How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 450

The Big Shots Line Up to Invite Yang Chen to Dinner

Jin Ming firmly refused again, saying, “I’ve told you repeatedly, I don’t want to be an actress, let alone a star. If you keep bothering me, I’ll call the police.”

Chen Wang persisted, pulling out a photo and showing it off to Yang Chen and the others. “See? This is a photo of me with Zhang Yumeng, the producer at Penguin Films. We have a strong working relationship with Penguin Films. If you, beautiful lady, join our company, we can get you projects with Penguin Films in the future. I won’t promise you’ll become a huge star, but becoming a recognizable actress is definitely achievable.”

People at Zhang Yumeng’s level weren’t important enough for Yang Chen to even know.

But in Chen Wang’s eyes, Zhang Yumeng was a big shot whose connections he could brag about.

Yang Chen: “Thank you, but we’re really not interested.”

Chen Wang: “Brother, these opportunities are rare. Frankly, if the production wasn’t short on funds and needed to fill supporting roles with newcomers, you wouldn’t even dream of getting into such a big production.”

Short on funds?

He’d just said they invested 200 million, with Penguin Films as the main investor. How could such a production be short on funds?

Yang Chen: “You’re contradicting yourself, don’t you think? How can you be short on money with a 200 million investment?”

Chen Wang: “Zhang Shuangshuang’s salary alone is 160 million, and the male lead, Hong Yueming, gets 20 million. That leaves less than 20 million for the salaries of other actors and production costs. Of course, we’re short on money.”

Damn it!

Zhang Shuangshuang’s salary is 160 million!

How is that different from robbery?

Yang Chen also owns Starlight Entertainment, and his stars’ salaries aren’t that high.

Even Yang Da Mi and the others don’t command such high salaries. What does Zhang Shuangshuang have that justifies that kind of money?

Either Chen Wang is talking nonsense, or something fishy is going on.

Yang Chen: “I don’t believe you. If a star at Zhang Shuangshuang’s level can get 160 million, wouldn’t Andy Lau get 500 million? Do you think we’d believe that?”

Chen Wang: “This involves some industry secrets that I can’t disclose. Handsome guy, if you’re not interested, I won’t force you, but don’t stop me from chatting with this beautiful lady. Okay? If she becomes a star, wouldn’t that benefit you too? At least your life will improve in the future, right?”

Yang Chen: “My friend has already told you she’s not interested. If you keep bothering her, I’m going to get unpleasant.”

Chen Wang: “Hehe… Brother, you don’t sound like you’re from around here.”

Yang Chen: “What, are you planning to bully outsiders?”

Chen Wang: “‘Bully’ is too strong a word. I just hope you’re not so inflexible.”

Yang Chen waved his hand, signaling the bodyguards to come over. “Show him what ‘inflexible’ really means.”

The bodyguards nodded, sandwiched Chen Wang in the middle, and escorted him away.

Jin Ming complained, “This guy is so annoying. I already said I’m not interested, but he keeps pestering me.”

Wu Yue: “He must think you’re very pretty and wants to drag you into the entertainment industry, which is a real snake pit. As far as I know, any star in the entertainment industry who becomes popular has to accept unspoken rules [secret, often unethical, agreements or expectations]. Those who become popular have backers. It’s not like you can make a name for yourself based on your personal ability anymore. Every year, so many handsome men and beautiful women enter the entertainment industry.

Everyone starts at the same point. It just depends on who is willing to give more.”

Jin Ming: “Sigh… This phenomenon isn’t just in the entertainment industry. It’s the same in our financial circle. As far as I know, many young and beautiful women in finance have ‘in-depth understandings’ [euphemism for intimate relationships] with clients in hotels. The female lead in that video in front of the Lujiazui window [a famous financial district in Shanghai] the other day was from the financial circle.”

Women really love to gossip. They’re already chatting about it.

Yang Chen was very curious about Zhang Shuangshuang’s salary, so he sent a message to Yang Zhen, the CEO of Starlight Entertainment, to ask about it.

