Chapter 1252: Blockbuster News

In many cases, the purpose of a company meeting is simply a process of information sharing.

Simply put, for a diversified comprehensive company like Future Group, regular information sharing among top executives is highly beneficial. For instance, Future Advertising and Future Film and Television, as subsidiaries, can share resources, since celebrities and advertising endorsements have always been inseparable.

What Zheng Yao said earlier was absolutely correct: any company would be extremely eager for the resources that Future Advertising possesses. Now that there is an opportunity to become a partner of Future Advertising, I believe many would not refuse.

Similarly, the relationship among the internet, film and television, and advertising has long been inseparable in the minds of professionals. With the financial support of Future Investment, the current Future Group is undoubtedly at its strongest.

Of course, everyone knows that Future Group's scale will expand in the future, and the company's development will certainly get better and better. But such development must have a solid foundation.

That is precisely why Zhao Fusheng is integrating resources—because it is undoubtedly a crucial link for a modern enterprise.

Even if he is a reincarnator, he cannot cover everything; ultimately, he still needs collective wisdom and effort.

After the meeting ended, Dong Chenxi found Zhao Fusheng.

"Over on the US stock market, NetEase's stock price has risen again," Dong Chenxi said to Zhao Fusheng with a smile. "Ono Masao called me again, asking when we can start negotiations."

Since Zhao Fusheng had previously mentioned that he planned to transfer his NetEase shares to SoftBank, Dong Chenxi was considering whether they could wait for the stock price to rise a bit more, given that NetEase's US stock was performing well and could potentially hit a higher price.

"A man must keep his word," Zhao Fusheng said with a faint smile. "Since I promised him before, naturally we should negotiate."

Earlier, Zhao Fusheng had called Ono Masao to ask for his help in contacting the US media and Hollywood's actors' union. Although Ono Masao found it a bit odd, he agreed, since for a big shot like him, it was just a small matter.

Dong Chenxi nodded. Since Zhao Fusheng said so, she knew what to do.

…

…

The next morning, in the meeting room of Future Investment, Zhao Fusheng and Ono Masao sat facing each other, flanked by their assistants in suits.

"Mr. Ono, thank you for your help with the previous matter," Zhao Fusheng said to Ono Masao with a smile.

Ono Masao smiled slightly and waved his hand: "You're welcome, Chairman Zhao. We are partners; mutual help is only natural."

Zhao Fusheng chuckled: "Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Ono Masao's mouth twitched at the words. Looking at Zhao Fusheng's smiling face, he wished he could punch it. This guy was simply too infuriating—he couldn't even be bothered to be polite. The traditional Chinese virtue of courtesy was nowhere to be seen in him.

In fact, Ono Masao was in a bad mood. NetEase's stock price was rising day by day. Feedback from the US indicated that the American financial market had good prospects. SoftBank's judgment was that the US stock market would certainly hit new highs this year.

At this moment, Zhao Fusheng's holdings of NetEase shares were too tempting for Ono Masao to resist.

"Chairman Zhao, forgive my impertinence, but may I ask how many NetEase shares your company holds?" Ono Masao asked slowly, looking at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng laughed and nodded: "Of course."

He had no intention of hiding this. He signaled to Dong Chenxi, who quickly brought a document and handed it to Ono Masao.

Taking the document, Ono Masao looked down and read it.

After a moment, he looked up with a rather strange expression on his face.

"Chairman Zhao, you've really given me quite a surprise," Ono Masao said with a wry smile.

Six million shares!

Average cost of fifty dollars!

Looking at the transaction records, Ono Masao could only marvel that some people in this world were simply born to be wealthy. When NetEase's stock was at its lowest, at just one dollar per share, it was the height of the global internet bubble burst. Almost all investors had lost confidence in internet tech stocks, and many investors in internet companies were dumping their shares. Even SoftBank had quietly sold off its shares at that time.

Yet Zhao Fusheng had done the opposite, and in recent years, whenever he had funds, he kept buying NetEase shares.

Now, his investment had finally paid off.

