Chapter 456: What Are Your Conditions?

“Who are you?” Shen Fei asked with confusion.

“President Shen, I’ve long admired you!”

A young voice came through the receiver.

“Long admired me? That’s something I should be saying to you.”

Hearing the voice, Shen Fei immediately recognized who it was.

Even in this reborn life, this voice was unmistakable to him. In his previous life, this person’s popularity on the internet had only ever increased, and in this life, it seemed the same.

On the other end of the call, there was a brief pause, followed by an awkward chuckle and a polite reply:

“President Shen, hello, I’m Zhang Sicong!”

“I figured as much! But Young Master Zhang, where did you get my contact information?” Shen Fei asked curiously.

He truly didn’t understand.

This wealthy young man had first reposted and supported Shen Fei’s content on Weibo. Now he had somehow obtained his contact information and even called him directly.

What exactly did Zhang Sicong want?

“President Shen, you make it sound difficult. I’m still a rich second generation, you know. I may not be very capable, but getting your contact info isn’t exactly a challenge,” Zhang Sicong chuckled.

“Well, fair enough.”

Shen Fei’s demeanor remained calm. It seemed Zhang Sicong wasn’t quite the “national husband” described by rumors.

In his previous life, Zhang Sicong was still the young master of the Yida Group. He had tried multiple times to connect with Shen Fei but always failed because they simply weren’t like-minded.

“Young Master Zhang, let’s not get sidetracked. While I might be somewhat famous recently, we’ve never really crossed paths, have we? I doubt you called just to exchange pleasantries.” Shen Fei got straight to the point.

His bluntness startled Zhang Sicong.

With his reputation and family background, most people either flattered him or kept a polite distance. This calm and indifferent attitude from Shen Fei was a rarity.

“President Shen, you’re so direct! If I continued with small talk, it would seem insincere. I’m calling to ask about Longguang Media’s mobile game and its blatant copying by Tencent Corporation. What’s your view on this situation?” Zhang Sicong asked with a laugh.

“Huh? Young Master Zhang, what does this have to do with you?” Shen Fei asked, puzzled.

“President Shen, are you planning to keep fighting them?”

Instead of answering, Zhang Sicong posed another question.

“What are you really trying to say?”

Shen Fei grew more confused. Zhang Sicong’s interest in the matter seemed unwarranted.

“President Shen, let me be blunt. In the domestic gaming industry, you’re the only company daring to confront Tencent Corporation head-on. Even though Tianxia blatantly copied Tianjue, your chances of winning are slim. Public opinion may currently favor you, but Tencent Corporation is simply too large, and they’ve been shameless for too long. Their confidence in pulling this stunt means they believe they’ll win.”

After a pause, Zhang Sicong chuckled again and added:

“So, President Shen, your odds of victory aren’t great.”

“Alright, so what? What do you want?” Shen Fei asked directly.

“What do I want?”

Zhang Sicong didn’t beat around the bush.

“President Shen, I want to help!”

“Hmm? You want to help? How?” Shen Fei asked, amused.

“I’ll help you win the lawsuit against Tencent Corporation. I’ll make sure they lose the case and publicly apologize to you and Longguang Media!”

The boldness of the statement was staggering, yet Zhang Sicong spoke with absolute confidence.

“Young Master Zhang, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. If you’re offering to help, what’s the catch?” Shen Fei asked with a smile.

“My conditions? I want 15% of Longguang Media’s shares. Of course, this is separate from helping you. Name your price for the shares, and we’ll negotiate.”

Zhang Sicong paused briefly, then added:

“President Shen, if I can help Longguang Media win the case, these conditions stand. If we lose, you don’t have to consider my proposal. Put simply, if I fail, I wouldn’t have the face to ask you for any funding.”

Shen Fei was surprised after hearing Zhang Sicong’s offer.

He knew nothing came free in this world, but he didn’t expect Zhang Sicong’s move to be purely for equity.

Clearly, the 15% Zhang Sicong asked for had been carefully calculated. In Longguang Media’s current structure, Ji Jiaming’s R&D team held 30% of the shares. Zhang Sicong’s request would still leave Shen Fei with 55%, maintaining his position as the majority shareholder.

What surprised Shen Fei even more was Zhang Sicong’s foresight.

The fact that he proactively reached out indicated that Zhang Sicong had immense confidence in Tianjue’s future. Without that, he wouldn’t risk clashing with Tencent Corporation.

