Chapter 194: Chapter 167: LPL Galaxy Battleship
In the highest presidential suite booked by the hotel, Gu Bai, Li Zhun, Principal Wang, and a few others sat on the sofa chatting.
"Gu Bai, we’ve officially started the B+ round of financing for Panda. Currently, your company is the only invitee. You could say this round of financing is opened just for you alone."
Hearing Principal Wang’s words, Gu Bai smiled.
Honestly speaking, apart from myself, who has the experience from a previous life and is willing to take the plunge, not many other investors are interested in joining Panda’s mess.
"Have you sorted out the internal management control?"
Principal Wang nodded.
"By giving up certain interests, a few other capital investors are willing to relinquish management control. As long as you invest in, our combined shares will ensure absolute authority in management control."
"Later, I’ll have Mr. Shao form an investment team to connect with your Panda, and just take advantage of the buzz from the founding of our Black Swan Capital to give Panda TV a wave of advertisement."
"That’s what I was thinking too."
After saying this, the two exchanged a knowing smile.
As long as the management team of Panda doesn’t get corrupted, with its current scale, it can definitely survive this fierce competition among live streaming platforms and even rank at the forefront. Then, we just have to follow the old paths of Douyu and Huya from the previous life, tying Tencent, this traffic empire, to our warship. With the continuous flow of support from Tencent, by next year, the era of Douyu and Huya standing equally might no longer exist in the live streaming industry, and the scene of a Three Kingdoms battle will reopen.
Just as the group was chatting, discussing where to relax in the evening, there was a knock on the door of the presidential suite.
"Come in."
Following Gu Bai’s response, Lu Wei opened the door.
"President Gu, I heard you were looking for me."
Although Gu Bai was already the chairman of the company and should be addressed as Chairman Gu, Lu Wei had gotten used to this title, and on Douyin, "President Gu" also became a personal moniker for Gu Bai.
Gu Bai didn’t make a fuss about the form of address, waving him in and gesturing for him to sit down.
Lu Wei looked at the people present, realizing none of them were within his reach in terms of stature, and sat on the edge of the sofa quite nervously, without his usual flamboyant demeanor from the live stream.
Gu Bai tossed him a cigarette, which Lu Wei quickly, albeit apprehensively, caught.
"I remember you played with UZI as a teammate, right? How’s your relationship?"
Faced with such a question from Gu Bai, Lu Wei was a bit dazed but still hurriedly and respectfully answered, "I have a pretty good relationship with him. Even though I’m retired, we’ve kept in touch, and he’s also in Shanghai now."
Hearing that UZI is currently in Shanghai, Gu Bai’s eyes lit up.
"Then can you get in touch with him? Just say I have something to discuss with him."
"Ah?"
Seeing Lu Wei’s puzzled expression, Gu Bai raised an eyebrow, "What’s wrong? Can’t reach him?"
"I can reach him, President Gu, just a moment."
After speaking, Lu Wei directly dialed UZI’s number.
Lu Wei very considerately put the call on speaker, and once connected, UZI’s voice came through the phone.
"Hey, Lu Wei, aren’t you attending your company’s founding ceremony? How come you have time to contact me?"
As industry friends, everyone knew Lu Wei had joined a great company and found a substantial backer, so UZI couldn’t help but tease a bit.
Under normal circumstances, with Lu Wei’s character, he might have bantered back with some sarcasm, but in this setting, he didn’t dare to be frivolous and went straight to the point: "Where are you now?"
"Had lunch with Xiaoming and the Factory Director, and now we’re thinking about where to have some fun, given we’ve been competing for a year straight, perfect time to relax during the break."
Upon hearing that the Factory Director was also there, Gu Bai directly said, "Have them come along too."
Following Gu Bai’s instructions, Lu Wei quickly said, "Don’t go play yet; my boss wants to meet you. Are you free? Come over now, and bring the Factory Director and Xiaoming along too."
"Your boss?"
Hearing Lu Wei mention his boss, UZI took a moment to register, asking a few seconds later, "You mean President Gu?"
"Yes."
By now, Gu Bai’s fame in the live streaming world was already on par with Principal Wang’s. One was a live streaming platform boss, and the other was the biggest guild owner on the entire internet; UZI quickly realized who Lu Wei’s boss was.
Gu Bai reached out his hand towards Lu Wei, "Let me talk."
Lu Wei promptly handed over the phone to Gu Bai.
"Is it Xiaogou? I’m Gu Bai, also the boss of Black Swan Entertainment. I want to discuss something with you guys. Do you have time?"
Upon hearing a new voice on the phone, although UZI had never interacted with Gu Bai before, he had long heard of his reputation, and his tone became slightly more respectful, "Hello, President Gu. I personally have some time now, but I need to check with the Factory Director and the others."
"That’s fine."
On the other side of the phone, UZI could be heard asking around.
In less than a minute, UZI’s voice came back.
"President Gu, where are you right now? We’ll head over immediately."
"Go to the front desk at the Shangri-La Hotel, and someone will guide you over."
After receiving UZI’s confirmation, Gu Bai hung up the phone and handed it back to Lu Wei.
Upon seeing Gu Bai hang up, Principal Wang asked with a smile, "Are you serious? Really planning to poach UZI?"
"Do I look like I’m joking?"
"I’ve heard UZI’s termination fee is 120 million, and combined with his salary and other contracts, bringing him over won’t cost less than 200 million."
"Money isn’t important to me. Not only UZI; I’ve also contacted EDG, asking them to let the Factory Director and Coach Ah Bu join me, but they haven’t responded yet."