Forcing Me to Be a Godly Tycoon, Right?

”However, I believe that success in this field is not related to the duration. As long as one is grounded in reality, adheres to the most basic principles of investment, and possesses a strategic vision, significant achievements are possible.”

”In fact, we’ve indeed achieved this. Our company has been established for less than a year and has already generated over 20 million net profit, and the win-loss ratio of the companies we invested in is 4:1...”

Ye Jinyan interrupted, ”Then, in your opinion, what’s the most important aspect to consider when investing in domestic internet companies?”

Xu Sicheng was stunned!

Because he originally thought that as soon as he presented the Sohu project, Ye Jinyan would immediately agree and then discuss specific investment matters with him.

He never expected Ye Jinyan would refuse and even ask these questions now.

But he also knew Ye Jinyan was testing him. If he didn’t dare to answer, there would be no chance at all.

So he quickly thought it over and said, ”I think... for an internet company, the most important thing is brand reputation and the social influence of its leader.”

”After all, the one who wins people’s hearts wins the world. The greater the brand’s influence, the more trust it can gain, leading to continuous investment, and the company’s stocks will become more valuable.”

”Glancing at the current domestic internet industry, Sohu is almost a leading company. Its leader, Zhang Chaoyang, is one of the top domestic business leaders, impeccable in both ability and reputation.”

”I believe he will lead Sohu to reach the pinnacle of the domestic internet industry, just like he climbed Everest last year.”

Ye Jinyan had similar thoughts before, but after Zhang Jingdong’s guidance, she quickly saw the truth.

And at this moment, after listening to Xu Sicheng’s statement, she fully understood Sohu’s fatal flaw.

So she calmly said, ”Then let me ask you, do you know what Sohu’s current core product is?”

”Core product?”

Xu Sicheng was immediately at a loss and hesitated, ”It’s... it’s their Sohu website.”

”Where do you think their future profit points lie?”

”Profit points? Advertising... and text message revenue.”

”Aren’t Sina and NetEase’s sources of income very similar to Sohu’s, and Sina is far superior to Sohu?”

”This... indeed.”

Ye Jinyan then said solemnly, ”According to the winner-takes-all theory in the same industry, if Sohu doesn’t come up with a new core product in the future, its profit points will be continuously squeezed by Sina, so the company has no future!”

Upon hearing this, Xu Sicheng suddenly felt enlightened.

Although he was far from being an investment expert, he knew that what Ye Jinyan said made a lot of sense.

But he still wasn’t quite willing, so he switched tactics and said, ”But I think the overall outlook for our Huaxia internet industry is still very promising in the future. Even if we don’t invest in Sohu, we can collaborate to invest in other internet companies.”

Ye Jinyan saw that Xu Sicheng was still unwilling to give up. She glanced at Zhang Jingdong again, then said, ”Actually, today we’ve already reached an investment agreement with Alibaba.”

”Alibaba!?”

Xu Sicheng was instantly shocked!

Although Alibaba hadn’t peaked yet in those years, here in Hang City, Alibaba’s influence was already quite impressive locally.

Especially since Ma Yun first received a $5 million investment from Goldman Sachs in 1999, followed by a $20 million investment from Sun Zhengyi in 2000.

Last year they also launched Taobao, which already has millions of users, battling with the e-commerce giant eBay and currently holding the upper hand.

So now many major investment banks are very optimistic about Alibaba, aiming to invest heavily in Alibaba; many investment companies can’t even find a way to invest in Alibaba.

And to be honest, Xu Sicheng originally intended to invest in Alibaba with Ye Jinyan, but because his father couldn’t secure an opportunity to invest in Alibaba, he settled for the next best thing, choosing Sohu.

He never thought Ye Jinyan and the others had already reached an investment agreement with Alibaba.

Xu Sicheng instinctively asked, ”How much did you invest?”

But he regretted it as soon as he said it, because the question made him seem amateurish, as such matters are commercial secrets before an official announcement is made.

However, Ye Jinyan replied, ”Boss Zhang injected $50 million into my company; Alibaba originally only wanted $20 million, but under Mr. Zhang’s personal persuasion, Alibaba accepted all of it!”

Xu Sicheng was instantly incredulous because he had heard that in 2000, Sun Zhengyi initially wanted to invest $40 million, but Ma Yun only took $20 million to prevent his company’s equity from being diluted and losing control of the company.

And now, this guy managed to accomplish what Sun Zhengyi couldn’t even do back then.

The most crucial part is that this guy looks, at most, in his twenties, yet he was able to come up with $50 million!

What an extraordinary background he must have!

But Xu Sicheng also knew there was no need for Ye Jinyan to lie to him; she couldn’t deceive him anyway, as Alibaba would undoubtedly announce the news later.

Initially, Xu Sicheng thought his own background was impressive enough. When he went solo to establish an investment company, his father gave him 100 million Huaxia Coin directly.

At the time, he was already walking tall among his friends because when they started their own businesses, their families typically gave them around a million or so, at most a couple of million, whereas he received a whole hundred million.

Yet, now this guy can take out $50 million in one go, which is more than 300 million Huaxia Coin!

Tsk, this is indeed a case of there being a mountain beyond the mountain, a person beyond the person!

At this moment, Xu Sicheng completely abandoned any thoughts about Ye Jinyan.

Then he took a good look at Zhang Jingdong for the first time and actively asked, ”May I ask your name?”

Zhang Jingdong heard the resignation and concession in his words and smiled casually: ”Zhang Jingdong.”

After saying so, he directly put his arm around Ye Jinyan’s fragrant shoulder, ”Do you play billiards?”

Ye Jinyan, in contrast to her previous confidence and pride when talking to Xu Sicheng, responded nearly coquettishly, ”No.”

”Come on, I’ll teach you.”

”Okay.”

Zhang Jingdong then took Ye Jinyan by the hand, stood up, and walked over to the billiards table not far away.

Ye Yuting saw this scene, and while feeling incredible, she instantly understood that Xu Sicheng had no chance at all.