Hu Qing, Zheng Pingye, and Jin Xiaohu surrendered themselves to the authorities.
The Kyoto Police Department simultaneously announced the surrender of the three individuals to the public.
Not long after the announcement, the identities of Hu Qing, Zheng Pingye, and Jin Xiaohu were uncovered.
Netizens finally understood why the trio had furiously murdered the presidents of three express delivery companies and three agents.
It turned out that the two administrators who tragically died in the fire were childhood friends and close brothers to the three men.
Furthermore, their past experiences of mixing with society and following influential figures in their youth were also unearthed in greater depth.
Upon learning of the five men's relationship and their past experiences,
Various suggestions and opinions flooded the internet, and public evaluation of the trio was mixed, with diverse viewpoints.
However, Hu Qing, Zheng Pingye, and Jin Xiaohu had already been apprehended. Even if some people online demanded their lives or hoped for leniency,
The outcome was no longer something that mere online words could influence.
What awaited the three were indictment and trial.
As for Gao Fei, the most he could do was hire the best lawyers for the trio and handle their aftermath.
From arson to revenge killing.
The instigator of it all, Chou Dongsheng.
Although his fate wouldn't be the death penalty, the final outcome would most likely be a lengthy prison sentence.
His arrest and imprisonment not only affected Kong Liwei but also severely impacted the reputation of Kyoto University.
The moment Chou Dongsheng was arrested, Jingda immediately issued a statement.
They declared that Chou Dongsheng was neither an on-staff member nor an externally contracted employee of the university. He was invited by the Entrepreneurship Competition organizing committee as a financial statistician.
Concurrently, Jingda established an internal investigation team to strictly examine the current entrepreneurship competition.
Upon learning that the school had formed an investigation team and prepared to seriously handle the entrepreneurship competition, Gao Fei intended to contribute some evidence he possessed.
But when he saw Kong Liwei send another supervisor, claiming to oversee the various procedures of the entrepreneurship competition,
Gao Fei immediately scoffed at the school's investigation, realizing it was merely a superficial effort.
He also obtained some information from Li Changhuang.
Originally, the school's investigation into the entrepreneurship competition was proceeding in an orderly manner.
But somehow, through some peculiar tactic employed by Kong Liwei, the internal investigation was halted, allowing the entrepreneurship competition to narrowly escape without incident.
Now that everything was back on track, the confrontation between Gao Fei and the organizing committee, and Kong Liwei, was still ongoing.
...
The next day.
Feiteng Investment Company.
"Boss, your reputation online hasn't been very good lately!"
"Is it related to Hu Qing and the others?"
"Yes!"
Jin Qiqi pushed the laptop towards Gao Fei and pointed at the screen, saying, "According to the public relations team's statistics, both your fans and anti-fans do not support you representing Hu Qing and the other three in court.
Very few express support, and most remain neutral!"
"Public relations team? When did you establish it? I had no idea!"
Gao Fei cast a suspicious glance at Jin Qiqi.
As the boss, he was unaware of the sudden emergence of a small department.
"It was established not long ago, a week after we returned to the country.
Don't worry, the public relations team's salaries are very low, only five to six thousand a month."
As she spoke, Jin Qiqi realized the conversation had veered off track and quickly corrected herself, "Boss, you need to clarify your position now.
Since appearing at the film festival, winning various awards, and then venturing into overseas markets with your films and songs.
Strictly speaking, you, Gao Fei, are now a genuine star.
Your fan base is no longer confined to the internet but is comprehensively reaching out to the public..."
Jian Jie, the agent, began to reorient her boss's identity.
She started explaining the difference between an internet celebrity and a star.
"Jian Jie, let me ask you a question. What's the difference between an internet celebrity or a star and an ordinary person?"
"How can there not be? Internet celebrities are always confined to the internet, finding it hard to break out. Stars develop comprehensively..."
"You haven't understood my point. I mean, what's the difference between a star and an ordinary person?
Do they have two extra mouths? Or two extra eyes? Or is their status nobler than ordinary people?"
Gao Fei leaned back in his chair and looked at Jin Qiqi, who was stumped by the question, and continued, "Jian Jie, I don't need any star positioning, nor do I need any persona building.
Simply put, I act, I sing, all for my own enjoyment and to make money.
If one day acting and singing make me uncomfortable, I will resolutely distance myself from this circle."
"Therefore, please also clarify your position. You are my agent, yes, but I am still your boss.
What I want to do, what kind of film I want to make, what song I want to sing, is all decided by me.
And you, just do your job within your scope."
Jin Qiqi, sitting opposite him, was taken aback. She seemed to have forgotten something: Gao Fei was inherently different from other celebrities.
His success was entirely due to his hard power.
Songs, films, novels, etc., were all creations of his own, garnering him fans.
Other celebrities needed teams and companies to help with promotion and positioning to ensure a smooth career path.
Did Gao Fei need that?
From his debut to the present, he had always let his strength speak for itself.
Therefore, there was no need for a fabricated persona or celebrity status.
Jin Qiqi smiled apologetically, stood up, and said, "I'm sorry, boss. I won't overstep my bounds again.
