Commission

"...Did you see my plan to acquire an internet company? I'm planning to launch a video-sharing website when the talent show starts and partner with the two major telecom operators, so viewers can support their idols by voting through their phones or online. They'll also be able to search for videos of their idols on the site. Later, we could launch an e-commerce platform to make it easier for viewers to buy merchandise related to their favorite stars..."

Once Wei Linxuan got started on his grand business plans, he became quite the talker.

After listening for a while, Lu Heng finally understood. These plans were still just Wei Linxuan's private ideas; he hadn't had a chance to discuss them with Old Master Wei and Wei Dad yet.

Wei Linxuan wanted to polish the proposal and make it more professional before presenting it, ironing out as many flaws as possible. That way, he could show how much he'd grown since before.

The trouble was, the stakes were high. Wei Linxuan wanted someone to discuss the plans with, but he didn't trust anyone else and was afraid of leaking trade secrets. After thinking it over, he'd somehow decided that Lu Heng was the most trustworthy buddy he had.

Lu Heng: You really think that highly of me.

Jokes aside, Lu Heng was still eager to share his opinions. He might not have much talent for business planning, but he'd spent his previous life in the entertainment industry and had seen plenty of talent shows run according to the most mature formats. So his suggestions were naturally pretty sound.

Wei Linxuan felt he'd learned a great deal.

By the time the two of them came to, it was completely dark outside.

Wei Linxuan looked at Lu Heng apologetically. "How about I treat you to dinner?"

Before he'd even finished speaking, the phone in his schoolbag suddenly rang.

It was Fang Yuqing, asking Wei Linxuan when he'd be home. Dinner was almost ready.

Lu Heng waved him off. "Go on home. I'll order takeout."

Wei Linxuan glanced at Lu Heng, then said directly to Fang Yuqing, "I'm at Lu Heng's place. We're discussing something. I'll bring him home for dinner later."

After hanging up, Wei Linxuan said decisively, "My grandpa and dad are both home, as it happens. We can discuss the proposal with them. There may be some details you'll need to fill in."

Lu Heng: "..." What do I have to do with this?

Author's note:

Bonus scene—

Wei Linxuan: At first, we were just innocent little buddies. ︿(￣︶￣)︿

Lu Heng: Oh!

Chapter 20: Commission

Fang Yuqing sent a driver to pick them up, then timed it so the kitchen would have dinner ready.

By the time Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan arrived at the Wei family home, dinner had just been served.

The warm glow of yellow lights filled the entryway. Fang Yuqing, elegantly made up, stood there with a gentle smile. "Welcome, Xiao Heng. It's lovely to have you over."

She took Wei Linxuan's schoolbag and gave Lu Heng a careful once-over, her brows drawing together slightly. "You've lost weight, Xiao Heng. Was filming exhausting?"

Lu Heng shook his head with a smile. "Filming was fun."

Fang Yuqing smiled too. "I spoke with Director Fang on the phone. He said you're a very talented kid and that he has high hopes for you. That's why he's been a little strict with you."

Thinking of how attentive and responsible Fang Kaizhi was, Lu Heng couldn't help saying, "Director Fang is a good person."

"He even went to the trouble of preparing a special poster for Lu Heng. And I have to say, Lu Heng looks great on camera in costume. I almost didn't recognize him."

Wei Linxuan changed into slippers and tugged Lu Heng toward the bathroom. "You can talk later. Go wash your hands first. I'm starving."

"...If you knew you were hungry, why did you come home so late?" At the dinner table, Old Master Wei scolded him sternly. "Your uncle, your father, and your older brother all work at the company, and none of them are as busy as you."

"Exactly. You come home this late every day—you're busier than the country's premier!" Wei Hongxuan chimed in with a teasing grin. "I wonder if you even passed your exams this time."

Wei Linxuan glanced at his older brother, placed a piece of braised pork in Old Master Wei's bowl, and said with a beaming smile, "Grandpa, don't accuse me unjustly. I came home late because I had something important to do."

"Oh?" Before Grandma Wei could react, Old Master Wei swiftly grabbed the piece of braised pork and popped it into his mouth. As he savored the rich, meaty flavor, he narrowed his eyes in satisfaction and teased, "And what important thing did my precious grandson have to do?"

As he spoke, Old Master Wei reached for the pork knuckle in front of him as casually as he could. Grandma Wei silently put two pieces of celery in his bowl, then held her own bowl out to him. With a sheepish look, Old Master Wei reluctantly placed the pork knuckle in her bowl and said with a smile, "The pork knuckle turned out great today."

"Old Zhou is a good cook, of course." Grandma Wei smiled warmly at Old Master Wei. "His celery and lily bulb dish is delicious too."

Old Master Wei swallowed half a bowl of celery with an expression that said, "I'm not happy, and I'm having feelings about it." Wei Linxuan almost burst out laughing, but he cleared his throat and said solemnly, "I've written a proposal about the talent show. I'd like to hear Grandpa's advice."

With that, Wei Linxuan laid out his entire plan. Along the way, he also included quite a few suggestions Lu Heng had given him.

"This is just an initial idea from the two of us. Whether it can actually be done depends on the company putting it into action." In front of his family, Wei Linxuan was especially modest and reliable. He was nothing like the eloquent, "I'm the best in the universe" version Lu Heng had seen.

Old Master Wei nodded with satisfaction. "The idea is fresh, the thinking is clear, and you've planned the specific competition process in detail. You've even come up with backup measures for the areas most likely to go wrong. Very good."

With Old Master Wei's experience and perspective, he'd seen countless outstanding proposals over the course of his life. If he called one "very good," then it really was.

Wei Linxuan smiled and said, "Lu Heng pointed all those things out to me. I wouldn't have thought of them myself."

Wei Linxuan was proud and decisive. He had plenty of flaws, but one of his best qualities was that he never took credit for other people's work.

He never claimed his subordinates' achievements as his own, and he was extremely generous with rewards. As a result, after Wei Linxuan took over Huaxia Imperial Entertainment, he gained a whole host of devoted followers.