Chapter 95: Chapter 94: Huafeng Dimension
It’s a bit past 7 PM.
A pure white Porsche 918 pulls up in front of a restaurant called "2.5 Dimension."
In the passenger seat, Yi Yiyi continues to complain, "Oni-Chan, changing this car feels like you didn’t change anything at all. It’s still uncomfortable to sit in."
"Don’t be so picky."
Although Gu Bai talks tough, his thoughts are pretty much the same.
The initial thrill of buying a sports car has worn off, especially since he’s been riding in a super comfortable business car for the past while. Suddenly driving a supercar again, the contrast is just too stark.
This has significantly lowered his excitement for the upcoming "Poison."
After parking the car, the two get out.
Gu Bai looks up and sees all kinds of anime posters on the restaurant’s entrance and can’t help but ask Yi Yiyi, "Are you sure we’re here to meet your mom? Do you usually eat with your mom in a place like this?"
Yi Yiyi turns around and looks at Gu Bai, saying as if it’s the most natural thing, "Yes, where else would we eat?"
Gu Bai suddenly gets a bad feeling.
"Is your mom into anime too?"
"You’ll know when you see her!"
With that, she pulls Gu Bai into the restaurant.
Looking at the various cosplaying men and women around, Gu Bai feels a bit out of place.
Though he’s not sure why Yi Yiyi invited him to meet her mom, since it’s meeting an elder, Gu Bai dressed up a bit more formally, switching his usual casual wear for a suit.
But now he’s more and more suspicious that Yi Yiyi is just playing him.
Yi Yiyi talks to the waiter for a bit, and the maid-dressed waitress smiles and leads them to a table.
At the table sits a woman who looks to be in her twenties, with a full head of blue hair. Judging by her outfit, she’s probably cosplaying some anime character, though Gu Bai doesn’t recognize it at all.
Seeing this woman, Gu Bai immediately verifies his suspicions.
Face darkening, he turns his head and lowly questions Yi Yiyi, "Is this really the mom you were talking about?"
Yi Yiyi just giggles.
"Yeah! She’s my mom!
But not my real-life mom, she’s my mom in the anime community."
Gu Bai painfully closes his eyes.
Ultimately, he was confused.
Seduced by the cute and charming allure of the anime world, he fell for it.
Just when Gu Bai is looking for an excuse to leave, the blue-haired woman at the table stands up, smiling as she greets Gu Bai, "Good evening, President Gu."
Hearing this, Gu Bai turns his head, looking at her with confusion, "You know me?"
"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Shan Fengling. In the anime community, they call me Blue Mother."
Gu Bai shrugs indifferently, "I don’t know you."
"It’s normal if President Gu doesn’t pay attention to the anime community, but I know you. Your Black Swan Entertainment has been reaching out to various platform hosts, including some well-known ones in our circle. I heard about you from my friend Fu Tuan’Er."
"And then?"
Black Swan Entertainment’s plan has been well underway. Not just in the streaming circle, industries that can be impacted by streaming know about this company’s ambitions. Especially since last night when his statement essentially put Lu Wei at the forefront, apart from ordinary viewers, Black Swan Entertainment’s fame in the industry is no small matter.
"Please, President Gu, have a seat."
Shan Fengling smiles as she invites Gu Bai to sit.
Gu Bai nods casually, sitting directly across from her, and glances at her attributes.
"Name: Shan Fengling
Looks: 92
Health: 86
Affection: 50"
Her looks are quite good. As for health, well, being in the anime community, she’s probably a veteran member. Maintaining a score of 86 is already impressive.
Yi Yiyi senses the atmosphere is a bit off and quickly says, "Blue Mother, I’ve brought the person, I’ll just go to the restroom."
With that said, she darts off.
After Yi Yiyi leaves, Gu Bai also picks up the teacup in front of him, takes a sip of water to moisten his throat, "Go ahead, tell me why Yi Yiyi tricked me into coming here."
Gu Bai’s tone is quite cold. Anyone who’s been played wouldn’t be very polite.
Shan Fengling apologetically says, "I’ve contacted your Black Swan Entertainment and Black Swan Capital before, but I haven’t received any responses. Knowing you’re classmates with Yiyi, and since I’ve known her for many years, I asked her for a small favor. I hope President Gu can understand our offense."
"Just tell me what you want."
Gu Bai interrupts impatiently.
Seeing this, Shan Fengling lets out a bitter laugh, slowly explaining, "It’s like this, President Gu. A few friends from the anime community and I have set up a website called ’Huafeng Dimension,’ which mainly targets those who like traditional Chinese style anime. We’ve already invested nearly 4 million RMB in it, but the website is currently stuck at a growth bottleneck and needs external capital to open channels. That’s why I had no choice but to contact you using this method."
Huafeng Dimension?
In his past life, Gu Bai had never heard of this website.
But then it makes sense. The internet is like a giant millstone, with countless people trying to make their fortune on it, rushing in batch after batch, already ground into dust.
Chances are this ’Huafeng Dimension’ was ground into powder and its ashes scattered.
"Since your target is the anime community, why come to me? You should go to A Station, B Station, C Station, or Penguin. If you really had the potential, someone should be waving piles of cash wanting to invest in you."
"We approached them, but they’re industry giants, and their terms are like wanting to eat up ’Huafeng Dimension’ without leaving even a bone. I can’t accept their conditions."
Gu Bai spreads his hands, "Why do you think you’d be able to accept my terms? Furthermore, I’m not interested in your ’Huafeng Dimension’ at all."
"I believe that sooner or later President Gu will venture into the anime industry, because the entire anime sector has already formed a dependency with the streaming industry. Since President Gu intends to develop in the streaming field, why not accept an emerging website that’s thriving?"
Looking at Shan Fengling in a cosplaying outfit discussing these business matters with him, Gu Bai feels an odd sense arise, as if this is his first business meeting. Though not very formal, he hadn’t expected it to be so unorthodox.
Noticing Gu Bai scrutinizing her outfit, Shan Fengling also cracks a somewhat embarrassed smile.
"All my clothes are this style, and because inviting President Gu was rather sudden, I didn’t have time to prepare formal attire."
"The word ’invite’ is quite aptly used."
Knowing she was in the wrong, Shan Fengling could only helplessly accompany her laughter with a smile.