; staying calm can lead to a turning point.
"Thank you, President Chen, for your understanding..."
"After I go back, I will immediately report to my agency. I personally have no issues, it's just due to my agency..."
"Me too... I can't help myself... If I could make my own decisions, what's wrong with signing a ten-year contract..."
They shifted the blame to their agencies. This way, they could curry favor with Chen Kai, at least to prevent that big shot Qin from misunderstanding.
They then planned to leave... but Chen Kai spoke again: "Oh! Right! Jiang Ge said the contracts are very precious, and only five spots are available..."
What?
The celebrities who were about to leave froze in place.
Five spots!
This season's regular guests numbered seven, but now only five long-term contracts were being offered. Did this mean that two of them would not be able to sign long-term contracts and would be replaced next season?
Seven people!
Replacing two people!
The impact on the variety show wouldn't be that great, and it could even attract some popular celebrities to increase its popularity.
They instinctively changed from slowly contemplating back home to becoming competitors; seven people vying for five long-term contracts.
No!
Su Sining would definitely occupy one spot!
That is:
The remaining six of them would compete for four long-term contracts!
Sign?
Should they sign?
Wang Chen fell into deep thought: (He was a regular guest who became popular through Running Brothers, and one of the four non-Black Dragon Group contracted artists among the regular guests in the first season of Running Brothers.)
"It seems like there are five signing spots, but not only is Su Sining a sure thing, the other two Black Dragon Group contracted artists will most likely also sign contracts. That means only two of the five spots are definitely for them. Four people for two spots! That's not very friendly."
"I must use some tactics..."
His eyes lit up as he said,
"President Chen's words are clear to us. After I go back, I will immediately discuss with my company and report the results to President Chen as soon as possible."
His words were respectful and very reasonable, and then he looked like he was about to leave with the other celebrities.
He thought to himself, "Yes! Leave first! Signing now might cause a scramble. It's better to let everyone leave first, and then I can secretly come back and sign with Chen Kai... I can even gain some favor!"
"Yes! That's what I'll do..."
But would his self-proclaimed brilliant plan work?
The other three non-Black Dragon Group contracted artists were stunned at first, but in a moment, they vaguely guessed Wang Chen's general idea. Even if they didn't guess it, they had the same thought as Wang Chen.
"Yes! President Chen, we'll take our leave..."
"I will report any information to President Chen as soon as possible..."
After speaking, the two celebrity artists also walked out with Wang Chen, preparing to quickly return later. But as they walked, they noticed something was off.
One was missing!
Where was Liu Chaoren!
Could it be... not good... Their hearts sank.
Before they could turn back, they heard Liu Chao's voice in their ears: "Where's the contract... I'll sign it!"
What the hell!
The three celebrities: (=ﾟДﾟ=) (´･д･`) ∑(O_O;)
They turned their heads sharply to look.
Liu Chao, with a smile on his face, indicated to Chen Kai that he could sign now, looking completely impatient.
Chen Kai: "Give him the contract!"
Tan Song took out the prepared contract and handed it to Liu Chao. Liu Chao signed his name without even looking at the content.
He looked as if he was afraid of being snatched by others!
Damn it!
Liu Chao, you scoundrel!
Are you not playing fair?
Wang Chen and the other three celebrities looked furious, not expecting their scheme to be preempted by the other party.
Liu Chao pouted at the three people's angry expressions.
Heh heh... play tricks with him? He wouldn't fall for it! He seized the opportunity to finalize his spot with a single stroke.
After a moment of anger, Wang Chen saw that Liu Chao had already signed the contract and dared not delay any longer, rushing back:
"President Chen! I've thought it over! I'll sign too!"
The other two celebrities also made the same choice:
"I'll sign too!"
"I'll sign too!"
Although a long-term contract binds a person too much, a popular variety show is a great opportunity. As long as the quality of this season can be guaranteed, no! Even if it declines somewhat, it can still improve their personality. At that time, their value will soar and double, and they can easily earn back their losses.
Besides:
The total recording time for one season of Running Brothers is less than a month, so what if they sign for five or eight years?
Chen Kai looked at them with a half-smile: "What? Not going back to discuss with your agencies? You can make your own decisions now..."
Wang Chen and the others were slightly embarrassed.
But in the face of temptation, they could only force a smile:
"No need to discuss... I believe the agency will agree."
"My life, my decision. I'll sign now..."
Chen Kai: "Give them the contracts!"
Tan Song took out the contracts and handed them to the three.
Wang Chen and the others were first overjoyed, then puzzled when they saw the three contracts. After opening them, they were all stunned: the signature line on the contracts was blank, and there was no official seal from Black Dragon Group or even Starlight Entertainment.
This was a one-sided contract!
Signing it would only guarantee that they wouldn't breach the contract, but whether Black Dragon Group would want them was still unknown.
Chen Kai: "You can sign the limited contracts first. The headquarters will assess you, and those who pass will be notified..."
Wang Chen and the other two were filled with regret.
Damn it!
If they had known it would come to this, they should have been the first to rush out and sign. After all, they had personally seen that the contract Liu Chao signed was not a blank contract, but a formal contract in duplicate.
Regret not then... No! Regret not just now!!!
But what could they do now?
They could only sign! There was no other way!
If they dared to hesitate even a little, this opportunity would be completely unrelated to them.
Swish swish swish!
Wang Chen and the other two signed their names.
Tan Song collected the contracts!
Chen Kai scanned the entire room. A powerful aura emanated from him, and no one dared to meet his gaze: "Cooperating with Black Dragon Group is your honor, please cherish it!" After saying that, he left with Tan Song. From his appearance to his departure, he always controlled the entire scene and intimidated everyone.
Inside the room.
The dozen or so celebrities looked at the departing Chen Kai with awe.
They couldn't help but think:
If one Chen Kai could so easily manipulate them, how powerful were the Black Dragon Group big shots above Chen Kai? And even higher... and how amazing must that legendary Qin Jiang be!
Perhaps... just as Chen Kai said:
"Cooperating with Black Dragon Group will be their honor."
It wasn't until Chen Kai and Tan Song left that the celebrities finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Director: "Alright! I now declare it officially over! The carriages are waiting outside! All of you teachers may leave..."
Wang Chen, Liu Chao, and the other artists no longer hesitated and departed.
Inside the carriage.
Silence!
Silent silence!
Everyone was replaying everything that had just happened!
After a long while, someone couldn't help but say, "General Manager Chen was so young just now, but why was his aura so terrifying... In front of him, I felt like I didn't even dare to breathe loudly..."
Many celebrities nodded in agreement.
They clearly acknowledged that Chen Kai's aura was too strong.
Someone offered an explanation: "Don't look at how young he is; he holds a high position, so his aura is naturally strong. Besides, don't forget his background. He might have accomplished many earth-shattering deeds... That brings its own formidable presence... Most people naturally can't withstand it..."
At these words,
The other celebrities couldn't help but stiffen.
Yes!
He might be young, but he could have seen blood with his own hands. Such a person naturally possesses an intimidating aura without needing to show anger. In front of such a person, even with their fame, they were all small fries, and it was normal for them to be unable to resist.
Someone sighed: "Although I've long heard of Chairman Qin's prestige, seeing him from afar today! Experiencing it firsthand still feels shocking. Hearing is not as good as seeing. The rumors are too understated..."
Others chimed in:
"This kind of powerful aura can't be acted out..."
"His business is amazing. I even find this Nevernight City interesting; I'm afraid it will become incredibly popular soon."
"It certainly will... This city is too captivating. I'll bring my family here to visit if I get the chance in the future..."
"That's nothing! I heard that the combined valuation of Black Dragon Group's two major milk tea brands has exceeded ten billion and is still rapidly increasing..."
"..."
Suddenly:
The conversation turned to Qin Jiang of Black Dragon.
They talked about how amazing Qin Jiang was!
How legendary his entrepreneurial journey was!
That he would definitely become a top big shot in China in the future!
...A big shot of this caliber is beyond their reach in the entertainment industry. Don't let their high appearance fees and decent income fool you; their social status isn't particularly high, and their social network is much weaker. Many things are beyond their control, incomparable to these top big shots who have connections everywhere and can influence local affairs—it's like comparing clouds and mud.
