nyslfriends Chapter 83 I'll be back in Washington in a week
Chapter 83 I'll be back in Washington in a week
The bustling atmosphere of the banquet gradually subsided like the receding tide, and guests, slightly tipsy and carrying the business cards they had exchanged, departed one after another. Only the waiters remained in the spacious hall, quietly tidying up the remaining dishes.
An assistant dressed in a well-tailored suit quietly walked up to Ling Yun.
"Mr. Ling, Mr. Bill would like to invite you to his study for a cup of coffee."
Ling Yun nodded. "Okay."
He followed his assistant through several quiet corridors to a heavy wooden door. The assistant gently pushed the door open and gestured for him to enter.
The study was a stark contrast to the modern style of the banquet hall outside. Dark wooden bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling, crammed with books and folders, and the air was filled with the unique aroma of old books, leather, and freshly ground coffee.
Bill Gates had taken off his cashmere sweater and was now wearing only a shirt, sitting behind a large desk. On the desk, besides a computer and a pile of documents, were two steaming cups of coffee.
"Ling, please sit down." Bill gestured to the chair opposite the desk, his tone more casual than before.
Lingyun sat down opposite him. The coffee had a rich aroma; it was a top-quality variety.
"How's tonight? Hopefully not too boring." Bill picked up his coffee and blew on it to cool it down.
"It was very interesting. I met many people I usually only see in the news," Ling Yun replied calmly, picking up his coffee cup as well.
"Silicon Valley, or rather the entire IT industry, is like this: it looks big, but the core circle is actually very small." Bill took a sip of coffee, put down the cup, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Ling Yun. "There are many opportunities, but the road to the top is not wide."
He didn't beat around the bush; he simply took a document from his desk drawer and pushed it in front of Ling Yun. The cover was in Microsoft's standard format, and the title was "Letter of Intent for Strategic Investment and Equity Acquisition."
"Ballmer spoke with you before, and I think those terms might not have fully reflected our sincerity and how much we value your abilities," Bill said calmly. "These are the terms that Ballmer, several key members of the board, and I have revised. You can take a look."
Ling Yun picked up the document and opened it. It invited Ling Yun to join Microsoft as a "strategic partner," reporting directly to Bill and Ballmer, and to lead a cutting-edge lab focused on "future human-computer interaction and network access," with unlimited resources.
The most noteworthy aspect is the equity component. The number of Microsoft stock options granted is enough to place Clarence among the top individual shareholders of Microsoft after exercising the options.
This is truly an offer that cannot be described as "lacking in sincerity." It's not just about buying a product or a company; it's about trying to integrate Ling Yun, along with his vision and abilities, into Microsoft's system.
"Strategic partner..." Ling Yun gently closed the file, looked up, and said, "As far as I know, Microsoft's senior management structure has been very stable since 1990, and we haven't brought in any external partners at this level since."
“That’s right.” Bill nodded firmly, his eyes sharp. “Rules are meant to be broken, when the value is great enough. Microsoft’s top management and I believe that the qualities you’ve demonstrated in terms of technology and strategic vision are worth making an exception for Microsoft. We value not only the Star System, but also you as a person. On Microsoft’s platform, your ideas can be implemented much faster, impacting hundreds of millions of users. This is far more efficient than starting from scratch.”
He looked at Ling Yun, his tone carrying an air of self-assured confidence: "Ling, in the end, you'll find that technology itself doesn't determine success. At least, it's not the only determining factor."
"Capital, connections, mature channels, and an ecosystem—these are the keys to bringing technology to market and creating barriers to entry. Silicon Valley sees countless tech geniuses and excellent products emerge every year, but most disappear. It's not that their technology is bad, or that their products lack a market; it's that they can't outlast the game of capital and don't survive long enough to achieve victory. Even those few products that succeed ultimately face acquisition by larger companies. To survive independently and grow to the point of influencing the landscape is incredibly difficult."
He paused, giving Lingyun time to process his words, before continuing, "Microsoft can offer you these things: unlimited capital, top-tier global connections, a global sales network, and a well-established, robust ecosystem. Here, you can avoid unnecessary spending and focus on what you do best: innovation. It's a win-win situation."
The study was quiet, with only the soft breathing of the two people. Ling Yun's gaze swept over the heavy books on the bookshelf before returning to the weighty document before him. Bill's words were realistic, even coldly honest, outlining a seemingly easier and brighter path.
However, what flashed through Ling Yun's mind were the scenes he had witnessed before his rebirth: the helplessness of being strangled in key areas, the embarrassment of passively following technological standards. All his efforts, his choice of this seemingly more difficult path, were not to become a high-ranking executive in a giant company, even Microsoft. His goal was aimed at that battlefield twenty years from now, a battlefield without gunpowder but of vital importance. It was to avoid being "held hostage."
This path fundamentally contradicts the closed empire that Microsoft is trying to build and maintain, centered around Windows.
He gently pushed the file back to the center of the desk.
"Bill, thank you very much for your and Microsoft's high regard. This offer is indeed far beyond my expectations and very tempting." Ling Yun's voice was clear and steady. "However, I'm sorry, I still cannot accept it."
Bill's gentle smile slowly faded. He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms in front of him, and scrutinized Ling Yun, his eyes showing a hint of incomprehension, and even a barely perceptible trace of anger.
"Can you tell me why?" Bill asked, his tone still restrained. "Or do you believe that the prospects for independent development are better than the platform that Microsoft can provide?"
"It's not a matter of good or bad prospects," Ling Yun met his gaze, "but rather a difference in paths. What I pursue may be fundamentally different from Microsoft's core future strategy. Even if I join, this difference will ultimately lead to disagreement. Rather than parting ways acrimoniously then, it's better to remain independent now."
"A fundamental difference?" Bill frowned slightly. "You think Microsoft is heading in the wrong direction?"
"No, it's a different path," Ling Yun repeated. "Microsoft's success is built on control and integration—operating systems, applications, and ecosystems. But I believe that certain areas in the future may require a more open and decentralized model. Xingchen's attempt is just an exploration in this direction."
Bill paused for a moment, then slowly shook his head, a hint of regret on his face: "Ling, you are very talented, but perhaps... too idealistic. Your concepts of 'openness' and 'decentralization' are often no match for capital and reality. I've seen too many young people as outstanding as you, whose edges have been worn down by reality. Rejecting Microsoft's offer, in many people's eyes, is out of touch with reality."
He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the pitch-black night outside. "The IT industry isn't a technological utopia; it's a business jungle. Here, those who survive aren't necessarily the most technically skilled, but they are those who understand the rules and know how to utilize them."
He turned to look at Ling Yun and gave him the final deadline: "This agreement is valid with me for one week. I will stay in Los Angeles for seven more days and return to Washington next week. If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime."
This was practically an ultimatum, carrying a hint of condescending admonition and warning.
Ling Yun also stood up. "I understand. Thank you for the coffee and... advice." He made no promises.
The two shook hands again, this time Bill's hand gesture seemed somewhat businesslike.
Ling Yun turned and walked out of the study. The heavy wooden door closed gently behind him, shutting out the atmosphere inside that was a mixture of temptation and pressure. He walked out the way he had come, his steps steady.
He sat down in the Silver Spur, and the car fell silent. He didn't start the engine immediately. Bill's words still echoed in his ears—"out of touch with reality," "idealistic," "the jungle of business."
He knew that from this moment on, Microsoft would no longer be a potential acquirer or competitor, but a rival that clearly recognized their different paths and might take action at any time.
He started the engine, the headlights piercing the darkness of the manor. A week? He didn't need it. His path had been chosen from the very beginning.