yournovel Chapter 131: Let Li Haipeng start his own business; Geng Zhi cashes out another 600 million.
Chapter 131: Let Li Haipeng start his own business; Geng Zhi cashes out another 600 million.
Chapter 131: Let Li Haipeng start his own business; Geng Zhi cashes out another 600 million (8k)
After parting ways with Zhu Xiaohu, Geng Zhi did not go straight home, but instead quietly went to the old apartment rented by Li Haipeng.
Geng Zhi sat on the worn-out fabric sofa, drinking red tea and chatting with Li Haipeng about work.
"Boss, judging from the questions Reporter Zhou has been asking recently, I feel that CCTV's in-depth investigation and evidence gathering should be going very smoothly," Li Haipeng said, sitting across from him, his voice tinged with suppressed excitement.
Geng Zhi nodded, his gaze falling on the steam rising from the teacup.
"Very good. Even if CCTV's 3.15 Gala doesn't broadcast it, we have a Plan B to let the whole incident ferment."
"Hmm!" Li Haipeng agreed, chuckled twice, and changed the subject: "So, at tomorrow's shareholders' meeting, should I still abstain from voting?"
"Yes." Geng Zhi put down his teacup and nodded slightly. "Your abstention vote will not offend me or Baihe.com, making it the best choice."
Li Haipeng scratched his head, looking puzzled. "Boss, that makes sense. But Mu Yan said that no matter what vote I cast, Baihe.com and Ma Chunmei can remove you from the board. To avoid affecting my impression of you, he allowed me to vote against it, just like you."
"That's right." Geng Zhi nodded slightly.
"If that's the case, why didn't the boss let me vote against it?" Li Haipeng was even more puzzled.
Geng Zhi slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
"Because your voting results aren't just for a few shareholders to see," he said, "they're also for the outside world to see."
.
Li Haipeng frowned even more deeply.
He thought for a moment, then asked, "But boss, if I abstain from voting this time, it's the same as not supporting you. Wouldn't the outside world be even more confused if I rejoined your Alum Technology later?"
"Mr. Li is right." Geng Zhi nodded, leaning forward slightly. "So, this is exactly why I came to your house in person to talk to you about this."
"Hmm? Boss, what do you mean?"
Upon hearing this, Li Haipeng felt a slight unease rising in his heart.
Geng Zhi cleared his throat and said, "My plan is not to recommend that President Li return to my Mingfan Technology. Instead, I hope that President Li will start his own business in the future."
boom-!!
Li Haipeng was struck dumb, as if by a thunderbolt, and froze on the sofa.
He stared wide-eyed at Geng Zhi, his lips moved, but no sound came out.
Only one thought was swirling in my mind: Does my boss not trust me? What did I do wrong?
The silence lasted for a full ten seconds.
Li Haipeng sat bolt upright, raised his right hand, three fingers pointing to the sky: "Boss, I, Li Haipeng, guarantee with my integrity, my personal happiness, and everything else that I have absolutely no ulterior motives towards you! If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning and hit by a car!"
"puff-
"
Geng Zhi almost spat out his mouthful of black tea.
"President Li, what are you doing!" He put down his teacup, both amused and exasperated. "When have I ever doubted your loyalty?"
Li Haipeng was stunned, and slowly lowered his raised hand.
"Then...why did the boss want me to start my own business?" His voice still carried a hint of shock.
Geng Zhi couldn't help but laugh when he saw him like that.
After laughing, he said seriously, "Do you remember when we went to the food street last time and unexpectedly found that the same boss had two restaurants, one at one end of the food street?"
Li Haipeng nodded.
"Do you remember when we discussed why the two Lianjia stores were located on the same street, only a few dozen meters apart?" Geng Zhi asked again.
Li Haipeng nodded again.
Geng Zhi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "You can start your own company outside, and we'll be open competitors. But in reality, we'll have complementary and synergistic strategies—don't you think that's wonderful?"
Li Haipeng was stunned.
He pondered Geng Zhi's words, his brow sometimes relaxing and sometimes furrowing. He seemed to understand something, yet also seemed to understand nothing at all.
"Boss—" he began hesitantly, "I'm not quite sure what to do yet, could you explain it again?"
Geng Zhi put down his teacup and placed his hands, folded, on his knees.