In the world of capital, where harmony often masked hidden rivalries, Zhang Sicong’s support of Shen Fei publicly made him an adversary of Tencent.

However, despite understanding Zhang Sicong’s motives, Shen Fei shook his head.

“Young Master Zhang, I think you might not be aware. After Tianjue was released, Tencent Corporation approached Longguang Media multiple times, offering full acquisition and mergers. I rejected all of them. If I hadn’t, Tencent wouldn’t have been desperate enough to blatantly plagiarize Tianjue with Tianxia.”

—————- END —————-

Chapter 457: There’s Simply No Comparison!

Hearing this, Zhang Sicong was stunned.

Tencent Corporation had visited Longguang Media multiple times? First offering full acquisition, and later compromising to financing mergers?

And despite that, Shen Fei rejected all of it outright?

This was something Zhang Sicong truly didn’t know.

Even without witnessing it firsthand, Zhang Sicong was sure that Tencent must have tried to threaten Longguang Media both openly and covertly during that period.

But even so, Tencent still failed.

In other words, since the development of Tianjue, Shen Fei had decided to fight against Tencent Corporation?

If that were the case, what should he say about Shen Fei? Was he fearless, or did he simply think that being labeled as a “rich bumpkin” gave him the courage to challenge Tencent?

Yet, whether in terms of wealth or influence, Shen Fei didn’t possess the capital to go up against Tencent Corporation.

Even though Zhang Sicong had a forward-thinking outlook on Tianjue and didn’t see Shen Fei as a foolishly rich businessman, he still believed Shen Fei lacked the means to compete.

To put it bluntly, there was no comparison at all!

With this thought, Zhang Sicong couldn’t understand Shen Fei’s mindset.

Rejecting Tencent’s offers was one thing. But his case was different—he offered to help win against Tencent in exchange for shares.

After some consideration, Zhang Sicong decided not to back down.

“President Shen, I still have to say, your current situation doesn’t look good. Tencent Corporation’s actions are nothing but a tactic to pressure you. I’m not the only one; the whole world probably believes you have no chance of defeating them. President Shen, under Tencent’s usual practices, the final outcome for Tianjue will either be acquisition or market disappearance.”

Without waiting for Shen Fei to respond, Zhang Sicong continued,

“President Shen, it’s not that I doubt you, but anyone familiar with Tencent Corporation knows you don’t have the strength to fight them. To put it bluntly, Tencent’s gaming division is operating at a level Longguang Media can’t even dream of reaching. If Tencent decides to take you down, you simply won’t have the ability to resist. Tianjue is a major threat to them—they won’t allow you to continue growing and will stop you at all costs. You’re capable, but can you really fight against capital?”

Capital?

Zhang Sicong was now talking to him about capital?

Shen Fei’s lips curved into a faint, amused smile.

Though he had the urge to hang up the phone, he restrained himself.

“Young Master Zhang, I understand your point, but if I truly had the intention to seek financing, I wouldn’t have approached you. Even when Tencent repeatedly extended offers, I turned them down. But I believe that if I signal even a hint of willingness, they would immediately come knocking again. And as for Tianxia, they would halt its development and focus entirely on optimizing Tianjue. Honestly, if I ever do seek investors, you certainly wouldn’t be my choice.”

“Tencent would abandon Tianxia for Tianjue?” Zhang Sicong asked, shocked.

“They absolutely would! The purpose of developing Tianxia was to apply pressure on Tianjue. After all, when Tianxia’s trailer was released, they visited Longguang Media several times,” Shen Fei said with certainty.

“But President Shen, even if Tencent abandons Tianxia for Tianjue, if you cooperate with them, your company will eventually be dismantled bit by bit!” Zhang Sicong frowned.

“Which is why I have no intention of working with Tencent. Regardless of their actions, I’m not interested in diluting my company’s equity,” Shen Fei replied calmly.

“So, President Shen, you’re absolutely confident you can win this dispute against Tencent?” Zhang Sicong raised an eyebrow, noticing Shen Fei’s unwavering tone.

“Well… who can say for sure?” Shen Fei hesitated for a moment before smiling faintly. “But for now, I have no plans to dilute my equity, even if the situation looks grim. If I ever seek financing, it will mean I’ve truly hit a dead end. Tianjue isn’t just the team’s hard work; it’s also my hope. No matter what, I won’t let Tianjue disappear from the market.”

