Chapter 14: Doing Blogs

Lu Kuan watched him and Zhang Jizhong, both looking dazed in exactly the same way, and chuckled to himself.

His first impression and external label were that of a little charlatan, but he could often point out the crux of a problem during conversation, catching industry veterans off guard and leaving them unable to parry for a moment.

Zhuang Xu wanted to see just how much weight he carried: "You even understand investment banking? Then let me hear your take first."

Lu Kuan smiled: "The cold winter has passed, and the future is coming."

Zhuang Xu: ?

Occupational hazard? He’s even started speaking in Zen riddles.

"It’s true the cold winter is almost over, but where is the future?"

At the turn of the millennium, domestic internet enterprise practitioners and investors could not bring themselves to have confidence in the difficult reality.

After Sina listed on NASDAQ in 2000, its market value was dismal, but compared to the "bloody listing" of NetEase, which saw its stock price break on the first day six months later, it was still much luckier.

"Senior Brother, I call the current domestic internet enterprises Web 1.0."

"What is Web 1.0?"

"It is the translation and simple indoctrination of information; it is a one-way and passive display."

Zhuang Xu looked at Lu Kuan with suspicion, his perception of this junior brother, who had been clever but eccentric since childhood, refreshed once again.

In just two short years of not seeing him, how did it feel like he had been completely renewed from his mental outlook to his inner qualities, turning from a little swindler into a college student who could talk big?

Seeing his expression, Lu Kuan understood and had to make up an excuse to explain: "Senior Brother, I met a practicing university professor on the mountain, and he talked to me about a lot of things."

There have always been many scholars who lived in seclusion in the deep forests and high mountains of beautiful scenery; it is estimated that there were 55,000 recluses in Zhongnan Mountain in later generations.

Zhuang Xu nodded noncommittally, accepting his explanation, and for the first time, he seriously treated him as a peer in conversation, no longer holding an attitude of examination.

"The reason I say the future is already here is because, first, most domestic internet enterprises have expanded their profit margins through SMS value-added services like Mobile Dreamnet."

At the beginning of this year, NetEase became one of the first portal websites selected for Mobile Dreamnet, with profits surging to 160 million; at its peak in later generations, SP business revenue accounted for 70% of its income.

The same goes for other companies like TOM, Sohu, and Tencent.

Zhuang Xu nodded silently; although investment banking business also subdivides industry directions, research and understanding of these top internet enterprises are basic skills.

Lu Kuan guided him step by step: "Only when there is a possibility of survival does the industry have the motivation for change. The future I speak of is Web 2.0!"

Zhuang Xu was actually a bit interested now; he hadn't expected his charlatan junior brother to really be able to say something of substance.

"What form is 2.0 then?"

"What I heard from that professor is that it is an information aggregation model where users actively participate and build interactions. The internet is not only readable, but also writable!"

Zhuang Xu’s mind raced; for a moment, he couldn't care about who the professor he mentioned was. The content of these two short sentences alone hit the core of this investment banking elite's cognition.

This was the knowledge reserve Lu Kuan had from his previous life when he studied directing and production-related majors at USC; the Americans were the first in internet capital to extend their reach into film and television production.

"Readable... writable..."

Seeing him frowning in thought, Lu Kuan continued to throw out his point of view: "Senior Brother, have you heard of the American blogger?"

"The exposure website from 9/11?"

The terrorist attack three months ago shocked the world. When all traditional media websites were paralyzed due to information overload, the blog network unexpectedly became an information distribution center.

This all stemmed from information sharing on personal blog sites; the addition of some journalists made it more professional, and its momentum overshadowed print media and traditional portal websites.

"That's right. I think this is one of the templates for 2.0, and it is also the future development direction for domestic internet enterprises!"

Zhuang Xu’s eyes suddenly lit up. Every user becomes an information node and dissemination center, and social interaction becomes the driving force for dissemination. Such a model is indeed unprecedented.

He suddenly remembered something else: "Aren't you going to take the exam for the Beijing Film Academy to be an actor and director? Why are you concerned about this kind of thing?"

Lu Kuan laughed: "Actors are at the bottom of the entertainment industry food chain, and directors cannot always control the power of the crew. Only by holding capital and public opinion tools can one truly call the shots in this circle!"

You can never stop a former PR company boss's obsession with public opinion tools; this is an excellent product for leading and occupying the minds of fans.

The little Daoist's logic formed a closed loop here, laying out his goal—which he didn't know whether to call a delusion or an ideal—leaving his senior brother Zhuang Xu, who grew up with him, speechless.

To call him delusional and lacking in talent would be wrong, as he was clearly so familiar with the industry situation and operating logic, obviously having thought it through thoroughly.

To call him ambitious and far-sighted would be difficult, as how was this little Daoist with only a high school diploma going to accumulate the original capital to deeply cultivate this 2.0 internet product, the blog?

There are too many people with ideas but no people and no money; at least as an investment banking insider, he had seen startup teams like crucian carp crossing the river.

Lu Kuan seemed to see his doubts: "Senior Brother, since I have come down from the mountain, I must do something in this bustling world."

"You are bound to be skeptical about whatever I say now, but when the time is right, please come out and help me!"

Zhuang Xu was both pleased by his growth and unable to give an answer immediately: "You should set up a stall first before talking!"

"If the concept and prospects are indeed good, I will find you some investment."

Lu Kuan knew that he had talked deeply enough with him today and that it was not appropriate to throw out more shocking views. He smiled and agreed, no longer talking about the blog.

It is not easy for anyone to accept and understand when someone they have known for more than a decade suddenly changes their appearance; this requires a process.

Zhuang Xu also changed the subject: "You want to take the exam for the Beijing Film Academy? Is your cultural studies up to par?"

Lu Kuan continued to use the professor as a pretext: "I have studied with that Professor Tao; I know a little, I know a little."

Zhuang Xu suddenly asked a question in English, and he didn't expect him to answer fluently. It wasn't strange to know these words, as most were high school-level spoken vocabulary.

But his accent was also very standard, which could not be explained by mere cleverness and love for learning.

Could it be that the Wenchang Emperor in the Daoist temple where the two grew up had manifested, and really enlightened this stubborn stone?

Lu Kuan ate his food with a calm demeanor; he didn't expect to shake him with one go today, using his kingly aura to subdue this high-level intellectual and investment banking elite.

Everyone has their own strengths. Apart from the advantages of his previous life's directing, acting talents, and PR work, he was not familiar with the development, management, and financing of internet enterprises, so he naturally needed one of his own people to implement his philosophy.

As the lights came on, the two senior and junior brothers wrapped their collars tight and walked out of the restaurant door, the fireworks of the city presenting themselves more vividly before their eyes.

The little Daoist Lu Kuan had also planted a seed in Zhuang Xu's heart, and he believed that in the near future, it would grow vigorously, making this investment banking elite an important part of his entertainment and capital map!

(End of chapter)