September 19th, Monday.
Pei Qian came to the office as usual, but no one came to disturb him all morning.
No one had any questions to consult with Mr. Pei about.
This was a very sad thing, because it meant that most departments were making money!
Pei Qian sorted through things briefly and found that this cycle seemed to be his most unsuccessful one. The newly opened businesses, including Thrilling Hostel, Sloth Apartments, and Tuoguan Fitness, had all become popular. Even Slackin’ Takeout, which he had high hopes for, had become popular!
It was truly unbearable.
For the past two days, Pei Qian hadn’t dared to go out, hiding at home and following the online public opinion trends.
Fortunately, after Fei Huang Studio released a video and Qiao Laoshi reposted it, the netizens’ attention was diverted.
Most people accepted this “attention theory,” feeling that since Mr. Pei had such good intentions, they should cherish their attention and not add to Mr. Pei’s troubles.
But Pei Qian’s image in the web series became even more popular!
Many people had taken screenshots from “Mr. Pei’s Daily Life” and made memes. It looked like Pei Qian’s face was going to be recognized by more and more people.
“Mr. Pei’s Daily Life” had already stopped updating for more than a year and had lost much of its popularity.
Even the most popular web series would quickly lose heat and become outdated after stopping updates for so long, because in the internet age, people’s attention always focuses only on current trends.
But recently, the web series “Mr. Pei’s Daily Life” became popular again!
Many people were watching it for the second or third time, and even the first episode of the web series was pushed to the homepage again!
Although it was a bit embarrassing, Pei Qian felt that between two evils, choose the lesser one. Compared to having his real identity completely exposed, being popular again as an actor was completely acceptable.
What Pei Qian couldn’t accept was the new income from “Mr. Pei’s Daily Life”!
For this short series, they had signed an exclusive agreement with AiLiDao, participating in AiLiDao’s special creative incentive plan. Each effective click over 30 seconds was worth 0.2 yuan!
This kind of good deal no longer existed.
Because it was signed with the early AiLiDao, which was just a small website at that time and desperately needed excellent web series resources to attract traffic, so they offered a high price.
Now AiLiDao was developing better and better with more and more users, so it was impossible to offer such generous terms for web series anymore.
“Mr. Pei’s Daily Life” was precisely because it was signed early that the reward rules hadn’t changed until now!
This was quite awkward. AiLiDao probably hadn’t expected that a video that stopped updating more than a year ago would suddenly become popular again.
However, AiLiDao didn’t mind this; after all, they were a big business and could afford this small amount of money. Moreover, the more popular “Mr. Pei’s Daily Life” became, the better the promotional effect for AiLiDao’s website, as it was an exclusive across the entire internet.
After calculating, Pei Qian discovered an embarrassing fact:
AiLiDao made money, Fei Huang Studio made money, everyone made money.
Only himself, as the lead actor, suffered a huge loss!
Because Pei Qian had taken a fixed acting fee at that time, without ever considering the possibility of revenue sharing.
And Huang Sibo and the others obviously wouldn’t think of giving this money to Mr. Pei, because in their view, all the money earned belonged to Mr. Pei anyway. Paying additional acting fees would be like taking off pants to fart—completely unnecessary.
Pei Qian couldn’t hint that they should pay him additional compensation, because it didn’t make sense and might arouse suspicion.
It was too painful!
Pei Qian adjusted his mindset for a long time before finally calming down to start thinking about the settlement for this cycle.
Although there were successive “bombs” this cycle, Pei Qian hadn’t given up resistance.
There was still room for things to turn around.
Take the Sloth Apartments model, for example.
All the Sloth Apartments houses were purchased, directly spending tens of millions, which could consume a large amount of system funds. Although all these houses had been rented out, if they wanted to recover the money spent on buying the houses with just this rent, it would take until the twelfth of never.
So, the Sloth Apartments model had indeed become popular, but it only looked scary on the surface. The actual amount of money earned wasn’t much.
For physical businesses like Slackin’ Internet Cafés, Slackin’ Takeout, and Tuoguan Fitness, the properties were rented, so they could make stable profits, but they had to pay rent. And if they kept opening new branches, they could spend all the profits.
So, Pei Qian started to consider his money-spending plan for this cycle.
