Chapter 143: Zhao Qingqing’s Little Scheme

Watching Zhao Qingqing storm out in anger, some of the staff standing outside with mild curiosity quickly averted their gazes and busied themselves with feigned tasks. Zhao Qingqing, clearly displeased, showed no surprise upon noticing them; she merely cast a cursory glance before hurrying down to her office building.

She hadn’t forgotten—Chen Qi was still waiting for her in her office.

Briskly returning to her office, she looked at Chen Qi with a bitter expression and shook her head helplessly.

She said nothing.

At this moment, there was no need for further words.

“It’s okay, this was entirely predictable,” Chen Qi, who had long been mentally prepared for this outcome, was not surprised. He smiled, stood up from his seat, and said, “Alright then, I’ll leave first. We can discuss the collaboration after the show begins filming.”

But Zhao Qingqing stopped him.

“How do you plan to solve the funding issue?” she asked with genuine curiosity.

With a budget of 100 million, Chen Qi certainly couldn’t cover it himself.

“I don’t know,” Chen Qi chuckled, appearing completely unconcerned. “I’ll take it one step at a time. There will always be a way.”

“And the TV station? Have you contacted them?”

Chen Qi shook his head.

He didn’t know anyone at the TV stations. He was planning to call Xu Bunian later to see if he could help make some connections.

Zhao Qingqing looked at Chen Qi with a complicated gaze and asked, “Have you decided which TV station you want to collaborate with?”

“No, I don’t have any specific requirements. I’ll talk to the TV stations first and see,” Chen Qi replied, genuinely indifferent about which station to cooperate with.

Of course, he wouldn’t consider stations with weak strength or reputation.

Even if not top three, they had to be at least top five.

No lower than sixth place at the very least.

Any lower, and the TV station might not sustain the show.

After staring at Chen Qi for a while, Zhao Qingqing hesitated before finally sharing her thoughts.

She wanted to introduce him to a TV station.

Since Simple Video hadn’t really helped Chen Qi this time, she was eager to do something for him.

If she didn’t help, and if this show really took off later, Simple Video probably wouldn’t benefit at all.

Although there had been a verbal agreement between her and Chen Qi during their previous collaboration on “Wànwàn” for priority cooperation with Simple Video, and Chen Qi was currently honoring that, she was still worried.

If the show became popular, their old rival, YouYou Video, would undoubtedly stop at nothing to snatch it up.

Against the full force of YouYou Video, she stood little chance.

Priority cooperation depended on both parties offering comparable terms. If YouYou Video’s offer was significantly better, that priority would naturally become void.

This was her greatest concern.

She had just fully expressed these worries to the general manager, but unfortunately, the general manager didn’t take it seriously at all.

Hearing Zhao Qingqing’s proposal, Chen Qi was momentarily taken aback and asked in surprise, “Which TV station?”

“Capital Satellite TV. I’m quite familiar with their deputy director. I can call him right now and arrange a meeting.”

Chen Qi glanced at her thoughtfully and quickly guessed her intentions.

She was clearly worried that after the earlier incident, he might harbor resentment and refuse to collaborate with them later.

“Alright,” he decided promptly after a brief consideration. “Since you brought it up, let’s meet them. Anyway, Capital Satellite TV was already on my list.”

Seeing Chen Qi agree, Zhao Qingqing quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

She had really feared he would refuse.

“Wait for me a moment.” She quickly took out her phone, stepped aside, and dialed the deputy director of Capital Satellite TV.

Two minutes later, she hung up with a smile.

She had arranged to have lunch with him.

“Okay, no problem.” Naturally, Chen Qi had no objections.

“Then let’s go.” Seeing that time was pressing, Zhao Qingqing didn’t delay further and led Chen Qi outside.

What Zhao Qingqing didn’t know was that within those ten or so minutes—from when she left the general manager’s office to when she returned to her own—the news of her heated argument with the general manager had already spread throughout the company!

This piece of big news caused quite a stir within Simple Video.

“No way! Is it true?”

“A music program?”

“Arguing with General Manager He? Has Director Zhao lost her mind?”

At the moment this news broke, almost everyone found it hard to believe.

If it had been some other matter, maybe it would be understandable. But Director Zhao had actually argued with the general manager over a music program with no market potential?

A music program! Why would she even want to sign that?

The gossip spread at an alarming speed. Within just ten minutes, almost the entire company knew that Chen Qi planned to produce a music program.

They also knew that Zhao Qingqing wanted to sign it but the general manager opposed it.

For a while, the whole company buzzed with speculation.

At that very moment, many saw Zhao Qingqing and Chen Qi together in the video department.

Those who had been gossiping wisely fell silent, but their glances at the two were peculiar.

Those who had seen Chen Qi at the company earlier finally understood his purpose.

He intended to produce a music program as a basis for collaboration.

At that moment, they all felt that the online reputation of Chen Qi was utterly accurate.

Truly the leader of self-destructive antics in ever more creative ways!

If he could manage to secure cooperation on this show, it would be a miracle!

Of course, while doubting Chen Qi, these staff also developed some prejudice against Zhao Qingqing, the newly appointed content director.

Her taste was truly questionable.

Perhaps sensing the strange looks around them, Chen Qi furrowed his brow unconsciously.

He observed quietly and confirmed that those odd glances were indeed directed at him.

For a moment, he was puzzled.

What happened?

They weren’t looking at me like this when I came in just now!

“Is there something on me?” he whispered to Zhao Qingqing.

Also sensing the strange gazes, Zhao Qingqing smiled and said, “It’s nothing to do with you. It’s probably because the news about my quarrel with the general manager has spread around the company.”

Quarrel with the general manager?

Hearing this, Chen Qi was clearly stunned.

No way—you actually argued with the general manager over this show?

I thought you weren’t optimistic about it either?