Chapter 339: On the Eve of Mimo's Launch

"Mainly because Pony looks down on his startup project."

Liu Zhiping explained with a smile.

Penguin organized the summer startup camp originally to find outstanding talent or invest in startup projects with commercial value.

This person didn't want to join Penguin, but Ma Wenteng was unwilling to invest, so Liu Zhiping remembered Chen Yansen's request and planned to recommend this person to Senlian Capital.

"I trust Mr. Liu's judgment; have him come to Xucheng." Chen Yansen agreed readily.

The implication was that he intended to interview him personally.

"Fine, I'll have Zhang Xiaolong notify him." Liu Zhiping replied.

"Martin, thanks." Chen Yansen added.

"Let's leave it at that for now; come find me for tea when you're free." After Liu Zhiping finished speaking, he hung up the phone.

The two never mentioned the candidate's name or resume from start to finish.

Liu Zhiping didn't say, and Chen Yansen wouldn't ask.

Since the other party brought it up, regardless of this person's ability, Chen Yansen would at least give him one interview opportunity.

Meanwhile.

In a coffee shop in Pudong New Area, Shanghai.

Mao Chaorong put down his phone, a flush of excitement appearing on his face, then said to Qu Fang opposite him: "It was a call from Zhang Xiaolong; Mr. Chen of Senlian Capital wants to see me."

"Congratulations!" Qu Fang replied faintly with a smile on her face.

Both were from Jiangcheng; they met by chance on the streets of the Lighthouse Kingdom.

One was a planning department supervisor at Bertelsmann, the other an MBA student currently studying at Stanford University.

After Mao Chaorong graduated, Qu Fang quit her high-paying job at Bertelsmann and returned to the country with him.

The young man before her was twenty-six or twenty-seven, sharp in his suit, handsome in his features, with a smile always hanging at the corner of his mouth while he spoke, which made her heart flutter considerably.

Their relationship belonged to the category of more than friends, less than lovers.

But they were both smart people; from Qu Fang's act of quitting her job and accompanying him back to the country to start a business, the signs were clear.

But what troubled Qu Fang was that Mao Chaorong seemed to have no thoughts of taking things further with her.

So was she just overthinking it?

Qu Fang forced a bitter smile, happy that Mao Chaorong's career had made progress, yet regretful of her own rash decision.

"I'll book a ticket immediately and rush to Xucheng today." Mao Chaorong picked up his phone and operated it hurriedly.

"You go; I won't go." Qu Fang said in a calm tone.

Hearing this, Mao Chaorong froze in place, his hand stopping its movement; he asked with a look of confusion: "The product proposal for Little Red Skirt also has your share of the credit; how can it work if you don't go?"

"I have no interest in starting a business; you should understand clearly why I returned to the country."

Qu Fang took a deep breath, not wanting to drag things out any longer, and instead played it straight.

Mao Chaorong's face froze; after ten-odd seconds of silence, he said with a look of difficulty: "I thought you came back because you wanted to start a business and make money with me."

Qu Fang laughed helplessly; she figured it out now—people pretending to sleep can never be woken up.

"Do you think I'm not good-looking?" Qu Fang, unable to hold back her anger, asked again.

"No." Mao Chaorong shook his head.

"Damn it! You really are a bastard." After cursing, Qu Fang picked up her handbag and left without looking back.

Mao Chaorong was slightly stunned; he never expected that Qu Fang, a graduate of Beijing Foreign Studies University who had stayed abroad for six years, would curse so dirty and so viciously for the first time.

But he truly had no feelings for Qu Fang.

In his heart, there was only a longing for career success and financial freedom.

Therefore, in less than a minute, he calmed his mindset and booked tickets in an orderly manner.

Two hours later, he rushed to Hongqiao Railway Station and boarded the train to Xucheng East Station.

Liu Zhiping had made it very clear to him: Chen Yansen was missing a project manager in the Lighthouse Kingdom.

As for the Little Red Skirt business plan, the other party would naturally read it; whether he could persuade the other party to invest depended on his ability.

Of course, Chen Yansen might, like Ma Wenteng, look down on his project.

With the opportunity right in front of him, even though the hope was slim, Mao Chaorong still decided to go first.

For him, meeting Chen Yansen and having a communication exchange was not a wasted trip.

After all, Chen Yansen's business talent was obvious to all; having entered the industry for only two years, he had already earned a fortune of over 50 billion US dollars.

If the other party pointed out two or three things to him, he might benefit greatly. On the other side.

Huang Zheng led Li Guoqing to tour the major office areas of Pinbai Headquarters one by one.

