Chapter 411: Invitation
There had once been a popular discussion on the internet: If you became the richest person in the world, what would you do?
Clearly, most of the people engaging in that conversation were the kind that would never actually become the richest person—hence the answers were often fantastical, based on a "the emperor must use a golden hoe" kind of mindset.
But without a doubt, if anyone could truly understand the meaning and burden of wealth like Bill Gates, Su Yuanshan would be one of them.
The saying goes, "When poor, tend to yourself; when rich, serve the world." That might be a bit of an overstatement when applied to Gates, but as a man in the prime of his life, soon to enter his forties and already standing atop the world, Gates had clearly reached a level of detachment from material needs. Now he was beginning to pursue something greater—something higher.
Maslow, after all, categorized human needs into five levels, from basic physiological and survival needs to the highest pursuit of self-actualization. His hierarchy had laid out human aspiration in precise order.
Su Yuanshan truly believed that someone like Gates—living in the U.S., at the top of the economic pyramid—genuinely harbored a desire to "make the world a better place."
…
Gates stared at Su Yuanshan silently for several seconds. Once he confirmed that Su's "joke" was just a smokescreen and that he was sincerely inviting him to join the Xinghai Foundation, he pursed his lips and began to savor the phrase in his mind.
After a while, he smiled and asked, "Make the world better… in what way?"
"For example, we could invest in small, urgently-needed innovative ventures without obsessing over ROI. We could dedicate specific funds for philanthropic work around the globe. But more importantly, we could focus on the future—not from a business perspective, but from a purely idealistic one."
"For example, I want to eradicate global poverty. I want to wipe out the most brutal and deadly diseases. I want humanity to escape Earth and venture into space. That's what the name 'Xinghai'—'star ocean'—is all about. The stars and the sea are our destination."
Su Yuanshan's eyes gleamed. He tried his best to speak with sincere conviction, explaining his ideals as a dreamer.
If someone else had said this, people might have called him delusional. But when it came from Su Yuanshan—the young genius who had created multiple industry-defining companies in just four or five years—the most anyone could say was probably: "Whatever makes you happy."
Gates listened quietly, then remained silent for a few more seconds. Finally, he chuckled and said, "You didn't invite me here today just to talk about your dreams, did you?"
Su Yuanshan shook his head and replied earnestly, "No. It's just… You know I've always respected you."
Gates: "…"
This was exactly why Su Yuanshan's senior brothers always admitted defeat around him—Su had no shame in giving praise, and he did it so seriously, so matter-of-factly, that it felt completely genuine. He didn't leave you any room to even be modest.
Gates was a little caught off guard by that line.
But thinking it over, he had to admit—Su Yuanshan really did seem to respect him.
"That's why I hope, if you're willing, the Xinghai Foundation will always have its doors open to you."
Gates blinked. He believed Su was an idealist, but he wasn't entirely convinced his motives were as pure as they sounded. So he asked quietly, "Are you trying to build an oligarchy to control the world?"
"No," Su replied firmly. "I just want to go a little further."
Then he laughed at himself. "If I wanted to make money or chase power, I'd have gone to Wall Street already. Why else would I still be buried in code back in the office?"
Gates chuckled too.
Su had mentioned in previous emails that he was still reviewing code—and had even discussed technical questions with him.
Indeed, what kind of oligarch still reviews code?
Not to mention, Su's research team seemed to keep publishing in Nature.
If one had to compare Su Yuanshan to a fictional character, he might resemble Batman, or Iron Man—someone right out of a comic book.
"Your proposal's not bad. I'll think about it," Gates said with a nod.
Even though he was the richest man in the world, Gates hadn't let it go to his head. The upcoming release of Windows 95 was still Microsoft's make-or-break moment. The company's stock had soared over the past six months because tens of thousands of beta testers had showered praise on Win95.
But until the final version launched, nothing was guaranteed.
That was part of why he was willing to meet with Su Yuanshan today.
To be honest, Xinghai's processor supported Win95 beautifully.
