The Whole World Is Watching

"I planned to spin off Origin Mobile and place it under Origin Headquarters. We'll handle technological updates, maintenance, and manufacturing, while Microsoft will handle distribution and after-sales service."

Chu Feng knew his own shortcomings as well. Origin Company was simply too young—so young that, in other people's eyes, it was nothing more than an infant. That was why, when they decided to suppress Origin Company, they had been so direct and brutal. They saw no ability in Origin Company to fight back at all.

If not for the intelligent brain's assistance, no small IT company could have withstood the pressure from those three companies!

Did they think an entirely new operating system was so easy to create? Microsoft had been developing for so many years, yet didn't it still have to release patches all the time?

What were patches? They were simply proof that a system was incomplete and had vulnerabilities. It was only because the Origin System was too technologically advanced for others to analyze it yet. There could never be a perfect system in the world.

It could only be patched and repaired.

This was also the intelligent brain's weakness. It could follow Chu Feng's instructions to create something known or based on an existing template, but it lacked the uniquely human capacity for creativity.

It could perfectly simulate the systems in its database, yet it could not design even a simple icon!

That was Artificial Intelligence's greatest regret—it could preserve the old, but it could not innovate.

Microsoft, on the other hand, had developed for many years and possessed enormous capital, operational teams, development teams, and management teams. Those were things Chu Feng could never catch up to, even if he rode at full speed. And Microsoft's core business was software supply!

Take Microsoft's famous Office suite, for example. It had more than a billion users worldwide, not including those using pirated copies. If it joined forces with Origin Company, the potential value would be even more astonishing. No wonder Bill had boldly spoken of "dividing up the market"—it was a very realistic possibility.

Besides, the USA was also a place Chu Feng wanted to conquer. If he did not find a heavyweight partner, Chu Feng believed he would not even be able to get through the USA's door!

He remembered how, whenever Apple Inc. released a new phone, everyone rushed to buy it. It had even spawned all sorts of illegal channels, yet Apple Inc. still acted arrogantly, often refusing to launch its products in China during their global debut. Its prices were also far higher than overseas, treating China like a place to fleece for money. How could Chu Feng, with his fiery patriotism, not be angry?

And if he wanted to break into the USA, the simplest way was to partner with its top technology company. When that happened, the expressions on Americans' faces would surely be spectacular!

Chu Feng's proposal finally put Bill's worried heart at ease. He had been afraid that Chu Feng would be too proud and insist on controlling and managing everything himself. If that happened, there would be no basis for cooperation.

Next, the Microsoft negotiation team Bill had brought and the people from Origin Company finally had a chance to show their abilities. Since the leaders of both sides had already established the foundation and general direction of the partnership, what remained were the specific details—such as the percentage of shares each side would hold and who would be responsible for what.

Those were no longer matters for Chu Feng and Bill to worry about. Professionals should handle professional work!

Thus, a strange scene appeared in the conference room. The teams on both sides argued fiercely, debating for ages over even a fraction of a percent, their faces red with anger. Chu Feng was afraid they might actually start fighting.

Microsoft's negotiation team was among the best in the world. Although Microsoft had come seeking cooperation and was somewhat dependent on the other side this time, they still refused to yield, arguing their case and haggling bit by bit.

Origin Company's side, though still inexperienced, had the home-field advantage. They only needed to hold onto one point—without their technical support, Microsoft's efforts would be useless. That alone made the other side grit their teeth in frustration. Since when had Microsoft been utterly crushed by someone else in terms of technology?

Meanwhile, the leaders of both sides were chatting happily. They did not even need an interpreter. Using the Xiaoke translation feature built into the phones Chu Feng had given them, they could translate simultaneously, so there was no communication barrier at all. Bill even switched to the phone Chu Feng had given him on the spot. Its convenient and rapid data-transfer function delighted him, and he openly expressed his fondness for the phone.

Later, that phone became a symbol of Origin Company's meteoric rise and was collected by a museum in the USA. That was a story for another time.

Although Bill was already old, he still possessed the same intense desire for advanced technology that he had in his youth.

Chu Feng had no choice but to call Gong Wu over to answer Bill's questions. Otherwise, if Chu Feng said too much, he would definitely give himself away.

Just as a former USA president had once said, "Bill Gates has made more money than everyone else in human history combined, and he is working to give it away. Most people might use the money elsewhere, or donate only a little and hope others would pin medals on them. But unlike Bill Gates, he spends all his time searching for things that truly work. This is his life's work!"

The praise could not have been higher!

It was not an act. It was a feeling that truly came from the heart.

Gong Wu was merely an Engineering Robot. Although Chu Feng had assigned them different "specialties" when introducing them, any one of them was actually an all-rounder. He simply did not want to make things too shocking.

