Chapter 14

Lu Kuan watched his stunned expression, which was exactly the same as Zhang Zhang Jizhong's, and laughed inwardly.

His first impression and external label were that of a little charlatan, but he could often point out the key to a problem in conversation, catching deep-rooted practitioners in the industry off guard and making them unable to parry for a moment.

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

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

Zhuang Xu:?

Occupational disease? He even started using Zen riddles.

"It's fine that the cold winter is about to pass, but where is the future?"

Practitioners and investors in domestic internet companies at the beginning of the millennium had no way to hold confidence in the difficult reality.

After Sina listed on NASDAQ in 2000, its market value was dismal, but compared to NetEase, which "bled to list" and broke on its first day six months later, it was still much luckier.

"Senior brother, I call the current domestic internet companies 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 suspiciously, his perception of this junior brother, who had been clever since childhood but acted eccentrically, refreshed once again.

After not seeing him for a short two years, how did it feel like he had taken on a completely new look from his mental outlook to his quality and connotation, turning from a little swindler into a college student who talks big?

Lu Kuan saw his expression and understood, having to make up an excuse to explain: "Senior brother, I met a university professor practicing on the mountain, and he chatted with me a lot."

There have always been many scholars who lived in seclusion in the deep forests and high mountains that are rich in spiritual energy; according to statistics, there were 55,000 people living in seclusion in the Zhongnan Mountains in later generations.

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

"The reason I say the future is already here is because, first, most domestic internet companies have broadened 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, and its profits surged to 160 million; at its peak in later generations, SP business revenue accounted for 70% of its income.

Other sites like TOM, Sohu, and Tencent were the same.

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

Lu Kuan coaxed him: "Only when there is a possibility of survival does the industry have the motivation for change. The future I'm talking about is web 2.0!"

Zhuang Xu was actually interested now; he didn't expect his charlatan junior brother to really be able to say something of substance.

"What form is 2.0?"

"What I heard from that professor 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; 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.

These were the knowledge reserves Lu Kuan had when he was studying directing and production-related majors at USC in his previous life; the US was the region where internet capital first extended its tentacles into film and television production.

"Readable... writable..."

Lu Kuan saw him frowning in thought and continued to throw out his own 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 was all due to information sharing from personal blog sites; the addition of some reporters made it more professional, and its popularity overshadowed paper media and traditional portal websites.

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

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 Beijing Film Academy exam to be an actor and director? Why are you concerned about this?"

Lu Kuan smiled: "Actors are at the bottom of the entertainment industry food chain, and directors aren't always able to master the power of the crew. Only by holding capital and public opinion tools can you 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 priest's logic formed a closed loop here, pouring out his goal—which he didn't know whether to call a delusion or an ideal—leaving his senior brother Zhuang Xu, who had grown up with him, speechless.

To call him delusional and ambitious but lacking talent would be wrong, as he was clearly so familiar with the industry situation and operational logic, which was obviously carefully thought out.

To call him ambitious and far-sighted, how is this little Daoist priest with only a high school education going to accumulate the original capital to deeply cultivate this 2.0 internet product of blogging?

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

Lu Kuan seemed to see his concerns: "Senior brother, since I have come down from the mountain, I must do something in this rolling red dust."

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

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

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

Lu Kuan knew that what he had chatted with him today was deep enough, and it was not appropriate to throw out more views that would shock him. He smiled and promised, no longer talking about the blog.

No matter who suddenly discovers that someone they have known for more than ten years has suddenly changed their face, it is not something that can be easily accepted and understood; this requires a process.

Zhuang Xu also changed the subject: "You want to take the Beijing Film Academy exam? Is your cultural course passing?"

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

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

But his accent was also very standard, which couldn't be explained by intelligence and love of learning.

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

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

Everyone has their own strengths. Besides his advantages in directing, acting, and PR work from his previous life, he is not familiar with the development, management, and financing of internet companies. Of course, he needs one of his own people to implement his philosophy.

As the lights came on, the two brothers wrapped their collars tightly and walked out of the hotel door, and the city's fireworks atmosphere appeared more prominently before their eyes.

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

(End of chapter)