Time soon came to August, and more than half of the filming of the TV series was completed. The director was very pleased to see that the filming progress was getting faster and faster.

According to the current progress, it is estimated that by early September, all filming of the TV series will be completed and completed ahead of schedule.

Unfortunately, one after another news broke the director's unrealistic ideas.

The heroine Yang Mi is asking for leave again.

As a popular star, it is unrealistic for you to expect her to devote three months to filming on the set.

There will be all kinds of things that come to her, and asking for leave is a common occurrence.

Fortunately, "The Story of Ancient Swords" is a large-scale production with an investment of hundreds of millions, and it is also a drama produced by Yang Mi's employer Huan Rui.

Yang Mi didn't dare to go too far.

Otherwise, based on her current popularity and her own work habits, it would be too light to film two or three dramas at the same time.

"Tiny Times 2" was released in August. Although the popularity of "Tiny Times 2" has not subsided, actors like them still have to come out to promote it.

At the same time, another movie "Gongsuo Agarwood" in which Yang Mi participated was released at the same time. This movie has the same name as the TV series "Gongsuo Xinyu" and is Yu Zheng's role.

Although Yang Mi made a friendly appearance in it, Yu Zheng's favor had to be returned. This movie mainly rode on the popularity of the TV series "Palace".

She had to help spread the word.

The day after the heroine left, Gu Wei also asked for leave.

His agent Yang Liwen called him, and Zhang Yiming relented and wanted to meet Gu Wei.

Discuss financing.

Yang Liwen contacted Zhang Yiyi when she was filming in Thailand, but [ByteDance] was developing well at that time, and the money from the Series A financing had not been burned out yet.

Moreover, Zhang Yiming was still wary of Yang Liwen, an investor who came to the door inexplicably.

Things have changed dramatically in recent months.

Originally [Byte]’s APP [Today’s Toutiao] launched last year has been going smoothly, and the number of registered users is also increasing.

As long as the time comes, you can continue to raise rounds of B, C, and D rounds, and finally successfully go public and reach the pinnacle of your life.

Just when everything seemed to be going well, suddenly online media exposed [Today's Toutiao] for suspected infringement!

Soon, many online media simultaneously exposed that [Today's Toutiao] was suspected of infringing on the copyrights and copyrights of other news media. We hope to change its infringement behavior as soon as possible and make rectifications in a timely manner.

Because of the large number of media involved, it created a wave on the Internet.

Zhang Yiming was so worried that some of the financing parties who were originally negotiating also backed down due to the influence of public opinion.

In fact, [Today's Toutiao] does indeed have infringements, and CEO Zhang Yiyi knows this very well.

[Toutiao] is a news APP, but it does not produce even a single piece of news.

All the news content above is scraped from other websites.

It is a recommendation engine application based on machine learning, with the purpose of helping users discover valuable information efficiently.

However, after being captured by it, this valuable information remained in its own application, and the user traffic naturally settled in [Toutiao].

It would be better if there were fewer people watching.

Now the number of registered people is slowly increasing. When other media see it, you don’t need to send people or efforts. You just copy our news, and then all the users come to your home, making a lot of money from advertising fees.

Of course they weren't happy.

Moreover, the [Toutiao] algorithm captures news from the entire Internet, which means it is on the opposite side of all media.

Gu Wei returned to the capital and made an appointment with Zhang Yiming under the arrangement of Yang Liwen.

The meeting place was set at Gu Wei's company. After all, the current situation of [Byte] allowed Gu Wei to gain some initiative.

Moreover, letting Mr. Zhang come to the company also allows him to see the strength of the company and that it is not the grass-roots team he imagined.

After more than half a year of recruitment and expansion, Weimingxia Film and Television Company no longer has only two or three big cats and kittens.

Due to the increase in staff, the company has reserved an entire floor of the original location as an office space.

In the conference room, Gu Wei and Zhang Yiming met for the first time.

Zhang is probably in his early 30s, short and thin, with dark skin and small eyes. He wears a pair of black-rimmed glasses, a sky blue T-shirt and jeans.

He doesn’t look like the CEO of an Internet company with a valuation of hundreds of millions, but looks like an ordinary ‘code farmer’.

The two shook hands and sat down.

"Mr. Zhang, I have admired your name for a long time and have always known each other. Today I am lucky. It is true that it is better to meet you than to be famous."

