Chapter 148: Contract Trading

120 million.

Even Liao Yuan could not help but feel a wave of emotion.

In just three months, to transform an ordinary person with zero popularity into a mega-star pursued by hundreds of millions of fans—such a phenomenon was rare, even in his past life.

However, Produce 101 was broadcast across sixteen Asian countries, and with contestants from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and elsewhere participating, the show possessed a solid audience foundation in every nation. For instance, Jung Min-ah and Dou Jiajia—one a South Korean contestant, the other Thai—had both squeezed into the top ten. Their debut as part of the group was now an absolute certainty, which explained why public interest in them within their respective home countries was exceptionally blazing hot.

"What are your plans?"

Liao Yuan glanced at Dong Qiusheng and pondered, "Since you came to find me, you must have already figured out a strategy."

Dong Qiusheng looked at Liao Yuan with deep admiration. "You seem so certain. In that regard, you are the spitting image of your father. Since I came here, you must have already guessed my decision. Liao Yuan, if I hand these walking 120 million followers over to you, can you monetize them and multiply that value?"

Liao Yuan's eyelids twitched, and he gave a dry cough. "I can't guarantee that."

Dong Qiusheng laughed. "Regardless of whether you guarantee it or not, Meiqi is your own younger sister; surely you won't just sit back and watch her flash across the entertainment industry like a shooting star and vanish? Aren't you good at writing songs? I've seen the songs you've written, and they really are quite good. Once she officially debuts with the group, you should write more songs for them!"

Liao Yuan nodded. "That goes without saying. Even if Meiqi's contract weren't in your hands, I would still do so."

Dong Qiusheng nodded in satisfaction, but immediately added, "However, I must remind you that Liao Meiqi signed two contracts. One is her personal contract with Xinyuan Talent Agency, and the other is a contract signed between Xinyuan and the Produce 101 production team. For the next two years, as long as the production team doesn't propose disbandment, the eleven girls of Produce 101 must operate as a girl group."

"And after two years?" Liao Yuan asked.

Dong Qiusheng replied, "After two years, they can choose to continue operating as a group, or they can choose to go solo. In my view, it is inevitable that these girls will go solo. They have already accumulated enough popularity, and each of them has a fan base comparable to—or even exceeding—current domestic A-list stars. Moreover, their fans' purchasing power is quite substantial. Eleven people eating out of one bowl is never as satisfying as one person eating out of their own bowl. Coupled with the polarization of group popularity and wealth inequality, yet having to evenly split the revenues generated by group activities, dissatisfaction is bound to arise. After two years of accumulation and fermentation, that dissatisfaction will eventually cause problems. A peaceful disbandment is already the most perfect ending I can possibly envision."

Liao Yuan rubbed his temples, listening attentively to his uncle's analysis. After a long moment, he replied, "Two years is too far away, and countless unpredictable things will happen during that time, things that will influence the final outcome. Uncle, I won't think about that for now. What I want to know is, are you really going to transfer Meiqi's contract to me?"

Dong Qiusheng nodded. "Of course, and it will be a completely free transfer. Honestly, I wasn't very supportive of Meiqi's decision this time around, so the company didn't tilt any resources toward her. She was able to reach where she is today entirely through the joint efforts of you siblings. However, I do have another thought. I'm wondering what you think about it."

"What thought?"

"Your Little Yellow Croaker Culture is just starting out, and your resources are far too thin. I'm thinking of handing Xinyuan Talent Agency over to you to manage. What do you think?"

"I... don't really need it."

Liao Yuan shook his head. "The greatest value of Xinyuan Talent Agency right now is Meiqi. If Meiqi jumps over to my side, then the rest of Xinyuan doesn't hold much usable value. Transferring it to me would be less efficient than just letting it develop peacefully on its own."

"You're right."

Dong Qiusheng sighed. "In my hands, this Xinyuan Talent Agency really is like a tasteless chicken rib—boring to chew, yet a pity to throw away. Aside from Meiqi, the company's biggest asset right now is Zhang Ziming, an actor who won the Best Supporting Actor award at the National Drama Awards. Almost the entire company currently revolves around Zhang Ziming, while the other artists are all lingering in semi-obscurity. The annual revenue and expenditure are completely out of balance. If it weren't for Meiqi suddenly rising to prominence, I might have already sold off this company by now."

"Well... alright then."

Dong Qiusheng spoke with extreme difficulty and sincerity. This demeanor forced a bitter smile from Liao Yuan. "I'll take it over, okay?"

"Really?"

Dong Qiusheng's eyebrows immediately shot up in delight. "Good nephew, with those words from you, I can rest easy. How much do you think would be a fair price for me to quote you? Twenty million? That's at-cost..."

Liao Yuan's eyelids fluttered wildly. "I don't have that kind of money."

"I know."

Dong Qiusheng smiled. "I'll advance these twenty million first. Besides, you need to know that I only own 45 percent of Xinyuan Talent Agency's shares. Although I hold appointment and dismissal power in the board of directors, I can't make the call on a major direct transaction like this on my own. Therefore, I've decided to buy out the shares of all the remaining shareholders..."

"Buy them out? Will they agree? Even if they do, the price will surely be outrageously high, seeing as Meiqi's contract alone is worth over a hundred million," Liao Yuan frowned and said.

Dong Qiusheng smiled. "They'll have to agree whether they want to or not. The terms of Meiqi's contract are somewhat special; the first party is not Xinyuan Talent Agency, but myself. Therefore, I have the right to decide Meiqi's departure. Once I hand Meiqi's contract over to you, the value of Xinyuan Talent Agency will plummet sharply."

Liao Yuan said with some surprise, "The first party is you personally?"

"Of course." Dong Qiusheng patted Liao Yuan's arm and chuckled, "How could I casually hand over my own daughter's contract to someone else? I kept this little trick up my sleeve three months ago, and I never expected it would actually come in handy."

"Oh, right."

Dong Qiusheng checked the time and said, "Meiqi's contract was signed for a five-year term. I'll bring it to you tomorrow. But there is one thing you must know: our relationship must never be leaked. Externally, I will publicize that the contract transaction price reached 150 million. Whether people believe it or not, you must play along on your end, understand? You don't need me to teach you this kind of basic hype generation, do you?"

150 million...

Liao Yuan felt a slight ache in his teeth, but he still nodded and said, "Alright, I'll cooperate fully."

Dong Qiusheng's arrival completely exceeded Liao Yuan's expectations. Being able to obtain Meiqi's contract resolved a lingering worry he had harbored for a long time, and it was a completely unexpected blessing. Yet, the greatest surprise this time around was entirely this suddenly discovered uncle of his.