Chapter 198 Black Fission (Part 1)

ctions intervened, all that happened was he received a disciplinary record. He has been notorious in this department," Tong Tong, who recognized several of these guys, whispered.In fact, the other par...Chapter 198: Black Fission (Part 1)

The heavy rain poured down suddenly, the temperature that had risen during the day was來不及緩降就陷入了一場帶有濕冷霧氣的雨幕之中。

On the streets, pedestrians were sprinting quickly, bicycles sped through neighborhoods, and vehicles driving on wet roads caused splashes of water, occasionally accompanied by screeching brakes drawing curious glances from passersby. Inside the transparent glass window of KFC facing the street, young employees who had just finished work could be seen buying orange juice or coffee to warm their hands while watching the sudden downpour, feeling somewhat stifled as if an unknown factor in the storm was slowly brewing.

Amongst the rain curtain, Merlion Tower stood out as one of the few visible landmarks in the city covered by a low-visibility rainstorm. The red light representing its status flickered brightly against the backdrop of the gloomy sky, and with each flash of lightning, the building's sharp angles seemed to silently resist the storm above.

Qiao Shuxin once said that even if one spent their time drinking tea or coffee while gazing out at the changing seasons from a window in Merlion Tower, they would never feel like it was wasted.

Indeed, numerous Fortune 500 companies such as Esskay-Moore, Microsoft Support Center, and Cummins were headquartered here. Every day, this building processed global high-level information exchanges and directives sent to branch offices around the world, affecting countless lives and daily economic conditions. Some joked that if a plane crashed into Merlion Tower like it had in America, the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets might drop by ten percent overnight.

At night, several black Mercedes-Benz cars slowly arrived downstairs at Merlion Tower, resembling phantoms in the dark. They then entered the parking lot.

The seventeenth and eighteenth floors were the headquarters of Facebook China, with an entrance adorned by a large graffiti mural and lighting that created a warm atmosphere different from the rain outside. Central air conditioning maintained a comfortable temperature regardless of how hot or cold it was outdoors.

Zuck's unexpected visit to Facebook China surprised Su Chan, causing employees who were still working late at headquarters to feel anxious despite having met Zuck at the year-end party and knowing his youth. A person's awe and fear are not determined by their age but by their status and character.

The change in identity and status could make a person’s demeanor so powerful that others would naturally feel insignificant in comparison. Just like how many Facebook employees who have been through half of their lives felt reverent towards Su Chan, facing the highest president and chairman from the US-based Facebook, or even the CEO of a $4 billion company, they would feel more nervous and uneasy than when facing the usually amiable Su Chan.

Typically, the headquarters were quiet at night but today was different. With Zuck beside Su Chan and the entire decision-making team present, the atmosphere was unusually charged.

From left to right: CEO Qiao Shuxin, Tang Wu, CFO Kate, Deputy General Manager Zhao Yanbin, Operations Director Liu Wenqiang, Vice President Mu Guotao. Nobody knew why Mark Zuckerberg from Hotel Fortune Global East Asia would suddenly call Su Chan and request a visit to Facebook China.

Under the relentless rain tapping on the windows, employees could sense something unusual about Zuck's arrival. "I want to see Facebook’s full-year financial reports as well as this year’s plan for World of Warcraft's North American release," Zuck said quickly upon sitting in the highest seat in the conference room and turning to face the staff who had followed him.

The group was taken aback, especially Qiao Shuxin. Requesting access to Facebook China's full-year financial reports could be understood, but this year’s plan for World of Warcraft’s North American release was another matter entirely.

World of Warcraft had started testing in North America and South Korea, with official test versions available at the FNY Center in California, where up to 4,000 copies were available. Despite the center being large enough to house two Boeing 747s, every day thousands of people lined up from dawn till dark outside the parking lot for a chance to get their hands on one of those limited test versions. Viacom had provided detailed plans for the North American launch later in the year, and Facebook China had also dispatched observers to monitor development. Once World of Warcraft went live in North America, Facebook would be invited to attend. This kind of information was highly classified.

However, since it was Zuck's request, they could only comply. After a brief hesitation, Qiao Shuxin instructed his assistant to gather all the requested materials – both electronic and hard copies – for Zuck’s review. Zuck continued reading through everything until 2 AM before signaling that everyone could leave.