Soon, Yang Zhen replied.

“Many stars have yin-yang contracts [illegal dual contracts, one for official purposes and one for tax evasion]. As far as I know, Zhang Shuangshuang’s TV series quote should be about 50 million per series. That Chen Wang is either lying, or Zhang Shuangshuang signed a yin-yang contract. Yin-yang contracts mainly serve three purposes. First, actors evade taxes. Second, backers launder money. Third, producers, directors, etc., take kickbacks and embezzle funds.”

Penguin Films’ investment projects definitely don’t involve money laundering.

That leaves the possibility of actors evading taxes and producers, etc., taking kickbacks and embezzling funds.

If Zhang Shuangshuang is evading taxes, that means the production company really gave her a salary of 160 million.

Yang Zhen just said that Zhang Shuangshuang’s TV series quote is 50 million per series. Is the production company stupid? Why would they give her 110 million more?

So, it can now be basically determined that Zhang Yumeng, the producer of Penguin Films, is engaged in embezzlement and taking kickbacks.

At this moment, a figure suddenly rushed over.

Yang Chen subconsciously took a step back to prepare to defend himself.

It turned out to be Little Ma’s daughter, Ma Siqi.

Yang Chen relaxed and said with a smile, “Miss Ma, what a coincidence.”

The smile on Ma Siqi’s face immediately disappeared, and then she pouted angrily and questioned, “Didn’t you say you went back to Hai City? That’s not cool, is it? I asked you out, you can refuse me, but you can’t lie to me. You’ll make me have illusions and not know if you’re really busy or really dislike me.”

Jin Ming whispered in Wu Yue’s ear, “Little Ma’s daughter.”

Wu Yue: “Wow, really? Little Ma’s daughter has always been mysterious. I didn’t know she was so pretty.”

Yang Chen: “It’s not that I dislike you, it’s just that I have to keep a distance from you. It’s not a good thing for an uncle and niece to hang out too much.”

Ma Siqi: “Tch, what uncle and niece? We’re not that far apart in age.”

At this time, three men and two women walked over, two of whom were couples, hugging each other.

Ma Siqi said with a smile, “I ran into a friend, so I can’t hang out with you guys. I’ll ask you out next time if I have time. Sorry.”

The two couples looked at the single man, and it was obvious that he had a close relationship with Ma Siqi.

The single man immediately asked, “Who is he? Are you very familiar with him?”

Ma Siqi: “Not very familiar, this is only the second time we’ve met today. You guys go have fun, bye-bye.”

The single man continued to ask, “Is this really only the second time you’ve met?”

Ma Siqi: “Yes! No… Wang Chunyang, don’t you think you’re asking too many questions?”

Wang Chunyang: “Qiqi, you’re making me lose face. I asked you out to hang out, and you ditched me to hang out with another guy. Do you think that’s appropriate?”

Ma Siqi: “What’s inappropriate? I can’t acknowledge a friend just because you asked me out? I’m done hanging out with you now, and I want to hang out with him now. Is that okay?”

Wang Chunyang looked displeased and turned his head away without saying anything.

Yang Chen said with a smile, “Young people need to be patient when dating. You can’t date if you argue all the time.”

Ma Siqi: “I’m not dating him, we’re just friends.”

Wang Chunyang turned his head and sized up Yang Chen, asking, “Who are you, and what’s your relationship with her?”

Yang Chen: “I’m her uncle. Who are you the child of?”

The young people who can be friends with Ma Siqi must be the sons of some group bosses or high-ranking officials; otherwise, their social status wouldn’t match.

Wang Chunyang: “My dad is Wang Zhongfu. What about you?”

Yang Chen: “You don’t know my dad. So you’re Chairman Wang’s son. Then you have to call me uncle too.”

Wang Chunyang: “Bullshit! Who do you think you are? What’s your name?”

