Chapter 1553: Scheming!

"Why are you only willing to cooperate with white people?"

Upon learning that Zhao Fusheng had specifically gone to Silicon Valley to meet with Mark Zuckerberg and Evan Williams, Tan Kaixuan asked him with some surprise.

By then, nearly a week had passed since Zhao Fusheng arrived in the United States.

Unexpectedly, even after returning from Silicon Valley to New York, Zhao Fusheng still did not send an invitation to meet Kevin Feige. Instead, he continued to wander around New York, even going to watch a Knicks game.

After finishing up with his company matters, Tan Kaixuan came to hang out with Zhao Fusheng. In his words, if Zhao Fusheng was bored, the two of them could head over to Hollywood.

"Los Angeles or San Francisco, take your pick?" Tan Kaixuan asked Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and shook his head: "Let me answer your first question first."

"Huh?"

Tan Kaixuan was taken aback, then nodded: "Alright, go ahead."

Zhao Fusheng shrugged and explained to Tan Kaixuan: "Although Americans always tout democracy and freedom, in reality, whether it's racial discrimination or anything else, it has always existed in the United States. To avoid being disturbed by people of color, white people have even tacitly established a set of unspoken rules. They push up housing prices and tuition fees in schools to levels that most poorer people of color cannot afford, thus avoiding contact with them."

"Really?"

Tan Kaixuan was dumbfounded, never imagining such a slick operation existed.

Zhao Fusheng spread his hands. What he said was the truth. In fact, doing so not only allowed real estate developers and various institutions to make money but also gave those consumers a high-end experience. In short, it was a win-win for mainstream society.

"But there are still successful black people and people of color, aren't there?"

After thinking for a moment, Tan Kaixuan said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily: "That's because as society develops, people only care whether a person is rich or capable, not their skin color. You see, once a person achieves success, a poor background becomes a testament to starting from scratch, proving that person is very capable. As for whether that person received other help during their rise, everyone selectively forgets. Society is just that realistic; neither you nor I can do anything about it."

Tan Kaixuan fell silent.

He had to admit that Zhao Fusheng was right.

Some people have big eyes but are blind.

Some people's eyes are not blind, but their hearts are.

And there are still others whose eyes are not blind, nor their hearts, but they are blinded by interests.

"So, that's why you choose to cooperate with white people?"

After a long while, Tan Kaixuan looked at Zhao Fusheng and asked.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged and nodded: "At least that way, I don't have to worry about my partners being prejudiced, right?"

Although somewhat surprised, Tan Kaixuan had to admit that Zhao Fusheng was absolutely right; it really was that logic.

"By the way, what are your thoughts on the Marvel matter?"

Tan Kaixuan thought for a moment and asked Zhao Fusheng.

After all, it had been quite some time; a decision had to be made.

Zhao Fusheng laughed upon hearing this: "You, don't rush. Trust me, there are people more anxious than me right now."

"Who?"

Tan Kaixuan was puzzled, then suddenly understood: "You mean Kevin Feige?"

"Of course, him." Zhao Fusheng nodded matter-of-factly: "Think about it. Although Marvel is currently in talks with various investment firms, everyone knows their situation. Who would be willing to pour real money into a sinking ship just as it's about to go under?"

Tan Kaixuan thought it over and had to admit that Zhao Fusheng's words made a lot of sense.

Merchants pursue profit, and American businessmen have taken the essence of this saying to heart. Those on Wall Street are all elites; in other words, they value profit more than life and dignity.

Given Marvel's current state, any investor with a bit of sense should understand that no matter how much money is thrown in, it's like a meat bun thrown at a dog—gone forever.

More importantly, you can't even see a glimmer of hope for success.

After all, a company that relies on selling copyrights to survive, having sold off the copyrights of its core superheroes, leaving only some obscure ones—why would anyone invest in such an enterprise?

Tan Kaixuan even believed that any investment firm manager who proposed investing in Marvel would be cursed out by their backers. The reason was simple: investors entrust money to funds for profit; who would want to make a losing deal?

Just as some always think that when Panda TV went under, Wang Sicong must have lost money, but in reality, he had already cashed out his equity before the company ran into trouble.

True businessmen deeply understand the principle of not standing under a crumbling wall.

Even a super tycoon like Li Ka-shing, who loudly professes patriotism, decisively chose to invest in the UK when the domestic economy faced issues. This shows the true face of businessmen.

