Chapter 2100: Treating Guests

In a sense, humans are undoubtedly the most hypocritical animals in the world.

Because humans often like to use their own thinking to guess the thoughts of others, and the result of doing so is that things turn out contrary to their wishes.

For Zhao Fusheng and Dong Guoxiang, at their level, material life certainly wouldn't be lacking. What truly mattered to them was being spiritually in sync with their loved ones.

For example, Zhao Fusheng didn't mind how much money Fan Baobao earned, but he absolutely couldn't tolerate having nothing to say to each other.

Once it reached that point, it could only prove that there was a problem in their relationship.

The same went for Dong Guoxiang.

Although he couldn't compare to Zhao Fusheng in terms of wealth, he was at least the head of Future Technology and held management shares in the company. By this logic, his girlfriend didn't need to earn a lot of money or have great abilities, but she had to have good character. Otherwise, Dong Guoxiang felt his family life wouldn't be very happy.

Hu Tingting performed quite well, at least enough to satisfy Zhao Fusheng.

Receiving Zhao Fusheng's approval naturally meant she was qualified to be his girlfriend.

On this point, Dong Guoxiang had no doubt.

There was no helping it—after all, Zhao Fusheng wasn't just his friend but also his boss.

When he returned to the company, Zhao Fusheng was already sitting in his office.

"You're way too bored."

Dong Guoxiang looked at Zhao Fusheng helplessly and said.

"Look at you."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "I'm just helping you take a look. Besides, she seems pretty good—a nice girl, very proper, suitable for someone with your personality."

This was the truth.

You see, Dong Guoxiang was actually a simple and honest person. The reason Zhao Fusheng had never let him into other departments of the company was because he clearly knew that apart from software development, Dong Guoxiang wasn't good at anything else.

Even in software development, he had Zheng Yao assign Dong Guoxiang a group of capable management talents.

They were all specially sent over from the Future Group headquarters' strategic planning research office.

The reason was simple: Dong Guoxiang wasn't skilled in corporate management.

The same applied to matters of the heart.

Dong Guoxiang had never been a scheming person. For him, feelings were like life—they needed to be taken seriously.

So if he ended up with a gold-digging girlfriend, he might be swindled out of everything he owned and still be counting money for her.

Conversely, a proper girl like Hu Tingting might be the most suitable for him.

"I know what you mean."

Dong Guoxiang nodded: "I'm treating her colleagues to dinner tonight. Do you want to come?"

"Me?"

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand: "I'd better not steal your thunder. But where are you planning to go?"

"I haven't decided yet. Her colleagues were joking with her earlier, saying that since she found a boyfriend, she should bring him out to meet them." Dong Guoxiang said helplessly: "I overheard her on the phone..."

"In that case, how about Morton's Steakhouse?"

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said to Dong Guoxiang: "I'll have someone arrange it. You take them there tonight."

"Is that... appropriate?"

Dong Guoxiang was a bit surprised, not expecting Zhao Fusheng to arrange it that way.

"Don't worry about that. Let me tell you, I came to see you for something important."

With that, Zhao Fusheng sent a text to Liu Yiming, asking him to contact Morton's.

Then he pulled Dong Guoxiang aside and explained his ideas about WeChat.

Although Dong Guoxiang was somewhat surprised, having been to the US and knowing the development of smartphones there, he wasn't too shocked by Zhao Fusheng's words.

"According to what you're saying, if we develop and promote this chat software, once smartphones take off and the 3G/4G era arrives, we'll definitely seize the initiative!"

As a programmer, Dong Guoxiang keenly realized what this meant.

"Exactly."

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "This matter can't wait. We must seize the initiative. By the time Ma Huateng reacts, it'll be too late."

"Actually, we don't necessarily have to cooperate with Tencent."

Dong Guoxiang thought for a moment and suddenly said to Zhao Fusheng.

"What do you mean?"

Zhao Fusheng was puzzled.

"Don't forget, according to your idea, we could actually cooperate with China Mobile and China Unicom, letting users register and log in with their phone numbers."

Dong Guoxiang looked at Zhao Fusheng and slowly said: "And I think the user base for smartphones is roughly the same as for QQ."

"..."

Zhao Fusheng was silent.

He initially wanted to refute Dong Guoxiang, but on second thought, Dong Guoxiang's suggestion actually made a lot of sense.