"President Li, no matter what big business we do in the future, countless companies will imitate us, and countless amounts of capital will be invested in the market, causing a massive free-for-all. Just like the Thousand Groups."
He wanted to say "the battle of a thousand groups," but he stopped abruptly halfway through.
Geng Zhi paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts.
"For example, the video website war between Youku and Tudou, the social networking website war between Renren and Kaixin, and the war between 360 and Rising."
The antivirus war waged by Kingsoft, the C2C e-commerce war between Taobao and eBay, and the portal war between Xinlang and Sohu/NetEase.
After Geng Zhi's explanation, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck Li Haipeng's mind.
He slapped his thigh sharply.
"What the boss means is," he spoke faster, "that if we become one of the two leading companies in a certain industry in the future, we can attract large-scale capital investment to the greatest extent, drive up valuations, and even influence the industry's direction and purify the industry environment, just like the 'matchmaker from Jiaotong University'?"
Geng Zhi smiled slightly, his eyes revealing approval.
"Yes. Whether our two companies eventually merge, one of us sells to a giant, or the other one does, we are all winners. We make money while also acting like alum to purify the industry environment."
Li Haipeng's eyes lit up, and he looked very excited.
His experience starting his own business as a "Jiaotong University matchmaker" gave him his first taste of what a sense of accomplishment meant.
Although his shares haven't been liquidated yet and he hasn't made much money, his impact on the dating industry is already visible.
The rampant "marriage scammers" and "meal scammers," along with their false advertising, have begun to subside under the impact of "Jiaotong University Matchmakers."
He completely trusts Geng Zhi.
"Boss, I understand the logic!"
Li Haipeng said excitedly, but only for a few seconds before his expression fell.
"But—boss, I'm very good at working for you. But if you ask me to start my own business, I—I'm afraid I'm still far from ready."
Geng looked at him intently.
"Mr. Li, your abilities have already surpassed those of over 95% of entrepreneurs. It's just that your confidence and courage haven't reached that level yet."
"Really??" Li Haipeng's eyes widened, trying to see the true answer in Geng Zhi's heart from his straightforward face.
"Really, Mr. Li, the matchmaker from Jiaotong University has proven your abilities." Geng Zhi nodded firmly. "I have 100% faith in you."
"So, what kind of business will my own company be doing, similar to Momo's?" Li Haipeng asked.
His understanding of Momo is currently limited to being able to chat with people nearby, but he really doesn't know much about how it operates or what its business model is.
Geng Zhi took another sip of black tea and continued, "Yes, for your first startup, create a product similar to 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker.' You'll get up to speed faster that way, but it needs to be an integrated online and offline model. The product name could be something like 'Micro Gathering' or 'Encounter.'"
"Momo mainly targets white-collar workers and artistic youths in first-tier cities, while your product mainly targets young people in second- and third-tier cities and counties. You are a direct competitor with some differences from Momo."
Li Haipeng nodded thoughtfully: "Yes, we separated them from the crowd from the very beginning."
He thought for a moment, then asked, "Boss, what's the specific product logic?"
With a straightforward smile, he said, "The product model is very simple: it's a matchmaking service for strangers, primarily charging for men and offering free access for women."
"Huh?" Li Haipeng was taken aback. "This business model is so strange, can it even work?"
"I can't be 100% sure, but I estimate it's at least 80% likely to work," Geng Zhi said.
In fact, there was a product called "Weiju" in the previous life, which had received investment from ZhenFund, Sequoia Capital, and Matrix Partners. Its valuation once reached 1 million US dollars, and its daily active users were higher than Momo's.
However, as Momo submitted its IPO prospectus and Tantan emerged, Weiju gradually lost favor in the capital market and eventually faded into obscurity.
Seeing that Li Haipeng was still hesitant, Geng Zhi began to analyze in detail.
"The specific gameplay is that if a male user wants to invite a female user to participate in offline activities, such as watching a movie, having dinner, or singing karaoke, he can—"
"Men in second-, third-, and fourth-tier cities experience greater social anxiety and have fewer entertainment options, especially in Northeast, North, and Southwest China. Women in these areas are more sensitive to free movies and meals."
"The platform rigorously vets users; male users willing to pay are already highly interested and sincere, so they're filtered out —"
He analyzed everything point by point, from user psychology to business models, from market space to competitive barriers.
Li Haipeng listened and asked questions, occasionally jotting down notes in his notebook.
