The Female CEO Falls in Love with Me

Opportunity? Has it arrived?

Li Yan chuckled in confusion, "What do you mean? Because my achievement of completing three deals in one day was so brilliant, Brother Jiahong decided to step down and let me be the director?"

"Dream on!" Wen Qianyi laughed and scolded, "Has Ye Jiahong gone mad? How could he make such a decision, unless a company of equal status poached him to be vice president, then it's still far from your turn."

"That's true, but even if he were poached for a VP position, he might not go. First, he coveted President Zhang, then he eyed Supervisor Wen; where in other companies could you find beauties of your caliber?"

Upon hearing Li Yan's praise, Wen Qianyi rolled her eyes at him, but she was quite pleased. Although her personal attributes, other than family background, were comparable to Zhang Yurong, within the company, Zhang Yurong was unanimously recognized as the top beauty, whereas she had been here for a short time with few opportunities to interact with the public, leaving many unaware of her. Being labeled as part of an exquisite duo was still flattering.

"Stop the flattery! Flatter me, and I have no authority to help you advance; flatter President Zhang, and she can't hear you. Your flattery might be better saved for Director Ye; it would be more practical."

Looking at her smiling, teasing face, Li Yan sighed helplessly, "I, a gentleman, am I fond of flattery? It's reality! Jiahong is inferior to me, how could I praise him?" He thought to himself, whether it was you or Yurong's derrière that I could pat, it would be great, but alas no opportunity yet.

"..." Wen Qianyi was thunderstruck by his classical tone. "Alright, little girl doesn't understand ancient texts, stop showing off. Why do I say your chance has arrived? Do you still remember what I brought you to do when I first came?"

"What are you referring to?"

Wen Qianyi crumpled a paper ball and tossed it at him, "It's about investing in movies! Back then someone asked you for unspoken rules, weren't you just reveling in it forgetfully? Now that no one pays attention to you, have you forgotten?"

Li Yan sweated a bit, "I didn't engage in any unspoken rules, alright? In fact, I've never met any female celebrity."

"Would you not hesitate if you did meet them?"

"..."

"Actually, they are still very keen on our investment; it's just that I've been too busy lately, and you felt it was too slow, so I've been lazy about it."

"Do you know what I am about to say? Hearing from Director Ye, Miss Zhang announced a plan yesterday, deciding to enter the film investment industry. For now, it's acquiring a small company to try... Hehe!"

Li Yan furrowed his brow, "Do you mean I have the chance to transfer to this new subsidiary to work?"

Celestial Continent DVDs and TV station copyrights can fetch decent prices, some genres can even develop merchandise, games, and other peripherals. Like Jet Li's western films, their box office is quite ordinary, but why do investors keep coming? Because in many countries of the Celestial Continent, his DVD sales and rental results exceeded box office returns. Due to the limited fanbase for martial arts-themed films, many prefer renting DVDs rather than buying tickets, while martial arts movie fans, besides buying tickets, also purchase DVDs to collect.

In domestic context, though, legitimate DVDs are mere trifles, films mainly rely on box office, making investment pressure immense. Even if a five-billion box office blockbuster is created, after deducting various taxes, production share is only a bit over a billion. Subtracting pre-production costs and post-publicity expenses, earning even tens of millions is a fortune. This demands over a billion in investment, spans over a year, and success chances are scarce, with colossal loss risks (e.g., Jet Li's loss-making releases two films in 2010; Jet's zero-pay art film promotion also failed to break even). Developing medium to small budget films lessens risks, but for Paradise Group, it still represents minuscule gains.

Li Yan originally had some understanding of these issues, and following Wen Qianyi clarified even more. Even Wen Qianyi abandoned the idea; with higher position and broader planning than Zhang Yurong, she'd definitely not miss this point. So, does this mean Zhang Yurong perceives a crisis, intending to reposition her soon-to-be rival, Wen Qianyi, her husband, elsewhere?

"If this is indeed the case, they would naturally assign headquarters personnel over. Last time, facing Beihai Country's clients, you won them over with male charm, gained praise, and impressed President Zhang. Now you've showcased your business capabilities coincidentally, coupled with your so-called board relations, hehe, isn't your opportunity quite substantial?..."

Li Yan was speechless: "I say... Qianyi, could you not giggle so indecently? I'm merely a straightforward person with a thief's heart but not a thief's courage."

"I despise you rigorously! Also, consider your reputation." Wen Qianyi originally despised him, yet this reputation might implicate her too, causing a momentary blush.

