Chapter 95: 093 Paying a Visit

As a well-known portal site, NetEase’s sudden and rapid coverage of a fly-by-night website was clearly not without purpose.

Zhuo Shiming was the director who took over the company’s dating business and had previously interacted with Yu Xing, publicly apologizing to him on one occasion, but his subsequent work had not gone smoothly.

NetEase Dating’s operating hours weren’t late, but resource investment was average, and market feedback was even more mediocre.

Zhuo Shiming had attended senior meetings and learned one reason—internal analysis concluded this market was still immature.

He harbored much resentment, especially after taking over the restructured “NetEase Dating,” yet he couldn’t defy higher-ups and could only find ways to improve his own business.

On December 21, when Baixiaosheng launched its precise strike, Zhuo Shiming immediately spotted this industry bombshell, though… due to the company’s primary business identity, NetEase wasn’t generally considered part of the industry.

Zhuo Shiming browsed the article, registered an account, downloaded the attachment, and studied each case in detail.

He quickly gave it a glowing review!

The cases were extremely detailed—clearly internal information!!

Zhuo Shiming didn’t even have time for lunch; he immediately contacted the Yangcheng headquarters, strongly requesting and pleading with colleagues and friends to report on it, then called his superior to urge a repositioning of “NetEase Dating’s” next goals.

At 4:30 p.m., after NetEase officially published the report, Zhuo Shiming joined a conference call and was asked to explain his current thoughts.

Zhuo Shiming outlined Baixiaosheng’s precise strike against the industry, but his speech was frequently interrupted.

“Are the cases here necessarily true?”

Facing skepticism, Zhuo Shiming patiently replied: “The cases might be fabricated, but my perception of the industry’s chaos matches their description exactly; in a sense, this industry is highly disordered, especially since it’s still in a growth phase.”

He wanted to explain the significance of acting during a growth phase but held back.

The speech paused as headquarters discussed the situation.

After a while, Zhuo Shiming was asked to speak again.

NetEase’s report was intervening in this public opinion, and this move stemmed from Zhuo Shiming’s strong initiative—even partly from his personal connections.

If that’s the case, then we must hear the official stance of “NetEase Dating.”

“Someone has stepped forward to expose the industry’s problems—I believe this is a great opportunity.”

“Will leading platforms like Zhen’ai, Century Family, and Baihe change easily because of this exposure? I don’t think so; even if they face public pressure, their internal changes will inevitably be slow.”

“This gives ‘NetEase Dating’ a perfect opening.”

“Most cases listed by Baixiaosheng involve false information and malicious concealment—we can implement a highly effective way to attract customers.”

“Real-name registration!”

Zhuo Shiming proposed his specific improvement suggestion, took a deep breath, and prepared to elaborate further.

A voice interrupted over the phone: “Director Zhuo, do you think real-name registration can solve all problems?”

“Real-name registration won’t solve all problems, but it will definitely solve many,” Zhuo Shiming explained. “The dating industry is unique—it’s unlike other internet sectors; real-name registration builds greater trust.”

“Moving from disorder to order is a rare chance to establish industry standards!”

“Who usually sets industry standards?”

“Usually the market leaders—but when public opinion flares up, we also have a chance to drive industry progress and earn customer trust!”

Zhuo Shiming emphasized again: “The dating industry is different, and the effectiveness of real-name registration is evident on campus networks—reliable atmospheres in niche fields gain more recognition.”

“If this public opinion wave is strong enough, if we become the nation’s first fully real-name dating platform, we’ll capture the market and users!”

He subtly requested support, hoping NetEase’s attention and coverage would intensify the public outcry.

A new question came from the other end: “This incident originated from that small website—why are you so eager to latch onto it? What if tomorrow the site deletes the post and the story dies out? Then your real-name dating idea becomes meaningless.”

That was indeed a problem.

Zhuo Shiming paused briefly before answering: “When ‘NetEase Dating’ had issues before, I communicated with Yu Xing of that site—I judged him to be someone who won’t back down once he has the upper hand.”

“He forced me to apologize publicly under the company building.”

“That kind of young man, having caught them in the wrong, won’t compromise easily.”

