Chapter 44: 043 Holding a Bone as a Torch (Request Subscription)

Song Yufeng hurriedly arrived at Guiai Network.

This was his first time entering inside; the past two days, when he had free time to pick up his girlfriend from work, he’d merely gazed at it from outside, but today he saw that the space was indeed small—a “typical ordinary college student startup environment.”

He recalled his girlfriend’s evaluation and spotted Yu Xing, the founder of Guiai Network, seated there.

“You’re here? Sit.”

Song Yufeng wanted to shake hands but heard such an ordinary remark; after a brief hesitation, he sat down.

“Tell me, what’s going on with NetEase’s matchmaking service?” Yu Xing asked casually.

On his way over, Song Yufeng had anticipated two possibilities: either it was about online marketing expenses, or NetEase had launched a similar service.

Now he heard it and confirmed his suspicions; he sighed: “I don’t know either. Maybe recent online marketing pushed too hard, and the matchmaking team spotted the potential.”

This stance matched Yin Baoyi’s.

At this moment, Lu Haiying from the adjacent office came over, poured two cups of tea, then didn’t leave—she sat down beside them.

Yu Xing also sighed, set his pen down from the paper, and remarked: “Writing this draft is so hard, Song Yufeng, I’ll have to trouble you to write one for me.”

Song Yufeng frowned: “Write what?”

“Write a denunciatory manifesto accusing NetEase of forcibly partnering with us for innovation.” Yu Xing said, expressionless.

Song Yufeng pursed his lips and advised: “Yu Xing, I know you’re upset right now, but market competition works this way. I asked you before, and you said yourself that once you build the project, competitors will notice.”

“Not just any competitor—NetEase,” Yu Xing said coolly. “When you asked me, you used Tencent as the example. Why didn’t you use NetEase?”

Song Yufeng sighed helplessly: “What’s the difference? Would your competitive situation improve if Tencent did this? Market competition, Yu Xing—you started a company, you should’ve anticipated this.”

Yu Xing let out a bitter laugh, slammed his pen on the table, and declared firmly: “But not NetEase!”

Song Yufeng stared at the college student’s fury, wanting to say more but realizing it was pointless.

He stood up and said with a touch of pity: “There’s no difference.”

Today, after two days of reflection, Song Yufeng had accepted reality: if the company sees profit, it will act—market competition is simply this way.

As for his earlier flicker of guilt—ah, let go of personal integrity, embrace a carefree life; that’s the most realistic truth in today’s society.

“There is a difference,” Yu Xing sneered. “You interviewed me first, then copied the project.”

He added angrily: “You’re not Tencent!”

Song Yufeng looked at Yu Xing’s expression and sighed: “Yu Xing, don’t be naive. We copy too—we’ve done minor innovations ourselves. This time, frankly, Sina previously reported your project, and there were posts about you on Tieba and Renren. Since you promoted it this way, you must accept the risk.”

“Besides, your project has no moat. That’s not my fault, nor NetEase’s. I repeat: even if NetEase doesn’t do it, if another company sees potential and acts, who will you blame?”

“Still blame me?”

“Shiji Jiayuan did it, Baihe.com did it, Guiai Network did it—when the time comes, will you still come to me and vent your anger?”

Yu Xing listened to this whole defense, pointed at Song Yufeng, and said to his second-in-command in amazement: “Look, look what ‘eloquent justification’ looks like—this is our big reporter, Song Yufeng.”

Song Yufeng looked at Lu Haiying, also a college student, and her strange gaze—he suddenly felt utterly drained.

He shook his head and said: “Yu Xing, Lu Haiying, society is like this—that’s just how society is. I’m leaving. Get ready to fight NetEase.”

Yu Xing made no move to stop him, only said calmly: “I recorded it.”

Song Yufeng’s foot froze at the door.

He turned back abruptly: “What do you mean?”

“Last time we drank, you told me some things—I happened to record them,” Yu Xing said slowly. “I’ll play it for you.”

He reached over, moved the mouse, and found the audio file already copied onto the laptop.

Song Yufeng stared at Yu Xing seated there, remembering that night of drunkenness—the very night after which his girlfriend joined Guiai Network.

Lu Haiying, sitting beside them, perked up—really? There’s a recording?

Last time, Senior Brother mentioned Yin Baoyi’s joining—he’d said there was a recording from when they were drunk, and that he’d play it for Song Yufeng when necessary. Now was the moment!

Song Yufeng stood at the door, convinced it was just a bluff—he was a decent drinker.

The laptop began playing the recording.

—Brother Feng, you’re saying our project was seen by your internal team and faces the risk of being copied?

—Hehehe, they’ll definitely copy it.

Opening blow.

Song Yufeng felt his heart lurch—oh no!

—Why are you holding your phone like that?

—Oh, I’m recording. Can I record?

—Hahaha, go ahead, record! Phased in ’98, record! Phased in ’98, meet in sweet spring breeze…

Song Yufeng heard his own singing voice and felt his entire body flush with shame.