In fact:
How many of them dreamed of being able to rely on a big shot of this level?
Then they would be able to establish themselves firmly in the entertainment industry, have a backer, and not be easily bullied by others.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
They subconsciously looked at Su Sining and Yin Yue, especially the female celebrities, whose eyes were filled with envy.
These two relied on that man!
They transformed from ordinary small celebrities into popular flow stars, directly establishing a firm footing in the industry.
Moreover, no one dared to look down on them because of Chairman Qin's prestige; everyone showed them respect.
Today, several female celebrities had specifically dressed up meticulously when they came to record the variety show, wearing what they considered their best clothes, all to leave a good impression on Chairman Qin. If they were truly favored by him, wouldn't they rise like a phoenix from the ashes? They even fantasized about whether Chairman Qin would choose them, and if so, how they would respond.
Unfortunately... the plan completely failed!
Chairman Qin never even glanced at them from beginning to end, nor did he show any intention of meeting them, completely ignoring them.
This left the female celebrities feeling both frustrated and helpless!
They could only envy!
A female celebrity suddenly said, "I don't think Chairman Qin is as you say. He's a young success with business acumen and the status of a social big shot. All those stories about fighting, killing, and Chen Jiang (Drowning in the River) are, I believe, just rumors..."
The other celebrities didn't reply, but they did think the rumors were likely exaggerated, given how outlandish they were.
Soon, the carriage drove out of Songjiang Sleepless City.
At this time:
There were very few people queuing to enter the city, but also very few leaving. Most tourists were immersed in the city and reluctant to depart. Outside, several nanny vans were already waiting.
Whoa... the carriage stopped!
Wang Chen, Liu Chao, Su Sining, Yin Yue, and others disembarked from the carriage, said their goodbyes, and each went their separate ways.
Su Sining and Yin Yue shared the same nanny van.
Yin Yue: "Today was so much fun! Your Running Brothers is so interesting; there really isn't a script. I thought it was just rumors outside! The challenges were also very interesting, and this Nevernight City, wow! Black Dragon Group actually built an ancient city from scratch, and it's so rich inside... It's simply incredible..."
She chattered on endlessly like a bird released from its cage.
Su Sining: "...You... alright... don't get worked up anymore..."
Yin Yue giggled: "Worked up about what? Jiang Ge already agreed, so my family won't dare to come bother me again... Oh crap... they actually came..." She suddenly widened her eyes in disbelief, looking ahead, her words cut short.
To the side.
Su Sining also looked ahead in surprise.
They saw.
Yin Yue's uncle, aunt, and a young man approaching.
How could this be!
This shouldn't be happening, right? Something's not right!
Didn't Chairman Qin agree? Why isn't it resolved yet? Can't Chairman Qin even keep Yin Yue's uncle and aunt in check?
"Quick... get in the car..."
Su Sining pulled Yin Yue and got directly into the nanny van, telling the driver: "Lock the doors!"
Behind them.
Old Yin and Old Yin's wife saw this and became extremely anxious:
"Little Yue...
"Little Yue, I'm your aunt... Don't close the door..."
The young man was also extremely anxious:
"Sister... don't close the door... I have something to say..."
...The commotion was not small.
Wang Chen, Liu Chao, and others who were already in their nanny vans or about to get in all turned their gaze towards them.
"Who are those three? They scared Su Sining and Yin Yue into getting in the car as soon as they arrived..."
"They sound like Yin Yue's relatives..."
"I know..."
A female actress who had worked with Yin Yue in the same drama said, "These are Yin Yue's uncle and aunt, also her adoptive parents. They constantly demand money from Yin Yue and threaten her if she doesn't give it to them..."
She briefly explained what she knew about the situation.
Such matters are usually not secrets in the industry. Furthermore, Yin Yue's uncle and aunt demanded money so frequently that many celebrities who had worked with Yin Yue were aware of the situation. They understood that most of her previous income had been taken by this parasitic couple to support their son; Yin Yue was merely their ATM.
Wang Chen, Liu Chao, and others listened and looked at Yin Yue with pity. Anyone would get a headache encountering such a parasitic couple, especially people like them with sensitive identities, making it even harder to shake them off.
Once encountered, it's basically an unsolvable situation!!!
And just as they were mourning for Yin Yue,
Just as Su Sining and Yin Yue were puzzled,
They saw Old Yin, Old Yin's wife, and the young man come to the nanny van: there was no expected cursing or demands for money... instead... [they pleaded for mercy].
Yes! It's begging for mercy!"
Old Yin and Old Yin's wife, having witnessed Qin Jiang's power, no longer dared to ask for money and planned to go home.
At the same time, The Yin Family's young man was tied up, waiting for good news from his parents, but no good news arrived.
The debt collector said, "Damn it! Can your family get the money or not? Fuck! I don't have time to just wait here."
The Yin Family's young man stammered, "Yes… yes!"
The debt collector said, "I'll give you half an hour. If I don't hear from your family in half an hour, don't blame me for being heartless…"
He tugged at his waistband.
The Yin Family's young man trembled in fear, shaking uncontrollably, and swore, "There's definitely money! Please don't touch me! My younger sister is Qin Jiang's woman, a casual word from her…"
The debt collector retorted, "I just want money… I don't care whose woman she is…"
The Yin Family's young man was in despair.
Bang!
Boom… The door was kicked open.
A large group of people rushed in, their faces fierce. The leading man was heavily tattooed and had a menacing gaze.
The debt collector shivered when he saw this person.
"Brother Bao!"
The newcomer was Brother Bao, a true big boss in the area, a figure he normally wouldn't even get to see.
Brother Bao didn't even glance at him, but instead looked around the room, finally fixing his gaze on the tied-up Yin Family's young man.
"You are Yin Yue's brother…"
The Yin Family's young man's face lit up with excitement.
"Yes, yes! I am!"
He subconsciously thought these people were sent by Qin Jiang at Yin Yue's behest, and he unconsciously straightened his back.
Haha… He knew his sister wouldn't abandon him!
He knew that a word in the ear worked… He would be Qin Jiang's brother-in-law from now on… Then, in this small territory, who would dare to provoke him? Who would dare to disrespect him? Who would dare to ask for money when playing cards… Gulp!
The debt collector's heart sank, and he thought to himself.
"This is bad!"
He also believed these people were called by Brother Bao.
Damn it!
How could this be… Would such a big boss truly care about a woman? And was that woman sick? The Yin Family's young man was a pure ingrate, a leech… And she's still helping him… He didn't understand… But he immediately adopted a respectful attitude and said to Brother Bao, "Bro… Brother Bao, listen to me… There's a misunderstanding here…"
He hadn't finished speaking.
The Yin Family's young man interrupted, "Misunderstanding your ass! Didn't I just owe you a few hundred thousand yuan? You charging compound interest is one thing, but you dared to tie me up? Do you know who I am? I am Chen Jiang Wang's brother-in-law… Do you understand…"
The Yin Family's young man looked at Brother Bao and said, "You're Brother Bao, right? I am Yin Yue's brother, Qin Jiang's brother-in-law. Tie all these people up for me; I'll deal with them properly later. I'm very relieved you came to save me today! But you came a bit late, and I'm very angry… Ah…"
Slap!
A crisp slap echoed through the room. Brother Bao slightly shook his hand, his face cold.
The entire room fell silent!
The Yin Family's young man: -`д´-
The debt collector: (=ﾟДﾟ=)
The Yin Family's young man: "You… you dared to hit me…"
Slap!
The Yin Family's young man: "Do you know who I am…"
Slap!
The Yin Family's young man: "I am…"
Slap! Slap! Slap… The Yin Family's young man: "Wuwuwu… Stop hitting me… I was wrong…"
Slap!
"Wrong about what…"
The Yin Family's young man: "Although I don't know what I did wrong, I definitely did something wrong. Brother Bao, please stop hitting me… Untie me, and I promise not to mind that you were late, and when I see my brother-in-law Qin Jiang, I will definitely put in a good word for you…"
Slap! Slap!
