"Now that we've left Ziwen, there will definitely be many agencies coming to us. Old Tian, what do you think?"
Qi Hao respected his agent greatly; such matters were certainly to be discussed by both.
"My suggestion... How about setting up a personal studio, like Fan Xuexue?"
Old Tian had been pondering this issue but had never found a particularly good option.
Qi Hao was not a newcomer in the entertainment industry.
There were only a few agencies that could accommodate him.
And these agencies either weren't professionally managed enough, making it easy to be dragged down by the management model while gaining resources...
Or the slots in the company were full, leading to a feast frenzy where newcomers must work extra hard to stand out.
Moreover, these large companies always had some shortcomings.
Despite appearing mild-mannered, Qi Hao never compromised on principles, which had caused Old Tian a lot of concern over the years.
Even with Ziwen being just mid-sized in managing artists, it still made him tired from dealing with it.
Once joining a large company, Old Tian would feel even more out of his depth.
He wasn't sure if he could contend with the upper management of these large companies.
In recent years, capital had become increasingly aggressive, and the downside of starting a studio was being easily sidelined by capital, making it hard to access good resources.
However, Qi Hao had already risen to a high status in the celebrity world and had a huge fan base so he didn't have to worry about lacking resources even without endorsement from these big companies.
It would just be a bit more challenging, that's all.
Still, having a studio comes with many advantages: maximizing both artistic pursuits and commercial interests for artists while allowing them to make more flexible choices according to their career plans.
Especially as Qi Hao seemed to act like he had issues these days, frequently pulling off some wild stunts.
No company really fits him.
So, let's not cause trouble for others.
"You're right. Let's start a studio then, and we need to recruit some people, at least form a team," Qi Hao paused and added, "Old Tian, I trust you the most; I'm at ease leaving this studio business to you."
"Haha~"
The next thing was surely about promising big things.
Old Tian, having been in the game, knew all too well the boss's tricks.
Sure enough, the summary of the ensuing conversation was, "Stick with me, and I guarantee you'll have a blast."
As Old Tian was to start the studio, Qi Hao reached out to Gao Yang himself.
The manager mentioned Old Tian had been with Qi Hao for over a decade, though that's not accurate; Old Tian started following Qi Hao during the "Journey to the West: The Legend Continues."
Before that, Qi Hao managed everything on his own.
Back then, he didn't know if others had systems, but he was pretty sure most didn't.
So, he regarded himself as the chosen one, filled with confidence for everything.
This adventurous spirit slowly made him stand out.
One could say, even if the system hadn't successfully loaded, it still gave the sixteen-year-old boy a lot of confidence.
Gao Yang agreed readily to Qi Hao's somewhat absurd request.
He rescheduled the opening time to this weekend as the venue was already renovated and ready to open any time.
At most, it would be a bit rushed, and some arrangements might not make it.
But that was okay; Gao Yang had more than one venue, and the arrangements could be postponed to next week's opening at other places.
Having Qi Hao, the popular heartthrob, was more beneficial than having two second-tier singers.
It also offered an opportunity to catch up with old friends.
"Brother Yang!" Qi Hao greeted the significantly more aged looking face politely.
Back then, he was held by a wealthy lady, feeling only disgust.
Without much thought, he had fiercely shaken her off.
The wealthy lady, disgraced, naturally wouldn't let things slide, even threatening to blacklist Qi Hao.
Qi Hao knew she didn't have the ability but had to worry about his future while inwardly cursing the still-loading system; for the first time in three years since entering the industry, he considered quitting.
Gao Yang, this "big brother," saved him.
Looking at Qi Hao, whose appearance and aura were quite different from the past, Gao Yang felt greatly moved, even if he often saw him on TV.
Time quietly passed by another five years.
"Wow, you really are different now. Come, have a seat. You came a bit early; want a drink?"
"Of course, I'll join you."
In front of Gao Yang, his former lifesaver, Qi Hao shed some of his everyday smoothness.
Of course, he was no fool.
If he exposed his heart and soul just because the other had helped him, he would have been taken advantage of by the wealthy women long ago.
"Thanks for coming to support, old buddy. I get it; at your level, it's hard to appear in ordinary venues."
Gao Yang felt very gratified; he had only casually helped Qi Hao back then.
Unexpectedly, the now successful Qi Hao remembered.
Upon hearing he was returning to open the nightclub, Qi Hao actively sought him out to lend a hand.
"No, no, I'm just a small star," Qi Hao said modestly.
