Chapter 0925: Boss Ma's Idea

Tencent was quite enthusiastic about Zhao Fusheng and Dong Chenxi's visit. Boss Ma personally led a team to the airport to welcome Zhao Fusheng, which surprised Dong Chenxi. She never expected Zhao Fusheng to hold such a high status in the other's eyes.

After all, Zhao Fusheng only owned five percent of the shares, which, though non-dilutable, could hardly be considered a major shareholder.

"Long time no see."

Ma Huateng, wearing glasses, smiled at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Yes, long time no see. Boss Ma, you're increasingly taking on the air of a big boss."

Ma Huateng didn't believe his words at all, waving his hand: "Don't flatter me. Since you're here this time, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Zhao Fusheng smiled, vaguely guessing what it was about. He glanced around and nodded: "Alright, let's go to the company."

After all, they were at the airport, where there were many people and loose lips; some things weren't convenient to say now.

Dong Chenxi was somewhat puzzled, completely in the dark, unable to understand what the two were talking about. But overall, it seemed Boss Ma had a favor to ask?

Sitting in the car, Dong Chenxi looked at Zhao Fusheng curiously but didn't speak.

"What's wrong?"

Zhao Fusheng chuckled and asked her.

"Nothing, I just don't quite understand what Boss Ma meant earlier." Dong Chenxi didn't beat around the bush. There was no one else in the car except the driver sent by Tencent and the two of them.

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "I think it's a technical issue."

"Huh?"

Dong Chenxi was even more confused. What did a technical issue have to do with Zhao Fusheng?

"I gave him quite a few suggestions before, which turned out to be very useful." Zhao Fusheng chuckled lightly and explained to Dong Chenxi.

Dong Chenxi was stunned. After all, it was hard for her to connect Zhao Fusheng with computers. She could believe he did advertising planning for Tencent, but that he helped Ma Huateng solve Tencent's technical problems? That was just too shocking.

It was like someone who usually just looked handsome suddenly becoming Wang Sicong's cousin—completely unrelated.

If she didn't know Zhao Fusheng wouldn't lie to her, Dong Chenxi would have suspected he was talking nonsense.

Zhao Fusheng didn't explain much. Some things were useless to say too much about; it was better to let Dong Chenxi figure it out slowly.

The car soon arrived at Tencent headquarters. Boss Ma valued Zhao Fusheng and Dong Chenxi's visit highly, arranging a lavish banquet attended by all of Tencent's top management in Shenzhen. Dong Chenxi felt flattered, never expecting such treatment.

But she knew it was all because of Zhao Fusheng.

Thus, Dong Chenxi became even more curious about what Zhao Fusheng had done at this company to make Boss Ma and the founders value his abilities so much.

The banquet ended quickly. Dong Chenxi was taken to the hotel, accompanied by a female vice president specially assigned by Tencent—a treatment vastly different from what she received at Shengda Technology.

Meanwhile, Zhao Fusheng was pulled into a meeting room by Zhang Xiaolong and Ma Huateng.

"Let's begin."

Ma Huateng, who had drunk a little, said to Zhang Xiaolong.

Zhang Xiaolong nodded and waved his hand. Soon, a programmer wearing glasses walked in, opened a slideshow, and began to present.

"Recently, our user growth rate has been fast, but the problem..."

He talked on and on, and Zhao Fusheng's expression grew increasingly strange.

After a while, Zhao Fusheng looked up at Ma Huateng: "So, the current problem is how to retain users and increase profits?"

Ma Huateng smiled bitterly and nodded: "After all, we've raised funds and need to consider profitability."

Tilting his head in thought, Zhao Fusheng suddenly smiled.

"What's wrong?" Ma Huateng was curious. To be honest, this problem had troubled Tencent for a long time. Everyone had discussed many plans, but making an instant messaging tool profitable wasn't easy. One misstep could lead to massive user loss.

For Tencent, if they lost those users, the software would lose all meaning.

"It's not that complicated."

Zhao Fusheng shrugged and slowly said: "Just develop a top-up system and a membership system."

Seeing the technical staff exchange bewildered looks, Zhao Fusheng patiently explained: "First, we launch a membership system. After becoming members, users can buy various clothes and accessories to decorate their spaces and avatars. Let's call it QQ Show."

