"Boss! Whether it's a preliminary agreement or a formal contract, both are legally binding. They can't be signed arbitrarily. You need legal counsel present to review the contract, stamp it with the official seal, and sign to confirm it. Do you really think I can handle a task like that all by myself? This involves an investment worth billions of US dollars!" Zhou Mengdie said with a serious expression.

"For an investment contract of this magnitude, are you sure that you, the boss, don't need to be there in person for the signing ceremony?"

"Right, right, you're correct," Yi Anguo said, slightly embarrassed. "It definitely deserves more attention."

"I'm quite interested in Mahuateng anyway. It would be a good opportunity to meet and chat with him!"

"Actually, Anjing Online Supermarket could collaborate with Penguin Company as well."

"By the way, how was Mahuateng so easy to deal with? Two and a half billion US dollars for a twenty percent stake… How did you negotiate that? How did he agree to such favorable terms so readily?" Yi Anguo asked, his curiosity piqued.

Yi Anguo truly hadn't expected Zhou Mengdie to actually succeed in negotiating an investment deal with Penguin Company. Furthermore, the terms were extremely satisfactory to him.

A twenty percent stake in Penguin Company! How much would that be worth in a decade or so?

At its peak valuation, Penguin Company was worth $949 billion. Twenty percent of that would be over $180 billion, approaching $190 billion.

"It was simple! I threatened him," Zhou Mengdie said with a chuckle. "He initially said Penguin Company didn't need any more investment, claiming its current stock price severely undervalued the company's worth. He said their development prospects and financial situation were both excellent!"

"So, I told Brother Ma how incredible my boss is and how powerful his resources are! I said that if Penguin Company didn't accept our investment, my boss would be displeased and would simply create a rival company to compete with them."

"And that was enough to scare Mahuateng?" Yi Anguo asked in disbelief.

"Of course. I laid out the facts for him. I said, 'Look at Taobao Company. Our boss just went and created Anjing Online Supermarket,'" Zhou Mengdie continued.

"And in the domestic high-end smartphone market, which was dominated by foreign brands, our boss just launched Huaxing Smartphones. He redefined the high-end phone and rapidly seized the domestic market, becoming the top seller."

"If Penguin Company refuses our boss's investment, then our boss might just create a social media app like 'Panda QQ' or 'Little White Rabbit QQ' and steal Penguin's market share."

"I also told him our boss is immensely powerful. An investment of a few billion US dollars is like a game to him; he doesn't care about the money at all."

"Since our boss can redefine the high-end phone market and the online shopping market, redefining the social media market wouldn't be difficult either."

"As long as he's willing to spend the money, he can definitely carve out a market. Social media software isn't that technically complex. He could just throw money at poaching talent directly from Penguin Company."

"Besides, what about all the netizens using Penguin's chat software? If we developed a new one and were willing to throw money at it—offering cash just for registering and for logging in every day—I refuse to believe we couldn't steal their users."

Yi Anguo listened, dumbfounded. Good heavens! Isn't that just the cash-for-check-ins tactic? Could Zhou Mengdie be a transmigrator or reincarnator, too?

"Did you really say that to Mahuateng? How on earth did you come up with such an idea?" Yi Anguo asked.

"I just made it up on the spot," Zhou Mengdie said cheerfully. "I mean, you're rich, Boss! As long as you're willing to throw money around, I'm sure we could make a new social media app just as popular as Penguin's."

"I think most people like to take advantage of small perks. It's just like how a sale at a department store draws in tons of customers, right?"

"And Anjing Online Supermarket? Isn't the reason so many people shop there because the products are cheaper?"

"Since most people are drawn to small advantages, low prices will always attract a crowd."

"But Penguin's software is already free, so you can't make it cheaper or offer discounts. The only way left is to just give people money to switch over."

"Am I wrong?"

"No! You're absolutely right. In fact, you're too right! I never realized you were so clever! To think you could come up with a plan like that… you're a genius!" Yi Anguo said, laughing with delight.

"Of course! I've been a top student my whole life! Every teacher I've ever had said I was smart!" Zhou Mengdie said cutely, full of confidence.

"So, after you said all that, Mahuateng was really scared off?" Yi Anguo asked again.

"I don't know! But Brother Ma agreed. Two and a half billion US dollars for a twenty percent stake. He does, however, want to discuss the specific details of the cooperation with you personally," Zhou Mengdie said.

"Good! Consider this matter handled. You'll be accompanying me on a business trip to the US soon, so start getting ready," Yi Anguo said with a nod.

