Start by Spending One Billion [Entertainment Industry]-Chapter 88

With a self-deprecating smile, Tan Chen admitted he must be truly desperate to dream like this.

The dream’s sensations even lingered—his throat felt parched, as if he’d actually eaten those salty chicken hearts.

He shifted slightly, reaching for water, when suddenly someone handed him a cup.

"Here, drink some water?"

Startled, he reflexively thanked them and sat up. As he took the cup, his gaze landed on Sheng Quan sitting across from him, holding a teacup.

The tea leaves on the table looked familiar—probably the show’s head director’s prized stash. The man usually rationed them meticulously.

Sheng Quan set down her cup. "You’re awake. Feeling better?"

Tan Chen: "…"

His eyes darted to the head director seated beside her.

The usually stern, perpetually busy man—who’d barely spared him a glance before—was now beaming at him warmly.

Just yesterday, the director had solemnly informed him that Bai Xiangyuan’s refusal to continue filming meant Team Breakwater might be cut from the show.

"Captain Tan, you know how it is. In games like Polaris, the bot lane draws the most fans. With Bai Xiangyuan gone, the show’s appeal will drop."

Back then, Tan Chen could only listen silently. The director wasn’t wrong—Bai Xiangyuan’s departure was a breach of contract, one Tan Chen had signed off on.

The director had been sympathetic, acknowledging Tan Chen’s struggles: "The Global Championship is a team event. How can you compete missing a player? We’ve waived the penalty fee, but we’ll have to replace you…"

That conversation had been one more weight on Tan Chen’s shoulders.

Now, the director radiated paternal warmth despite being barely fifty. "Ah, Captain Tan! You’re finally awake!"

"You collapsed from fever—gave me quite a scare! Thank goodness CEO Sheng was here. You really must thank her."

"And you never mentioned you two were gaming friends! Strawberry TV and our network are practically siblings—why keep it a secret?"

Tan Chen, suddenly drowning in enthusiasm: "…"

The unflappable captain, who’d endured every hardship without complaint, was now thoroughly stunned.

FirmGrip was the Sheng Quan.

Sheng Quan was in Fangcheng.

BlazingFlame had told her about his situation, and she’d come to find him.

And now, she wanted to invest in Team Breakwater.

Tan Chen touched his forehead. "Am I still feverish?"

Sheng Quan smiled. "No, your fever’s gone."

"Get up. If you’re willing, we can review the contract."

Of course Tan Chen was willing.

He read the terms.

After finishing, he looked up, eyes brimming with gratitude and disbelief. "This is… too generous."

A seasoned player in the industry, he’d seen countless team contracts. Sheng Quan’s offer was easily among the most favorable—the kind even top-tier clubs would leap at, let alone a struggling squad like Breakwater.

"Because I believe you’ll win the Global Championship."

Sheng Quan made no secret of her motives.

"‘Expecting horses to run without feeding them only leads to ruin.’ You taught me that."

Tan Chen had indeed said those words—back when Sheng Quan was learning about esports, and he’d cynically described how clubs exploited players. Never had he imagined she’d remember them, appearing as his savior in his darkest hour.

The contract felt weightless in his hands, yet carried the gravity of a thousand promises.

He knew full well how the world saw Breakwater: a no-name team fresh off a loss, missing a player. That Sheng Quan—a mere gaming acquaintance—would extend such a lifeline…

"Thank you."

Unlike his feverish mutterings earlier, these words held profound sincerity. His eyes stung slightly, perhaps from lingering illness.

With red-rimmed eyes, the young man met Sheng Quan’s gaze. "I won’t betray your trust."

Outside, the director peered through the window, slapping his thigh excitedly as Tan Chen signed. "It’s done! They signed!"

A baffled assistant blinked. "Why are you so happy? It’s Captain Tan’s deal with CEO Sheng."

"Fool! Don’t you know her reputation? The Golden Touch!"

The director looked ready to float away. "Everyone she backs skyrockets! Breakwater just hit the jackpot!"

"We can benefit from this too! Back when Strawberry TV was on the brink of collapse, it was Chairman Sheng who single-handedly saved it. Just wait and see—Team Breakwater is about to rise! And now they’re joining our variety show. Ahhh!! What incredible luck!"

The assistant suddenly understood and got excited too. But as his excitement grew, his eyes widened in realization:

"Wait, Director, the withdrawal of Team Breakwater has already been reported. The approval process is probably almost done. Doesn’t our station have a rule that once something’s reported, it can’t be changed?"

The director, however, remained completely unruffled.

