Chapter 309: The Art of the Deal

Investing in Sina Weibo was absolutely the most satisfying transaction Chen Nuo had made since his rebirth.

A 10% equity stake and 5% voting rights might not seem like much, but just a short year or two later,

when Alibaba wanted to invest in Weibo, they negotiated with Sina secretly from 2011 to 2013, taking a full three years to reach an agreement.

Chen Nuo once had a friend who knew someone considered a high-level executive at Alibaba, and they had chatted about this while shooting the breeze.

It was said that Alibaba used both threats and inducements; Jack Ma was practically ready to jump up and slap Sina's Mr. Cao across the face.

It wasn't until 2012, when Sina reorganized its structure and Sina and Weibo began operating completely independently, that Mr. Cao was able to convince the board of directors.

Finally, in April 2013, Alibaba invested 586 million USD, acquiring a combined 18% of Weibo's common and preferred stock.

By 2017, Alibaba had further increased its holdings through subsequent capital injections, eventually raising its stake in Sina Weibo to 31% equity and 15.6% voting rights, becoming the second-largest shareholder.

Of course, in this lifetime, the equity division of Sina Weibo would certainly not be like that again.

When Alibaba wanted to enter the game between 2011 and 2013, it was unlikely the valuation for Sina Weibo would remain the same 3.255 billion USD.

After all, the butterfly had already arrived.

But regardless, as long as Chen Nuo didn't hold Mr. Cao back and cause some butterfly effect where things regressed instead of progressed, that 10% stake in Sina Weibo in his hands would be worth a solid 300 million USD or so when the time came.

Come to think of it, this speed of making money was much faster than filming.

And this, I suppose, is the charm of the capital market.

If one waited until 2014, after Sina Weibo spun off and listed on NASDAQ, that would be even more incredible.

However, conversely, if Chen Nuo didn't film, he probably wouldn't have the qualifications to get a ticket to this capital feast.

Even if his old man was considered a figure in the Sichuan real estate industry in his previous life, he was still a considerable distance from the A-share market, let alone snatching a bite from the mouths of internet giants.

What is something to be happy and congratulatory about? This is it.

Therefore, after wrapping up filming, Chen Nuo flew back to Jingcheng impatiently, and that very evening at Ziyu Villa, he convened the first general meeting of shareholders for the Brand New Film and Television Company.

At the meeting, Chairman Chen suppressed his smug mood and shared this happy and congratulatory good news with all the shareholders with great excitement.

And then.

"Sister Binbing, how many days are you back for this time? I haven't seen you in so long. Why are you so busy?"

"Sigh, such is the bitter life. But I'm prepared to rest for a while this time. It's almost the end of the year, and I'll be busy again then, so I'm back to relax for a few days."

"Great, great, how about we go shopping together tomorrow?"

"In a few days, I don't want to do anything when I get back, I just want to sleep for a few days."

"Binbing, you're so busy, yet your complexion looks so good, it's truly rare. You're truly naturally beautiful, something others can't learn even if they tried."

"Haha, Auntie, please don't say that, I'm already old."

"Binbing, look at what you're saying, your skin, this complexion, what's the difference between you and someone in their 20s? If we're talking about being old, I'm the one who's old."

"How could that be, Auntie? Every time I see you, I feel you're getting younger and younger. If you walked out, who could tell you're Xixi's mom? You look more like her sister."

"Hahahahaha."

"... What are you laughing at? You think I'm old, right?"

"No, no, Mom, you're young. Really, it's just, Sister, hahahaha ouch... don't pinch, don't pinch, I was wrong, I was wrong, I won't laugh anymore..."

Qi Yuntian: "Ahem."

The bickering mother and daughter immediately quieted down, and Fan Binbing also put down the phone she had just picked up.

Fan Binbing then said: "Mr. Chen is absolutely right."

At some unknown hour of the night, Liu Xiaoli was startled awake by a nightmare.

She opened her mouth, feeling a bit parched.

She felt for the water glass on the nightstand and found it empty.

She rolled out of bed, opened the door from the pitch-black room, and walked out.

When she went downstairs to pour water, Liu Xiaoli looked at the courtyard under the moonlight outside the floor-to-ceiling windows and had to admit that there was still a gap between villas and villas.