After Geng Zhi finished his analysis, Li Haipeng asked many more questions. Finally, he nodded.
"Boss, I think we should give it a try."
"Mr. Li, why don't you start with Weiju to get a feel for the user habits in the lower-tier market?" Geng Zhi said. "When the time is right, there will be other, even bigger business opportunities waiting for you."
"Oh? What other opportunities are there?" Li Haipeng asked curiously.
He replied vaguely, "I'm not sure either. But I'm certain that once 3G is widespread and 4G licenses are issued, many new business models will emerge. The penetration rate in lower-tier markets will definitely increase significantly."
He didn't mention short videos or e-commerce live streaming. Those are too far removed from the present, and Li Haipeng wouldn't understand even if he were told.
"Yes, boss, I believe you." Li Haipeng then asked, "But boss, I don't have much experience developing online apps—"
"Don't worry, I'll introduce you to people, and we can always communicate freely," Geng said honestly. "As for start-up capital, I'll invest in you privately, and with your experience as a 'Jiaotong University matchmaker,' finding investment will be easier for you."
"So, boss, do you think Arctic Capital would be interested in this?" Li Haipeng asked quickly, a sudden idea popping into his head.
"It's possible. Once we've clarified the business model and product model, we can try contacting Arctic Capital. I'll send you their contact information later."
"OK!"
The night outside the window grew even darker.
Li Haipeng got up and poured Geng Zhi another cup of tea. The two chatted about some details until almost midnight before Geng Zhi left.
The next day, the weather was sunny. It was the first day after the New Year holiday, and everything was new.
The straightforward new company, Alum Technology, is once again expanding its workforce.
"Everyone, welcome to our newest members of the Mingfan Technology family!" Geng Zhi introduced.
Clap clap clap! Applause rang out.
"Tongtong, Jiatong, Dakun, Baoguo, please introduce yourselves to everyone," Gengzhi said with a smile.
A girl with a ponytail stepped forward and said confidently, "Hello everyone, my name is Ma Tongtong, and I graduated from Fudan University. I interned at Tencent for a year, and after graduation, I worked at Alipay for a year and a half as a product manager."
Her voice was clear and crisp, and she spoke at a moderate pace. After she finished speaking, she nodded slightly and took a step back.
"Hello everyone, my name is Chu Jiatong, and I'm in charge of Android development," Chu Jiatong introduced himself succinctly.
Chu Jiatong is a programmer, not very talkative. He used to work at Dianping, and was introduced to the company by Sun Xiaoguang through his straightforward personality.
"Hello everyone, I'm Lei Dakun, and I'm in charge of APP testing," Lei Dakun introduced himself.
"Hello everyone, my name is Niu Baoguo. I'm a senior in college and I've been assigned by Boss Geng to intern with Shu Beibei."
Niu Baoguo introduced himself in a low-key manner, not mentioning that he was the company's legal representative, nor his relationship with Geng Zhi. Among those present, only Shu Beibei and Yang Mingxia knew about this.
"Alright! Everyone, please welcome the four of you again!"
clap clap clap!
As the applause subsided, Geng Zhi turned to Du Yujiao and asked, "Yujiao, is our new office all set up? It's too crowded here right now."
The office Geng Zhi mentioned is the new office in the Shanghai Jiaotong University Science and Technology Innovation Park that he asked Du Yujiao to help him rent before the Lunar New Year.
However, this science and technology park is not the one inside the school, but the one outside the school.
"Beibei, Senior Brother Song, you two should first help the four new recruits familiarize themselves with the company's operations—"
Before Geng Zhi could finish speaking, the office door was pushed open, and the company secretary, Lü Siyu, strode in.
"Boss, we just received a notification from Baihe.com that due to special circumstances, the shareholders' meeting will be postponed by one hour."
Geng Zhi frowned, sensing there was more to this than met the eye, but outwardly said, "Okay."
Lu Siyu then reported on the progress of contacting Tang Yan.
Just then, Gu Wanning, who had come to accompany Geng Zhi to the shareholders' meeting, pushed open the door with a smile and walked in.
She immediately spotted Lü Siyu, who was facing her and dressed beautifully, talking to Geng Zhi.
At this moment, Geng Zhi had his back to the door and did not see Gu Wan Ning enter.
Gu Wanning paused for a moment, but without disturbing him, she quietly walked to the empty seat next to Lu Zhijie and sat down.