Should the studio's public relations team be disbanded immediately?"
"We've already hired people. Disbanding them before paying their first month's salary would make people curse me as a capitalist!"
Gao Fei waved his hand and instructed, "Keep them. They might be useful in the future."
"Okay!"
Jin Qiqi nodded and glanced at the phone on the desk, "Boss, Vice President Wei Hang of Baolai Jewelry Group and Vice President Xie Lin of Qiaoling Cosmetics Company are already at the company. The receptionist has arranged them in the reception room and conference room, respectively."
"Let's go, let's go meet this Vice President Wei who offered an exorbitant price for cooperation!"
Gao Fei picked up the design drafts on the desk and left with her.
In the reception room.
Wei Hang, dressed in a white suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and of a somewhat slender build, sat with his legs crossed on the sofa.
In front of him was a cup of steaming coffee and a cooperation contract drafted by the company's legal department.
As he was carefully reviewing the contract clauses, Gao Fei entered the reception room with Jin Qiqi.
After mutual introductions, both parties formally began their in-depth discussion.
"Mr. Gao, we can be responsible for the custom order of gifts you're giving to your fans. Here's the customization plan, please take a look!"
Wei Hang took out a document from his briefcase and handed it over.
Gao Fei took it and scanned it briefly. Compared to the other companies he had negotiated with previously, Baolai was quite sincere.
The document was very detailed, specifying that Baolai would be responsible for the gold or silver for the custom gifts.
Furthermore, the amount of gold and silver required for each custom gift had been precisely marked, and the workmanship could be inspected upon completion.
"Vice President Wei, the customization plan for the gifts is excellent. So, what are your terms?"
Gao Fei put down the plan and asked.
Wei Hang did not immediately push forward the cooperation contract but began to verbally outline the cooperation plan.
"Mr. Gao, our terms are actually very simple. We only need you to endorse our group's jewelry products.
You've invested in a design studio, right? Our group can also acquire all the jewelry design drafts from the studio."
The terms offered by Vice President Wei were indeed simple and direct.
As long as Gao Fei agreed to endorse, Baolai Group would accept everything, including custom gifts and the studio's jewelry designs.
"Endorsement is possible, but I have a condition!"
"Please state it, Mr. Gao!"
"I can waive the endorsement fee, but all designs for the jewelry products I endorse must be personally reviewed by me, and I need to take a portion of the profits from the endorsed products."
In Gao Fei's eyes, endorsement fees were of little value.
The real money was in the huge profits generated from the sales of endorsed products.
Wei Hang seemed to have anticipated such a condition.
Conversely, if Mr. Gao could personally participate in the design of the endorsed products, it would also be a marketing gimmick to attract consumers.
Now that Mr. Gao had stated his terms, Vice President Wei had no objections and immediately handed over the cooperation contract.
Gao Fei only glanced at the contract briefly before handing it over to Zeng Keming, as professional matters should be handled by professionals.
After about half an hour, both parties finalized the contract.
Wei Hang also invited Gao Fei to visit Baolai's factory and corporate headquarters tomorrow.
The design drafts for the new products he would endorse were also completed, and he could offer some suggestions then.
In addition, the custom gifts for fans could begin production immediately and would be completed within three days at the latest.
After discussing all matters, Wei Hang prepared to leave with his entourage.
However, before he left, he suddenly reminded Gao Fei of something.
"Mr. Gao, before I came to discuss cooperation today, the company received a call.
The caller stated that if we dared to cooperate with you, they would ensure that Baolai Group's jewelry would have no market in Longguo."
"Since someone threatened you, you still dared to cooperate with me?"
"Mr. Gao, you don't know this, but Baolai Group... let me put it this way, anyone who wants to threaten Baolai Group is not qualified.
Moreover, this reminder was also conveyed to you by our group's major shareholder."
"Please thank your major shareholder for me!"
"We are partners, no need for thanks. That's what the boss said!"
After delivering the message, Wei Hang said no more and left the reception room with his entourage.
As for who threatened Baolai Group, even if Wei Hang didn't say it, Gao Fei knew who it was.
Besides Kong Liwei, there was no one else.
It was just that Kong Liwei probably didn't expect Baolai Group to be such a tough nut to crack and to be unafraid of his threats.
After seeing them off, Gao Fei was about to head to the conference room to meet Vice President Xie Lin of Qiaoling Cosmetics Company.
Jin Qiqi stepped forward to inform him that Xie Lin had left a few minutes ago and would no longer be cooperating with him.
Qiaoling Cosmetics Company had just refused to cooperate with Gao Fei.
The other three cosmetic companies that had previously made appointments also called simultaneously.
They informed him that due to other reasons, they were unable to cooperate with Gao Fei and expressed their apologies.
Upon receiving the news, Gao Fei's eyes turned cold. He hadn't expected Kong Liwei to be so impatient; this was a comprehensive blacklisting!
"Damn it, you really think you can control me, Kong Liwei, just by preventing others from cooperating with me?
I, for one, have a system and a cheat!"
(I've recovered well today and can resume normal updates in two more days. I made a New Year's wish to reach over a hundred votes within five days!)