Approaching noon, Huang Zheng invited Li Guoqing to dine at a hotel in the city center, but Li Guoqing insisted on going to the employee cafeteria; Huang Zheng couldn't dissuade him, so he had to agree.

After lunch, Huang Zheng took Li Guoqing to tour the headquarters building of Sister Chengzi Technology, finally arriving at Chen Yansen's office to sit and drink tea.

During this time, when Li Guoqing discussed the e-commerce industry, his reference to Liu Qiangdong remained stuck at 'Big, Black, and Rough' and 'Big Strong Brother'.

From this, one could see how deep Qingzi's resentment toward Handsome Dong was.

Not until the sun set, the clouds and rosy glow scattered, and the sky outside the window grew dim did the three leave the office, preparing to take a car to the Sky Garden to start tonight's drinking session.

As soon as Chen Yansen arrived downstairs, the receptionist softly reminded him: "Boss, a Mr. Mao has just arrived in the waiting area; he is looking for you."

Mr. Mao?

Chen Yansen turned to look and saw a young man of twenty-six or twenty-seven, wearing a dark blue suit, sitting on a chair in the waiting area, looking around curiously.

This person is too impatient.

Chen Yansen thought silently.

"Mr. Chen, you attend to your business first; no rush." Li Guoqing, quite perceptive, said openly.

"Mr. Huang, you accompany Mr. Li to the restaurant first." Chen Yansen looked at Huang Zheng and gave the order casually.

"Understood, boss." Huang Zheng nodded.

Chen Yansen apologized briefly, then stepped toward the rest area.

Mao Chaorong, hearing footsteps, quickly turned around and saw Chen Yansen approaching.

He had seen Chen Yansen's photo and recognized him at once; he dared not slack off, instinctively stood up, and stepped forward to say: "Mr. Chen, hello! I'm Mao Chaorong. Here is my resume and the business plan for Little Red Dress."

"Mr. Mao, please sit."

Chen Yansen gestured with his hand.

"Thank you, Mr. Chen." Mao Chaorong was tense, his breathing heavy.

Mao Chaorong, from Jiangcheng, a graduate of Jiaotong University, was somewhat an alumnus of Zhang Xuhao; he had worked for four years at two private equity firms, then went to the Lantern Nation to pursue an MBA.

From his resume, the man had no prior experience with short video platforms or social software.

But Chen Yansen didn't care about that—he cared only about methodology and problem-solving ability.

He glanced at Little Red Dress's business plan once, then set it aside.

This thing was just a Sinified version of Instagram, relying entirely on information asymmetry.

No wonder Ma Wenteng looked down on it!

After WeChat launched Moments, it effectively integrated Instagram's photo features; it's only natural he'd dismiss it outright.

He agreed with Little Ma: such social software with content-sharing functions had some commercial value, but not much.

Ma Wenteng believed Little Red Dress conflicted with WeChat's business; there was no need to support an outside "adopted son" while fighting your own "blood son."

Chen Yansen thought short video business models held greater potential; if he couldn't convince Mao Chaorong, he might as well make a seed investment.

But he didn't want to show it!

Compared to investing, finding a reliable head for short video operations mattered more.

After spotting Chen Yansen's subtle gesture, Mao Chaorong's heart sank—he instantly lost all drive.

After being rejected by two industry giants, Ma Wenteng and Chen Yansen, he began to wonder: was it Little Red Dress's business model that failed, or was it his own ability?

The prototype software for Little Red Dress, Instagram, had been wildly popular overseas—why did it keep failing in China?

In his view, bringing foreign software back to China posed no problem.

Ma Wenteng had done it, Ma Liyun had done it, Li Yanhong had done it.

And all of them succeeded; now each was worth tens of billions.

"Martin told you, right? Today Tech wants to enter the short video sector."

Chen Yansen asked softly.

"I know. Earlier this year, the Lantern Nation launched a product called Vine, which lets users shoot six-second short videos; it's gained some fame in North America, but its user base is small—far behind Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook."

Mao Chaorong thought carefully, choosing his words precisely.

His unspoken meaning: Vine's business model doesn't work—Mr. Chen, you'd be wiser to invest in my Little Red Dress.

"My product is called Mimo—short for 'Moment In, Moment Out.' Initial market investment will be no less than twenty million U. S. dollars per month."

Chen Yansen gestured with his fingers.

Twenty million U. S. dollars?

If that money were mine, how wonderful it would be!

Mao Chaorong swallowed hard, thinking inwardly: So damn rich.

(End of Chapter)