As he listened to Bill and Gong Wu's eager discussion—though "discussion" was perhaps not quite right, since Bill was mostly asking questions and Gong Wu was answering—Bill's questions became increasingly profound, while Gong Wu answered without the slightest pause. The knowledge and technical level this master possessed made Bill sincerely convinced in a way he rarely was!

Just then, Bill suddenly looked at Chu Feng with an almost affectionate gaze, seeming hesitant to speak. A chill ran through Chu Feng's body, and goosebumps rose all over his skin.

"Ugh... Bill, if you have something to say, just say it. Don't look at me like that. It's too weird." Chu Feng hurriedly stopped him before he could continue acting so hesitant.

"Mr. Chu, Mr. Gong is truly too formidable. The knowledge he possesses is as vast as the Atlantic Ocean. Only now have I realized how small I am. I want Mr. Gong to become my teacher, so that I can stay by his side and learn from him. Mr. Gong said you are his boss and that he listens to you... so..."

Bill could not continue after that. He was already several decades old, yet he had never felt this embarrassed even when he was young. Both Chu Feng and Mr. Gong Wu were much younger than him, and asking to become a disciple felt awkward no matter how he looked at it. But the knowledge Gong Wu had described was simply too tempting. If he missed this opportunity, he might never come into contact with such things for the rest of his life. So he threw caution to the wind and made the request.

Looking at Bill's nervous expression, Chu Feng felt utterly speechless. Why did everyone want to become someone's disciple? Last time it had been an academician from the Chinese Academy of Sciences; this time it was the richest man in the world. Who knew who would come next? Why was he even running a company? He might as well open a school and have these Engineering Robots teach classes. Wouldn't the money come pouring in?

Ignoring those unrealistic thoughts, Chu Feng rejected Bill's request.

"Bill, there's no need to become a disciple."

When Bill heard Chu Feng reject him, he looked like he had been abandoned, making Chu Feng twitch his mouth.

"How about this, Bill? Why don't you become an externally hired chief software designer for our company? That way, you can come discuss things with Gong Wu whenever you want." Chu Feng carefully offered the suggestion, hoping to bring Bill into his company. After all, he had already resigned from Microsoft.

"How could that do? Mr. Gong is my teacher. At most, I can be a software designer. I don't deserve the position of chief!"

Seeing Bill speak with such righteous conviction, already treating himself as Gong Wu's disciple, Chu Feng was left speechless. What else could he do? He could only forgive him... no, agree to it.

Bill was overjoyed, while the Microsoft team still arguing on the other side had no idea that their leader had already "defected."

Sure enough, Bill could no longer stand their endless arguments. He immediately made the final decision on the terms of cooperation between the two companies. He did not want his "teacher" to think he was some calculating businessman in front of him.

The Microsoft team looked as though they had swallowed shit...

Thus, this partnership project, later known as the "Origin Partnership," was settled in a somewhat muddled and hasty manner.

That night—though it was the early hours of the morning in the USA—Origin Company and Microsoft simultaneously announced their cooperation.

The two companies had decided to jointly establish Origin Mobile Company. Origin Headquarters would hold 68% of the shares, while Microsoft would hold 32%.

Origin Company would be responsible for maintaining and providing technical support for the Origin System, as well as manufacturing Origin phones. Microsoft would merge the Nokia it had acquired into Origin Company, where it would be responsible for software development and design, as well as marketing Origin phones. Finally, the company's management would be made up of personnel appointed by both sides.

Gong Wu would serve as chief software designer for the Origin System, while Bill would serve as an honorary designer for Origin Company.

Microsoft also announced that it would establish a Microsoft China branch in Hailing.

The release of this news was nothing less than a level-ten earthquake across the Internet. It was simply unbelievable.

Netizens and media both at home and abroad were practically arguing themselves hoarse.

All kinds of rumors leaked out, their truth impossible to verify. What had made Microsoft, this colossal giant, end its suppression of Origin Company with such a whimper? What had made Microsoft willingly hand over the initiative even in its partnerships? And Bill had become nothing more than a software designer, even surrendering the position of chief. This practically meant that Microsoft—or rather, Bill—had acknowledged Origin Company's technological strength!

What kind of mobile phone could make Microsoft invest so heavily? Origin Mobile had yet to be released, yet it had already drawn enormous attention. Everyone was discussing just what made Origin Mobile so formidable. It had become popular before even going on sale; no domestic mobile phone had ever received such treatment. The Chinese onlookers were delighted, feeling proud as well.

No matter how the outside world argued or questioned it, once the contract had been signed, the subsequent plans would proceed in an orderly manner.

Bill also had his wife come with him to the small place that was Hailing, where, accompanied by personnel arranged by Chu Feng, she experienced the local customs and toured the area.

This also made Hailing, a tiny third-tier city, famous around the world for the first time.

The guaranteed 3,000 words were posted. There were still a few days until the milestone was reached—I won't disappoint those friends who invested.