My capital is quite large.

Chapter 131 Vivendi's Underpants

As the Lunar New Year approaches, an unusually somber atmosphere has quietly permeated the entire Chinese internet.

After its defeat on PC-based social networking platforms, Tencent bided its time and finally played a game-changing card on mobile: WeChat!

Jinling, Haofeng Group Headquarters Building.

Li Feng stood in front of the panoramic floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the briefing on the table about Tencent's launch of this brand-new instant messaging software, his eyes calm and unwavering.

As a reincarnated individual, he naturally understands the potential of this super app, which will completely dominate the social lives of Chinese people in the future and has once become a kind of "digital organ."

However, social networking among acquaintances is Tencent's Achilles' heel and its lifeline; anyone who touches it will perish, as Lei Jun's MiTalk serves as a cautionary tale.

Since he knew perfectly well that this was the opponent's unassailable home ground, Li Feng naturally wouldn't waste his energy and money on such a meaningless war of attrition.

Moreover, as long as Haofeng Network firmly guards its two moats of "pan-entertainment content" and "public social square," no matter how powerful Tencent's WeChat is, it cannot shake its core business that rakes in huge profits every day.

For Li Feng, there was no time to deal with this newly launched instant messaging software.

With the help of this strategic cooperation agreement with Alibaba, Haofeng's funds have naturally become more abundant.

His gaze also crossed the ocean and landed on Europe!

……

A few days later, in Paris, France, at the Vivendi Group headquarters building.

Inside a meeting room filled with French luxury and classical charm, a multinational equity acquisition negotiation involving hundreds of millions of dollars has reached a tense stalemate.

Li Feng sat on one side of the long table, with Zhang Xinyu and several senior executives from Haofeng Network's multinational mergers and acquisitions standing behind him.

Across the long table, several senior French executives from Vivendi Group, responsible for asset disposal, had stern faces and appeared quite assertive.

"Mr. Li, I think our previous differences have been clearly expressed."

Vivendi's senior vice president spoke with an air of arrogance: "Acoustic Blizzard is currently the world's most valuable interactive entertainment company. Your offer of $4.2 million to acquire our 3% stake is simply too insincere."

"Our bottom line is $4.35 million! Furthermore, given the risks of cross-border transactions, we require that this payment be made in full and in one lump sum to our European account within three months!"

The French executive slightly raised his chin, adopting an uncompromising stance: "If Haofeng Network cannot accept these conditions, then I think there's no need for us to waste any more time."

$4.35 million, to be paid in full within three months!

Upon hearing this harsh condition, the faces of several merger and acquisition executives at Haofeng turned somewhat grim.

These Frenchmen are clearly trying to make exorbitant demands, taking advantage of their desire to infiltrate Blizzard's operations.

However, Li Feng, who was sitting in the main seat, only turned his head slightly and gave Zhang Xinyu, who was standing behind him, a look.

Zhang Xinyu understood immediately.

She stepped forward and slammed a thick stack of financial investigation reports, all in English, in front of several Vivendi executives!

"Gentlemen, there's no need to bluff in front of us."

Thanks to years of hard work, Zhang Xinyu was able to use fluent English to expose Vivendi's true colors!

"According to our in-depth background investigation by the Haofeng Wall Street Think Tank team, Vivendi Group's expansion in the telecommunications and entertainment businesses has been severely hampered, and the entire group is burdened with a massive amount of non-performing debt of up to 14 billion euros!"

"Standard & Poor's and Moody's, two major international rating agencies, have placed your credit rating on a 'negative watch list,' meaning a downgrade could occur at any time!"

As Zhang Xinyu rattled off a series of eye-catching financial figures, the previously aloof French executives opposite her began to look uneasy.

"I believe your company's rush to sell Activision Blizzard shares is not due to any so-called strategic adjustment, but rather to the short-term debt crisis that is due next month! And to prevent rating agencies from downgrading your credit rating!"

With their cards exposed in public, Vivendi's executives' arrogance vanished, and the meeting room fell silent.

At this moment, Li Feng slowly stood up and looked down at the group of outwardly strong but inwardly weak European capitalists.

"I'll give you a new price."

"$4.25 million. That's my final price, not a penny more."

"As for the payment method, half is paid upfront, and the remainder is paid off in six months."

"If you agree, the first payment can be deposited into your account tomorrow."

"If you don't agree, then we'll book our tickets and go home right now. You can just wait for the Wall Street vultures to come and bankrupt you!"

A blatant threat! A calculated scheme to take advantage of someone's misfortune!

The French executives looked ashen-faced. They knew very well that although Li Feng's conditions were demanding, they were the most sincere offer from the companies that had shown interest in taking over in the past six months.

If they continue to look for buyers on the international market, the lengthy due diligence process simply won't be enough to cover their debt default next month!

After several minutes of hushed discussion.

Finally, the Vivendi vice president sighed dejectedly and picked up the pen on the table.

"Mr. Li...you win."

"We agree to this plan."

