"So from now on, your work has officially begun?" Ren Hong said, changing the subject. The two of them chatted in Starbucks for more than half an hour.
"Of course!" Gao Yue responded with a smile. She added, "There's one thing that I'm curious about. As the founder of XlouS, although you're kind of too young, I'm sure you're perfectly capable of taking on the position of CEO of the company. So why would you pay a fortune to hire someone else to do it?" She was curious. All of a sudden, she smiled at him and joked, "It can't be an ulterior motive, can it!"
"So what if I've an ulterior motive? It is still up to you to decide whether or not to take up this job, isn't it?" Ren Hong helplessly spread his hands apart and added. "But the nearer you are to the water, you're at least one step closer to success, isn't it? Heh, heh~~"
"I'll have to see what you're capable of!" Gao Yue revealed a charming smile.
"Don't worry, I have a one-track mind. I definitely won't waste my time on personal desires." Ren Hong smiled and looked at Gao Yue.
After a moment, Ren Hong pondered and looked at the other party, returning to the original topic. "There's definitely no problem with me being CEO, but for me, the gains do not make up for the losses. It is more than worth it spending that kind of money than me spending time and energy managing the company's operations." He smiled with confidence. "My time is precious and will only be spent on technology and innovation! It's in the company's DNA and bloodstream! I have so many ideas in my head that I can't wait to make happen, and there's only so much time in a day."
Gao Yue was astounded. It seemed to her like this junior was an extremely confident and amazing boss.
"We may be familiar with each other, but it won't be that easy for you to receive special treatment from me. I'm sure you'll get so busy that your head will keep spinning!" Ren Hong teased, holding out a single finger, "The company has almost nothing but one product. You need to start recruitment right away—build up the initial skeleton of each of the company's major departments and improve them one by one. Also, the company's office space has yet to be established and so on and so forth!"
"Don't worry! Boss, as long as the funds are available, I promise to give you a complete XlouS within a month!" responded Gao Yue with confidence. "Speaking of money, how much money does the company currently have?"
"There's still a hundred thousand, I think." Ren Hong thought about it and replied.
"Uh…" Now it was Gao Yue's turn to be stunned, looking at Ren Hong with a black expression.
A hundred thousand? Are you kidding me?
Ren Hong witnessed her astonishment and added, "I forgot to tell you one thing. Some time ago—just three days ago—I met with Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook. We signed a strategic partnership agreement, and at the same time, he bought the exclusive license of Real-time Online Translator for the social networking field for 12 billion USD. According to the contract, the first capital of 4 billion USD will arrive tomorrow."
"What did you say?" Gao Yue stared with widened eyes. She covered her gaping mouth subconsciously with her hand. This time, upon hearing this news, her expression turned blank.
12 billion USD??? XlouS, a startup that was currently barely even a thing, just released its first product less than a week ago and had already generated 12 billion USD in revenue?
"Is that true?" Gao Yue couldn't believe it. She was surprised, excited, and skeptical at the same time.
"Facebook will be holding a press conference soon to announce this news, so what do I have to gain by lying to you? And, would I be stupid enough to lie to you with such a vulnerable lie?" Ren Hong responded, but wasn't surprised that she reacted this way.
"I think there's going to be breaking news in the internet and tech world soon!" Gao Yue mumbled to herself, becoming extremely excited. This news thrilled her.
"Let's go, my CEO! You're in for a busy time!" When Ren Hong reached the exit of the compartment, he turned back to Gao Yue and spoke. The latter came back to her senses and immediately followed him.
Ren Hong and Gao Yue leisurely strolled along the pedestrian street when all of a sudden, the former came to a halt and paused his gaze at the door of the bookstore, where there was a world map behind the transparent window. He immediately walked over, placing his right hand on the world map and slowly measured from the approximate location of Beijing to the south.
"What are you doing?" Gao Yue watched curiously.
"I'm choosing a location for the company's headquarters!" Ren Hong stared at the map and said without turning around.
Upon hearing his remarks, Gao Yue quietly watched. After a long time, Ren Hong's finger finally landed on a location. He nodded and said, "This is it!"
Gao Yue was surprised to see where his finger landed, "Hainan Island?"
Ren Hong nodded and said, "To be specific, the surfing city of China—Wanning!"
Gao Yue was surprised by the location Ren Hong chose, "I thought the location you choose will either be north of Guangzhou or Hangzhou! The top 10 internet companies in China are all headquartered on the mainland, so why did you choose Hainan Island?" Gao Yue knew that XlouS had barely nothing for now and was tentatively designated as an internet company. After learning about the 12 billion USD contract, the company should step into being one of the top 10 internet companies. In that case, shouldn't its headquarters be on the mainland too? Ren Hong's choice piqued her curiosity.
Ren Hong looked at Gao Yue and said with a smile, "Hainan Island has a beautiful environment, so I will be able to go out on vacation and save my effort. But the important reason that made me decide to set up my company headquarters here is… Hainan Island's proximity to the equator!"
"Near the equator? What does this have to do with choosing a company's headquarters address?" Gao Yue was puzzled.
"You'll find out later! Let's go, I'll show you where XlouS was born." Ren Hong smiled, and the two began walking toward Tsinghua University.
Ren Hong brought a beautiful woman back to Tsinghua University and arrived at the company's current office address.
"Introduce yourselves." Ren Hong entered classroom 317 with Gao Yue who looked curious about her surroundings. Ren Hong looked at his roommates and said, "Guys, this beauty is the future CEO of XlouS, Miss Gao Yue!" He smiled and turned to Gao Yue, "The five of them are the initial team of XlouS: Zhang Han, Chen Kai…" He introduced them one by one, before spreading his arms apart and shifting his gaze around the entire classroom. "This is where XlouS was born!"
"I suddenly have a feeling of déjà vu." Gao Yue looked around and said casually. "Apple started in a garage, Facebook was created in a dormitory, and XlouS was born in a classroom. The first two have become great companies today. They were both born from ordinary places, but in the end, they were so extraordinary. XlouS was also born from an ordinary classroom. The three of them have a similar past, so what will be the future of XlouS…"
Ren Hong smiled at Gao Yue's emotional voice, turned to his roommates, and said, "XlouS!"
"Change the world!"
The voices of the five roommates sounded loudly in unison.
Gao Yue looked at the company and all the members including herself. All of them were surging in enthusiasm and youthful vigor!
XlouS is bound to become a great technology company in the world, Gao Yue thought.