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Chapter 2643 Gossip Weekly

As the saying goes, fame brings trouble.

Given Suning's current status, he is undoubtedly one of the most prominent figures in the Chinese business world.

In particular, SoftBank's Masayoshi Son's investment of $30 million in Alibaba has ignited the entire global investment community and internet industry.

As the behind-the-scenes business godfather of Alibaba, Suning naturally became an important figure in various forums and newspapers.

Recently, Hong Kong gossip media suddenly broke a tabloid story about Suning, with a sensational headline and a cover featuring the bold red lettering "Springtime in China: Suning's Harem List".

The subtitle below added insult to injury: "All the female stars in Chinese entertainment and film industry captured in one fell swoop."

The report directly accused Huayu Film & Television of being Suning's private harem. All the female celebrities who had worked with Huayu Film & Television, whether they were A-list stars or up-and-coming newcomers, were portrayed by these gossip magazines as Suning's women.

The list is incredibly long, piling up everything from evidence to baseless claims.

A certain actress had a meal with Suning, and it was written as a "secret late-night rendezvous"; a certain rising star took a photo with Suning at the Tianchao Group's annual meeting, and the weekly magazine wrote that their "ambiguous gazes suggested a possible romance".

Even Shen Ranran's name wasn't left out, saying that she, a small-time actress with no background, was able to have her resources explode in just a few years, going from playing minor roles to playing the second or first female lead, which must be because Su Ning was supporting her.

The report also used sour terms like "Su's beauties" and "the imperial harem of the Celestial Empire," and was accompanied by a blurry photo taken secretly of Su Ning having dinner with a female artist from Huayu Film and Television.

……

That day, Suning was in his office looking at the trial production data of the Pudong factory.

Zhuangzhuang came in with a newspaper, her face showing a mixture of anger and embarrassment, even the tips of her ears were red.

Zhuangzhuang placed the newspaper on Suning's table and said, "President Su, the Hong Kong media are writing nonsense."

"Oh? What can those frogs in a well in Hong Kong possibly write?"

“Let me read you a few… ‘Suning has a harem of beauties, and Huayu Film and Television has become his private hunting ground,’ ‘Shen Ranran’s incredible resources are all thanks to President Su’s support,’ and there are even more outrageous ones, saying that you change your female companions every week like you’re flipping through a palace gate. Should we have the legal department sue these gossip magazines?”

Suning put the report aside and picked up a newspaper to flip through.

He read it from beginning to end, but his face remained expressionless. He showed no anger, no sneer, and didn't even furrow his brow, as if he were reading a local tabloid that had nothing to do with him.

Su Ning folded the newspaper and put it aside, saying dismissively, "What are President Zhou's PR team doing?"

"President Su, I'll call President Zhou right away."

"Okay, tell him to handle it as soon as possible."

"Yes, Mr. Su."

……

At this moment, Mr. Zhou, the general manager of Huayu Film and Television, was slamming his fist on the table in his office at the public relations manager.

The public relations manager has worked at Huayu Film & Television for almost two years and has handled all kinds of negative news, including celebrity infidelity, salary disputes, and plagiarism scandals.

But this is the first time that Hong Kong media have described Huayu Film & Television as the boss's harem.

The public relations manager stood in front of General Manager Zhou's desk, holding a newly printed copy of a report, his forehead already drenched in sweat.

President Zhou stood up and paced back and forth in his office, waving a newspaper in his hand as he walked. He said, "Huayu Film and Television produces dozens of works a year now, and has worked with hundreds or even thousands of actors. Are all the actresses we've worked with President Su's women? If President Su had that kind of free time, would I be working overtime until midnight every day? I've been working non-stop for three months without a single day off, just to rush the post-production of the Spring Festival film. I even squeezed in time to take a shower. And in the mouths of Hong Kong reporters, I've become the chief eunuch managing President Su's harem?"

The PR manager carefully pushed forward a draft of a newly prepared clarification statement. "Mr. Zhou, should we issue a statement first? Also, should we take legal action against those media outlets that first published the statement?"

President Zhou stopped, picked up the newspaper, and glanced at it again. "Send lawyer's letters. Send them to all the companies that first published the article, without exception. Focus on the one with 'harem' in the headline. Statements can be sent, but lawyer's letters must arrive first. Let them know that Huayu Film and Television is not some small company that can just write whatever it wants; if they dare to write nonsense, they'll have to face a summons."

