it's Su Chen!""Stop talking nonsense!" Lin Luoran retorted angrily.Lin Guozhou frowned and looked towards Wang Bo.Wang Bo smiled at him, saying, "Oh, Su Chen. You don't believe me I've never seen a b...Volume 2: Navigating a New Journey Chapter 33: Goodnight

Beneath a deep blue parasol, under the glass-roofed cafe supported by steel frames, Su Can, Qiao Shuxin, and Lin Guangdong, as well as Zhao Hao who was currently in Shanghai, gathered at this bustling commercial area of Xuhui Center. Where trees couldn't reach, skyscrapers shot up towards the sky, seemingly showcasing the city's growth speed and vitality.

Such vigorous urban construction, while raising one high-rise building after another, also made it increasingly difficult for people to enjoy the freest sunshine that migrates from west to east every day.

The landmarks vying to rise up divided the light on the horizon into fragmented patches, sprawling across this magnificent city map. Ant-like crowds flowed through them, busily traversing back and forth.

People all yearned for beautiful scenes; middle-aged men buying fast food in quick-service restaurants, women watching their children wearing school uniforms boarding buses daily within the district, office workers heading to meet clients at another location. Even those with comfortable lifestyles in cars would occasionally look up at each block's high-rise buildings.

How many wished they could enter that upper echelon of commercial towers, with spacious offices, neat desks and chairs, and thus enjoy a life filled with wealth and luxury How many felt their current floors weren't high enough and wanted to climb higher still. And how many considered their positions as unsatisfactory and hoped for better ones

High-rise buildings not only adapted to the increasingly tight urban space of human society but also to some extent carried out humans' certain dreams—a wish to freely appreciate daily sunrises and sunsets, feeling they had the whole world in their hands.

"It cannot be denied that this city is filled with countless desires, yet it also houses many ideals." Looking up at a thirty-degree angle towards the sky, Su Can couldn't see the sun but instead saw the steel-and-glass eaves extending from the building exteriors to ward off rain.

The group was discussing a philosophical issue about how desire drives people to profit through wrongdoing. Su Can chimed in as a summary.

Over these days of interaction, he had become quite familiar with Zhao Hao and Qiao Shuxin, and they were getting along better than ever. However, Su Can could clearly sense that Qiao Shuxin and Zhao Hao still held back somewhat due to his young age when engaging in conversation. This was particularly noticeable on the traditionally conservative thirty-something man Zhao Hao.

Today Zhao Hao came out to establish how many phases of funding would be injected, as well as an early-stage plan he had laid out. Unsurprisingly, he could secure his first round of financing within two days and then use it to make big moves, so he appeared rather excited: "After obtaining this initial capital on Maicai (an online platform), my first move will be to buy up copyrights aggressively. Take 'Red Blue Records' for example; they've been doing great in original music over the past few years. The boss is a Hong Konger who was unfortunately not as lucky as me and pulled out of this industry. He holds copyrights to people like Zheng Jun, Xia Ke, Lao Lang, which are all high-quality with significant value. I used to look at them enviously but couldn't make any moves; now my wallet's fuller, so naturally, I'll purchase a lot more such excellent copyrights. These are rare resources, of course only those who recognize their worth can appreciate them."

Su Can smiled and said, "You sure don't feel the pain when spending someone else’s money."

"Of course, money should be spent in the most comfortable way," Zhao Hao continued. "After acquiring the copyrights of these songs, we can sell them to web portals like Sina and Sohu. However, Sina is not a pushover; they have a keen eye for value-added services. They could collaborate with SP content providers using our sold copyrights, thus earning significant revenue from numerous SP partners. We won't be involved in that aspect. Therefore, I think the second approach should focus on investing in technology. Although MP3s are freely downloaded and circulated online, we barely earn anything from this channel! But I have high hopes for the newly emerging mobile ringtone business. If China Mobile can effectively regulate this industry and compel SP service providers to legalize their earnings through proper channels, we could achieve substantial profits from it. This is a key strategy in the digital music era of Upme."

"Just your ideas alone are worth my investment in Upme." Turning to Lin Zong, Su Can asked, "Mr. Lin, will the preliminary funding for Upme be ready today" Guo Guangdong nodded and patted Zhao Hao's shoulder.

Zhao Hao was a professional expert when it came to music; Su Can didn't need to micromanage him.

Su Can firmly believed that whatever Zhao Hao did, as long as he followed the future path of mobile ringtones and digital music development in Upme Company, staying away from wrong paths, everything he pursued was worth encouraging and supporting.

"I'll give a call. Then my secretary will bring over an agreement later for you to sign. Zhao brother can start your plan with full vigor tomorrow," said Guo Guangdong with a smile as he patted Zhao Hao on the back.

Su Can could sense that Zhao Hao felt relieved at this moment, which made Su Can chuckle. He assumed that Zhao Hao had put in considerable effort today to discuss these plans and was still anxious just now.

Seeing him discreetly wiping a bead of sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief, Su Can wondered how the same person could be so casual when sizing up those contestants back then.

Jiao Shuxin was standing outside the fence holding a cup of coffee and looking up at the high-rise buildings.

After completing the serious business discussion with Zhao Hao, Guo Guangdong glanced at Jiao Shuxin's silhouette and said with a smile, "Our Silicon Valley kid doesn't seem very talkative. That’s not good; today we brought him out for major deals. He needs to let us know his thoughts so that I can feel assured as the one footing the bill."

