Chapter 1586
Craving
Faced with Zhang Yuan's question, Ms. He fell into a deathly silence.
She didn't expect that Zhang Yuan knew about this.
Because the two are very low-key, they have almost never appeared in public, let alone made their relationship public.
Wu Ke-qun is a talented and capable person.
But in this era of Hong Kong and Taiwan music teeming with talent, he really doesn't amount to much.
He can't compare to Wang Leehom, Jay Chou, or David Tao at all.
Furthermore, he became famous by piggybacking on Jay Chou's popularity.
The tactic is like a petty thug pointing a stick at an industry veteran and saying, "I'm going to kill you."
He publicly stated that he would surpass Jay Chou to become the number one Mandarin R&B artist within five years.
This is similar to how EE-Media created a title track called "Hello, Jay Chou" for An Youqi, the contestant from the first Super Girl competition, to promote her.
Like Guo Jingming in the crosstalk circle, Jay Chou is the fastest way for newcomers in the same industry to become famous if they associate with him.
However, while this method is fast-acting, it also has significant side effects.
You can do it secretly, and promote yourself behind the scenes as someone important without any problem. But if the person in question says that, there's a 99% chance it will flop in the end.
Because the target you chose to piggyback on is definitely an industry benchmark, you are unlikely to surpass him, and it won't be long before you are ridiculed by everyone.
So Wu Ke-qun is a bit popular, and several of his songs like "Writing Poems for You," "General's Order," and "Big Tongue" are quite popular right now.
But it just hasn't taken off.
None of that matters; as long as He Chaolian likes it, that's all that matters.
She took the initiative to get to know him through connections.
It's easy for a woman to pursue a man; they can easily get together.
So this girl likes celebrities.
People are different. Some women like the celebrity aura and enjoy the feeling of being in the spotlight.
However, there are a few problems.
First, there's his background; Wu Ke-qun's family wasn't well-off.
The parents were not married, and the father did not take care of the mother and child, so they were essentially single parents.
Orphans and widows are more likely to have domineering mothers and "mama's boys".
The Wu family is an example; moreover, because their family conditions are not good, they value money very much.
Wu Ke-qun's mother controls most of his money.
When Ms. He's mother found out, she immediately realized something was wrong after analyzing the situation.
It won't get better!
It's shameful to come from a bad family.
There's also a mother who's a burden to us.
We are looking for a son-in-law to live with us. In this situation of a widow and her son, how can the mother possibly let go of her son?
Even if it works out, it's like having to bring a mother home.
No one is smarter than a casino owner; they deal with money all the time.
Not only does it offer no help to the small family, it also holds them back.
The third wife's side disliked it even more after informal meetings and meals.
People from single-parent families are often already prone to feelings of inferiority.
The feeling of unworthiness is even stronger when the woman's family is so wealthy.
After all, not everyone is as thick-skinned as Zhang Yuan, who doesn't take things to heart.
People with low self-esteem are very sensitive and pay close attention to other people's attitudes, words, and glances.
After realizing that the woman's family didn't like him that much, a slight rift appeared in their relationship.
In addition, Wu Ke-qun's mother was diagnosed with liver fibrosis, a serious condition that has put her on the verge of death.
The devoted son, who depends on his mother for support, will inevitably devote most of his energy outside of work to her, which exacerbates the conflict between the two.
The mother-son relationship is very touching. In the end, Wu Ke-qun's "stingy" mother took out her savings card before she died and returned all the money she had asked her son for over the years.
The mother was worried that her son, having become famous at a young age, wouldn't be able to save money and would squander it, so she saved it for him.
Wu Ke-qun was deeply moved.
He turned around and went on to make a movie, losing all that money... I can only say my mom has a good eye for people.
On the other hand, He Chaolian's mother also has a keen eye for people.
We're hoping to make money off him, but all he does is bring his wife and daughter home; we can't seem to connect with each other.
And I felt that this guy's personality wouldn't allow him to achieve anything great.
Miss He isn't stupid; feelings are feelings, and reality is reality.
