How can I justify myself as a Magnate if I don't indulge myself?

"This isn't flattery, just stating a fact."

After these words, Lei Yibin didn't continue to flatter, as it was just for the sake of giving Gu Heng face. However, on the surface, the two were still on equal terms, and to continue flattering would not be just courtesy but "obsequiousness." Following that, he smiled and concluded the discussion, saying, "Mr. Gu, let's go inside to talk. It's a bit hot outside, and while we men can handle a bit of sun, these girls have delicate skin and can't take too much."

Inadvertently, he had shifted the topic to the group of female internet celebrities behind him...

It not only transferred Gu Heng's attention but also didn't let himself appear as a pimp. He managed both face and substance flawlessly.

Gu Heng also naturally shifted his gaze towards these female internet celebrities standing behind Lei Yibin.

Wuyou Media has too many internet celebrities on record—approximately 100,000. It was impossible for Gu Heng to know each one, and he couldn't fully recognize even the twenty or so standing before him, except for a few top influencers.

However, they all had one thing in common.

That was being beautiful.

After a brief glance around, Gu Heng focused on three individuals.

The three top influencers from Wuyou Media with tens of millions of followers.

Ms. Cheng, Yumeng, Liu Siyao.

It had to be mentioned, the gap between these three internet celebrities online and in real life was significant.

Especially "Your Yumeng," also known as Huang Yumeng.

Gu Heng had often come across her on TikTok but never 'got' her appeal or understood why so many people liked her. Now, seeing her offline compared to online, there was a significant difference, and he felt even less impressed.

So he briefly glanced over and did not linger.

As for Liu Siyao...

Although she had nearly twenty million followers, the difference between the heavily edited videos and photos online and her actual appearance was also significant. Though she could still be considered pretty, Gu Heng felt she was a bit lacking compared to Lin Jiayun and He Jing.

As for why she was popular, it must have been largely due to Wuyou Media's marketing efforts.

Interestingly, the one among them with the fewest fans...

Known as "Ms. Cheng," Cheng Yuxin had short, striking hair and a body many would consider perfect, with curves in all the right places, and slim where it counted. As for her looks, they were not spectacular, at best they were pleasant to view.

But her sticky voice and other factors combined, it had to be noted, did hold considerable attraction for men; otherwise, even corporate marketing wouldn't have been enough for her to reach that level of popularity among millions of followers.

However, it was only a passing interest. Gu Heng had seen too many types of beautiful women before, and it was hard for him to fall for each one like before, unless they were stunningly beautiful, otherwise he would merely take another look.

After a brief scan, Gu Heng withdrew his gaze, his face showing little emotion, and smilingly replied to Lei Yibin, "Then please lead the way, Mr. Lei. I'd also like to see what the top MCN institution's company interior is like, and learn from it."

"Well, there's not much to learn. I'm hoping you'd give me some advice, Mr. Gu."

With that, the two walked toward the interior of Wuyou Media surrounded by the crowd.

...

...

About 40 minutes later.

Led by Lei Yibin, Gu Heng had toured the entirety of Wuyou Media.

As someone who had once been involved in the internet media industry, and with some understanding of its insides, Gu Heng was astonished by the professionalism of Wuyou Media.

Wuyou Media truly exemplified the "incubation" aspect of the MCN incubator phrase...

They started with artist rankings, which were assessed from various angles.

Those with talents were ranked based on their skills.

Those who were valued for their looks were rated on their attractiveness. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

And other styles were even more subdivided, into over a dozen categories...

Moreover, each type had its own specialized trainers for training, then, just like trainees in Korea, they were thrown out to test the waters, after which investments would be stratified based on market convergence...

This series of systems was precisely like an assembly line in a factory...

Batch after batch, they manufactured internet celebrities and then monetized their value...

"Mr. Gu, what do you think of our company?

Feel free to voice any suggestions, don't worry about hurting my feelings!"

After presenting Wuyou Media to Gu Heng, Lei Yibin still wore that naively endearing expression.

Hearing this, Gu Heng merely smiled faintly, "Mr. Lei is joking. I'm just an outsider, how could I qualify to offer suggestions to you? However, I really did learn a lot today.

No wonder Wuyou Media is so dominant in the MCN industry; I presume its professionalism must be at the forefront?"

"Ha ha ha ha, Mr. Gu, you are overestimating us by far, truly too kind."

Though he verbally dismissed it as flattery, the smile on his face betrayed his thoughts.

Seeing this, Gu Heng shook his head slightly and continued, "Since we've finished the tour, Mr. Lei, it's probably time to discuss the real matter, isn't it?"

Before this, Gu Heng hadn't had the slightest acquaintance with Lei Yibin. A sudden invitation from Lei was certainly not just for a company tour. Under normal circumstances, Gu Heng should have feigned politeness, and then the two of them would have beaten around the bush before ultimately getting back to the main topic.

But, as mentioned, that was under normal circumstances.

Normal circumstances would apply to two individuals of equal status.

Despite Lei Yibin bringing Wuyou Media to a valuation of several billion and having a certain commercial stance, he wasn't on par with Gu Heng.

These days, even market value isn't all that indicative of real worth, let alone a mere valuation.

Perhaps with the next internet regulation policy from above, Lei Yibin could go bankrupt in an instant,

while Gu Heng was an actual investment tycoon with tens to hundreds of billions in assets, a figure many sought to flatter—what basis did Lei Yibin have to compare with him?

Gu Heng, of course, understood the niceties of human relations, but those were for the inferior to the superior, or between equals.

Gu Heng would only show his emotional intelligence to people like Frederick Arno or Fu Songyang; with Lei Yibin, it was completely unnecessary.

Since ancient times, subordinates have shown such courtesies to make their superiors happy.

How many people have seen superiors show such courtesies to make their subordinates happy?

There certainly are but that's not merely being courteous—that's called "managing subordinates."

Lei Yibin hadn't expected Gu Heng to be so direct, but he quickly regained his composure, his tone even more humble, "Not to hide from Mr. Gu, indeed there are some matters I'd like to discuss with you today.

If Mr. Gu has the time, might we sit in my office?"

Gu Heng had somewhat guessed what this young man was up to, but he didn't refuse, nodding slightly.

Seeing this, Lei Yibin felt relieved and quickly ordered his secretary, "Take Mr. Gu to my office to rest!"

After that, he switched to a more respectful tone with Gu Heng, "Mr. Gu, please go sit in my office for a couple of minutes. I just found an urgent matter that needs addressing when I showed you around. I'll come to see you as soon as I've handled it.

Please don't mind, Mr. Gu."

Mr. Gu nodded his head, his voice languid, "Then Mr. Lei, try to be quick. I just got back from France today, and I'm a bit tired; don't keep me waiting too long."

"Of course, of course."

Without saying much more, Gu Heng followed the secretary towards Lei Yibin's office.

Watching Gu Heng's receding figure with a smiling face, the naively endearing expression on Lei's face immediately sharpened, turning his head with a grim look to the people behind him, his voice coldly instructing, "The rest of you go back to your posts and get on with your work.

The head of the artist department and the artists under it, stay."

This posture bore no resemblance to the reverence Lei Yibin showed to Gu Heng just moments before.

Seeing Lei Yibin's expression, everyone understood that this time, Mr. Lei was truly about to explode...