The Yin Family's young man: "Wuwu… Why are you still hitting me… My brother-in-law Qin Jiang is very ruthless; he kills without batting an eye… He drowns people in the river at the drop of a hat… Don't you believe me…"
Brother Bao squatted down, grabbed his cheek with one hand, and slapped him repeatedly, "It seems you really don't know what you did wrong? You know Master Jiang is ruthless? And you still dare to act in Master Jiang's name? You still dare to call Master Jiang your brother-in-law, and you still dare to ask Miss Yin Yue for money… Who do you think you are… Who do you think Master Jiang is? How can an idiot like you appear in my territory…"
He gave The Yin Family's young man a slap with every sentence, making his head spin.
At this moment.
He somewhat realized: these people were called by Qin Jiang, but not to support him, but to teach him a lesson.
He was very confused.
"That's not right!"
"The plot isn't right, is it?"
He was the other party's brother-in-law; why wouldn't the other party save him but instead hit him? Could it be that Yin Yue truly no longer regarded him as her brother… Even though he couldn't figure it out, the pain on his face made him constantly beg for mercy: "Brother Bao… I was wrong… Brother Bao… I won't dare again… Brother Bao… please stop hitting me… My teeth are loose…"
"Fuck…"
Brother Bao only withdrew his hand and shook it when he was tired of hitting. "Damn it, my hand hurts from hitting him…"
The debt collector looked utterly bewildered. "Bro… Brother Bao… you… you this…"
Brother Bao: "What me! This whole damn thing was caused by you. Deal with him…"
"De… deal with him!"
The debt collector was stunned. "Brother Bao, this… this isn't good, is it…"
Brother Bao: "Not good! He dared to cause trouble in front of Master Jiang, dared to ask Master Jiang's woman for money… Does such a person still need to live… If you don't deal with him today, then I'll deal with you…"
The debt collector: … "Fuck! What are these guys staring at? Take him to the car and drive him away, to Riverside! Chen Jiang (Drowning in the River)!!!"
A few brothers stepped forward and dragged The Yin Family's young man.
The Yin Family's young man: ∑( ;°Д°)
"You… you guys don't come over here… Brother Bao… Brother Bao, I was wrong… I won't dare to ask for money again… I went crazy… I shouldn't have treated Master Jiang as a relative, I shouldn't have asked Master Jiang's woman for money… I… was wrong… You guys let go of me… I don't want to be Chen Jiang (Drowning in the River)… I want to live…"
Brother Bao: "You don't know you're wrong; you just know you're going to die…"
The Yin Family's young man: "Brother Bao… I… was wrong… Please give me a chance… Brother Bao… I don't want to die… Wuwuwu… I was wrong…"
He struggled frantically, his legs trembling, and liquid flowed out.
He peed himself!
Brother Bao looked at him with disgust. "Damn! Useless! Don't say I didn't give you a chance: go immediately and beg Miss Yin Yue, beg her for forgiveness and promise not to bother her again! If she forgives you, then everything can be eased. If she doesn't forgive you, then you… no… not just you, but your parents and your whole family will all be… See you in the river!"
…After that:
The Yin Family's young man found his father and mother overnight and explained the situation. The family of three came to Songjiang Sleepless City and waited for Yin Yue… The three of them frantically pounded on the nanny van's door, shouting:
"Uncle was wrong…"
"Auntie was wrong…"
"Brother was wrong…"
Yin Yue: (⊙_◎)
Su Sining: (•ิ_•ิ)?
Other celebrities: »ू(͒ ˑ•᷄ ͡ ꇵ ͒•᷅ ͒)ू?! ∑( ;°Д°)(ᵒ̤̑ ₀̑ ᵒ̤̑) wow! *✰
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Little Yue! Auntie was wrong... Auntie shouldn't have asked you for money every day... Auntie won't ask for it anymore..."
"Little Yue... Uncle used to scold you and criticize you! Uncle was wrong, Uncle isn't human... Uncle deserves to die..."
"Brother was wrong... Brother shouldn't have squandered your money... Brother is scum... a piece of shit..."
They knocked on the door and begged for mercy.
Their voices were hoarse!
Their faces were filled with panic!
They were extremely scared!
...Especially Young Master Yin, he couldn't stop recalling what Brother Bao had said: "If you can't get forgiveness, then Chen Jiang (Drowning in the River)!"
Chen Jiang (Drowning in the River)!
What a terrifying thing!
He still had so much youth, so much time! How could he willingly be Chen Jiang (Drowning in the River) just like that!
He looked at the door, his face anxious as there was no response for a long time.
No... If he didn't get forgiveness, he'd be ruined!
So... he gritted his teeth and made a fierce decision, under the shocked gazes of the celebrities and the disbelieving eyes of Old Yin and Old Yin's wife.
Thud!
(シ_ _)シ
He knelt in front of the nanny van, wailing miserably:
"Sister... no... Miss Yin... Sister Yin! Grandma Yin... Ancestor Yin, I'm not human... I'm just a piece of shit... I shouldn't have asked you for money... I was just blinded... I deserve to die..."
Slap! Slap!
He slapped himself twice, hard:
"Look at us, we grew up together, look at our past friendship... just forgive me... I'm only thirty, I haven't lived enough yet... I don't want to be Chen Jiang (Drowning in the River)... Wuwuwu..."
He cried sorrowfully... combined with his extremely rough appearance and miserable state, it looked strange, and also quite shocking.
On both sides, Old Yin and Old Yin's wife were first surprised by their son's behavior, but then they quickly reacted. They had witnessed Qin Jiang's power firsthand today, and given their son's life was at stake, they dared not delay:
They all pleaded:
"Little Yue... no... Miss Yin, we promise we won't bother you anymore... we won't show our faces in front of you anymore... we'll walk ten miles around if we see you... just put in a good word for us, ask Chairman Qin not to mess with us anymore..."
"He's the only male heir of The Yin Family... if he's gone... how will us old folks live... how will the children live... The Yin Family will be completely finished... just do us a favor, let Chairman Qin treat us like farts... and let us go..."
"Can you do it..."
"Auntie is kneeling to you... can you do it..."
Their attitude was sincere, panicked, and scared, even planning to kneel to Yin Yue to beg for forgiveness.
This scene:
Left the celebrities dumbfounded:
"Didn't you just say her uncle and aunt weren't human? Only knew how to ask for money? What's going on here?"
"No! Haven't you seen it, or haven't you heard it? These three are clearly scared to death..."
"Begging for forgiveness, afraid of Chen Jiang (Drowning in the River)! And something about Chairman Qin letting them go like a fart... it's clear Chairman Qin has made a move..."
"Yin Yue has Chairman Qin backing her, what are these people... I'm just curious what they went through now..."
All the celebrities reacted.
After all: the situation on site couldn't be clearer. It was obvious these people often pestered Yin Yue, Yin Yue got fed up and found Qin Jiang, Qin Jiang sent people to act... and then the current situation unfolded!
...Inside the nanny van.
Su Sining and Yin Yue also reacted after a moment of stunned silence.
Su Sining: "It's really resolved..."
Yin Yue: "It's just that the resolution is a bit... a bit too scary..."
Su Sining: "What? Are you still feeling sorry for them..."
Yin Yue: "I'm not feeling sorry! I just feel I'm not worthy of Jiang Ge's help... Jiang Ge is really too good to me..."
Su Sining: "Stop daydreaming, this is just a trivial matter for Jiang Ge... What you need to do now is send them away. If this scene is filmed, it won't be good for your career, and today is the opening of Nevernight City... don't cause any trouble..."
Yin Yue: "Understood!"
She didn't open the car door but opened the window, telling Old Yin, Old Yin's wife, and Young Master Yin outside: "What I gave you before was repayment for your upbringing all these years. From now on, I have no further ties with you. Go!"
Bang!
She closed the window!
Outside, Old Yin, Old Yin's wife, and Young Master Yin, upon hearing Yin Yue's heartless words, were not angry but instead ecstatic.
No relationship is good!
No further ties is good!
This meant Yin Yue didn't hate them and had let them go... Although they could no longer get money from Yin Yue, and could no longer relentlessly leech off her, it was nothing compared to their own lives.
Young Master Yin: "Thank you, little sister... no! Thank you, Miss Yin, thank you, Grandma, for not killing us..."
"I promise..."
Su Sining opened the window and shouted: "You promise what? Get lost in three counts or else... three..."
"Scram... we're scrambling..."