"So, what comes next?"
"Next," Su said carefully, "just as you were thinking—I'd like to meet with Mr. Andy Grove in a calm and respectful setting to explore the possibility of cooperation between FarCore and Intel in the CPU space."
He chose his words carefully, trying to be clear without being confrontational.
In plain terms, he hoped Mr. Gates would reach out to Andy Grove and arrange a private, closed-door meeting where the three of them could have an honest conversation.
One way or another, Su believed that for technical people, face-to-face was always the most effective method.
"Alright," Gates agreed without hesitation.
"Thank you. By the way… Want to come over for fish?"
"Next time, for sure."
…
When Tang Wenjie picked up Su Yuanshan and brought him back to the villa, it was exactly 8:30 p.m.
In the living room, Yang Yiwen and Zhou Xiaohui were chatting while munching sunflower seeds. Ye Rudai was helping Qin Si prep ingredients in the kitchen, and Chen Haomin, wearing an apron, was pretending to assist as well.
"You got back just in time—the fish is almost ready!"
Qin Si turned her head and greeted Su with a grin. To avoid getting oil in her hair, she'd wrapped it in a towel, looking like an Arab warrior—which made Su burst out laughing.
Soon, the dishes were on the table. Qin Si opened a bottle of red wine—an '82 Lafite. Su knew full well that every bottle they drank was one less left in the world, but since Qin Si had bought it, it had to be real.
After all these years, she had built a name for herself in the U.S. investment community and lived what many called an "upper-class life."
Just like Su had said: getting to eat a meal she cooked herself wasn't something just anyone could enjoy.
But here in this house, they were like family. She was the best cook and the eldest sister—it made sense she was in the kitchen.
Just like in Friends.
Su Yuanshan knew they all kept this life going partly because of him—but it was still rare and deeply moving.
"To us!" someone said.
"Cheers!"
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Chapter 412: Buying Into Microsoft
After a delicious fish hotpot that no one dared to criticize, Su Yuanshan and Qin Si went up to the study on the second floor alone.
Not because the topic of their discussion was too sensitive for the others downstairs, but because with so many people around, talking about arrangements would feel awkward.
Once the door closed, Qin Si casually lifted the coffee pot. "Want a cup?"
"I'll pass, I'd rather rest early," Su Yuanshan replied, shaking his head as he looked around the study. This sunroom measured a good thirty to forty square meters. All four walls were glass—even the ceiling was transparent, allowing a view of the moonlit sky above.
Of course, there were blackout curtains all around, cleverly and elegantly designed. It was clear a lot of care had gone into the details.
There were four computers in each corner, a sofa and coffee table in the center, bookshelves along the wall, and a small bar tucked in the corner.
The shelves were packed with professional books—though there were also a few classic Chinese texts tucked in for "cultural" effect, like the Four Books and Five Classics.
"Who designed this study? I want one just like it," Su Yuanshan said with admiration as he dropped onto the sofa.
"Li Fei Daniel. Fairly well-known interior designer," Qin Si replied, sitting beside him and handing him a bottle of milk. "The fish was a bit spicy—have some milk."
"Thanks." Su inserted the straw and took a sip, then looked at her. "Qin Si-jie, how much Microsoft stock do you own?"
She coughed lightly, looking a little embarrassed. "Not that much."
"…Be specific."
After a pause, she answered, "Controlling interest, maybe around half a percent."
Su Yuanshan nodded.
Since she had left Xinghai cleanly back then, Qin Si had no founder's shares. To compensate, Su had always given her generous treatment.
And after years of leading Xinghai Ventures, under Su's influence, she had developed not only sharp investment instincts but also rare confidence in the tech sector. Because Xinghai Ventures focused on early-stage investments in tech and internet companies, Su—despite knowing Microsoft stock would rise—had refrained from directly trading it.
Fast money would contradict the core mission of Xinghai Ventures. Worse, if they got addicted to it, even Su might not be able to stop his talented team from drifting.