The calmness in Shen Fei’s voice left Zhang Sicong once again astonished.

After all, Shen Fei’s attitude and actions throughout this matter had been far too composed.

Zhang Sicong couldn’t understand how Shen Fei could remain so confident. If it were him in this situation, he would have panicked long ago, and at the first confrontation with Tencent, he might have surrendered immediately.

Zhang Sicong truly couldn’t figure it out.

“President Shen, are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?” Zhang Sicong hesitated.

“No, I won’t reconsider. Young Master Zhang, you’d better abandon that idea,” Shen Fei said firmly.

“Alright, if you’re so resolute, I won’t bother you any longer.”

With that, Zhang Sicong hung up the phone.

Shen Fei could never have imagined that at that moment, Zhang Sicong was sitting in a conference room opposite the XY company’s research institute in Shenzhen.

“You see? I told you President Shen wouldn’t agree, but you wouldn’t believe me,” said Hu Fei’er, who had been listening to the entire conversation.

The two had met abroad and had a good relationship.

However, even so, Hu Fei’er had her principles. For instance, she hadn’t given Shen Fei’s contact information to Zhang Sicong.

“Hu Jie, based on what Shen Fei said, he’s completely unafraid of Tencent. I just don’t understand—where does he get such courage and confidence? Could it be that he knows you…”

Before Zhang Sicong could finish, Hu Fei’er interrupted him directly.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Although I’m the executive general manager of his company, he’s never investigated my background. As for my family, the Hu family, he doesn’t know a thing!”

“Then I don’t get it. If you haven’t said anything, what about Yuantai?” Zhang Sicong frowned.

“They’ve never brought it up either,” Hu Fei’er replied truthfully.

“In that case, what is Shen Fei thinking? Tencent isn’t some small company; they’re the dominant force in Zhushi! Whether it’s Longguang Media or his other business ventures, they’ve only been around for six months…” Zhang Sicong grew increasingly confused.

“That may be true, but who knows? Maybe Shen Fei will create a miracle,” Hu Fei’er suddenly said.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 458: Better Not to Contact Him!

“Hu Jie, what do you mean by that?”

Zhang Sicong immediately reacted in disbelief, “Do you mean even you think Shen Fei can defeat Tencent Corporation?”

“Yes! President Shen always has his own ideas when he does things. To be honest, with Tencent Corporation’s usual tactics, I’m sure he was prepared to go head-to-head with them right from the moment he acquired this company. So in my opinion, President Shen is not afraid of Tencent copying him! Besides, let’s face it—Tencent’s behavior this time is infuriating! If this game were developed by your father or some influential tycoon, would Tencent dare to release such a blatant knock-off?”

After pausing, Hu Feier shook her head with a faint smile and continued,

“I think Tencent Corporation is just too confident in their legal team and underestimating President Shen and the strength behind him. This time, it’s good for him to teach them a lesson!”

Zhang Sicong took in all of Hu Feier’s words.

He might not understand Shen Fei well, but Hu Feier did seem to know a fair bit.

What shocked him even more was that the always proud Hu Feier was now openly praising Shen Fei.

This was far beyond his expectations.

“Wait, Jie, why do you have so much faith in Shen Fei?” Zhang Sicong was perplexed.

“It’s not about faith. It’s just that he gives off this sense of strength,” Hu Feier replied calmly.

“Hu Jie, then tell me—where does this sense come from?”

Hearing his question, Zhang Sicong, the typically arrogant young master of the Zhang family, looked eagerly at Hu Feier.

However, Hu Feier merely smiled and didn’t explain further.

“It’s something you can only feel, not describe! But I’ll give you some advice—if you get the chance, make sure to maintain a good relationship with Shen Fei.”

“Huh? Jie, are you telling me to cozy up to him?” Zhang Sicong was stunned.

“Exactly! In a short while, you might not even be worthy of carrying his shoes!” Hu Feier said bluntly.

“???”

Zhang Sicong was shocked beyond words.

He was the heir to Yida Group!

Even if he couldn’t, his father definitely could.

How could he possibly be unworthy?

“What background does this Shen Fei have? Every step he takes seems perfectly timed. Don’t tell me Shen Fei’s some reborn genius, or maybe he’s a hidden heir to some big family who’s finally awakened his abilities?”