She pointed at Lü Siyu and asked in a low voice, "Zhijie, is that girl one of your new employees? She's quite pretty."
Yang Mingxia heard Gu Wanning's voice through several people, and her heart skipped a beat.
She was about to reach out and pat Lu Zhijie to stop him from talking nonsense when Lu Zhijie spoke up first: "Yes, Attorney Gu, she is our boss's newly hired beautiful secretary."
boom-!
Gu Wanning's smile froze on her face.
A beautiful secretary?
My new company has just been established, and business hasn't even started yet, and I'm already hiring a beautiful secretary?
Does a startup like this really need a secretary?
For some reason, Gu Wanning suddenly remembered a story that Geng Zhi had told her before: A certain big entrepreneur, Boss Ren, married his second wife, a female secretary who had fallen in love with him over time. She was more than 30 years younger than him, and they were happily married.
Is Geng the conman going to follow this path too?
In an instant, a surge of complex emotions welled up and washed over her heart.
Yang Mingxia clearly saw that Gu Wanning's gentle smile vanished without a trace, like a candle blown out by the wind.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!
Yang Mingxia kept repeating these four words in her mind.
When I looked at Gu Wanning again, a polite, aloof, and flawless smile had reappeared on her face.
But Yang Mingxia knew what was hidden beneath that smile.
Yang Mingxia slapped Lu Zhijie hard: "What nonsense are you talking about! Siyu was clearly just—"
Confused, Lu Zhijie interrupted Yang Mingxia before she could finish speaking, saying, "No, Mingxia, I'm not making this up!"
"You can't speak, no one will think you're mute!" Yang Mingxia glared at him fiercely.
"But I'm telling the truth!" Lu Zhijie's voice rose in his excitement, and everyone in the room could hear him.
Geng Zhi also subconsciously looked over here, only to see that Gu Wan Ning had already arrived.
"Hey, Wan Ning's here!" Geng Zhi hurriedly greeted her, "Come on, sit here for a bit, wait for me."
Gu Wanning stood up, a standard smile on her face.
"No, Mr. Geng," she said, her tone polite but distant. "You go ahead with your work. I'll go with you later when the meeting starts."
Geng Zhi was stunned. He looked at Gu Wan Ning, his brows furrowing slightly.
What's wrong with Wan Ning? Something seems off. Why is she suddenly being addressed as "President Geng" and "you" all at once?
Gu Wanning didn't explain further and simply turned and left the room.
After Lu Siyu finished her report, she also left.
Seeing this, Yang Mingxia was about to come over to explain to Geng Zhi when Geng Zhi's phone rang.
It was Mu Yan calling.
"Mr. Geng, hello! I've booked a meeting room at the Jiaotong University Academic Activity Center Hotel. Would it be convenient for you to come over and have a chat?" Mu Yan's voice came through the phone.
Geng Zhi's mind raced as he pondered the purpose of Mu Yan's private meeting.
After a moment's hesitation, he asked directly, "President Mu, besides the two of us, who else went to the meeting?"
"Just the two of us," Mu Yan said.
Upon hearing this, Geng Zhi roughly understood what Mu Yan wanted to talk about.
The fact that they suddenly arranged a private meeting with him just before his impeachment, coupled with his conversation with Zhu Xiaohu yesterday, clearly indicates that their target is the shares he holds.
"Can I bring a lawyer with me?" Geng Zhi asked directly.
"Of course, it would be best to have a lawyer," Mu Yan replied readily.
"Okay, Mr. Mu, please wait a moment, I'll be right there," Geng Zhi replied.
He hung up the phone, grabbed his coat, and hurried out the door.
Seeing that there was no chance to explain, Yang Mingxia glared at Lu Zhijie again: "Zhijie, I reckon that with your emotional intelligence, you won't find a girlfriend for the next ten years."
Lu Zhijie looked bewildered: "Huh?"
Ten minutes later, in a conference room at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Activity Center Hotel.
Geng Zhi took his phone out of his pocket, turned on the recording function, and then placed it face down on the table. This small action was done naturally and smoothly, as if he had just casually put it down.
"President Geng," Mu Yan began, his tone tinged with complexity, "to be honest, I greatly admire your abilities, your character, and your ideals. But one..."
He paused, a hint of embarrassment appearing on his face.