Internet cafés, takeout, and fitness centers were constantly opening new stores, which didn’t require Pei Qian’s concern. Upwind Logistics, as a traditional advantageous project, obviously needed to continue efforts. More funds could be allocated to promote the overseas version of GOG, but it had to be done cautiously, otherwise if the overseas version’s income exploded, it might be counterproductive…
There was another important department, OTTO Technology.
This cycle, OTTO Technology’s settlement would be postponed to the next cycle, so he could confidently spend money, but with the requirement that the product must be released in the next cycle.
Currently, OTTO Technology had specially established a software laboratory, focusing on photography algorithms and software.
For the software aspect, since it mainly involved updating the original software versions and optimizing functions, it didn’t fall under the category of delayed settlement. Only the refinement of imaging algorithms would be postponed to the next cycle.
So, Pei Qian felt that he could invest more money, as long as the product could be presented before the next cycle’s settlement.
At the same time, all kinds of preferential activities and promotional activities should be arranged if possible.
After all, drinking poison to quench thirst was Mr. Pei’s traditional skill, and once you get used to it, you can’t stop.
After arranging everything, Pei Qian really felt that he might still be able to salvage the situation.
Now he just prayed that no more strange profits would emerge!
…
…
September 20th, Tuesday.
It was time for Mingyun Private Kitchen’s monthly private booking.
As for who to invite to this dinner, Pei Qian was in a dilemma.
These employees were all so troublesome, he didn’t want to invite any of them!
Considering that he had already invited the DGE club members and Tuoguan Fitness coaches before, this time Pei Qian decided to invite the property managers of Sloth Apartments and the main leaders of Upwind Logistics.
For Sloth Apartments, this included Liang Qingfan, his assistant (Manager Pei), Song Kai, and the administrators of several buildings. For Upwind Logistics, it was Lü Mingliang and some key employees.
Liang Qingfan had only recently joined the Tenda Group. His minimalist design style had well fulfilled Pei Qian’s requirements. Both he and Song Kai were reliable in their work, and neither had eaten at Mingyun Private Kitchen before. Pei Qian felt he should treat them to a meal.
Although Sloth Apartments had become popular, its popularity wasn’t much related to them, and Pei Qian felt he shouldn’t blame them.
Moreover, so far Sloth Apartments had only earned some rent, and it would take at least several decades to recover the money spent on buying the houses, so there wasn’t much need to worry.
Everyone took their seats.
Pei Qian didn’t bother to chat with them much, since in his view, it didn’t matter who he treated to dinner, it was all about spending more money. He invited these people simply because he found them more agreeable.
“Everyone has worked hard. Don’t be restrained, eat freely!”
Pei Qian took the lead, directly picking up a large crab in front of him.
Liang Qingfan and Song Kai looked at the sumptuous feast before them, mouths watering.
They had never eaten such good food!
They had heard that Nameless Restaurant was famous throughout the country, but the queues were too long, and people were generally reluctant to spend their own money to eat freely there.
Now with Mr. Pei treating them to this, it was more pleasing than receiving a few hundred yuan bonus!
With Mr. Pei taking the lead, everyone quickly got into the mood, with glasses clinking and plates emptying.
Halfway through the meal, Liang Qingfan and Song Kai exchanged a glance.
“That matter, can we tell Mr. Pei now?”
“Yes, just when Mr. Pei isn’t thinking, we can tell him this good news.”
The two very tacitly picked up their wine glasses and came before Mr. Pei.
“Mr. Pei, we toast to you. The success of Sloth Apartments is inseparable from your foresight and strategic deployment! The layout of ‘Tenda Life’ is truly breathtaking!”
Pei Qian raised his wine glass, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
We’re eating here, can’t you say something that makes me happy!
However, considering that the Sloth Apartments model itself couldn’t earn much money, Pei Qian still calmed his emotions and raised his wine glass.
“Alright, let’s not mention past things anymore.”
“Don’t be so formal. Finish the wine and hurry back to eat. You must eat until it reaches your throat before stopping, understand?”
Liang Qingfan and Song Kai smiled at each other, thinking that Mr. Pei was modest, approachable, and humorous.
What a good boss!
After the three finished their wine, Pei Qian sat down ready to continue eating.
Liang Qingfan felt that the timing was just right and quickly said, “Mr. Pei, there’s good news to report from Sloth Apartments!”
Pei Qian’s hand reaching for a lobster stopped in mid-air, with a question mark slowly floating over his head.
?
Good news?
What kind of trick are you going to pull?