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He chuckled. "Kid, you’re still too young."

If it were anyone else, changing the report might indeed be impossible. But for Chairman Sheng?

After Strawberry TV’s revival, other stations congratulated them on the surface, but secretly, they were green with envy.

With the rise of online platforms, traditional TV stations had been struggling. The big ones might still be fine, but everyone else envied Strawberry TV for suddenly gaining a major backer like Sheng Quan.

Sure enough, as soon as the director made the call, the leader—who had just dealt with another headache—was furious at first:

"Change it? The approval’s already through! How am I supposed to change it for you? I’m so mad I can’t even—ugh! You people drive me up the wall every single day!"

But the moment he heard that this little esports team had just been signed by Sheng Quan, the leader’s rage suddenly fizzled out.

In fact, before it vanished completely, it even sprouted a little flower of joy.

"Chairman Sheng… you mean the Sheng Quan from Starlight Entertainment?"

"The one who invested a hundred million in Strawberry TV? Didn’t she just buy a luxury mansion recently, the kind worth billions?"

The director replied smugly, "Yes, Chairman Sheng has high hopes for Breakwater. It seems she’s planning to enter the esports industry—rumor has it she’s already in the process of buying a club. They just signed the contract, and they’re currently at our filming location."

The leader cut him off. "Say no more. I’ll change it right away."

"Listen, you have to take good care of Chairman Sheng. If she doesn’t want to appear on camera, don’t force her. And that team—what’s their name again?"

"Team Breakwater."

"Right, Team Breakwater. Give them as much screen time as possible. Let Chairman Sheng see our sincerity. This opportunity is too rare—you must seize it. Even if she doesn’t invest in the show, just her backing Breakwater will benefit us."

The ten-minute call spent only one minute on changing the report. The remaining nine were the leader excitedly instructing the director to ensure Sheng Quan felt "welcomed like royalty" (though the term didn’t quite fit) and to make her feel their station’s warmth and hospitality.

After hanging up, the director felt refreshed.

He could already envision their show becoming as explosively popular as "Sing with You."

Right now, all he could think about was taking care of Chairman Sheng, taking care of Tan Chen, and taking care of the rest of Team Breakwater. Speaking of which—Bai Xiangyuan. Tch. If only he knew that right after he left, Breakwater gained such a powerful backer… Hahahaha!

Though he barely knew Bai Xiangyuan, the director couldn’t help but dislike him.

After mentally gloating for a bit, he suddenly remembered:

"Did those kids from Breakwater finish their livestream? Before I came over, they looked so worried when they heard Tan Chen was sick. Hurry, the livestream should be almost over—let them come see him. Poor things, they’re just kids."

The assistant hesitated.

Weren’t you the one who said they couldn’t leave during work hours and had to wait until it was over?

Though internally complaining, he obediently went to fetch them.

The group of anxious youngsters practically sprinted into the room.

"Tan-ge!"

"Tan-ge, are you okay?"

"They said you fainted."

"Tan-ge, let me see—was it because of that bastard Bai Xiangyuan? Don’t be upset, Tan-ge. He’s not worth it."

Sheng Quan watched as Tan Chen was swarmed by the chattering, concerned youngsters and couldn’t help but laugh, remembering the "mother hen and chicks" comparison from earlier.

Chen Mo, who had been wholly focused on Tan Chen, finally noticed someone else in the room. When she looked up, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"Sh-sh-sh-sh…"

Zhou Ke, a slightly older teammate, followed her gaze. "Sh what… Sheng Quan?!"

That shout could rival an opera singer’s high note.

Sheng Quan resisted the urge to cover her ears and waved at them. "Hello."

"Let me introduce myself—from now on, I’m your boss."

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍group: "…"

Sheng Quan. Their boss?!

The chairwoman of Starlight Entertainment was saying she’d be their boss?!

Their boss for Team Breakwater?!

Chen Mo was stunned, so overjoyed she could hardly believe it.

She turned to Tan Chen. "Coach! Is it true?!"

Tan Chen nodded.

Chen Mo froze for a second, then timidly called out, "B-boss?"

Sheng Quan nodded.

Chen Mo: AHHHHHHHH!!!

Other teammates: AHHHHHHHH!!!

Chen Mo pulled out her phone. "I—I’m posting this! I want Bai Xiangyuan to see!!"

"No need."

Sheng Quan stopped her, smirking mischievously.

"He’ll see it."

That day’s trending hashtag: #ShengQuanSpends3BillionToAcquireDEChina’sLargestEsportsClub#

Renamed: Breakwater.