Early the next morning, neither Su Ning nor Shen Mingzheng was late. Shen Mingzheng even went to pick up Su Ning in advance, worried that something might go wrong.

On the surface, it looked like Su Ning and Shen Mingzheng had squeezed in a quick wedding before heading to work.

The process of obtaining their marriage certificate was straightforward. The only unique aspect was that the lawyer entrusted by the late Elder Su was present throughout, overseeing the paperwork. After confirming some documents, the lawyer informed Su Ning that everything was set. He added that there might be further follow-ups in due time and asked Su Ning to wait patiently.

Before leaving, the lawyer offered his congratulations, though it was unclear whether he was congratulating them on their marriage or on Su Ning inheriting a fortune.

Either way, Su Ning happily accepted the congratulations.

He was in a good mood today.

However, after obtaining the marriage certificate, Su Ning had no plans to hold a grand wedding. At most, he’d keep things simple.

Given their circumstances, their parents were either deceased or estranged. Besides the people they knew in the business world, there were no close friends to notify. The engagement had already been widely publicized in their circles after gaining Old Master Shen’s approval, so there was no need to go overboard with ceremony.

Additionally, Su Ning and Shen Mingzheng’s appearance on the live finale last night had already made it to the hot search list. Among the buzz surrounding “Idol Star Map Season 4,” their presence stood out prominently.

As the boss of an entertainment company, Su Ning didn’t need excessive public attention unless it was to promote his company’s artists. Too much scrutiny could sometimes bring unnecessary trouble in the business world. Hence, there was no reason to organize an extravagant event.

This was Su Ning’s decision. He had too much on his plate, and today he was in a rush to get back to the company. What he didn’t expect was that Shen Mingzheng actually valued their wedding day.

Even though many steps were skipped, Shen Mingzheng had prepared something significant.

He brought a ring.

—And not just any ring.

The ring was a ruby heirloom from the Shen family, the only item Shen Mingzheng had taken with him when he left home. It was his mother’s treasured possession, engraved with the Shen family crest.

Even for a family as wealthy as the Shens, such a high-grade ring was rare, let alone one with such special significance. It was one of the Shen family’s important symbols.

Su Ning wasn’t familiar with the Shen family’s intricate rules, but one look at the ring told him it was incredibly valuable. Initially, he hesitated to accept it.

“This is too precious,” Su Ning said. “You should keep it for yourself.”

They both understood that this marriage was more of a partnership than anything else.

But Shen Mingzheng was insistent.

“Take it,” he said firmly. “I know you have reservations now, but in the future, I’ll give you even more.”

Although they now held control of the company, they were still in the early stages and somewhat constrained. Shen Mingzheng understood Su Ning’s concerns.

His tone suggested he felt as though he was wronging Su Ning, but in truth, Su Ning wasn’t particularly concerned about the gesture.

Unable to argue further, Su Ning finally accepted the ring.

Once they arrived at the company, Guang Ying Entertainment and Shen Film Industry immediately held a joint meeting to discuss the operations of their new idol group. The seven members were still managed by the platform, filming advertisements and attending scheduled events. In a few days, the group’s management would officially transition to their companies.

Both companies needed to form teams for the group’s management. Su Ning and Shen Mingzheng sat on opposite sides of the table, while Liang Xiaoliang brought his team along.

During the meeting, while discussing official matters, Liang Xiaoliang kept glancing at the two of them, secretly musing.

…You wouldn’t guess they just got married.

Tsk, these young people.

Shen Film Industry had already prepared for the group’s debut album. They planned to release a mini-album featuring three songs, with Shen Mingzheng personally overseeing the project. Qilin Entertainment also sent experienced staff to assist with resource coordination.

Su Ning’s first major task was clear when he glanced at his assignment.

—A variety show for the group.

Director Chen Yuan seemed to think highly of Su Ning’s skills in variety show production, so this task was specifically assigned to him.

Creating a variety show for an idol group was no easy feat. Such shows often ended up being appreciated only by hardcore fans, with production quality sometimes failing to meet even basic expectations. Previous variety shows for groups from survival programs had struggled to gain mainstream appeal, even those produced by Qilin Entertainment.

However, if executed well, a variety show could significantly boost a group’s success, especially one emerging from a talent show.

Even Su Ning had to put serious thought into it.

After the meeting, Director Yao, now also overseeing the artist management department, brought up another matter.

Apart from Li Chu, the company had other artists whose profiles were ready for review. Su Ning needed to meet them.

Guang Ying Entertainment had paused many production projects, but staff couldn’t be idle. Before its crisis, Su Hongda had poached a few second- and third-tier artists, but the most popular ones left during the company’s recent troubles. The remaining three earning actors were all around forty years old and semi-retired, making only modest profits.

These three actors—a man and two women—were familiar faces in supporting roles but had never achieved major stardom. Now, they mostly played maternal figures or minor characters. However, they had been part of many projects when Guang Ying was highly productive and had some representative roles, giving them sentimental value to the company.