Not everyone is a true patriot like Huo Yingdong.

…

…

In fact, there was one more thing Zhao Fusheng didn't say to Tan Kaixuan.

If Kevin Feige hadn't been rebuffed everywhere on Wall Street and in Hollywood, tasting the coldness of human relationships, how would he cherish this friendship from China?

When it rains, it pours. In Zhao Fusheng's view, his appearance not only made Marvel realize they still had appeal but also prematurely triggered Marvel's predicament.

At the very least, Kevin Feige must now be desperately lobbying Hollywood and Wall Street investors, hoping they would inject capital into Marvel.

And soon, he would discover that no company in the entire United States was willing to help Marvel, because everyone knew that Marvel was only one step away from bankruptcy.

This is a sad story.

But it is indeed the truth.

Another week passed, and it had been nearly half a month since Zhao Fusheng arrived in the United States. Soon it would be Christmas, the most important holiday for Westerners.

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back home. I promised Yaya I'd spend Christmas with her."

Tan Kaixuan had lost patience. He couldn't understand Zhao Fusheng's strategy of staying put, but regardless, he had to say goodbye.

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "What, planning to leave?"

Tan Kaixuan nodded: "You keep grinding it out with Kevin Feige. I'm not sticking around for you two."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "I have an invitation here from Kevin Feige to visit Marvel. Are you coming?"

"What!"

Tan Kaixuan was stunned, looking at Zhao Fusheng in surprise: "He couldn't hold out?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "To be precise, Marvel finally couldn't hold out."

There was no help for it; Marvel's situation was indeed too dire. Even if Kevin Feige were made of iron, he faced the dilemma of a clever woman cooking without rice and had to choose compromise.

Of course, the main pressure came from Wall Street and Hollywood, as external confidence in investing in Marvel was completely lacking. Kevin Feige had no choice but to seek new partners.

And that partner, clearly, could only be Zhao Fusheng and his Future Investment.

"What exactly are you planning?" Tan Kaixuan asked Zhao Fusheng in surprise.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged: "Come with me, and I'll tell you slowly. How about it?"

He thought Tan Kaixuan would agree, but the latter shook his head: "Forget it. This is your project; I won't get involved."

His thinking was simple: if Zhao Fusheng needed his help, he would certainly help, but since this was Future Investment's business, he didn't plan to participate.

Business is business, personal friendship is personal friendship.

Tan Kaixuan didn't want his presence to cause any trouble for Zhao Fusheng.

Hearing Tan Kaixuan's words, Zhao Fusheng laughed. This guy was still as smart as ever; clearly, he had guessed Zhao Fusheng's intentions and therefore didn't want to be involved.

But without Tan Kaixuan's participation, this plan might not succeed.

With that in mind, Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Tan Kaixuan: "Come on, let's talk in the car. We'll chat as we go."

Tan Kaixuan frowned; obviously, he didn't understand what Zhao Fusheng meant. He was curious about what Zhao Fusheng was trying to do.

The two soon left together. Outside, Dong Chenxi and Wu Sijie were waiting with the motorcade. Pulling Tan Kaixuan into the same car, Zhao Fusheng looked at him and said with a smile: "What, do you think that by leaving, you won't be an obstacle in the negotiations between me and Marvel?"

Reluctant as he was to admit it, Tan Kaixuan nodded: "Isn't that the case?"

"Bro, use your head." Zhao Fusheng said helplessly: "Think about it. Even if Marvel is down on its luck now, it's still worth over 2.5 billion dollars. Do you think Future Investment alone can swallow it?"

Tan Kaixuan was taken aback, frowned, and shook his head: "Didn't you tell Xue Yuanfang and Zhou Jianmin that you planned to acquire some shares?"

"Yes, I did say I would acquire some shares."

Zhao Fusheng nodded and explained: "But the problem is, even if we acquire 60% of the shares, how much do you think that would cost? At least 1.5 billion dollars. I have at most a little over 800 million on hand right now. Where am I supposed to get the rest?"

Hearing this, Tan Kaixuan's expression changed instantly. He stared at Zhao Fusheng in shock: "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Zhao Fusheng grinned: "What am I trying to do? Of course, we brothers join forces and get rich together!"

At that moment, he smiled like a fox that had stolen a chicken.