Wednesday, December 2nd.
Lin Feng spent most of the day working on new music with Mengqi.
This track was a little different. It wasn't as simple as pirating music from the future and having Mengqi "restore" it. The exact piece he needed for his plan didn't exist - at least, not in the traditional sense.
But there were multiple tracks that fit the general feel he was going for.
So the process involved pirating several songs from the future, then using them as a baseline to compose an original track tailored to their needs.
It wasn't going to be easy.
But he supposed he didn't mind. The restored tracks could always be used for a future album - or to repackage the mini.
On the Fool's Gambit side, the game had hit the Western market the previous day after being featured on the front page. It received 10,000 sales then, and another 12,000 today.
He hoped it would continue rising steadily and make the most of the promotion.
On the local market, the hype was also growing. Several gaming streamers had picked it up, and a few viral clips were beginning to circulate.
This should contribute to further growth.
…
Thursday, December 3rd.
He continued working on the music with Mengqi.
He also had some discussions with Attorney Qian regarding the new business he was planning to open.
At Tianji, things were beginning to change. The advertisements were working, and their daily growth was finally showing a positive shift.
On Xunfeng's end, Li Jun was handling the paperwork - and he'd managed to negotiate a deal with their supplier.
A fifty percent margin.
That was quite impressive.
As for the game, sales continued to climb steadily.
His balance had also officially crossed two million yuan.
He was a genuine tycoon now.
…
Friday, December 4th.
Nothing much happened.
Just the usual.
…
Saturday, December 5th.
It had officially been two weeks since Su Yue's last stream.
To avoid starving her fans too much, she went live again.
This time, she returned to her roots - singing songs.
She peaked at around 350,000 viewers with an average of about 200,000.
As for income, she made a total of 2.5 million yuan in gifts. From that, she kept 1.5 million, and Xingyao took just under 400,000.
Lin Feng noticed that her training was paying off. She had improved even more since the last time.
…
The rest of the weekend passed without much incident.
…
Monday, December 7th.
Li Jun finalized their paperwork.
They also rented the warehouse.
Workers were brought in to handle the shelving and equipment installation. If all went well, everything should be operational by next week.
On the Fool's Gambit side, the game was beginning to genuinely pop off.
Several viral clips had been produced by Western gaming streamers, and the momentum was building.
That day alone, they had over 20,000 sales.
Lin Feng felt a twinge of regret for taking out the dividend money early. It meant he would miss out on this surge.
Then he paused.
Wait.
No one said dividends had to be annual.
A slow smile spread across his face.
…
Tuesday, December 8th.
He continued working on the songs with Mengqi.
Progress was steady.
…
Wednesday, December 9th.
Lin Feng stood before his mirror, adjusting his suit.
Today was different.
Today, he had other plans.
The Hangzhou Cultural Heritage Auction.
It was time to meet with Chairman Wu.
…
The Hangzhou Cultural Heritage Auction was held in one of the city's most prestigious venues - a renovated historical building near the West Lake.
Lin Feng arrived dressed in a tailored suit, looking every bit the young entrepreneur the media had made him out to be.
The auction hall was already filling with guests. Men in expensive suits chatted in small groups. Women in elegant dresses examined the catalog. Waiters moved silently between them, offering champagne and hors d'oeuvres.
So this is how the other half lives.
He scanned the room and spotted Chairman Wu near the entrance, speaking with a group of older businessmen.
Lin Feng made his way over.
The chairman noticed him and smiled warmly.
"Lin Feng. Glad you could make it."
"Chairman Wu." Lin Feng nodded respectfully. "Thank you for the invitation."
The chairman turned to the men beside him.
"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce Lin Feng - founder of Fenghua Holdings. You may have seen our segment on Hangzhou Tonight."
Recognition flickered across their faces.
"Ah, the young entrepreneur," one of them said. "I saw that interview. Quite impressive for someone your age."
"You're too kind," Lin Feng replied. "I've simply had good fortune and good mentors."
He glanced at the chairman, who just smiled.
The conversation continued for a few more minutes - pleasantries, business talk, the usual. Lin Feng played his part well, deferring to the chairman when appropriate, speaking confidently when addressed directly.
Eventually, the group dispersed to find their seats.
The chairman leaned closer as they walked.
"You're a natural at this," he said quietly.
"I learn quickly."
The chairman chuckled. "Indeed you do."
…
They found seats near the middle of the hall - visible enough to be seen, but not so prominent as to draw excessive attention.
As Lin Feng settled in, he scanned the crowd once more.
He spotted some people he recognized from TV.
This wasn't going to be easy.
Lin Feng had done his research. From what he knew, the chairman of the Zhao Group, Chairman Zhao Chenguang was a collector - particularly fond of traditional pieces.
If Lin Feng wanted to make an impression at the birthday banquet, he needed to not only identify the right gift, but also snatch it from the claws of all these bigshots.
…
The auction began.
The auctioneer - a middle-aged man with a smooth voice - stood at the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Hangzhou Cultural Heritage Auction. Tonight, we have assembled a remarkable collection of antiques, art pieces, and cultural artifacts for your consideration."
He gestured to the display beside him.
"Let us begin."
The first few items were paintings. Landscapes, calligraphy scrolls, portraits of historical figures. They sold quickly, each fetching prices in the hundreds of thousands.
Lin Feng watched carefully, getting a feel for the rhythm of the auction.
The bidding moves fast. You need to be decisive.
More items came and went. A jade ornament from the Qing dynasty. A bronze vessel from the Han period. An antique sword that supposedly belonged to a famous general.
Chairman Wu bid on a calligraphy scroll and won it for 300,000 yuan. He seemed pleased with the acquisition.
Lin Feng continued to wait.