If they continued lowering the price, they might be able to barely maintain operations for a while with the money Fang Zheng had invested at the beginning. But over time, even if Fang Zheng were incredibly wealthy, this bottomless pit would swallow every last penny.
Therefore, the company had to turn a profit, using its profits to support Fang Zheng in creating more anime, rather than relying on Fang Zheng's anime production income to support the company's operations.
This was the most fundamental issue. If they violated this principle, the company absolutely would not last long.
Trust went both ways. A Company had shown its users the utmost sincerity, so Zhang Siyu also hoped the users would support them as much as possible, rather than leaving A Company to shoulder everything alone.
"So, Director Fang, what should we do next? Should we air the newest episode of Akame ga Kill! as usual?"
Zhang Siyu saw that most of the users understood the situation, and that quite a few people were standing up for them. Her mood immediately improved.
"Air the newest episode of Akame ga Kill! as usual?" Hearing Zhang Siyu's words, Fang Zheng froze, then shook his head like a rattle and said, "No, no, no. We won't be airing Akame ga Kill! next!"
"Not airing it?!" Zhang Siyu blinked in confusion and looked at Fang Zheng.
Logically speaking, A Company had just gained a huge wave of goodwill from its users. Shouldn't they take advantage of the momentum and immediately air the latest episode of Akame ga Kill!?
That would also stimulate another wave of user payments and launch the company's first self-sustaining revenue model.
After all, for users who truly loved anime, Akame ga Kill! was impossible to resist. In that sense, A Company had practically signed an unfair contract with its audience.
If they wanted to watch the anime, they could only come to A Company. However, both Fang Zheng and Zhang Siyu believed in giving the audience the utmost sincerity.
If it had been another platform, they might have handled things very badly. Not everyone was as indifferent to money as Fang Zheng.
"If we aren't airing Akame ga Kill!, then what are we doing next?"
Zhang Siyu sounded somewhat worried. After all, just yesterday, A Company's official website had announced the release schedule for Akame ga Kill!: five episodes on the first day, followed by one episode every day.
But now they weren't airing an episode on the second day. Wasn't that blatantly standing the audience up?
"What are we doing?" Hearing Zhang Siyu, Fang Zheng gave a cold chuckle. "Of course, we're doing this."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng picked up the phone on the desk and called the person in charge of A Company's official Weibo account.
"Feature and pin the post that spoke up for us. Don't take it down for a week!"
Although the ACG Community's server was provided by the system, its daily maintenance and management were handled by dedicated personnel.
For a video website, the server was its foundation. If Fang Zheng kept relying on the system to provide the server, he would not only have to pay extra Reputation Points but would also arouse suspicion.
Therefore, when he established the company, Fang Zheng hired dedicated staff. Managing A Company's official Weibo account was naturally one of their duties.
After hanging up, Fang Zheng smiled to himself.
Being insulted and cursed at without fighting back simply did not suit his personality!
However, times had changed. Fang Zheng was now, at any rate, a public figure and the founder of an anime company. He still had to pay some attention to his image.
But paying attention to his image did not mean he had to take insults without retaliating. As for those malicious users online who accused him of exploiting the fans for money, he would simply pin them up and teach them a lesson.
That way, he did not need to act personally. A Company's loyal users could practically curse those people to death.
His only role was to put those people on display so that the users and fans could publicly tear them apart.
"Why are you making that face?"
Fang Zheng looked up at the stunned Zhang Siyu and could not help feeling puzzled.
Did I do something inappropriate?
Zhang Siyu looked at Fang Zheng and suddenly realized that she still understood far too little about him.
Take today's situation, for example. Wouldn't most people normally thank the netizens for their support, then post a message of gratitude on Weibo or in the community?
How had things turned into pinning posts and publicly tearing people apart with Fang Zheng?!
"Director Fang, how come I never realized before that you were so tough, so... petty!"
Zhang Siyu thought for a long time before finally settling on "petty" to describe Fang Zheng.
It was impossible for a public figure not to have a few haters. Even highly respected public figures were no exception.
When faced with haters, normal people either ignored them or avoided discussing them altogether.
Fang Zheng, however, had gone in the opposite direction, delivering a full combination attack against them. That entire series of outrageous moves had practically blinded her.
So it can be done this way~ After hearing Fang Zheng's arrangements, that was Zhang Siyu's first reaction.
"Endure for a moment, and the storm will pass. Take a step back, and the sea and sky will open up. You think I share the same view as you, don't you?"
"Isn't that right?"
"But there is another way to say it. Do you know what it is?"
"????"
Zhang Siyu looked at Fang Zheng in confusion, not understanding at all. Wasn't that how normal people thought?
Fang Zheng gave Zhang Siyu a playful smile and said softly, "Endure for a moment, and you'll only grow angrier. Take a step back, and you'll only feel more cheated!"
Zhang Siyu silently stared at Fang Zheng. After hearing his words, she suddenly felt that all her compulsory education had been wasted.