The mind becomes active.
I can't spend all my youth in the hospital with your mother.
At this point, Zhang Yuan's characteristic of being "alone and isolated" became an advantage.
It's so good to not have annoying parents!
I'm afraid of people from poor backgrounds, burdened by poor parents, because our family would find it troublesome.
Since it's not public, I'll just keep looking for something better while I'm still employed.
Zhang Yuan wasn't sure whether he was a donkey or a horse.
He's happy to do it anyway, since both species are quite long.
That's also one of his strengths; I can take anything you say to heart and I'm never insecure.
This very characteristic creates a strong contrast for Ms. He, especially compared to Wu Ke-qun.
Not only is it dazzling, but you won't feel awkward in front of yourself and your family, and you can also travel around with them, which is full of novelty.
Especially at the party where they first met, even though a group of wealthy young men from Hong Kong looked down on him, he remained calm and composed, showing no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.
Because Zhang Yuan genuinely didn't care.
You look down on me?
I've been a successor to socialism since I was a child. Am I proud of that?
You bunch of social parasites have no right to judge me.
I believe that as long as I am not in pain, it is others who are in pain.
Miss He is in great pain right now.
My feelings were exposed.
Now the innocent rabbit can't keep up the act anymore, and her ambition to win over Zhang Yuan by taking the initiative has been shattered.
This once proud and intelligent rich girl now even had a hint of humility in her expression.
The “training” over the past few days has been remarkably effective.
After a sharp, incisive attack that exposes weaknesses, it's time for gentle reassurance.
"I, actually..."
“You don’t need to explain to me.” Zhang Yuan softened his tone: “Everyone has their own past.”
“Especially for someone like you, living in such a large family, you will definitely face more difficulties.”
"Outsiders only see your glamour and titles, but they don't see the hardships behind them."
"But when it comes to matters of the heart, you have to handle them yourself."
"We'll go out and have fun again once you've completely sorted things out."
I never said that once you've dealt with your ex, we'll be together.
Don't overthink it, I just see you as a friend... That's how green tea girls keep their backup options.
Miss He bit her lip and nodded.
Amen...
Even though I was in the wrong, he still comforted me.
"Finish this drink and get some rest."
"Only by maintaining a good mental state can you face difficulties." After toasting with her, Zhang Yuan escorted her upstairs to her room.
He didn't go inside, there was no goodbye kiss, not even a hug; he was very polite and gentlemanly.
The next day, he did not take her to the airport, citing that he had official business to attend to.
It wasn't really an excuse; I had a short meeting with Jun'er and others at the hotel to discuss which direction YY Inc. should take after its IPO.
Where will the money raised be spent?
Some say the educational tutoring industry is booming right now, and people are investing in online education.
“Coincidentally, I’m currently preparing for a film about the entrepreneurial story of Yu Minhong, the owner of New Oriental Education Group, and his team,” Zhang Yuan said, raising his hand upon hearing this.
"What a coincidence!" the man exclaimed, clapping his hands immediately.
"And what's your suggestion?" Jun'er immediately replied.
"I just happened to do some research on the educational tutoring industry, and online education is a very advanced concept and a future trend."
"But I think it's too early. We can prepare in advance, but we shouldn't invest too much money."
The online education boom is largely due to the right timing, namely, the lockdown at home.
"Because the first thing online education needs to do is to connect students and teachers face-to-face online."
"The clarity and latency of the live stream, and whether the bandwidth of the domestic network can support such operations."
Jun'er nodded from time to time as he listened, and the conversation about technology got right to the point.
Without hardware support, any software is nonsense.
“There’s more,” Zhang Yuan mentioned with great interest.
"Even without considering these technical challenges, the terminal devices for online education are still a problem."
"Online teaching requires a camera and an on-screen microphone to achieve real-time input and output, and to complete communication."
"The mainstream medium for doing this nowadays is the computer."
What is the national computer penetration rate?
"Our user base is reduced by a percentage from this."
The others nodded in agreement after listening.
"But cameras, microphones, and screens aren't just found on computers; mobile phones have them too."