"But in the business world, I have to be responsible for the future development of Baihe.com, for Baihe.com's shareholders, and for Baihe.com's employees. I have no choice but to—"
"Mr. Mu," Geng Zhi said with a smile, "I'm an entrepreneur, so I understand, I completely understand. Mr. Mu, please get straight to the point."
Mu Yan let out a soft sigh: "President Geng, Ma Chunmei has joined forces with me to vote in favor of removing you from your board seat, so I have no choice but to agree."
"Um."
"Ma Chunmei's shares are 32.5%, plus my 25%, which already exceeds half. In fact, the outcome was already predetermined."
"Um."
"As the most important founder of the company, being ousted from the company you poured your heart and soul into creating—this is a feeling that you, as a college student, are experiencing for the first time, and you must feel terrible."
"Um."
He agreed verbally, but inwardly remained completely calm. After all, this wasn't the first time.
Just as Mu Yan was about to speak again, Geng Zhi glanced at Gu Wan Ning beside him and interrupted her.
"Therefore, I also need to vent. I consulted with Attorney Gu, and even if I am removed from the board of directors, I will still hold 26% of the shares."
As the second largest shareholder, I also have a series of rights, including the right to know, the right to propose motions, and the right to sue. I also have the right to speak out online, and I also—”
"President Geng," Mu Yan quickly interjected, "I understand your feelings and dissatisfaction. But I believe you have deep feelings for 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker.' You wouldn't really do anything to harm 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker' or the interests of its users."
"Even a cornered dog will jump over the wall!" A cool voice interrupted.
Geng Zhi paused for a moment, then turned to look at Gu Wan Ning.
From the moment they arrived, Gu Wanning wore a polite smile, but she remained somewhat indifferent to Geng Zhi.
Geng Zhi could tell that she was definitely angry with him.
So this sudden offer of "helping out" came as a bit of a surprise to him.
Gu Wanning looked at Mu Yan expressionlessly, but her eyes were very cold.
Mu Yan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly nodded in agreement: "Attorney Gu is right!"
He paused, then continued, "So my suggestion is—rather than being passively dismissed, it's better for us to resolve this peacefully."
"What kind of peaceful method? Please enlighten me, Mr. Mu," Geng Zhi said with a smile.
"Mr. Geng, our Baihe.com is willing to acquire all of your company shares, 26% of them." Mu Yan said, staring at Geng Zhi and observing his micro-expressions.
Geng Zhi continued with a smile, "How much money is Mr. Mu willing to offer?"
Upon hearing that there was hope, Mu Yan was overjoyed and said, "A package deal of 400 million."
Before Geng Zhi could respond, Gu Wan Ning coldly said, "President Mu, are you playing with a child?"
Seeing Gu Wanning's directness, Mu Yan's face flashed with embarrassment.
"Wan Ning, you may have wronged President Mu. I think President Mu was referring to US dollars," Geng Zhi said with a smile.
This made Mu Yan even more embarrassed, and he couldn't help but say, "President Geng, are you kidding me—"
Mu Yan stopped speaking halfway through his sentence.
Geng Zhi turned to look at Gu Wan Ning.
Gu Wanning understood and said, "President Mu, normally, internal equity transfers are calculated based on the latest valuation at the very least, and sometimes even double. A valuation of 1800 million means 26% is 468 million. Isn't it ridiculous that you're only offering 400 million?"
"No, Attorney Gu, Mr. Geng. Generally speaking, when transferring equity within a company, the valuation is usually discounted to avoid triggering a tax assessment," Mu Yan explained.
"That only happens when the shareholders have a good relationship." Geng Zhi stared at Mu Yan, his gaze calm as still water. "Mr. Mu, are we on good terms?"
Mu Yan was speechless and choked with emotion.
"Our relationship is not only bad, it's terrible. Besides, there are other shareholders who want to buy my shares at a high price. Why should I transfer them to you, Mr. Mu, at a loss?" Geng said frankly.
Mu Yan was slightly taken aback: "You mean, Ma Chunmei also wants to buy your shares?"
"Six or seven million isn't a big deal for a coal mine owner, is it?" Geng Zhi said with a smile. "Moreover, once I transfer the shares to you, your shareholding will reach 51%, which is absolute control. Ma Wencai isn't stupid."