This ridiculous statement earned him a cold glare from Hu Feier.

Dropping the topic, Hu Feier prompted,

“Alright, you’ve asked enough questions. Time to leave!”

“Fine, fine, I knew you’d chase me out!”

Zhang Sicong hopped off the desk and turned to look at Hu Feier with a serious tone,

“Jie, let me ask you about something else—not Shen Fei, but you! Have you been in contact with Xie Mingjun lately?”

“Hmm? Why are you suddenly bringing him up?” Hu Feier frowned.

“It’s nothing. I just want to say—you really shouldn’t stay in touch with that guy! He’s bad news. Better yet, just cut ties with him altogether,” Zhang Sicong advised.

This surprised Hu Feier.

As far as she knew, Zhang Sicong and Xie Mingjun had always been close.

Why was he suddenly warning her now?

“I know you don’t think much of Xie Mingjun, so let me be straight with you. That guy is a total idiot! Half a month ago, he hooked up with some hostess at a KTV. Fine, that’s his business—but then she turned up pregnant, and this Xie Mingjun refused to take responsibility! He even came to me to clean up his mess. After we managed to settle it, guess what? He got back together with her! Damn, just thinking about it makes me mad!”

Pausing, Zhang Sicong’s expression turned frustrated and angry as he added,

“That kind of trash doesn’t deserve someone like you, Jie. I’m just being honest. I really don’t know what the Xie family did to deserve someone like Xie Mingjun. Out of a family full of elites, how did they end up with such a useless idiot?”

Unexpectedly, Hu Feier smiled playfully after hearing his rant.

“Not to mention, you’re not much better. You know what kind of person he is, and you still help him.”

“Jie, come on… Just take me for the fool I am! If word gets out about his actions, the Xie family will be ruined. I don’t care about him, but the Xie family isn’t completely hopeless—if I can help them, I will,” Zhang Sicong replied awkwardly.

If Shen Fei had overheard this, he would have marveled at the irony.

In his past life, Xie Mingjun had indeed caused a scandal.

Due to his ties to the Xie family, the moment the story broke, public outrage erupted.

Even though the Xie family tried everything to suppress the news and control the damage, it was no use.

For a family with a once-pristine reputation, the scandal brought immense disgrace.

“Well, whatever the case, I really pity the Xie family. How did they end up with someone like him?” Hu Feier sighed helplessly before adding,

“Anyway, you know what’s going on now, so take my advice—since you know what kind of person he is, keep your distance. If he gets into trouble and drags you down with him, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”

“Alright, alright, I get it! I’ll leave now!”

Waving his hand dismissively, Zhang Sicong donned his cap, pulled on his green tracksuit, and swaggered out of XY Company’s front doors.

—

Xinyue Group

General Manager’s Office

After hearing the full recording of Shen Fei’s conversation with Zhang Sicong, Han Xinyan was utterly stunned.

Since Shen Fei began his entrepreneurial journey, he had built relationships with Jiang Tiancheng, Hu Yuantai, and Duan Guxiang, later meeting Jiang Anbang and Yu Guotu, two key city officials.

On top of that, he had connections with Qian Dasheng, the chairman of Qiankun Group.

And now, he had caught the attention of Zhang Sicong, the heir to Yida Group!

All of this felt surreal to Han Xinyan, who once only dreamed of living a simple life—eating well, dressing warmly, and surviving each day.

How long had it been?

Six months.

In just six months, Shen Fei had transformed from a useless gambler into a man everyone wanted to associate with.

Even though Han Xinyan considered herself someone who understood Shen Fei well, she still couldn’t fathom his rapid rise.

Noticing her confusion, Shen Fei quickly changed the topic.

After spending some quality time with his wife, Shen Fei leisurely strolled through the company, visiting the customer service department, the lab, and the PR department.

Seeing his relaxed demeanor, everyone was left bewildered.

After all, Shen Fei’s company was facing a major crisis. Tencent Corporation had blatantly copied his game, “Tianjue,” and snatched half of the market share.

How could Shen Fei still be smiling?

—————- END —————-

Chapter 459: Of Course, He Has to Be Careful!

For several consecutive days, Shen Fei had been extremely busy.

He visited the production plant of the Yuexin series, the base constructed by Deng Xin’s safety consultancy company, and the luxurious villa project on the summit of Luohu Mountain that had been under construction for some time.