"Mr. Lei is very familiar with this."
"What is the penetration rate of mobile phones, and what is the growth rate?"
"It's definitely much better than a computer."
"If we can design live streaming software with mobile phones as the target terminal, the user base will be much larger!" "The usage scenarios will also be more numerous than those on computers."
His goal was to shift the company's main development focus towards live streaming apps.
Because YY Voice is already developing a live streaming function called YY Live, which will later become Huya.
Being one step ahead is always better; don't waste money on useless endeavors.
“I think what our General Manager Zhang said makes a lot of sense and is worth considering,” a voice with a Xiantao accent suddenly spoke up.
Jun'er naturally agreed, because it was related to the phone and operating system he was working on.
"It is a foreseeable direction of development."
"I suggest putting this on the agenda and refining it as a general direction."
Seeing that the two major shareholders of the company supported it, the others also nodded in agreement.
With software on one hand and hardware on the other, Zhang Yuan felt this was a reliable business opportunity.
The live streaming era is a huge opportunity and a future destination and promotional channel for many second- and third-tier artists; we must seize this opportunity.
After leaving New York, he did not return to China, but instead went to Paris.
He had previously discussed his endorsement deal with the CEO when he participated in a Dior brand event in Hong Kong.
He felt that I couldn't upgrade on my own; the treatment and titles I received from the brand also needed to be upgraded.
The other party replied to him quickly.
Instead of saying whether he agreed or disagreed, he gave an answer that surprised him.
"Mr. Bernard Arnault wants to see you."
Bernard Arnault, a legendary Frenchman, is hailed as the godfather of luxury goods, a title no one else can truly deserve.
At the same time, he is also the head of LVMH Group, the world's number one luxury goods company.
At his peak, the old man's net worth exceeded one trillion RMB.
Xu Pidai was a junior in comparison to him.
Zhang Yuan estimated that his net worth should be over 300 billion euros at this point.
It's more powerful than the entire gambling king's family combined.
Born into a wealthy family, whose family was in the construction business, they benefited from the post-World War II reconstruction boom in Europe, so their family was already quite rich.
But he ultimately chose to enter the fashion industry.
He first gained entry into Dior through connections and capital, and after becoming CEO, he acquired LV.
He bought the company.
He spearheaded the acquisition of Moët & Chandon champagne and Hennessy brandy, making both brands a global phenomenon.
These three items are LV, H, and M in LVHM.
They then acquired Fendi, Givenchy, and TAG Heuer, turning LVMH into a luxury goods empire.
The Arnault family, which he leads, is the largest shareholder of this group.
A few years ago, this old man tried to take over Hermès by using shell companies and bribing insiders, becoming a major shareholder and forcibly incorporating Hermès into the LVMH empire.
However, the other party discovered this in advance and determined through a lawsuit that his operation was illegal.
Because of this incident, the heirs of Hermès became extremely nervous, and in order to prevent another forced takeover, they converted their shares into bearer bonds.
As a result, they were all wiped out by the mole.
Some say this isn't financial fraud, but rather Bernard's scheme to take over Hermès.
In short, the business world is like a battlefield, and sneak attacks and conspiracies are perfectly normal.
Zhang Yuan didn't feel flattered that the other party specifically asked to see him.
Instead, just like when Miss He approached him, he had to ask her what she wanted first.
I don't quite understand, but I've decided to go and see.
I refuse to believe it's a trap; the French wouldn't actually eat me.
Soon, at a manor house in the suburbs of Paris.
This was the first time Zhang Yuan had ever seen a super estate like the ones in European and American TV dramas.
Even when you're still two miles away from the house, you've already stepped into someone else's residential area.
I have to say, the rich in the Western world really have it easy!
Having money in China is great, but not this great.
So after a group of people got rich, they all desperately wanted to go abroad.
The other party only allowed him to leave after confirming that there were only him, his assistant, and bodyguards in the car and no media reporters. He was then led to the meeting room.
The guest room alone is a whole building.
