YA Ch118: Money Comes

Chenyu Technology is currently valued at 20 billion. After several rounds of negotiations, two capital companies agreed to a combination of partial financing and partial purchase. Hongxiao Capital acquired 20% of the equity, while Qingqu Capital obtained 5%.

As a result, Chenyu Technology received a large influx of working capital to expand production.

Ming Yan sold a small portion of his shares, earning 200 million yuan in cash.

“I’m planning to organize a show to exhibit pocket watches,” Ming Yan counted the money in his account, feeling quite happy.

Lu Yu looked up from a pile of documents. “Like a Victoria’s Secret show? With a bunch of muscular men, shirtless, oiled up and glittering, with feathered wings…”

Ming Yan raised his hand to press down on Lu Yu’s head, stopping his wild imagination. “It’s a pocket watch show, not a lingerie show. It needs to be more proper.” After saying that, he used his AI to pull up videos of luxury brands showcasing watches to correct Lu Yu’s thoughts.

Before the end of the year, there would be a fashion week. Ming Yan planned to hold a special event for Tomorow Watches, debuting their jewelry pocket watches.

Hosting a show wasn’t easy. Ming Yan rubbed Lu Yu’s head, apologetically saying, “I might be quite busy lately, and I may not be able to keep up with things at Chenyu.”

Lu Yu rubbed against his palm. “Don’t worry, just focus on your work. I’ll take care of things here.”

Assistant Xiao Yuan’s sales had already stabilized and no longer needed attention. The financing was also in its final stages, and Lu Yu could handle it himself.

Still, Ming Yan wasn’t fully reassured and reminded him, “If there’s anything unclear regarding finances, contact me right away.”

“Got it,” Lu Yu responded obediently, then shifted the conversation. “But honestly, I can understand it.”

Looking at the document in his hand, knowledge and experience automatically surfaced in his mind. After all, since setting up the company, Lu Dayu had also done financing before, and these memories would pop up whenever Lu Yu searched for them.

“I feel like I’m the main character in a comic, with skills that are restricted. Every time I use a big move, the mutation worsens.”

Ming Yan raised an eyebrow. “When the mutation reaches 100%, will you fully become Lu Dayu?”

Lu Yu nodded and sighed dramatically, “If I disappear, will you miss me?”

Ming Yan smiled with pursed lips and pinched his cheek. “Don’t be silly. How could you disappear?”

“What if? What if Lu Dayu and I aren’t the same consciousness?” Lu Yu looked up at him seriously.

Ming Yan frowned slightly, showing a moment of hesitation.

“I know you will,” Lu Yu stood up, walked to Ming Yan’s side, and pitifully held his hand. “I’ll miss you too. While I’m still here, we should do it a few more times. Later, you’ll only have these memories to remember me by.”

Ming Yan was speechless, annoyed that he had seriously considered the philosophical question about “consciousness.” “After all that, you’re just thinking about this? Can’t you focus on something else?”

Lu Yu held his long, soft hand and brought it to his mouth to nibble on. “If I didn’t think about this, there would be problems. Like Lu Dayu, three years without doing it once, you’d be in tears.”

Ming Yan: “…”

Yang Chen pushed the door open and, seeing the two in this state, dramatically covered his eyes. “Oh my, oh my, I didn’t see anything. So, about Shen Ying’s project, are you still working on it? If yes, I’ll continue preparing the data.”

Lu Yu, still holding onto Ming Yan’s hand and nibbling on it, responded, “Of course. Set up the data first, and once Yan-ge is done with his work, we’ll work on the scene.”

Despite his words, Lu Yu’s thoughts were elsewhere: Of course, we have to do it, or else Hua Wenyuan will come at me in the middle of the night with a plunger, sneak-attacking his old man.

Ming Yan pulled his hand back and wiped the saliva on Lu Yu’s palm. “The scene isn’t too difficult. It’s the same world as ‘Shooting the Heavenly Wolf,’ so most of it is already in place. I’ll have the art department start working on it.”

Yang Chen agreed and casually asked, “What’s Ming-ge busy with lately?”

Before Ming Yan could answer, Lu Yu quickly responded, “He’s organizing a show with muscular men wearing pocket watches. Want to join?”

Yang Chen’s eyes widened. “Is it the kind where they’re shirtless, oiled up, and wearing angel wings? Could I make it with my bald head?”

Ming Yan twitched the corner of his mouth. “…You two would make a great couple, never running out of things to talk about.”

Back in the day, their dorms in the AI department must have been assigned based on brainwave patterns.

After the financing was finalized, Hong Wuyang immediately went abroad to represent Chenyu Technology in the acquisition of that balloon company. He got along well with the company’s owner, and even before the acquisition was complete, they had already begun planning to set up a factory domestically.

Lu Yu was impressed by his work efficiency. Indeed, interest is the best motivator. Once the acquisition was completed, Shen Ying’s balloon project could be expedited and wouldn’t need to wait several months.

Everyone entered a busy preparation phase. Before any results came in, however, an unexpected business opportunity knocked on the door.