It was just that he had always been fixated on QQ's massive user base, overlooking phone number registration, which was also popular in later years.

In fact, as Dong Guoxiang said, phone number registration could also bring a large number of users to WeChat.

In future development, WeChat was indeed tied to phone numbers, but Zhao Fusheng had forgotten that.

"Interesting."

After a long while, Zhao Fusheng muttered to himself: "You know, that idea of yours is pretty good."

Often, things are like a leaf blocking the view of Mount Tai. We are always blocked by something in front of us. Once that window paper is pierced and the truth is revealed, we suddenly understand.

Just like now, Zhao Fusheng suddenly got it.

Cooperating with Tencent was one approach; cooperating with China Mobile and China Unicom was also a good one.

Because smartphones themselves are tied to phone numbers.

If a person owns a smartphone, they definitely have a phone number.

Under such circumstances, choosing to register for WeChat and adding friends from their contacts didn't seem like a difficult thing.

In fact, many people might even be happy about it.

"Then I'll have people start R&D on this project." Dong Guoxiang smiled and said to Zhao Fusheng.

"Mm."

Zhao Fusheng nodded and smiled.

He was in a good mood now. According to Dong Guoxiang's idea, it seemed he could really consider dominating the smartphone app market and even rival Tencent.

Thinking of this, Zhao Fusheng couldn't control the smile on his face, which surprised Dong Guoxiang beside him.

The two discussed the specifics of the software further. Zhao Fusheng told Dong Guoxiang everything he remembered about WeChat.

Dong Guoxiang also added some of his own suggestions based on what Zhao Fusheng said.

They both knew that developing such a program couldn't be completed overnight; it would require a huge investment of manpower, resources, and money.

Fortunately, Future Technology, thanks to the promotion of YY Voice and the game Dungeon & Fighter, was in a profitable state and could afford the investment in such a project.

"Don't worry, I'll make progress soon."

Dong Guoxiang said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "I trust you on this."

This was heartfelt. Among his subordinates, Dong Guoxiang and Zhang Qian were the ones he trusted the most.

Not just because of their loyalty, but because they did things methodically. They never promised what they couldn't deliver, but if they promised, they would definitely follow through.

This was both a strength and a weakness.

Of course, it depended on the situation and position.

Fortunately, so far, their positions meant this trait wasn't a weakness.

...

...

While Zhao Fusheng and Dong Guoxiang were meeting, Hu Tingting returned to her company.

The company she worked for was a foreign trade firm specializing in import and export business. Hu Tingting was a translator there.

She wasn't exceptionally outstanding, but at least her job was stable.

"Tingting, off to date your programmer boyfriend again?"

"Yeah, when are you going to bring him out to meet us?"

"Little girl, you've got a boyfriend but you're keeping him hidden."

A group of women in the company naturally knew about Hu Tingting's relationship and teased her with smiles.

"Can you guys not be so boring?"

Hu Tingting was also helpless.

These colleagues weren't bad people; they just felt that with her good job, she shouldn't settle for an ordinary programmer.

"Haha, she's upset!"

"Yeah, once someone gets a boyfriend, they forget their friends."

Several of them said jokingly.

Having worked together for a long time, they had good relationships and were just curious.

"Alright, alright."

Hu Tingting said exasperatedly: "Enough nonsense. Tonight he's treating all of you to dinner. How about that?"

"Really?"

"No way, does the programmer guy know we've been talking about him?"

"Tingting, is he planning to dump you, so he's treating us to dinner?"

Joking aside, everyone knew Hu Tingting cared a lot about this boyfriend.

"Seriously, don't leave after work. We'll eat together."

Hu Tingting said.

Everyone laughed and nodded in agreement.

"By the way, where are we eating?"

"Yeah, it's not going to be a roadside barbecue, is it?"

"That works too. I've been craving barbecue lately."

A group of girls gathered around Hu Tingting, laughing.

After all, they were all young—some married, some not. Although the foreign trade company paid well, they didn't have much money left over. If someone was treating, they were happy to join.

Of course, everyone was more curious about Hu Tingting's mysterious boyfriend.

You see, although Hu Tingting wasn't the prettiest in the company, she was definitely the most popular girl. Everyone had thought she would find a better-off white-collar worker, but it turned out to be a programmer—something no one expected.