Actually, Douyin Group provided a complete tour route for general visitors, including development history, corporate culture, product experience, interactive Q&A, and creative installations.
But that was outward-facing, and when the visitor became Zhou Wang, clearly this route wouldn’t work.
As the acquirer, could Zhou Wang possibly be unfamiliar with these aspects of Douyin Group?
This was basically impossible.
...Although the truth was, Zhou Wang really wasn’t too familiar.
He estimated that Wang Ruixi knew more than he did, but he couldn’t just ask Wang Ruixi; that would make him look pretty clueless... after all, the "acquisition directive" supposedly came from a system issued in his own name.
In any case, the tour accompanied by Jin Lu and Zhang Xuan was actually quite dull and uninteresting.
At each department, they preferred to speak with internal data and reports, or at least from their perspective, they thought Zhou Wang would rather see these things.
Of course, Zhou Wang couldn’t say he wasn’t interested, but luckily, Jiang Qingkui was there to listen far more attentively than Zhou Wang, even recording some parts with a tape recorder, allowing Zhou Wang’s mind to wander off and focus on the mental outlook of internal female employees...
The only thing that truly interested Zhou Wang was when they toured the "review department."
Of course, Zhou Wang wasn’t interested in the reviewers themselves but in the content they had taken down...
However, Zhou Wang couldn’t blatantly request to view the database, so he lingered a bit longer in this department, appreciating the reviewers’ hard work.
"...This isn’t right. I don’t see anything inappropriate in this dance video. Isn’t it just the ’lights-off dance’ that was popular recently? Why delete it?"
Standing behind an unsuspecting reviewer, Zhou Wang couldn’t help but speak out.
The reviewer, previously focusing intently on the computer screen, was startled and turned his head. Seeing so many bigwigs standing behind him, he was momentarily baffled, and just as he was about to stand up, the department supervisor stopped him.
"Little Zhou, just answer Mr. Zhou’s question. No need to get up."
The department supervisor, with an unprecedentedly warm smile, said to him.
"Ah, oh... the blogger in this video wasn’t wearing a slip when the lights went out..."
The fellow named Zhou sat back down, answering honestly.
"Hmm?" Zhou Wang asked suspiciously, "How can you tell that? There’s only a silhouette, isn’t there?"
The fellow then pulled up the video and enlarged it, pointing to a tiny detail and explaining, "See here, Mr. Zhou, there’s a very noticeable protrusion..."
Zhou Wang squinted at it, and sure enough, it was as the fellow said. He couldn’t help silently acknowledging his impressive skills—the reviewer decided to take down the video after watching it for just one second, some serious eagle eyes.
After discussing several more video removal criteria with the fellow, Zhou Wang finally ended his visit to the review department, slightly reluctantly, only when Jiang Qingkui behind him gently cleared her throat to remind him.
...
"This building was the earliest registered address before the company rebranded. In fact, many business units have since relocated, with some shifting their focus to Magic City. So, I suggest that if Mr. Zhou has time, you visit Magic City; perhaps you will gain a deeper understanding of the internal operating system of the group..."
After over an hour-long tour, arriving at the spacious and bright guest room on the sixth floor, Jin Lu said with a smile to Zhou Wang.
"I heard the headquarters building in Magic City was built with a budget of 8 billion?"
Zhou Wang nodded and smiled, "Then I must pay a visit."
"It’s not that exaggerated. Mr. Zhou, you know some figures are needed for external promotion, but the Magic City building did indeed cost a hefty sum, not far from the promotional figures, with a very distinctive internal structure..."
Secretary to the board, Zhang Xuan, explained with a smile.
After chatting for a while longer, Zhou Wang roughly understood the positions of Jin Lu and Zhang Xuan within the company.
Jin Lu was essentially a representative from a capital entity behind Douyin appointed to the board of directors. She didn’t hold any shares herself but became a crucial executive director because she also took on a management role within the company.
As for Zhang Xuan, he was appointed by the founder as the secretary to the board, so although his duty was to serve the board, he also held a special status.
Most of the other company’s senior executives generally weren’t stationed at headquarters year-round. Apart from Beidou, Douyin had built towers in Magic City, Yangcheng, and other places, and given the busyness of Douyin’s business, most of the management teams were either on business trips or en route to them.
"Mr. Zhou, they should have it ready by now. How about I take you to see your office?"
Jin Lu checked her watch, suddenly stood up, and said with a smile.
Zhou Wang was slightly surprised, while Secretary Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows subtly.
But Zhou Wang promptly stood up with a smile and nodded, "Then I’ll trouble Director Jin to lead the way."
...
The office Jin Lu prepared for Zhou Wang was on the sixth floor of the building, overlooking the street with large floor-to-ceiling windows. Although it was not as spacious as his office at Wuyou Media, the tasteful decor and thoughtfully designed layout gave Zhou Wang an impression that was not much lesser than that office.