Though not big moneymakers, they were talented and experienced actors who stayed on out of loyalty.

Su Ning met with each of them and had reviewed their work beforehand. While they weren’t stars, their acting skills were mature and professional. They greeted Su Ning with humility, expressing their willingness to work whenever the company needed them.

Such artists were valuable treasures for a company.

After noting their profiles, Su Ning moved on to review other documents. Among them was a file for trainees he had already met. Unexpectedly, there was an additional, outdated resume beneath the trainee files.

“What’s this?” he asked Director Yao.

“Oh, this is someone the company froze earlier,” Director Yao explained. “She’s basically out of the industry now. Back then, our contracts were all five years long, so without money to pay the termination fees, she just stayed on the roster. The company stopped managing her, so she probably switched careers.”

The resume belonged to a girl listed as eighteen years old. The photo was slightly blurry, showing a tidy headshot of a pretty, young face with a somewhat shy student-like demeanor.

“The previous director of the artist management department ran off. Before that, this girl didn’t have much presence. She was caught up in some third-party scandal involving a well-known male artist. Whether true or not, Elder Su tried to save her career and even secured her a supporting role in a drama. However, the artist’s significant other retaliated, and a direct order came down from the association,” Director Yao continued. “It’s a shame. This happened a few years ago.”

The girl was a rare talent Elder Su had personally signed. Guang Ying Entertainment rarely managed artists back then, but Elder Su must have seen potential in her to keep her. Unfortunately, bad luck struck, and her career was buried.

Life in the entertainment industry wasn’t always smooth sailing, which wasn’t unusual.

However, Su Ning frowned.

Looking at the old resume again, he felt something was off.

“Frozen” and “buried by Guang Ying Entertainment” were critical keywords. They resonated deeply with what he remembered from the plot of the novel he had read.

Li Chu was someone the novel’s main protagonist had rescued from being “buried” by Guang Ying Entertainment. Yet the further Su Ning delved into the original owner’s memories, the blurrier they became. He hadn’t even known Guang Ying Entertainment had other “frozen” talents.

“Where is she now?” Su Ning asked. “I’d like to meet her.”

Director Yao called but couldn’t reach her. He promised to keep looking and bring her to the company once found.

Su Ning copied the resume and kept it. Whether or not Li Chu was the protagonist, Su Ning decided to remain cautious and approach things the same way.

Even after work, Su Ning was still busy—he had his wedding reception to attend.

The only ceremonial aspect of their marriage was a banquet organized by Old Master Shen upon learning of their sudden marriage. Although the old master couldn’t attend, many others did.

The reception was framed as a celebration, making it hard to refuse. Su Ning invited Director Chen Yuan, Liang Xiaoliang, Su Hongda, and a few veteran employees from Guang Ying Entertainment. This also served as a way to notify the company’s staff.

Su Ning didn’t recognize many of the Shen family attendees, so he asked Shen Mingzheng beforehand.

“I haven’t spent much time in the capital, so I don’t know most of the Shen family personally. I’ve only seen their profiles,” Shen Mingzheng casually fixed Su Ning’s tie, smoothing out the slight creases on his clothes. Taking Su Ning’s hand, he said, “Old Master Shen mentioned that the guests include relatives and friends. Don’t worry; I’ll introduce you.”

The Shen family had numerous branches. “Relatives” in their context likely had a broader definition. Su Ning also suspected the old master had ulterior motives for hosting this banquet.

“I agreed to this because I think this reception could be useful to you,” Shen Mingzheng said as he led Su Ning out. “Many of the attendees are people we wouldn’t be able to invite ourselves. You’re just starting out, so it’s a good opportunity to network.”

Su Ning thought about it and agreed.

Before heading down, Shen Mingzheng reminded him to wear the ring.

The ring turned out to be an effective tool. With it on, people’s attitudes toward Su Ning shifted, becoming noticeably more polite and respectful.

Liang Xiaoliang, with his extensive network, introduced Su Ning to many guests, while Shen Mingzheng made key introductions. Su Ning gradually became acquainted with numerous notable figures, including several major investors, directors, producers, and even some famous actors who toasted him with courtesy.

Through these interactions, Su Ning gained a broader understanding of the domestic entertainment industry, expanding his network considerably. In this sense, Old Master Shen’s “wedding gift” was more practical than any physical item.

However, Old Master Shen’s gifts always came with hidden costs. The true outcome depended on how they handled the challenges.

As they moved to the center of the room, someone approached them, causing even Liang Xiaoliang to pause. Turning to Su Ning, he said, “Why is he back?”

“Su Ning, you… be careful.”

Su Ning looked up to see a man in his late thirties or early forties. Unlike Shen Mingzheng, his appearance had a slight mixed-race quality, dressed in a sharp British gentleman style with a checkered coat and polished shoes. Before Shen Mingzheng or Liang Xiaoliang could introduce him, the man greeted them with a smile from a short distance away.