Aren’t all the Sloth Apartments houses already rented out? Can you conjure up more houses out of thin air?
Liang Qingfan smiled and said, “Mr. Pei, I originally thought that the minimalist style of Sloth Apartments was just your personal preference, not a mature business model. Artistry and commerciality couldn’t be completely unified.”
“But now I realize that I was wrong. The business model of Sloth Apartments completely exceeded the limits of my imagination!”
“After you proposed the ‘attention theory,’ the Sloth Apartments houses were quickly snatched up and all rented out. I originally thought this was the limit, that there couldn’t possibly be any other income.”
“But I was wrong again!”
Pei Qian’s heart sank as he listened.
You were wrong again?
Then… doesn’t that mean I was wrong too?
“Then what?” Pei Qian tried to remain calm.
Lü Mingliang and others sitting nearby were also listening attentively, wanting to know what innovative business model Mr. Pei had researched again.
Liang Qingfan excitedly said, “These past two days, Sloth Apartments’ office phones have been ringing off the hook!”
“Several clients proposed that we help design their new homes, specifically requesting the ultimate minimalist style! They all offered very high prices, at the rate of top-tier designers, reaching 1,000 yuan per square meter.”
“One client hopes that Sloth Apartments will design a 500-square-meter villa, and he’s willing to pay 500,000 yuan in design fees!”
Pei Qian couldn’t help but shudder.
But after hearing this number, his suspended heart settled down again.
That’s a relief, it’s not a lot of money.
Besides, designing a 500-square-meter villa is quite troublesome. Such jobs probably wouldn’t come continuously.
“It’s just one house, right?” Pei Qian asked.
Liang Qingfan nodded: “Yes! So after thinking about it, I declined!”
Pei Qian’s eyes brightened.
Liang Qingfan continued: “Although the price was quite high, my energy is limited. With my regular responsibilities at Sloth Apartments, how could I constantly run around designing houses for them?”
“So, I thought of another way.”
“Selling solutions!”
“I plan to create complete solutions based on common room layouts, for living rooms, bedrooms, studies, dining rooms, etc., in Sloth Apartments’ ultimate minimalist style, while clearly specifying all the selected furniture brands and style combinations.”
“This way, customers who want this ultimate minimalist style can take my solution, find a decent local architect to refine it according to actual conditions, and complete this style of decoration!”
Pei Qian’s eyes quickly dimmed again, becoming more vigilant.
Selling solutions?
You really dare to think!
If thousands or tens of thousands of these are sold, even if sold relatively cheaply, it would earn much more than designing each one individually!
Absolutely not!
“Hmm, you have good ideas. In my opinion, let’s sell these solutions for 1 yuan each.” Pei Qian felt he needed to quickly interrupt Liang Qingfan’s wild ideas.
Liang Qingfan nodded: “Yes, Mr. Pei, that’s exactly what I was thinking!”
Pei Qian: “?”
Liang Qingfan smiled and continued: “A generic solution itself isn’t worth much money, and it’s impossible to prevent customers from sharing after they buy the solution. Setting the price too high isn’t appropriate either, so we might as well make it half-sold, half-given.”
“But this matter inspired me, making me realize that our Sloth Apartments brand itself has value!”
“So, I went to negotiate with the brands of the furniture we previously purchased and got discount prices! All these furniture pieces are carefully selected by me. They are a bit expensive, but the quality is absolutely guaranteed.”
“From us, customers can buy these furniture and decoration materials at slightly below market price, and at the same time, these brands will give us a share of their profits.”
“This achieves a win-win-win situation for consumers, Sloth Apartments, and these brand merchants!”
Pei Qian was dumbfounded, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Does this work too?
Song Kai added, “Not only that, Mr. Pei! Many real estate enterprises hope to cooperate with us to customize model room solutions!”
“Some property companies even want to develop deep cooperation with us, inviting Sloth Apartments to move in to promote their residential areas. Because in the eyes of many consumers, Sloth Apartments is no longer just a rental brand, but synonymous with quality living…”
“The Sloth Apartments model is not just about renting; it has great potential!”
Lü Mingliang, who had been quietly listening, suddenly realized.
So that’s it!
Mr. Pei hadn’t just created a rental brand but also a decoration brand!
Could Sloth Apartments create revenue in this aspect, in addition to collecting rent?
Indeed, Mr. Pei’s thinking is always one level higher than what we see!