From Ziyu Villa to Palm Beach, and then back to Jingcheng, after living in her original home for a few days with Xixi, even she wasn't quite used to it.

Although there were nannies over there, here, when she came, she could only act as a nanny.

However, in the lakeside mansion under the blue sky and white clouds, being a nanny didn't seem to be a problem.

Who let Xixi like the deer and horses here?

After finishing the water, Liu Xiaoli went back upstairs.

Stepping over the last step and walking along the corridor again, she suddenly stopped.

The air was filled with cat-like cries, faint and ethereal, drifting into her ears in wisps.

Liu Xiaoli froze for a while, her heart filled with a hundred flavors.

It finally turned into a helpless sigh.

Thinking about what deer and horses?

This was clearly thinking about...

Forget it.

It seems she should just live in the downstairs guest room in the future; sometimes it's really inconvenient.

Liu Xiaoli quickened her pace, then lightened her footsteps, hurried back to her room, and closed the door.

Her movements were fast, and the soundproofing of the door was also quite good.

So much so that the moment she closed the door, she didn't hear that faint "Yes, I'm sorry."

Otherwise, she would definitely have wondered why this voice was more mature and completely different from Liu Yifei's.

At this moment, in the master bedroom of this large villa, two actors were acting.

One of them, twisting her waist and hips, emitting a coquettish sound, was none other than the Golden Horse and Hundred Flowers double Best Actress who had refused Liu Yifei's request to share a bed, saying she wanted to get a good night's sleep in the downstairs guest room.

A Best Actress is a Best Actress.

When it comes to playing cosplay, it's truly a dimensional strike.

Under the dim light, wearing a pair of black silk stockings with hooks, looking shy and timid, there was absolutely no problem saying she was an 18-year-old college student.

"Master, I was wrong. In the future, when you are speaking from above, I will definitely listen carefully. Just forgive me this once, okay~"

"Forgive you? If you make a mistake, you should be punished! You tell me, how many lashes should you get?"

"Woooo... don't, woooo, I'm so scared..."

"No crying! Speak quickly!"

"Then, then let's start with a hundred..."

"Lightly, or heavily?"

"Hmph, so what if it's heavy? Do you still have the strength? I don't believe it. Master, you're already old, you definitely... ah!"

"............ Definitely what?"

"Uh, hmm, hmm~ No, no~ Definitely very powerful. I was wrong, I was wrong, Master, I was wrong, woooo............"

After a while, "No strength left? I lied to you, uh, I wasn't wrong, I wasn't wrong! Ah! Wrong, wrong, I was wrong~"

"Keep your voice down."

"What are you afraid of... any, anyway, there are no outsiders here, ah!"

Outsiders my foot, but for such an expensive house, the soundproofing should be very good, and it's so late, so there shouldn't be any problem.

After a long separation, Chen Nuo wasn't in the mood to think about so much.

Even though it was the second time, under Fan Binbing's back-and-forth changing of her face, saying she was wrong one moment and not wrong the next, he was still very angry, feeling that tonight, he had to let this disobedient female disciple know that the master was still sharp as ever.

After a long while, the female disciple finally dared not be naughty again.

Not because her fair, white buttocks were beaten red, like ripe peaches, making one really want to take a bite under the dim light.

But because spare the rod and spoil the child.

Master is Master, meaning a teacher for a day is a father for life.

"You said that Weibo thing, is it that important?"

Fan Binbing lay in the crook of his arm, her slippery body pressed tightly against him. Having just finished showering, the scent of the woman's body wash kept drilling into his nose.

Chen Nuo could see it now.

At this very moment, he was probably the only one who would take this Weibo seriously.

Others at most thought it was just a variant of a blog. A new blog, what's the big deal?

Probably including Sina itself, they 100% didn't think that much.

Otherwise 10%? Keep dreaming.

He was too lazy to explain and gave a light "Hmph."

Fan Binbing raised her head, kissed him on the face, and said: "Don't be angry, I just don't understand. Anyway, what I think is, you worry about these big things, and I'll just earn money with peace of mind. No matter what, I believe in you."

Chen Nuo said irritably: "You believe? When the company is tossed away, I'm afraid you won't even have time to cry."