Every day, Shen Fei’s presence could be seen at these sites.

In addition, he spent several days at the in-house processing factory acquired during the purchase of Pinker Company, as the sunscreen products, which had completed all procedural approvals, had begun official production.

During these days, the acquisition team comprised of Jiang Tiancheng, Hu Yuantai, and Duan Guxiang successfully completed the acquisition of Jiexing Media Company.

Throughout the process, Shen Fei, as the company’s major shareholder, had not interfered or inquired about the details, completely leaving the matter in the hands of the trio, just as he had said he would.

Some people noticed Shen Fei’s daily smiling demeanor and posted pictures of him online.

When these images spread among netizens, many expressed shock.

This was because the “Tianxia” mobile game, which plagiarized “Tianjue,” was still a hot topic despite being removed from trending lists due to capital influence. Customers of “Tianjue” were gradually leaving, while “Tianxia,” the knockoff, steadily gained users. After all, Tencent still had WeChat and QQ as its backbone, making it more convenient for players to log in and share game information with friends.

Although Tencent and “Tianxia” received plenty of criticism online, their promotional campaigns, along with hired internet trolls guiding public opinion, successfully lured many players to abandon “Tianjue” and embrace “Tianxia.”

In certain aspects, “Tianxia” indeed had advantages over “Tianjue.”

For several consecutive days, “Tianjue” experienced a significant decline in user traffic. If this situation persisted, “Tianjue” could soon be eliminated from the market.

Yet, Shen Fei, the owner of “Tianjue,” remained strangely quiet after posting a single Weibo statement. He neither sued Tencent nor hired internet trolls to stir public opinion.

Shen Fei’s inaction puzzled many people.

Historically, any company targeted by Tencent would first publicly declare opposition and then file lawsuits. Why was Shen Fei doing nothing except for issuing a public statement?

Amidst widespread speculation, Shen Fei paid little attention to public opinion.

Currently, inside the Yuexin series production plant, Tang Xingwen accompanied Shen Fei as they inspected the factory.

“Old Tang, based on the current production progress, when can we launch the first batch of sunscreen products?” Shen Fei asked after surveying the factory operations.

“Well… Right now, we are prioritizing the production of the scar-healing cream, so sunscreen production will be delayed. The first batch of sunscreen products will be ready in about two days, but the quantity is limited—only about 3,000 bottles. Even if we reduce scar-healing cream production, we can only produce a maximum of 5,000 bottles.”

Tang Xingwen hesitated, then cautiously suggested, “However, if we outsource part of the production to external factories, the output will greatly increase. But you, Shen, seem unwilling to take that approach.”

“It’s not that I’m unwilling,” Shen Fei replied sternly. “The question is: can you guarantee the consistency of quality if we outsource? Our scar-healing cream has already made us the number one enemy of the industry. If we hand over the sunscreen formula to others, don’t you think they’d covet it? If someone intentionally sabotages the product’s quality, how would you handle it? How would we recover from that?”

Shen Fei’s serious tone stunned Tang Xingwen.

“Shen, aren’t you being overly cautious?” Tang Xingwen asked.

“Overly cautious?” Shen Fei smirked. Of course, he had to be careful!

In his previous life, their small factory couldn’t meet production demands, so they outsourced a portion to external manufacturers. What was the result? They were completely ruined, losing billions to clean up the mess.

This time, Shen Fei would not repeat the same mistake.

“Caution is necessary! Old Tang, I know you’re straightforward and trusting, but you must not underestimate human nature! The success of our scar-healing cream has already forced many companies to the brink of bankruptcy. Even those that survived are struggling. If they find a chance to crush us, they will act immediately. The consequences for us would either be total destruction or the exposure of our formula, leading to a rapid loss of market share.”

Seeing Tang Xingwen’s furrowed brow, Shen Fei added, “No matter what happens, even if we can’t meet production demands, I will not consider outsourcing to external manufacturers!”

“But Shen, if someone sabotages us, can’t we just sue them?” Tang Xingwen asked in confusion.

“Old Tang, like I said—never underestimate human nature,” Shen Fei repeated firmly.

Not wanting to continue this debate, Shen Fei concluded, “Forget about outsourcing for now! If production can’t keep up, so be it. We’ll adjust according to market conditions later. Stockpile 30,000 units within ten days, and then we’ll launch the product!”

