The agreement was straightforward, and Zhou You signed a long-term contract with the law firm. He transferred the remaining money to DJI—since the deal was done, there was no point in being petty. He stayed a few more days in Shanghai but dared not linger any longer. Using the excuse of returning to school for classes, he escaped the comfort zone.
As the weather gradually warmed, the swimming pool business picked up. Wang Ping and Wang Fangfang were full of drive. Though Zhou You didn't want to manage things, they often came to discuss matters with him. Not to mention, having Zhou You as a safety net gave them confidence in their work.
"You know, bro, you don't realize it until you do it yourself, but the swimming pool business is pretty lucrative. We've got 400 members now, plus dozens signed up for swimming lessons. Total revenue is close to two million," Wang Ping said excitedly.
Wang Fangfang was equally thrilled: "And this isn't even summer break yet. Once summer hits, the numbers will go up."
Zhou You was happy too—no one wants to lose money—but he stayed level-headed: "This business makes money in summer and loses it in winter, and we'll need to ramp up investment soon. More coaches, lifeguards, and cleaners are necessary. We also have to consider the pool's capacity. This is a high-end facility; if service slips and causes disputes, it'll hurt our reputation. If membership gets too high later, we'll need to cap it. Otherwise, during peak times, people won't even be able to get in, and that won't work. We need to build a good name."
Wang Ping, who had worked as a coach for years, knew the nightmare of summer peaks: "Safety has to be the top priority. Almost every year, there are pool fatalities. If that happens here, we can't afford the fallout."
Hearing them out, Wang Fangfang calmed down. Starting a business was never easy—you can't just see the rewards without acknowledging the risks. The three of them discussed things for a while, gradually aligning their thoughts. Wang Ping initially wanted to expand further, but Zhou You poured cold water on it: "We have to get through this summer first. Then, in winter, we'll build up the coaching and management teams, ideally with professionals from swimming teams. That's our biggest advantage—it highlights our professionalism and high-end appeal."
At that moment, Zhou You recalled his experience getting a haircut in Shanghai. "We're going for the high-end market. Only fleece the rich, not sweat for pennies. Let's not wear ourselves out, especially you, Ping. Soaking in water all day isn't good for your skin."
Wang Ping felt a touch of gratitude. Meeting Zhou You was indeed lucky; otherwise, he'd still be grinding away as a coach. There's nothing like starting your own business and being your own boss—at the very least, he was earning more than before.
That evening, Zhou You and Wang Fangfang lay in bed.
"Fangfang, you should lean toward management from now on and stop coaching in the water. You two handle this whole operation—I definitely won't have time to manage it, and I don't want to. I can only point out the big picture. A lot of the fine-tuned management will fall on you and Wang Ping. But relying on Wang Ping alone won't cut it. How are you two dividing the work now?"
Wang Fangfang paused. "Dividing work? We don't divide it—we just talk it through and do it."
Well, that's how a makeshift team operates. "I don't know the specifics of pool management either. You two should consult with senior classmates who've run pools before. Your current path doesn't clash with theirs, so there's no conflict of interest. They should be willing to share advice. If not, go learn elsewhere."
"Okay." The mood shifted as Wang Fangfang lifted her pretty face to look at Zhou You. "Bro, are you not letting me teach students because you're afraid someone might take advantage of me?"
"What era is this? How could I think that? I just don't want you to get too tired," Zhou You said, his face reddening. "Besides, they can look but not touch, can't have it—let them stew." With that, he flipped over and pressed down on her.
...
Three thousand words omitted here.
Lately, my stamina's been off—the omitted word count is shrinking.
After finishing a class, feeling refreshed, I unloaded on the kids below. The trouble with people is the urge to teach others; the joy of people is also the urge to teach others. Being able to openly enjoy the pleasure of teaching without anyone pointing fingers—how great is that?
Zhou You was savoring a leisurely university moment on campus when he saw Director Teng calling. "Hey, Director Teng, what's up?"
"Nothing much, just checking if President Zhou is busy. The movie's already filming, and other investors have come by to see it. Wondering if you have time to drop by and offer some guidance?" Teng said politely.
No investor ignores their own project. Teng Huatao was uneasy, so he decided to call and ask himself.
"Sure, I'll come by in a few days. Mainly worried about disrupting your shooting schedule," Zhou You replied courteously.
"No, no, your visit to guide us would be an honor."
Well, seeing the conversation getting overly polite, Zhou You chatted briefly and hung up. This movie should be more enjoyable than Wang Baoqiang's—after all, there are plenty of beautiful women. If he doesn't go see it now, in a few years, he might not get the chance.
The film was shot in Beijing, with many scenes set in the city. They offered to pick him up, but Zhou You found it troublesome, so he took a cab straight to the hotel after landing. As soon as he arrived, Director Teng came over.
"Sorry, it's been hectic. The schedule's a bit tight—we're aiming for a release by the end of this year."
"No problem. I'll just take a quick look; you keep filming," Zhou You said as he followed to the set.
Most of the cast had worked with Teng Huatao on TV dramas before: Zhang Jiayi, Hai Qing, Ma Yili, Wen Zhang, Bai Baihe, plus some guest stars. In terms of fame, they were far above "Mr. Tree." Watching them perform a urban drama was actually pretty dull—all crying, arguing, love, and emotion. If this film weren't so famous and profitable, Zhou You definitely wouldn't have invested.
His favorite among them was Zhang Jiayi. Zhou You's initial impression of him was his commanding walk. Then one day, he watched an old movie, "Back to Back, Face to Face," and saw a young, tall, handsome Zhang Jiayi—it was truly stunning. That film was a milestone in Chinese cinema, with its boldness and deep realism, only possible in that era. Not to mention, Zhou You's parents were big fans of Zhang Jiayi.
When they wrapped up, Zhou You treated them to dinner at the hotel, took photos with the main actors, and specifically got Zhang Jiayi's autograph to give to his parents over summer break. Most of these people had mainly worked in TV before, so this transition to the big screen was a big deal for them.
That night, Zhou You stayed at the hotel. Seeing so many actresses, it would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted, but expecting him to make the first move was impossible. At dinner, Teng Huatao hyped Zhou You up nonstop. Emboldened by the alcohol, Zhou You casually mentioned some of his other investments, especially in film and TV projects. The actresses' eyes lit up, and several immediately got his contact info. Now it was just a matter of who had the nerve.