Ma Siqi rolled her eyes, saying, “He’s Yang Chen. He’s bought so many shares in your company, don’t you know him?”

Wang Chunyang’s face suddenly changed drastically, and then he said with an embarrassed smile, “Sorry, Mr. Yang, I was a little loud just now. Why didn’t you say anything when you came? I’ll call my dad right now and ask him to pick you up.”

Yang Chen: “No need.”

Wang Chunyang: “Then we’ll go ahead. If you need anything, just call me. I was wrong just now, I was a little loud. Please forgive me.”

Yang Chen: “It’s okay, young people are more impulsive. Say hello to your dad for me; I won’t bother him.”

Wang Chunyang: “Okay, okay. Then we’ll go ahead.”

Yang Chen nodded, and Wang Chunyang quickly called the two stunned couples next to him to leave.

“Wang Chunyang, who is he?”

“Why are you so afraid of him?”

“This is Shenzhen; your dad is the chairman of BYD [a major Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer], why do you need to be afraid of him?”

The friends asked in confusion.

Wang Chunyang: “Damn it! He holds 13% of BYD’s shares, which is almost as much as my dad’s. If it weren’t for my uncle holding 14% of the shares, my dad wouldn’t be able to control him. The most important thing is that he’s the boss of Starlight Investment. Do you know Starlight Investment? That investment company that harvested the global oil industry and the US banking industry. Do you think I can’t be afraid? If he gets angry and shorts BYD [bet against the company’s stock], we’ll be in trouble.”

The two couples quickly turned to look at Yang Chen, who was chatting with Ma Siqi, with shocked expressions.

“Damn, he’s the boss of Starlight Investment. I’ve always wanted to know what the great god who harvested the US banking industry and brought Buffett down from the altar looks like. I didn’t expect him to be so young and handsome. I thought he was an old man like Buffett.”

“No wonder Ma Siqi wants to get close to him so much. He’s an investment god.”

“But how did Ma Siqi get to know him?”

Wang Chunyang: “Don’t you know? Yang Chen is the largest shareholder of Penguin Technology, with more shares than Ma Siqi’s dad. Luckily, I didn’t say anything too harsh just now, or I would have been in big trouble.”

“Damn, he invests in big groups.”

“That makes sense. After all, he’s the boss of Starlight Investment. Small companies aren’t worth his time.”

“Wang Chunyang, you have to be careful. He’s handsome, rich, and has extraordinary personal abilities. Ma Siqi might fall in love with him. You’re racking your brains to pursue her, but in the end, she takes the initiative to stick to Boss Yang. Then you’ll be in tragedy.”

Wang Chunyang: “Sigh… If Mr. Yang really likes her, I can only quit. I can’t cause chaos at BYD just to pursue a girl who doesn’t like me.”

The friends nodded, agreeing with Wang Chunyang’s statement.

On the other side, Ma Siqi was chatting happily with Yang Chen.

However, she was always the one finding topics to talk about, and Yang Chen was just passively answering some questions he was willing to answer.

In the words of netizens, “You never know how proactive your high and mighty goddess is in front of a handsome guy.”

About an hour later, Chen Wang, who had been bothering Jin Ming, came over with a group of people.

Chen Wang: “President Gao, his bodyguard hit me. Where are your bodyguards? Call them out; I want revenge!”

Yang Chen’s bodyguards immediately rushed over and separated the group of people.

Chen Wang: “President Gao, they hit me. It hurt so much. I just wanted to invite this beautiful lady to join our company, and he had his bodyguards hit me.”

The President Gao in Chen Wang’s mouth is Gao Jun, the boss of Juli Culture Company. He and Zhang Yumeng, the producer of Penguin Films, are old classmates.

Gao Jun: “Brother, who are you? You can refuse to join our company directly; there’s no need to hit people.”

Jin Ming: “I’ve refused him many times, but he keeps bothering me, chasing me from the bathroom all the way here. Don’t you think he deserves to be beaten?”