Gu Wei was used to it. When he came up, he would first give a compliment to get closer to him and gain a lot of goodwill, and then talk about other things.

"Mr. Gu, you are very polite. Your agent has contacted me several times before. The company was too busy some time ago. Now I finally have time to talk to you."

Zhang Mingming smiled honestly. He was a programmer and did not have the elite look of a big company at all. Instead, he gave people a feeling of loyalty and honesty. .

Gu Wei said a few more polite words to him, and then got straight to the point.

"Mr. Zhang, I used the APP developed by your company last year and I think this product is very good.

Although the function is simple, it is practical and convenient. I can see that the algorithm for capturing and distributing content is the most essential thing in the APP.

I heard that your company has plans to raise funds in the near future. I wonder if I have the honor to join your company? "

"This? Mr. Gu, let me tell you the truth, I am here today to talk to you about financing.

Although the capital flow within the company is not tight now, to be prepared, we have also begun to consider the next round of financing. "

After speaking, he frowned slightly.

“I just have a doubt. There has been a lot of news about [Today’s Toutiao] on the Internet recently. Since you want to raise funds, I believe you will also pay attention to it.

Aren’t you worried that [Toutiao] will fall completely due to infringement, as many people on the Internet said.

In that case, your investment will be in vain. "

Although money is needed, Zhang Yiming still wants to find out the matter.

Gu Wei lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked at Zhang Yiming with a smile.

"I understand Mr. Zhang's doubts, but this is what I think about this matter.

I know the difficulties [Toutiao] is facing now, but I am not worried about it.

The Internet environment in our country is different from that in the West. We developed late and we learn everything from others.

In the early days, in order to compete with mature foreign Internet companies, domestic Internet companies did a lot of plagiarism and infringement.

Although things are not done right, you still have to survive first.

We cannot allow foreigners to occupy our Internet market.

Therefore, various laws, regulations and policies are relatively loose.

This situation is changing little by little as the online market matures further.

But there has been no fundamental change to this day.

[Headline] Although it has violated the interests of some people, I believe this will not be the reason for its collapse.

Laws and policies will not knock him down. The only one who can knock him down is himself.

Crisis, crisis, with danger comes opportunity.

The current situation is not a good opportunity for [Toutiao] to become bigger, stronger and develop. "

Gu Wei said a lot in one breath, then lowered his head, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.

After listening to Gu Wei's words, Zhang Yiming thought more.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Gu, for your enlightenment. I am a bit confused."

Then Zhang Mingming sighed again:

"Having said that, the truth is the same, but there are only a few people who are willing to fight. If Mr. Gu has this courage, he is already better than most people."

Gu Wei smiled, "Others don't know whether you will lose or win in the future, but I know that you will definitely win." I had already seen everyone’s cards before serving it, so why didn’t I dare to bet on it. ’

"Of course the most important thing is that I believe in your ability, Mr. Zhang.

Before I wanted to invest in [ByteDance], I got to know you, Mr. Zhang, through various channels.

I think you are a real genius.

I have always believed that only by working with capable people can we achieve ultimate success.

Rather than saying that I want to invest in [Byte], it is better to say that I want to invest in you. I believe that as long as under your leadership, [ByteDance] will eventually become a great company. "

Gu Wei said, looking at Zhang Yiming with eager eyes.

He was very moved by these words.

"Mr. Gu, I'm so flattered by your love.

I, Zhang Yiming, am not as capable as you said, but I do have the desire to do a good job in the company.

To tell you the truth, several investment companies originally had plans to raise funds some time ago, but because of this incident, most of them backed down.

Now besides you, there is also a Russian venture capital company that is negotiating with us. "

"It doesn't matter, I understand this very well, what a good girl.

I would like to ask, what is the amount of financing we plan to raise in Series B, and what is your company’s current valuation? "

Gu Wei asked.

"We plan to raise US$10 million in Series B, and the current valuation of the company is US$50 million." Zhang answered.

As Gu Wei knows, it seems that the last Russian venture capital company agreed to the valuation of [Byte]. The original B round of financing of [ByteDance] was invested by DST Global, an investment company headquartered in Moscow.

Investment of US$10 million, valuation of US$50 million.

After financing, the valuation was US$60 million, with DST accounting for 16.66% of the shares.

"Mr. Zhang, I completely agree with your company's valuation. I can raise US$10 million for financing, and my shareholding after financing will only be 15%.