Guo Guangdong then turned toward Su Can with a worried look, "With only you two now at Facebook Chinese, it’s quite risky. This is both an adventurous and technical job; do you really think your guy called in from America will be up to this task"

Su Can replied, "Do you know how Facebook recruits members in the US It's somewhat like joining a top fraternity at Harvard University. A group of twelve computer experts or hackers sit together with scantily clad attractive women behind each one. Mark Zuckerberg announces a programming challenge and starts timing them. Each member drinks a shot of scotch after completing a code segment, and every twenty seconds they must drink another. The first to finish is hired."

Su Can turned around and grinned at the two men, "So every Facebook pioneer is a victor. This guy was once among those who defeated eleven hackers back then. How can I not have confidence in him building the core framework of Facebook Chinese"

To Guo Guangdong and Zhao Hao, this represented another field with its own fascinating narrative.

Su Cen stood up and walked to Qiao Shuxin, who seemed to be admiring the view, smiling as he said, "How is it You should have an answer by now, right"

"How do you know that" Qiao Shuxin turned around in surprise, staring at Su Cen.

Su Cen pointed to the modern skyscraper and smiled, saying, "This is the heart of Xuhui District, also home to Microsoft's Shanghai branch at Merdeka Tower. For us, there isn't a single place more suitable for Facebook Chinese’s new headquarters than this tower."

Any person from Silicon Valley holds an almost religious reverence for those companies that have led the internet revolution and naturally sets them as lifelong goals to surpass.

This stubborn streak was also evident in Qiao Shuxin's personality.

The Merdeka Tower, a newly completed building with convenient transportation, housed offices of major global companies like ExxonMobil, Unilever, and AIA. In Su Cen’s mind, Facebook Chinese would eventually become a large company capable of accommodating hundreds, if not thousands, of people.

Qiao Shuxin had his eye on the 17th floor of the Manhattan Building, an expansive 800 square meter space that could accommodate dozens of people playing soccer without restraint. Inside, aside from load-bearing walls and support columns, it resembled a large parking lot in California.

After Qiao Shuxin approved it, Su Cen signed a contract with the Merdeka Tower management on the same day for a rent of 120 thousand yuan per month (discounted to around 110 thousand) for an initial period of one year.

As they were being escorted out by the building’s management, Lin Guangdong turned back with a whistle and said, "An entire floor of 800 square meters That's quite the move. It even makes me envious. When will our magazine also be able to get such a big space My current place is almost full with just fifty people."

Su Cen responded, "Didn’t you like that factory in the city’s west area last year Once your magazine's profit rate doubles next year, we’ll move everything over there."

"Is this a command or something" Lin Guangdong rolled his eyes.

“A happy life requires everyone to strive for it together.” Su Cen turned back and said to Qiao Shuxin, “It will take at least one or two months before the new Facebook Chinese company can open. We should start office renovations right away. Before that, we can begin hiring new employees. Lin Guangdong, you contact your media friends and try to create some buzz to attract the most promising candidates in all of Shanghai to join us. I don’t think we need another interview location; it’s best to stick with a nearby principle. The Crown Hotel on Nanjing University's campus would be perfect.”

Zhao Hao left after signing the agreement and receiving Su Can's initial investment. Lin Guangdong then took charge of sending Su Can and Qiao Shuxin back to Nan University. Upon reaching the hotel entrance, Lin Guangdong joked, "Now I've become a full-time butler, helping you contact decorators for the Chinese office area at Facebook, promoting things on your behalf, and even driving you around. Su Can, you really know how to take advantage of my vacation."

Before Su Can could express his apologies, Qiao Shuxin shook hands with Zhao Hao, looking somewhat excited as he said, "It's been a real bother for you these days. I truly appreciate it."

This made Lin Guangdong feel quite embarrassed. Exchanging glances with Su Can, the two of them understood each other implicitly and finally let out a sigh of relief.

Initially, Su Can was worried that Qiao Shuxin would be resistant or not adapt to developing Facebook Chinese in China. If his deputy wasn't on the same wavelength as him, how could they build a commercial empire But from what he saw now, it seemed Qiao Shuxin had fully adapted and started integrating with Facebook Chinese, treating it as his next phase of career.

After a tiring day, when Su Can returned to his dormitory and lay down on the bed, he sent a text message to Tang Wu saying that they had finalized the location choice which Qiao Shuxin was mostly satisfied with.

Su Can's plan to establish Facebook Chinese was an enormous undertaking. This marked the first time Tang Wu witnessed Su Can's commercial actions taking place right beside her. Prior to this, everything from fashion magazines to being introduced as the founder of American Facebook had come too suddenly for her. Now, she finally got to see him weave his dreams and create something worthy of praise in people’s words.

Su Can said he was very busy with studies and work these days but that the most delightful moments were when they exchanged "good night" messages every day; it made him smile as he drifted off to sleep and woke up smiling when the sun hit his backside.

Tang Wu secretly scolded Su Can for never being good at expressing romantic words girls like to hear, yet these simple phrases still stirred her heart.

So Tang Wu called him on the phone and said "good night" into the receiver.

She then squeezed her mobile phone against her chest before falling asleep peacefully.

(To Be Continued)e would spend a lot of time handling the affairs for the new shops, without arousing much suspicion.Wang Ming found storefronts near several primary and secondary schools in Xiahai City; her family's...