"Also, the higher the membership level, the greater the discounts, and there will be special requirements for purchasable items."

"Moreover, all purchases in the virtual mall must use our exclusive currency."

"That way, we have profit points, don't we?"

Zhao Fusheng recounted the methods Tencent had used to rake in profits in his memory. But after he finished, the entire meeting room fell silent.

"Uh, what's wrong? Isn't this suitable?" Zhao Fusheng looked at Ma Huateng in confusion, only to find the other's breathing a bit rapid.

"Old Ma, you..."

Zhao Fusheng glanced at Ma Huateng suspiciously, somewhat surprised.

"Clap, clap, clap!"

"Clap, clap, clap!"

The next moment, thunderous applause erupted. Ma Huateng stood up first, followed by several vice presidents, then the technical and marketing departments. Everyone applauded Zhao Fusheng.

"Fusheng, you really are something! You're truly a genius in this field!" Ma Huateng walked up to Zhao Fusheng, shook his hand, and smiled: "The plan you proposed is fantastic. I believe that once implemented, our profits this year will astonish everyone."

Zhao Fusheng chuckled, but inside he felt helpless.

Ma Huateng wasn't wrong at all. Back then, Tencent had made a lot of money with this very system.

But Zhao Fusheng didn't take Ma Huateng's praise to heart. He hadn't even mentioned the even more terrifying Xinyue membership system. At this stage, just QQ membership would be enough to make Tencent a fortune.

After all, as someone who grew up with the internet era, Zhao Fusheng had vivid memories of Tencent's money-making tactics.

Thinking this, Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Ma Huateng: "Boss Ma, actually, I think we could consider developing games."

"Games?"

Ma Huateng was startled, then his eyes lit up. He suddenly felt as if a new world had opened before him, blurting out: "You mean, make a game like Legend?"

At that moment, Zhao Fusheng was dumbfounded.

A million mythical beasts stampeded through his mind, as if struck by lightning.

"Am I going to become the founder of Tencent's copycat path?" This terrifying thought popped into his head, and Zhao Fusheng felt awful.

If there was one thing Tencent was most criticized for in its past life, it wasn't the myriad charging systems or the infuriating customer service, but its notorious ability to copy anything.

Yes, copycat.

Whatever was popular in the market, Tencent could copy it.

And the scariest part was that if it were just copying, that would be one thing, but Tencent's copies were sometimes more formidable than the originals. For example, CF, copied from Counter-Strike, actually developed into a league.

The same went for Honor of Kings, which evolved from League of Legends.

One had to admit that different people could make the same things work differently.

At the very least, Zhao Fusheng had to say Tencent truly had the skill to play a good hand even better—something other companies couldn't do.

Sighing inwardly, Zhao Fusheng glanced at Ma Huateng, Zhang Xiaolong, and the other Tencent executives, who were already lost in thought, and decided to salvage his reputation.

"Um, Boss Ma, forget about Legend. It's too late for us to do that now; Shengda Technology already has a high market share. I mean, let's make mini-games."

Huh?

Ma Huateng and the others were taken aback, looking at Zhao Fusheng in surprise. The words 'mini-games' piqued their curiosity. What was Zhao Fusheng up to?

Though originally technical staff, most of Tencent's founders, except Zhang Xiaolong, had become more business-oriented. In their eyes, any project or research that could bring profit to the company was worth pursuing.

Ma Huateng agreed with this, which was why he was willing to listen to Zhao Fusheng's opinions and befriend him.

Because he knew that Zhao Fusheng, though perhaps lacking in practical execution, always provided valuable insights in terms of thinking.

Facts proved his choice was right.

Zhao Fusheng had just arrived in Shenzhen today and already solved a long-standing problem for the company. Truly a capable man.

So when Zhao Fusheng proposed making mini-games, Ma Huateng was curious.

"Alright, let's have the irrelevant people leave. Old Zhang, you few stay."

Ma Huateng pointed to a few leaders in charge of technology and marketing, and dismissed everyone else from the meeting room. He was eager to hear what Zhao Fusheng would say next.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and didn't stop Ma Huateng's action, because what he was about to say was indeed crucial to Tencent's development over the next decade.