To put it mildly, our ACG would face a great deal of restriction by then, to the point where we might not even be able to decide what kind of anime to make.
To put it more seriously, it was entirely possible that ACG might change hands outright.
Zhang Siyu shared her analysis with Fang Zheng.
If Fang Zheng had rejected TT Group from an emotional standpoint, then Zhang Siyu represented the rational side.
Whether in terms of the company's voice or control, she believed they should not join TT's plan, which would swallow them whole without even spitting out the bones.
ACG was too small. Although it had recently become hugely popular thanks to its anime, it was still nothing compared to a behemoth like TT.
The two could practically be said to be in the heavens and the underworld—a difference as vast as mud and clouds!
If TT really used financial tactics to absorb ACG, they would not even be able to make a ripple.
Therefore, joining or not joining made a fundamental difference to ACG.
If they joined TT's pan-entertainment plan, it would mean ACG was voluntarily giving others a chance to interfere. If they did not join, then ACG would remain Fang Zheng's entirely private property.
No matter how wealthy TT Group was, it would not dare brazenly infringe upon someone else's property. After all, citizens' private property was protected by law.
"Let's go. Come meet this TT vice president with me~"
Fang Zheng straightened his clothes. Since Zhang Siyu's answer matched his own, the matter would be easy to resolve.
Just refuse them outright!
His thoughts were simple: meet force with force, and counter water with earth. Although he had lived two lifetimes, he had never experienced a business war, so he did not understand what people meant when they said the business world was a battlefield.
But he knew that ACG's foundation lay in anime. And in the field of anime, Fang Zheng could proudly say that he was No. 1!
Unlike Fang Zheng, although Zhang Siyu also leaned toward rejecting TT's invitation, she had considered more things.
She had spent quite a while struggling in the business world. At the very least, compared to people her age, she was unquestionably among the outstanding ones.
She had seen all kinds of dirty tricks in business wars and knew that, for the sake of profit, people in business would stop at nothing. They would not hesitate even to risk exploiting loopholes in the law.
Not to mention that their opponent was a colossus like TT. Before overwhelming capital power, everything seemed so small and powerless.
Looking at Fang Zheng walking ahead of her, Zhang Siyu silently sighed.
Since she had boarded this pirate ship, since she had become CEO of A Company, she had to give it her all. At the very least, she could not let down this man's trust in her.
The two passed through the company's office area and arrived at the reception room.
Fang Zheng pushed open the door and walked in. As soon as he entered, he saw a middle-aged man in a suit sitting on the sofa, quietly savoring tea with his eyes closed.
A beautiful secretary stood beside the middle-aged man, warming the tea.
Fang Zheng pushed the door open and entered, but the middle-aged man acted as if he had not heard him. He remained seated on the sofa, showing no intention of standing to greet them.
Seeing this, Fang Zheng walked over with a smile and glanced at the two different packages of tea on the table before nodding.
One package was prepared by their company, specifically for entertaining guests. But now, their tea had been tossed aside as if it were garbage.
Beside the beautiful secretary sat an exquisitely designed box. From the box alone, it was obvious that the tea inside was expensive.
Clearly, the other party seemed unable to get used to their inferior tea, so he had brought his own tea to brew.
As expected of a "big shot" from TT Group. He really was an eye-opener!
When Zhang Siyu entered the reception room and saw that the other party was ignoring them, she was just about to greet him. Before she could say anything, however, Fang Zheng stopped her.
Fang Zheng glanced coldly at the middle-aged man on the sofa, who was putting on an act, and sneered inwardly.
What the hell are you putting on airs for? You're the one begging me to join you, not the other way around. Acting all high and mighty—who are you trying to impress?
Fang Zheng immediately shot Zhang Siyu a look, then walked straight out of the reception room without another word.
Since you like savoring tea so much, savor it by yourself in there. I don't have time to waste with you!
It was impossible for Fang Zheng not to be angry. The other man sat there like some great master, as though everyone from TT was born superior and anyone who saw them had to bow and scrape.
"Director Fang, are we really just leaving like this?"
Seeing Fang Zheng storming away, Zhang Siyu hurried after him.
"What else?" Fang Zheng's tone carried a trace of anger as he glanced at Zhang Siyu. "Siyu, you're ACG's CEO. Don't lower yourself just because of the other party's status. Bring out the aura of the strong businesswoman you usually are. The people from TT aren't three-headed or six-armed. What are you afraid of?"
Fang Zheng could tell that something was off with Zhang Siyu. Facing TT's representative, she seemed very nervous, as if she could not properly show her abilities.
Thinking of the other party's attitude in the reception room, acting as if he owned the place, Fang Zheng could not help feeling annoyed.
Damn it, this is my company! If you want to act like a big shot, go do it at TT's headquarters. This place is too small to house gods like you.
As he spoke, Fang Zheng's eyes rolled, and a mischievous smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. He found a cleaning lady and whispered a few words into her ear.
Watching the cleaning lady carry her tools toward the reception room, Fang Zheng sneered inwardly.
You're still acting this arrogantly on my turf? Today, I'll teach you how to respect people!
"What are you doing? What are you doing?!"