—Brother Feng, did you tell NetEase’s deputy director of matchmaking everything about our project?

—Ah, he kept asking me, I didn’t want to say, but he said—he said what? Oh, he said your project is interesting, low barrier, easy to replicate, that college students have fresh ideas and can make money, that you’re struggling, but everyone struggles.

Song Yufeng covered his face—oh no, oh no!

The recording continued.

—Brother Feng, what’s the name of the person who asked you to copy our project?

—His name is Ying Jiadong: “Ying” from “Ying Jia Xiao Wo,” “Jia” from “Jia Shu Di Wan Jin,” “Dong” from “Dong Zhe Cui Beng!”

Lu Haiying beside them couldn’t help exclaiming: “So clear!”

Yu Xing paused it.

Lu Haiying asked Senior Brother: “But what does ‘Dong Zhe Cui Beng’ mean?”

Yu Xing shrugged—he had no idea.

After a moment, Song Yufeng’s voice, dry and strained, spoke up: “It’s from the Zuo Zhuan: ‘Dong Zhe Cui Beng, Qiao Jiang Yan Yan, Gan Bu Jin Yan’—it means… the main beam breaks, the rafters collapse, I too will be crushed—how could I not speak fully?”

Yu Xing froze—he hadn’t known such a classical reference was in the recording. Without the speaker’s explanation, he’d never have understood. Was this drunken talk really his true voice? It was oddly fitting.

He clapped: “Good, good—cultured person! ‘How could I not speak fully!’”

Song Yufeng took two steps, wanting to return to his original seat.

Yu Xing suddenly changed expression and roared: “Is this what cultured people do?!”

Song Yufeng flushed with embarrassment—this whole situation was painfully awkward.

He forced out: “You recorded me? You, you…”

“Did I record wrong?” Yu Xing glared coldly.

He clicked play again.

—Yu Xing, hey, did you see that girl who just walked by? Her legs are so pale—I’ll tell you, our company has this really hot…

Song Yufeng burst into violent coughing.

Yu Xing paused it.

“What do you want?” Song Yufeng felt heartbroken. “What exactly do you want?”

He never imagined they’d talked so much that night—the focus wasn’t helping his girlfriend get hired—it was him spilling everything…

The value of that drinking session kept rising…

“What do you think I want?” Yu Xing’s expression turned icy. “You think our project is easy to copy, so after interviewing us, you didn’t even publish the report—you started planning to copy it? Is this your company’s way?”

Song Yufeng could’ve answered that question earlier—but now he couldn’t utter a word.

Yu Xing didn’t intend to condemn the journalist further; he said directly: “I want you to step forward and expose this. I want you, with conscience, warmth, and passion, to stand up!”

Song Yufeng stared blankly at the college student before him.

“Either you step forward—or I release this recording,” Yu Xing said without hesitation.

Song Yufeng felt his heart being cut apart: “You want me dead…”

“No!” Yu Xing watched the journalist’s shifting expression. “Whether you speak out or I release it, the effect on the company is the same. Right now, I’m saving you.”

“If you speak out yourself, you become a principled, passionate, respected journalist.”

“Otherwise…”

Yu Xing tapped the table with his finger, the sound crisp and clear, then finished: “Otherwise, it’ll be undignified.”

Song Yufeng, hearing that word, wondered if he’d said even worse things.

Suddenly he felt unsteady—who’s naive? It’s me!

Who’s worldly? It’s Yu Xing!

But this is too worldly!

Song Yufeng stood there, speechless.

After a long silence, he suddenly exclaimed excitedly: “Did you drug me?! I remember—you’re studying medicine!”

Yu Xing looked at the disheveled Song Yufeng and chuckled: “You’re imagining things. Who knew you’d be like this when drunk?”

Song Yufeng sat slumped in his chair, head bowed, hands over his face: “I’d rather you’d drugged me—just kill me outright…”

Yu Xing said nothing, letting him process his choice alone.

Long after, Song Yufeng sat upright again and said helplessly: “The company has already restructured its team—do you think I stepping forward will make them stop competing?”

“Whether they stop or not is their business,” Yu Xing played with his pen. “I only want Guiai Network—I want me and our founding team to become warriors in the eyes of the college student user base.”

He smiled faintly: “Warriors must fight dragons—but how can a warrior without meat fight a dragon?”

Song Yufeng felt tears welling up.

“Guiai Network is young, our team has no fighting strength, and many are spineless,” Yu Xing stared at the journalist. “But you’re the only bone left. Either we hold up your bone as a torch—or we step on your bone as a torch. Choose.”

The hardest bone in Guiai Network is right here at NetEase!

Tears streamed down Song Yufeng’s face; he whispered the one sentence that could empower Guiai Network most: “Fine. But destroy the recording…”

Yu Xing’s pen pressed firmly onto the paper and replied with resolute clarity: “Deal.”