Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Lingxi Search was doing just as much dirty work behind the scenes as 360.

So 360 was the rogue, and Byte was a pure, innocent maiden?

Zhou Hongyi was about to lash out, but then he remembered that 360 Mobile Phone’s development still depended on Orange Technology. In the end, he could only force himself to swallow his anger.

Seeing this, Li Yanhong hesitated for a long time, unable to make up his mind to officially move against Senlian Capital.

To put it bluntly, Qian Du competed with Senlian Capital in the digital map navigation and ride-hailing industries, but they were partners in the information distribution and pre-installed mobile app sectors.

If Qian Du were to suppress Senlian Capital as well, it would immediately push them into 360’s camp.

Furthermore, Orange Mobile Phone accounted for about 25% of smartphone shipments in the domestic market. If they had a falling out with Chen Yansen, Qian Du’s mobile traffic would drop by more than 20%.

This would be extremely detrimental to Qian Du’s strategy of seizing control of the mobile internet gateway!

On top of that, Chen Yansen had close personal and business relationships with people like Lei Yijun and Ma Wenteng.

If they aimed their guns at Senlian Capital, the ”Security Alliance” might just fall apart.

After weighing his options, Li Yanhong made up his mind: first, he would take out 360.

「Meanwhile.」

In a top-floor conference room in Building 8 of the Zhuxianzhuang Science and Technology Park in Xucheng.

Chen Yansen sat by the coffee table, boiling water, steeping tea, and pouring it with a series of fluid, practiced motions.

”Thank you, Pres—... Boss.” Zhou Shouzhi took the teacup and nodded his thanks.

”You’re just in time. Old Gao has been run off his feet, so you can start by taking over the CFO position at Orange Technology.”

Chen Yansen said, taking a sip of his hot tea.

Although it was a scorching summer day with temperatures over thirty degrees Celsius outside, the central air conditioning inside kept the room at a mere twenty degrees, with a refreshing, cool breeze circulating throughout.

”No problem,” Zhou Shouzhi readily agreed.

He understood Chen Yansen’s subtext. He was to start as CFO, use the opportunity to get a handle on the operations of Orange Technology’s various departments, and then, when the time was right, take over as CEO.

”Orange Technology’s new product launch is in five days. This one is different from before. Besides the Orange C3 and Orange D1S, we also need to prominently feature the Moss voice interaction engine and the core members of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. You’ll be in charge of overall coordination, and Wang Teng will handle the execution.”

Chen Yansen said calmly, setting down his teacup.

”Understood, Boss,” Zhou Shouzhi replied with a nod.

The huge transition from co-founder of DST Capital’s Great China Region to CFO of Orange Technology had taken him two full days of deliberation before he finally made his decision.

”What are your thoughts on Orange Technology’s current state of development?” Chen Yansen asked casually.

Zhou Shouzhi immediately sat up straight. Facing his new boss’s first question, he gave a risky answer: ”Orange Technology is clearly lacking in its ability to diversify products, build its brand, and expand its market. As a result, its revenue has been slow to reach the level of a top-tier international mobile phone manufacturer.”

This statement was, without a doubt, a negation of the combined efforts of the more than two thousand employees at Orange Technology’s headquarters.

But Zhou Shouzhi knew in his heart that Chen Yansen wasn’t paying him a massive annual salary to just coast along. He was expected to deliver results—at the very least, to boost Orange Technology’s revenue to the entry threshold of a Fortune 500 company.

’Being a yes-man and blending in would only cause me to lose my ambition.’

”Elaborate,” Chen Yansen said with a smile, unconcerned.

”First, product line expansion. Although Orange Technology’s products include mobile phones, power banks, Bluetooth headsets, smart speakers, and phone accessories, it has made virtually no progress in smart wearables. We could add products like smartwatches and fitness bands to enrich the product line.”

”Second, brand positioning is unclear. The Orange D1 sells for 799 yuan, while the Orange C2 sells for 2,699 yuan. I recommend using different series or spinning off a sub-brand to separate the high-end and low-end models.”