Chapter 158: The Grand Ambition—The Influencer Company Goes Public (Major Chapter)

Zhou Yun gathered everyone together for a brief training session and then headed out.

Turning right, she stopped in front of Huang Zejun's office door, intending to say hello before leaving.

She knocked and pushed open the door, only to be surprised to see Tang Zhichu inside.

"Are you done with your things?" Tang Zhichu asked proactively.

Zhou Yun nodded and walked over.

"What are you guys talking about? You look so happy."

When she pushed the door open, both Tang Zhichu and Huang Zejun had been smiling.

Zhou Yun naturally leaned against Tang Zhichu. Tang Zhichu was sitting in Huang Zejun's chair, leaving Zhou Yun and Huang Zejun on his left and right respectively.

"We were talking about the company's development. Little Yun, you really have a great eye; they are all massive beauties," Huang Zejun chimed in.

On the computer screen, the page rested on the social media accounts of Zhou Yun's influencer team.

Tang Zhichu had been listening to Huang Zejun's ideas for the company's development and planning. After all, Huang Zejun had been in the media company business for quite a while.

During this period, Huang Zejun had not been idle. While managing his own account, he was also searching for profitable monetization methods.

Among the many videos he posted, two were sponsored advertisements—one for a camera and the other for a portable photo printer.

The camera was a pure advertisement, secured right as the dating reality show finale aired while the hype was at its peak, netting over four hundred thousand after taxes.

The other was effectively an e-commerce promotion, featuring a shopping cart link from the platform's mall. In other words, if viewers liked what the creator used, they could click the link to purchase the exact same item.

So far, that had already generated a six-figure income.

In fact, many brands and agencies had approached Huang Zejun for product placements and advertisements, but he felt that right now, they shouldn't rush to cash out.

If product promotion lacks scale and brand resources, it's just exploiting followers, which causes internal friction for an influencer. Unless you are planning to abandon that influencer, you shouldn't let them promote just anything indiscriminately.

"Brother Jun's opinion is that we should aim for the capital market," Tang Zhichu said softly.

This remark was directed at Zhou Yun, seeking her opinion as well.

It was the first time the three of them had gathered together, and it was indeed time to discuss the company's direction.

Huang Zejun might have a few flaws in the details, but he was certainly no fool.

He owned eighty percent of his own studio, but the social media accounts weren't actually in his hands; even if he aimed for the capital market, investors wouldn't be interested.

What then would be the driving force behind all their hard work?

Whether Refraction Culture could go public.

How difficult is it for an influencer agency to go public?

But Refraction Culture was different—its boss was Tang Zhichu.

This was the main reason Huang Zejun was willing to stick with Refraction Culture.

Capital doesn't recognize the talent-agency model because influencers are uncontrollable and difficult to replicate. If I invest money in you, and you have a falling out with your top creator, your company becomes paralyzed.

However, if your company can continuously produce successful influencers and pass the test of the influencer market, then capital will approve.

Much like New Oriental in Tang Zhichu's past life.

New Oriental collapsed in the education and training sector, only to rise again in the influencer industry, seeing its market value skyrocket.

Was it because of just one Dong Yuhui?

No, it was because of their boss, Yu Minhong. Yu Minhong had been verified by the market; he had the ability to cultivate different internet celebrities.

Another legendary figure, Old Luo, also came out of New Oriental; he possessed the soil from which influencers are born.

Seeing that Zhou Yun was still deep in thought, Huang Zejun cut straight to the point: "My current dream is to build a publicly listed company. I'll be frank—relying on myself alone, it's definitely impossible. But with Zhichu here, the difficulty isn't too overwhelming. Right now, if we want to take a long-term view, we need outside capital. Making money isn't hard for us currently, but we have to balance it with long-term development. My suggestion is that we conduct an internal round of financing first. What do you guys think?"

Zhou Yun looked at Tang Zhichu.

Tang Zhichu also looked at Zhou Yun.

The logic behind this wasn't complicated, and Huang Zejun meant well. The company lacked funds, yet they couldn't rush to monetize immediately, so the solution was for insiders to inject capital into the company through a preliminary financing round.

In other words, Zhou Yun, Huang Zejun, and Tang Zhichu himself would put up their own money in exchange for a certain percentage of the parent company's shares.

What was the goal?

Naturally, it was the hundredfold return after going public.

Why build a company? Isn't it just to make money?

Average entrepreneurs start businesses to earn money from consumers, while industry giants almost always set their sights on the capital market.

Huang Zejun might have had this ambition before, but his strength fell short; however, after going through a dating reality show, he seemed to have evolved.