But just because Su forbade the firm from playing the market didn't mean his people couldn't on their own. Qin Si, having long picked up on Su's positive outlook on Microsoft, started buying and holding the stock herself.
By now, in collaboration with various investment banks, she had quietly acquired hundreds of millions' worth—about five to six hundred million by current value.
"If you want to cash out, do it soon. If not... you might be holding for a long time," Su advised.
Qin Si nodded gently.
Though he hadn't explained everything on the phone, she had a pretty good guess. It seemed Xinghai Ventures might be moving toward a capital-level partnership with Microsoft.
"I'm planning to restructure the original Xinghai offshore holding company—the one that only has me and my brother-in-law Zhang Ke as shareholders—into a private equity fund. Your position would change from Xinghai Ventures to fund manager of the private entity. What do you think?"
Qin Si froze for a second, then swallowed hard.
What did she think? Of course she agreed!
Although she had been running Xinghai Ventures, she had also been managing all the financial statements for that so-called "shell" company—the offshore parent.
No one knew better than her just how massive and powerful that shell company had become.
To outsiders, Su Yuanshan's strength lay in Xinghai Tech and FarCore. But in reality, the offshore entity known as "Xinghai" was on equal footing with FarCore—and in terms of capital control, had already far surpassed it.
Now that Su planned to take direct control of that structure, it meant he was finally giving real attention to this colossal "shell."
"Deal!" she said simply, but immediately followed with, "Are you planning to invest in Microsoft?"
Su smiled and nodded. "That's the idea. But I don't know if Gates will agree. And there are a lot of technical and regulatory hurdles I don't fully understand…"
Qin Si nodded again. "Yes, it'll be complicated. But if we can convince Microsoft's leadership, anything's possible. We've built strong relationships with several consultancy firms—you know how massive our annual business lobbying budget is. Most of that money goes to these advisory groups. It's why our U.S. operations have gone so smoothly."
"You're the expert in this. You'll handle it," Su said with a laugh. "But that might mean your founder's bonus from Xinghai Ventures will shrink again…"
Qin Si exhaled softly, paused, then looked at him with a warm smile. "President Shan…"
"Come on, Qin Si-jie, just call me Xiaoshan."
"Alright, Xiaoshan. You know what's been hardest for me these past few years?"
"What?"
"Not the work. It's controlling the shift in mindset that comes with wealth and status," she said frankly. "We have vacation homes everywhere, but we still choose to live here. Because we want to maintain the life and mindset we started with—not be enslaved by money or temptation."
Su looked at her, surprised. After a long silence, he finally said with sincere admiration, "Qin Si-jie, I really respect you. Very few people can do that."
She just smiled and shook her head.
Everything she said was true—but not the whole truth.
Yes, they still lived in that modest villa partly for those reasons. But also because Silicon Valley was not a place that celebrated indulgence. Here, chasing dreams and developing technology were the only forms of "political correctness." Indulgence was scorned.
More importantly, Su Yuanshan himself wasn't someone who sought luxury.
As his closest people, they couldn't overstep him—not out of fear, but out of loyalty and understanding.
And Su was extremely sentimental.
As long as they lived together, their unity and status would remain unshakable.
That much—they all knew, without needing to say it out loud.
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Chapter 413: The Old Guard of Wall Street Is Falling Behind
Su Yuanshan then shared his thoughts with Qin Si in detail.
With her, there was no need for grand idealistic talk like he had used to "sell the dream" to Mr. Gates. Of course, he wasn't trying to become an oligarch either. What he wanted was to take advantage of the fact that the new generation of internet giants had not yet fully formed. He intended to lay down a foundation for a future alliance structure—before anyone else did.
Pony Ma and Ding Lei might seem to be rising rapidly, each developing the aura of a king in their domain, but no one understood better than Su Yuanshan that the higher you climb now, the harder you fall when the storm hits.
And these two, his senior brothers, needed to suffer a little. Only then would they truly understand the treachery of capital.
