Chapter 169: Damei Studio

Chapter 169: Damei Studio

Hangzhou bears the title of China’s capital of animation. Over a decade ago, while cities across the country were busy constructing "animation parks" that were little more than thinly veiled real estate schemes, Hangzhou was genuinely committed to the industry.

From a time when the entire Zhejiang province lacked a single original animation work, it has grown to host over 300 animation and gaming-related enterprises. This industrial cluster now boasts one main-board listed company, one GEM-listed company, and over ten companies traded on the New Third Board, with annual industrial revenues exceeding 25 billion yuan.

Hangzhou is home to numerous cultural and creative parks, almost all of which house animation-related industries.

The place Qin Jiao was taking Meng Fan to was the Xizi Cultural and Creative Park near the Academy of Fine Arts, a hub primarily dedicated to animation and gaming.

The car soon pulled into the park, winding through the grounds before stopping in front of a building that resembled an old factory warehouse.

"This isn't all ours, is it?"

Meng Fan looked around. Outside was a large courtyard, but the building was deserted, with no signs or plaques indicating any company or studio.

Setting aside the courtyard, the building itself must have covered over a thousand square meters, and with three stories... that was quite a massive space.

Seeing Qin Jiao nod and head inside, Meng Fan followed, clicking his tongue in wonder: "I never realized you were a wealthy woman! All those times you cried poverty, it was all an act!"

"I wasn't crying poverty; I was genuinely broke." Qin Jiao pushed open the door and entered, finally explaining the situation to Meng Fan. "Due to school connections, I secured a position at this park. This place is here partly thanks to the school's influence; they encouraged it, the park offered a very reasonable rate, and with policy support, the rent for this studio didn't cost much. Of course, even if it wasn't much, I still had to borrow a fair bit from your sister. She was the one who suggested it, after all!"

Meng Fan laughed: "Her money just sits in the bank gathering interest anyway, she doesn't do anything else with it. It’s better to put it into an investment."

Qin Jiao replied: "Forget about 'investment.' I have no talent for making money. If the rent weren't so low, I wouldn't have dared to rent it. Besides, I never intended to make a profit. I’d be grateful if the studio could just cover its operating costs each year."

She opened the windows to let in some air and made a few calls to have the park’s cleaning staff come over, then turned to Meng Fan: "My original intention in building this studio was to give our department's graduates a free choice, or at least a place to transition. Even among our graduates, many end up in other industries, often because of various external pressures. Others stay in the field but aren't happy, partly because they can't make ends meet. So, I don't expect to make money myself, but I truly hope the students who join can earn a living and create the content they want."

If anyone else had said this, even someone as naive as Meng Fan would have dismissed it as empty talk, but he believed Qin Jiao.

Qin Jiao pulled a prepared contract from her bag and handed it to him: "Sign it."

"I don't think I need to," Meng Fan waved his hand, smiling. "I've been picking up plenty of work lately; I don't need to take a spot in your studio to make money. Besides, I'm just doing this for some pocket change."

Qin Jiao said: "I know, that’s exactly why you were the first person I thought to sign."

???

Meng Fan was full of question marks: "You mean you hope the students who join can make money, but that doesn't include me?"

Qin Jiao nodded seriously: "You’ve understood my meaning perfectly. You don't need to make money, but since you have the ability to, I need you to make money to support the studio."

Meng Fan felt like crying: "What exactly have you been learning from my mother? You haven't picked up anything else, but you've certainly learned how to swindle me!"

Qin Jiao laughed at his reaction: "Read the contract carefully."

Meng Fan looked it over and became even more confused. It wasn't a standard employment contract for a studio member, but a shareholding agreement.

"Your sister said the money I borrowed doesn't need to be repaid; consider it an investment in the studio. She wants you to hold the shares because she doesn't understand the business anyway. If it fails, it’s just a toy for you to play with. If it makes money, she’s happy if you decide to share the profits," Qin Jiao explained. "Of course, the studio is aimed at making a profit. It’s just that my share of the dividends will be reinvested into education, talent development, and supporting the signed members. You hold 49%, so you naturally decide how to distribute the money you earn."

Meng Fan was stunned for a long time. He had no mental preparation for being an investor in a studio.

"Let me process this."

Meng Fan sat on the sidelines for a long time, even as the cleaners arrived and began their work, before asking Qin Jiao: "Is your portion of the shares flexible?"

"You’re looking a bit too deep into this, aren't you?"

Qin Jiao laughed: "Even though I used the school's reputation to get this rent, it’s just a reputation; everything else is up to me. Besides, it’s not even certain if this studio will make money—it’s not even enough to feed a mosquito. Of course, if it does make money, as I said, I’ll voluntarily put it back into education and training."

"That’s fine. But let me be clear: even though I have shares, I’m not participating in any management."

"Just sign it first. I’m not going to force you to do things you’re truly incapable of!"

After signing the contract, Qin Jiao happily tucked it away and pulled out a stack of other documents, smiling: "These are the members I’ve already signed. Most are graduates from our department, with a few current students. They specialize in illustration and hand-drawn posters, which will be our studio’s primary focus for now."

Meng Fan immediately waved his hands: "That has nothing to do with me!"

Qin Jiao blinked at him, her voice softening: "I know you’ve taken on plenty of illustration and poster work, but that’s your own business. I’m not asking you, the boss, to draw for the studio to make money. It’s just that you’re familiar with both areas and you’re talented—if you have the time, you could at least provide some guidance, right?"

Since it was flexible, Meng Fan conceded.

"The contract is signed, can I go now?"

"Don't you think you should do something before you leave? Like, help move those things over there?"

"You really are my mother’s best student and my sister’s best friend!"

Having inexplicably become the boss of a studio, and then inexplicably spending over an hour moving boxes, Meng Fan found he had no temper left at all.

It made sense, really. His sister provided the money, and Qin Jiao handled the connections, business, members, and management. When he thought about it, he was just reaping the benefits without the labor; what right did he have to be angry?

Moreover, while the studio might not make money immediately, it could solve several of Meng Fan’s problems.

For instance, it could handle the publication of his [Professional Manga Artist] volumes, and once his production speed increased, he could dump some of the post-production work onto the studio when Chen Daqiang couldn't keep up.

As for the name of the studio, Meng Fan was too exhausted to complain, and didn't dare to anyway: Damei Studio—after all, Qin Jiao had invoked the name of the Great Academy of Fine Arts!