"Brother Jason, have you ever thought about making a fortune and stepping into the entertainment world?" Qiqi asked casually. "Don't they say that every successful business should branch out in different directions?"
Jason Liu paused in his steps, taken off guard by her question. "The entertainment industry?" He repeated, a little confused.
Honestly, the idea had never crossed his mind. His company wasn't like other businesses. With the kind of advantages he had, why would he need to diversify? Even if he just focused on selling timber, it was enough to make him one of the richest men alive.
But Qiqi noticed that he was actually listening, and her lips curled into a confident smile. She quickly added, "Haven't you noticed? Lately, all the big tech companies in China have been leaning toward entertainment. They're investing in what they call 'pan-entertainment' strategies."
She leaned closer, excited. "Think about it—IP rights, story universes, multimedia… these are huge right now. Companies love them because the profits are massive. Entertainment has a huge audience and money flows like water!"
"If your company gets into this business and does it well, you could earn a fortune. Just look at those TV series based on online novels—they're exploding in popularity."
Qiqi wasn't just talking off the top of her head. She had done her research, looking into how those internet giants planned their moves. Their business models weren't that different from Jason's, which made her suggestion all the more tempting.
Jason rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, the entertainment industry really does make crazy money."
He thought about how much some celebrities earned—hundreds of millions in paychecks, tens of millions just for appearing in an ad. It was hard not to be impressed.
Qiqi saw that he was interested and jumped in quickly, "Exactly! That's why I brought it up. Once your business is bigger, you should definitely try getting into this field."
Then she finally revealed her true intention. "And if your company does enter the entertainment industry, maybe we could work together someday! I'd love it if Mr. Liu took care of me in the future. After all, we're good friends, right?"
She batted her long lashes and gave him a playful, flirtatious smile. Her bright eyes sparkled, and Jason almost felt a chill run down his back. If he wasn't so composed, he might've agreed to everything right then and there.
Still, the entertainment industry was a different world—exciting, yes, but unfamiliar. Jason was interested, but he knew he had to think it through carefully.
He told her he'd consider the company's future development plans, and then smoothly changed the subject.
Qiqi felt she had made progress just by getting him to think about it, so she didn't press any further. They chatted about other things as they finished their coffee in a cozy café in Tianzifang.
Later, they took the subway to Pedestrian Street—one of the most famous shopping and fashion areas in the city. It was a blend of old and new: historic buildings from the early 20th century standing next to modern skyscrapers like Century Plaza.
The stroll was nice, especially for Qiqi and Jason Liu. But behind them, Yuzhen—who had been tagging along—was nearly dead from exhaustion. As she trailed after the two cheerful friends, she grumbled to herself. When I get home tonight, Qi Qi better give me that Tiffany perfume I've been eyeing. I've earned it.
Being a personal assistant was no easy job.
Unaware of her sister's plans to get a luxury perfume out of her, Qiqi had already moved on to the next stop of the day—lunch at the revolving restaurant on the Oriental Pearl Tower.
She had made a reservation days ago. It wasn't by the window, but it was still a good seat.
The buffet cost only 250 yuan per person—a real deal considering the view.
They took a special elevator up to the restaurant, which sat high above the ground at 267 meters. From the glass walls, the whole city could be seen stretching out in every direction.
The food wasn't anything special—most people came for the experience, not the meal—but it was enough to fill their stomachs.
After lunch, Jason followed Qiqi around the glass corridor at the top of the tower, admiring the skyline. Then they boarded a simulated space capsule at 350 meters high, entering a futuristic exhibition that looked like something from a sci-fi movie. It was dazzling.
Jason had never experienced anything like it. There really are so many fun things out there I've never even seen before, he thought.
By the time they left the Pearl Tower, the sun was already starting to sink. They spent the rest of the afternoon wandering along the Bund, on the other side of the Huangpu River.
During the Republic of China era, the Bund had been part of the British Concession. Banks, trading companies, and foreign newspapers had set up shop there, leaving behind 52 impressive buildings with styles ranging from neoclassical to art deco. It was like walking through an open-air museum of old-world architecture.
Even though those buildings were a reminder of difficult times in China's past, their design still stirred awe.
Walking beside Qiqi along the river, Jason felt time fly. It had been a full, interesting day.
At 7 PM, they went to a traditional Shanghai restaurant for dinner. Jason planned to attend an auction later that evening and invited Qiqi to come along, but she politely refused.
She was curious about the world of auctions and the rich people who attended them—but going back late at night worried her. Her parents would be concerned, and besides, she didn't want to stay in a hotel alone with a man. No matter how nice the hotel was, it just didn't feel safe.
Better to be cautious, she thought. A girl had to look out for herself, especially in situations like that.
She did like Jason Liu—he had made a good impression—but not enough to think of him as a boyfriend. Not yet, anyway.
At most, they were just friends. Compared to the silly fans in her WeChat contacts, Jason was more mature, more thoughtful. But that didn't mean she was going to rush into anything.
After saying goodbye, she got into a taxi. Jason also found a cab and headed back to his hotel.
On the way home, Qiqi called her sister.
"Sister Zhen, where are you? I've already gotten in a taxi. Heading home now. Everything went great today—thank you for being with us!"
On the other end, Yuzhen was full of complaints. "Qi Qi, I followed you around all day while you and Mr. Handsome were out having fun. I'm completely worn out. I'm invisible, huh? Just dragging my feet behind you two while you're giggling and sightseeing…"
Qiqi rolled her eyes and said, "Okay, Sister Zhen, just say it—what do you want? I'll get it for you!"
Instantly, she heard a cheerful squeal from the phone.
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