Li Yan contemplated; if it was only a temporary proposal by Zhang Yurong, it's highly likely they'd transfer him. He tentatively inquired, wanting to see if Wen Qianyi noticed anything. "Supervisor Wen, why do you think President Zhang has this idea? As you said before, this fund recoupment is too slow and profits aren't substantial."

Seeing he's hit the problem's core, Zhang Yurong approvingly counted thumbs up, then seriously analyzed, "Things must be viewed from different angles; I'm merely a businessperson who might be with Paradise Group this year, and who knows where in the upcoming years? Hence, to manifest my value, of course, the larger the benefits and quicker the results, the better I can promptly earn commission bonuses. Look at the higher-ups at headquarters; aside from those accompanying Zhang Tianyi in launching, having shares already, how many can stay loyal for ten years like Hai Fu?"

Li Yan strongly agreed; not to mention those high-position folks being poached, even he, after six months here, felt it was long enough, being his longest unit in two years.

"Even Hai Fu is because her value was cultivated and realized at Paradise Group; she's not purely in an employer-employee relationship, with elements of gratitude; conversely, her value could only be maximized here. Even now, her capability is indisputable, but switching to another company might only change income—could she gain the same trust? Enjoy the same authority? Even so, Hai Fu is merely an employee. Zhang Yurong, on the other hand, is different!"

During Wen Qianyi's evaluation of them, sparkles of passion flashed in her eyes... Please excuse Li Yan catching sight of "passion," what she has now is perhaps the psychology of comparison between excellent women!

People can't help but compare, particularly with nearby, comparable individuals. Inland celebrities, no matter how popular, wouldn't compare with international stars; no matter how sensational Sheep and Big Big Wolf is, it wouldn't compare with Miyazaki.

Similarly, in the workplace, the three of them are outstanding women in different positions and types. However, since they're in the same company, with similar age, even Wen Qianyi, who's straightforward, can't avoid comparing. If she were compared to Chen Mingying, she would be too lazy to bother.

"Miss Zhang is the company's president, holding the real business authority, a true enterprise leader, and not just a professional manager; she's simultaneously a major shareholder, daughter of the chairman..." A bunch of titles made Wen Qianyi herself laugh, "In plain talk, we are employees, she's the boss. Thus, her focus must differ from ours. As Paradise Group develops to its current stage, encompassing multiple industries, though unable to impact some industry leaders or sharks, comprehensive development might arise where profitable projects sustain loss-making ones. Similarly, enterprise risk is shared. When a single industry suffers major impact, it doesn't destabilize the foundation!

Li Yan nodded, "Indeed, there was factory trouble before, reportedly earning little profit."

"It might lack profit but aligns with company strategy, necessitating investment. For instance, in hotel and theme park domains, compared with investment, merely recovering costs takes a long time. However, after investment digestion, it can now offer continuous cash flow for the group. As for film industry, it mainly divides into four types: First, state-run commercialized big companies with policy support and theater resources like China Film Group; second, a batch of grown-up private enterprises; third, film factories or companies financially backed by local governments; fourth, a large number of medium and small-sized film companies.

"Only by becoming the second type do we stand a chance."

"Naturally, but we must start from the fourth type. Now in film, the inland market is in a rapid growth phase. In 1998, Titanic's 360 million inland box office record was maintained for 11 years, only to be broken by The Founding of a Republic's 420 million. Yet, the new record held only months before being succeeded by 2012's 460 million, again lasting only months before Avatar boosted to over a billion! Even though James is not human, once again drastically refreshing records since Titanic both in Celestial Continent and globally. Yet, transitioning from a national box office of barely ten billion to single film billion-plus; from Hero establishing directors' billion club, to feeling embarrassed to call anything below a billion a blockbuster... The speed is visible.

Compared with the high exposure, highly focused film industry, television industry is even experiencing geometric expansion.

All data indicate inland's enormous market potential and development pace, so now not only is private capital pouring in massively, including TV stations, various media groups start engaging in investments as well. Miss Zhang's choice to intervene during a growth phase is quite wise; short-term may not earn profits, mere petty gains, yet once developed, the future still holds promise. A boss must strategize ten years ahead! Like notorious film companies, should there be a future successful IPO, hehe... But besides having a mature team and promotional team, they ought to have firm faces as well!

It's apparent that Wen Qianyi is relatively approving of Zhang Yurong's move.

Li Yan scratched his head, was it really just my wishful thinking?

(Thanks to the brothers who rewarded yesterday: Leng Xingyu, Sai Clan's Little Fish, y Shujing Fengzhi y, Xiaoa Jianghu 123, dongmin8061, CP Pampas)