Young Master Yin dared not say anything else. He stood up and left with Old Yin and Old Yin's wife... Huff... huff... The three of them ran a long distance before bending over, panting heavily.
Young Master Yin: "Finally, we've escaped a calamity... Luckily, this little girl still considers family ties a bit..."
Old Yin's wife: "But after today's incident, we'll never be able to get money again. What will we do without money..."
Old Yin: "It's okay! We've earned enough over the years, with a house and a car, living a good life is barely enough..."
Young Master Yin: "I'm afraid it's not enough..."
Old Yin: "What do you mean..."
Young Master Yin: "I owe nearly a million to others. When you go back, you'll have to sell the house, sell the car, sell the land..."
Old Yin's wife: "What... a million... Gak..."
Old Yin: "We're finished... completely finished now... Gak..."
Old Yin and Old Yin's wife fainted.
Young Master Yin pinched their philtrums and tiger's mouths to revive them, his face full of anxiety: "Dad... Mom... are you alright..."
Old Yin's wife: "Wuwu... what will we do in the future... wuwuwu."
Old Yin: "Stop crying! Surviving a great disaster is sure to bring future blessings, son! After such a major event, I only ask that you grow up. When we go back, I'll sell the house and the car. I estimate there will be some money left after paying off the debts. You just take the remaining money and do well... I'll be relieved then..."
Old Yin's wife: "You must learn from your mistakes."
Young Master Yin: "Dad! Don't worry! I've already thought it through, there will still be two hundred thousand left after paying off foreign debts! I was wrong before, I will definitely observe and think more in the future: as the saying goes: no child cries all the time, no gambler loses all the time. With two hundred thousand, I guarantee I'll make a comeback."
Gak... Gak... "Dad... Mom... why did you two faint again..."
Bang!
Su Sining closed the car window again and said to the driver, "Go…"
Boom… The driver didn't hesitate to start the car and quickly drove away… Inside the car!
Yin Yue felt an indescribable lightness throughout her body.
The ghost family had vanished just like that!
She would no longer be afraid when the phone rang… She would no longer send all her money back home… She would no longer have to worry about this bomb exploding at any moment… All of this:
It was all because of that man… Yin Yue: "Sister Ning! I feel like I'm dreaming… Not only have I become popular, but all my pressure is gone… How can a person be so happy…"
Su Sining didn't reply.
How could she not feel like it was a dream? Her once unattainable dreams had all come true. Sometimes, she would pinch herself in the middle of the night, and she would suddenly wake up from sleep, just afraid that it was all a dream!
Su Sining: "Yue Yue! Remember who gave you all of this, and know what you can and cannot do."
Yin Yue: "I know… We are the dual leading ladies of Black Dragon… The face of Black Dragon Group in the entertainment industry, so of course, we need to be sensible…"
...At the original spot, the other celebrities watched the three members of The Yin Family flee in a panic, and the departing nanny van, remaining silent for a long time.
A moment later.
The female celebrity who had just spoken said, "I take back what I just said. Chairman Qin… is definitely a big shot in society… even more formidable… more terrifying… and more not to be offended than we imagined…"
The others nodded continuously.
Nonsense!
If this isn't a big shot in society, then what is?
Someone who can scare a family of three into kneeling and begging for mercy, scare them into not daring to ask for money, and even make them call him 'Grandma'.
Why would he do that?
Definitely because he was afraid of Chen Jiang (Drowning in the River)!
The scene they had just witnessed firsthand taught them a lesson, making them fear Qin Jiang's power even more. A big shot of this caliber could only be befriended, never offended. Some celebrities subconsciously took out their phones and posted new updates on social media:
[Songjiang Sleepless City! A city that will make me unforgettable for life]
[Mysterious Songjiang City! Come if you dare]
[A must-visit place in one's life: Songjiang Sleepless City]
They were showing goodwill to Black Dragon Group, not only to seek more entertainment industry resources but also to get some recognition, fearing that they might leave a bad impression on Black Dragon Group, which would make filming in Bei Province difficult in the future… "Let's go…"
Wang Chen waved his hand… His nanny van quickly drove away.
The other celebrities also left in their nanny vans.
Before leaving:
They couldn't help but look back at Songjiang Sleepless City, knowing that this city would likely become popular this year.
However!
They never expected this city to become so popular… On that very day!
The Running Brothers live broadcast caused a national sensation.
The variety show's finale broke viewership records!
Countless adults and children watched the live broadcast, and it was precisely because of the live broadcast finale that they saw Songjiang Sleepless City. They had only occasionally heard of its name before, but now they experienced the charm of this city firsthand. Many wealthy and leisure people began to consider traveling there, and this idea was completely ignited after the celebrities collectively posted updates, causing a stir online:
Songjiang Sleepless City's promotion was primarily online and targeted at young people. Too many young people were watching the live broadcast while interacting online, and the topic was already ignited. The celebrities' promotions were like adding fuel to the fire, making the topic even hotter… "Wow! Did you guys watch The Running Brothers variety show? It was so interesting… so hilarious… A variety show can be filmed like this…"
"Of course I watched it! The Running Brothers is my go-to show for meals, a must-watch! It's a shame this year's season is over. What am I going to do for fun in the second half of the year…"
"The finale truly lives up to its name. The filming location was amazing, an ancient city, a completely ancient city…"
"There are so many interesting programs in that ancient city, you don't even need to watch the programs… I feel like just the city itself is interesting… "I agree with the above! That city has so much character, I can't wait to travel there now…"
"I also want to travel… Songjiang… is it in Bei Province? It's just a bit far…"
"I also want to go… but it's too far…"
Many netizens expressed their desire to travel to Songjiang and experience the city firsthand.
But they all complained about the distance… Songjiang, located in Bei Province, was a bit far. Just as they were hesitating, a topic exploded in the middle of the night:
[Quick, look at the trending searches]
Countless netizens clicked on the trending searches with confusion:
[Celebrity Su Sining shouts in Songjiang Ancient City: Youth has no price, the North is at your feet…] (Explosion)
[Celebrity Yin Yue dances passionately in the ancient city, also shouting: Youth has no price, the North is at your feet…] (Explosion)
[Celebrity Lin Chen…] (Hot)
[Celebrity Liu Chao… ]
[Youth has no price, the North is at your feet] (Hot)
...The top ten trending searches were completely dominated, all uniformly about Songjiang Sleepless City. The top thirty also occupied 21 spots, practically treating the trending list as their backyard.
Among them:
Youth has no price!
The North is at your feet!
These fourteen characters appeared with extremely high frequency!
This kind of situation: Looking back at the trending searches, it rarely appears. Whenever it does, it's a nationwide sensation. Even if Black Dragon Group contributed to it, it wouldn't achieve this effect without genuine strength.
The trending searches in 2012 had a lot of credibility, far from being comparable to the trending searches of later generations that could be bought with money.
It had already exploded online, and it exploded even more:
"Seriously, wow… So many celebrities are promoting Songjiang Sleepless City… How much fun is it really in there…"
"Youth has no price, the North is at your feet. It sounds so exciting… Yes! Youth has no price, I'm still young, why should I hesitate… I want to go to Songjiang… I'm going tomorrow…"
"It must be interesting if so many celebrities are promoting it. I won't hesitate either, after all, youth has no price…"
"I want to ask: How much does it cost to travel to Songjiang? Can I play for seven days with 100,000?"
"Upstairs! What are you doing in Songjiang with 100,000? You might as well take a bus to the grasslands, there are more cows there… and more awesome stuff…"
"How could it not be! Bringing 100,000 yuan to Songjiang to play, what's wrong! Are you here to buy a house…"
"With 100,000 yuan, you could even ride me…"
"Anyone planning to go to Songjiang tomorrow? So many celebrities are checking in, I want to go too!"
"Upstairs! Count me in! I'm going too! Youth has no price? I'm only thirty, it's the age to go for it…"
"Count me in… Let's go together…"
...Countless topics about Songjiang Sleepless City and the North flooded various online forums and dominated major trending search applications.
Songjiang Sleepless City!
It's popular!
No… [It exploded]
It exploded!
It completely exploded!!!
The internet was flooded with posts about traveling to Songjiang Sleepless City, with some even asking for travel guides.