Before departing, he apologized to Su Chan: "Sorry for keeping you so late. It's only around 2 PM in California right now, and I usually don't go to bed until 3 or 4 AM." The rapid growth of Facebook across the globe was challenging Zuck on both a technical and management level.

Su Chan nodded in understanding and instructed Li Pengyu to drive Zuck back to his hotel. As the car left, all eyes turned towards Su Chan standing beside Tang Wu.

But they said nothing, merely exchanged goodbyes before leaving separately by their respective cars. Qiao Shuxin was the last one to leave and told Su Chan: "You should go home early; it's very late already…" Taking a deep breath, he added: "If Zuck wanted to see these crucial documents from Facebook China, why did he call in the middle of the night Why not wait until tomorrow"

Su Chan watched as Zuck’s car disappeared into the rain and felt a strange sensation brewing within him. He simply patted Qiao Shuxin on the shoulder: "It's getting cold; go home now..."

After Qiao Shuxin left, Su Chan and Tang Wu got into their own vehicle to avoid the rain. Seated inside with the lights on, beside the warmth of Tang Wu’s body, Su Chan felt a sense of comfort.

The world is full of people who have achieved remarkable accomplishments, from those who command like a tycoon and can influence countless lives with a single word to heroes. However, after standing on their stage and waving their sleeves at the江山 (landscape), most end up as lonely figures when they step down.

There is always a price for success; many people may not be filled with gratitude when they reach the pinnacle of their life but rather a sense of awe towards the world. They are aware of what they have lost to reach this glory and what they had to trade—dignity or morality Chastity or dreams What is left in their hands—a bloody hand or an irreversible decision

Su Cun took Tang Wu's hand, who seemed to be in low spirits. She turned her hand and lightly held his while giving him a smile.

Tang Wu’s hair was wet from the rain, but it only added a delicate beauty like an ink painting to her appearance. Her face no longer showed indifference; instead, even her smiles were gentler.

In the past year, Tang Wu gradually came into her own. Notably, she managed to excel in Nan University without compromising her studies and also secured leadership status on Chinese Facebook after Su Cun and Qiao Shuxin.

Therefore, it was common to see Tang Wu leaving the Nan University library or teaching buildings to get into a car waiting outside, heading for Merlion Tower or being driven back to campus by company vehicles. When university students spotted her, many who had planned to pretend to run into her lost their courage to approach and chat.

However, Tang Wu still had friends around her who thought they were worthy enough.

This year, with her growing status on Chinese Facebook as well as her outstanding performance at Nan University, Tang Wu not only played the piano beautifully but also accepted an invitation from the university to host the New Year's Eve gala. She didn't decline this time and appeared graceful, bright, and articulate during the event, earning immediate fame that spread across departments and even universities.

Of course, no one would dare to assume they were worthy of a relationship with such an esteemed figure. However, because of Tang Wu, many figures gathered around her, either renowned scholars or former graduates who became teachers after university. With outstanding academic performance in both required and elective classes, she naturally attracted attention from lecturers across various disciplines. Two young lecturers, who graduated from Nan University and returned to teach media studies and international trade electives after studying abroad in the US and UK respectively, seemed to be secretly competing over who would spend more time privately with Tang Wu.

Unfortunately for them, due to her busy schedule on Chinese Facebook this month, Tang Wu had little free time to discuss media or trade issues with these lecturers or attend their events.

As Tang Wu moved into a more prominent role at Chinese Facebook, many saw the platform not just as a rising social network giant but also connected it to the influential Tang and Mu families. "She is only one daughter of her family, and questions remain about how the Tang Group will pass down leadership to the next generation," some officials would say.

The Mu Family, on the other hand, was vast; their granddaughter was stunningly beautiful, and the old matriarch had placed her in Nan University. "The university treats her with utmost care."

"She's currently a deputy director at Chinese Facebook while still studying. At such a young age—barely twenty—and excelling both academically and professionally, it’s clear that she's destined for great heights," officials would speculate about the relationship between Chinese Facebook and the Mu Family.

At this moment, Su Cun and Tang Wu were in the car, temporarily isolating themselves from the rain and clamor outside.

The luckiest thing for Su Cun was that he had stayed true to his path all along. Despite doubts and obstacles, he never strayed from it.

Su Cun held Tang Wu's hand with one hand while using the other to operate the navigation on the Bentley, zooming in and out across Shanghai’s intricate map of roads.

