Chapter 1072: The Sucker from China? (Part 2)

In a sense, Zhao Fusheng was the person in the world who best understood Mark Zuckerberg. After all, no one else knew that what this messy-haired, slovenly-looking big boy cared about most was actually his website.

Likewise, he was also a lonely person.

Zuckerberg could drive away his longtime friends for the sake of Facebook, and he could also accept investment from anyone for this website.

That was probably the trait of a programmer.

So, after hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, Zuckerberg was a bit stunned, because he really didn't understand what this partner from the mysterious East wanted to gain.

Humans are goal-oriented animals. As a Harvard prodigy, Zuckerberg knew this better than anyone. He could even be one hundred percent certain that the Easterner with a faint smile on his face was not as harmless as he appeared.

Although he had Eduardo Saverin by his side, a talent who had earned three hundred thousand dollars in college, compared to the man before him, even Saverin fell far short.

After all, Saverin was not as wealthy as Zhao Fusheng.

Americans were relatively straightforward; their measure of a person's success was how much wealth they possessed.

At least in Zuckerberg's understanding, there were few people under thirty with hundreds of millions like Zhao Fusheng. Moreover, he was an Easterner, or more precisely, Chinese.

In fact, if he hadn't checked Zhao Fusheng's background, Zuckerberg would have thought he had encountered a swindler from the East.

But now it seemed, this was no swindler; he was clearly a money-dispensing child.

"Zhao, my friend, I think you should take forty percent of Facebook's shares," Zuckerberg said earnestly, looking at Zhao Fusheng.

Forty percent?

Zhao Fusheng was a bit surprised; it was more than he had expected.

In the original history, even Saverin, who co-founded Facebook with Zuckerberg, had at most around thirty percent of the shares.

Even so, he was eventually ousted by Zuckerberg, and his shares were diluted to about two percent.

From start to finish, Zuckerberg maintained absolute control over Facebook. Even before the IPO, when Facebook had already received $2.4 billion in investment, Zuckerberg still held nearly thirty percent of the shares.

That was a terrifying number.

Now, because of Zhao Fusheng's appearance, Facebook's share structure was very clear: Zhao Fusheng and Zuckerberg shared the entire website.

Only, Zhao Fusheng's original share wasn't that much.

Clearly, Zhao Fusheng's proposal to inject more funds had moved Zuckerberg.

"Zuck, I hope you understand that I believe in Facebook's future," Zhao Fusheng said, looking at Zuckerberg. "I have wealth now, and I'll have more in the future. I don't mind using this money to invest in Facebook and help you succeed."

With that, he shrugged. "As for shares, I agree with your opinion, but I also hope you'll remember that if possible, when we start fundraising, dilute my shares first. You must maintain absolute control and authority over the company, understand?"

At that moment, Zuckerberg felt Zhao Fusheng was simply an angel, not a capitalist at all—clearly an angel with a halo on his head.

An investor who cared so much for him was truly rare.

"Zhao, my friend, rest assured, I will definitely remember these words," Zuckerberg said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and said nothing more.

In fact, he knew very well that as time passed, Zuckerberg would selectively forget what was said today, just as in his previous life he had ousted Eduardo Saverin, who initially supported him in creating the website.

Perhaps at the very beginning, they were truly innocent youths, just pursuing a momentary interest and creating an era. But as time went on and circumstances changed, they themselves gradually transformed.

Those cold times endured alone, the despair of lying awake at night facing the darkness, the sorrow of清醒ly watching oneself act foolishly, the hysterical entanglements like a neurotic—they gradually became the ugly shell encasing the heart and the violent, indifferent parts of one's character.

Too many people considered only their own interests, their own future and destiny, their own responsibilities.

In the end, they ultimately chose to go their separate ways.

Watching the delighted Zuckerberg leave the farm, Dong Chenxi stood beside Zhao Fusheng and said in a low voice, "Are you that optimistic about Facebook?"

To be honest, this was the first time she had seen Zhao Fusheng so enthusiastic about a project, with a level of attention far exceeding all his investments in China.

Hearing her question, Zhao Fusheng smiled, glanced meaningfully at Zuckerberg's retreating figure, then winked at Dong Chenxi. "Do you believe it? This is a man destined to change the world."

Dong Chenxi was stunned. She really didn't believe that the slovenly, obviously still immature student boy could change the world.

Zhao Fusheng didn't explain further. Not everyone could see Facebook's potential. Even Sequoia Capital had missed the mark on this, later losing at least billions of dollars.

It was said that whenever this topic came up, Sequoia's partners were full of resentment toward Sean Parker, the later-departed CEO of Facebook.

Wait, Sean Parker?

Zhao Fusheng suddenly remembered that when Zuckerberg had chatted with him earlier, he hadn't mentioned Sean Parker, only inviting him to visit Facebook when convenient.

"I think we should set up a U.S. office," Zhao Fusheng said, looking up at Dong Chenxi.

Dong Chenxi was taken aback, then nodded. "I understand. I'll start recruiting people right away."

She naturally understood Zhao Fusheng's meaning. With the company's business increasing in the U.S., she couldn't remotely control everything on her own. So establishing an office and recruiting a team to work there was imperative.

This was an inevitable process for a formal investment company, unless it planned to dominate only within China and not expand globally.

And obviously, neither Zhao Fusheng nor Dong Chenxi was the type without ambition.

Dong Chenxi was very much looking forward to the day she would lead Future Investment abroad.