In 2012, while the number of tourists was far less than in later years, the economy was in a take-off phase, and there were quite a few people with money and leisure time who didn't like budget travel, showing strong spending power. Also, due to underdeveloped publicity at the time, many people who wanted to travel didn't know where to go, essentially visiting only a few well-known places!
Many people were traveling out!
Now!
With such a popular tourist destination, many people started to get ideas!
...Buzz... Buzz... A man, sleeping soundly with a beauty in his arms, was woken by his phone vibrating. He answered the call with his eyes closed:
"Who is it... in the middle of the night... what's up...?"
"Manager! Something big happened... it's gone viral..."
"What's gone viral...?"
"Songjiang Sleepless City has gone viral... it's exploded across the entire internet..."
"Songjiang Sleepless City? What's that? What does its popularity have to do with me? Are you sick calling me in the middle of the night...?"
"Manager! Don't hang up, listen to me. You know Running Brothers, right? It was filmed there... that city is incredibly awesome, countless people want to go travel there... Oh, I can't explain it in a sentence or two, hurry up and check the trending topics..."
"Trending topics... Hmm! I understand..."
Slap!
He hung up the phone.
The man frowned and opened his eyes, opening his phone's trending topics app to check. What he saw was no small matter: Thump!
He jumped out of bed!
Whoosh... The woman was startled awake: "What's wrong? Is my husband here? Quick... jump out the window..."
The man: ...Goddamn, your husband is here?
Goddamn, jump out the window!
This is the eighteenth floor!
What, you planning to send me to the underworld? The man: "Stop yelling... your husband isn't here..."
The woman: "Where's my husband...?"
The man: "How the hell would I know...? Didn't you say you were a college student? How do you have a husband...?"
The woman: "I... who says college students can't get married? It's for extra credit... if you don't believe me, I'll show you my student ID..."
The man: "..."
He was too lazy to argue further, taking out five hundred yuan from his bag and handing it to the woman: "Go... hurry up and go..."
The woman: "You're making me leave in the middle of the night, you need to pay for my taxi!"
The man pulled out another 100 yuan and slapped it onto the woman's face: "Here's an extra 100! Get out!!!"
The woman: "Alright!"
She didn't dally and left immediately.
The man didn't even look at the departing woman; he stared at the various trending topics on his phone:
Songjiang Sleepless City has gone viral!
A must-visit spot for countless celebrities!
A must-check-in place!
...He then opened the forum and saw it was filled with posts asking for travel guides and posts about wanting to travel to Songjiang Sleepless City.
The man's eyes lit up!
He was the owner of a travel agency, and he instantly spotted a significant business opportunity in this event.
A newly popular tourist attraction.
This was definitely a gold mine for travel agencies! If properly exploited, it would be a huge opportunity for any travel agency!
He made a decisive move and picked up the phone:
"Quick! Immediately gather all employees to work overtime tonight. Sleep? What the hell, wake up and party! If we do this well, everyone's bonus will be doubled. Come to the company right away."
"Marketing director! Design a travel route and guide for Songjiang Sleepless City for me. The plan must be finalized by 8 AM this morning, ready to form a tour group..."
"Number of tour groups? No limit!"
"Development department! All department members immediately book flights to Songjiang! No matter how expensive..."
"Go to Songjiang Sleepless City and survey the tourist attractions for me. You must thoroughly understand the attractions before the tour groups arrive tomorrow and ensure a perfect handover with the tour groups, no mistakes..."
"Quick... quick, quick..."
He frantically made various calls.
At the same time, he quickly got dressed and left.
This would be a race against time. Who could form a group first? Who could make a name for themselves first? That person would be able to get a slice of the pie first! He would never miss this opportunity. That night, he, along with the company manager and employees, held an all-night meeting to plan. After the meeting, he told his assistant: "Book me a flight to Songjiang..."
That's right!
He was still a bit uneasy.
He planned to personally visit Songjiang Sleepless City to see for himself and to see if there was a chance to cooperate with Black Dragon.
An official partner of a tourist attraction!
That was a very useful title!
That night!
Not just this one travel agency, countless travel agencies across the country were all brightly lit. Tour groups to Songjiang Sleepless City were formed overnight, and all sorts of travel guides were produced in the early hours of the morning.
The next day!
Countless people woke up:
They saw the streets filled with people hired by travel agencies distributing flyers, almost all of which read one sentence:
[Youth has no price, the Northern Realm is at your feet]
"Brother! Songjiang Sleepless City tour! 888 per person! Three days, four nights! All-inclusive food and accommodation! Are you going...?"
"Brother! High-end tour! You'll stay in a high-end inn in Nevernight City, enjoy carriage rides through Nevernight City, and all meals are luxurious set menus with local specialties! Five days, four nights! Only 1888!"
"Brother..."
They promoted the contents of their flyers to people nearby.
Someone was confused: "Songjiang Sleepless City tour? I've heard of Songjiang, but what's Nevernight City?"
Someone was speechless: "Brother! Do you really not know or are you pretending? What the hell! Didn't you watch the Running Brothers live stream yesterday? Songjiang Sleepless City! An ancient city! The Northern Realm is at your feet?"
That person was still puzzled: "Ah... when did that happen? I didn't know... I slept very soundly yesterday..."
..."I can't explain it to you! But I really didn't expect there to be tour groups today. I was just planning to go! Um... buddy! Tell me more about your 888 tour group..."
"Alright! We are XX Travel Agency! This 888 tour is specially launched by our agency to rip off... to give back to new and old customers. It includes round-trip tickets, food, and accommodation..."
"When can we leave...?"
"The earliest group is today!"
"Okay! I'll sign up for one!"
"Alright! My company is right next door, let's go to the company first..."
...Similar situations were everywhere! A large number of people who had already planned to visit Songjiang Sleepless City signed up with travel agencies:
888 tour!
1888 tour!
...8888 tour!
Everything was available!
Of course, the 888 tour had the most people!
After all:
No matter the era, there are always many people who like to save money!
But one thing was beyond doubt: countless tour Groups were formed that day, and a massive number of tourists headed straight for Songjiang… It was a hit!
It was a complete hit!
...Fortunately, Songjiang Sleepless City had made thorough preparations under Qin Jiang's instructions, so there was no chaos when the sudden influx of tourists arrived. Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion. If Songjiang Sleepless City's opening day was a sensation, the second day was an explosion!
...That day!
The Eighteen Makeup Towers were bustling with activity:
"I want the 99 package... When can I get my makeup done? What? I have to wait an hour... That's too long... I'll go check out other makeup towers first..."
"Sister, you're not queuing, right? I am! I'll stand in front of you... I advise you not to go to other towers..."
"Why..."
"I just came from other towers; those towers have even longer queues, and you'd have to re-queue there..."
"But it takes too much time... It's so hot under the sun, just standing here in line... It's too difficult..."
Countless girls in line couldn't help but complain.
Queuing for one or two hours is exhausting; no one wants to queue! Especially in the middle of summer.
A boyfriend couldn't help but say, "Oh, wife! Don't queue anymore! It's just ancient costume makeup, what's there to queue for? Wouldn't it be better to just stroll around the city during that time?"
The girlfriend angrily retorted, "You don't understand anything! This ancient city is so full of ancient charm; if I don't get ancient costume makeup, it'll be a wasted trip! A wasted stroll! How will I get good photos? Do you not love me? If you don't want to accompany me, then go explore by yourself. I'll just queue here, alright?"
The boyfriend: ...What else could he say? Someone couldn't help but say, "Is the 299 package available? Yes! One will be available soon, right? Okay! Wife! Let's get this one! More expensive must mean it's better..."
Some people couldn't help but choose to pay more for higher-priced makeup!
Seeing this,
other boyfriends quickly followed suit:
"I want the 299 package too..."
"Right! Can we get the 299 one?"
"Darling! Let's get the expensive one, my darling is worth it!"
At this moment:
They held several beliefs:
[Since we're already here]
[Who cares about a few hundred yuan when on vacation?]
[My girlfriend's mood is the most important]
[Can't appear stingy in front of my girlfriend]
[Everyone else is getting the expensive one! We can't lose face]
...For a time:
The initially sufficient high-end makeup artists became insufficient.
Even:
The queue for high-end services was almost longer than for low-end!
...Similarly!
The business of the three major inns also boomed to the extreme!