When that time came, the Xinghai Foundation would become the backbone and protector of all internet companies—especially as a counterbalance to Wall Street.
To make that a reality, Xinghai alone wasn't enough. Su needed a player—someone who was guaranteed to remain central to the future of the IT world.
That someone could only be Microsoft.
If Microsoft was willing to join the Xinghai Foundation's structure, then for Xinghai's standing in the Western market, it would be like locking in an insurance policy.
Because Mr. Gates was far more than a programmer.
Microsoft had grown from a tiny team that could be summoned to Steve Jobs' office with a single call, into a behemoth valued at over $100 billion. And its growth wasn't just in valuation, but also in influence and political ties.
That kind of network—no matter how much Qin Si spent on lobbying firms staffed with former government officials—still might not match what Microsoft had.
…
"Still, Mr. Gates may not agree." Qin Si, though clearly moved by Su Yuanshan's vision, quickly regained her composure. She had a duty, as the executor, to remain pragmatic. "We've discussed this scenario before—about Microsoft and Gates. Buffett, for example, had something interesting to say."
"Oh? What did the Sage of Omaha say?" Su asked curiously.
"Buffett once said he only invests in businesses he understands. He claims this is the most valuable lesson he learned from Graham. But as for Gates, Buffett sees him as a dreamer—but one with ambition."
"Of course, all entrepreneurs have ambition. But Gates' ambition isn't just about expanding his company. It's about something higher—his personal influence," she paused, then added, "Getting him to step aside quietly probably isn't going to happen."
"Well, I don't mean for him to step aside," Su smiled. "He can stay the world's richest man, keep projecting his influence. I admire the man, I really do."
"Silicon Valley," he continued, "sounds romanticized as the Garden of Eden for dreamers and innovators. But in reality, it's just the 21st century's newest gold rush—a paradise for risk capital and speculation."
"As for Buffett and the rest of the old-school Wall Street elite—they don't get it. They've fallen behind."
Su shrugged. "It's like playing cards. Old-school elites are used to poker or blackjack. But now a new game—something like Dou Dizhu—comes along. Everyone's playing it, but they can't understand the rules. They say the game is flawed, but really, it's they who are out of touch."
"…"
"Same goes for Soros," Su chuckled. "He and his old-guard buddies saw the weakness in the British pound and pounced. Sure, they made a few billion, but what else did they gain? Just a mess and political backlash. Of course, you studied finance, so you could probably justify the existence of hedge funds. But in terms of making money—Qin Si-jie, tell me: who does it better than me?"
"I've never even touched stocks or forex!"
Qin Si was left speechless.
When it came to Su Yuanshan's ability to make money, she had nothing but admiration. That was why she constantly reminded herself to stay humble, low-key, and grounded. Because Su was simply on another level.
Seeing her stunned expression, Su smiled gently. "That's why Soros and company can't even imagine that soon, billions of people around the world will be able to access the internet at minimal cost—anywhere, anytime."
"That's when we'll truly have a global village. And only then will true global influence matter."
Qin Si looked awestruck. She had always believed in the future, but she hadn't expected Su Yuanshan's version of the future to feel so... imminent.
"How soon do you think that future will come?"
"Ten, twenty years at most." Su Yuanshan said casually, "And that's why you have to trust me, Qin Si-jie—because all of FarCore's efforts are driving the world in that direction. Even if you don't believe in me, you should believe in FarCore."
"Mm." Qin Si inhaled deeply and nodded. Yes, she thought to herself, It's because I believe in you that I believe in FarCore.
…
When the two of them came downstairs, Chen Haomin and Tang Wenjie had already finished the dishes. Everyone else was sitting around the living room, snacking and watching TV.
Su Yuanshan plopped down right between Yang Yiwen and Ye Rudai. "So, what's everyone talking about?"
"We're gossiping about what you two were scheming upstairs," Yiwen teased, giving Su a playful pinch on the arm and gesturing to Tang Wenjie to scoot over a bit.