Mu Yan maintained a polite smile on his face, but inwardly he was cursing wildly: Have the Ma family father and daughter lost their minds? What benefit do they get from raising the price so high? Idiots!
The two sides went back and forth on the valuation, but Geng Zhi always insisted on one principle: the highest bidder wins.
Negotiations have stalled.
Mu Yan later called in the CFO and the legal director as well. The five of them talked for nearly an hour.
"President Mu, how about this, I'll compromise," Geng Zhi suddenly said.
"Mr. Geng, what do you think?"
"Either you give me 600 million, and I'll transfer the shares directly to you. No matter what price Ma Chunmei offers, I won't go back on my word. Or—" He paused, "then it's up to the highest bidder."
He looked at Mu Yan and said calmly, "President Mu, for a company like yours with revenue exceeding 100 million, is an extra hundred thousand or so really a big deal? The time you wasted on this matter is much more than that."
Mu Yan looked at the CFO, who nodded slightly.
Mu Yan took a deep breath and made the final decision: "Okay! Deal!"
"Then, Mr. Mu, when do we start signing the contract?" Geng Zhi asked.
"Right now," Mu Yan said without hesitation.
Fifteen minutes later.
Geng Zhi, Mu Yan, and their respective lawyers began discussing the details of the transfer.
Because Baihe.com was prepared, the two parties had almost finalized the terms and conditions of the agreement within an hour, including the ownership of the Gengzhi Incubation Project. The only point of contention was the Non-Competition Agreement.
As required by Baihe.com, in order to prevent Geng Zhi from starting his own business in the future, he was required to sign a "non-compete agreement" as one of the prerequisites for the equity transfer.
However, the non-compete agreement restricts Gengzhi from engaging in competitive businesses in the "social" field in the future.
This is something that Geng Zhi cannot accept.
"President Mu, you're not just buying the equity of my client, you're buying his entire life!" Gu Wanning shook her head and said.
"Yeah, Mr. Mu, does that mean if I were to become a PP (Penguin QQ) to compete with Tencent QQ, it would be considered a violation of the non-compete agreement? Does that mean if I were to become a Gengzhi Weibo (Straightforward Weibo) to compete with Xinlang Weibo, it would also be considered a violation of the agreement?" Gengzhi said speechlessly.
Mu Yan was momentarily speechless and looked at his legal director.
The general counsel frowned and stared at the agreement for a long time. Finally, she slowly nodded.
"The social sphere is indeed too broad," he said. "It can be narrowed down."
Another half hour of back-and-forth struggle ensued.
The final result is that the non-compete agreement no longer restricts the broad "social field," but only restricts Geng Zhi from engaging in the "dating and social networking field."
Once the equity transfer agreement is signed and the transaction is completed, Geng Zhi will no longer be a shareholder of "Jiaotong University Matchmaker" and will have no further connection with the company.
There is no need to hold a shareholders' meeting anymore.
Geng Zhi and Gu Wan Ning walked side by side out of the Academic Activity Center Hotel when they received a text message from Zhu Xiao Hu.
The message contained only two words: Congratulations.
Geng Zhi smiled slightly and replied with two words: Thank you.
After replying to the message, he immediately posted a photo of the "Non-Competition Agreement" on Weibo in Xinlang, with the caption: "Looking back at the desolate place I came from, returning, there is neither wind nor rain nor sunshine."
"Hey, you big liar, why are you posting this agreement on Weibo like it's a treasure?" Gu Wanning leaned over to take a look and asked, puzzled.
"This is one of my weapons." Geng Zhi put away his phone. "Of course, I have to announce it to the world."
"Speaking of which, half the people in the Weibo comment section have been swayed into criticizing you. Aren't you going to explain yourself?" Gu Wanning said with concern.
"It's not time yet." Geng Zhi shook his head with a smile. "If we explain it now, all the scolding we received will have been for nothing."
Gu Wanning knew he had something on his mind, so she didn't ask any more questions.
-
The two walked side by side for a while, then she suddenly asked, "What size shoes do you wear?"
"What's wrong?" Geng Zhi asked curiously.
"I saw a pair of really nice shoes online, and I was thinking of buying you a pair," Gu Wanning replied casually, her gaze fixed ahead, her tone nonchalant.
"Huh?" Geng Zhi was slightly taken aback, feeling somewhat flattered.
Weren't you just angry with me? How come you've suddenly gone from cloudy to sunny all of a sudden?
