Before Zhao Chen had time to take a sip of the tea handed over by Su Wantang, a new email notification popped up in the lower right corner of the computer screen.
Sender: Elon Musk.
The email was sent five minutes ago. According to United States West Coast time, it was already after get off work.
Zhao Chen opened the email and scanned it quickly - it was a formal invitation letter.
SpaceX's Starworm Prototype will conduct its first Tethered Test next month, and Elon Musk invited him to Texas's Boca Chica Launch Site for on-site observation.
The tone of the invitation letter is typical Elon Musk style:
Short, direct, and with a hint of arrogance that "human beings should go to Mars".
At the end of the letter, there is a sentence:
"If you have time, you can have a meal with me before launch. Texas BBQ, I'll treat you."
Zhao Chen glanced at the time in the lower right corner of the screen. It was around five in the morning, and Elon Musk should still be in the office.
He picked up his phone, dug out the United States number that had been in his address book for almost a year, and dialed it.
The phone rang three times and was picked up.
"Zhao?" Elon Musk's voice was filled with obvious surprise and a hint of uncontrollable excitement.
"Did you install some monitoring program on my mail server? That invitation was sent out less than ten minutes ago."
"That's because I know you're a workaholic. If you're in the office early in the morning, of course you have to answer emails while it's hot."
Zhao Chen leaned back on the chair with a smile in his tone, "Starworm's test time has been set?"
"Mid-December, the specific date depends on the weather and the debugging progress of Raptor engine.
But the framework has been decided, and this is SpaceX's first step towards Mars."
Elon Musk's voice sounded a little hoarse on the phone, as if he had been in meetings for several hours.
"I know you have a lot to deal with at China, but for this test, I hope you can come and see it for yourself.
The real history is not made on Wall Street, but on the launch pad."
"I'll go."
"Very good." Elon Musk paused,
"By the way, your Era Vanguard has been making a lot of noise in the US Stocks market in the past few months.
Wall Street There are some pairs of eyes staring at you over there, be careful."
Zhao Chen's brows moved slightly. "I know."
"You don't know. Wall Street has no secrets. Now almost everyone knows that Era Vanguard, who invested in Tesla, is eyeing Nvidia."
Elon Musk's tone suddenly became serious,
"Zhao, I have been in this business for twenty years and have seen too many people die because of the words 'I know'.
Your capital has grown so fast that the established predators in this industry have begun to treat you as prey.
You must have heard the news that SoftBank is going to clear out Nvidia, right?"
"I heard about it."
"That's a signal. Masayoshi Son has been in this market for more than thirty years, and even he can't bear it and wants to run away.
If you enter the market now to buy the bottom, it is equivalent to rushing in against the flow of people when everyone is running out."
Elon Musk's voice was lowered,
"I'm not questioning your judgment. I know this company Nvidia better than most people. Huang Renxun is a genius.
But in Wall Street, right or wrong is not important, timing is important. A day's difference in timing means a ten-year difference in the outcome."
Zhao Chen was silent.
Elon Musk is always the maniac who speaks freely in front of the public and dares to say anything on Twitter.
But in private, his insight is sharper than anyone else.
He can see through whether a project can succeed, and he can also see through whether a person can survive.
"Thank you." Zhao Chen said, "I will pay attention to it."
"Texas See you." Elon Musk hung up the phone.
Zhao Chen put down the phone and found Su Wantang looking at him, still holding the cup of tea that he had not had time to hand out.
"Elon Musk?" she asked.
"Invite me to watch Starworm test, mid-December, Texas."
Zhao Chen took the tea cup and took a sip, "Help me arrange my itinerary."
Su Wantang nodded and was about to turn around to get the tablet when Zhao Chen spoke again.
"Wait a minute."
She looked back.
"Before Texas, I have to go to Beijing."
Su Wantang tilted his head slightly. "Beijing?"
"Bubble Mary." Zhao Chen put down the teacup,
"Wang An Over there, regarding the Global Copyright issue of Mololoy and Labobo, I want to talk to him face to face."
Su Wantang turned on the tablet and quickly checked the calendar:
"Bubble Mary's new round of financing should begin.
We are now its second Major Shareholder, do you want to participate?"
She raised her head. "Or are you planning to inject the two IPs we have, Global Copyright, into Bubble Mary?"
"No." Zhao Chen shook his head, his eyes falling on the water where Two Rivers met outside the window.
"The word injection is too condescending. Bubble Mary was made by Wang An, not an accessory of me, Zhao Chen. I want to discuss cooperation with him."
Su Wantang looked at him and said nothing.
"The two IPs of Mololoy and Labobo cannot exert their maximum value in the hands of Henglong.
Henglong's main business is investment, not IP operations. But Bubble Mary is different. Wang An understands trendy toys, understands young people, and knows how to push an IP from a niche circle to Volkswagen's vision."
Zhao Chen tapped his fingers twice on the armrest of the sofa.
"Mololoy's image style is naturally complementary to Bubble Mary's existing product line.
Labobo's authorization scope covers Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia, which is exactly the springboard Bubble Mary needs to go overseas."
He paused.
"But I won't give it for free. The conditions must be negotiated and the benefits must be divided.
Wang An is a smart man, he should know how much trouble these two IPs can make in his hands."
Su Wantang's finger quickly slid on the tablet, calling up the latest data of Bubble Mary.
"In the first half of 2018, Bubble Mart's revenue was 160 million, a year-on-year increase of 156%.
The number of stores has expanded from 32 at the beginning of the year to 61, and Robot Shops has exceeded 120 units."
She raised her head and said, "At this growth rate, the annual revenue will most likely exceed 300 million. Wang An should now be preparing for a large-scale round of financing next year."
"So I have to finalize the IP matter before he raises money."
Zhao Chen stood up and walked to Floor-to-Ceiling Window. The morning light of Two Rivers Confluence had completely covered the river surface. The traffic on Chaotianmen Bridge was like a flowing metal belt.
"Once Mololoy and Labobo confirm that Bubble Mary will operate Global Copyright, the valuation system of Bubble Mart will undergo fundamental changes.
From a domestic Designer Toys chain channel, it has become a content company with a global IP matrix.
The capital market's pricing for these two stories is not at the same level."
Su Wantang put down the tablet and walked to him:
"So when you go to Beijing this time, you are not only talking about IP, but also paving the way for the valuation of Bubble Mart's next round of financing."
"Yes." Zhao Chen turned around and looked at her,
"I want Wang An to understand one thing - Henglong is not here to share the cake, but to help him make the cake bigger."
Su Wantang was silent for a few seconds, then nodded slightly.
"I will go to Texas after Beijing. The schedule in December will be very full."
Zhao Chen walked back to the sofa and sat down, "By the way, help me make an appointment with Wang An. Don't fly over and miss the opportunity."
In addition, the Copyright files of Mololoy and Labobo asked Aunt Zhang to be prepared, both the original and the copy."
"One more thing."
Su Wantang did not leave immediately, but looked down at him,
"Texas's trip, do you want to take Zhiyi with you?"
Zhao Chen's fingers stopped.
The office was quiet for about five seconds.
"No need." He finally said,
"She is her, and I am me. If she chooses not to rely on me, I can't force her to do it. Regarding Texas, just go with me."
Su Wantang didn't say anything more, picked up the tablet and walked out of the office.