CH 11

“Have I ever rejected you?” Mu Qingyan raised her water glass, as if lost in thought, and took a sip. “I remember rejecting your dinner invitation three times, but nothing else.”

Ji Liyun replied, “It’s not about dinner.”

Mu Qingyan thought for a long time but couldn’t recall, so she asked, “Then what is it about?”

Ji Liyun didn’t answer directly but took out a navy blue folder from his briefcase.

Mu Qingyan accidentally glanced at it and found that there were three or four different colored folders in his briefcase. She thought to herself that his briefcase looked small but it could really hold a lot.

“Take a look at this,” Ji Liyun handed her the folder.

Mu Qingyan opened it and said, “Acting PK Battle? Is this a variety show invested by your company? The producer of this show invited me to be a guest last week, and I did reject it.”

Ji Liyun corrected her, “It’s not an investment, but a production exclusively launched by the Ji Group’s film and television company.”

“So, in a way, I indirectly rejected you,” Mu Qingyan shrugged.

“Take a look at the program plan for this show. You might be interested,” Ji Liyun felt the night air getting cooler and signaled the waiter to bring a blanket for Mu Qingyan. Then he explained, “The reason why the production team wanted to invite you is actually very simple. Your popularity has been very high in the past half month, even higher than that of top-tier celebrities.”

Mu Qingyan felt that this reason was indeed straightforward and rough. She smiled and said, “As long as I sit in front of the camera, I can bring in traffic, right?”

Ji Liyun didn’t deny it and smiled, “Indeed.”

After briefly browsing through the program plan for “Acting PK Battle,” Mu Qingyan learned that the show’s characteristic was live broadcasting. Besides camera work, there was no post-production or editing. The audience who watched the live broadcast could see the actors’ performances on the spot, with no NG, no redo, and no splicing.

It was quite interesting. Live PKs would showcase the actors’ acting skills.

Mu Qingyan looked at the rules of the show and asked, “Do I just need to participate in the first episode?”

“At the moment, yes. Different guests will be invited for each episode. Coincidentally, the second episode’s guest happens to be Sun Xinyao, the spokesperson for your MU brand,” Ji Liyun said.

After hearing what Ji Liyun said, Mu Qingyan suddenly had an idea, “Can we get MU brand to sponsor the show? If there are aristocratic roles, MU can provide costumes and styling.”

“We can,” Ji Liyun agreed without hesitation and added a few more benefits, “The beginning of each episode will feature an advertisement for MU, and the judges and guests can wear one or two MU products.”

“Great,” in this way, Mu Qingyan participating in this variety show was a win-win situation. She said, “The first live broadcast is next Wednesday. Please have the production team send me the guest script in advance.”

However, Ji Liyun said, “There are no scripts for the judges and guests. The core of our show is authenticity.”

Mu Qingyan was very satisfied and extended her hand, “Happy cooperation!”

They shook hands and reached an agreement.

Upon returning home, Mu Qingyan was immediately greeted by Li, the butler: “Young master, Ji sent six cases of champagne this afternoon. I have put them in the cellar.”

“What did you say?” Mu Qingyan almost thought she heard wrong and asked again, “Six cases?”

Li nodded, “Yes, six cases. Twelve bottles per case, all of them top-quality. Ji is as extravagant as ever.”

This was more than just extravagant.

Mu Qingyan was curious how Ji Liyun managed to bring so many cases of wine back from France.

After the transfer of the land use rights in the new development zone was negotiated with the Ji Group, Mu Yuchen, as the chairman of the Mu Group, began to look at his only son Mu Qingyan in a new light.

He had heard from the people at the MU company that “Young Master Mu has started to focus on his career after his divorce,” and he thought his son was just going through a phase and putting up a front.

But now, his son not only stopped being a playboy but also showed great promise.

It wasn’t a divorce, it was clearly a transformation.

If Mu Qingyan hadn’t been able to reveal some small secrets between them, he would have suspected that his son had been replaced by someone else.

Although Mu Yuchen was pleased to see his son take on a bigger role in the Mu Group, he was still uncertain if Mu Qingyan had really grown up. So, he let him participate in the Mu Group’s shareholder meeting next Tuesday.

As the son of the chairman, the previous owner of the body held 15% of the shares of the Mu Group and used to attend the shareholder meetings regularly. However, due to his frequent embarrassing behavior, he had caused dissatisfaction among the other shareholders and had made Mu Yuchen embarrassed and angry.

Later, the previous owner became too lazy to attend the shareholder meetings, and Mu Yuchen left him alone.

On Tuesday, many shareholders arrived early at the meeting room, as they had received news that Mu Qingyan, who had not attended the shareholder meetings for four years, would also be there.

Vice Chairman Guo Rong took a puff of his cigarette and sneered, “Why did young master Mu suddenly want to attend the shareholder meeting? I still remember four or five years ago, he fell asleep and snored during the meeting.”

Another vice chairman, Qiu Congbai, said, “Don’t say that. He was only eighteen or nineteen years old then. Kids grow up, you know.”