"No scheming—just trying to bring Microsoft into the fold."
"Oh? You mean share swaps with FarCore?"
"No, not with FarCore."
Yiwen's interest was piqued. "Then tell us."
Su gave a brief explanation, and the room instantly erupted in lively discussion.
Everyone except Ye Rudai, that is. She was the youngest in the group, and from a business perspective, her status was "lowest," so she didn't try to join the conversation at that level.
Instead, she used the moment—while everyone focused on Qin Si—to steal a glance at Su Yuanshan's face, which to her was... flawless.
No, she scolded herself. Don't idolize him.
But how can I not? another voice inside her replied.
Su Yuanshan sensed her gaze and turned his head, only to see her quickly look away. He couldn't help but smile and ask softly, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just… the conversation was getting a bit… you know."
"Too lofty?"
"Mm…"
"Heh, it's not really. Everything depends on action. By the way, how's your company doing?"
By now, Yang Yiwen, Qin Si, and the others had moved on to talking about Microsoft—and even a bit of Gates gossip. So Su took the opportunity to ask about Ye Rudai's own progress.
After all, once her venture took off, it would also become a dominant force.
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Chapter 414: Don't Be Evil
"We've only just started operations," Ye Rudai replied, like a student still working on an exam when suddenly asked by the teacher how it's going—somewhat shy and hesitant. Even though, from the moment Su Yuanshan had encouraged her to build out the technical implementation herself, she had begun consciously learning from Qin Si, Yang Yiwen, and others about how to manage a company, she still found it all incredibly difficult.
Compared to diving deep into code, managing even a small team of a dozen people felt like a daunting task—even if every one of her team members had been carefully recruited by her from forums, newsgroups, and personal circles. They were, in essence, all like-minded peers.
"We're seriously lacking people for tech evangelism," she whispered, glancing across at Chen Haomin. "Right now, it's senior brother Haomin who's helping us…"
"Haha, that's fine. You can tap into Xinghai's resources—after all, they're shareholders too," Su Yuanshan said reassuringly. "Your main users are still websites for now, so you don't need to worry yet about end-user experience. If you must define experience, then for a tool-type website like yours, producing the most accurate search results is the best user experience."
"Right!" Ye Rudai nodded. "We have two teams at the moment. I handle hyperlink analysis. The other team is led by Page… oh, you probably don't know him."
"Larry Page?" Su Yuanshan blinked.
Ye Rudai's eyes widened. "You know him?"
Of course I know him… Su thought. But wait—wasn't Page still a student at this point? How had she convinced him to join?
"I saw his name on the SChub forums. I know he's a fan of yours."
Ye Rudai gave a small cough.
A mysterious genius girl from the East, protégé of a FarCore elite, and direct creator of Xinghai's search tech—on top of that, she showed up already wielding core algorithmic know-how. Yeah… it was no surprise she attracted attention.
Even the company she formed was an extension of her personality—she personally contacted and recruited every employee. Rumor had it, if you wanted to join her company, the first requirement was becoming her friend.
"As the internet continues to grow, so too will its content—news, data, and personal output," Su mused. "A lot of people say the internet is like a public wall—anyone can post on it, anyone can see it. But in truth, it's more like a maze."
Ye Rudai nodded thoughtfully.
"That's why, going forward, the core mission of a search engine is to accurately help people find what they need. Only when that's done right can you think about anything else."
Hearing Su Yuanshan take on a slightly admonishing tone, Ye Rudai blinked and immediately sensed that perhaps he had foreseen something—and was concerned.
She bit her lip and asked, "Are you saying… we shouldn't expand into other lines of business?"
"No, not quite…" Su thought for a moment, then decided to use an analogy. "Look at it this way: a search engine is like a kind stranger standing on a busy street, helping others with directions. Fair enough?"
"Mm-hmm."
"What if that person deliberately gave someone the wrong directions? What kind of consequences would that cause?"
"That's absurd!" Ye Rudai laughed, quickly defending herself. "It's all algorithms anyway."