Tang Wu looked over at him and asked, "Where are we going"

"Mr. Tang is not in Shanghai," Su Cun knew that her father would be leaving for some matters recently, while Mu Xuan was still in West Sichuan Province attending a judicial conference. Although many of their relatives were scattered across Shanghai, no one dared to disturb Tang Wu's grandmother at the Peninsula Bay Snow Sea Retreat unless it was a family gathering. Even Mu Kaizhu, Tang Wu’s rich second-cousin who often appeared mysteriously, would avoid her home.

This year during early spring, Mu Kaizhu stayed at Tang Wu’s house and wanted to relive their childhood days of sharing a bed and fighting over blankets, but she was dragged away by Tang Wu's aunt out of concern that Mu’s grandmother might misinterpret her intentions. She seemed to have been scolded when returning home and refused to speak with her mother for two weeks.

Despite this, Mu Kaizhu often visited Nan University. Her studies were mediocre but improved before exams due to her inherited intelligence; she managed passably across subjects at Shanghai University. With nothing else to do, she and friends opened a bar on Huanghai Road with New Year's money, running it while studying and earning enough to maintain two cars and pay tuition.

Tang Wu nodded and said, "My father is likely in Zhejiang now."

"Then let’s go to Snow Sea Retreat. I like the atmosphere there," Su Cun said, referring to a place he had once feared and ultimately conquered.

Tang Wu glanced at him knowingly and pulled her hand back, pointing outside as she smiled, "Drive carefully then."

Su Cun started the car and the sleek Bentley glided into the rain.

Turning onto South Dan Road and then Yishan Road, Tang Wu watched Su Cun’s profile while gently clasping her hands together.

"What are you looking at How about letting me see you thoroughly tonight" Turning her head, Tang Wu slightly scowled and feigned to hit him. Su Can was quick to say that he was driving so as to dodge the impending trouble.

Tang Wu pouted and turned away from him, seemingly unwilling to talk to him further. However, it was clear that she needed to attend to more pressing matters. After much deliberation, her sculptured face softened slightly as her nostrils contracted inwardly before taking a deep breath. She then said, "Su Can, have you ever considered why Mark Zuckerberg decided at the last minute to gather his company's top executives and even higher-ups to review their finances and business plans Why is he exerting such authority"

Su Can recalled the scene in the meeting hall earlier. Everyone was seated around an oval-shaped table, quietly waiting for Zuckerberg to browse through documents before asking questions. Su Can furrowed his brow and looked into the distance as he said, "Every CEO wants to deepen their sense of existence. I believe that Zuckerberg is no exception; he is a person with great conquest desires—a trait we noticed back in Exeter High School. Perhaps he just wanted to show his presence."

Tang Wu shot Su Can a glance and her beautiful eyes flickered with complicated emotions as she sighed, "You know it’s not that simple. Throughout history and even now, whenever the throne or power struggle is involved, even blood relatives have no room for sentimentality. Is Zuckerberg just acting like a child to assert his existence, or does he truly want to control something"

Su Can knew this was also what all of Facebook’s top executives were questioning at Metrotech Tower earlier. Some wore their concerns on their sleeves while others kept it deeply buried inside. Although they pretended nothing had happened, everyone actually watched closely and silently observed the situation.

“Only you still see him as a child—the same one who convinced the school committee to open up online rosters with him back in America,” Tang Wu looked at Su Can and said, "In reality, he has now become the CEO of a social network that serves two hundred million people. He manages a company far larger and more complex than Facebook’s Chinese subsidiary. This means he won’t always act emotionally."

“If Zuckerberg is asserting his authority with great purpose and rationality, what is his objective Could it be that the impact of Facebook China has affected American Facebook” Su Can felt uneasy as he asked himself this question, recalling Mark’s review of Facebook’s financials earlier.

Tang Wu remained silent, her gaze fixed out the window. The face reflected in the car window bore a faint sadness. "We may not have impacted the American side; they don’t need our profits to fill their deficits. However, if they were to abandon us, it would be crucial for them."

The rain poured down heavily as if drowning out all sound from the world.

In one of the garden-style hotels in Pudong New Area, different from the skyscraper hotels nearby which towered dozens of floors high, this hotel stood only seven stories tall with a grand European style throughout.

Adjacent to it was an expansive newly-built training institute covering six hundred mu (Chinese land measurement unit) that attracted much attention both domestically and internationally. It was known as the Pudong Cadre College, often referred to as a mysterious high-level official training ground akin to the Central Party School.