Zhuo Shiming paused, then added: “Besides, his current website will likely benefit from this public opinion.”

Even if Yu Xing wanted to compromise, he wouldn’t now—seeing his site gaining from this.

Zhuo Shiming didn’t know whether Yu Xing acted out of righteous anger or corporate strategy—he merely described possible future developments, and his words made it easy for headquarters to draw conclusions.

With profit motives, things become easier.

Though NetEase could still manipulate public opinion after Baixiaosheng stepped back, “NetEase Dating” wanted to enter the fray directly.

To fight while eating—that kind of appetite was too crude.

If Baixiaosheng takes the front line to draw fire, and NetEase fulfills its normal media oversight role while its subsidiary promotes industry progress, it all looks far more logical.

Zhuo Shiming’s further ideas were no longer interrupted, signaling that NetEase’s internal decision-making had already tilted.

Go ahead.

After the meeting ended, Zhuo Shiming even thought of a new slogan for the website.

—Start dating with real names, love should be simple and true!

Let the public opinion come even fiercer!

Let the industry’s cracks widen even more!

…

Unlike Baixiaosheng, a fly-by-night site, NetEase was one of China’s earliest portal sites; though the portal era had passed, its traffic and audience remained substantial.

This time, since it was a repost with attachments, NetEase included a link below its report—effectively driving traffic to Baixiaosheng.

Baixiaosheng’s user registrations peaked that night.

Throughout the day, user growth had already exceeded 7,000; before midnight, new users surpassed 10,000.

This effect left Song Yufeng both astonished and delighted.

The effect was incredible!

The effect was a bit too incredible…

Is this the power of industry giants?

NetEase was his former employer, but he’d never felt anything special about it before—now, seeing the concrete numbers, Song Yufeng felt a deep, heartfelt envy.

This report alone matched the company’s entire past month’s efforts!

And if they don’t retract it, it’ll surpass all the company’s efforts since its founding!

That night, Song Yufeng couldn’t sleep; he smoked on the balcony while watching user growth in real time, reflecting on his own hesitation earlier that day.

Most importantly, his boss’s reminder echoed in his mind.

Standing firm protects the company—and protects yourself.

“Fengge, what are you thinking? You can sleep now,” his girlfriend Kong Huilin murmured, waking up to see him hunched on the small balcony.

Song Yufeng stubbed out his cigarette, carried his laptop into the bedroom, and sighed: “I just read the comments—I felt energized. Everyone supports our exposure, and victims are sharing their stories under the post.”

“We’re acting as a third party—if the industry won’t change, we’ll change it,” Kong Huilin looked at him, fully awake now. “Fengge, that’s why I love you—Roland said, there’s only one true heroism: to see the truth of life and still love it.”

“If you hadn’t bravely left NetEase, I wouldn’t have quit Tencent.”

“I feel what we’re doing is meaningful!”

Song Yufeng felt a heavy weight in his chest, set down the laptop, and smiled at his girlfriend: “Yeah, this meaning will be recognized online too—it’ll make our website succeed.”

Kong Huilin nodded, then added regretfully: “The website’s users are very active, and the company atmosphere is good—but you really should have your own office.”

Song Yufeng stiffened.

Immediately, he frowned: “Say that to me, fine—I know my own capabilities, otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen Yu Zong as CEO. Trust those you employ, don’t employ those you distrust.”

“Everyone has different roles—he’s in charge of company affairs, so he must receive guests and negotiate deals. Should he sit outside to greet them?”

“Our only goal right now is to make the website succeed—everything else is secondary!”

Kong Huilin looked ashamed and apologized: “I just—I just…”

“Xiaolin, I know you care about me—I’m not mad,” Song Yufeng held her hand. “Everyone has different abilities and roles. As long as we unite, our justice will win!”

Kong Huilin scratched his palm with her finger, tilted her head up, and gazed at him.

Song Yufeng couldn’t stand her looking at him like that.

Ah well—this is what standing firm deserves!

But the next morning, as Song Yufeng arrived at the company, his girlfriend’s words from last night came back to him.