Fan Binbing chuckled: "After Cannes, I really... even if the whole world says 1 plus 1 equals 2, if you say it equals 3, I'll believe you."

Chen Nuo rubbed her head, making Fan Binbing's fluffy hair even messier, "Fine then."

Her fox-like big eyes suddenly rolled, and she chuckled: "You have something on your mind."

Chen Nuo froze for a moment, not expecting to be seen through, and didn't deny it, nodding with an "Um."

"Tell me, which woman is it? Is it that one from Xinjiang? That's why you didn't want me to go to Huairou to find you, right? What happened to her?"

What the hell!?

Chen Nuo was speechless; how did this go so far off track?

Besides, he refused her first, and Tong Liya came to film later; the timelines didn't even match!

He was just about to open his mouth to explain, but Fan Binbing suddenly propped herself up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek again.

Immediately after, she raised her chin slightly, and her pointed chin rested on his chest. With her pair of watery big eyes close at hand, she said softly: "Qi Da is a man after all, he doesn't understand a woman's heart that clearly. Don't be frowning by yourself anymore. If you have any worries in your heart, remember to tell me, no matter what, I'll accompany you to think of a way, okay?"

Chen Nuo was truly moved, held her face and kissed her, and said thank you.

But............ it really wasn't about a woman.

If Brother Nuo frowned because of a woman's affairs, then the book title should be changed.

He was worried about big things.

More specifically, it was about Zuckerberg and Facebook.

If Sina was a small step he took in the capital era, then FB was a big step sufficient for a qualitative change.

Just at the time he kicked the bucket,

in September 2024, the market value of FB's parent company on NASDAQ had already exceeded 1.4 trillion.

And it's fucking USD!

Compared to the three companies with the highest market value in the A-share market, it was equal to 5 Moutais, 5 ICBCs, and 9 CATLs!

Just ask, such a behemoth, let alone 10%, even if he just pulled one hair off, he could be on the Forbes rich list later, the world kind.

But now, FB was different from Sina.

It was already a rising star in the American social market. As far as the present was concerned, there were far, far more people optimistic about it than Sina's prototype, Twitter. Of course, in later generations, the two indeed couldn't be mentioned in the same breath.

Therefore, if he didn't have the foundation of his follower count that was far ahead of the second place, he wouldn't even be qualified to sit at the same table with Zuckerberg and talk about shares.

So, now he could barely sit down.

But how to talk, how to chat, who would preside over the negotiations?

When it really came to talking, FB would definitely have a whole team.

And him? Just him and Qi Yuntian?

Then what's the point.

Although Qi Yuntian's execution was quite good, could he stand up in front of commercial negotiations of this level?

One could see from this negotiation with Sina that if it weren't for Professor Qi working hard behind the scenes, there might not have been a result even today.

Chen Nuo didn't think Qi Yuntian was incompetent.

After all, Qi Da was only 6 years older than him, not even 30 this year, and could preside over such a complex company. He handled everything from public to private affairs in an orderly manner, what more could he ask for?

Did he really think everyone was someone like Shou Zi Chew?

If Qi Yuntian really was Shou Zi Chew, then he would be even less at ease.

Qi Da was undoubtedly a very qualified agent and a film company general manager above the passing line.

But this time going to the United States, he needed more than just above the passing line.

He needed a very excellent negotiation expert to lead a very excellent team to put pressure on FB and tear a piece of meat from the hands of those shrewd and cunning Jews.

Where should he find such a person?

Chen Nuo stroked Fan Binbing's hair, watching the woman close her eyes, her breathing gradually becoming heavy and even, her beautiful face adding a touch of softness under the warm yellow light.

He couldn't help but sigh slightly again; this was what he was worried about.

At this moment, his phone suddenly rang.

The iPhone ringtone blared, Fan Binbing opened her eyes groggily, and Chen Nuo also frowned, raised his hand, and picked up the phone from the nightstand.

He saw no name on the screen, but a flashing number.

"180."

He thought for a moment and answered the phone.

"Hello, Chen, are you asleep? I didn't disturb your rest, did I?"

"No, Ivanka, what's the matter?"

"It's not me, it's Tang Tang Nade, he has something he wants to chat with you about. I'm very sorry, Chen, my dad he... anyway, I'm very sorry."

