The richest man started taking advantage of loopholes after joining Alibaba.

Beijing. Next to Beihai Park.

Courtyard No. 16, Building B.

This is a private club hidden at the foot of the imperial city.

The vermilion gate was tightly shut, with no sign at the entrance, only two stone lions silently watching the luxury cars passing by.

Inside the private room.

The heating is on very high.

A round table made of rosewood, with only three seats.

Cheng Wei (Didi CEO) sat in the main seat.

Lao Lü (CEO of Kuaidi) sat on the left.

The empty seat was directly facing the door.

...............

The door was pushed open.

A cold wind carrying a few snowflakes slipped in, only to be instantly swallowed up by the warmth inside the room.

Lin Che walked in.

He wasn't wearing a suit, just a black cashmere coat and a scarf casually draped around his neck.

He carried with him a damp chill from Hangzhou, and a rough, untamed air that he could never wash away.

"Mr. Lin, I've heard so much about you."

Cheng Wei stood up, his face bearing that signature refined smile.

But the gaze behind the glasses seemed to be scrutinizing a wild beast that had intruded into its territory.

Old Lu didn't move.

He twirled a teacup in his hand, his eyes filled with malice.

"sit."

Cheng Wei pointed to the empty seat.

Lin Che didn't stand on ceremony.

Pull out the chair.

sit down.

The sound of chair legs scraping against the floor was particularly jarring in the quiet private room.

There was no food on the table.

There is only one document.

The cover features a line of small, gold-embossed text: [Letter of Intent for Equity Acquisition].

Let's get straight to the point.

Cheng Wei pushed the document in front of Lin Che.

The movements were gentle, yet carried an undeniable sense of pressure.

"A valuation of two billion US dollars."

"Didi and Kuaidi jointly invested to acquire 100% equity of Weiguang Mobility."

"Mr. Lin, you've struck gold."

Cheng Wei stared into Lin Che's eyes.

"A tenfold return in one month—that's a legendary return, even on Wall Street."

Old Lu sneered and added:

"Take the money and leave. This industry is too murky; you can't handle it."

This is an ultimatum.

It's also the arrogance of a giant.

In their view, Lin Che was just an opportunist.

Since they're here for the money, as long as the price is right, there's no bone they can't buy.

..............

Lin Che glanced at the document.

Didn't move.

He reached out and picked up the purple clay teapot on the table.

The kettle was warm to the touch.

He didn't pour any for Cheng Wei, nor for Lao Lü.

Instead, he poured himself a glass.

The tea was poured out.

It was a thin, amber-colored line that drew a graceful arc in the air.

When it falls into the glass, it creates a ring of tiny bubbles.

The water splashed.

In this room where you could hear a pin drop, the sound was amplified infinitely.

Lin Che's hands were very steady.

He was as steady as a statue.

The rising steam blurred his features.

He picked up the teacup, held it to his nose, and sniffed it.

"Da Hong Pao" (a type of traditional Chinese robe).

"Unfortunately, it was overcooked."

He took a sip, then poured the remaining half-cup of tea directly onto the document worth two billion US dollars.

Splash!

The brown tea stains quickly spread, engulfing the dizzying number.

Cheng Wei's smile froze on his face.

Old Lu slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle loudly.

"Lin Che! Don't push your luck!"

"Giving me face?"

Lin Che put down his teacup.

The porcelain cup clattered on the table.

"You two."

He raised his head, his eyes no longer showing the nonchalance they had before, but only a sharp, razor-like edge.

"You've got one thing wrong."

"I'm not here to sell myself."

"I'm here to... negotiate."

Lin Che stood up.

He paced around the round table, his leather shoes clicking silently on the carpet, yet sending chills down the spines of the two tycoons.

"You must be very tired?"

Lin Che suddenly stopped behind Cheng Wei.

She placed her hand on the back of Cheng Wei's chair, leaned down, and whispered in his ear.

"They burn through tens of millions every day."

"Investors are constantly pressuring us to make a profit."

"The server crashes every few days."

"You also have to watch out for me, this madman, stabbing you in the back."

Cheng Wei's body stiffened.

You were right.

This is a nightmare for all O2O entrepreneurs.

.............

"Let's merge."

Lin Che uttered three words.

It was like a thunderclap that exploded in the private room.

Cheng Wei and Lao Lü suddenly exchanged a glance, their pupils contracting sharply.

Merge?

This is their most secret and most untouchable thought.

How could two mortal enemies who fight to the death possibly merge?

"This is the only way out."

Lin Che walked back to his seat.

With his hands on the table and his body leaning forward, he resembled a wolf surveying its prey.

"If we don't merge, I'll continue burning money."

"I have two billion US dollars. I can keep burning through money with you until 2016, until your investors kneel down and beg for mercy."

"At that time, this market was mine."

This is a threat.

A naked threat.

But Cheng Wei knew that Lin Che could do it.

That madman actually dares to burn money like paper.

"What do you want?"

Cheng Wei's voice was hoarse.

He had to admit that the initiative had shifted.

"It's very simple."

Lin Che held up one finger.

"First, I wholeheartedly support your merger."

"Secondly, Weiguang Mobility exists independently as a third-party platform."

"We will not interfere with each other. I will not run my own fleet of vehicles, and you should not block my aggregation interface."

"third."

Lin Che bent his fingers and tapped the table.

"Weiguang Payment"

"It must remain in Didi's payment options."

"impossible!"

Old Lu jumped up immediately.

"This is Tencent and Alibaba's bottom line! Retain your payment system? Isn't that like letting the wolf into the house?"

"Then there's nothing to discuss."

Lin Che shrugged.

He picked up the coat draped over the back of the chair and put it on.

His movements were graceful, without the slightest hint of hesitation.

"Then let's keep fighting."

"Let's see if Tencent has more money, or if I'm just more resilient."

He turned and walked towards the door.

The moment my hand gripped the doorknob.

The sound of Cheng Wei struggling came from behind.

"Mr. Lin... please wait a moment."

Lin Che did not turn around.

He merely curled his lips into a cold smile that he had anticipated all along.

"No need to deliver it."

He opened the door.

The cold wind outside blew in again, ruffling his scarf.

See you next month.

Lin Che left behind his last words.

The sound drifted away in the wind and snow.

"I hope that on your wedding day, you two will be able to send me an invitation."

boom.

The door closed.

Only two bewildered giants remained in the private room, staring at each other, along with the letter of intent soaked in tea.

next month?

Cheng Wei glanced at the calendar.

2015 October.

Spring Festival.

That madman...did he even calculate the merger timeline accurately?

A chill ran up the soles of my feet and straight to the top of my head.

.................