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After leaving the Delong Building, Lu Chen and Lu Xi hailed a taxi back to the Workshop.
Lu Xi asked curiously, "What's the deal with Manager Wen? Why was he so polite to you?"
She had accompanied Lu Chen to Baidi Culture Agency to sign the contract. After signing, they waited in the reception room and didn't attend the listening session, so she was unaware of what transpired afterward.
When Wen Zhiyuan saw them off earlier, he was extremely courteous.
One could even say he was overly deferential.
This sudden change in attitude from the head of the artist management department at Baidi Culture Agency left Lu Xi feeling perplexed.
Lu Chen chuckled and briefly explained the feud between Wen Zhiyuan and Zhang Qiong.
This was something Wen Zhiyuan himself had shared with Lu Chen.
After hearing this, Lu Xi suddenly understood, "So that's how it is. People always say the workplace is treacherous, and it's true."
She couldn't help but shake her head.
Lu Chen had always been hesitant to sign with a major company, even turning down a personal invitation from the music director of Flying Stone Records. At the time, she didn't quite grasp his reasoning, but now she realized how wise his decision had been.
Baidi Culture Agency couldn't compare to Flying Stone Records, and the internal power struggles were just as intense. If they had joined Flying Stone Records, she didn't know what kind of situation they would have faced.
Lu Xi was strong-willed, but she didn't enjoy engaging in conflicts.
Although the Workshop Lu Chen founded was small, it didn't have these kinds of problems.
The only prerequisite was that he could earn enough money!
Beep! Beep!
Suddenly, Lu Xi's phone, which was in her small bag, rang twice.
She took it out and looked at it, immediately breaking into a happy smile, "The payment from Baidi Culture Agency has arrived!"
"So fast?"
Lu Chen was also surprised. They had just left, and the money had already been transferred. The efficiency was impressive!
According to the contract they had signed, the payment was supposed to be completed within three days.
Lu Xi smiled, "It seems they really value you!"
If they didn't value him, Baidi Culture Agency's finance department wouldn't have processed the payment so quickly.
It must have been ordered by someone high up.
Lu Chen smiled, "Next time they want a song, we'll have to raise the price!"
His initial strategy of insisting on high-quality, high-price products was undoubtedly correct. For clients like Baidi Culture Agency, once they tasted the benefits, they could gradually increase the price, like boiling a frog in warm water.
If the initial price was too low, raising it too much later wouldn't be good and could damage their reputation.
Lu Xi had nothing to say.
She found that she was increasingly unable to understand her brother.
Beep! Beep!
The phone rang again.
Lu Xi looked closely and smiled even more happily.
Lu Chen was surprised, "What is it?"
Lu Xi waved her phone and said proudly, "The bonus from Capital City TV has arrived, 1.4 Million!"
Lu Chen had won the championship of "Singing China." Although he gave up the 4 Million so-called new star training fund, the total cash reward was still as high as 1.4 Million, and it was after-tax.
However, they didn't receive the money immediately at the time, as the TV station needed to go through procedures.
Now that the money had arrived, it was a double celebration!
Lu Chen was even happier and said without hesitation, "Then transfer 1 Million to Mom first, and we'll go buy a car."
He called out to the taxi driver, "Driver, please take us to Jingguan Auto City."
Lu Xi didn't know what to say, "There is no need to be in such a hurry, right?"
Transferring money to Mom was no problem, but rushing to buy a car now seemed a bit too hasty.
Lu Chen smiled, "Whether we buy it early or late, we'll buy it eventually. Now is just the right time."
Since the Workshop was established, they had hired several people, and daily work was becoming increasingly busy. Not having a car was really inconvenient and wasted a lot of time.
Time was money, and he had long wanted to buy a car, waiting for the bonus from Capital City TV to arrive.
Since Lu Chen had made up his mind, Lu Xi didn't object anymore.
After all, the Workshop relied entirely on him to make money, and now that they had earned so much, buying a car wasn't a big deal.
Lu Xi thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll call Li Feiyu. He used to work at a 4S store, so he must know the ropes."
Lu Chen nodded, "Okay!"
When they arrived at Jingguan Auto City, Li Feiyu was already waiting at the entrance.
The 4S store he used to work at was inside the auto city, so he was very familiar with the place and wouldn't be cheated.
Seeing Lu Chen and Lu Xi, Brother Little Fei ran over with a big smile and eagerly asked, "Big Chen, you're finally buying a car! I've been looking forward to this day. Have you decided what car to buy?"
He was Lu Chen's assistant, and the car they bought would definitely be driven by him.
Lu Chen said, "We don't need to buy anything too fancy, no luxury cars, just something economical and practical."
"As for the price..."
He thought for a moment and said, "Around 200,000. Help me take a look."
"200,000?"