They've made Hennessy's aged XO their beverage; other people have plenty of that.
Zhang Yuan had a so-so opinion of Hennessy; Americans liked to drink it, but he preferred Martell.
It's mainly because I've gotten used to drinking it like the locals in Guangdong.
After waiting for a while, Mr. Bernal, dressed in a suit and tie, short in stature, with a large head, and looking like a short, rich man straight out of an animated film, came to him.
Born in 45, the year the German devils left Paris.
Now that he's almost 70, he still walks briskly and is full of energy; indeed, wealth nourishes the body.
“Mr. Bernal sends his greetings,” a tall man said to him in very broken Mandarin.
He is a translator.
“I speak French, so we can communicate directly.”
“It’s a pleasure to be here, and a pleasure to be at the Arno family estate,” he said, extending his arm to the host.
Your net worth is in the billions, that's your business. You're still just a human being with one head and two arms.
Therefore, he was not intimidated at all.
He showed no signs of nervousness upon meeting important figures.
After all, back in the Ming Dynasty, this person's entire family would have been wiped out long ago.
"Your accent is very good. It's rare to meet a Chinese person who speaks such good French." The other person shook hands with him lightly.
We are also observing.
I was slightly surprised to find that he wasn't just pretending to be calm.
"Did you know that Dior was the first luxury goods company I worked for?"
"It's where my career started." He waved for him to sit down, and then sat down himself.
"That's why I value this brand very much."
Zhang Yuan nodded.
Their family structure is such that the heir will inevitably follow an upward trajectory, moving from Dior to LV and then to the management level of LVMH.
Later, his most favored daughter rose through the ranks in this way, becoming the only woman on the board of directors.
Now, this daughter is the manager of Dior's design department, responsible for the management of the perfume and ready-to-wear divisions.
To reiterate, foreigners aren't stupid; family businesses are handed over to their children, not foolishly allowed to be managed by outsiders.
"You've become quite famous lately, young man."
The old man gestured with his eyes, and the butler brought out a tray with a newspaper on it.
Zhang Yuan glanced at it; the tray appeared to be made of pure silver.
If Wang Shi's mistress, Miss Tian, were here, she would surely go home and write a short essay of several thousand words praising Western civilization upon seeing this scene.
He didn't take it to heart.
Why don't you just throw it over? You can use it when you go to the toilet later. Why bother with all the formalities?
The newspaper featured a photo of him watching the game with He Chaolian at the stadium.
“I heard from Stanley that you want to become Dior’s global ambassador.”
Stanislav is Dior's current CEO.
"You are very ambitious."
I like ambitious people.
"Ambition makes a person extremely intelligent and charismatic."
"And glamour is exactly what Dior needs."
Zhang Yuan listened attentively, responding with a smile.
But I only had one thought in my mind.
shit!
If you really want to praise me, just give me an endorsement contract. Why did you call me here?
The old fox must have something else on his mind.
"However, in terms of brand recognition, you do not meet our requirements for a global brand ambassador."
“Your global brand recognition is not high enough, especially in the North American market.”
"As a representative of the region, especially the China region, you are competent."
“It’s fine to be a spokesperson for the Asian region, but it’s not quite right to be a global spokesperson.”
Zhang Yuan thought to himself, "This time I've been criticized again."
If you praise someone first and then criticize them, then the next thing to do is to ask for a chance and use that as leverage to negotiate terms.
“However, it’s not impossible to make an exception and appoint you as one of the global brand ambassadors,” the old man said, his eyes gleaming.
What did I tell you...?
We're like a small fry compared to a big fish, a little fox compared to an old fox. I'm quite familiar with your tricks.
"Thank you so much for your generosity. I am very honored to have this dream position."
If you say so, I'll accept it. When do we sign the contract?
“I told you, I like your ambition.” The old man pointed in his direction with his finger.
"Therefore, I hope to cooperate with you more deeply."
"Why don't we start here?"
He then pointed to the newspaper.
Zhang Yuan understood.
cut.
So, like Miss He, she's also after my assets. (End of Chapter)