Numerous travel agencies pre-booked a large number of inn rooms, and many family-unit tourists came to book inn rooms.
In addition:
Many tourists who came yesterday and didn't stay in Nevernight City on the first day also moved into Nevernight City on the second day.
Nevernight City! Nevernight City!
Night is the most beautiful time in this city. Since they planned to stay in the city until evening, why not stay in the city? This would also reduce hassle. Moreover, Songjiang Sleepless City's living conditions, atmosphere, management, and prices were no worse than outside!
There was basically no need to choose!
Suddenly:
The three major inns were overcrowded!!!
Over seventy percent of rooms, from high to low, were filled! And most of the rooms for the next few days were also booked.
And it was only the second day!
Anyone could see that more tourists would come to Songjiang Sleepless City in the coming days, and they would also stay in the inns. Tourists who come to play usually stay for at least three days, or even seven days, which is normal. Even if the average is only three days, the cumulative number of tourists is estimated to make the three major inns fully booked and even insufficient!
...That night!
Lu Nan personally chaired the Songjiang Sleepless City management meeting!
The heads of the three major inns!
The head of the Eighteen Makeup Towers!
The head of the city's commercial district!
...All attended the meeting!
Lu Nan: "Everyone, report on the situation!"
The head of the Makeup Towers: "Mr. Lu! It exploded! Our Eighteen Makeup Towers were almost overwhelmed today: there were swarms of people queuing outside every tower, almost stretching across the street, shoulder to shoulder, we simply couldn't keep up with the makeup! Mr. Lu, you must tell the Security Department tomorrow: to pay special attention to the area around the Makeup Towers!"
"Also, we don't have enough makeup artists! Especially high-end makeup artists! I don't know why so many people want to choose high-end services! Although it's not as many as low-end makeup artists, it's almost surpassing the mid-range ones, we're short-staffed!"
He sounded a bit puzzled himself.
In the initial setup of the Makeup Towers: the demand for high-end makeup artists was expected to be small. Simple makeup and renting an outfit for a few hundred yuan was still very luxurious in 2012, equivalent to many people's two or three days' wages. The 99 price point was supposedly the most reasonable!
Lu Nan was also taken aback!
He also participated in the establishment of the three major inns and the Eighteen Makeup Towers, and was clear about many things inside, and knew how unreasonable this situation was. He couldn't help but say, "It seems the spending potential of tourists is much greater than we anticipated..."
The head of the Makeup Towers: "Mr. Lu! I suggest promoting some mid-range makeup artists to high-end, which would address the shortage of high-end makeup artists and further boost the Makeup Towers' revenue..."
Lu Nan, however, waved his hand directly:
"No!"
"The promotion assessment for makeup artists must be strictly enforced; we cannot relax the assessment because of a shortage of people! If there's a shortage of high-end makeup artists: first, we can encourage mid-range makeup artists to diligently study and improve; second: we can continue to recruit from outside! But one thing is paramount: better to have too little than to have poor quality!"
The head of the Makeup Towers nodded: "Yes!"
The head of the Fish Inn: "Mr. Lu! Over seventy percent of the rooms under the Fish Inn are occupied, with standard rooms, king-size bed rooms, and family rooms being particularly popular. High-end suites are also not lacking guests! It is expected that when another wave of out-of-town tourists arrives tomorrow, it will most likely be fully booked!"
The head of the Shrimp Inn: "It's similar for me... Guests are coming in batches. Fortunately, we prepared in advance, otherwise, we would have been in a pickle..."
The head of the Crab Inn: "Before, I used to wonder how we would manage so many rooms? Now I feel like we don't have enough rooms! Completely insufficient!"
The head of the Fish Inn: "Yes! Mr. Lu! I heard that the Group is going to expand the inns in some empty spaces within the city. You must strongly advocate for this; we definitely need to expand more!"
Upon hearing this,
Lu Nan's expression was filled with shock.
He was initially unsure about Songjiang Sleepless City's money-making ability, especially with the data reported yesterday: the inn occupancy rate was less than twenty percent, far from making the city profitable.
But now:
23,500 rooms are almost fully occupied!
Based on a comprehensive average of about 200 yuan in revenue per room, considering holiday suites and low-priced rooms!
Then... The single-day revenue can reach: nearly five million yuan!
What does that mean!
Seven words:
[One first prize per day]
Hiss... gasps of cold air echoed through the conference room.
Five million a day!
That's 150 million a month!
That's 1.8 billion a year!
This doesn't even count the revenue from those high-end residences; if those were added, the revenue would most likely exceed two billion.
Two billion!
That's an astronomical figure!
A number they had never dared to imagine.
Lu Nan couldn't remain calm and couldn't help but think, "Currently, the inns are almost not enough. I need to have the Engineering Department build more rooms as quickly as possible. Even if the quality isn't perfect, as long as they're habitable, that's fine. We need to boost the turnover: break two billion, reach thirty... even..."
He suddenly pinched his thigh: "Damn it, Lu Nan! What beautiful dreams are you having? Have you forgotten Jiang Ge's orders?"
Whoosh... he fully sobered up: "The expansion of the inns is for the higher-ups to decide. Currently, the three major inns should not think about expanding. They only need to plan the number of rooms properly."
The person in charge of Crab Inn said, "Why don't we raise prices? I heard that due to the influx of a large number of outside tourists, many hotels in Songjiang are raising their prices, some by two or three times! Why don't we also raise prices? Even a 20% or 30% increase would bring huge profits."
Although Lu Nan was still very tempted, he broke free from the shackles of money: "No! The inn prices are set by the Group! We absolutely cannot raise prices! Prices are fixed! If the Group were to change them in the future, it would be divided into two seasons: peak and off-peak pricing! It won't be a different price every day! Not even if it's completely full or incredibly popular!"
"When you all return, I will strictly manage: anyone under your command who dares to privately raise prices will be directly fired and sent to the Police, no exceptions! The person in charge must take responsibility!"
He placed the responsibility firmly on the shoulders of the people in charge.
What he feared was that the mid to high-level managers under the three major inns would be blinded by money and secretly raise prices or embezzle.
This would have a significant impact on the brand of the three major inns, even if he wasn't entirely clear what that impact would be.
But he remembered Jiang Ge personally saying:
"21st century: the Internet age! The information age! For an enterprise to develop, it must have a good reputation! Negative news must be kept to a minimum! Otherwise, the brand value will be greatly discounted!"
"Cutting corners might allow an enterprise to earn more money in the short term, but once it backfires, even a top enterprise won't be able to withstand it."
On this point:
Qin Jiang was not exaggerating at all!
After all:
Similar enterprises in later generations were everywhere:
Instant noodles... pre-made dishes... and so on.
Therefore, he linked the matter to the people in charge of the three major inns, so that they would take it seriously and not turn a blind eye.
The person in charge of Shrimp Inn said, "Why don't we just convert some of the unrented shops into inns! Otherwise, how much money will be delayed..."
This time.
Before Lu Nan could speak.
The person in charge of shop management stood up: "No! Absolutely not! What kind of joke is this? What?! Only your inns are important, and our shops aren't? Do you know how many enterprises contacted me today, how many people want to rent shops..."
He took out his phone, opened it, and pointed to the content: "Look! I've only had it on silent for such a short time, and look how many missed calls there are? Dozens? They all want to rent shops..."
It could be said that:
Today, he basically did nothing but answer calls.
The content of the calls was also very consistent: they all wanted to rent shops in Songjiang Sleepless City! Good locations!
After all:
The popularity of Songjiang Sleepless City was visible to the naked eye; there were an incredible number of tourists, and their consumption potential was very high.
Therefore, those merchants were like cats smelling fish, all eager to get a piece of this cake.
The person in charge of shops said, "General Manager Lu! Many chain stores, supermarkets, clothing stores, small commodity stores, and especially catering businesses in Songjiang are all planning to set up in Songjiang Sleepless City, and we can set the conditions!"
"What is most important for Songjiang Sleepless City? It's tourists! And what can keep tourists? Food, clothing, housing, transportation, eating, drinking, playing, and entertainment! Shops account for four of these: clothing, food, eating, and drinking! These two must be abundant to keep more tourists."
After speaking.
He looked at the people in charge of the three major inns and said firmly, "Who says only inns can bring huge profits? Shops can too! Do you know how much the shop turnover was today?"