"Huh? What size are your feet?" Gu Wanning glanced at Geng Zhi.
"42, European size."
"Okay." Gu Wanning casually noted it down on her phone, then asked, "What are your waist and pant length measurements?"
"I—I don't know either."
"Oh, then I'll go back and measure it for you."
"Okay, thank you, Wan Ning."
After a silence of about ten seconds, Gu Wanning asked seemingly casually, "What kind of work did you assign to your secretary?"
Geng Zhi paused for a moment, then unconsciously smiled.
He finally understood why Gu Wanning was angry before, and why she was buying him clothes and shoes now.
She was jealous.
At 2 PM, in the new office of Mingfan Technology in the school's innovation and entrepreneurship park.
Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making the entire space bright and airy.
Du Yujiao and a few others had already tidied up the office, with tables and chairs neatly arranged, green plants dotting the room, and a few simple decorative paintings hanging on the wall.
"The boss is back!" Yang Mingxia exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the largest office. "Boss, this is your CEO office. No one's going to fight you for it this time, right? Hahaha!"
Everyone laughed.
Geng Zhi glanced at the office with the best natural light, then turned to Gu Wan Ning and said, "Wan Ning, this office is for you to use."
I'll use the one next door.
Everyone was taken aback at first, then they realized what was happening.
-
"The boss is right!" Yang Mingxia was the first to applaud. "The biggest one should go to the boss's wife!"
Gu Wanning's cheeks flushed instantly: "Straightforward, I—I haven't come here that often—"
Without saying a word, Geng Zhi directly instructed Lü Siyu and Du Yujiao, "Siyu, Yujiao, the decoration of this office is entrusted to you two!"
"Yes, sir!" the two replied in unison.
Lu Siyu smiled and glanced at Gu Wanning, her eyes clear and without any sign of anything amiss.
When Gu Wanning met her gaze, she suddenly felt a little embarrassed, realizing that her previous little thoughts seemed somewhat unnecessary.
After making some simple arrangements, Geng Zhi gathered everyone in the conference room.
With a straightforward smile, he said, "I have two announcements to make."
"The first thing is that my personal shares in 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker' are in the process of being transferred. In the future, I will no longer be a shareholder of 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker' and will have absolutely no connection with it."
clap clap clap!
Everyone applauded, especially Yang Mingxia, who clapped with extra enthusiasm.
"Thank you for your hard work, boss!" Shu Beibei said.
"The boss has been wronged!" Yang Mingxia exclaimed. "Congratulations to the boss for finally escaping this misery!"
"The boss can finally dedicate himself fully to the Momo team!" Lu Zhijie exclaimed excitedly. "Yay!"
"Then Beibei, Yujiao, Zhao Jie, and I will resign now and join Mingfan Technology!" Yang Mingxia said.
He nodded firmly.
After everyone calmed down, Geng Zhi's expression turned serious, and he continued, "The second thing is that our iOS version of the Momo app must be launched before March 1st to test it in the market and see if there are any problems."
Song Qing and Zou Lu: "No problem!"
"Android version, complete the basic version launch before March 15th, Engineer Chu, can you complete it?" Geng Zhi looked at Chu Jiatong.
"Boss, no problem!" Chu Jiatong nodded emphatically. "I already set up the framework during the Spring Festival, and the development progress will be very fast afterwards."
"good!"
Geng Zhi's voice rose a few decibels.
"Everyone, my requirement for you is that by mid-March, our Momo app must be able to support millions of daily active users."
He paused, then said, slowly and deliberately, "This is the bottom line."
There was a moment of silence in the conference room.
Everyone exchanged surprised glances. Ma Tongtong, in particular, froze for a few seconds, her brows furrowing slightly.
She suddenly realized that her boss seemed to be quite uninformed.
After all, Xinlang is a large company, and it took them more than three months to achieve this level of user base by devoting the entire company's resources to promoting Xinlang Weibo.
Momo is a new app with no money or resources, so what makes it so special?
She hesitated for a moment, but then spoke.
"Boss," she said, trying to be as tactful as possible, "generally speaking, when our product is first launched, it goes through a cold start phase. The number of users will gradually grow to a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand —"
She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear—the goal the boss was talking about was simply unrealistic.
He looked at her calmly.
"Tongtong, our product is indeed a new product," he said, "but it won't be a cold start, it will be a hot start."