Chapter 2165: Rejection

As the president of Baidu, Tang Jun was well aware that despite his high position, he was ultimately just an employee.

Since he was an employee, compared to those truly big shots, his status fell far short.

Thus, in front of Zhao Fusheng, he actually had no confidence.

Just as Zhao Fusheng said, there were some things he didn't need to understand.

"President Tang, what do you think is the probability of success for the cooperation between Baidu and Future Advertising?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Tang Jun with a half-smile and asked.

Tang Jun was startled, somewhat surprised.

But he immediately realized that this matter was getting troublesome.

In fact, Tang Jun was not in favor of this matter, because in his view, it might be nothing more than wishful thinking on the part of some people at Baidu.

Zhao Fusheng was not short of money, and Future Advertising was the capital he started his business with; under normal circumstances, it was unlikely he would sell it.

Moreover, the relationship between Baidu and Future Group was hardly that of partners.

However, on the board of directors, some people thought that doing so could monopolize more fashion resources and build a large internet platform, so they considered it.

They even raised the offer.

But now it seemed that Zhao Fusheng had no intention of selling Future Advertising at all.

After pondering for a moment, Tang Jun looked at Zhao Fusheng and slowly spoke: "Chairman Zhao, Baidu's sincerity for cooperation is very high. I really hope you can consider this matter."

Zhao Fusheng laughed.

Tang Jun's attitude seemed sincere, but in fact, the meaning it conveyed made one feel that there was something wrong.

"I will consider the cooperation."

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Fusheng said to Tang Jun: "I hope President Tang will convey to Mr. Li that Baidu should take responsibility, because a company, especially an internet company, without a sense of social responsibility is undoubtedly heartless."

Tang Jun was startled, looking at Zhao Fusheng in surprise.

He found it hard to understand why Zhao Fusheng suddenly said that.

Zhao Fusheng smiled, said nothing more, and instead raised his teacup to signal the end of the meeting.

Only after Tang Jun left did he drop his smile.

To be honest, Zhao Fusheng really couldn't commend Baidu's sense of social responsibility.

As for the reason,

it was actually not complicated.

There were many search engine companies, but Baidu's style was truly frustrating.

Fake medical ads, various pirated resources—on Baidu, you could search for anything you wanted, even if some things were actually illegal.

But they never considered that.

Because it didn't align with their corporate interests.

It was hard for Zhao Fusheng to associate such a company with social responsibility.

……

……

"All done?"

Zhao Fusheng hadn't been in his office long when Zheng Yao walked in.

"Mm."

Hearing Zheng Yao's question, Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Just a brief chat. Tang Jun is a smart man; he should understand my meaning."

"This man is quite capable."

Zheng Yao gave her assessment, then said: "But he's Li Yanhong's man. The Baidu board has always been wary of him."

"Normal."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "How did your investigation go?"

He was asking about the results of Zheng Yao's covert investigation into the matter.

Zheng Yao replied: "I have some leads. Baidu seems to be planning to enter the fashion industry and also wants to set up something in the entertainment circle."

"Quite ambitious."

Zhao Fusheng frowned.

To be honest, from these clues alone, not much could be discerned.

But one thing Zhao Fusheng was certain of: for no reason, willing to spend so much money to acquire Future Advertising, Baidu was certainly not engaged in charity.

In other words, they must have some ulterior motive that he didn't know about.

Given that, Zhao Fusheng couldn't agree to Baidu's request.

Although he didn't know when Future Group and Baidu might become rivals, even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance of that happening, Zhao Fusheng couldn't sell Future Advertising to Baidu.

Weakening his own strength and enhancing the enemy's was not a pleasant thing.

"What do we do? Do we agree or not?"

Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng and asked slowly.

This matter required Zhao Fusheng to make the decision.

After all, he was the boss of the company!

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Let's forget it."

"Mm."

Zheng Yao nodded and said nothing more.

Thus, the matter was settled.

After all, once Zhao Fusheng and Zheng Yao decided something, no one in the entire Future Group could or would object.

After all, one was the boss and the other was the CEO.

……

……

Soon, Baidu received a reply from Future Group.

Informing them that the cooperation could not proceed.

"This..."

In the Baidu boardroom, a group of people stared at the official letter, dumbfounded.

It was the first time they had seen someone turn down money.

Tang Jun looked at the faces of the directors and sneered inwardly.

A bunch of idiots!

That was Tang Jun's assessment of these people at that moment.

Each of them only cared about their own petty calculations, without considering the actual situation outside.

You see, after meeting Zhao Fusheng once, Tang Jun had already confirmed what kind of person he was.

That man was absolutely resolute and impossible to change.

"What do we do next?"

A few people looked at each other.

"President Tang, I want to know how much effort the company has put into advancing this matter?" A director seemed to think of something and asked Tang Jun.

Tang Jun shrugged: "We have been trying to contact Future Group headquarters and have communicated with them, but Future Group's President Zheng said it was Chairman Zhao Fusheng's decision, so she could do nothing."

This was the truth; Zheng Yao had indeed replied to him that way.

However, Zheng Yao didn't say that Zhao Fusheng had already delegated the decision-making power to her.

"I really don't understand why they rejected our cooperation proposal."

A board member frowned and said in a deep voice.

"Yeah, this is a deal worth several billion."

"Could they have guessed our intentions?"

Some people were discussing.

In the end, they still couldn't reach a consensus.

Tang Jun looked at these people and sighed inwardly.

This was Baidu.

From its initial rapid development to the present-day infighting.

The entire Baidu was no longer the internet company he remembered.

Thinking of this, Tang Jun made a decision in his heart.

Perhaps, he should leave.