This hotel, belonging to the college’s system, primarily served important individuals who could not enter the main campus for various reasons. Thus, its facilities were top-notch and it was rarely open to public business but offered luxury amenities comparable to a five-star hotel.

Five high-end vehicles sat in the hotel's parking lot including Rolls-Royce and Lincoln models. Seated at the garden restaurant of this hotel were several American men who seemed unremarkable, even among political elites frequenting the hotel. They weren’t international stars but their presence was indeed unusual.

In reality, these Americans were far from ordinary. Their prestige and status surpassed that of any celebrities.

The plump man with sagging skin and silver hair was named Valentin Tron. Approaching sixty, he appeared casual in a thin T-shirt and hiking shoes, concealing his reputation as the godfather of Silicon Valley venture capital. His life's work could only be described as glorious: He invested early on in Apple through Jobs and in Cisco shortly after its Stanford University origin, securing 30% equity before it skyrocketed in value.

More famously, Michael Moritz invested in Yahoo with him by discovering Jerry Yang, setting a benchmark for internet era investments. Redpoint valued Yahoo at $4 million in '95 and invested $1 million; the company went public the next year with shares reaching $43 before closing at $33, valuing it at over $800 million—a testament to pre-bubble internet mania.

Ordinary people couldn’t tell from Moritz’s serene face that he had experienced such history-making ventures.

Zhanhua and his friends soon found this table. Behind them was Gao Heng, who introduced the two Americans after their arrival.

"I apologize for being late; there are already many eager to meet you," said Gao Heng upon knowing these visitors’ significance. He knew they represented Redpoint’s capital flow and had made stops in Hong Kong where they were interviewed by authoritative magazines like Global Entrepreneur before arriving here, sensing the potential.

"ODD Investment has long admired you both; a collaboration would be groundbreaking for us," Gao Heng continued as his niece Chen Yan (Vice President of ODD's foreign investments) and young cousin Gao Qiang stood beside him. Gao Heng knew these two weren’t here out of respect for him but because of the Silicon Valley youth in Shanghai.

Michael Moritz glanced at Gao Heng, saying calmly, "There’s too much arrogance and grandstanding in this industry; let's not play games when dealing with more diligent entrepreneurs. If you agree, we can proceed to discuss collaboration plans."

Gao Heng didn’t find their attitude odd since he knew they hadn’t planned a Shanghai visit originally, coming solely because of the young man from Silicon Valley.

Valentin Tron said, "Our previous investment failed; our team lost face that time. This time we came personally to ensure success with the help of our Chinese fund partner Zhanhua and your cooperation."

Gao Heng smiled, "Chinese people emphasize confrontational negotiations; last time we clashed equally with Facebook but couldn’t reach an agreement. Now, with their recent troubles abroad losing them balance, they’ll be eager to negotiate."

He paused before continuing, “The young man who listed ten reasons against investing in Facebook during the negotiation table must have grown from a novice into someone who can decide his company’s fate…”

The meeting with Tron and Moritz concluded. The Silicon Valley venture capital kings then proceeded to Redpoint’s headquarters in Beijing for several Chinese investment project unveilings.

Zhan has finished his business in Shanghai and will be heading to Beijing. However, today's conversation seems to have put him in a good mood. He said to Gao Heng, "That arrogant brat might step into the trap we've set for him little by little..."

Gao Heng frowned and replied, "We need to set up our strategies one step at a time, gradually eliminating everything he relies on from the outside. We have to squeeze out all the air around him until there's none left. I can't look at him as if he were just another young man in his twenties anymore; this is what he deserves. Let him feel the suffocation of being locked and restrained before we slowly take control."

On their way back to the hotel, Chen Yan, who was sitting next to Gao Heng, purred seductively, "Since Uncle Gao dislikes him so much, why don't I handle it I can easily crush him and give him a hard blow. It's easy for a man to lose heart after such humiliation." Indeed, she had captivating charm but also an equally venomous heart. Many men fell into her trap over the years, including some of Beijing’s young elites. But due to Chen Yan's background, no one dared take real revenge against her, allowing her to cultivate this fearless and manipulative personality.

Unexpectedly, Gao Heng sternly warned in a low voice, "This is beyond your capacity to handle; stay out of it."