"Your situations are a bit different. Brother Jun's account belongs to the company, but the accounts of the influencers under Little Yun are all in her own hands. If we are aiming for an IPO and you both have no objections, let's change the rules of the game: one million per percentage point. Brother Jun's upper limit is ten million, while Little Yun will trade the ownership rights of the accounts under you—one account for one percentage point. I will also put in five million myself, giving me five percentage points."

After Tang Zhichu finished speaking, both Huang Zejun and Zhou Yun fell into contemplation.

One million per percentage point was quite expensive, which meant the valuation was a hundred million.

There was a bubble, but this valuation was one where everyone could benefit.

Zhou Yun had eleven influencers under her. Huang Zejun had studied them, and quite a few genuinely had potential. Exchanging account ownership for shares without paying cash meant the value became tangible and communal, allowing him to benefit as well.

Tang Zhichu putting five million of his own money into it meant he was stepping out from behind the scenes, which was paradoxically the most crucial link.

One had to know that behind Refraction Culture was another investment firm. Although Tang Zhichu was the owner of that investment firm, he had remained in the background.

Huang Zejun calculated it and found it acceptable, so he nodded and said, "Although I can't pull out that much cash immediately, I can sell my house."

From Zhou Yun's perspective, this showed Tang Zhichu's thoughtfulness.

There was an awkward reality: Zhou Yun was out of money.

The operation of a dozen influencers, coupled with the token signing bonuses given when recruiting Maomao and Naihui, plus the fact that she had advanced hundreds of thousands of yuan to Tang Zhichu when the company had no money at the start, had completely hollowed out the gym's old savings.

If no further funds came in and new memberships remained low, things would get awkward.

"I have no problem with it either," Zhou Yun nodded as well.

What started as a senior management meeting ultimately turned into a shareholder meeting.

As soon as the meeting ended, Huang Zejun rushed off energetically to raise funds.

Zhou Yun sighed, "Brother Jun is really scraping the bottom of the pot this time."

Tang Zhichu smiled indifferently. "Going public is the dream of countless entrepreneurs. Since the account ownerships are going to the company, you shouldn't pour your own money into it."

"Right. Have you seen Sister Lan?"

"I have. Sister Lan even helped me scout and secure the shooting locations for the movie. Oh!"

Seeing Tang Zhichu suddenly have a moment of realization, Zhou Yun asked, "What's wrong?"

"I forgot to give Sister Lan your gift."

Perhaps because Tang Zhichu always considered things so thoroughly for her, Zhou Yun unusually didn't overthink it and smiled, "What's the big deal? Just find a chance to send it over later."

After saying this, Zhou Yun laughed and playfully pinched Tang Zhichu. "Look at you, not only did you fail to return the favor, but you also made Sister Lan find you a filming location, so you owe her even more now."

Tang Zhichu rubbed his temples. "Perhaps I just have too many things on my plate."

Indeed, juggling a music variety show, an influencer agency, and a film all at once was a lot.

Feeling that Tang Zhichu had been working hard, Zhou Yun silently walked up behind him.

A pair of fair hands rested on the back of Tang Zhichu's neck, then slowly and firmly began to knead and massage.

"You even know how to do this?"

"Humph, I'm professional, you know."

After massaging for a while, Zhou Yun pulled Tang Zhichu into his own private office.

Located at the very eastern end of the floor, it was also the largest room.

Because Tang Zhichu intended to stay behind the scenes, there hadn't been a nameplate on the door.

Now that Tang Zhichu was stepping to the front, they could finally put up a sign.

Clearly, someone had cleaned it; the room was impeccably neat.

Tang Zhichu sat in the boss's chair, leaning back into the curve designed for maximum resting comfort.

Zhou Yun brewed him a cup of tea, then smiled and said, "It wouldn't be too much of me to borrow your authority for a bit, right?"

"What do you mean?"

Without answering, Zhou Yun picked up the desk phone nearby and quickly dialed a number.

"Hey, it's me. Have Naihui and猫猫 (Maomao) come over. Oh, and bring Lin Lanxin along as well. My office is diagonally across..."

After the call ended, the computer in front of Tang Zhichu happened to finish booting up. Zhou Yun opened the desktop version of Douyin and pulled up an account named Classmate Lin Lan.

Soon, a knock came from outside.

"Come in."

Naihui walked in at the front. Initially wearing a smile, she froze the moment she saw Tang Zhichu sitting at the desk.

"What's wrong, Sister Hui?"

Behind her, Lin Maomao poked her head in with curiosity.

After scanning the room, she froze as well, before her eyes widened in astonishment as if illuminated by light. "Ah, the Big Boss!"

This nickname had been ingrained by the girls among themselves; in private, whenever they referred to Tang Zhichu, they all called him the Big Boss.

Naihui quickly recovered her composure and shyly greeted him as President Tang.

The three entered the room, and Lin Lanxin then timidly followed Naihui's lead with a soft "President Tang."

