36: Open an entertainment company

But he was Lu Qingyu, and his philosophy for running a company was different from his uncles in his previous life. His uncles loved poaching unwanted people from other companies, hiring returnees, and recruiting reserve talent for the company. The company had plenty of people, but few actually did any real work.

In a normal company, an average employee made eight thousand yuan a month, but with Lu Qingyu, he paid eighteen thousand. Employees were willing to work harder and treat the company like their home.

Therefore, although his company didn't have many people, they were united, efficient, and everyone could stand on their own two feet.

Lu Qingyu said, "Sure."

Wang Ning: "Okay, then I won't disturb you~ Wait, what did you say?"

Wang Ning thought he had misheard. He had expected to be rejected, but Lu Qingyu had actually agreed.

Lu Qingyu said, "The salary and benefits are not a problem. Now, I'm going to state my requirements."

Holy crap, the other party actually agreed to his demands! Wang Ning had eight hundred thoughts running through his mind at once. If he was really paid that much, he would be willing to work 007.

"Okay, please go ahead."

Lu Qingyu said, "I want to start a media company called Qingcheng Entertainment, focusing on short dramas. My profession will keep my schedule very tight, so I need someone to manage all the company's affairs."

"So, I am officially hiring you as the general manager of Qingcheng Entertainment."

Wang Ning was stunned for a moment. Lu Qingyu actually wanted him to be the manager? He had thought at most he would just be a team leader.

Wang Ning felt restless with excitement. It was the first time he had been entrusted with such a heavy responsibility. Although he didn't know exactly what he would be doing yet, he had already secretly made up his mind to do this job well.

Wang Ning waited obediently for what would come next. After a while, there was no follow-up, and he saw Lu Qingyu staring straight at him.

Wang Ning: "No, that's it?"

Lu Qingyu: "What follows is your job."

Wang Ning didn't understand what he meant: "My job?"

Lu Qingyu handed a document to Wang Ning. This was something he had made in his spare time while filming Love Journey.

The first spark of the short drama had to be enough to make everyone itch with anticipation. So, he had broken down the temptation to go home into a short drama format—three minutes per episode, tentatively 100 episodes, deleting redundant content and keeping only the melodramatic parts.

Wang Ning opened the file. Hmm, the temptation to go home. The name sounded a bit risqué.

"This is?"

Lu Qingyu: "The first project for Qingcheng Entertainment."

Lu Qingyu introduced it slowly, the script attached to the project proposal. Wang Ning flipped through it, and upon looking, he couldn't help but be surprised.

He was experienced in his work and could tell at a glance how excellent this proposal was. It was even detailed down to the budget for every single scene. As long as he followed this proposal, he wouldn't make any mistakes.

Wang Ning said very solemnly: "Okay, Mr. Lu. Rest assured, I will definitely not let you down."

Lu Qingyu: "I believe in you."

Wang Ning: "Mr. Lu, where is our company?"

Lu Qingyu naturally and confidently spat out two words: "None."

Wang Ning: "????"

Lu Qingyu: "The company hasn't been established yet. You need to go register it."

Wang Ning had a bad premonition: "Then... the employees?"

Lu Qingyu shook his head.

Wang Ning became even more agitated: "Then the actors, camera crew, director, venue, makeup, post-production?"

Lu Qingyu smiled slightly: "None of those either."

Wang Ning: "...So, I am the first employee."

Wang Ning felt like Lu Qingyu was joking.

Lu Qingyu nodded.

Wang Ning frowned. He had originally thought this was quite reliable, but how did things turn into this? "Mr. Lu, this is impossible."

Building a company from zero to one, with everything needing him to operate it—how much work would that be? He was afraid that before he could even collect his first month's salary, he would be worked to death.

No wonder Lu Qingyu was so quick to agree to his salary and benefits. This money wasn't easy to earn.

Doing the work of four or five people—Wang Ning was slightly considering backing out.

Seeing this, Lu Qingyu said very decisively: "I'll increase your pay to 1.5 million."

Wang Ning, who had originally had thoughts of retreating, stood up with a start and bowed to Lu Qingyu: "Mr. Lu, I will do my utmost to get things done beautifully."

Starting a business is always tough. If there are no conditions, create them; there are always more solutions than difficulties.

He would dedicate himself to Lu Qingyu.

A faint smile appeared on Lu Qingyu's face. If you pay an employee five thousand, they do two thousand worth of work. If you pay an employee 1.5 million, they will work themselves to death if they don't die from working.

Because funds were limited, the quality of the first short drama naturally couldn't compare to a feature film. Besides, for short dramas, what quality do you need? Just make it trashy and catchy, and you're set.

Lu Qingyu had already written all the requirements for the show in the project proposal; all Wang Ning had to do was execute them.

When Wang Ning left Lu Qingyu's apartment, he was pumped up like he'd been injected with chicken blood. He felt he was about to prove his value in life.

He called his dad: "Hey, Dad, I'm not coming home. I found a job. This time, as long as the company doesn't go bankrupt, I can work until I die."

The next day, Wang Ning buried his head and got to work. Any issue that could be solved early, he absolutely wouldn't bother his boss with.

Thus, in less than three days, the first team for Qingcheng Entertainment was assembled.

The studio rented an eighty-square-meter room. The photographer was found from a photo studio, the director was a junior student from the Media Academy, and the actors were hired from the Media Academy for two hundred yuan a day, including three meals.

Wang Ning doubled as the company's accountant, wishing he could split one cent into two to spend. Thus, under Lu Qingyu's purely hands-off approach, everything was left to Wang Ning to handle himself.

A week later, one-third of the temptation to go home had already been filmed.

Meanwhile, on Lu Qingyu's side, the second project Su Jixing found for him was a music variety show.