Chapter 69: The Discussion Topic of the First Session

Spring arrived in the blink of an eye. After practicing the Nine Revolutions of Divine Source for some time, Xiao Kaitian's combat power rose to 233; just another step and he would reach the peak of the Profound Realm. Financially, he transferred twenty million to Chen Jingming for the film's initial operations, while the remaining twenty million-plus was invested entirely into Qixi Media Consulting, leaving his own funds nearly depleted.

With financial backing, Qixi Media Consulting operated smoothly. Guo Lei gradually adapted to this peculiar company. She hired several employees, all young women fresh out of college. This group, with little experience, stumbled along, learning as they went, yet managed to make things look properly professional.

Lin Xiang took no part in these affairs—he didn’t understand them anyway. Though he bore the title of General Manager, his daily tasks were more of a laborer’s. Being the only male in the company, he enthusiastically handled all the heavy lifting. The new girls chattered endlessly about it at first, but with time, they got used to his ways and no longer found it odd.

When Xiao Kaitian returned to his long-missed company, he saw Lin Xiang hauling bottled water. The office looked orderly, the atmosphere relaxed, with small groups gathered, discussing various topics.

“Last night’s plot almost made me cry. The scriptwriter must have been drunk—the scene changes were so intense.”

“I’m following it too. I thought it was fine; the characters feel more vivid.”

The office was filled with the scent of flower tea, a hallmark of Guo Lei’s personal taste. She disliked both coffee and regular tea, so the entire workspace was suffused with a youthful, girlish air.

Xiao Kaitian didn’t care about such details. Walking in, he was soon greeted by a young female employee: “Do you have an appointment?”

He glanced at her flushed face, but before he could answer, the busy Lin Xiang spotted him. Lin Xiang set the water bottle on the dispenser, dusted off his hands, and jogged over. “Brother Xiao!”

“Mr. Lin, this is…?” the girl asked, eyes shining with curiosity.

“This is the big boss. Make a cup of coffee and ask Miss Guo to come over,” Lin Xiang ordered, showing a touch of managerial authority as he ushered Xiao Kaitian into the office.

As soon as the door closed, the girls outside gathered quickly.

“So that’s the mysterious boss.”

“He’s so young—and quite handsome…”

“His looks aside, he certainly seems more reliable than Mr. Lin. Our company, well, it’s hard to say.”

Gossip was a staple of the office, especially in a place like Qixi Media Consulting, where nearly everyone was a young woman.

Guo Lei finally met the elusive boss she had long imagined. Contrary to her expectations, Xiao Kaitian showed none of the airs of a playboy; instead, his every gesture radiated the powerful presence of someone born to lead. Noticing this, she subtly straightened, striving for the best possible posture.

“Guo Lei,” Lin Xiang began, still in his suit but now without his sunglasses, which only heightened the sense of incongruity he gave off, “I mentioned her to Brother Xiao before. She’s in charge of most operations now.”

“Yes.” Though Xiao Kaitian hadn’t visited, Lin Xiang gave regular updates, and he was very satisfied with Guo Lei’s work. “The meeting room renovations are nearly finished, right?”

“Mr. Xiao, they’re basically done. We’ve already done internal testing,” Guo Lei replied. It was her first time reporting to the elusive boss, and unsure of his temperament, she was very cautious. Seeing he wasn’t particularly stern, she relaxed a little. “We also considered details like drinking water, smoking, and breaks—everything is here.” She handed him a stack of documents.

He didn’t take them, just nodded. Once he delegated a task, he didn’t micromanage—one of his ways as a leader. “You handle it. I came today mainly to discuss the topic for the first session.”

Finally, the main event. Both Guo Lei and Lin Xiang perked up, their eyes fixed expectantly on Xiao Kaitian.

“For the first session, let’s keep the topic open; there’s no need for a concrete result,” Xiao Kaitian said, settling comfortably into the swivel chair and turning from side to side like a child. The shadows on his face under the lights gave him an even more captivating aura. “Let’s also run through our procedures—no endless arguments allowed—and select our participants carefully.”

Guo Lei took notes. “So, Mr. Xiao, what theme do you want for the first session?”

“Let’s discuss how to get rich quickly. The company is rather short on funds,” Xiao Kaitian said, propping his chin on his hand and ignoring Guo Lei’s astonishment. “You can refine the details. You’re a student at Haidu University of Transportation?”

“Yes.” She was puzzled by the sudden question.

Xiao Kaitian continued, “For the first session, let’s keep it to three hundred people. Most can be students from your university—invite them as a senior, so you can manage the group more easily.”

So that was it—Guo Lei’s own background would now serve as an advantage. With so many from the same school, if any trouble arose during the discussion, her senior status would allow her to keep order.

“But we need outsiders too, about fifty people, from various backgrounds and social standings. That’s for you to work on inviting,” Xiao Kaitian said, taking out a cigarette. Seeing both of them shake their heads, he slowly lit up and continued, “Attendance fee is five hundred yuan per person; we’ll provide food and drinks. Anyone whose ideas are adopted receives an extra three thousand yuan, and for exceptional suggestions, I’ll offer more. In short, money is not an issue.”

Guo Lei gradually caught on to his thinking. After making notes, she asked, “So, we’ll need confidentiality agreements in advance. Also, Mr. Xiao, is our consulting service ultimately for clients?”

“In a way,” Xiao Kaitian replied with a smile. The original purpose of Qixi Media Consulting was to serve as a comprehensive support for Tender World. “But for now, let’s see how it goes. Do you want to open up to the public?”

“Yes. There have been similar idea companies before,” Guo Lei answered honestly, still concerned about profitability. No company could keep burning money forever; she worried her tenure as deputy manager might not last. “Or like those companies that write proposals.”

Xiao Kaitian shook his head. “That’s not the kind of window-dressing I’m after. That’s why we’re not hiring experts—their thinking is too rigid. Understand?”

“Yes…” Though still puzzled, Guo Lei could only nod in agreement.