Gao Jun: “Even so, you can’t hit people.”

Yang Chen: “You’ve already hit him; what’s the point of saying this? If you’re not convinced, have another fight with my bodyguards.”

Chen Wang was about to show off again, saying, “Our President Gao and Zhang Yumeng, the chief producer of Penguin Films, are old classmates. If you dare to be rude to President Gao, you’re being rude to Penguin Films. If you’re rude to Penguin Films, you’re being rude to Penguin Technology. If you’re rude to Penguin Technology, you’re being rude to President Ma. Are you sure you want to have a big fight here?”

Ma Siqi frowned, saying, “How did you deduce that relationship? What kind of riffraff are you? You cause trouble outside, and in the end, you want my dad to take responsibility for you?”

Gao Jun and his group were shocked.

“You… are you President Ma’s daughter, Ma Siqi?” Gao Jun asked cautiously.

Ma Siqi: “Yes! Zhang Yumeng is just a small producer in the film and television department under the content and platform business group of Penguin Technology. Just because you’re old classmates with him, you think my dad will step in to clean up your mess? You really think highly of yourself.”

At this time, Wang Chunyang and others ran over.

“Mr. Yang, what’s wrong? Is someone causing trouble?” Wang Chunyang asked.

Yang Chen: “I don’t know where these cats and dogs came from. It’s not a big deal; I can handle it.”

Wang Chunyang said to Gao Jun, “I’m Wang Chunyang; my dad is Wang Zhongfu. If you have anything, just tell me; don’t bother Mr. Yang.”

Gao Jun and others were shocked. The young master of BYD?

“So it’s Young Master Wang, nice to meet you, nice to meet you. I’m Gao Jun, the boss of Juli Culture Company. Please take care of me, please take care of me,” Gao Jun said very politely.

Wang Chunyang: “Take care of what? Apologize to Mr. Yang now!”

Gao Jun: “Okay, okay. Mr. Yang, I’m sorry, we may have had some misunderstandings. Mr. Yang is generous; don’t be so serious with us.”

Yang Chen: “Get out of here.”

Gao Jun: “Okay, okay. Goodbye, Mr. Yang, goodbye, Miss Ma, goodbye, Young Master Wang.”

Gao Jun quickly ran away with his people.

“Damn it, Chen Wang, you bastard, what kind of big shots are you getting me into!” Gao Jun cursed.

Chen Wang said aggrievedly, “Didn’t you, President Gao, ask me to look for beautiful girls everywhere, then persuade them to join our company, so you can have unspoken rules with them? Wasn’t that girl just now pretty, with a good figure, and with good temperament?”

Gao Jun: “You idiot! She is pretty, but you have to look at the situation. She’s a big shot’s woman, and you still want me to avenge you. You’re killing me! The people that the young master of BYD and the little princess of Penguin have to curry favor with must have an unimaginably powerful identity.”

Chen Wang: “It’s okay, it’s okay, he didn’t pursue us. President Gao, don’t be nervous; it’ll be fine. I’ll be more careful in the future. If I encounter someone who’s unwilling, even if she’s a celestial being, I’ll never bother her again.”

…

At eleven o’clock in the evening, Yang Chen and Jin Ming returned to the hotel.

After Yang Chen sat by the window and looked at the night view for a while, he took out his phone and called Little Ma.

Soon, the call connected.

Little Ma: “Mr. Yang, haven’t you slept yet? What’s the matter so late?”

Yang Chen: “President Ma, are you usually only focused on participating in various activities outside, and neglecting internal management of the group?”

Little Ma: “Ah? What do you mean by that, Mr. Yang?”

Yang Chen: “I’m going to Penguin at nine o’clock tomorrow morning. Let’s talk when we meet.”

Little Ma: “Okay! Then let’s talk when we meet tomorrow morning, and have lunch together.”

Yang Chen: “Okay. Let’s talk tomorrow. Bye.”
Hanging up the phone, Yang Chen immediately sent a message to Qiu Yuhong.