"understand!"

"Also, ask Tencent to suppress comments and prevent the news from spreading on the internet."

"Okay! I'll contact them right away."

……

In recent years, Huayu Film & Television has indeed become the dominant force in the mainland entertainment industry, with its annual film and television productions accounting for more than one-third of the market share. The artists signed under its wing and the stars it has worked with cover almost all the well-known A-list actors at the time.

Many popular actresses are regular faces in dramas produced by Huayu Film & Television. Some of them switched from other companies, while others were made famous by Huayu Film & Television from scratch.

As soon as the report came out, the agents of these actresses almost simultaneously received verification calls from Hong Kong media, with each question more difficult than the last.

"What is the relationship between your artist and Suning?"

What do you think about the fact that your artist's name is on the list?

"Do your artists often attend President Su's private dinners?"

One agent, pressed on, retorted, "Our artist has only met President Su once, at the Tianchao Group's annual meeting. There was a large group of people having dinner together, a joyful gathering. Is that what you call a harem?"

"But what happened after the annual meeting? Were any of your artists taken away by President Su?"

"Hmph! Nonsense!"

A popular actress known for her outspokenness was cornered by reporters on set, with the microphone practically shoved to her mouth. "Bingbing, what do you think about being included in Suning's harem?"

This actress is from Northeast China. She has a straightforward personality, a fiery temper, and never suffers in silence.

The actress snapped the fan she was using to fan herself shut and said into the microphone with a half-smile, "I'd like to, but would President Su even look at me? Look at this list, everyone's so good-looking. If I could make it onto the list, it would be an honor for me."

"Bingbing, does this mean you have feelings for President Su?"

"Don't talk nonsense! I still rely on Huayu Film and Television for my livelihood! Don't you dare ruin my job."

This interview was later edited into an entertainment news segment, and viewers were delighted when it aired.

Some netizens even went to Huayu Film & Television's official QQ group to leave a message saying, "Your artists are so funny."

Of course, Shen Ranran's situation is the most delicate.

After all, her relationship with Su Ning was real. Some parts of the report were indeed fabricated, but the fact that she was with Su Ning was true.

Shen Ranran was with Su Ning willingly, and Su Ning never used his position to obtain any improper resources for her.

Shen Ranran's roles were all decided by President Zhou and the directors according to normal procedures. She passed the audition and that was it. Her salary was also based on market rates. There was never any shady operation such as "bringing her own investment to the production" or "handpicking the female lead".

But this time, Hong Kong media included Shen Ranran in the list of actresses in the harem. She can neither deny it as confidently as other actresses, nor can she tacitly agree to it.

After all, tacit agreement is tantamount to admission, and admission is tantamount to causing trouble for Suning.

When a group CEO is exposed for having an affair with an actress from one of its film and television companies, outsiders won't understand that it's a consensual relationship; they'll just think that Suning is engaging in unspoken rules.

That day, Shen Ranran spent a long time alone in her hotel room, with the curtains drawn tightly shut.

Then, Shen Ranran dialed Suning's number.

The phone rang twice before being answered. "Mr. Su, have you seen the gossip magazine from Hong Kong?"

However, Suning's response was calm: "I've seen the report. Mr. Zhou's legal team is already handling it, and the lawyer's letter will be sent to the legal departments of those media outlets in the next day or two. Hong Kong's defamation law is stricter than that of the mainland; if they dare to write it, they should dare to pay compensation."

Shen Ranran held the phone in silence for a while, then said, "Yes, I miss you."

"I'll have the driver pick you up from the hotel."

"Okay! Tonight, I want Zhuangzhuang and I to serve you together."

"You little vixen! Just wait till I get my hands on you."

……

Soon, the wave of gossip from Hong Kong media subsided after the lawyer's letter was sent out. Several media outlets that first reported on the story initially refused to respond after receiving the strongly worded lawyer's letter from Huayu Film & Television's legal department.

However, the damages under Hong Kong's defamation law are shockingly high, often amounting to millions of Hong Kong dollars.

Moreover, the law firm hired by Tianchao Group in Hong Kong is one of the top in the industry, specializing in defamation lawsuits.