"It's okay."

Chen Nuo suddenly realized. If Tang Tang Nade was looking for someone, he would naturally only look at American time.

"Haha, hello, Chen."

"You should say good evening, Tang Tang Nade, it's 3 AM Beijing time now. Do you have something very urgent to find me for..." Chen Nuo said in a neither yin nor yang tone.

Honestly, if it weren't for Ivanka's sake, he wouldn't have been so polite; he would have long ago............

Just,

Just?

Just.

He thought halfway, and his thinking suddenly got stuck.

Stuck at a very wonderful juncture.

Some whimsical ideas floated over from the other side of the juncture like colorful bubbles.

It looked quite beautiful.

The other side didn't notice his interruption of thought, only heard his displeasure, and immediately laughed: "Oh, Chen, don't tell me you've already fallen asleep. At your age, it was impossible for me to fall asleep before 5 AM every day. I bet there must be a charming beauty in your bed right now, right?"

Fuck!

Spot on!

Worthy of being "The Tang Tang Nade."

It seems... he really is a bit reliable!

He immediately laughed, making Fan Binbing on the side widen her eyes.

But Chen Nuo had no time to worry about his image now; in short, he laughed with a kind of intimate and natural, especially familiar feeling.

"Oh, Tang Tang Nade, my dear Tang Tang Nade. I have to say, you are truly a god at guessing. Of course, it's like this, but don't tell Ivanka, okay? I'm worried she'll find trouble for me."

Tang Tang Nade laughed heartily.

And Ivanka's voice came over with dissatisfaction, "Oh, Chen, sorry, I have it on speaker, I heard it all."

Heard it, so what? Hearing it is even better.

Didn't this immediately open up the situation and liven up the atmosphere?

Next, Tang Tang Nade talked about business.

It turned out that this person called because he heard from Ivanka that he was about to go to the United States, so he specifically came to invite him to a charity gala in New York.

Before, when contacting Ivanka, Chen Nuo actually already knew about this charity gala.

The purpose of holding this gala was that Tang Tang Nade's recent situation wasn't very good.

Since the beginning of 2009, the overall business of the Tang Tang Nade Group had fallen into a slump.

Because although the economic crisis could be considered over, the entire American real estate market was still in mourning, and there was no sign of much improvement.

So in May, the entertainment and resort company under the Tang Tang Nade Group declared bankruptcy.

The Wolf of Huaerjie, Carl Icahn, took over the company.

And Tang Tang Nade was also forced to give up all his investments in Atlantic City casinos.

It could be said that this golden-haired handsome old man had just experienced the biggest crushing defeat of his life.

This charity gala thing,

was after Tang Tang Nade had been autistic for several months, finally waking up, wanting to rebuild his momentum and regroup.

So, he prepared to hold a grand charity gala in New York City to regain his fame in high society, thereby announcing to all of New York and all of America that the Tang Tang Nade Group had not fallen yet.

Before, Ivanka had also invited him, but he didn't agree.

He would have to be sick to agree.

Traveling thousands of miles to the United States to do charity?

He was neither Pan Shiyi, nor Chen Tianqiao, nor an idiot.

Four, do the American people need him?

1.3 billion Chinese people are all fucking fed and lighting cigarettes with USD, right?

At that time, when he refused, Ivanka was still a bit regretful.

That meant when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; seeing that the Tang Tang Nade Group seemed to be about to finish, at this time, many previous partners had left Tang Tang Nade. Tang Tang Nade really needed someone to hold the fort for him.

But Chen Nuo remained unmoved.

Four words: None of my business.

At the same time, he also thought Ivanka was exaggerating a bit.

But now, Tang Tang Nade had called him personally; it seemed Ivanka's words were indeed eight or nine out of ten correct.

At this moment, Chen Nuo's brain could be said to have never moved so fast; out of a hundred billion brain cells, at least a thousand were operating at high speed, and he could even feel sparks flying.

Facing Tang Tang Nade's invitation, he only hesitated for a second and said: "Okay, although I don't like this kind of occasion, but okay. You know, Tang Tang Nade, actually I have always thought you are my friend, a real friend. So, no problem. Give me a time and a place, and I will be there on time."