The person in charge of Fish Inn asked, "How much?"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The person in charge of shops held up four fingers:
"Four million!"
"And this..."
"This is still with an insufficient number of shops; otherwise, the turnover might double."
Everyone present's expressions changed slightly again!
Turnover doubled!
That is:
Eight million!
A monthly turnover of 240 million!
A yearly turnover of over 3 billion!
Much more than the total of the three major inns combined!!!
This completely exceeded everyone's predictions!
And yet... judging by the shop manager's words, the potential had not yet reached its peak. Who wouldn't be surprised?
Lu Nan was also stunned!
He had originally thought that the inn's turnover was the highest in Songjiang Sleepless City, but he hadn't expected that one mountain was higher than the next.
Let alone those who heard the news, even the shop manager himself found it hard to remain calm after speaking.
Although:
Today's peak tourist count had exceeded 100,000!
But numbers and consumption can never be equated!
There were many university students who just came to play and didn't spend much; an average consumption of 10 to 20 was reasonable! 30 to 40 meant high consumption potential, but Songjiang Sleepless City's consumption potential was over 40, approaching 50, and this was with an entirely insufficient number of shops.
Looking at everyone's surprised expressions.
The shop manager explained, "The reason for such great consumption potential, I can only say a few points: One: the elderly truly have money and dare to spend it! Two: it's enclosed! Three: people need to eat and drink!"
As soon as these words came out.
The others also reacted.
Right! Songjiang Sleepless City's biggest difference from other tourist attractions is that it is a self-contained city.
Tourists can't just get tired of playing and find a restaurant nearby to eat; they can only eat within the city.
In fact:
They have to eat and drink all three meals here!
Specialty snacks!
Restaurant dishes!
Various beverages, milk tea!
...and so on, none of them are particularly low-priced. Especially in restaurants, a meal will cost at least 20 per person.
This forcibly raised the consumption level... plus:
The elderly!
The elderly seem to be very frugal with money, but their actual spending power is not weak. Even though Songjiang Sleepless City did not partner with travel agencies for any scams, it didn't stop these elderly people from buying, buying, buying.
Clothes!
Local specialties!
Souvenirs!
Specialty snacks!
...and so on!
Definitely big spenders!
Combining these two factors: the turnover of Songjiang Sleepless City's shops was continuously driven up... and its potential is still far from being fully developed!!!
Of course!"
They knew that the pure profit from shops couldn't compare to that of the inns!
The initial costs for the inns had already been entirely invested by the Group; after deducting operational costs, all that remained was pure profit, which could be as high as over 60%! However, all shops were brought in through commercial leases: even the most profitable F&B and clothing sectors couldn't exceed a 30% cut of revenue, while supermarkets and brand apparel stores would be below 20%. The comprehensive pure profit would be around 20%, but this still amounted to hundreds of millions in net profit!
This didn't even account for the Black Dragon Group's own brands; otherwise, the pure profit would increase even further.
Such profits were not much worse than the inns and could enrich the content of Songjiang Sleepless City.
Lu Nan nodded, "Good! Don't worry! The shops will absolutely not be encroached upon. You are to immediately negotiate with the merchants to have them move in as soon as possible, but you must thoroughly vet the brands! Do not bring in those trashy brands, those that are purely scams, sell fakes, or peddle fake antiques to swindle people. Our Songjiang Sleepless City doesn't lack that bit of profit. Also! Remember the most important point: no matter what shop, the selling price within Songjiang Sleepless City must be equivalent to the prices of similar shops outside. Any suspicion of additional markups will result in immediate expulsion…"
Qin Jiang specifically emphasized: high prices and long durations would affect reputation and foot traffic, and foot traffic was the most crucial factor for Songjiang Sleepless City. Making money was always secondary.
The shop manager said, "Understood!"
"I guarantee that within three days, the number of shops in Songjiang Sleepless City will increase by half, and within half a month, the shops will be mostly filled."
He wasn't making an empty boast; the shops in Songjiang Sleepless City had already undergone basic renovation during their initial construction. For some merchants who didn't have high demands for decoration, they could move in directly. Even for those more discerning merchants, a simple modification would allow them to move in quickly.
He didn't need to rush them at all!
Those merchants were more eager than him; moving in earlier meant earning money earlier and capturing market share earlier.
Sometimes, whoever occupies the market first has the right to speak first, and naturally, they are more anxious.
Lu Nan said, "Good! Go for it boldly!"
Afterward, the person in charge of performances stepped forward: "Lu Nan! Our revenue today is a bit low! The major theater Groups aren't fully booked or seated…"
Lu Nan said, "No rush! Keep up the good work! Even with many tourists, it's impossible for every business to be fully booked. However, you need to think carefully about publicity… You can liaise with the Publicity and Entertainment Department yourself…"
The performance manager said, "Yes!"
Although he belonged to the Management Department, his special nature also placed him under the management of the Publicity and Entertainment Department; it was a dual management system.
After that!
The person in charge of carriages… the person in charge of advertising and investment… and so on, all stepped forward to report their respective situations.
Although they couldn't compare to the departments just mentioned, they all did much better than their initial expectations.
And don't forget that it was only the second day of Songjiang Sleepless City's opening, and the online popularity had not yet reached its peak.
Even now!
All items combined, the total revenue for Songjiang Sleepless City had already reached tens of billions! A truly astonishing figure.
At this moment:
Lu Nan and others admired their Jiang Ge's business acumen even more.
When the Black Dragon Group first learned that Jiang Ge wanted to build a city and spend two billion, everyone was shocked. Out of respect for Jiang Ge's authority and trust, no one dared to say much, but who could have imagined that what they thought was an absurd investment would yield such a huge return? They didn't realize that Songjiang Sleepless City's positioning wasn't primarily about making money!
If they had known, their jaws would have dropped!
Lu Nan said, "Jiang Ge has paved the way for us. If we don't achieve something, then we should all go home and nurse babies…"
The inn manager said, "Let's just do it!"
The makeup building manager said, "Jiang Ge's person, Jiang Ge's soul! Jiang Ge is destined to be above all others…"
The shop manager said, "Follow Jiang Ge, and you'll have everything to eat and drink…"
...That day!
Tourists visiting Songjiang Sleepless City couldn't help but marvel at the city's charm. It was exhilarating! Fun! Novel! It was fundamentally different from other current tourist destinations, which mostly let you see scenery and were filled with commercialism, with touts and promoters everywhere.
Conversely… while Songjiang Sleepless City also had many businesses, there were no aggressive sales tactics. All commercial salespeople were only allowed to operate inside their shops and were not permitted to solicit customers outside.
Even if they had to introduce their business, it could only be within the immediate vicinity of the entrance, and they were not allowed to repeatedly question or solicit tourists. Otherwise, they would be recorded by the Constables patrolling the city: points deducted!
And points deducted! That would result in fines for the shop, and if enough points were lost, they would be directly expelled from the city.
Most importantly:
The entire city was filled with numerous interactive activities. Not only were these free to participate in, but they also awarded silver notes, which could then be used to buy milk tea in the city. There was absolutely no situation where staff would refuse to exchange them, which greatly increased the city's appeal!
It allowed tourists to immerse themselves more in exploring the entire city… Many tourists posted on their Moments:
[Youth has no price, the Northern Territory is at your feet]
With pictures:
Their own beautiful PS-edited photos with the city!
And.
Many other captions:
｛In the Northern Territory! My heart is pure｝
｛In the ancient city, my legs ache from walking｝
｛Have you seen the nightlife of an ancient city? I have｝
...and so on.
Some genuinely found the city interesting, while others were just following the trend on their Moments.
Moments was booming that year!
This… indirectly propelled Songjiang Sleepless City's popularity to an even higher level!
...Hospital!
Ward!
"Cough cough…"
Wang Wei slowly woke up, his eyes a bit dazed.
Lin Yue rushed forward, her face full of anxiety: "Tian Hu, you're finally awake! You had me so worried, are you okay…?"
Wang Wei said, "I had a dream… it felt like I fell into water and almost drowned…"
Wang Xuan, who was about to step forward and feign concern, couldn't help but shrink his neck and retreat behind the others.
Wang Wei said, "Black Dragon… that Nevernight City… how is it…?"
