pjbooks Chapter 54: [Taboo]
Chapter 54: [Taboo]
"Mr. Liu, is now a convenient time to talk?"
The phone number labeled "Crow, the operations editor of Bilibili" appeared on the phone screen. Liu Zhuohao answered the phone and a polite voice came through.
"……Can."
Liu Zhuohao glanced at the two people preparing for their night market stall in the distance and walked to the side.
After the last phone call, the editor, nicknamed "Crow," had apparently watched all of his videos to understand his daily routine, and then chose to call him around 4 PM.
At this moment, I had just finished my lunch break and was preparing to set up my stall, but I hadn't had time to get busy yet.
The voice on the other end of the phone was very polite, even with a hint of negotiation: "Well, I've taken a look at your latest videos... the location seems a little unclear."
To prove that they had indeed seen it, the other party gave examples: "For example, the two you posted this week, one is a record of taking your parents for a medical check-up and celebrating reaching 1,000 followers with your fans, and the other is a record of your daily work at a street stall. Although you added editing, which is much better than directly uploading several hours of material before, the content is still too much like a diary."
The other person paused, their tone tactful: "Of course, your previous documentary-style piece, which was similar to 'A Bite of China,' proved that you have the ability to create high-quality content. You just may not have the energy to think about it right now."
"So, if you need any advice on filming or creative aspects, we can actually provide some ideas and suggestions..."
"No need, editor."
Liu Zhuohao interrupted the other person before they could finish speaking.
The voice on the other end of the phone paused noticeably, as if waiting for an explanation.
"I'm already working on a series project." Liu Zhuohao held his phone, his gaze sweeping over his gleaming food cart and the ingredients laid out on the table. "The first episode is finished filming and I'm editing it now, but... there aren't many people who can edit, so it'll take some time."
He hesitated for a second, then gave a rough deadline: "If all goes well, it should be ready to be sent next week."
There was a few seconds of silence on the phone.
"Planning?"
The other person's voice rang out again, but the question had subtly shifted direction: "You just said... 'people who can edit videos'? You already have a team?"
Liu Zhuohao's heart skipped a beat, and his fingers unconsciously tightened around his phone.
"It's kind of a prototype."
His voice was steady as his gaze fell on Huang Weixiong and Li Zekai, who were working together to move things in the distance. The images of Zhuang Zicong and Liu Honghao flashed through his mind again. "Currently, there are four people. Two are mainly responsible for filming and handling related matters, while the other two do post-production part-time."
In addition to Zhuang Zicong, who went to college, Liu Honghao has now joined the team.
Anyway, after he applied for a student loan and solved the tuition problem, he still needed to work part-time to make ends meet.
There just happens to be such a position available for him.
"Do they... also manage accounts? Or do they only work behind the scenes?" The question came quickly over the phone, with a barely perceptible tension in the tone.
Liu Zhuohao narrowed his eyes and instantly understood what the other party really wanted to ask.
"They're just doing their jobs for a paycheck," he answered crisply, enunciating each word clearly. "I'm the boss. The account is mine, and I decide the content direction."
After he finished speaking, he could clearly feel that the other person's breathing seemed to lighten for a moment, and then the tone of the other person relaxed.
"That's good, that's good." The editor's voice even carried a hint of amusement. "Since you have your own plan, we'll be waiting to see your proposal. By the way, if there's a real shortage of manpower later on, the site can actually provide some technical support..."
Liu Zhuohao politely declined, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then hung up the phone.
The screen went dark, revealing his own expressionless face.
He stood there for a while before slowly sitting down on the curb.
It was a bit unexpected.
Bilibili is now much weaker than it had imagined.
Having returned from 25 years ago, he had actually forgotten what the situation was like for Bilibili in 14.
After all, so many years had passed, and Liu Zhuohao had forgotten many details from his school days.
And now, things are happening before our eyes, from a small website that was just a niche site among students, to easily connecting with the operations team, and now...
The attitude expressed by this operator clearly demonstrates that, because of the incident involving the big boss, Bilibili is now very resistant to the behavior of bloggers forming cliques.
Greatly depleted of vitality!
"Boss, are you alright?" Huang Weixiong asked as he walked over to see him sitting still.
"It's okay, go ahead and do your thing." Liu Zhuohao waved his hand, then took out his phone and started searching.
As you swipe your finger across the screen, messages pop up: the company completed its angel round of financing in 13.
So, 14, which is this year, is a crucial time for Bilibili to present its first report card to investors using data...
He closed the browser and turned off his phone screen.
In his previous life, although Liu Zhuohao did not build a very large business, he understood that after receiving money from investors, he had to produce corresponding results to prove that the website could indeed bring revenue and value.
Only in this way can we obtain subsequent second and third rounds of funding.
Otherwise, if the funding chain is broken, not only will the website and company have to declare bankruptcy, but if the founders and team signed any personal guarantee agreements during the financing process, they may also have to repay part of the debt themselves.
At this crucial juncture, a team whose majority of revenue came from various game developers, and whose key figures in the gaming sector had been heavily cultivated since 12, defected that year.
Moreover, it wasn't just one person who betrayed him; he even threatened to take some of his generals with him.
"Therefore, the departure of 'Big Boss' is not just the loss of a top blogger; he stabbed the platform in the back at the very moment when it most needed to flex its muscles."
Liu Zhuohao gripped his phone, mentally calculating, "No wonder the other party was so nervous when they heard the words 'team' and 'employees' on the phone earlier."
"The stationmaster and your uncle must be in a real bind right now."
"They need to find a suitable replacement for the head of the group among the bloggers as soon as possible to take over the losses from the game developers..."
However, this has little to do with me.
After all, I'm not a gaming blogger.
But this means I'll have to keep some of my thoughts to myself.
"Boss, it's time to open the stall!"
In the distance, Huang Weixiong and his companion waved in their direction.
"They're here!"
Liu Zhuohao stood up, dusted off his pants; the road ahead was still long.
Whether it's the current struggling startup team of Bilibili or the ambitious top bloggers who left with a group of people, believing they would make a name for themselves, none of them have any idea what a behemoth Bilibili will become in the future.