“Alright, you’re the boss!” Tang Xingwen agreed.

“Talk this over with Han Xin Yan later. Tell her everything I said and see what she thinks,” Shen Fei instructed.

After discussing these matters, the two fell silent.

Suddenly, Tang Xingwen glanced at Shen Fei with a curious expression but said nothing.

“What do you want to say? Just spit it out,” Shen Fei asked with a bemused look.

“Well, I’ll ask directly then!” Tang Xingwen cleared his throat and asked, “Your Longguang Media’s ‘Tianjue’ game got plagiarized by Tencent’s ‘Tianxia.’ User numbers are plummeting, and your market share is shrinking. How can you still look so happy without taking any action?”

“Isn’t your focus supposed to be the lab? Since when did you become so gossipy?” Shen Fei teased.

“Hey, can’t I ask?” Tang Xingwen replied irritably.

“Of course, you can! But what do you expect me to do? Tencent copied ‘Tianjue,’ so what? Should I rewind time and not launch it?” Shen Fei said with a laugh.

“No, that’s not what I meant! The point is, they’re so shameless, yet you’re doing nothing. That really doesn’t match what I know about you! Don’t tell me you’re suddenly afraid of them?” Tang Xingwen asked, looking puzzled.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 460: I’ll Take the Responsibility!

Afraid of them?

So, there’s been no action all this time?

After hearing Tang Xingwen’s analysis, Shen Fei’s expression was one of deep amusement.

“No, Lao Tang, I don’t understand. You’ve always been the ‘technology fanatic,’ how come you’re suddenly asking about something completely unrelated to technology, like games?”

“Well… when ‘Tianjue’ game first launched, I also downloaded it and tried it out! Honestly, compared to ‘Tianjue,’ ‘Tianxia’ offers a more convenient login and sharing feature, which makes many players abandon ‘Tianjue!’ While ‘Tianxia’ lacks the superior background graphics of ‘Tianjue,’ with continuous optimization, ‘Tianxia’ will eventually surpass ‘Tianjue!’”

Tang Xingwen glanced at Shen Fei with a meaningful look.

After listening, Shen Fei raised an eyebrow.

“So, what should I do to prevent them from continuing to plagiarize?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You have to sue them! The sooner, the better!” Tang Xingwen hurriedly suggested.

“Lao Tang, I know you’re concerned about me, but some things can’t be rushed! You’ve known me for more than just a couple of days. Do you think I would really back down in this situation? Am I really that easy to bully?” Shen Fei laughed.

“Not really!” Tang Xingwen thought about it for a while before shaking his head.

“You’re really that kind of person! But Shen, how do you plan to handle it without giving them a chance to retaliate?”

“How to handle it? Of course, that’s a secret! All I can say is, I won’t let them gain anything from me! And, of course, I’ll make them pay a heavy price for this!” Shen Fei said seriously.

“Tsk, I knew you’d say that!” Tang Xingwen said with a hint of annoyance.

“Fine, you’ll know when the time comes! For now, the factory is still under construction, and it’ll take some time to complete. During this period, you should manage things here!” Shen Fei patted Tang Xingwen on the shoulder with a smile.

Unexpectedly, Tang Xingwen’s mood became excited upon hearing this.

“Lao Shen, don’t you think we’re lacking someone? Even though I’m skilled, I can’t be expected to do everything on my own!”

“You’re the VP. Isn’t it your job to manage things here?” Shen Fei joked, seeing Tang Xingwen’s reaction.

“Lao Shen, do you know what you’re doing? You’re being a wicked capitalist!” Tang Xingwen answered himself, not waiting for Shen Fei to speak, then continued.

“No, Lao Shen, I just can’t understand! I, Tang Xingwen, don’t have any management ability! If you told me to focus on research and development in the lab, I’d jump at the chance! I love working on new products in the lab! But if you want me to manage the company, this kind of thing is not my strong suit!”

After a pause, Tang Xingwen’s face lit up with an idea.

“Lao Shen, I actually have a good candidate for this! If we want to do this right, we need a professional!”

Shen Fei was a little surprised when he heard this.

He had considered this before, but he hadn’t brought it up, waiting for the right moment for Tang Xingwen to bring it up himself.

That’s why he’d been assigning him more work, not because he didn’t trust him, but because he trusted him enough to let him find the right person.

If Shen Fei didn’t trust Tang Xingwen, he could have just made him the lab manager, not the VP.