Tang Zhichu smiled and nodded, then looked toward Zhou Yun.

Zhou Yun motioned toward the reception area and said, "Have a seat. I want to talk to you girls about something."

The reception area wasn't far from Tang Zhichu's desk, and the girls sat up straight with proper posture.

Yet their peripheral vision still kept drifting toward Tang Zhichu.

"I believe it's best to be upfront about certain things. The company is just starting out, and the framework isn't small yet. So, how should we operate and develop? I'm thrilled that Maomao and Naihui joined our company, and I have a small plan I'd like to try, but I need both of your help," Zhou Yun stated directly as soon as she sat down.

Naihui didn't immediately respond, but Lin Maomao grew a bit excited, practically ready to pat her chest. "Tell us, Sister Yunyun. I'll definitely help."

Ever since arriving at the company today, Lin Maomao had been in a state of high excitement.

There were many pretty girls around, and everyone treated her wonderfully. After being accustomed to playing alone for so long, she had suddenly landed in a collective with a fantastic atmosphere.

Her emotions remained constantly elevated, akin to having had a little too much wine.

"I want to try promoting someone first and see how it goes. I'd like the two of you to help lead the way," Zhou Yun continued.

Lin Maomao replied, "Sure, no problem at all! Don't talk about leading or anything like that—we're just hanging out together anyway. I have to stream every day regardless, so just wait for me to go back and I'll leave comments on all their videos."

Withdrawing her lingering gaze from Tang Zhichu's direction, Naihui nodded and asked, "Sister Yunyun, you aren't talking about Xinxin, are you?"

Zhou Yun nodded.

Having signed two creators with millions of followers, they naturally needed to give back and uplift others.

However, asking someone to contribute before you've helped them isn't ideal, which was why Zhou Yun had asked Tang Zhichu to anchor the scene.

It also appeared that Lin Lanxin was already close to the two of them, ensuring that emotionally, the transition wouldn't feel abrupt.

With no emotional awkwardness and performing in front of the Big Boss, the transition would happen naturally.

Before Naihui and Maomao could say anything else, Lin Lanxin panicked, hurriedly shaking her head and waving her hands. "No, no... I... I can't do it."

"You can!"

"No... I really can't. I'm short and fat. Sister Yunyun, wait until I lose some more weight, and... and you should help Sister Xiaoyan and Sister Shasha first instead."

Seeing Lin Lanxin's anxious expression—desperately exposing every flaw she believed she had—Maomao burst out laughing. She took the initiative to hold Lin Lanxin's hand. "Don't talk nonsense. You're very cute. Look at me and Sister Hui; we both like you."

Seeing that Lin Lanxin was still trying to shrink back, Zhou Yun's expression turned stern. "No backing down. This is a company decision."

"O-okay..."

"Lanxin, you need to be confident. You aren't fat; you have a pear-shaped figure. That's not a flaw, it's an advantage. Plus, when you smile, your eyes form crescent moons, which is genuinely cute. I want to launch a keyword hashtag on Douyin targeting the pear-shaped figure aesthetic and give Lanxin a push. If you really can't adjust your mindset, Lanxin, just wear a mask during videos—it can help redirect the audience's attention straight to your body shape..."

Zhou Yun had been studying how to develop the eleven influencers under her. Lin Lanxin might not be the most conventionally pretty, but she was definitely unique.

For the company to go public, a rigid requirement was having major influencers under its umbrella, followed by partnering brands.

As for commercial deals, once your popularity soared and you held several creators with tens of millions of followers, brands would be the ones coming to beg for partnerships.

On July 20th, *Detour* started filming.

It wasn't Xu Lai's first time handling the camera, so he handled it well, but Zhu Yiyang was acting in a film for the very first time.

His last acting experience was still his graduation thesis project.

Although the film wasn't overly complex, the live set still carried a sense of awe.

Xu Lai demonstrated his professional standards; he had prepared two identical cars, buried in mud at different shooting angles.

Artificially recreating two identical natural disaster scenes.

"How's my state?" Zhu Yiyang asked Xu Lai.

Xu Lai glanced at him and gave a thumbs up. "Looks good."

To immerse himself in the character easily, Zhu Yiyang hadn't eaten since the previous day and had locked himself in the hotel room for an entire day, leaving him looking thoroughly exhausted.

If it were a stage play, Zhu Yiyang would have confidence in finding the emotional state.

But this was a disaster-mystery film; he needed to find the physiological state instead.

Zhu Yiyang confirmed his makeup and appearance one last time before squeezing into the car buried in mud on the scaffolding.

To accommodate Zhu Yiyang's state, the very first scene was him waking up inside the car—shooting it chronologically allowed him to follow the logical progression of his emotions smoothly.