Chapter 45: A Hot Potato

While Lin Chuan was discussing that terribly made film with the old man, far away in a high-end apartment in Beining City—

Tang Qinru was holding an apple in one hand and a fashion magazine in the other, reading with great interest.

Across from her, Wang Yue stared blankly out the window, murmuring softly, “It’s been two days since he left, and he hasn’t even called.”

“Who are you talking about?” Tang Qinru looked up, confused.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Wang Yue snapped out of her daze, looking a little flustered.

“Heh, we’ve known each other for so long and you still think you can hide things from me? Out with it, are you thinking about our Brother Chuan?” Tang Qinru grinned mischievously.

“Who…who’s thinking about him? Stop making things up.” Wang Yue protested, but her eyes flickered, betraying her true feelings.

“Come on, don’t pretend. I’ve already seen through your little secrets. But Xiao Yue, as your best friend, I have to remind you: Brother Chuan is excellent in every way, and he wouldn’t make a bad husband either. But you know, he’s going to be a star someday. For ordinary girls like us, it’s better not to get our hopes up. Besides, he already has a child. Do you really want to be someone’s stepmother?”

“Tang Qinru, what nonsense are you spouting? Who wants to be a stepmother? I…I’m just worried about Yangyang. He keeps running around with Lin Chuan—what if something happens?” Wang Yue sounded genuinely upset, trying to defend herself.

Tang Qinru glanced at her sideways, replying indifferently, “That’s fine, I just don’t want to see you get hurt. If Brother Chuan were just an ordinary guy, not only would I not stop you, I’d probably encourage you…”

“I’m done talking to you. I have work tomorrow. I’m going to bed.” Rolling her eyes, Wang Yue turned and walked to her own room, clearly annoyed.

Tang Qinru could only shake her head helplessly. She took a bite of her apple, opened her magazine again, and continued reading.

—

At ten o’clock in the morning, while most companies were bustling with activity, the atmosphere at Quancheng Television was an exception.

At that moment, employees from every department gathered together, quietly discussing rumors that the station was about to change ownership.

“Did you hear? Our TV station just got bought out,” whispered a woman in her thirties, her black-rimmed glasses making her look studious.

“That’s old news—I heard about it yesterday,” scoffed a younger man, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.

“I just don’t get it. With the state our station is in, everyone’s trying to get out—who would willingly jump in? I can’t tell if he’s a fool or just has too much money to burn.”

“Exactly. We haven’t been paid in two months. If I could, I’d have quit by now. Who wants to stick around this sinking ship?”

“Hey, Sister Dan, if you’re leaving, take me with you. Look at me, I—”

For a while, voices filled the building, most of them mocking the ‘tycoon’ who had purchased the station, calling him a sucker.

Some even speculated that the buyer must have his eye on a certain girl at the station; that’s the only reason he’d buy this near-bankrupt place—getting close to the water, so to speak.

No matter what was said, Lin Chuan and Yuan Ye, who were in the meeting room on the tenth floor, were completely unaware.

The acquisition process went smoothly. Both parties signed several contracts and transferred the agreed-upon initial payment—making the deal official.

“Mr. Lin, it’s been a pleasure working with you. If there’s ever another opportunity, we hope to cooperate again,” said Manager Ma with a broad smile as he shook Lin Chuan’s hand.

From the looks on the executives’ faces, it was obvious that the moment Lin Chuan signed the contract, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“Of course,” Lin Chuan replied with a smile, “Who knows, I might need your sponsorship for the station in the future.”

“Haha, well, we were shareholders once. If you run into any trouble, just ask,” Manager Ma replied smoothly.

Whether he actually meant it, only he would know. In any case, Lin Chuan didn’t take these polite platitudes seriously and just smiled.

With the transfer of shares complete, Lin Chuan, as the new owner, offered to take the executives out for a meal, but they politely declined.

Lin Chuan didn’t push the point. After a few more courteous words, he saw them out.

Back in the meeting room, Yuan Ye sat with a furrowed brow, lost in thought. When he saw Lin Chuan come in, he stood up with a teasing grin, “Director Lin, are you here to inspect your new domain?”