Two media outlets couldn't take it anymore and immediately published a tiny correction notice in the corner of their latest issue, stating that "some content in their previous reports about Suning was unverified."

Mr. Zhou picked up the two magazines and flipped through them. He then said to the public relations manager, "Manager Liu, even a small thing has its benefits. Keep an eye on it. If they haven't published an apology statement, continue to sue them."

"clear."

"This incident has also reminded us that we should spend a public relations fee every year to try our best to keep news about President Su out of the public eye."

"Huh? Is that necessary?"

“You don’t understand! Our boss has always been low-key and doesn’t like being in the spotlight all the time.”

"Okay! I'll go back and draft a public relations plan."

The remaining companies that were still observing saw that the wind was blowing in the wrong direction and gradually backed down.

The topic that had been making headlines in the entertainment industry cooled down, replaced by promotional press releases for various stars' new films and red carpet photos from the awards season.

Suning handed this matter over to the legal department to handle, and then turned his attention to another matter that he had been pondering for a long time.

……

Winter goes and spring comes.

These four words have always held a special place in Suning's heart.

Back when Suning bought that dilapidated courtyard hotel, Feng Tieyou was causing a huge commotion inside with a group of workers.

Later, "Winter Goes, Spring Comes" was transformed by Suning into a premier high-end courtyard hotel within Beijing's Second Ring Road.

The original blue bricks, gray tiles, and old locust trees have been preserved, and the covered walkways and screen walls still retain the flavor of old Beijing. All the interior facilities have been upgraded to the top standard...

Each guest room features underfloor heating, central air conditioning, private bathrooms, and an intelligent guest room control system; the design of each room is unique.

Business has been booming since it opened, with occupancy rates consistently above 90%.

Many foreign guests and high-end business travelers specifically request to stay at this boutique hotel with its old Beijing charm.

Once, a French architect came to Beijing on a business trip and stayed at the Winter to Spring Hotel. When he checked out, he left a handwritten note at the front desk that read in French: "This is the most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in."

But Suning has always felt that the value of winter turning into spring has not been fully realized.

This hotel's success is no accident...

This proves that combining traditional cultural heritage with modern hotel management is a viable approach.

In China's first- and second-tier cities and provincial capitals, Winter Comes to Spring Hotel has a strong market competitiveness.

Some old buildings are hidden deep in the alleys, with mottled blue bricks and wood carvings from decades ago still on the lintels.

Some are located in prime locations in the old city, next to subway stations and commercial streets, but the properties themselves have been vacant for more than ten years without anyone taking care of them.

Some of the scenic area entrances are dilapidated, with overgrown weeds in the courtyards.

These properties are seen as a burden by others...

They can't demolish it, they can't afford to renovate it, and the property rights are still unclear.

However, in Suning's eyes, these are all treasures—each old building is a piece of history, a story, and the story itself is a brand premium.

"Zhuang Zhuang, notify the heads of the Legal Department and Mingju Real Estate Investment Department to come to headquarters for a meeting this afternoon."

"What topic?"

"We will establish a hotel management company and replicate the 'winter turns to spring' model nationwide."

"..." Zhuangzhuang paused for a moment, then immediately turned around and went out to inform them, "Okay! I'll go inform them right away."

……

Once everyone had arrived, Suning asked Zhuangzhuang to turn on the projector.

The detailed project plan was immediately displayed on the screen.

Winter Goes By, Spring Comes: Hotel Management Company, an independent legal entity, separated from the Mingju Real Estate system, focusing on hotel brand operation and expansion.

Step 1: Open directly operated flagship stores in four first-tier cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

Simultaneously, site selection has been initiated in provincial capitals such as Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Chongqing.

Each store prioritizes the renovation of old buildings with historical significance in the local area, replicating the traditional courtyard boutique hotel model from winter to spring across the country.

Suning looked at the company executives present and said, “The name ‘Winter Goes, Spring Comes’ has already built a reputation in Beijing. But its potential extends far beyond just a courtyard hotel. Every city in China with a rich history and culture has a number of old buildings waiting to be renovated. These things are seen as junk by others, but as treasures by us. What we need to do is pick up these treasures one by one, clean them, and make them shine again. The hotel management company will still be named ‘Winter Goes, Spring Comes,’ and the brand story will be about how that old, dilapidated courtyard hotel became the upscale hotel it is today… This story is more impactful than any advertisement.”