“Humph, kids,” Guo Rong sneered contemptuously, “Mu Qingyan is so frivolous. He’s not even as good as my son. I bet that once Mu Yuchen dies, the Mu Group will change its name sooner or later.”

“Is that so?”

Mu Qingyan walked up to Guo Rong from behind, with a cold smile on his face. “I don’t know about other things, but your precious son lost fifty million at the Las Vegas casino last week. Tsk tsk tsk, I really can’t compare.”

Seeing Guo Rong’s potato-like chubby face turning red and white with anger, Mu Qingyan was very happy. He was about to leave when he coldly added, “The Mu Group will never change its surname. Besides, whether or not to change the surname is not up to you, surnamed Guo, to decide.”

Qiu Congbai looked at Mu Qingyan’s elegant figure as he left and was somewhat surprised. The former President Xiao Mu would have definitely screamed and fought back if he heard someone badmouthing him behind his back, and would not hesitate to use physical violence.

However, the current President Mu was completely different. He would directly ridicule back, and do so mercilessly.

Guo Rong was so angry that he gritted his teeth, “This little bastard, I wonder if he can still be so arrogant at the meeting later!”

“Change your habit of speaking foul language,” Qiu Congbai shook his head helplessly.

There were three main topics for discussion at this shareholder meeting. The first two were about issues that needed to be carefully considered in the Mu Group’s key projects for this year, while the third was about the newly established Mu Real Estate Company and the new development land that Mu Qingyan had acquired at a low price from Ji Liyun.

After the vice president in charge of the real estate company spoke, Chairman Mu Yuchen specially asked Mu Qingyan to talk about his plans for the new development land.

Mu Qingyan had already conducted market research, written a plan, conducted on-site inspections, and made a PPT when his father signed the land use rights transfer agreement. Therefore, he was well-prepared.

Facing the questions from the vice presidents and other major shareholders, he remained calm and responded with ease.

Mu Yuchen was very satisfied with this, and the shareholders who had originally wanted to see Mu Qingyan make a fool of himself were dumbfounded.

Guo Rong persisted, “Is it really okay to purchase this land at such a low price below market value? Don’t let us get sued when the construction of the nursing home is halfway through.”

Mu Qingyan opened a few documents and projected them onto the screen, “From the price, to the transfer agreement, to the land itself, I have had a professional lawyer review them and there are no issues whatsoever. Moreover, I consulted with the relevant government departments, and this land can be fully developed into a nursing home.”

“It turns out that Young Master Mu has some ability,” Guo Rong changed the subject, leaning back in his chair and deliberately looking worried. “I heard that Young Master Mu promised the Ji Group to make an appearance in the entertainment industry, so he was able to get such a low price. Alas, this could damage the image of the Mu Group.”

“Ah, is there such a thing?”

“Is Young Master Mu selling himself out?”

“Don’t speak so harshly, but that’s pretty much the meaning, right.”

In the conference room, there was a lot of discussion going on.

Mu Yuchen tightly pursed his lips, his face looking extremely unpleasant.

At this moment, Mu Qingyan cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the attendees back to him, and then casually said, “Yes, I promised Ji Liyun to participate in the new variety show launched by Mu’s film and television company.”

The shareholders were in an uproar.

“But, I am participating in the variety show to promote the MU brand, which can drive product sales, and also buy endorsements to promote the Autumn Release Conference,” Mu Qingyan continued.

Mu Qingyan’s gaze suddenly turned to Guo Rong, who was sitting diagonally across from him, smiling enigmatically. “Unlike some children who fool around in the entertainment industry, hooking up with countless little stars and even getting an 18th-tier star pregnant. Vice Chairman Guo, don’t you think so?”

The “child” he was referring to was Guo Rong’s son.

Guo Rong was so angry that he could hardly restrain himself from lashing out. However, due to his “Vice Chairman” image, he could only swallow his anger.

The shareholders present either laughed to themselves, pondered over the matter, or began to fear this little Mu CEO whose personality had changed drastically after his divorce.

Qiu Congbai’s impression of Mu Qingyan changed from surprise two hours ago to satisfaction. Only a little lion who is not afraid to fight and gets sharper as they fight can become a lion king.

Mu Yuchen, seeing that his son knew how to retaliate appropriately, did not stop him. He just laughed faintly after he had finished, and arranged, “After Mu’s real estate company is established, Mu Qingyan will be in charge.”

The shareholders present, except for the still sulking Guo Rong, did not object. They were all very interested in this President Xiao Mu, and wanted to know what the real estate company and the new development zone project would be like.

They were more interested in whether this successor of the Mu Group, a real black lotus, could bring them more benefits.

After the meeting, Mu Qingyan received a call from Ye Qiqi.

“Boss, there’s some bad news.” Ye Qiqi’s voice sounded a little trembling, but she was very restrained, trying to keep herself calm.

Mu Qingyan asked, “What is it?”

Ye Qiqi took a deep breath and said, “Xing Hao poached the two most important designers for the Autumn Release Conference.”