infodatos Chapter 241 Chen Lichuan's Helplessness
Chapter 241 Chen Lichuan's Helplessness
He had imagined that the boss behind the scenes might be some low-profile industry tycoon or his successor, but he never expected that the person sitting in front of him would be such a young man, so young that he even had a bit of a campus vibe.
This is far from the image of a calm and composed leader that he had envisioned.
Ye Fan smiled, keenly catching the fleeting surprise in the other person's eyes: "Mr. Chen looks very young, not at all like the person in the file who is in his thirties."
Upon hearing this, Chen Lichuan smiled modestly: "President Ye, you flatter me. Time waits for no one, and at this age, one is already middle-aged in the workplace. It is truly admirable that you, President Ye, have been able to establish and lead such a powerful platform at such a young age."
His tone was sincere, with just the right amount of respect, and he quickly adjusted his mindset.
"Have a seat first!" Ye Fan gestured to Chen Lichuan and sat down on the sofa in the office.
Chen Lichuan sat down on the sofa opposite Ye Fan, his posture relaxed, his briefcase placed at his feet.
Miao Zi brought over two glasses of warm water and gently placed them on the coffee table in front of the two of them.
"Mr. Ye, Mr. Chen, please enjoy your meal." Her voice was steady as she spoke, then quietly left the office and gently closed the door behind her.
......
Ye Fan picked up his water glass, took a sip slowly, and his clear gaze fell on Chen Lichuan with a sharp, insightful look.
"Since we're all young people, let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point." His voice was calm and steady, creating a strange contrast with his youthful appearance.
"Judging from his resume, he joined Vanguard at the age of 26 after graduating with a master's degree from Oxford. He rose to the position of department manager in six years, and then worked at Huayi Brothers for nearly three years until his recent departure." Ye Fan looked at Chen Lichuan.
"That's right." Chen Lichuan nodded.
Ye Fan looked directly at the other person and said, "Can you tell me why you left? Especially since you chose to leave from the big platforms both times?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Lichuan leaned forward slightly, placed his hands on his knees, and remained silent for a moment.
In that brief pause, countless thoughts seemed to surge.
He raised his head, his eyes behind his glasses revealing a frankness tinged with weariness and resentment honed by the years: "Mr. Ye is right, I'm thirty-five this year. In this industry, if you say I'm young, my energy and experience are at their peak; but if you say I'm not young anymore... it seems like there aren't many more times when I should take a gamble."
A slightly self-deprecating smile played on his lips: "At Pioneer and Huayi Brothers, reaching the position of department manager sounds good. But to be honest, for me, it's more like... an accumulation of frustration."
He took a deep breath and looked out at the vast city, as if reminiscing about the past: "When I first left campus, my mind was filled with stories of those legendary investors—discovering rough gems, injecting capital, and witnessing them grow into towering trees. The sense of accomplishment and the joy of creation were unparalleled. This is also my original intention for entering the financial industry."
"But the reality is harsh." Chen Lichuan turned his gaze back, his tone becoming calm and objective. "In a giant like Vanguard, as a newcomer, or even as a middle manager, I simply don't have the power to independently decide the life or death of a project. I'm more like a sophisticated execution component, analyzing, advising, and executing predetermined strategies. Even in the two billion-dollar projects I handled, the direction was set by the upper management; I was only responsible for the specific operations and risk control. That feeling of discovering value and leading the future has never truly been in my hands."
Chen Lichuan took a deep breath: "I couldn't see any hope of taking the lead at Vanguard, so I chose to leave the financial industry and join Huayi Brothers to work on film and television financing and financial management. This is an extension of my professional skills, and over the years, I have indeed gained a deeper understanding and judgment of capital operations in the cultural and entertainment industry."
He then changed the subject decisively: "But Huayi Brothers is a bigger pool, and the water is much muddier. The relationships inside are incredibly complex, and advancement isn't just a matter of ability, but also of resources, connections, and even... choosing sides. I consider myself someone who wants to get things done, and I don't want to waste my energy on those unseen power struggles. With the ceiling right above my head, rather than continuing to waste my time inside, I'd rather take advantage of my remaining drive and venture out."
A desperate smile, tinged with a sense of resignation, appeared on Chen Lichuan's face: "President Ye, one always has to fight for oneself. I'm not content to be an excellent executor forever. So, I left Huayi Brothers. In the pure financial investment circle, I know I lack the foundation to leverage top-tier resources, and going back would most likely mean repeating the same old path. But in the entertainment industry, I have both practical experience and see enormous potential and... the possibility of change. That's why when I saw your up-and-coming, well-capitalized entertainment company, I felt it was a worthwhile opportunity to try."
His eyes were burning with a desire for autonomy and a breakthrough in his career.
Upon hearing Chen Lichuan's reply, Ye Fan's face showed a thoughtful expression.
Ye Fan listened quietly, his knuckles tapping lightly on the sofa armrest as he fell into thought.
He knew that Chen Lichuan had a solid foundation and unfulfilled ambition in the field of financial investment, and had accumulated practical experience in the entertainment industry. However, the latter was more like a helpless choice to "settle for second best." The most burning flame in his heart seemed to still be burning on the field of value discovery and capital operation.
Ye Fan leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp as knives, and threw out a startling question: "Chen Lichuan, putting this entertainment company aside, tell me, deep down, do you still want to return to the investment field? Do you still want that sense of power and accomplishment of leading a project, or even a fund, from scratch, having a keen eye for talent, and personally nurturing its future?"
Ye Fan's question stumped Chen Lichuan, who asked, somewhat puzzled, "Mr. Ye, isn't your company in the entertainment industry?"
Seeing his shocked expression, Ye Fan smiled knowingly, his tone calm yet carrying a wealth of information: "This is just one of my companies. I also have a dedicated investment firm called Red Bean Capital in the Hexi CBD. They recently invested 20 billion in ByteDance. So, are you interested in a platform like this?"
"Clang!" Chen Lichuan almost dropped the water glass in his hand. He quickly caught it, and a few drops of water splashed out.
Even with his years of cultivated composure, he couldn't control the turmoil within him at this moment, and almost blurted out: "20 billion...leading the investment in ByteDance? Mr. Ye, you...you're not joking, are you?"
His voice rose, and his pupils behind his glasses dilated with shock as he stared intently at Ye Fan, as if trying to find any trace of mockery on his young face.