“Enough with the jokes,” Lin Chuan said grimly. “Taking on this hot potato—I’m really not sure if I’ve made the right choice.”

“Heh, like it or not, you’re the chairman now. So, what’s your next move?” Yuan Ye chuckled.

“What move can I make? The old man wants you to act as interim station chief—that’s your problem now, isn’t it?” Lin Chuan raised an eyebrow.

“Me? I’m just the interim. You’re still the one calling the shots. How about you meet the team, get familiar with everyone?” suggested Yuan Ye.

After a moment’s thought, Lin Chuan nodded. “Alright. Let’s go.”

The two left the meeting room and headed downstairs. Along the way, Yuan Ye briefed Lin Chuan on the station’s structure: four main departments—News, Planning, Advertising, and Technical.

The News Department focused on gathering, researching, and broadcasting news.

The Planning Department was responsible for selecting and scheduling shows, but with the station’s current state, their workload was almost nonexistent.

The Advertising Department was similarly idle. Though they sometimes went out to drum up business, who wanted to throw money into this pit? Over time, the staff grew increasingly lazy.

The Technical Department was the busiest—handling filming, editing, equipment maintenance, and studio lighting. Even though the station had no real variety shows, someone still had to maintain the equipment, making the tech team the backbone of the operation.

By the end of Yuan Ye’s rundown, Lin Chuan’s head was spinning.

In short, the station was a shell of its former self, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

No wonder the shareholders were willing to sell their shares for such a low price. They knew if they didn’t offload them now, they’d be stuck. A little cash was better than nothing—a fly is still meat.

“Which department should we visit first?” Yuan Ye asked awkwardly, well aware of the dire straits the station was in.

“Let’s start with the News Department. If anything’s holding the station together, it’s them,” Lin Chuan sighed.

Yuan Ye nodded and took Lin Chuan to the third floor, heading straight for the studio.

Inside, a host in her early thirties was reading the news script. The lights and cameras were all set—it was a live broadcast.

“That’s Shen Hong, the most famous host at the station,” Yuan Ye said with a smile.

Lin Chuan said nothing. His eyes locked on Shen Hong, unmoving. He had just arrived but already noticed that this ‘star’ host yawned during the broadcast, coughed repeatedly, and even sipped water without any regard for her image.

This is what passes for a star host? Have you ever seen a live anchor with so many bad habits?

But what really stunned Lin Chuan was that the director in charge of the news broadcast was snoring away on a chair, fast asleep—even as the new chairman and acting station chief walked in, he didn’t stir.

Professionalism and dedication were nowhere to be found in this news department. No wonder the station had sunk so low—it was clear their lack of commitment played a big role.

“How did Shen Hong get hired?” Lin Chuan asked, his face dark.

“Uh…I’m not really sure. I think one of the former directors arranged it. Supposedly she’s his cousin or something. That’s all I know,” Yuan Ye replied with a wry smile.

Lin Chuan fell silent. Or rather, he was at a loss for words. For the first time, he wondered if buying this station had been a mistake. Was the old man’s lifetime of savings really going to be squandered here?

He didn’t even bother listening to the news content. Today’s windy, tomorrow’s rainy, Old Li’s lost his dog, Mrs. Zhang ran away with the neighbor…all trivial, gossipy news.

This is news? Is this the weather report or a missing dog poster?

And more importantly, who is the audience for a live news broadcast at ten in the morning?

Lin Chuan was so frustrated his lips trembled; he was at a loss for words. As for the commercials for psoriasis cures or infertility treatments interrupting the broadcast, he simply ignored them.

When the news finally ended, the ‘star’ host Shen Hong pulled out her makeup kit, touching up her face with abandon. Spotting Lin Chuan and Yuan Ye, she stood up with a bright smile, swaying her hips as she sauntered over.

“Well, Xiao Yuan, what brings you here today? Came to watch me do the news?” Shen Hong said with a smile.

“Heh, Sister Shen, let me introduce you. This is our station’s new chairman, Lin Chuan,” Yuan Ye replied with a forced laugh.

“Lin Chuan? Oh, I know you—you’re the one competing on that ‘One Song to Fame’ show, right?” Shen Hong’s eyes lit up, and she instinctively moved closer to Lin Chuan.