“Young Master Su, it’s an honor to finally meet you,” he said. “Or should I call you… cousin-in-law?”

Even his voice carried the faint accent of a foreigner speaking Chinese.

Then Su Ning heard Shen Mingzheng quietly introducing the man beside him.

“This is Shen Huai. His grandfather and my maternal grandfather were brothers, so technically, we’re cousins. His company is based in Hui Guan—you’ve probably heard of the name ‘Pinnacle Agency.’”

Su Ning paused. He had indeed heard of Pinnacle Agency.

Before officially inheriting Guang Ying Entertainment, Su Ning had done extensive research and had marked Pinnacle Agency as one of his key competitors.

Hui Guan was a city near Hai Cheng.

Though domestic cities varied in their development, the entertainment industry had several hubs, and the Hai Cheng area was a major one. The economic vibrancy of its surrounding cities, combined with government support, had strengthened the region’s influence in recent years.

Hui Guan, Gui Jiang, and Hai Cheng formed a closely linked trio. The Gui River wound through Gui Jiang, nourished Hui Guan, and finally flowed into the sea at Hai Cheng.

The entertainment industry’s “Hai Cheng Circle” often referred narrowly to Hai Cheng itself. However, in a broader sense, it included top-tier idol management from Gui Jiang’s Qilin Entertainment and Hui Guan’s Pinnacle Agency.

Unlike Qilin Entertainment, which focused exclusively on idols, Pinnacle Agency managed a variety of talent, including models, actors, idols, and even popular online streamers.

Pinnacle Agency had already caught Su Ning’s attention because the fifth and sixth-place contestants from “Idol Star Map Season 4,” Zhou Heng and Wang Ruoyi, were both from Pinnacle Agency. While not top-tier, they were making waves.

However, the owner of Pinnacle Agency didn’t seem to have the surname “Shen” in the materials Su Ning had read.

Su Ning glanced at Shen Mingzheng, who whispered a brief explanation. He quickly understood. Many Shen family members preferred to keep their investments hidden, unlike Shen Mingzheng, who directly ran a company. Most chose to operate behind the scenes, pulling strings discreetly.

This aligned with the Shen family’s characteristic “style”:

Low-key, yet omnipresent.

Su Ning smiled and extended his hand. “It sounds a bit strange, so just call me Su Ning.”

“They all call me Allen. You can, too. Let’s not bother with titles—it’s unnecessary, right?” Shen Huai smiled back. “Otherwise, the Shen family would have far too many ‘Presidents’ to keep track of.”

Though Shen Huai wore a friendly smile, his handshake with Su Ning was fleeting, as if maintaining a deliberate distance.

His appearance was fairly ordinary compared to the Shen family’s typically striking features. His outfit suggested a certain taste, but when he spoke to Su Ning, he carried himself with an air of superiority.

This subtle arrogance was undeniable, even when masked.

He behaved similarly toward Liang Xiaoliang, addressing him with a curt “President Liang,” to which Liang Xiaoliang responded with visible disinterest.

If not for Su Ning, Liang Xiaoliang might have turned and left. He never bothered hiding his disdain for people he disliked.

Despite his demeanor, Shen Huai certainly had the credentials to back up his arrogance.

“I only left the country for a vacation last month, and so much has changed in my absence,” Shen Huai sighed. “Shen Huai… I thought he’d hold out a bit longer. Who knew?”

He turned to Su Ning, his tone laced with a mocking curiosity. “Little Ning, I wonder how long you can last?”

Though the comment was directed at Su Ning, everyone knew who Shen Huai was really targeting.

Su Ning and Shen Mingzheng quickly realized why Old Master Shen had organized this banquet. It wasn’t a blessing but the beginning of yet another trial.

Among the Shen family’s potential successors, those who failed like Shen Huai weren’t even worth mentioning. Ahead of them stood countless formidable contenders, each guarding their place fiercely. Shen Mingzheng’s identity wouldn’t earn him any favors.

This was the true “wedding gift” from Old Master Shen—a battle, wrapped in ceremony.

Realizing this, Su Ning remained calm. Glancing at Shen Mingzheng, he smiled and said, “Why talk about lasting? Let’s take it slow. Oh, by the way, congratulations to you—fifth and sixth place in ‘Idol Star Map Season 4’ is quite impressive.”

Hearing this, Liang Xiaoliang let out a cold snort.

Qin Shoubai ranked higher, and Su Ning’s team had claimed first place!

Although the results hadn’t come easily, “Idol Star Map Season 4” had long been entangled in external politics. With his shares in Guang Ying Entertainment secured, Liang Xiaoliang was now fully aligned with Su Ning.

And he couldn’t stand this pretentious “foreign fake.”

Pretentious and annoying—he was infuriating just to look at.