101 Admitting Defeat
In the conference room, Li Chengqian and He Hongyan sat across from each other on opposite ends of the conference table.
He Hongyan was an internet veteran. He had a serious expression and an imposing aura that was intimidating.
“President He, it is an honor! I didn’t expect you to really come personally.”
“Our company is privileged to receive you.” Li Chengqian smiled and said, feeling no pressure whatsoever.
What he held in his hands could destroy He Hongyan. This was where his confidence came from.
“Li Chengqian is so young, yet he has already picked up all the bad habits. How did he learn to be so hypocritical!” The corners of He Hongyan’s eyes twitched as he cursed in his heart. His heart became heavy.
He didn’t want to come either, but Li Chengqian didn’t answer any unfamiliar calls at all, nor did he agree to a video conference. What choice did he have but to come personally?
“President Li, you’re really young and promising,” He Hongyan praised with a smile.
“President He, you’re too kind.” Li Chengqian raised his teacup and took a sip. He smiled at He Hongyan and waited for him to continue.
He Hongyan said with a dark expression, “President Li, the news on the internet now is very disadvantageous to your company. There is a lot of criticism.”
“Your flagship product, the Divine Dragon Optimization App, has a very low installation rate now, right?”
“I heard that the Cyberspace Administration Office has already started internal preparations to launch an investigation into the Divine Dragon Software Company.”
“Once the Cyberspace Administration Office intervenes, any issues will be placed under the spotlight. Even small problems will be dealt with.” This was what He Hongyan was most worried about now.
He almost burst out laughing when he first heard that the Cyberspace Administration Office was going to investigate the Divine Dragon Software Company.
However, after thinking about it carefully, he broke out in a cold sweat. If evidence of him hacking into other companies and downloading the source codes of other companies was uncovered at the Divine Dragon Software Company, he would be in big trouble.
He would be in a worse situation than Li Chengqian!
“President Li, I’m afraid it’s going to be difficult for the Divine Dragon Software Company this time,” He Hongyan said solemnly.
“President He, thank you for your concern! You know what I want to hear. If you are here just to say that the Divine Dragon Software Company is in danger, then I think we can end this meeting now.” Li Chengqian smiled and said. Then, he stood up and got ready to leave.
“President Li, don’t be agitated,” He Hongyan hurriedly said.
“President Li, the main reason I’m here this time is to ask you to remove your control over our company’s server and software.” He Hongyan thought for a moment and said bluntly.
“President He, can you tell me in detail what’s going on? I don’t understand what’s going on. I don’t have control over your company’s server and software.” Li Chengqian’s expression was innocent, as if he really didn’t know anything.
Li Chengqian would never admit to controlling Baidu Corporation.
Once he admitted it, he would be giving other people a hold on him, giving them a means to attack him.
He Hongyan scoffed at Li Chengqian’s words. He didn’t believe a word at all.
This sly fox. He is very tight-lipped and cautious.” After cursing under his breath, his heart became even heavier.
Then, he could only frown and relate to him the situation of Baidu’s server and network.
“President He, you guys are a little too much!” Chengqian said angrily after listening to what he said.
He acted like someone who had been greatly wronged.
“What’s wrong?” He Hongyan asked in bewilderment. He should be the one angry. After all, he was the one who had been disadvantaged.
“President He, the Divine Dragon Optimization App is our company’s flagship product. It has a built-in anti-hacking module. Once it detects a hacking attempt, the anti-hacking module will be executed. Your company’s current situation is due to the operation of the anti-hacking module.”
“In other words, your company actually tried to hack into the Divine Dragon Optimization App without my knowledge.”
“This is an unethical act. It’s also illegal.”
“Compensation, you have to compensate me for my losses!” Li Chengqian stood up agitatedly.
“President Li, we’ve never hacked the Divine Dragon Optimization App!” He Hongyan vehemently denied this. They only wanted to take the source code from the server of Divine Dragon Software Company.
“President Li, please immediately remove the control of Baidu’s server and software and let Baidu Corporation resume normal operations.” After several attempts, He Hongyan realized that it was wishful thinking trying to extract any information out of Li Chengqian. He decided to go straight to the point.
