Chapter 132: Your ulterior motives are practically hitting me in the face.

Tang Zhichu did indeed take a seat next to Sun Zhe, but only because he had whispered a single sentence to him.

He had mentioned that he had heard Chen Siyang speak of Sun Zhe quite a few times, and at that, Sun Zhe had pulled him down to sit beside him. Perhaps it was only then that Sun Zhe realized the underlying connection between Tianhe Entertainment and Tang Zhichu.

From start to finish, Tang Zhichu did not exchange a word with He Shuyuan. He was not like Qiu Zhen. Qiu Zhen was calculating, lacking the dignity one expects from a major star; such people must be dealt with firmly—if you enjoy playing games in the shadows, I am different. I can dismantle you in the open, right in front of everyone. He Shuyuan, while hypocritical, maintained a certain stature and enjoyed high fan loyalty, allowing him to process many things internally.

Qiu Zhen had assumed that because Tang Zhichu defeated He Shuyuan, Tianhe’s resources would shift in his favor. However, after this commotion, both men found themselves right back where they started.

On the large screen, the performance for the second segment had already begun, but everyone seemed distracted.

Sigge glanced toward the Pioneer Alliance camp. Seeing that Tang Zhichu had not yet returned, he murmured, "Xiao Tang is truly impressive."

"You should learn from him," Yun Miao chimed in. "Isn't this much more sophisticated than those who just throw tantrums and walk off the job?"

Sigge’s face flushed; he had indeed done such a thing himself, though that was many years ago. He had always operated with a simple mindset: do not be bullied, do not bully others, and strive to have a clear conscience. If you cannot navigate the complexities of the industry under the glare of the cameras, then play it simple. If you are happy, laugh; if you are not, let it show on your face.

After witnessing Tang Zhichu’s handling of the situation, Sigge realized that he and Tang Zhichu were different. Tang Zhichu could suppress his emotions and transform them into a situation beneficial to everyone. He was like a high-powered machine—a cut above the rest.

"With someone like Xiao Tang, what production team wouldn't like him?" Sigge added.

Yun Miao wanted to retort that the team for the romance reality show certainly hadn't liked him, but looking at the results, the show Li Hongzhou produced had become the highest-trending romance program to date. It was probably safe to say they didn't dislike him anymore.

Shen Jianxin joined the conversation: "Talented, resourceful, and bold. What would it be like to collaborate with someone like that?"

"Isn't that obvious? The romance show is a hit, the music show's popularity grows by the day. I suspect there are countless programs eyeing Xiao Tang right now. Everyone must be quite envious," Sigge laughed.

Shen Jianxin nodded, but that was not what he was asking. He had made a bet with Tang Zhichu, and now that Tang Zhichu had won, a man must keep his word. That was fine, but Shen Jianxin was worried about his wife’s reaction. He was a veteran in the industry, having spent years making his way, and now he was expected to sign his studio over to a young man?

The conversation between Tang Zhichu and Sun Zhe continued until Bai Xiwei took the stage. When those large, dark eyes stared into the camera while she sang a love song, countless people couldn't help but smile. Bai Xiwei was known as a singer with a delicate voice, but she employed a powerful vocal technique here, layering the song from the verse to the chorus, maximizing both its texture and its charm.

When the audience votes were tallied, Bai Xiwei had one more vote than Tang Zhichu. Her victory was beyond doubt.

As the recording concluded, only the Stellar Alliance had fulfilled the condition of having two consecutive projects rejected by the client, meaning they were the only team to have a member eliminated this round. The "poison circle" began to officially shrink.

There had been talk of a celebratory dinner, but it didn't happen; too many people had prior commitments, so they decided to reschedule for another time. It was fortunate they did, as Tang Zhichu was picked up by a car the moment he stepped outside.

Su Yuanchao had not yet left; he insisted on hosting dinner and even dragged Yu Hua along. By rights, Su Yuanchao was the guest and should not have been the one treating, but he was the beneficiary today. What did it mean to have a song named almost entirely after him? It was like the poets of old who wrote verses using a friend’s name as the title—it was something that could be passed down. Those who cared would care deeply.

They had originally planned to eat out, but both Yu Hua and Tang Zhichu wanted to avoid the hassle, so they headed to the second floor of the cafeteria, where there were chefs and ingredients available. Su Yuanchao held considerable sway at Yiyun, and Yu Hua was happy to see Tang Zhichu cultivating a connection with him.

Over drinks, the mood loosened, and Su Yuanchao began to drape an arm around Tang Zhichu’s shoulder. Tang Zhichu sought his advice on how to run a successful entertainment company today. Su Yuanchao was not only a senior executive at Yiyun, but he had also worked at three of the country's top entertainment firms and had spent a year and a half at Alibaba Pictures.

"It's simple," Su Yuanchao said. "First, decide if you're focusing on talent management or resource management. Talent management is self-explanatory—it’s all about the artists. Resource management is more complex, encompassing music, film, television, and variety shows."

If you focus on talent and succeed, you'll be powerful; a single star can support an entire company. If you focus on resources and succeed, you'll be even more powerful, as you will always hold the initiative. Of course, this was just the focus for the early stages.

Tang Zhichu nodded as he listened and refilled Su Yuanchao’s glass. "Director Su, if it were you, how would you do it?"

Su Yuanchao glanced at Tang Zhichu. He was incredibly talented and sharp; it was only natural he would want to strike out on his own. "Everyone's situation is different. Take you, for example—your strength is in creation, which makes you a resource-based type. That's simple: poach talent. Keep an eye on people and snatch them up, then develop them slowly. I'm different. If I were doing it, even as a resource-based firm, I might start as an intermediary—perhaps as a producer—beginning with resource integration. Only when the timing is right would I delve deeper."

Even after several drinks, Su Yuanchao remained cautious. The worst thing you can do when starting an entertainment company is to make a grand splash before you have anything. Use your strengths to advance gradually; make money from the very first step, and then add staff only where the machine isn't turning. That is the most cost-effective way to start a business.

"A veteran’s perspective is truly different. Thank you for the guidance, Director Su."

"Haha, don't blame me for preaching."

"How could I? I'm just a naive kid who knows nothing. I really do want to try, but I'm afraid of how deep the waters are in this industry."

As soon as Tang Zhichu said this, Yu Hua, who hadn't reacted much before, spat out a mouthful of alcohol.

"Ugh, a bit too spicy. Don't mind me, you two continue."

Tang Zhichu glared at Yu Hua. Yu Hua understood, but he couldn't help himself. He didn't believe for a second that Tang Zhichu was ignorant of these things. Why ask, then? Was it truly for advice? No, to Yu Hua, it looked more like a special kind of "interview." This guy was the type to pluck a feather from every passing goose; it seemed he had his sights set on Su Yuanchao. Otherwise, one thing didn't add up: would Tang Zhichu really write a song named after Su Yuanchao just to win? For anyone else, the gain from winning would be enough, but for Tang Zhichu, the effort and the return were clearly not proportional.

Su Yuanchao downed another glass and consoled him. "Don't be afraid. I heard you've already won four rounds. Pu Jingshi and Liu Xingyun—guys I couldn't necessarily beat even in my prime—were all defeated by you. That is your capital. Look around your group; find a kid without a company, an independent musician, and sign them. You have the creative ability, and you can write songs for them—it’s a double guarantee."

"Sign one person first, test the waters, and get a feel for it. Once you're confident, prepare well, and you'll see returns soon enough."

Tang Zhichu refilled Su Yuanchao’s glass again. "I understand the logic, but it's a hassle to execute. I only know how to write songs. Never mind, Director Su, don't trouble yourself over me."