Chapter 165: Chapter 153: Wang Quan Takes the Fall
Seeing this, Gu Bai also smiled gently.
"Then I’ll be straightforward. The reason the principal invited you here this time is that I have a business proposition to do with you. Let me first explain the details. If you’re willing to join, we can make money together in the future. If not, I won’t insist, and we’ll still be friends."
As soon as Gu Bai finished speaking, everyone quickly echoed, then quietly waited for Gu Bai’s continuation.
"We are all young people, and I believe you often go to nightclubs, right? What do you think of nightclub revenues?"
Gu Bai didn’t rush to explain but slowly asked them a question.
"Of course, who doesn’t know that money in the night scene is easy to earn? As long as there’s enough crowd, earning millions in a single night isn’t a problem."
Du Jun is probably a regular at nightclubs. As soon as Gu Bai asked, he spoke up confidently, as if he knew all about nightclubs.
Hearing Du Jun’s words, Gu Bai glanced at him, his gaze unreservedly appreciative.
He didn’t know Du Jun at all before, but this guy was like a perfect foil, cooperating with what he said exceptionally well. If there weren’t so many people, Gu Bai would have liked to tell him, "Young man, I have high hopes for you."
"Du Jun is right. As living standards rise, young people have become the main consumer base. Industries built around young people have entered a booming phase. Nightclubs, a consumer venue tailored for young people, are making more money year after year."
With Gu Bai saying this much, if they still didn’t understand, they would be complete fools.
"Brother Bai wants to open a nightclub?"
Hearing this, Gu Bai nodded slowly.
"That’s correct, but not entirely.
I plan to create the largest nightclub in Asia. The domestic nightclub market has already been divided up pretty well. Larger cities have several branded nightclubs stationed. Making money from an untapped market is impossible now. Anyone trying to enter must grab customers from inside other nightclubs since the main consumers are young people—all about the show. Being labeled the number one in Asia should be enough, right?"
Gu Bai’s simple words immediately captured the hearts of this group.
If they follow the blueprint Gu Bai designed, the project isn’t just feasible; it’s incredibly feasible!
Although the domestic entertainment market has started aligning with global standards, there are still too few high-end entertainment options. Looking at Gu Bai’s idea, he’s going the high-end route!
"Brother Bai, why don’t you share your thoughts?"
After stubbing out his cigarette, Gu Bai slowly said, "This club will be funded by the principal and me. I’ll take 60%, the principal 20%, and the remaining 20% will go to you all, and you won’t need to invest a cent. All I need is for you to help me with one thing."
Everything previously mentioned could be seen as Gu Bai painting a big picture.
The last sentence was Gu Bai’s true goal.
He had put a massive green hat on Lu Mao. Although by now, Lu Mao might have already finalized his divorce with Zeng Yaning, that hat was not so easily removed.
There are four great enmities in life that can’t be reconciled.
Wife-snatching hatred, father-killing hatred, national ruin rage, and massacre hatred.
In modern society, the latter three enmities are rare, so wife-snatching hatred is considered the greatest enmity. Gu Bai and Lu Mao had such a deep grudge that one could hardly expect Lu Mao to wear a Panda mask and smile, saying, "Of course, I forgive him."
Although Lu Mao seemed very docile now, that was only because he understood he couldn’t afford to offend Gu Bai. Once he gained power, retaliating wildly would be inevitable.
Although backed by the system, Gu Bai couldn’t foresee a day when Lu Mao could surpass him. But it’s best to nip trouble in the bud. Since they already had a grudge, it might as well be settled once and for all. With Gu Bai’s current capabilities, achieving it wasn’t difficult.
"Brother Bai, tell us what you need. As long as we can do it, we won’t refuse."
The implication was that if it could be done, it would be, but if not, there was no way.
People say Kyoto folk are straightforward, but that’s only relatively speaking.
This second generation, influenced by the previous one, is as shrewd as anyone. Even if they want to curry favor with Gu Bai, they wouldn’t rashly take on everything he says.
Gu Bai thought their reaction was entirely normal.
With a light smile, he said: "Given your status, accomplishing this task is effortless; it just depends on whether you’re willing to do it."
Those who have been entrenched in Kyoto for years may not have a very high net worth, but when it comes to their network, "intricate" is the word to describe it.
"I have a conflict with one of MIX’s shareholders, and right now, MIX’s location perfectly suits our new club’s vision. So I want to acquire MIX, then upgrade it to create our own nightclub crown."
"MIX?"
"Yes."
After Gu Bai finished speaking, all the second-generation members fell into silent contemplation.
That’s the nature of business discussions. Although Gu Bai had stated he would give up 20% of the new club, and it’s unlikely he’d be lying given his reputation, they had to consider whether it was worth it.
Gu Bai also stayed silent, giving them plenty of time to think. If they agreed, that would be best; even if they didn’t, he had his own way to deal with Lu Mao, just a matter of time and cost.
Gu Bai had already discussed this with Principal Wang. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have offered the funds to partner with Gu Bai.
What can unite two people in taking on risks?
Not friendship.
Ideals are nonsense.
Only shared interests can tie two people together; nothing else can.
Initially, Gu Bai’s conflict with Lu Mao had nothing to do with Principal Wang. But since he invested to partner with Gu Bai, they had already become a shared-interest community in this matter, even though Gu Bai took the larger share of the interest.
"Gu Bai has spoken for so long, let me say a word.
Once the new club is built, I promise that annual profits won’t be less than half a billion. If it doesn’t reach this, Gu Bai and I will buy back all your shares at this price. So, if you agree to these terms, you’ll receive a ten million dividend each year, even averaging out to several million for each individual."
Nothing is more real than hard cash.
After Principal Wang’s words, Du Jun was the first to speak: "If it were any other nightclub, it might be a bit tricky, but MIX’s major shareholder is Wang Quan, famously solitary. If Brother Bai wants to tackle him, no one in the Beijing Circle will intervene. Since Brother Bai wants us to make money, I can’t refuse Brother Bai face. I don’t know what others think, but I’m in, Du Jun! Just tell us what to do, Brother Bai!"
"Hey! Du Jun, what do you mean by that? Are you saying you’re the only man here? Does that mean the rest of us aren’t up to it? I’ll join in on this too. It’s just Wang Quan; I’ve disliked him for a long time!"
"I’ll join in for some fun too."
"Since you all agreed with Brother Bai, how can I refuse, or else it’d seem like I don’t respect him? OK, count me in!"
Once the first person stepped up, the rest quickly followed suit.
Everyone has their scales, and after weighing them, they realized this is a guaranteed profitable deal.
Hearing this, Gu Bai and Principal Wang exchanged glances and then chuckled.
The consensus was reached faster than Gu Bai imagined.
Did he suffer a loss by giving away 20% of the shares for free?
That depends on perspective. You could say he did, or didn’t.
It’s known that hogging all the benefits is never a good habit. Although Gu Bai is ambitious, he is quite clear on many aspects; some seemingly minor roles can achieve unexpected impacts in a specific context.
Besides, these people present aren’t minor roles; they’re genuinely influential in the second generation.
Helping him deal with Lu Mao isn’t a significant task. More importantly, once the new club starts, there will be numerous troubles from all sides, and these people with free dry shares will inevitably have to contribute.
Using 20% of dry shares to ensure peace.
No matter how he calculated it, Gu Bai didn’t feel he was at a loss.
However, Gu Bai did feel a bit sorry for the guy named Wang Quan.
As he was just minding his own business as the owner of MIX, he somehow took the blame for Lu Mao.