He couldn’t help but mutter inwardly: Damn, I’m the chairman—I don’t even have my own office…

Song Yufeng turned over the thought in his mind, picked up marketing documents, stood up, and walked into the CEO’s office, plopping down in the chair.

He’d seen Xingge on the phone downstairs just now—he wouldn’t come up anytime soon.

He’d just sit in this boss chair for a little while.

Thinking of Xingge’s plans—if they could rent the adjacent space, he’d eventually have his own office.

Hmm, should he let his girlfriend have the office?

His gaze lost focus as he imagined the company’s bright future—after all, yesterday alone pushed total users close to 50,000; today they’d surely hit the boss’s target.

What did 50,000 users mean?

According to Xingge, it would be the foundation for approaching Series A investors.

Now, with NetEase’s boost, that number could grow even more—meaning Xingge’s leverage with investors would be stronger.

As Song Yufeng pondered this, suddenly—BANG!—the CEO’s office door was violently shoved open!

He looked up and saw several men with hostile expressions storming in.

“What are you doing!” Song Yufeng jumped up from the boss chair.

“What’s your name?” one man barked. “Are you Yu Xing?”

Song Yufeng’s mind went blank—he denied it: “I’m not!”

Employees gathered around, among them a voice from his girlfriend.

“What are you doing? He’s our chairman,” Kong Huilin warned. “Who are you? We’re calling security!”

A few men exchanged glances—fine, even the chairman!

They said nothing more, stepped forward, dragged Song Yufeng out, and pulled him toward the exit, while others shoved the computers on nearby desks.

“Call the police! They’re beating people! What are you doing?!” an employee shouted.

Song Yufeng struggled desperately, but it did no good.

Soon, he began covering his head—and finally understood why he was being beaten.

“Shitty website, don’t cause trouble!”

The men wrecked the entire office, dragged the chairman out of his office, and beat him—then vanished without a trace.

“We called the police! The cops are coming!”

“Don’t panic. Is anyone else hurt? Call 120 again.”

“Don’t move. Take photos—document everything in the company. Also, did anyone capture their faces?”

Song Yufeng heard his boss taking charge; through his swollen eyes, he saw Yu Xing directing operations.

Fuck!

This office is cursed!

Song Yufeng’s whole body ached. His girlfriend helped him sit on the floor, leaning against the wall. His grief and fury surged—he suddenly shouted loudly: “Come on! Come on! My bones are damn hard!”

This beating won’t be for nothing!

After being beaten, the chairman still had such grit—everyone couldn’t help but look at him with admiration; some female employees even teared up.

Yu Xing crouched down to check the hard-boned man’s condition.

After a moment, he exhaled in relief: “Looks like surface injuries. Get a full checkup at the hospital. Your arm hurts a lot, right?”

Song Yufeng nodded—his arm hurt especially badly.

“No fracture, maybe a hairline crack,” Yu Xing said, his medical background giving him solid judgment. “And possibly mild concussion.”

Song Yufeng looked at his boss, thinking of this unjust disaster and how his own chairman had been dragged out and beaten—his heart swelled with grievance: “Xing Ge! Xing Ge! They literally dragged me out and beat me!”

“Damn, you didn’t tell me they’d be this brutal!”

“I’m the chairman—first to get hit, damn it!!!”

Yu Xing looked at the suspected hairline-cracked hard-boned man, then at Kong Huilin weeping beside him, and praised: “Feng Ge, you’re the one!”

He raised his thumb.

And he used “first to get hit” correctly—no surprise, he’s a journalist.

Police arrived on the scene and asked for details.

While waiting for the ambulance, Yu Xing and Song Yufing gave a full account of what happened—mainly Song Yufeng speaking.

When the ambulance arrived, Yu Xing helped Song Yufeng inside—then his phone rang.

After listening a moment, he shouted to the chairman heading to the hospital: “Feng Ge, NetEase just called—they want to interview us! Don’t worry, your bones won’t crack for nothing!”

Song Yufeng waved goodbye as the ambulance drove off, siren wailing “Ow! Ow!”

Yu Xing agreed to NetEase’s interview while watching the ambulance pull away.

Too much! You can beat me, but not my chairman!!!

(End of Chapter)