"Alright, then let me give you an example. Say I fall ill… and I want to look online for help."
"Well, you should go to a hospital," she said instinctively.
"…" Su coughed. "Let's say I live far from a hospital, and it's not convenient. Maybe I just want to learn about my symptoms online first. Or let's say—not me—but someone has cancer. And they're the kind of user who puts their faith in online information. They search your engine looking for treatment options. Even if they eventually go to the hospital, they'll want to know which hospitals are reputable or which ones specialize in certain cancers. That's not unreasonable, right?"
Ye Rudai slowly nodded. "Yes, that kind of search should absolutely be part of what the internet offers."
"Exactly. But you can't assume everyone—or every business—is noble and ethical. There are always unscrupulous companies or individuals looking to make dirty money. So, what if a hospital approaches you and says: when people search for these terms, they want to place ads. They even want higher visibility in your search results."
Su paused, watching her closely. "I know your team is building this, right?"
She nodded quietly.
While the project was entirely tech-driven, she had already thought through the revenue model—especially after discussing it with senior brother Ding Lei.
A company doesn't need to profit immediately, but it must have a plan for revenue. Without a monetization strategy, you're better off just handing out money—at least that's faster.
So, she considered keyword-based ad placements. In that regard, a standalone search engine had a built-in advantage—hyper-targeted traffic.
"Now, what if the scenario I described plays out?" Su's tone turned serious. "Someone uses your search engine and ends up at a shady hospital or a scam clinic. They spend all their money, and… they die. What then?"
Ye Rudai bit her lip. After a one-second pause, she replied firmly, "We won't offer that kind of service."
Su smiled and nodded. "If you're guiding people, never do evil."
"Mm!" she said, nodding with determination.
Just then, Su noticed that the others had stopped talking at some point. They were all smiling and watching the two of them.
He cleared his throat. "You guys can keep chatting."
"No, no—you two go on," said Chen Haomin, chewing gum to resist the urge to smoke. "This is the first time I've seen someone date like this. Fascinating."
"Uhh…"
Ye Rudai blushed deep red. Even Su, thick-skinned as he was, realized their version of romance was a bit too… pure. So he laughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject to Microsoft and Intel.
Because even if Gates didn't agree to join his "grand ideal," Su was confident he would at least help arrange a proper meeting between him and Andy Grove.
Just then, Chen Haomin's phone beeped. He glanced at the screen and handed it to Su Yuanshan without a word.
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Chapter 415: Direct and to the Point
The meeting was scheduled to take place at Mr. Gates' home.
At that point in time, Gates had already been considering buying land to build a grand estate, but between his packed schedule and Microsoft's not-yet-absolute dominance, his dream mansion remained just that—a dream.
The fact that the meeting was to be held at his house indicated it was extremely private. You could say it sent a public signal, but the content of the meeting? Purely speculative.
Su Yuanshan arrived at exactly 3:00 p.m.
…
"Is Mr. Andy here yet?" Su asked as he saw Gates waiting at the door. From afar, he had already motioned for Tang Wenjie to take the car and head back. He would go in alone.
"He's already here. Upstairs having coffee," Gates said with a teasing smile. "You didn't expect him to come out and greet you, did you?"
"Uh… definitely not." Su climbed the steps and let out a small breath, then followed Gates into the house.
Like many in Silicon Valley, Gates owned a comfortable villa. As they approached the stairs to the second floor, Su suddenly stopped and asked, as if in passing, "Bill, what's your take?"
Gates paused slightly. He immediately knew Su was referring to their discussion from the night before about the Xinghai Foundation. He stopped on the stairway, stepped back one stair, and looked at Su with a smile. "This isn't FarCore. Microsoft isn't mine alone. Even if I want something, I still have to run it through the company."
"No, not Microsoft," Su corrected immediately, sensing Gates' hesitation about the Xinghai system or perhaps something deeper. "I meant you."
"Why me?"