"Mr. Ono, this is my utmost sincerity," Zhao Fusheng said slowly, looking at Ono Masao. "Additionally, I hold a batch of Lehman Brothers shares, worth about sixty million US dollars. If your SoftBank Group needs them, I can sell them to you as well."

Ono Masao was startled and looked at Zhao Fusheng in surprise.

To be honest, he hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to directly offer to sell these shares without any conditions. This was no small sum.

"I can feel Chairman Zhao's sincerity, but do you think these shares are enough to take our Alibaba shares off our hands?"

Ono Masao took a deep breath, said nothing, and glanced at his assistant. The assistant, quick on the uptake, spoke directly.

Zhao Fusheng gave the man a strange look and said irritably: "Mr. Ono, I think I've shown my sincerity clearly enough, but I feel that you and your assistant seem to have misunderstood me, thinking I'm weak and easy to bully?"

Ono Masao was taken aback as Zhao Fusheng tapped lightly on the table and said: "Mr. Ono, I need to tell you that Future Investment has more than just SoftBank as a partner. Mr. Ma Yun has already agreed to sell his shares to Future Investment."

Then, he blinked: "Mr. Ono, to be honest, I'm quite suspicious of SoftBank's actions. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, Ono Masao laughed it off: "Chairman Zhao, you must have misunderstood. Please believe that SoftBank is sincere in cooperating with you. As the Chinese saying goes, 'If the deal falls through, goodwill remains.' I have always regarded you as my friend. This cooperation, I hope, will establish a strategic partnership between SoftBank and Future Group."

Listening to the old man's words, Zhao Fusheng gave a forced smile.

He wasn't stupid; only a fool would believe Ono Masao. The old fox hadn't spoken a single truthful word from start to finish.

But Zhao Fusheng also knew that Ono Masao was highly wary of him, given that he had genuinely tricked him once before over the Shanda Technology matter. Ono Masao had suffered a loss and was surely looking to get even.

With that in mind, Zhao Fusheng glanced at Dong Chenxi beside him and blinked.

Dong Chenxi understood and said with a smile: "Chairman, Mr. Ono, how about this: our main goal today is to understand each other's situations. We can continue talks this afternoon. We've prepared lunch for our SoftBank guests; shall we eat and chat?"

Although it was a business negotiation, they were not mortal enemies. Politeness had to be observed.

Ono had no objection, so Zhao Fusheng and Dong Chenxi hosted a banquet for Ono Masao and his party.

During the meal, Ono Masao said to Zhao Fusheng earnestly: "Chairman Zhao, I've never understood why your company wants to sell NetEase shares to SoftBank. Are you very optimistic about the e-commerce market?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly, knowing that Ono Masao was probing him. He said slowly: "Mr. Ono, to be frank, the main reason I agreed to cooperate with you is that I am well aware that I am not an American after all."

"What do you mean?" Ono Masao looked at Zhao Fusheng, puzzled.

Zhao Fusheng spread his hands, looking helpless: "I am Chinese. I cannot betray my motherland, and my parents would not allow me to emigrate. That means my career focus must be in China. Do you think holding so many US stocks is useful to me? Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that Facebook is developing so well and I promised Mark not to sell my shares before the IPO, I would even consider winding down all my US businesses."

He paused, then continued helplessly: "As for e-commerce, Alibaba is a good company with great development prospects. But the problem is that its development is limited to an e-commerce platform. I'm torn; I don't know if this choice of mine is right or wrong."

Seeing Zhao Fusheng's conflicted expression, Ono Masao was secretly delighted but kept a straight face. He patted Zhao Fusheng on the shoulder and comforted him: "I understand you, Chairman Zhao. It's really too hard for an Asian to succeed in the US..."

Watching the old man put on an act in front of him, Zhao Fusheng could barely keep from laughing. Fortunately, Dong Chenxi changed the subject, giving him a chance to calm down.

He knew that if he successfully fooled Ono Masao, a blockbuster news story would soon emerge from the hands of him and Ono Masao.

But only time would tell who made money and who lost money in this deal.