“Order the intelligence department to immediately investigate the personal assets of Zhang Yumeng, the producer of Penguin Films, and the dealings between him and Gao Jun, the boss of Shenzhen Juli Culture Company. Oh, right, and that female star Zhang Shuangshuang, I want to see the yin-yang contract she signed with the ‘Love of Cangming’ crew. It must be sent to me before nine o’clock tomorrow morning.”

Soon, Qiu Yuhong replied.

“Received, I will order the intelligence department to investigate immediately.”

At this time, Ma Siqi returned home.

She ran excitedly to her father and told him about meeting Yang Chen tonight.

Little Ma quickly asked, “Then what happened? Mr. Yang called me just now and said something unclear.”

Ma Siqi: “What did he say? Tonight, someone from Juli Culture Company caused trouble for Mr. Yang. Their boss is called Gao Jun, and he said he’s old classmates with Zhang Yumeng, the producer of Penguin Films. He also said that Gao Jun’s business is Zhang Yumeng’s business, and Zhang Yumeng’s business is your business, using your name to threaten Mr. Yang.”

Little Ma: “Oh, I was wondering why he suddenly asked me if I was neglecting internal management issues. So the problem lies here. However, with Mr. Yang’s current status, would he bother to ask me to handle such a small matter?”

Ma Siqi: “Probably not. There must be other things he wants to talk to you about.”

Judging from Little Ma’s reaction, he seems to be completely unaware of the internal corruption problems of the group.

It’s even more necessary for Yang Chen to have a good chat with him, because serious internal corruption means serious losses for the shareholders.

As the largest shareholder, Yang Chen must protect his own interests.

On the other side, Wang Chunyang also told his father about meeting Yang Chen tonight when he returned home.

Wang Zhongfu quickly called Yang Chen.

Wang Zhongfu: “Haha… Good evening, Mr. Yang. Why didn’t you tell me when you came to Shenzhen? I have to treat you.”

Yang Chen: “Haha… I’m here to do some business and relax for a couple of days, and I’m going back to Hai City tomorrow. Chairman Wang is very busy every day, so I didn’t want to bother you.”

Wang Zhongfu: “Mr. Yang, you’re being too polite. Ever since Mr. Yang took over the shares held by Buffett, I’ve always wanted to meet you. Recently, you harvested the oil industry and the US banking industry, which made me admire you so much that I couldn’t wait to see you. Later, I found out that you were busy with research in the laboratory, so I didn’t bother you. Now that you’re here, we have to meet no matter what. What time is your flight tomorrow?”

Yang Chen: “Three o’clock in the afternoon.”

Wang Zhongfu: “That’s plenty of time. Let’s have lunch together, have an early meal, and I’ll personally take you to the airport after we finish eating.”

Yang Chen: “I have to go to Penguin tomorrow morning to deal with some things, and I don’t know when I’ll be done.”

Wang Zhongfu: “It’s okay, I’ll wait for you. I’ll call President Ma and ask him to come along tomorrow.”

Yang Chen was too embarrassed to refuse Wang Zhongfu’s enthusiasm, so he had to agree.

Not long after Yang Chen hung up the phone, President Ren called him again.

President Ren: “Mr. Yang, are you free tomorrow? Let’s have a meal together.”

Yang Chen: “Wow, did you all discuss it? Chairman Wang of BYD just asked me to have lunch, and I have to go to Penguin tomorrow morning to do some business. Chairman Wang said he would call President Ma to have dinner together, and now President Ren, you want to have dinner together too. I’m really overwhelmed.”

President Ren: “Haha… Mr. Yang’s investment business is extensive, and everyone wants to have dinner with you. Then I’ll call Chairman Wang and we’ll have lunch together tomorrow. Is that okay?”

Yang Chen: “Okay! You guys discuss it; I’m a guest. You three hosts can decide.”

President Ren: “Haha… Okay, okay. Then we’ll see you tomorrow.”