18. Golden Stone

"Teacher knows you're usually busy, but you should still participate more in the Youth League Committee's work, it's good for you."

Guo Minjie flicked her hair, letting strands fall behind the back of the small sofa, as she seriously sized up Lu Jincheng.

She was twenty-eight this year, a graduate from Central China Normal University, and these days she was stressed about her professional title evaluation and some family matters.

Although she had only been out of graduate school for two years, and while her academic qualifications were sufficient, her seniority was shallow. However, if she could be selected as an advanced individual by the college, she would have a much better chance.

But this depended on the recommendation of the college leaders, which was why she had called Lu Jincheng to her office alone.

The college leaders were very fond of Lu Jincheng, but she just couldn't see through this big boy.

Whether it was making him class monitor or praising him in front of so many people, it seemed nothing could stir any emotion in Lu Jincheng.

He was different from any other college student she had met, always maintaining a detached demeanor, as if all these were trivial matters.

"Okay, teacher."

Lu Jincheng replied perfunctorily, preoccupied with the Taobao page he couldn't get out of his mind.

Mrs. Ah Jie's marriage had such troubles?

It was said that this counselor hadn't been married for very long...

"After military training comes our Nanhu University's Hundred Regiments Battle; remember to go help out the Youth League Committee, at least get your face known."

"Sure, I will definitely go."

Lu Jincheng looked up, his gaze meeting Guo Minjie's.

Her eyebrows were gracefully arched, her small red lips often held a smile that wasn't quite a smile, and though she wasn't very tall, she gave off an air of slender grace. The unique charm of a young married woman endowed her with a bewitching allure that could make one's heart race.

Although she was a full ten years older than Lu Jincheng, if it were before his rebirth, Mr. Lu, that would have been just the right golden age for him.

Guo Minjie quickly averted her gaze.

Because she realized, this student not only showed no discomfort, but when he looked at her, there was even a hint of... scrutiny and playfulness?

Was it an illusion?

So strange.

"Teacher, I wanted to ask about the university's policies on encouraging student entrepreneurship."

Lu Jincheng glanced from the corner of his eye towards her desk and spoke up.

"Yes, the city has already issued schemes for mass entrepreneurship and innovation, and the school will follow suit soon."

Guo Minjie picked up a folder from the table and flipped to a page, "Are you interested in entrepreneurship?"

Lu Jincheng nodded, moving closer to Guo Minjie.

"Then I'll get a copy of the draft policy for you to review," she said as she opened the binder, took out a document, and walked to the copier in the corner of the office.

"If you meet the policy requirements, you can come back later to apply for a project subsidy."

"Thank you, teacher, for the trouble."

Lu Jincheng focused on the screen, this time looking more intently.

Every family has its own difficult scripture to chant, it seems that Mrs. Ah Jie really is in a tough spot.

Which girl would buy this kind of thing?

After taking the document, Lu Jincheng bid the counselor farewell and turned towards Director Cai's office 605.

A joke, what kind of flimsy encouragement policy needs Mr. Lu to personally study it?

That's just college students playfully making a PPT in ten days or half a month for fun.

Adult entrepreneurship is different.

Mr. Lu's first choice is to go straight to the front door, looking for the bigwigs of the Management College.

Whatever he wants, he will ask for it himself.

"Director Cai, long time no see~"

He knocked on Cai Shangdong's office door, casually throwing a pack of cigarettes over, smiling and starting to chat up.

"Yo, Xiao Lu has started smoking this brand?"

Cai Shangdong was straightforward, not one to put on airs over a pack of cigarettes. He accepted the Yellow Crane Tower, his eyes showing a bit of surprise.

"One hundred yuan for a pack of 1916, and you're still burdened with loans!"

"Today I came to request a space from you, I want to set up an MCN studio at the school."

"MCN... Studio?"

Cai Shangdong opened WeChat and looked at the proposal Lu Jincheng sent, with a confused look on his face.

That year, MCN (Multi-ChannelNetwork) was still in the exploratory stage of feeling stones to cross the river, not yet reaching the advanced form of combining PGC content, ensuring continuous content output, thus achieving stable commercial monetization.

As a new link in the content industry, the MCN industry would have to explore for many years, evolving from primitive growth towards specialization, gradually forming a clear industry chain, before experiencing explosive growth.

And Mr. Lu from the previous world was a new player crossing over into this field.

At that time, it had become a trend for internet celebrities to sign with MCN agencies.

The threshold to become an internet celebrity was getting higher, relying on individual strength to fight alone was becoming a thing of the past, and social media personalities needed to survive and develop through cooperation with professional MCNs.

He himself had a strong cash flow, supply chain, and internet celebrity resources, which for some mid-tier MCN agencies represented a dimensional assault.

And any one of these three points, if revealed, would be enough for a person to live comfortably for most of their life.

Why would a top journalist with superior conditions be so eager to please Mr. Lu?

Why would so many talented internet celebrities show one version to the fans and another to Mr. Lu?

They weren't foolish.

"The documents are about to be printed, right? Regardless of the outcome, let's hang a sign first, our Management College will be the first to show results."

Lu Jincheng raised the draft soliciting opinions in his hand and said with a smile.

"There are highlights in the summary materials, good for the school to report to the leadership."

Mr. Lu always spoke very astutely when dealing with people within the system.

He wouldn't brag to Cai Shangdong about expected revenues or spout empty pleasantries, he only spoke about substantial matters.

Because he knew very well that setting up an MCN studio in the school was too forward-looking, it was seizing the initiative for an entire era.

Lao Cai couldn't understand it at all.

Compared to the later hordes of professional MCNs rushing to college students, with universities becoming the breeding grounds for internet celebrities, looking across the nation, Mr. Lu had no rivals at this point.

Young people understand young people best, serving as the backbone of internet usage and consumption, their diverse needs have expanded the dimensions of the internet celebrity economy.

Undoubtedly, the untapped forest was the college students of ordinary backgrounds at universities.

MCNs could provide amateurs with abundant resources, helping students build teams (writers, directors, photographers, editors, etc.), collaboratively completing the creation of quality content, and more systemically incubating, operating, promoting, and managing.

For instance, the hottest "Ancient Dracula Kay" in 2018 was crafted by the MCN Onion Video, who entered the company in February, and by April, her Douyin followers had increased to more than 10 million.

In just two months, Dai Jiali transformed from an ordinary college girl into a super internet celebrity with millions of fans and successfully took advertising deals with major brands like Yili, Li Ning, and Golden Dragon Fish.

The transformation MCNs brought to amateurs was more akin to the transformation in legends, where one could turn stones into gold.

"Mmm, that's the reasoning."

Cai Shangdong took a drag on his cigarette, pretending to think deeply, and nodded his head.

"I see your proposal... you've put a lot of effort into it, haven't you?"

In reality, apart from the Song(-style) fonts in the standard GB2312 format, he didn't understand the content at all.

However, for a newcomer, just figuring out the complex format of official documents was already quite impressive.

In that case, policy support would go to someone, why not give him a little support?

"You really have keen insight, Director Cai."

Lu Jincheng gave a bow, his eyes full of a taught expression.

"As for the space, there indeed happens to be an available spot, you can use it for now."

Cai Shangdong, flattered, said with squinted eyes.

"But... this planning document that you're ready to implement, isn't it missing a name?"

"Golden Stone."

Lu Jincheng said decisively.

"Hmm?"

"Golden Stone Studio."