Chen Yan pouted and complained, "Isn't he just some young founder I've met him too. He doesn’t have three heads or six arms; he’s just crafty. Why would my uncles be so wary of him"

"You're going to take over ODD Investment someday. How can you act so lightly If he were easy to deal with, why wouldn't his opponents manage to solve the issues they face And why would Shengtang Securities and New Century Securities vanish without a trace if it wasn’t worth fifty billion dollars"

Gao Heng took a deep drag on his cigarette and said, "You need to broaden your perspective and look deeper. He isn't alone; behind him stands not just one person but many. We face the same challenge from multiple fronts in our family business. To win the whole game, we must work meticulously from small details. Keep what you've seen today a secret; don’t tell others or even friends and relatives. Soon enough, they'll understand the real meaning of my words… At that time, I’m sure they will have gained some insight into harsh realities which would be beneficial for their future."

On the fourth day after Zack arrived in Shanghai.

Qiao Shuxin was summoned to the CEO's office. The office faced the sunlit side, allowing him to witness the sunrise from the horizon and sunset on the other side every day. After Facebook acquired eighteen floors of the Mayro Tower, it occupied two entire floors, enough for 400 employees. Su Can’s office had been relocated to the eighteenth floor, leaving several empty rooms; one of which was prepared as a temporary office for Zack before his arrival.

When Qiao Shuxin arrived, Zack was sorting through documents and gestured for him to sit down.

Sitting down in the sunlit room, Qiao felt dazzled by the brightness that never seemed so intense in Shanghai.

"I've noticed your contributions at Facebook over these two years; you’ve done a lot. It's truly remarkable."

Zack talked about many things during their conversation: the growth of Facebook China from scratch, the process of Tencent’s listing in Hong Kong this year, and the acquisition of Vivendi's World of Warcraft shares, which was quite impressive. Qiao Shuxin felt nostalgic as he recalled these moments.

He animatedly described how they had been like when living together in a rented apartment in Palo Alto with its swimming pool, fridge full of temporary goods, and the hot engineer working upstairs. Back then, there were just a few of them; once an idea sparked, they’d debate without hierarchy or boundaries, much like music or programming knows no borders.

"Remember two years ago when I asked you to come from Silicon Valley to China I thought my connection with the exciting Facebook in America was severed. Why should I come here where there's nothing—no Facebook, no School Online user lists, even the concept of a cP website was unknown to them. So back then, I felt depressed."

Qiao Shuxin waved his hands and said to Zack, "But look at us now: we're a company with 150 employees; we've made our name in China with millions of users and business clients even commercial banks adopt Roundtable Facebook for communication."

Marc Zuckerberg nodded, with mixed emotions. "Indeed, you’ve done great work and accomplished much more than expected. But have you considered that your current mission might be coming to an end You can return to the exciting atmosphere in America and continue unfinished business there."

Qiao Shuxin was taken aback by this suggestion as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. Looking at Zack, he asked, "What… did you say"

"I said you belong to American Facebook, and your mission in China is complete. When Su requested me to send you here two years ago because he lacked assistance in China, I agreed. Now that you’ve established Facebook China and completed your task, it’s time for you to return."

As Qiao Shuxin left the CEO's office feeling disoriented, Zack’s voice echoed in his ears: "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, you will receive an invitation from American Facebook. Your position as CEO of Facebook China will be terminated, and a vice president named Doug Hess will take over your duties; he was once Yahoo’s vice president and is well-equipped for this role."

The news of Qiao Shuxin's departure quickly spread across the internet.

Headlines such as "The Arrival of American President Causes Major Turmoil in Facebook China!"

"Qiao Shuxin to Resign from CEO Position at Facebook China; Is US Facebook Controlling Chinese Staff"

"A Tragic Fate for One of China’s Top Professional Managers: Qiao Shuxin."

A newspaper named "21st Century Economic Report" featured a column with endless speculation the next day:

“The recent internal changes in Facebook China seem to stem from the series of high-level departures and adjustments at American Facebook. Qiao Shuxin's departure from Facebook China and the restructuring at US Facebook might indicate potential leadership reshuffles on both sides. However, as no official announcement has been made regarding his departure by Facebook China yet, there’s plenty of speculation about whether this is a sign of power being stripped away or just normal staff turnover. Both scenarios are noteworthy for such a social network giant…”

All these rumors and speculations arrived one after another.

The dreams they once shared to change the world seemed to be crumbling at this moment.. Isn't it true that you boys especially suck at tidying up the rooms"The other side is clearly shocked, and after a pause, responds, "Fallen from grace, fallen from grace. When did this start making...