“Sure!” Li Chengqian agreed without any hesitation.
Now that the Divine Dragon Optimization App had been banned by various manufacturers, it was meaningless to continue promoting it. Instead, it would attract more negative attention.
Moreover, Li Chengqian’s initial goal in controlling Baidu Corporation was to be on the offensive and earn the right to speak. Now that He Hongyan had personally come, he had achieved his objectives.
He Hongyan looked at Li Chengqian in disbelief. He didn’t expect Li Chengqian to agree so readily.
“But there are conditions.”
“Firstly, your company must clear the Divine Dragon Software Company’s name on the internet! You must refute the rumor that Wu Botao, the Vice President of Strategy at Alibaba Corporation, spread. Also the rumors about Divine Dragon Optimization App stealing user data.”
“Secondly, you tried to hack the Divine Dragon Optimization App and obtain the software source code. Our company needs compensation. The amount will be set at 100,000 yuan and we will sign a compensation agreement.”
“Thirdly, the anti-hacking program of the Divine Dragon Optimization App is not a virus. I can’t control it remotely. It can only be removed when I am physically at your company.”
“Compensation is not an issue, but the other conditions are impossible!” He Hongyan stood up from the table and said assertively.
Wu Botao was telling the truth. There was no need to refute the rumors!
He knew that the rumor that the Divine Dragon Optimization App was stealing user data was not true, but what did it have to do with He Hongyan?
Li Chengqian’s requested compensation amount of 100,000 yuan was nothing to He Hongyan, but this was not a matter of money.
Once the compensation agreement was signed, the nature of this matter would change. It would completely confirm that Baidu Corporation did try to hack into the Divine Dragon Optimization App.
This contract could prove that Li Chengqian had not hacked into the server of Baidu Corporation.
This was something He Hongyan could not accept.
He Hongyan knew that Li Chengqian’s third condition was utter rubbish. However, because of what appeared to be a nonsensical condition, He Hongyan has raised his opinion of Li Chengqian. “This sly fox is too cautious! His strategy is water tight.”
“President He, don’t be agitated,” Li Chengqian said evenly. Then, he pressed the remote control on the big screen.
Since he had already raised the conditions, He Hongyan had to accept them.
He Hongyan had no choice but to do so.
“President He, I suddenly received an email a few days ago. I thought it was a virus and wanted to delete it.”
“Fortunately, it wasn’t deleted.”
“I opened the email out of curiosity. Then, I realized that the email was actually about you, President He.”
“After reading the entire email, I can only say I have utmost respect for you, President He. I’m truly impressed!” Li Chengqian said with a smile.
On the big screen, screenshots of chat records appeared one after another. Names of companies appeared one after another.
Screenshots of folders were also projected on the big screen.
The evidence was irrefutable and there was no way to deny it.
In the face of these things, any resistance was futile.
He Hongyan’s face fell. His imposing aura disappeared in an instant.
The anger on his face and the dominance he displayed was all gone.
His forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat.
“I agree to your conditions!” He Hongyan’s face was pale as he collapsed into the chair. His voice was hoarse.
At this moment, his gaze towards Li Chengqian was filled with reverence.
Actually, from the moment he met Li Chengqian, he had been probing. He had held a trace of hope in his heart, praying that this evidence hadn’t fallen into Li Chengqian’s hands.
Now, his hopes were completely dashed.
He did not mention destroying the evidence because he knew that it was meaningless.
With Li Chengqian’s careful personality, even if he deleted these things in front of him, he couldn’t be trusted.
He was 100% sure that Li Chengqian would definitely have kept a duplicate set elsewhere.
If it were him, he would have done the same.
“President He, you’ve made the right choice.” Li Chengqian smiled. Seeing He Hongyan’s dispirited look, Li Chengqian continued, “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you.”
“I won’t take your money.”
“I won’t let you do anything overboard or illegal.”
“This information is safe in my hands.”
“President Li, I trust you.” He Hongyan didn’t believe a word of it, but the information Li Chengqian had could put him behind bars, for 10 years at least. Facing someone who had something on him, he had no choice but to believe him.
He Hongyan could only hope that Li Chengqian would keep his word.