After Sun Li confirmed her direction, she became radiant with energy.
Zhou Youran recalled something—the CCTV documentary he had invested in seemed close to airing, likely in post-production now.
"Teacher Miao, have you ever worked on background music for documentaries?"
Miao Xia was taken aback. "Background music? We do a lot of composition, but I've never scored a documentary before."
"I recently collaborated with CCTV and invested in a food documentary. It should be in post-production now. Let me check where they are and if they need background music. If so, I might trouble you, Teacher Miao," Zhou You said politely.
"We'd be honored to work with CCTV, but it's not mandatory—it depends on whether both sides' needs align," Miao Xia replied, unfazed. She had seen plenty, and a documentary score didn't impress her much. Besides, who even watched documentaries these days?
Zhou You smiled without a word. She might dismiss it now, but once it aired and word spread, at least industry insiders would take notice, and Miao Xia's reputation would grow.
If Sun Li got in, she'd be staying here for a few more years, and he'd need Miao Xia's help. A favor now would be wise.
Zhou You pulled out his phone and called Director Ren. It rang twice before being picked up: "Hello, Director Ren, are you busy? I'm in Beijing on some business. Any chance you're free for lunch? I'd like to catch up on the project's progress."
"Sure, no problem. If Mr. Zhou invites, I'll make time even if I'm busy," Director Ren said cheerfully.
"Great. I'll wait near the Beijing Conservatory of Music. Call me when you arrive." Zhou You hung up.
"Director Teng, Teacher Miao, thank you so much. Lunch is on me—please join us for a simple meal."
After a short wait, Director Ren arrived. It turned out he was quite close by.
There were plenty of eateries near the music school. Zhou You asked Miao Xia to recommend one, and the five of them headed to a restaurant.
"Director Ren, where are we with the documentary?" Zhou You asked.
"Filming is done. We're in post-production with dubbing, editing, and scoring. If all goes smoothly, it should air in May."
"Any difficulties?"
"Not many. Everything else is underway." Director Ren paused, knowing Zhou You wouldn't invite him to a music school for no reason. "But Mr. Zhou, some support with the score would be great."
Zhou You grinned. Sure enough, everyone in business was sharp.
"I happened to meet Teacher Miao today. She's a professor at the conservatory and has worked on many scoring projects. Let's see if we can collaborate. I'll cover any extra costs," Zhou You offered.
Director Ren beamed. "That's perfect. Teacher Miao, with your background, we'd be honored to have you score the documentary."
"Today's truly a blessing. I'm honored to score for CCTV. Let's stay in touch," Miao Xia said, delighted. Expanding her work was key—money was secondary.
The project was just starting. Compared to film and TV, which had shorter cycles, his other investments—DJI and ByteDance—would take at least four or five years to take off.
Once *A Bite of China* aired next year, his future investments would be easier. A proven track record made all the difference.
Zhou You was beginning to understand resource integration. At a certain level, things became simple because you had access to resources that, when combined, created immense value.
Many people just lacked the entry ticket.
Lunch was a success, with everyone satisfied. Zhou You and Sun Li returned to the hotel.
In the room, Sun Li started worrying about the road ahead. It would cost a fortune, and she couldn't do it alone. But she hadn't figured out what to do.
Zhou You planned to cover everything, but he struggled with how to say it without making her feel like she was being kept.
They locked eyes, a bit awkward, neither knowing how to break the silence.
Zhou You, seasoned in such situations, scooped her up without a word and carried her to the bed.
Afterward, leaning against the headboard with Sun Li in his arms, he said, "Don't worry about Miao Xia. I've connected her with CCTV. For the training and tutoring, I'll cover the costs. I'm an angel investor, after all. If my Sun Li becomes a big star, I'll bask in the glory too."
Sun Li hugged him tightly, moved. "Why are you so good to me? How can I ever repay you? What if you get tired of me when I'm old?"
"Why think so far ahead? No one can predict the future. I prefer investing in myself and learning. If my investments fail and I end up broke, I'll rely on you to feed me. My biggest dream is to be a kept man," Zhou You said with a straight face.
Sun Li shot him a shy glance. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you're well-fed every day. You won't escape it—I'll drain you dry."
"When you get back, wrap up your piano studio and training room. Hand things over to your partner. Sell if you can; if not, just leave it."
He paused, then added, "Look for an apartment near the conservatory. If you find one you like, tell me, and we'll buy it. It's a hassle staying in hotels every time. Pick something high-quality."
"What? Buy a house? Can't I just rent? Besides, I might not stay in Beijing forever," Sun Li said, startled.
"It's an investment too. As the economy grows, property prices will rise. You can't lose. If you find a good one, I'll buy several," Zhou You said, waving his hand like a nouveau riche.
In the past, Sun Li would have thought he was full of it—an unreliable man. But after getting to know him, she had no idea how much money or how many projects he had. Still, she didn't pry. A man needed some privacy.
At least for now, Zhou You was genuinely good to her and had her best interests at heart. He wasn't the type to seek fleeting pleasure.
*New author, new book. Please bookmark, vote, and keep reading. If I get a chance at a recommendation, that'd be great.*