"Wow! Boss, you're going to the US yourself? And you want me to come with you?" Zhou Mengdie exclaimed, both shocked and delighted.

"Of course. I'm a man of my word. You got the job done for me, so I'll keep my promise and send you on a business trip to the US," Yi Anguo affirmed with a smile.

When Ding Jing heard that Yi Anguo planned to take Zhou Mengdie with him to the US, she immediately told him, "I've only just become pregnant. I can still work perfectly fine. There's no reason I can't go on the business trip with you!"

"You need to be extra careful now that you're pregnant to avoid any risks. I just need someone who can translate for me since I don't speak English. Anyone who can do that will be fine," Yi Anguo explained.

"Are you telling the truth? You don't have ulterior motives, do you?" Ding Jing asked suspiciously.

"Of course, it's the truth. What other motive could there be?" Yi Anguo retorted.

"There had better not be. Zhou Mengdie is a good girl. Don't you dare hurt her," Ding Jing said pointedly.

"What's that supposed to mean? Weren't you a good girl once?" Yi Anguo couldn't help but shoot back.

"Do you really think our circumstances were normal when we met? Was us getting together normal?" Ding Jing countered.

"Are you saying I forced you to be with me?" Yi Anguo asked, a hint of displeasure in his heart.

Sensing his mood soured, Ding Jing thought for a moment before trying to persuade him. "I'm not saying you forced me; I chose to be with you. But you already have several other women besides me, and we've all come to accept our situation. You can't keep expanding your... circle. You can't add any more women."

"Zhou Mengdie is different from us. She's a local, her parents aren't that old, and her family is well-off. They would never agree to a relationship between you two."

"Do you want to see her caught between you and her parents, miserable and torn?"

"She has worked for you for years now. It's obvious to a fool that she has feelings for you."

"If you never give her any hope, she'll eventually find someone else, get married, and this will all blow over."

"But if you give her hope, you'll be opening Pandora's box. The consequences will be unpredictable!"

Yi Anguo knew Ding Jing had a point and was thinking of everyone's best interests. After calming down, he said, "My relationship with Zhou Mengdie is strictly professional—boss and employee. You're overthinking things."

"She's been with me for so long. If something was going to happen, it would have happened long before now."

"As long as you know what you're doing," Ding Jing said, letting out a breath. "Honestly, it would be best if I went to the US with you. This is my second pregnancy, and it's still very early. It won't affect my ability to work at all, so there's no need to worry."

If Zhou Mengdie goes to the US with Yi Anguo, and none of his other women are there to supervise, I'm certain something will happen between them. They wouldn't just come back as if nothing changed.

"You don't have to say any more. I will not, under any circumstances, let you come with me to the US. If you weren't pregnant, of course you would be the one to come," Yi Anguo said firmly.

"Then take the new assistant, Chen Xuejiao, with you. She studied in the US and speaks excellent English," Ding Jing proposed, falling back to her next best option.

Yi Anguo shook his head. "Chen Xuejiao will have a lot on her plate in the US. How could she possibly have time to stay by my side constantly?"

"Since I don't speak English, I need someone with me at all times, someone inseparable."

"You just want a translator to be inseparable from you? That's simple. Our company has plenty of people who speak English and have studied in the US. Just ask any one of them to go with you," Ding Jing pressed.

Yi Anguo was speechless. I can't believe she's this wary and suspicious of me. She's completely convinced something will happen between me and Zhou Mengdie in the US. This is ridiculous. If I wanted to start something with Zhou Mengdie, did she really think I'd need to go all the way to the US to do it? Could she even stop me?

However, with Ding Jing pregnant, he didn't want to argue. He offered a compromise instead.

"This time, it's not just me and Zhou Mengdie, or just Chen Xuejiao. A group of at least a dozen people from the company is coming with us. We have to establish the US branch of Hualong Investment Company. You're worrying for nothing."

After a moment of thought, Ding Jing said, "I'm more familiar with Silicon Valley. Many of my old classmates work there. It would be better if I went with you. Otherwise, I'll honestly be too worried."

"Besides, having me there will definitely be a huge help to the company's work and to establishing the American branch."

"Fine! Then we'll all go together!" Yi Anguo finally gave up. It's no use. Ding Jing has dug her heels in today; there's no persuading her.

Seeing that Yi Anguo had finally agreed to let her come, Ding Jing didn't press any further.

As long as I'm there, it doesn't matter if Zhou Mengdie goes too. With me watching, what could possibly happen?

Zhou Mengdie, on the other hand, didn't think much of it. When she got home, she simply told her parents about her upcoming business trip to the US.

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