Nvidia's stock price did not perform well after its IPO. Although it didn't fall below the offering price, its increase never exceeded 100%, meaning the stock price hadn't doubled compared to the offering price.
No wonder it was so easy to buy Nvidia shares; the capital market didn't recognize this company. Perhaps it was due to too many competitors!
KPCB's negotiations to invest in Red Hat progressed faster than expected. This time, Red Hat's valuation was higher, so Shanhai Capital couldn't acquire many shares, contributing 5 million US dollars for approximately 1.8% of the stock.
Other investors included tech giants like IBM, Dell, Intel, and Oracle. Goto also invested 3 million US dollars. Including two other companies whose names He Zhengcheng couldn't even remember, Shanhai Capital completely ran out of funds, and he needed to return to Hong Kong.
"How is Hastings's consideration coming along?" He Zhengcheng asked Middleton Bell, as they were following up on this matter.
"It's almost done; he's pretty much agreed!" said Middleton Bell.
"Hurry it up. I'm returning to Hong Kong for the Spring Festival, and that will delay things for more than ten days. It's best to finalize things before Shi Hongwen and I leave," He Zhengcheng urged.
"You're going back?" Middleton Bell asked.
"Of course. I'm very suitable for strategic decision-making, but not for management! Staying here affects your ability to perform. It's a pity I can't complete the merger before I leave; otherwise, it would be even better," He Zhengcheng replied.
"Uh-huh, uh-huh," Middleton Bell thought, 'You're leaving in two days and still want to negotiate a good price? Are you kidding? Even with cheats, you can't be so casual.'
He Zhengcheng, of course, couldn't achieve it. Until he returned to Hong Kong, the acquisition of Netflix by Overture remained unsettled. Zhi Ling accompanied him back to Hong Kong, then transferred from Hong Kong to Taiwan. Without notifying anyone, they booked a hotel to first adjust to the time difference.
"Do you think being a model is more interesting, or working at a startup?" After waking up, neither of them wanted to move, so they just talked.
Thinking of Lin Zhiling, who had been reluctant before coming to Google, He Zhengcheng asked teasingly, feeling both proud and a little regretful. Was he the only one who knew Zhi Ling's beauty?
"I didn't understand anything and made so many jokes," Zhi Ling said.
"Then you're in trouble. If you can't adapt to the company, you definitely won't stay, and I won't speak up for you," He Zhengcheng stated. Google hadn't grown large yet. At this stage, without talent, randomly placing people would destroy the company's growth. What would happen then?
"Don't worry, I won't embarrass you at Google," Zhi Ling replied.
"Don't force yourself. Your life is yours to control. If you don't like the work here, the next few years will be very tiring, whether the company succeeds or fails, your pressure will always exist. Are you sure you like moving forward with a heavy burden?" He Zhengcheng asked.
"Although it's tiring, I'm very happy. They are a very pure group of people, all very smart," Lin Zhiling said.
"It's a pity that among these people, I'm the least pure. And as the company grows, it will become less and less pure!" He Zhengcheng said with some disappointment.
"It's okay, I like you this way! What Google will become in the future is not within our control," Lin Zhiling took He Zhengcheng's hand, offering comfort.
"This side of you is the most real, and I like it," Zhi Ling added.
"A beauty adding fragrance to a night of reading, kindred spirits wandering together. Although you didn't accompany me in reading, a warm embrace in a lover's bed is also a joy in life," He Zhengcheng said happily, half-embracing Zhi Ling.
"How about we get up and have a beauty adding fragrance to a night of reading!" Zhi Ling suggested.
"Forget it. I still prefer a touch of crimson dew with a lingering fragrance. Spring nights are short, and the journey of life is long; we have plenty of time," He Zhengcheng replied.
"Why are you talking so naughtily?" Zhi Ling asked.
"Sigh, I only realized it after returning to Hong Kong," He Zhengcheng ignored her and continued speaking to himself, his emotions suddenly overflowing.
"Realized what?" Zhi Ling cooperated.
"Realized how awesome I am!" He Zhengcheng exclaimed.
"How awesome are you? How many times a night?" Zhi Ling retorted, annoyed.
"Don't be silly, I'm serious. My changes this past half-year have been immense. In America, I was constantly tense, but returning to Hong Kong, I relaxed. Only then did I realize how much I've done in these past six months, things I never imagined in my first twenty-plus years of life," He Zhengcheng explained.
"Is that so?" Zhi Ling asked.
"Of course it's true. I'm just an ordinary graduate from Polytechnic University, majoring in Hotel and Tourism Management. My grades weren't outstanding, and I wasn't a prominent figure at school. But in such a short time, I seem to have surpassed most people," He Zhengcheng said.
"Do you think you're amazing?" Zhi Ling asked.
"A little, but also quite apprehensive. What right do I have to my current achievements? As the old saying goes, 'Virtue not matching one's position inevitably brings disaster.' Is my virtue sufficient?" He Zhengcheng pondered.
"You don't steal, rob, or cheat. You haven't done anything bad. There's no need to…" Zhi Ling began.
"But I changed your life trajectory, and perhaps I will change the destinies of many others. Has this change harmed anyone?" He Zhengcheng asked.
"You changed me, and I changed you. Changes are always bidirectional. The future is inherently mutable. Instead of focusing on that, it's better to live in the present and then, when you have the capacity, help others more," Lin Zhiling said.
"Sigh, what do you think? Is it better to continue investing and making money, or to do something more meaningful, like building a world-renowned brand or establishing a powerful technology company?" He Zhengcheng asked.
"What are you thinking?" Lin Zhiling asked.
"If it's investing, I clearly have more confidence. But starting a business, especially in an industry I'm not good at, I'm afraid of failure, afraid of bankruptcy, and then having nothing left," He Zhengcheng admitted.
"Then don't start a business. You're already very outstanding," Lin Zhiling responded.
"But I'm not content. As a wild goose leaves its cry, a person leaves their name. Can't I leave something behind in this world?" He Zhengcheng mused.
"Whatever you do, I'll support you," Lin Zhiling said, resting her head on He Zhengcheng's chest, deciding not to speak further.
Sigh, the USB drive patent has already been registered in Europe, America, Japan, and Daxia Country. Of course, registration doesn't mean immediate authorization; it requires a process. But it doesn't hinder his next steps.
He could rely on the USB drive patent to sue companies worldwide. Even if he couldn't capture much market share, he would at least make the new company's brand name known.
But this would be too troublesome and would inevitably consume too much of his energy.
Another option was to use the patent licensing income to establish a chip design company, following MediaTek's path.
As an armchair critic, he had always been concerned about Daxia Country's chip shortage, fantasizing about many solutions and regretting the many opportunities Daxia Country enterprises had missed.
For example, there was Spreadtrum, but that company was supposedly founded in the 21st century; the exact date was unknown, as was who founded it. He had subtly inquired about the well-known MediaTek of later generations several times, but there was no news.
Given this, why not build such an enterprise himself?
Investing in a company and founding one are truly two different paths, and quite possibly two entirely divergent paths.
However, after so much hesitation, it was time to make a decision.