He realized that Gao Yang seemed to have misunderstood something.
He found a place to perform because it was a task given by the system, but Gao Yang thought he wanted to repay a favor and was moved for no reason.
Indeed.
For a popular star like him, it was unlikely to perform at a nightclub in normal circumstances.
Since it was impossible, he could only interpret his intentions as repaying a favor.
This was hard to explain and unnecessary to explain. If he wanted to be moved, let him be moved.
"In front of me, there's no need to be so modest. Actually, apart from singing, I invited you here today for another reason."
Gao Yang shook the wine glass in his hand. Without the neon lights, the liquor had a faint golden hue.
He started his business from a small bar, but actually, he didn't like drinking.
His tolerance was so poor that even a glass of beer would make him dizzy.
"Brother Yang, feel free to instruct me."
Qi Hao nodded. He arrived a bit early. The bar staff were still setting up for the night's event, and the two of them sat in a corner where they could see the endless stream of people and vehicles outside the window.
The glow of the setting sun burned on the horizon, draping the city in a layer of golden armor.
"I've made quite a bit of money these years, probably... well, a lot. And there's money from some other friends..."
Gao Yang didn't mention an exact figure, but those in the know would understand.
These days, if you work in the coal industry, you'd be embarrassed to say you're a novice without a few billion.
Someone like Gao Yang, who already had financial strength and could form good connections, should have at least several billion by now.
And most of it was liquid cash.
But what was the point of telling him this?
Qi Hao didn't understand.
It's not like he was planning to give all this money to him.
He heard Gao Yang had a daughter, but he didn't know how old she was.
"This coal industry, though a lot of people are still rushing in, won't have many good days left."
Gao Yang put down his wine glass, looking somewhat lost.
This was a kind of loneliness and solitude unique to billionaires that Qi Hao couldn't understand.
"Brother Yang, is there anything I can help with?" Qi Hao straightforwardly asked.
Just because Gao Yang had once protected his innocence, he would try to help as long as it didn't involve breaking the law.
As for money laundering, he definitely wouldn't do it.
"I'm planning to invest part of the money in real estate and part in the entertainment industry..." Gao Yang looked at Qi Hao and said, "Whether it's opening a venue or doing coal, I adhere to one principle: let professionals do professional work. But I don't really trust those people."
"You want me to introduce reliable people to you?" Qi Hao shook his head and said, "There's no such thing as reliable people. In front of enough interests, no one can be reliable."
"Haha~" Gao Yang patted Qi Hao on the shoulder and praised, "You've grown a lot in these years, much more mature than before."
"Just not as naive anymore," Qi Hao chuckled.
But in reality, his heart wasn't as calm as he appeared.
Billions.
Even if this brother only invested a tenth in the entertainment industry, it would still be a huge sum.
In recent years, capital has become increasingly powerful.
They all started seeking to go public and expand their territories.
A project gets proposed, and it's filled with all sorts of connections, making it incredibly difficult for ordinary people to stand out.
Fan Xuexue established a personal studio, seemingly venturing on her own, but in fact, she wasn't venturing anywhere alone.
She not only maintained close relations with Mrs. Hua, occasionally collaborating on projects but also clung to several major figures.
Otherwise, she would struggle to survive, let alone thrive as she does now.
Qi Hao's personal studio also needed to find a backer.
His and Old Tian's idea was to align the studio with Bern, Mrs. Hua, or emerging internet capital.
But getting too close meant easily being controlled by capital.
He never expected that his once-thought-down-and-out Brother Gao would make a kingly return and become a billionaire.
This gave Qi Hao a new option.
"I don't trust them, but I trust you, Qi Hao. After all these years, from a nobody to a big star, you're still so clean. You're a principled person."
Gao Yang looked earnestly at Qi Hao.
This young man's eyes were just as clear as they were back then.
At that time, it was because of these eyes that Gao Yang not only helped Qi Hao out of a jam but also declared him a friend afterward.
"Other than acting, I'm not good at anything else," Qi Hao, though wanting to find support, wouldn't blindly promise anything.
Offending Ziwen at most affected his resources, maybe even forcing him out of the circle.
But offending someone like Gao Yang...
It might even endanger his life.
Is opening a venue something ordinary people can do? Is mining coal something ordinary people can do?
"You certainly know more than I do. Now when someone brings me a script and asks if I want to invest, I don't know how to judge it." Gao Yang pointed to the bustling bar and asked, "Why do you think I opened this bar?"