Li Feiyu scratched his head and said, "At that price range, you should go for a domestic compact SUV with hybrid power. The government subsidies are high, it's fuel-efficient, and the configuration is comparable to imported cars costing 400,000 to 500,000."
Lu Chen smiled and said, "You're the expert, I'll listen to you."
He had gotten his driver's license at 18 and had driven his family's car. He liked cars but didn't know much about them.
His career was just starting, so there was no need to buy a very expensive car, but it shouldn't be too shabby either.
A high-quality domestic car seemed like a good choice.
Lu Xi said, "You guys go ahead and pick. I'll go to the bank to transfer the money and then come back."
So they split up. Lu Chen followed Li Feiyu around the auto city, looking at several stores.
Finally, they arrived at the Zhonghua Auto 4S store.
A white SUV parked right at the entrance immediately caught Lu Chen's attention.
The car's design was very good, with a bold yet refined appearance. The split front grille and curved headlights blended perfectly, giving a strong sense of power.
Li Feiyu recognized it at once, "The Zhonghua X7? This new model is already out?"
As soon as they stood in front of the car, a salesperson from the 4S store came over enthusiastically to introduce it to them.
The Zhonghua X7 was Zhonghua Auto's latest urban SUV, an environmentally friendly hybrid with multiple cutting-edge technologies, making it quite high-tech.
In addition to its efficient and fuel-saving powertrain, it also had excellent features like front and rear radar, adaptive cruise control, an onboard computer, a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, and more. The interior space was also very spacious.
The biggest advantage of a hybrid was its fuel efficiency, with very low fuel consumption per 100 kilometers. Of course, its performance couldn't match traditional engines, but since Lu Chen wasn't into racing or off-roading, it was more than enough for city driving.
Most importantly, the car's safety features were top-notch, with a sturdy frame and six airbags.
If Lu Xi were to drive it, he could feel at ease.
Additionally, among domestic brands, Zhonghua was a well-known and reliable brand.
As for the price, depending on the configuration, it ranged from 190,000 to 290,000.
Li Feiyu couldn't stop praising the car, and Lu Chen was also very satisfied. He asked the salesperson to arrange a test drive and took the Zhonghua X7 for a spin around the auto city.
When they returned to the 4S store, Lu Xi had also arrived.
His sister didn't have any specific requirements for the car, as long as Lu Chen liked it. She and Li Feiyu haggled over the price.
Lu Chen finally decided to buy the Comfort trim, with a post-subsidy price of 245,000. The final price didn't go down, but the 4S store added about 20,000 worth of interior decorations, services, and Little Li accessories.
The total cost, including insurance and taxes, came to 263,000.
He paid on the spot with a card, got the insurance and temporary license plate, and drove the new car straight out of the 4S store.
In between, the three of them also had a late lunch.
They chose white for the car's color. Lu Xi was a bit worried it might get dirty easily, but overall, she was very satisfied.
The three of them drove the new car back together.
Li Feiyu was the driver. Seeing how much he liked the car, Lu Chen generously let him take the first drive.
Li Feiyu drove the new car onto the highway with great enthusiasm and said, "Big Chen, now that you have the Workshop and a car, you should consider buying a place in Capital City. A big star can't live in the office!"
Lu Chen had given his previously rented studio apartment to his sister and had been living in the Workshop.
He planned to find another small apartment near the industrial park.
As for buying a place himself...
Lu Chen smiled wryly, "I really can't afford a place in Capital City right now. Maybe in a few years."
His first priority was to pay off all the family's debts. Buying a house was something for the distant future.
Although Lu Chen was making a lot of money now, by his own estimates, if nothing unexpected happened, it would take at least until next year or the year after to pay off the family's debts.
But compared to the despair of never being able to pay it off before, this was already a great happiness.
As for buying a house, the prices in Capital City were the highest in the country, almost breaking through the sky.
He had just earned over a million, but even if he didn't use all of it to buy a house, choosing a good location for a new place would only get him a bedroom. It wouldn't even be enough for a down payment!
It was said that many third- and fourth-tier celebrities dreamed of saving enough money to buy a place within the Fifth Ring Road of Capital City.
The income of third- and fourth-tier celebrities wasn't too bad, but their expenses were also high, making buying a house a real luxury.
Li Feiyu sighed, "Yeah, houses are too expensive. I'll have to go back home eventually."
Lu Chen smiled, "Are you taking Little Mei with you?"
Li Feiyu chuckled.
Since Chen Little Mei started working at the Workshop, Li Feiyu's pursuit seemed to be making some progress.
They chatted and laughed all the way, and soon they were almost at the industrial park.
At this point, Lu Chen's phone rang.
It was Chen Jianhao calling, asking Lu Chen to meet him at a teahouse near the university district.
So, Lu Chen, had Li Feiyu drive to the Workshop first, and then he drove himself to the place Chen Jianhao mentioned.
By the time he found the place, it was already 2 PM.
(End of Chapter)