We agreed not to date, so why are you crying now that I've become the richest man?

The office was quiet for a moment. The air from the air conditioner swept across the coffee table, and the corner of the investment intention document was flipped up and then stuck back on the desktop.

Lin Zhenhua retracted his outstretched leg and picked up the data report again.

"Why is Innovation Works, the parent company of Green Bean Pod, willing to accept exclusive cooperation?"

"If we continue to compete independently, we will lose users. By joining the Star Market, they can maintain their PC platform and channel value, and also generate revenue through game co-operation."

Ye Chen glanced at the time on his wrist and pushed the investment documents back in front of Lin Zhenhua.

"This is a business choice, and it has nothing to do with the size of the company."

"If we're talking about equity investment today, this proposal can be put away. Xingchen Software's equity is not within the scope of the offer, and board seats and veto power on major matters are not worth discussing either."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhenhua gripped the edge of the report and straightened his previously relaxed posture.

He had been in charge of many early-stage projects in the strategic investment department. When entrepreneurs heard that the group was willing to invest, they would usually ask if the valuation could be increased. However, Ye Chen directly blocked the equity entry point, leaving no room for negotiation.

Public information shows that Xingchen Software was established a short time ago, and its team size is also limited. The data on the applicable market, the technical barriers, and the choice of Green Bean Pod are all laid out on the table. The pre-investment valuation of eight million US dollars is no longer enough to suppress this company.

Lin Zhenhua looked down and flipped through a page of the report, then pulled the investment plan back to him, lingering over the document.

At this moment, Ye Chen poured himself half a glass of water.

"We can discuss business cooperation, but not equity."

Lin Zhenhua raised his head.

"What aspect would you like to discuss, Mr. Ye?"

"Channels and payment methods."

Ye Chen held up two fingers, placed the teacup back on the table, and laid out the terms of the exchange.

"First, Xingchen App Market can provide Mobile Taobao and Baofoo with a prime recommendation spot in the Essential Apps section for six months. The fee will be settled based on the number of valid activations after deduplication, and the relevant backend data will be open to both parties for verification."

"Secondly, Star Market will launch game co-operation and in-app purchase functions. We can work with Baofoo to test the mobile quick payment interface and open the access to the first batch of users."

"Baofoo needs to provide Xingchen Software with a 0.3% channel fee, next-day settlement, independent risk control interface and direct connection to the technical team. The platform data generated by Xingchen Market will be managed by us, and the payment information will be provided in accordance with regulatory and risk control requirements."

As soon as she finished speaking, the female assistant opened a new document and entered the conditions one by one, while Lin Zhenhua stopped flipping through the document.

The group is driving the migration of PC users to mobile devices. Mobile Taobao lacks a stable entry point, and Baofoo's mobile payment also lacks high-frequency usage scenarios. The rapidly growing user base of Xingchen Market is just right to take on both businesses.

With the equity entry point already blocked, if he can secure the joint testing project for the mobile app's prime recommendation slot and quick payment, he can still have a satisfactory explanation for this trip.

"We can discuss prime placement slots, and there's also a basis for cooperation in joint testing of quick payment methods."

Lin Zhenhua took out his business card, stood up, and handed it to Ye Chen.

"The 0.3% fee rate, next-day settlement, and independent risk control interface involve Baofoo's core permissions. I need to report to the Hangzhou headquarters and give Mr. Ye a reply within 20 minutes."

Ye Chen took the business card, scanned the name and contact information, and put it into the business card holder beside him.

"The small conference room next door is empty. Manager Lin can go over there to discuss things. I'll wait for news here."

Lin Zhenhua nodded, and walked out of the office with his female assistant and investment documents, his pace much faster than when he entered.

The glass door closed, and Ye Chen leaned back in the leather chair, his gaze falling on the closed door of the small conference room. Ali has been increasing its investment in mobile this year, and Lin Zhenhua came all the way from Hangzhou. Now, after hitting a wall with the equity plan, he has consulted with headquarters. Naturally, he is not willing to go back empty-handed.

The clock on the wall ticked for fifteen minutes, and the hands reached 3:30 PM. Ye Chen opened the latest data report and pressed the internal phone on his desk.

"Director Chen, please print out a copy of the channel activation report from 3:30 PM and bring it in. Just leave it on the corner of your desk."

Less than two minutes later, Chen Wei pushed open the door and came in, placing a report that still had the warmth of the printer on the corner of the desk before quietly leaving the office.

Immediately afterwards, the doorknob of the small conference room was pressed down, and Lin Zhenhua strode out, followed by his female assistant carrying a laptop.

After sitting down again, Lin Zhenhua unbuttoned his suit jacket, placed his hands on his knees, leaned back on the sofa, and put the revised plan on the coffee table.

"Mr. Ye, I just spoke with the Hangzhou headquarters and the person in charge of Baofoo on the phone."

"The headquarters has agreed to grant Xingchen Market access to joint testing of mobile quick payment, and the 0.3% channel fee rate and next-day settlement have also been specially approved."

Ye Chen held his teacup, remaining silent and waiting for the next conditions. Lin Zhenhua then continued to speak.

"In exchange for resources, Xingchen App Market needs to provide MobileTao.com with an exclusive recommendation spot across the entire network for six months."

The female assistant turned on her computer, turned the newly revised supplementary clauses toward the center of the coffee table, adjusted her glasses, and pointed to the bolded clauses below.

"Mr. Ye, according to the exclusivity agreement, during the cooperation period, Xingchen Market cannot access or promote other third-party e-commerce applications."

"In order to support Baofoo's upgraded risk control model, the user consumption profiles, device terminal information and high-frequency download records generated by the quick payment interface also need to be synchronized to the Hangzhou server cluster in real time for storage."

The air conditioner breeze swept past the green plants next to the sofa, and a few leaves gently touched each other.

Ye Chen put down his teacup, a faint smile on his lips, picked up the report that had just been delivered from the corner of the table, and with a flick of his wrist, the paper slid across the coffee table to Lin Zhenhua.

"Manager Lin, let's take a look at the data from 3:30 PM first."

Lin Zhenhua glanced down at the report, his brows furrowing.

"From 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Xingchen Market added 21,000 independent activation devices, bringing the total to over 400,000."

Ye Chen leaned forward, pressing his elbow against the edge of the table, meeting Lin Zhenhua's gaze, and pointed to the supplementary clauses.

"At the current rate of growth, it's almost certain that we'll surpass 450,000 before nightfall."

"Baofoo's mobile quick payment is still in the testing phase, and we don't have mature commercial operation data yet. In other words, Xingchen Market is using 400,000 highly active users to do scenario verification and stress testing for you."

"You've obtained testing privileges that haven't been commercially deployed on a large scale yet, and you want to lock up all the cooperation channels for the entire e-commerce category in the Star Market. You're also planning to take away platform data other than the necessary payment information."

"Manager Lin, aren't you guys thinking a bit too ambitious?"