After listening, the head of Mingju Real Estate Investment Department immediately raised a very specific question to Su Ning: "Mr. Su, the property rights of historically valuable old buildings in various places are very complicated. Some are public housing, with the property rights held by the housing management bureau, and there are strict approval procedures for renting them out. Some are private houses, but some owners have gone abroad and cannot be contacted, while others have passed away and their heirs are still in litigation, so clarifying the property rights relationship will take a long time. Some are listed as cultural relics protection units, which cannot be demolished or altered, and even changing a window requires approval from the cultural relics bureau. The difficulty of acquiring land for these buildings is much greater than for ordinary commercial land, and the process will also be much longer."

Suning had clearly considered these issues before the meeting: "What we're doing in 'Winter Turns to Spring' is protective renovation, not demolition and reconstruction. These two concepts are fundamentally different. Demolition and reconstruction is a developer's mindset, while protective renovation is a cultural tourism operator's mindset. For cultural heritage sites, we'll apply for renovation qualifications. With Tianchao Group's large asset scale and credit record, obtaining renovation qualifications won't be a problem. For public housing, we'll negotiate cooperative development with local governments. We won't buy the property rights; we'll sign long-term lease plus investment and renovation contracts. The government retains the property rights, and we'll be responsible for investment, renovation, and operation management. Both parties will share the profits according to the agreed proportion. For private housing with complex property rights, we'll clarify them one by one. Tianchao's legal department has so many people idle anyway, let them do their professional work." The bottom line is to restore the old as it was, without altering a single aspect of the original architectural style… Old bricks on the walls that can be preserved are retained, not a single old tree in the courtyard is left untouched, and the old wood carvings on the beams are restored to their original state. The interior facilities are up to five-star hotel standards: underfloor heating is installed where necessary, central air conditioning is installed where required, and soundproofing is done where necessary, allowing guests to experience both the historical charm of the old building and the comfort and convenience of a modern hotel. This model naturally aligns with the government's demands for old city preservation and cultural tourism development. When discussing projects in various places, don't just say we're here to open a hotel; say we're here to renovate cultural and tourism landmarks. The biggest headache for local governments is how to renovate the old city; we've solved this problem for them. Land prices and supporting policies are negotiable.”

The people in the real estate investment department nodded and began to take notes quickly in their notebooks.

The legal department representative then inquired about company registration: "Mr. Su, should Winter to Spring Hotel Management Company be placed under Mingju Real Estate or separated?"

Suning said, "We will separate it into an independent legal entity, creating a brand new subsidiary from Tianchao Group. Tianchao Group will hold a controlling stake, while a portion of the equity will be reserved for future strategic partners and management incentives. Once the hotel management company reaches a certain scale, senior executives and store managers should have equity, making them not just employees but also shareholders."

"clear."

After the meeting ended, Zhuangzhuang tidied up the documents on the table and prepared to leave.

Su Ning stopped her, "Zhuangzhuang, what do you think of Xiao Dongbei? What is he doing now?"

Zhuangzhuang was stunned for a moment.

She never expected that Suning would suddenly ask about Xiao Dongbei.

The image of Xiao Dongbei and his personality came to mind. "Xiao Dongbei is doing quite well in the logistics department of Huayu Film and Television now, managing equipment and props. He said he really likes this job when we had dinner together last time."

Su Ning nodded. "Ask him if he'd like to come to Winter to Spring Hotel Management Company and be the deputy manager of the Beijing flagship store. He has a deep affection for Winter to Spring and knows many things better than the property manager. It would be a waste to put someone like that in the logistics department of Huayu to manage equipment.

"Great! I'll contact Xiao Dongbei right away. I'm sure he'll be very happy."

"Okay, let's walk together after get off work tonight."

"..." Zhuangzhuang immediately understood what Su Ning wanted to do, then blushed and looked at Su Ning to ask, "Is Ranran going too?"

"If you don't like it, I won't force you."

"No! I like it! It's just that sometimes I'm a little reserved."

"You'll get used to it gradually! You two are completely different women, and being together gives me a special feeling."

"..."

...(End of this chapter)