One could feel that Tang Tang Nade was a bit moved, and the voice in the receiver was much lower, feeling quite sincere: "Thank you, Chen. I will remember this."

Chen Nuo added: "It's okay. In fact, Tang Tang Nade, Ivanka also told me some of your recent situation, it's not very good, right?"

Ivanka said loudly on the side: "Chen!"

Chen Nuo ignored her, and didn't wait for Tang Tang Nade to answer, continuing: "As a friend, I can still do some other things to help you. You know, Tang Tang Nade, I might accept two interviews when I go to the United States this time... if necessary. So, do you need me to mention your name in the interview? I think, whether it's publicity or something else, it might be a little bit useful."

"Oh?" Tang Tang Nade's voice was a bit surprised, "What interview? Magazine, or TV station? Or what newspaper?"

"It's magazines. 'Time' and 'People'." Chen Nuo explained, "Because of my FB account, they want to interview me. It happened a few days ago. I haven't agreed yet."

On the other side of the phone, Tang Tang Nade hadn't spoken yet, but Ivanka said in surprise, "My God, Chen, why didn't you tell me?"

"Didn't have time."

"Didn't have time? God, if it were me, I would definitely let all of America know at the first moment."

Tang Tang Nade also spoke at this time, his voice very steady: "Very impressive, congratulations Chen. Thank you, if possible, that is of course the best, this is what I need now. However, let's be honest, Chen, do you need me to help you do something?"

Chen Nuo didn't admit it, nor did he deny it, but smiled and said: "Tang Tang Nade, why would you say that?"

Tang Tang Nade's tone suddenly became high-pitched, and his voice was much louder; he laughed heartily: "Looks like I guessed right. I knew it. You can't hide it from me. No one knows how to see through other people's minds better than me. Tell me, what do you want me to help you do?"

Chen Nuo hesitated and said: "It's like this, I'm going to talk about a business deal when I go to the United States this time. This business is very important to me, so I want to find a negotiation expert to be my consultant. Tang Tang Nade, can you introduce one to me?"

"Consultant?"

"Yes, to design negotiation strategies and plans for me. You know, I'm an actor, I know nothing about this. So I'm willing to pay some money. For example... 3 million USD? Of course, this is not the upper limit."

"3 million, this is not a small amount." The tone on the other side of the phone became a bit heavy, "Looks like this business of yours is really not small."

Chen Nuo also replied in a very relaxed tone: "Yes. Do you have a friend like that? Tang Tang Nade? Because the person I need to negotiate with is not simple. He is currently the most famous entrepreneurial hero in the United States, viewed as the next Bill Gates, and there is even a biographical film about him starting production soon, in October."

"Negotiating with him is definitely not an easy thing."

"But if I can take advantage of him, I think, not only money, that... should bring great fame, very, very great fame."

The tone in the receiver was suddenly a bit curious, "Who is it?"

"What?"

"The person you want to talk business with."

"Oh, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, a Jew. Do you know Facebook? It was recently called the most promising tech company in the United States. Currently, it hasn't reached the listing stage, yet investors have valued it at 12 billion USD."

"And Mark, undoubtedly, is a genius in every aspect. As far as I know, from dropping out of Harvard to start a business until now, no one has defeated him."

Silence for a second, the tone suddenly became a bit ethereal, as if the person speaking was thinking about something. "Oh... I know this company, and I also know this person. Yes, he is very famous on Huaerjie recently."

Chen Nuo still maintained a relaxed tone: "OK, then can you keep an eye out for me?"

"Hmm... I think this matter, perhaps we can wait until we meet to talk about it." The voice in the receiver was a bit hesitant, "Perhaps, I can cooperate with you."

"What?"

Chen Nuo's tone, just like when Fan Binbing questioned him for having no strength, "You? Tang Tang Nade, forgive me for being blunt, do you understand negotiation?"

Tang Tang Nade sneered on the phone, his tone a bit unhappy: "Chen, do you know that I once wrote a book called 'The Art of the Deal'..."

Two minutes later, the phone hung up.

Fan Binbing looked at Chen Nuo's expression and asked curiously: "What's wrong? Who was on the phone with you, talking for so long?"

Chen Nuo smiled slightly and said: "A blowhard full of nonsense, but it's also possible, he is the best negotiation expert in the world."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 310 =====