After financing, I will sign a concerted action agreement with you as a shareholder and entrust you with full voting rights. "

Zhang Yiyi's eyes moved at first when he heard that Gu Wei only wanted 15% of the shares, and then he suddenly raised his head when he heard that he could sign a concerted action agreement.

"Mr. Gu, are you serious about this?"

"Of course, although I, Gu Wei, am not a great person, I have never broken my word." Gu Wei said calmly.

Then the last weight was added to Zhang's inner balance.

"Mr. Zhang, I believe that Series B financing is definitely not the end of your company. As for Internet companies, everyone is striving to become bigger and stronger and eventually go public.

In order to go public in the subsequent rounds of financing, some international capital will definitely join in.

If foreign investors are allowed to join from the beginning of Series B, then after the later rounds, the majority of the company's shares will be international capital.

This is not a good thing for a local Internet company. "

Zhang Yiming did not hesitate after hearing this

"Mr. Gu, your conditions are very favorable. In principle, I welcome your investment.

But this is not a trivial matter after all. I need to go back and communicate with my team. "

"Mr. Zhang, I'm waiting for your good news."

——

"Mr. Gu, do you really want to invest 10 million US dollars in Zhang Yiming's company?" The communication with [Byte] was handled by Yang Liwen.

She was a little unbelievable at the moment. She was going to invest more than 70 million in a company she didn't know?

You must know that this money is not used to make movies.

Investment is not an area they are familiar with, and who knows whether they will lose everything in the end.

"Of course, I have already agreed. As long as he nods, I will invest the money.

Sister Yang, please help me find a more authoritative third-party company. All I need is Zhang No. 1 to nod, complete due diligence as soon as possible, and then sign the contract. "

Two days later, Zhang gave a reply and accepted Gu Wei's financing.

Hearing the news, Gu Wei felt as if a huge stone had been dropped.

This investment may be the most profitable investment in his life.

You must know that as of 2020, [ByteDance] has received financing from Tiger Global Fund, with a valuation of US$100 billion.

Although Gu Wei's shares had been diluted by rounds of financing by then, the profit would still be at least hundreds of times higher.

With the cooperation of [Byte], third-party institutions entered the market and began to conduct due diligence, which is a necessary procedure before a company raises funds.

Investment companies need to make sure that the assets, liabilities, finances, legal relationships, corporate data, etc. of the invested company are all normal and there is no fraud.

Gu Wei believed in Zhang Yiming, but he had to go through the investment process.

Sometimes if you sign or give money rashly without any guarantee, it will not be regarded as trust, but will only be looked down upon by others, who think you are stupid and have too much money.

So although Gu Wei was anxious, he still waited patiently for the due diligence process to be completed.

The US$10 million is already in the account of Gu Wei's newly established investment company, and will be transferred to [Byte] as soon as the contract is signed.

After the due diligence began, Gu Wei flew back to the Hengdian crew to continue filming. He couldn't delay for too long. If Gu Wei asked for another two weeks of leave, not only the director, but also Huan Rui's Mr. Chen would have to come find him.

Although he was on the set, he was pretending to be something. Gu Wei was a little out of shape every day when filming.

Fortunately, it's just a fairy tale idol drama.

With Gu Wei's acting skills, he can be on par with other actors in any role he plays.

Two days later, Yang Mi also returned to the crew.

I went to see Gu Wei as usual in the evening, after a fierce basketball game.

Yang Mi lay quietly on his chest, stroking his strong chest and abdominal muscles back and forth.

"Are you worried about something these days? You seem to be absent-minded every day?"

"I'm optimistic about a company in Beijing and I'm going to invest some money in it." Gu Wei didn't shy away from Yang Mi either.

"What kind of company is this? Don't let people fool you." Yang Mi looked worried.

These days, a lot of people are cheating people out of celebrity financial management.

Many celebrities have low academic qualifications and do not have good financial management channels after making money from filming movies and commercials.

In the end, people were deceived and the money was defrauded.

"Don't worry, am I the kind of person who is easy to be deceived? It's just an ordinary financial investment, but the amount is larger."

"How much did you invest?" Yang Mi asked curiously.

Gu Wei stretched out a finger.

"1 million?" shook his head.

"10 million?" Yang Mi exclaimed.

"10 million dollars!"

Hearing this number, Yang Mi's breathing became heavier, and Gu Wei became more attractive in her eyes.

Her hand slowly slid down, and a new game was about to begin.

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