“Hmm? Who is it?” Shen Fei raised an eyebrow.

He secretly hoped the person Tang Xingwen was referring to was the one from his previous life.

“I have a friend who came back from abroad. He worked at one of the world’s top 500 companies… His management skills are exceptional!”

Tang Xingwen scratched his head awkwardly.

“Hmm, so he quit his job?” Shen Fei asked.

At these words, Tang Xingwen’s face showed a hint of embarrassment.

“What’s wrong with that?” Shen Fei asked, confused.

“He… he quit his job, but now he’s in jail…” Tang Xingwen said casually.

Shen Fei was stunned.

In jail?

The person Tang Xingwen was talking about was in jail?

“Lao Tang, just say it. How did he end up in jail?” Shen Fei frowned.

Although Shen Fei needed a professional, it didn’t mean he’d take anyone.

“He got into trouble. It wasn’t anything serious, just a 15-day administrative detention…” Tang Xingwen chuckled awkwardly.

Before Shen Fei could speak, Tang Xingwen continued.

“I’ll just say it directly. My friend is very upright, even in a world top 500 company. He wouldn’t give face to his superiors! He offended a lot of people, and some people didn’t like him. After a team-building event, some of the people he offended, fueled by alcohol, made trouble. He was already in a bad mood, and he ended up fighting back! They didn’t forgive him, so he had to spend some time in jail!”

After speaking, Tang Xingwen stopped talking because no company would accept someone like that.

Shen Fei, however, was somewhat excited after hearing this.

“Lao Shen, that’s the situation! If you don’t want someone with a criminal record, just pretend I didn’t say anything!” Tang Xingwen said.

“Lao Tang, that’s not the issue! If we’re talking about criminal records, I’ve been detained too! You know that! My black history was all over the internet when the scar ointment was released! That doesn’t mean anything! If he has the ability and can be trusted, then what’s the problem?” Shen Fei laughed.

If Tang Xingwen’s friend was really the one he expected, Shen Fei didn’t mind.

“He has no problem with ability! As for trust, let’s put it this way: if we were in a time of war, I’d confidently entrust my back to him! So if you want him, if anything happens, I’ll take responsibility!”

Tang Xingwen said with certainty.

Then he added.

“He’s even more solid and clear about his principles and bottom lines than I am!”

“Well, if that’s the case, why didn’t you mention him earlier?” Shen Fei asked.

“Well, there were two reasons. One, he hadn’t resigned from his previous company yet. Two, I’m in charge of R&D, and since he knows me, I didn’t want you to overthink it!” Tang Xingwen sighed.

“So now that you’ve mentioned it, you’re not worried I’ll overthink it?” Shen Fei teased.

“If I were worried, I wouldn’t have mentioned it! Besides, with all the tasks you’ve given me, I’m really too busy. I need to find an assistant!” Tang Xingwen replied candidly.

“Alright, bring him to the company when the time comes!” Shen Fei nodded.

“Okay, but I’ll just recommend him. Whether you keep him or not is up to you! If you don’t want him, don’t keep him for my sake. I don’t want to be dragged down by any future issues!” Tang Xingwen smirked.

……

Meanwhile, at Tencent’s game department.

“President Pan, you called me?” Cai Ming entered the room, confused.

“Yes, let’s talk about ‘Tianxia’.” Pan Shi said in a good mood.

“Hmm? What about ‘Tianxia’?” Cai Ming asked, not understanding.

While Pan Shi was in high spirits, Cai Ming was more anxious.

He had visited Longguang Media several times, each time lowering his stance and offering better conditions, but every time they were rejected.

Now, aside from Shen Fei’s Weibo post, Longguang Media had not made any further moves.

This, in Cai Ming’s view, was highly unusual.

The more silent they were, the more worried he became.

Additionally, he was more concerned about the game itself.

Since ‘Tianxia’ launched, their game department had been researching it and trying to optimize it. However, no matter how many proposals they made, they were all based on ‘Tianjue’s’ framework.

In reality, they could have stepped out of the framework and developed their own game, but doing so would result in a half-baked product.

For Cai Ming, as the head of the game department, it was an unacceptable outcome!

However, Cai Ming’s concerns did not affect Pan Shi.

Pan Shi, full of pride, handed Cai Ming a document.

Cai Ming took it, confused, and mechanically accepted the document.