……

Domestically, Jinling Xianlin Science and Technology City.

Haofeng Film & Television Headquarters Building, Artist-Exclusive Signing Room.

Yang Yang and Zhang Ruoyun, who had just finished a commercial performance out of town, were walking back to the company chatting and laughing, preparing to pick up their contracts for their next drama.

The two were stunned as soon as they pushed open the glass door of the artist department.

Inside the glass wall of the signing room, Lao Han, the director of the film and television department, was sitting at a desk, and opposite him sat a handsome young man.

"Hey? Yang-ge, did our artist department get a new member?" Zhang Ruoyun nudged Yang Yang with her elbow and asked.

Even though Zhang Ruoyun is older, in the entertainment industry, whoever has the biggest name is the boss. Yang Yang, who is already a rising star and a senior, naturally deserves to be called "brother".

"He looks unfamiliar, but he's quite handsome. I guess he's one of the new talents Old Han recently recruited," Yang Yang said casually.

The two entered the signing room, and Old Han just happened to push a thick contract in front of the young man.

"Come on, Yang Yang, Ruo Yun, let me introduce you."

Old Han pointed to the young man and said with a smile, "This is Li Yifeng, a new artist signed by our company. From now on, we'll all be fellow apprentices, so please take care of each other."

"Greetings, senior brothers! I am Li Yifeng. Please take care of me in the future." Li Yifeng quickly stood up and bowed humbly.

He debuted through a talent show several years ago, but has remained relatively unknown.

Being chosen by the deep-pocketed Haofeng Film and Television is an absolute godsend for him!

"You're too kind, please have a seat." Yang Yang and Zhang Ruoyun greeted each other warmly.

The two sat down to wait for Lao Han, their eyes casually sweeping over the spread-out management contract of Li Yifeng on the table.

A top-tier profit distribution of 50/50.

Yes, that's typical of Haofeng; everyone gets the same treatment.

However, when Zhang Ruoyun caught a glimpse of the second half of the contract out of the corner of her eye, her eyes widened in shock!

What the hell is this?!

The latter half of that contract was over a dozen pages long! It was densely packed with all sorts of harsh additional clauses!

Zhang Ruoyun couldn't help but move closer and gasped.

[Joint Liability Clause for Disgraced Celebrities: If, during the contract period, Party B engages in any illegal, unethical, or morally reprehensible conduct, such as soliciting prostitution, drug use, or tax evasion, resulting in the inability to broadcast or the removal of any films, television dramas, or variety shows in which Party B participated, or from all online platforms.]

[Party B shall fully compensate Haofeng Film & Television for all direct and indirect economic losses incurred as a result, and shall also pay an additional penalty of RMB 100,000,000.00!]

Not only that, there was also a supplementary agreement on the table for the male lead of the new drama, which also contained the same unfair clause of "removal and joint compensation" in black and white!

A penalty of 100 million yuan for breach of contract?! Plus full compensation for the losses suffered by the film and television production?!

If the house were to collapse, even if this kid boiled the bones into soup and sold it, he would never be able to pay off this astronomical sum in his lifetime!

Yang Yang also saw the outrageous terms, and the two looked at each other in disbelief.

When they signed with the company, although the penalty for breach of contract was as high as 50 million, that was only to prevent them from switching jobs.

As for the special clause about being removed from the platform and compensated with 100 million yuan for soliciting prostitution, there wasn't a single word about it in their contract!

"Director Han..." Zhang Ruoyun swallowed hard, pointed at the contract, and asked somewhat guiltily, "When did our company's contracts become so harsh? Is this targeting everyone, or..."

Old Han coughed twice, calmly put away the contract, and explained in an official tone:

"Oh, this? This is the latest instruction personally issued by General Manager Li."

"President Li said that starting this year, this is a 'new rule' for Haofeng Film and Television! From now on, all newly signed artists, regardless of gender, must have this dozen-plus-page 'Moral Conduct Compensation Clause' added to their contracts!"

"You signed the contract a few years ago, so you're lucky you missed this round of updates. But you still need to keep your integrity in mind; Mr. Li doesn't tolerate any impropriety."

Upon hearing that it was a new rule for the entire company, Yang Yang and Zhang Ruoyun breathed a sigh of relief, secretly glad that they had boarded the ship early.

Sitting opposite him, Li Yifeng looked at the hefty penalty of 100 million yuan. Although his hand holding the pen trembled slightly, his eyes were unusually firm.

"Director Han, please rest assured! I, Li Yifeng, am an honest man and would never do anything illegal or disorderly!"

Li Yifeng silently encouraged himself: "As long as I keep a clean record and stay away from drugs, gambling, and prostitution, this 100 million yuan penalty for breach of contract will always be just a decoration! As long as I can get close to Haofeng, I'm sure I'll become incredibly famous!"

Filled with boundless aspirations for his future as a top star, Li Yifeng signed his name on the contract and supplementary agreement that came with a hefty 100 million yuan constraint.