After hearing Ding Sanshi's confident words, Zhang Tianxing fell silent, then let out a soft sigh.
"Mr. Ding, I purchased the game engine, assembled the game development team, and initiated the project. Selling it now wouldn't be appropriate."
Ding Sanshi was not surprised by Zhang Tianxing's words. "How about this, President Xiao Zhang, I can offer an additional fifty thousand. Please consider it."
Fifty thousand was undeniably tempting, but Zhang Tianxing was no longer the unsophisticated bumpkin he once was.
"Thank you for your generous offer, Mr. Ding, but we are not short on money!" Zhang Tianxing politely declined.
At this moment, Wangyi was an undeniable behemoth compared to Tianxing Network Company.
The primary reason was Wangyi's immense success, perfectly embodying Ding Sanshi's vision.
Ding Sanshi stated with firm conviction, "When Chinese people think of the internet, they first think of Wangyi. Our slogan, 'Wangyi is the Internet,' has deeply resonated. Our goal is to be the best website in China, and we have achieved this, demonstrating our strength."
"That's right, President Xiao Zhang, our daily traffic has reached over 24 million visits. No one in China does better than us," Ding Dang added with a smile.
Wangyi's strength was evident to all. Ding Dang wondered if Zhang Tianxing would still refuse Wangyi's offer after learning of its formidable power.
"Alternatively, President Xiao Zhang, perhaps you could propose a win-win cooperation plan," Ding Sanshi suggested calmly.
Ding Sanshi was confident that Tianxing Network Company was but a junior player compared to Wangyi. Although Tianxing had made significant strides in search engines, Wangyi's superiority was comprehensive.
"Mr. Ding, it's rare for you to visit our Tianxing Network Company. We would appreciate your guidance on our development. Cooperation matters can be discussed later," Zhang Tianxing deflected with a casual remark, aiming to placate Ding Sanshi for the moment.
The decision of whether to sell, and at what price, required careful consideration.
Ding Sanshi chuckled, "President Xiao Zhang, let's be direct. You know why I've come personally, don't you?"
Hearing Ding Sanshi's words, Zhang Tianxing felt a pang of confusion. What news had Ding Sanshi received to make him so certain of his position?
"Good news travels fast, but bad news travels even faster. President Xiao Zhang, you are a celebrity now, so your affairs are no secret to us," Ding Sanshi said with a smile.
Meeting Ding Sanshi's expectant gaze and his unsettlingly peculiar smile, Zhang Tianxing felt a prickle of unease. However, he reminded himself, this was his territory, so there was little to fear.
"Mr. Ding, please speak your mind. I am a junior, and I hope for your continued guidance," Zhang Tianxing adopted a humble tone. He hadn't engaged in anything excessively outrageous lately.
He had merely acted as an agent for a Legend game, inadvertently breaking a few domestic records. However, these achievements were hardly significant.
Seeing Zhang Tianxing's bewildered expression, Ding Sanshi was amused. With a beaming smile, he continued, "President Xiao Zhang, I'll be direct then. The situation is this: this matter should have been handled by a subordinate, but I heard you would soon be going abroad for an exchange program, so I came myself."
At this, Zhang Tianxing's face paled. What a predicament! How did this trivial matter even reach Ding Sanshi's ears? He hadn't committed any heinous acts; he was merely going abroad for an academic exchange.
Ding Sanshi, with nothing better to do at his company, had personally come to address such a minor issue. Zhang Tianxing was utterly baffled by the messenger and the situation.
Observing Zhang Tianxing's current expression, Ding Sanshi offered words of comfort. "President Xiao Zhang, please don't be upset. It's only because your Legend online game is so popular. Anyone looking to make money will inevitably be drawn to your Legend."
Zhang Tianxing was thoroughly annoyed. "If you're interested in the game, develop it yourselves or find an agent. Besides, I'm about to go abroad to study, so I'll no longer pose a threat to you. That hardly justifies your personal visit, does it?" Zhang Tianxing directly challenged him.
Individuals like Ding Sanshi were usually occupied with crucial matters. Why would they bother with a university student? Even if that student stumbled upon good fortune, they wouldn't pose a threat to a giant like Wangyi.
Wangyi's business model was already highly mature. Moreover, Ding Dang had confirmed they had secured funding and were soon to be listed in the US, heralding the birth of an internet titan.
Ding Sanshi spoke with a profound tone, "Your logic is sound. I am indeed looking for game agents. However, the most crucial point is that I aspire to create China's own traditional online games. With five thousand years of history, we have countless myths and legends, innumerable historical figures, and an abundance of historical anecdotes. I wish to create a Chinese traditional online game."
Ding Sanshi's words were impactful, his face radiating confidence. He believed that under his leadership, Wangyi would ascend to new heights of glory.
"It was precisely because I witnessed Mr. Ding's passionate dedication that I agreed to serve as Wangyi's game director," Ding Dang stated.
Gao Ningning chimed in with a reminder, "Few people are proficient in Windows game development. I'm only moderately familiar. Many have only recently transitioned from the DOS era, and DirectX resources in Chinese are scarce and difficult to find, hence the lack of experts. However, Ding Dang is undoubtedly one of them."
This statement revealed Gao Ningning's rare willingness to acknowledge others' expertise, with Ding Dang being a prime example.
Upon hearing Gao Ningning's words, Ding Dang offered a gracious nod. "Thank you for your kind words, beautiful lady. Even the most skilled chef cannot cook without ingredients. Due to the current technical limitations, we've decided to select the Thousand Year Old Spear game engine, as it offers significant convenience."
"The code is open-source and remarkably simple to use, featuring a basic C interface. When hardware conditions are constrained, we can further optimize the software to achieve our desired results," Gao Ningning explained with a smile. "Owner Xiao Zhang, this is also why I advised you to purchase the game engine."
Like minds often recognize each other. Ding Dang sighed deeply. "It's a pity that this game engine has fallen into your hands. It's undeniable that your company is just starting, and maintaining the operation of Legend consumes a tremendous amount of your energy. You lack the capacity to develop new games."
He then elaborated on Wangyi's advantages. "We, on the other hand, are different. We are currently well-funded, with ample personnel, and a robust team. If you entrust the game engine to us, we will undoubtedly deliver a satisfactory result to the Chinese people and promote Chinese games worldwide."
In terms of both capital and manpower, Wangyi far surpassed Tianxing Network Company. Although Legend generated substantial profits daily, there was still a disparity when compared to Wangyi.