Pfft~
After staring at Fang Zheng speechlessly for a long while, Zhang Siyu finally could not hold back and burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha~ Director Fang, did you attend cram school during your compulsory education? Why are you so talented? Where did you hear all these twisted arguments~"
Zhang Siyu laughed so hard she was gasping for breath. One hand rested on the desk while the other clutched her stomach, and tears of laughter streamed from her eyes.
"Is it really that funny?"
Fang Zheng had never expected such an old joke to make Zhang Siyu lose control so completely. Do girls really have such low thresholds for laughter?
"Enough, stop laughing. Make the arrangements. I'm going to livestream!" Once Zhang Siyu had laughed enough, Fang Zheng looked at her and gave the order.
Airing the latest episode of Akame ga Kill! was impossible. Once the next episode aired, the audience would definitely explode. In this regard, Fang Zheng's survival instincts were still very strong.
He could delay it for one more day. Even one day was good!
"What did you say?" Zhang Siyu stared at Fang Zheng in disbelief. "You want to livestream?"
"Yeah. What's wrong?"
Hearing Fang Zheng's matter-of-fact reply, Zhang Siyu slapped a hand against her forehead. Her good mood instantly gave way to speechlessness.
"My dear Director Fang, have you ever seen a company CEO run off to livestream?" Zhang Siyu tried to make her tone as gentle as possible, hoping to talk him out of this absurd idea. "What are you planning to do, change careers and become a streamer? An internet celebrity?"
Looking at Fang Zheng's dazed expression, Zhang Siyu truly did not know what to say. He had a perfectly good anime company and was the chairman of a perfectly good company, yet he wanted to run off and livestream?!
If you have that much free time, you could at least help me handle some of the company's affairs! Zhang Siyu felt like she was going crazy.
"What's wrong with being an internet celebrity? There are different levels of internet celebrities, you know~"
Fang Zheng was unconcerned by Zhang Siyu's words.
First there was Jack Ma, who claimed not to be interested in money, and then there was Wang Jianlin, who talked about setting a small goal of one hundred million. Weren't these Big Shots with their famous sayings internet celebrities too?
"Enough. It's settled. I know what I'm doing. Go notify them."
Seeing that Zhang Siyu was about to say more, Fang Zheng waved his hand and made the final decision.
"Then... all right~"
Zhang Siyu opened her mouth, but when she saw Fang Zheng's resolute gaze, the words at the tip of her tongue turned into a helpless sigh.
Fang Zheng usually respected the opinions of his subordinates. He carefully considered their suggestions as well. However, he was still the company's chairman, and his status and position carried weight.
Since Fang Zheng had said so, she, as the CEO, could only carry it out.
Fang Zheng watched as Zhang Siyu, dressed in professional attire and clicking away in high heels, left the office with a series of click-clacks. Only then did he let out a long breath.
"Phew~ I finally managed to buy one more day. Good job, haters. Good job~"
Fang Zheng was delighted that the airing of Akame ga Kill! had been delayed. He even could not help applauding those who had insulted him. Without them, he could not have openly delayed the release, after all.
Soon, Zhang Siyu passed Fang Zheng's plans along, and A Company's official Weibo account prepared to issue an announcement.
At that moment, A Company's users had no idea that the Big Shot Fang they were supporting was preparing to stand them up. They were still enthusiastically discussing A Company's outrageous official-Weibo maneuvers.
"666! Pinning and featuring it—what a vicious move!"
"My official Weibo girl won't put up with this! Since you've finished insulting us, it's my turn to perform!"
"Big Shot Fang is so cool for going head-to-head with those idiots. What do I do? I think I've fallen hopelessly in love with Big Shot Fang!"
"Miss, you above... holy crap! You're a man!"
The fans burst into laughter over Fang Zheng's series of outrageous moves. It was the first time they had seen such an entertaining way of dealing with the situation.
In the past, when public figures were insulted, they either let it pass or pretended not to see it. They were sick of both approaches.
They had originally thought Fang Zheng would handle things the same way. Who could have expected A Company's official Weibo account to make everyone laugh themselves silly with a single pinned and featured post?
So haters could be dealt with this way too. As expected, Big Shot Fang, whom they liked, never disappointed them. He was just as unconventional as ever.
Many people said they had learned something. However, before they could enjoy themselves for long, the official Weibo girl posted another announcement.
"Dear users, regarding the unpleasant incident that occurred on our platform tonight, with Big Shot Fang's approval, the airing of Akame ga Kill! will be delayed by one day. We apologize for the inconvenience~"
Many viewers froze in front of their computers when they saw the official Weibo post. Their eyes went blank, and they looked as if they had been struck by lightning.
Slowly, their expressions grew darker and darker, and their breathing became heavier. Quite a few hot-tempered men even clenched their fists until their veins bulged.
They had crouched in front of their computers long ago to watch the newest episode of Akame ga Kill!. They had snacks and cola ready, waiting for the broadcast to begin.
And then you told them you had stood them up?!
How could anyone tolerate that? The viewers who saw the post immediately grabbed their keyboards, typed furiously, and started cursing!
"Grass Mud Horse, you haters! Look at what you've done!"
"I skipped evening self-study to watch Akame ga Kill!. Because of you idiots, I skipped it for nothing!"
Before you continue