The entire room fell silent!
No one spoke!
Wang Wei looked at Tian Hu: "Is Nevernight City popular? How many tourists are there? Has it reached fifty thousand?"
Tian Hu held up two fingers.
Wang Wei rejoiced: "Twenty thousand? Only twenty thousand? Twenty thousand is good! Twenty thousand is good! Even if a mere twenty thousand people have potential for spending, he won't be able to recover his costs, nor will he bring much tourism revenue to Songjiang, so he won't be able to significantly raise its social status…"
Tian Hu said, "Godfather! Not twenty thousand! It's two times!"
Two times?
Two times fifty thousand! Wouldn't that be… one hundred thousand!
One hundred thousand visitors!
This wasn't just popular; it was absolutely exploding… *Gasp*… *Thud*!
Wang Wei couldn't catch his breath and fainted again… Tian Hu cried, "Godfather!"
Lin Yue cried, "Tian Hu…"
The elder cried, "Brother Tian Hu…"
Wang Xuan said, "You all saw it, my dad woke up and was angered by Tian Hu again, I didn't drown him…"
The others: … [Big bosses, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, please give free small gifts]
Doctor…"
Tian Hu: "Doctor! Hurry!"
A moment later.
The doctor arrived to treat Wang Wei. Since it was only an attack of rage, he quickly recovered after receiving an injection.
Wang Wei opened his eyes and fell into deep thought.
Songjiang Sleepless City is booming!
His plan against Qin Jiang had failed!
He had personally fought:
And lost!
And lost very thoroughly!!!
At least for a short time, there was no possibility of resistance. Since he couldn't defeat him and couldn't reconcile, he could only… hide!
Wang Wei propped himself up and said to the elders: "From today on! Tiger Might Group will enter a dormant state. No Tiger Might disciples are to act ostentatiously outside… You all must also be more disciplined."
As soon as he spoke.
The elders all nodded:
"We understand, Brother Hu!"
"Brother Hu! Don't worry! I plan to stay home and not go out for a while…"
"Tiger Might Group will also scale back its business during this period and restrain its subordinates, absolutely not causing trouble outside."
They thumped their chests in assurance.
Nonsense!
They would have done so even without Wang Wei telling them.
Who didn't know:
Wang Wei had completely offended Qin Jiang, almost getting himself killed by Qin Jiang in Songjiang Sleepless City. It was probably only because Qin Jiang didn't want to see blood on the opening day, otherwise, Tiger Might might have been left without a leader!
So… would the Black Dragon Group continue to retaliate?
Of course, it would be strange if they didn't retaliate!
They wished they could all hide and had no intention of clashing with the Black Dragon Group.
Even: they barely dared to shout slogans!
How to put it!
They were convinced!
Completely and utterly convinced by Qin Jiang, with no temper left! Too legendary? Too awesome! The guy even built a city! Hmm! Although it was just a tourist city! And you still want to fight him! Are you kidding! The eight hundred Imperial Guards would chop them up!
Seeing their expressions, Wang Wei's face was very complex.
Morale!
Completely destroyed!
It seems… he can only fight a protracted war!
Wang Wei ordered Tian Hu: "Tian Hu! You must keep a close eye on the construction site, restrain the workers from causing trouble, ensure that management personnel do not engage in corruption again, and also reform the construction site… *cough cough*…"
He coughed as he spoke.
Wang Xuan stepped forward and said with concern: "Dad! You don't have to worry about this. Our Tiger Might Construction Site has been sealed, so management personnel can't be corrupt even if they wanted to, and the workers have no place to cause trouble. Just rest and recover in peace…"
Wang Wei: (=ﾟДﾟ=)
The Tiger Might Construction Site was sealed?
Gah… *bang*!!!
Wang Wei fainted again.
Tian Hu: "Doctor… Doctor…"
Elder: "This… sigh… Xiao Xuan, why do you say everything? You really bring up what shouldn't be brought up…"
*Slap!*
Lin Yue, angered, slapped Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan: "Mom! Why are you hitting me? I was just telling the truth. Wasn't I also worried about Dad getting angry…"
Lin Yue: "Scram!!!"
Wang Xuan: … Half an hour later.
Wang Wei was again revived by the doctor. He forced himself to sit up and immediately looked at Tian Hu for answers.
Tian Hu nodded.
"Sigh… it's over…"
Wang Wei's heart was a mix of emotions, wishing he hadn't woken up, but he knew he couldn't fall. Tiger Might Group still depended on him. After a moment of thought, he said aloud:
"Lin Yue! Contact the Lin Family Group, and in the name of the Lin Family Group, invite a few people to dinner."
"The Tiger Might Construction Site cannot stop! This is Tiger Might Group's only hope for a comeback, it must reopen!"
His tone was firm.
Tiger Might Construction Site!
Tiger Might Group's most important project. If it could be successfully completed, Tiger Might Group could transform. Even if it couldn't fully stabilize, it could at least have a foot in both camps and not capsize so easily. Moreover, with the current Police environment in Songjiang, there wasn't much room for their development. Their old business would eventually fail if they continued, not to mention he had offended the leaders.
He said: "I'll name a few people, you write them down!"
Lin Yue: "Okay!"
Wang Wei was about to speak:
*Bang!*
The door was pushed open!
Wang Hu entered with three people, looking at Wang Wei on the hospital bed with a cold expression: "Wang Wei! You are suspected of fabricating false injuries, please come back with us now…"
As he spoke.
Two people stepped forward and took out handcuffs.
Wang Wei: … No!
Did it have to come so fast… so coincidentally! His last wishes… no! His important matters hadn't been fully explained yet.
What! Was it true that fate was not on his side?
Gah… Wang Wei, angered, fainted again!
Tian Hu: "Doctor… Doctor!"
Elder: "Again…"
Lin Yue: "Is there no end to this…"
Wang Xuan: "No! Why does my dad keep fainting! He's fainted so many times this past year. He faints every time he sees Qin Jiang, and then he faints again when he comes back. Could he really have some incurable disease…"
Everyone: … Soon.
The doctor once again revived Wang Wei, but this time Wang Wei only stared at the ceiling with empty eyes, not saying a word, completely looking like:
He's tired!
Let it be destroyed!!!
Finally.
Wang Wei was taken away by Wang Hu and his men… On the spot.
Everyone looked stunned.
They thought it must be the Black Dragon Group's doing… *Swish!*
They couldn't help but look outside:
Hmm!
The sky in Songjiang… is so dark!!!
… *Thump! Thump!*
Bai Meng knocked and entered the office, saying to Wang Feng, who was reviewing documents: "Leader! Busy, aren't you!"
Wang Feng looked up and glanced at him: "Of course I'm busy! The transportation department has all sorts of things and applications. The Train Station has almost exploded these past few days…"
Bai Meng: "Are there really so many people… All here to see Songjiang Sleepless City."
Wang Feng: "What do you think!"
Bai Meng didn't speak. He had also received news that Songjiang Sleepless City was incredibly popular these past two days, packed with people. They had deployed a lot of manpower and resources to help maintain order, but despite knowing, it was still a bit hard to believe.
A tourist attraction!
Could it really make a city popular!
This… somehow sounded a bit mysterious!
Wang Feng: "You should pay more attention to the situation there during this period. With so many tourists coming, no accidents can occur. You must ensure the personal safety and property safety of every citizen."
Bai Meng: "Yes!"
Speaking of safety!
He was very confident in Songjiang Sleepless City. That Qin Jiang guy paid more attention to this aspect than he did. He even received news that the Black Dragon Group had brought out the King of Thieves to crack down on pickpocketing, using thousands of people to manage the city.
Wang Feng: "What's the situation with Wang Wei…"
Bai Meng: "He's been locked up again!"
Wang Feng: "The higher-ups want a thorough investigation! No matter who makes a mistake, they must pay the price. You are in charge of the investigation!"
Bai Meng: "I guarantee to complete the mission!"
Wang Feng: "Go on…"
After Bai Meng left.
Wang Feng looked at the documents submitted by various departments detailing the number of travelers in Songjiang these past few days and clicked his tongue: "How many years! This is the first time I've seen so many people come to Songjiang! Causing such a big stir. It seems this kid will win even more heavyweight honors this year."