Meanwhile, in a small office in West Lake City, Lin Xue was busy managing the newly established Cloud Technology. She had hired a team of talented programmers, marketers, and sales representatives, and the company was growing rapidly.
She was currently on the phone with Jake Ma, who was in the Federal States, negotiating with potential clients.
"How's it going, Brother Ma?" she asked.
"It's going great, President Lin," Jake Ma replied enthusiastically. "I've already secured deals with several major companies, and they're all very impressed with QuickBooks and Aegis."
Lin Xue smiled. "That's excellent news, Brother Ma. You're doing an amazing job."
"Thank you, President Lin," Jake Ma said. "But it's all thanks to Little Brother Lin's brilliant products. They practically sell themselves."
"I know," Lin Xue agreed. "He's a genius."
"He is indeed," Jake Ma said, and then he continued in low voice. "And don't forget that he's also preparing another product. He said it will be something big."
Lin Xue's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Did he tell you what kind of product?"
"Unfortunately, no. He said it was a secret," Jake Ma replied.
"That little rascal," Lin Xue muttered with a smile. "Always full of surprises."
"By the way, President Lin," Jake Ma changed the topic, "I met someone here you might know. Barry Sage, the co-founder of Booble."
Lin Xue was surprised. "Barry Sage? What did he want?"
"He was interested in Cloud Browser," Jake Ma explained. "He said he wanted to discuss a potential partnership."
Lin Xue frowned. She knew that Booble was one of the largest internet companies in the world, and their search engine was a direct competitor to Cloud Browser.
"A partnership?" she echoed, her voice filled with skepticism. "I doubt it. He probably wants to buy us out and shut down Cloud Browser."
"That's what I thought too," Jake Ma agreed. "But he seemed genuinely interested in collaboration. He even mentioned the possibility of Booble investing in Cloud Technology."
Lin Xue pondered for a moment. An investment from Booble could be a game-changer for Cloud Technology, providing them with the resources they needed to expand rapidly. But it could also mean giving up control of the company to a major competitor.
"Tell him I'm interested in hearing more," she finally said. "But make it clear that we're not for sale. We're open to collaboration, but on our terms."
"Understood, President Lin," Jake Ma said. "I'll handle it."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Xue leaned back in her chair, her mind racing with the possibilities. Booble's interest in Cloud Technology was a major development, one that could either propel the company to new heights or lead to its demise.
She knew that she needed to tread carefully. She couldn't afford to make any mistakes. The future of Cloud Technology, and perhaps even her brother's grand vision, depended on it.
She picked up the phone and dialed Lin Yun's number.
"Little Brother," she said when he answered, "we need to talk."
Lin Yun had been busy in the DDL space, studying the new technologies he had unlocked. But when he heard his sister's voice, he immediately sensed the urgency in her tone.
"What's wrong, Sister?" he asked, his full attention now on her.
"It's about Booble," she replied. "Barry Sage contacted Jake Ma. He's interested in Cloud Browser."
Lin Yun frowned. He had anticipated this. Booble was a major player in the internet industry, and they wouldn't ignore a potential competitor like Cloud Browser.
"What did he want?" he asked.
"He talked about a potential partnership," Lin Xue explained. "But I think he wants to buy us out and shut down Cloud Browser."
"That's likely," Lin Yun agreed. "But we can't let that happen."
"I know," Lin Xue said. "But he also mentioned the possibility of Booble investing in Cloud Technology."
Lin Yun paused, considering the implications. An investment from Booble could provide them with the resources they needed to grow, but it could also mean giving up control to a competitor.
"We need to be careful, Sister," he said. "I am against their investment. After all, we are not lacking money. The only thing they can bring to us is their users and channels."
He paused for a moment and continued. "To be honest, I plan to create a similar search engine in the near future. Booble is our main competitor."
"I know," Lin Xue said. "That's why I told Jake Ma to tell him we're interested in hearing more, but we're not for sale. We're open to collaboration, but on our terms."
"Good," Lin Yun said approvingly. "That's the right approach. We need to find out what they really want before we make any decisions."
"Exactly," Lin Xue said. "And we need to be prepared for anything. They might try to use their influence to pressure us."
"We'll be ready," Lin Yun assured her. "We have Aegis now, and that gives us leverage. The government is on our side, and they won't let Booble push us around."
"I hope you're right, Little Brother," Lin Xue said. "This is a dangerous game we're playing."
"I know, Sister," Lin Yun said. "But we can't back down. We have to protect what we've built."
"We will," Lin Xue said, her voice filled with determination.
They talked for a while longer, discussing strategies and contingency plans. Lin Yun had a keen understanding of the trajectory of his competitors, and his insights were invaluable to Lin Xue.
As they hung up, Lin Yun felt a sense of anticipation. The game had begun, and he was ready to play. He had faced many challenges before, but this was different. This was a battle for the future of the internet, and he was determined to win.
Lin Yun summoned the system panel.
[Host: Lin Yun
Authority Level: 3
Next Level: 210,870/3,000,000
Age: 18
Strength: 76.3
Constitution: 85.4
Charisma: 90.2
Fund: 1,084,320 Yuan
Technology Points (TP): 1,315,514]
During this period, thanks to Jake Ma and Lin Xue's efforts, Lin Yun had gained more than a million TP. He skimmed through the system mall but couldn't make a decision.
There were many things he wanted to do, but he was only one person. His energy was limited. Even if he wanted to create a search engine right now, he would need a lot of investment, whether it was for servers, a data center, or talent. It was definitely something he couldn't afford at the moment.
"What should I buy?" Lin Yun frowned deeply, scrolling through the system mall.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Lin Yun caught a glimpse of a familiar name — EDA, Electronic Design Automation!