Chapter 140: Chapter 139: Peony Garden (6/10)
Despite a series of interruptions.
The web celebrity festival was successfully held in the end. As the first company to organize a large-scale web celebrity festival, Xingnai Media had already made a name for itself. Additionally, the web celebrities under its banner were now also quite famous, giving off a flourishing vibe.
In the web celebrity circle, a few large web celebrity associations even considered following this model to hold a web celebrity gala. Although Gu Bai and Li Zhun heard about it, they weren’t worried at all.
The first person to eat the crab always finds it the tastiest.
Those who follow suit may have some impact, but definitely not much. To reach the level of this Xingnai web celebrity festival, 80 million is far from enough, and even doubling or tripling that might not suffice.
If those companies are willing to splash out money, then Gu Bai has nothing to worry about.
The three of them, Gu Bai, Li Zhun, and Zhao Weiwei, lacked everything but money.
Now that Xingnai Media is on the right track, their families are sure to provide support. In fact, in the past couple of days, investment institutions have been inquiring about potential financing.
The valuation given is 600 million.
Equivalent to the initial 200 million investment tripling in just a few months.
This also precisely proves that the web celebrity market is rapidly expanding.
............
Kyoto.
Hua Country’s first street - Chang’an Street, Changfu Palace Restaurant.
As one of the top-tier hotels in Kyoto, it is also the first choice for business banquets for various wealthy and famous individuals.
A few ordinary Mercedes-Benz business cars parked at the hotel entrance, with several bodyguards getting out of the cars and surrounding the main vehicle. Gu Bai, accompanied by Peng Shiba, slowly emerged from the back seat, and Principal Wang also got out from another car.
In his past life, Gu Bai had only been to Anhui Province and Shanghai, so this was the first time in both lives he came to Kyoto.
Principal Wang learned through the conversation that it was Gu Bai’s first time in Kyoto, jokingly asked him, "So? Do you find any difference between Kyoto and Shanghai?"
Gu Bai slowly shook his head.
Both are international metropolises, and he couldn’t see any difference in Gu Bai’s eyes. Maybe someone who has lived in Kyoto for a long time can feel the unique charm of the city.
Some people become drifters in Kyoto, some in Shanghai, but essentially it’s due to life’s pressures.
Gu Bai, on the other hand, saw every city the same, serving people. This is the reality after being extraordinarily gifted.
Before Gu Bai had too many sentiments, the general manager of Changfu Palace Restaurant had already walked out of the hotel.
"Young Master Wang, long time no see, you haven’t been here in a while."
Changfu Palace General Manager Yang Zheng warmly greeted Principal Wang with a smile.
For Principal Wang, who had lived long-term in Kyoto, Changfu Palace held the same significance as the Peace Restaurant did for Li Zhun and Gu Bai – a first-choice meeting place.
"I’ve been in Shanghai for a while, so I haven’t had time to come over."
"I understand, I understand, Young Master Wang, you’re a busy person, unlike us who have all the free time."
Principal Wang lightly smiled, introducing him, "This is my friend, Gu Bai."
Upon hearing this, Yang Zheng quickly greeted.
"Hello, Young Master Gu."
After the greetings, Yang Zheng slapped his forehead, pretended to be annoyed, and said, "Look at my head, just catching up and forgot to invite you in, Young Master Wang, Young Master Gu, please come inside."
Having said so, he made an inviting gesture.
Principal Wang and Gu Bai took steps towards the hotel, whereas Peng Shiba, though with hundreds of thousands of fans, was still just an 18-year-old girl. She held Gu Bai’s arm, too timid to speak.
"Old Gu, don’t mind it, it’s always like this in Kyoto. If you’re someone, it’s ’Young Master this’, ’Master that’, just ignore it."
He knew Gu Bai had a quirk, not liking being called Young Master Gu, so he explained it to him.
Gu Bai, upon hearing it, didn’t mind it, smiled gently, "It’s fine, when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
A month ago, Gu Bai might have found these titles somewhat awkward, but over time, he had already accepted the transformation of his identity. Even if someone tried flattering him by calling him Grandpa Gu, he probably wouldn’t care.
Seeing Gu Bai didn’t mind, Principal Wang didn’t say anything further.
Upon reaching the hotel lobby, Principal Wang asked Yang Zheng, "Have the guests I invited arrived?"
Yang Zheng hurriedly approached them.
"They arrived not long ago, and I’ve arranged them in Peony Garden Room No. 1."
Upon hearing this, Principal Wang ignored him, instead turning to Gu Bai.
"Do you want to keep them hanging for a while or go directly?"
He knew Gu Bai wasn’t here today for fun but came to address an issue, so it would be normal to let them wait a bit.
Without thinking much, Gu Bai replied calmly, "Let’s go directly. There’s nothing to wait for, just a minor celebrity. We should speak openly. If we can negotiate, we’ll negotiate; if not, then let it simmer."
These words sounded natural to Principal Wang’s ears, but carried another layer of meaning to Yang Zheng standing nearby.
Those guests were greeted by him personally, each of them a well-known figure. Hearing Gu Bai speak like they were some small fry, and with Principal Wang accepting it like it was expected, it seemed the guest of honor today was him. Who was this young man really? Yang Zheng searched his mind frantically for a notable Gu by surname but couldn’t place which family’s young master Gu Bai was.
No one cared about his thoughts as Gu Bai, along with Principal Wang, headed to Peony Garden Room No. 1.
Passing the noisy restaurant, they reached an elegantly serene corridor. The entire corridor was lavishly decorated, rightfully named Peony Garden for the peonies were its symbol. The walls were covered in national paintings, all designs of peony flowers, spreading over a corridor ten meters long, which housed only four rooms.
The door to each room had powerful cursive script written with a brush.
Flourishing wealth.
The "Wealth" room was the so-called Room No. 1, at the end of the corridor.
Two well-presented female attendants stood at the entrance, well-trained, and wore smiles even if no one was around.
Seeing Gu Bai and others approaching, they quickly greeted them politely.
"Clear out everyone,"
Principal Wang ordered, and Yang Zheng immediately removed the two attendants.
After instructing the bodyguards not to let idle people approach, Principal Wang directly pushed open the room’s door and went inside.
Upon entering, Gu Bai was a bit stunned, not because he didn’t recognize them, but because besides one middle-aged man, the other two were very familiar to Gu Bai.
Those seated at the table saw the newcomers and all stood up politely.
Regardless of Gu Bai’s intent today, as so-called high-society members, they needed to maintain basic etiquette.