Not long afterward, a commotion broke out in the reception room. The middle-aged man, who had been acting so high and mighty, was awkwardly driven out by the cleaning lady.
"This is a company, not a place for you to mooch tea! Looking at the way you're dressed, you seem like someone important. How can you be so fond of mooching food and drinks?"
The cleaning lady's booming voice echoed through the corridor, attracting the attention of plenty of onlookers.
"When did I mooch food and drinks? I'm here to see your chairman!"
Sun Qian was practically furious. He had originally intended to give Fang Zheng a show of force, make him understand the difference between them, and then obediently sign the agreement.
But he had never expected Fang Zheng to pull something like this!
"You think I'm blind? Our chairman just left this place. Who are you trying to fool?" As she spoke, the cleaning lady picked up her broom and prepared to drive him away, her fierce nature on full display.
"Fang Zheng, are you really going to do this?!"
Sun Qian was not stupid. Without Fang Zheng's instructions, would a cleaning lady dare treat him like this?
Hearing Sun Qian's roar, Fang Zheng merely curled his lips in disdain.
However, since the other party had made things clear, it would be inappropriate for him to keep hiding to watch the show.
Seeing Fang Zheng walk out of the nearby office area with a grin, Sun Qian's face flushed red. Although he wished he could tear Fang Zheng limb from limb, he had no choice but to force a smile.
"Director Fang, what a move~"
"Heh heh, likewise~"
Looking at Sun Qian's smile, which looked worse than crying, Fang Zheng felt a wave of satisfaction.
"Director Fang, can we have a proper talk now?"
Sun Qian did not want to waste another moment speaking with Fang Zheng. Ever since he had risen to his current position, he had been treated like the center of attention wherever he went. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?
If not for the sake of making the pan-entertainment plan he oversaw more successful, he would never have come to a company whose assets were not even worth tens of millions.
"After you~"
Seeing Fang Zheng putting on an insincere show beside him, Sun Qian snorted coldly and turned to enter the reception room.
The reception room was a complete mess now. Clearly, the cleaning lady had been quite formidable.
Although some furnishings had been damaged, Fang Zheng was very satisfied with what the cleaning lady had done.
"Director Fang, I believe you understand why I've come. If there are no problems, please sign this agreement~"
After Sun Qian finished speaking, the beautiful secretary standing beside him placed a contract in front of Fang Zheng.
Looking at the contract on the table, Fang Zheng did not read it. Instead, he looked at Sun Qian and said, "Before we begin, shouldn't we introduce ourselves first?"
Creak!
Sun Qian clenched his fists. He did not believe Fang Zheng did not know who he was!
"This is Mr. Sun Qian, vice president of TT Group."
Before Sun Qian could speak, the beautiful secretary beside him introduced his identity to Fang Zheng with considerable pride.
Looking at the beautiful secretary with her chin held high, Fang Zheng gave her an amused smile. "Tsk tsk. Not to criticize you, but if you were my secretary, you would have been fired already."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng shook his head in disappointment. "When you introduce your own boss, how can you call him a 'vice' president? Even if he really is a 'vice' president, you shouldn't emphasize the word 'vice.' Doesn't saying 'vice president' make things awkward for him~"
Hearing Fang Zheng emphasize the word "vice" three times in succession, the beautiful secretary's face stiffened. She cautiously glanced at Sun Qian, and when she saw his gloomy expression, she secretly regretted it.
She knew her own limitations. She was nothing more than a pretty ornament. She had become his secretary entirely because of her looks. How could she understand all the intricacies of the workplace?
"Oh, I really wonder how Mr. Sun chose his secretary. Was it based on her face?"
Faced with Fang Zheng's mocking gaze, Sun Qian took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in his heart.
"Director Fang certainly has a sharp tongue, but I didn't come here to trade barbs with you."
As he spoke, Sun Qian pointed at the contract before Fang Zheng, signaling him to take a look.
Seeing this, Fang Zheng picked up the contract and flipped through two pages. The more he read, the more shocked he became.
Although TT Group had always had a poor reputation, Fang Zheng had never imagined that they would be so shameless.
The contract clearly stipulated that once ACG Culture Company joined the pan-entertainment plan, it would prioritize cooperating with the group to complete its strategic projects. Moreover, the production credits would bear the name of TT Group.
Secondly, TT Group would possess the legal right to use any work or character under ACG, while ACG Culture Company could not unilaterally terminate the agreement or authorize other companies to use those legal rights.
The third clause, the fourth clause...
After reading halfway, Fang Zheng threw the contract onto the table and stared expressionlessly at Sun Qian.
"Mr. Sun, this only specifies the obligations our ACG must fulfill. What about our rights?"
Fang Zheng did his best to make his tone sound natural, but in reality, he was already on the verge of exploding.
What did TT Group's contract take them for? Tools that could be summoned and dismissed at will?
Or did TT Group think that allowing ACG Culture Company to join its pan-entertainment plan was some kind of charity?
"Rights?" Sun Qian frowned slightly at Fang Zheng throwing down the contract. "You have the right to apply to use TT's publicity channels. I think you should understand the scale of TT's publicity channels~"
Hearing Sun Qian's shameless words, Fang Zheng laughed in anger.
Before you continue