Reborn with Consumption System

But I’m too young, going alone to talk might make President Zhang not take me seriously.

Uncle Pan, you’re different. You are highly respected and good at dealing with people. Going with me as a partner also shows seriousness.

Our equity investment fund is just starting, and the first deal must make an impression. It’s best to succeed immediately, and you’re the perfect person for the crucial role..."

Han Lie smiled shyly, with sincere eyes, and praised Panzi so much that he almost had bubbles coming out of his nose.

Panzi subconsciously gave Zhao Anni a glance.

That kind of eye-winking glance.

Did you see that?

So what if the little guy can make money?

At the critical moment, he still needs me!

Zhao Anni understood, so she slapped him.

"What’s there to be proud of? Xiaolie needs you to go, so just help him! Finish the job before you boast!"

"Hiss..."

Panzi winced in pain, his head buzzing...

After his arrogance was subdued by violence, Panzi became much more pragmatic—I’m not cowardly, I’m just becoming serious!

"What outcome do you want? Making friends or determined to win? Why does it have to be Byte? Are you planning to be straightforward or pull the rug at the end?"

The serious Panzi deserved his reputation as the wise old man of the business world, asking all the right questions.

Uh, they were even hard for Han Lie to answer.

Right now, Douyin hasn’t been launched yet, so naturally, Han Lie couldn’t talk to Panzi about the importance of short videos.

But if he doesn’t provide a reasonable and sufficient reason to invest most of the equity fund’s cash into Byte, it clearly won’t convince Panzi and Liu Minghao.

Forcefully pushing through, making a unilateral decision?

It’s possible, but unnecessary.

After thinking a bit, Han Lie cautiously replied, "I have high hopes for Zhang Yiming. In the new generation of the internet industry, there are only a few who are good at both technology and products, and we can’t get involved with others, but there’s still time for Zhang Yiming.

And from a product perspective, news distribution platforms are a blue ocean. They use big data to determine what customers want to see and algorithms to decide what customers can see—accurate, sticky, and easy to monetize.

The mobile internet has just exploded, and there are only a few products that can be called traffic entry points—

WeChat, QQ, Taobao, Meituan, Weibo, app stores, browsers, news apps...

Which can we arrange now?

At first glance, news distribution platforms overlap with browsers in functionality but are not as comprehensive as browsers. Yet in fact, logging into web pages on a phone is inconvenient, and many mindsets of the PC era will be overturned due to the narrowness of phone screens.

It is very likely that specialized apps will replace comprehensive platforms—it might be a big trend. Young people open an app and might only do one or two things.

So, based on my personal judgment, giving Byte a premium valuation of 600 to 800 million US dollars now has a low probability of loss.

As new players, our real strength should be in the bear market, after the big funds exit with a large sum of money, so now we should mostly consider using money to buy a name.

Zhang Yiming is an internet friend I picked out worth deeply associating with, and Byte is our entry ticket to venture into the internet for our venture capital transformation, so this time I am determined to win and willing to bear a significantly high premium.

Opportunities are hard to come by, and it’s not always that Yunfeng will endorse every move we make, so going all out won’t waste this chance.

As for the approach... I prefer being straightforward."

Han Lie’s logic was very smooth, and even though Panzi might not be aware of Byte’s potential, he was still convinced.

"Your thinking is correct."

Panzi nodded slowly and took out a new document.

"I recently studied Byte carefully too... don’t understand it. But I agree with your idea of using Byte as a foothold. Lei Jun strongly supports Zhang Yiming, and Shen Nanpeng is also seeking to lead this round of financing. It’s worth betting on."

Han Lie received the stack of documents with a mix of tears and laughter, looked through it, and...

Oh, wow, Panzi had even made notes!

Of course, the focus was a bit off, overly emphasizing data and profit models.

It shows that Panzi really has no talent in this area, but it’s not a big problem, he understands people.

"I will fully support you until you fail three times in a row. Do whatever you want, just let me know when you need me..."

Panzi’s speech was slow, with a fatherly attitude.

