Chapter 0254: Riding the Waves

There are not many people in this world who are good to you, so please do not ignore their kindness and care.

Zhao Fusheng naturally understood that Tan Kaixuan and Wang Zhen meant well for him, so he would not hide anything from them. He patiently explained to the two of them, "Our website currently has the largest number of users among all similar websites, and it also has the fastest user growth, right?"

Wang Zhen nodded. "Indeed."

He was well aware that, with the promotion of the navigation website as a foundation, coupled with people's inherent herd mentality, it was only a matter of time before MyHome virtual community's registered users exceeded half a million.

"He hasn't even met me, and based solely on some external understanding, he dares to offer a price of five hundred thousand. What do you think his mindset is?" Zhao Fusheng laughed and asked Tan Kaixuan.

"How would I know? Maybe he just wants to throw money at you..." Tan Kaixuan said instinctively, but then his expression turned strange.

Looking at Zhao Fusheng, Tan Kaixuan said, "You mean, either he doesn't have enough funds, or he plans to buy at a low price?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Only these two possibilities. Either he doesn't have much money, and this 500,000 might be all he has—he threw it out to scare me, making me think that's his bottom line. Second, he actually knows the value of our website, so he plans to grab a bargain at this price and then sell it high later."

Wang Zhen and Tan Kaixuan both kept silent; they had to admit that Zhao Fusheng's words made a lot of sense. In a sense, this possibility did exist.

After all, in the business world, anything absurd could happen.

"Alright, don't overthink it. We'll soon know what's really going on with them." Saying this, Zhao Fusheng smiled at Wang Zhen: "Keep spending the money that needs to be spent. Don't be stingy. We can still hold out for another month, right?"

Wang Zhen nodded obediently: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

After all, this had been decided from the very beginning between the two of them: technical matters were his responsibility, while business operations were handled by Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled, patted Wang Zhen on the shoulder, and said, "You, my friend, are really lucky."

"Huh?" Wang Zhen looked utterly bewildered, clearly not understanding Zhao Fusheng's words, but Zhao Fusheng didn't explain further. Instead, he pulled Tan Kaixuan and left together.

On the way back, Tan Kaixuan asked Zhao Fusheng curiously, "Why did you say Old Wang is lucky? Because he found you to invest in his idea?"

Zhao Fusheng chuckled softly and shook his head. "It's not about whether I invest or not. It's about the timing."

Many things aren't that no one thinks of them, but timing is crucial.

For example, before Tencent QQ, there were instant messaging software like ICQ and MSN, but none became popular in China. Similarly, in e-commerce and other fields, many pioneers tried but failed.

Now, with Wang Zhen's proposed virtual community, Zhao Fusheng was certain that if it were a year later, as the internet bubble evaporated, no one would be interested in such a project.

The reason was simple: it burned money without a profit point. Many companies, operating at a loss, wouldn't invest in such a thing.

But now, just as the internet bubble was about to peak, there were plenty of investment firms waving money to enter this industry. Some didn't even understand how to do internet business, but that didn't matter—they had money.

Zhao Fusheng didn't know who that Mr. Chen was, but he was clear that this time, both Wang Zhen and he would face a turning point in their lives.

"You mean, it's just the right time?" Tan Kaixuan suddenly had a flash of insight and thought of an idiom.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "Exactly, just the right time. Believe me, Old Wang is going to hit it big this time."

"Haha, that's great! Then we'll make him treat us every day," Tan Kaixuan laughed heartily. It was impossible not to feel a little jealous of his roommates' development, but he knew his own abilities—this stuff was beyond him.

Tan Kaixuan felt that he should instead fight in the financial markets—that was the way to go.

Then, casually making hundreds of thousands in a minute—that was what a real man should do.

Most importantly, his family had money, so it was hard for Tan Kaixuan to feel any jealousy toward Zhao Fusheng and Wang Zhen, after all, he had seen the hardships they endured.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and nodded: "Right, we should make him treat us."

As long as he wasn't the one paying, he was all for it.

"Hey, tell me, why don't I have that skill? I've been online a lot too," Tan Kaixuan muttered to himself as he walked down the street with Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "Look, you've worked hard at this for so long. If you had any talent, there should have been some sign of success by now. So it just means you're not cut out for this line of work."

"Hmm, I feel like you're dissing me..." Tan Kaixuan looked at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand: "I'm not dissing you; I'm telling you a truth."

As he spoke, he shrugged and said: "Sometimes God closes a door for us, and then he goes to wash up and sleep..."

Pfft!

Tan Kaixuan instantly lost control, clutching his stomach and howling with laughter.

"Hahahaha, wash up and sleep, wash up and sleep..." Tan Kaixuan repeated Zhao Fusheng's words, laughing nonstop.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head helplessly. This guy's laugh trigger was way too low. If he ever heard Guo Dapao's cross-talk, he'd probably become a die-hard fan.

"Don't worry about the things we can't solve today, because we probably won't be able to solve them tomorrow either." Zhao Fusheng was in a good mood today, so he decided to tease him a bit more.

"Hahahaha, got any more? Got any more?" Tan Kaixuan was overjoyed, urging Zhao Fusheng on.

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment, glanced at Tan Kaixuan: "Young people, being single now is nothing. The days of being single ahead are still plenty..."

"You think just because a girl is pretty, guys will like her? You think just because you have money, pretty girls will throw themselves at you? You think a top student can easily find a good job? Let me tell you, all of that is true!"

"When you feel poor and ugly, good for nothing, don't despair—at least your judgment is correct."

"You always complain about some people being lazy, as if being diligent would mean you could actually accomplish something great."

These toxic chicken soup quotes from the future internet had Tan Kaixuan in stitches, but Zhao Fusheng felt that this guy's constant urging for more wasn't entirely innocent.

"Come on, what are you really up to?" As they neared the dorm, Zhao Fusheng asked Tan Kaixuan.

Tan Kaixuan grinned: "I think I can tell these jokes to my female net friends..."

"Huh?"

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then looked speechless: "You actually..."

"Haha, I'm clever, right?" Tan Kaixuan wore an expression that said 'praise me,' leaving Zhao Fusheng both amused and exasperated.

Shaking his head, Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to deal with him anymore and headed upstairs.

Tan Kaixuan followed behind Zhao Fusheng, looking smug. He thought that with these jokes, he might be able to amuse a few female net friends, maybe even meet one and find a girl he liked.

Everyone chatting online hopes the person on the other end is a Pan An or a Xi Shi, but what actually happens when they meet—only heaven knows.

Zhao Fusheng understood this well, having been through that era. He even remembered that Tan Kaixuan once went to meet a female net friend and almost got devoured by that nearly-forty-year-old auntie.

In Tan Kaixuan's later recollection, the moment that woman opened her cavernous mouth and leaned in to kiss him, he felt like the whole world was collapsing.

Of course, the current Tan Kaixuan knew nothing of that pain; he was full of joy, looking forward to meeting his net friends.