"Because…" Su looked down, as if mocking himself a little. "Because in life, you have to have a few like-minded friends."
Gates froze again.
He stood there quietly for a few seconds, then smiled and shook his head, giving no clear response. He simply motioned for Su to continue upstairs.
The staircase was wide enough for two to walk side by side, but Gates let Su go ahead first—host's courtesy.
And so, he could see Su's slightly slender back as they ascended.
Gates hadn't slept well the night before.
As he had said, Microsoft wasn't just his. With its market cap nearing $200 billion, even he, the founder and key shareholder, couldn't make a decision of such magnitude alone.
But personally, his free will allowed him to act however he pleased.
To be honest, Su Yuanshan's proposal had moved him.
Not for profit.
Not even for the noble-sounding idea of "making the world a better place."
No, what tempted Gates was the freedom to do things that felt right—without justification or pressure.
Things like what Su suggested: funding projects that didn't guarantee returns, helping impoverished regions with food security. Sure, those things might "make the world better," but let's be real—there was joy in being the one to help.
His only doubt was Su's motive.
Gates had studied Su Yuanshan carefully—and not just him. Wall Street had been analyzing Su for some time. Their conclusion: this guy was a staunch patriot, a supporter of his country's regime, and should be restricted along with FarCore.
Gates thought most of those warnings were just Wall Street's frustration at not being able to carve out a piece of FarCore. If the company had gone public in New York—or even Hong Kong—they would've hyped it to the moon overnight.
But the part about Su being focused on the mainland? That, Gates agreed with.
FarCore had never shown signs of wanting to go public, and it remained firmly rooted in China. For two whole years, Su hadn't returned to Silicon Valley—he was personally overseeing operations back home. There was no doubt: his center of gravity was there.
Microsoft, however, was destined to go global. From a business standpoint, and from a personal one, Gates had always wanted Su to see the world beyond his home country.
And the night before, Su had told him he already did.
Human nature is strange. When you want something to happen, you imagine how great it will feel. But when it actually happens, it feels… off. Too neat. Too clean. Almost fake.
That's how Gates felt now. He liked Su's idea. But he needed to know if the guy was for real.
…
When Su entered the study, Andy Grove was already seated with a book in hand. Because of his age, he held it at arm's length.
Of course, he wasn't really reading. He was just trying to calm himself.
He knew about FarCore's CPU tape-out. He knew it used the same architecture as Xinghai. And he definitely knew why Su was here.
What he didn't know was what Su's hidden card would be.
"Mr. Andy, good afternoon."
"Su, we meet again."
Andy didn't put the book down until Su approached. Then he stood, extended a hand, and said, "I thought you'd show up at my office."
"I was afraid your security would throw me out," Su joked, lightly hinting at the real reason for his visit.
He had come, after all, as an "infringer"—hoping to gain authorization from the very man who could block his path.
"Andy, Su—please, go ahead. I'll get us some snacks," Gates said, then gently closed the study door behind him.
Su pressed his lips together and exhaled slowly, turning to face Andy Grove directly.
The older man returned his gaze.
Su smiled faintly and said plainly, "Andy, FarCore would like a commercial license for the x86 instruction set."
"No," Andy replied flatly. "We already have too many competitors. And China is a future market—possibly our most important one."
"Why?" Su asked with genuine curiosity, then quickly clarified, "Why is it the most important market?"
"Because someone like you has confidence in it—so I should too. And because, as you once said, population is the future. Any company that ignores over a billion people is blind," Andy said, bluntly.
"…"
Su was stunned. Why is this old guy analyzing me instead of doing tech?
He vaguely recalled saying "population is the future" during a speech at Peking or Tsinghua—something meant to encourage students and support national messaging.
But apparently, Andy had really listened.
"So what you mean is… under fair conditions, you're worried you can't beat us?" Su asked seriously. "I mean from a purely technical standpoint."
Andy Grove looked at him for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"I admire you, Su. But that doesn't mean I have to accept all your arrogance."
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