But before he finished his impressive act, Zhao Anni directly interrupted, "Yes, yes, your Uncle Pan might not have the strategic vision, but he’s good at management and socializing. Xiaolie, you and your ’father’ working together is invincible!"

Panzi’s face turned red with embarrassment....

What nonsense!

You’re making it sound like I should listen to his command!

The situation is as it is, but you have to round up my face... Gah, woman!

"Then it’s decided. Tomorrow we’ll go together to the Imperial Capital... alright, go do what you need to do. If you’re really idle, go pick up Nannan!"

Panzi put on a stern face to shoo him away, not wanting Han Lie to see him scolding his wife.

But as soon as Han Lie happily left, Panzi immediately complained pitifully, "Why do you always undermine me in front of the kids? Haven’t I done well lately?"

Zhao Anni cheerfully clung to him, "It’s been pretty good, but it could be better... Hubby, it’s just us at home now~~~"

Panzi shivered all over and suddenly turned to look out the door.

Lie, don’t go, come back!

...

When Han Lie left, it was actually not even 8:30. Today’s gathering ended too quickly.

He sent Pan Ge a message, asking when she would be back.

She replied that it would be at least a few more hours.

The movie just started, then possibly a cup of coffee and a chat, or maybe a late-night snack—anyway, no set time.

They were all just excuses.

The last sentence fully exposed her thoughts: "Go play by yourself, I’m exhausted today, save your sweet talk, or I’ll stay out tonight!"

It amused Han Lie to no end.

Little lazybones, I’ve only lived at home for three days, and you’re already slacking. What about after we’re married?

Invite Xi Luting to come live with you?

Sounds quite nice though...

Since the lazybones won’t accompany him, Han Lie decided to go to Tomson and gather the White Jade Trio.

They’re truly white... slurp!

Just as he drove out not far, an unexpected call came in.

"Little man, are you done with your things?"

Tang Xintian’s voice was neither happy nor angry, so Han Lie immediately went into high alert.

"I just got back from a Hongmen Banquet, so it’s sort of a break... I’ve been really busy lately, but I hope you had enough time to digest. How about it, I’m ready, are you ready to chat with me?"

Bao Bin: The heck with your Hongmen Banquet!

Hu Lei: You’ve been grinding us the whole time!

Liu Han: Sorry for hanging us three brothers out on the city gate to exhaust you!

Han Lie truly shameless, but the effect was indeed good.

Tang Xintian chuckled contently, speaking softly, "I know you’re busy, so I daren’t disturb you. I just heard you sort of got to a result, so I wanted to see you..."

"Where are you? I’ll come pick you up."

Han Lie didn’t hesitate a bit and immediately decided to change plans.

Who wouldn’t want to smooth things out?

Sister Da Tang’s score isn’t low either, though not as fun as the White Jade Trio, it’s fresh!

Oh, right, she only wanted to chat?

No worries, having a heart-to-heart talk before leaving, connecting emotionally, also has its own charm~~~

"I’m at the apartment, bring some fruit up when you get to the bottom, I’ve been tired all day..."

Sister Da Tang’s voice was quite normal, without any coquettishness.

But her actively making such a small request already implied a certain level of reliance.

Han Lie eagerly returned to the hotel, grabbed some fine red wines and champagne, then bought a bunch of fruits and went straight to Tang’s apartment.

Since he made a round trip, he only arrived after more than half an hour.

Getting out of the car, carrying the things, just took a few steps when Tang Xintian suddenly called again.

The voice was urgent.

"Forget it, don’t come. Gu Zicheng suddenly wants to visit! I didn’t completely settle her, it’s mostly handled, but don’t get caught by her..."

Han Lie looked at the jelly-orange bomb with a serious face in front of him, feeling incredibly awkward.

He muttered to the phone lightly, "Even one minute earlier... Hi! What a coincidence, dear."

Listening to Han Lie’s greeting that was worse than a scoundrel, Tang Xintian slapped her forehead and smiled wryly.

"Forget it, decide for yourself..."

Decide myself?

Han Lie’s smile suddenly became dangerous and bright.

Why should I be afraid of you when you’re the ones coming after me?

Alright, follow me upstairs!