“They want Shen Baishui to play ‘Golden House’?”

Lu Yu was quite surprised. This request actually came from people at Bajiao Video.

“Yes,” the business director from Bajiao Video nodded. “‘Shooting the Heavenly Wolf’s’ variety show effect was fantastic, but it’s about to end soon. Before the year’s over, we want to hold a launch event. We’re hoping to introduce a new variety show to capitalize on this wave of popularity.”

The new AI brain transformation has not yet been scheduled. For Shen Ying’s production process, Lu Yu plans to do a recorded broadcast rather than a live one. This is because after it’s made, they don’t plan to release it immediately, at least not for another three months.

AI brain assistants are exclusive products. Typically, a person only has one AI brain and can only load one assistant. Hua Wenyuan has just been launched, and its sales haven’t yet reached saturation. Releasing a new product now would be competing with Hua Wenyuan, which would be a losing proposition.

“We can certainly do this,” Lu Yu tapped his fingers lightly on the table, thinking, “but The Golden House is an infinite-loop game. It takes a lot of time and effort to make, and it can’t be launched anytime soon.”

The simulator had only recently been purchased. So far, he had only made a side world for Lu Dongdong and Shen Baishui to play in, and the overall novel world hadn’t been built yet. If Bajiao wanted it released before the end of the year, that was clearly impossible.

The business director of Bajiao smiled and said, “That’s not a problem. We can start with a concept advertisement, and once the participating celebrities are confirmed, we can take it to the investment fair.”

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled, “So the idea is to collect advertising fees before doing the work?”

“That’s how all platforms do it now,” the Bajiao business director smiled reservedly, implying that they weren’t the only shameless ones, everyone’s a big bully, so no one’s pointing fingers at anyone else. “As for building the game, we can facilitate cooperation with Shifei Technology.”

Bajiao’ boss and Shifei’s boss are married, and the AI brain game rights to The Golden House are currently in Shifei Technology’s hands. If this variety show succeeds, it could also promote sales of the related game. It’s a win-win situation, with several parties making money.

It sounded like an easy, profitable deal, but Lu Yu didn’t agree right away: “We’ll study it and give you a response this week.”

After the Bajiao team left, Lu Yu brushed his hair back and let out a long sigh. It had finally happened—money was coming in from all directions, but he was stretched too thin, even lacking enough hands to grab it all.

“Is this what getting rich feels like?” Lu Yu said in a mock-troubled tone. Unfortunately, Shen Baishui had been taken away by Yan Ge, so he couldn’t share his thoughts with him.

When he got home that night, the first thing Lu Yu did was wave at President Ball: “Money, come here, Dad needs to discuss something with you.”

Shen Baishui was not too eager to come over, keeping a wary distance: “What’s this about?”

Lu Yu explained the variety show situation to him and even took out Bajiao’ preliminary plan.

President Ball’s eyes lit up, and he spun in place. Then, folding his arms, he scanned the documents and sneered, “Tch, I’m the world’s richest man, and you want me to participate in a variety show with a bunch of minor celebrities?”

Lu Yu spread his hands, “They might not even be celebrities. With a new show like this, they probably won’t be able to get any big names.” In the end, they’d probably just round up some semi-amateurs.

Shen Baishui showed a disdainful expression. After a long silence, he said, “That’s my world. Bringing a bunch of idiots into it and letting my competitors see me like that—how am I supposed to maintain my dignity? You have to pay me appearance fees, or I’m not going!”

The implication was that Shen’s reputation mattered, and he needed extra money for it.

Ming Yan, who was quietly drawing off to the side, buried his face in Lu Yu’s back, quietly laughing.

Lu Yu didn’t hold back, grinning widely: “Alright, you’ll get paid.”

Shen Baishui emphasized, “Not just five bucks either. It has to be 10% higher than the highest-paid celebrity.”

Lu Yu’s mouth twitched: “That’s pretty greedy.” He had actually planned on giving him five bucks per episode.

Shen Baishui turned and walked away.

“Fine!” Lu Yu raised his hand instinctively, then grimaced with regret, “Where did you learn to haggle like that? Walking away and everything.”

In that moment, Lu Yu felt like he was watching an aunt bargaining at a wholesale market.

Shen Baishui snorted disdainfully, “It’s negotiation tactics. Also, if I’m doing an advertisement, I’ll need ad fees too.”

Lu Yu clicked his tongue, “What does a balloon person need so much money for?”

President Ball said nothing, just stared at him.

Lu Yu surrendered, “Alright, alright, you’ll get paid for the ad too.” After all, Shen Baishui’s card was Ming Yan’s.

Shen Baishui was satisfied with the negotiation results, raised his hand in a reserved gesture, and instructed Lu Yu to prepare the contract for him to sign. Then, he elegantly floated over to the corner with his little golden pig, stood in front of his eldest and third brothers, and laughed with his hands on his hips: “Hahaha, soon I’ll be the richest one in this household! You two will have to listen to me, and I might even give you some pocket money depending on my mood!”