SWNOVELXO Chapter 23
The lights of Shenzhen Bay shimmered like scattered stars, illuminating the luxurious apartment where Lei Jun sat with his son Renault. The air was thick with ambition and determination, a silent testament to the stakes they were about to face. Lei Jun’s piercing gaze locked onto his son, his voice a measured blend of instruction and urgency.
“This,” Lei Jun began, his eyes gleaming with intensity, “is an opportunity like no other.”
Renault, a man who mirrored his father’s sharpness and cunning, sat upright, listening intently. But when Lei Jun mentioned “that man,” a shiver ran down his spine, and he couldn’t suppress the awe creeping into his expression.
“Dad,” Renault asked hesitantly, his voice tinged with disbelief, “is that person really as powerful as they say?”
Lei Jun leaned forward, his voice dropping to a reverent whisper. “More than you can imagine. People revere Hangzhou Taomao and Pengcheng Xunteng, calling them titans with trillion-dollar valuations. But compared to him? They’re like candles trying to rival the moonlight.”
The weight of his words hung heavy in the room. Renault’s hands tightened into fists, his respect for his father mingling with a growing curiosity about this enigmatic figure.
“I founded Dami with his help,” Lei Jun admitted, his tone carrying the gravity of someone recounting a legend. “He guided me through funding and strategy, shaping everything you see today. And though I’ve never met him in person, even a phone call with him left me trembling.” He exhaled, his expression softening with the memory. “In all my decades in business, I’ve judged countless people. But only that man made me feel what it means to look up to greatness.”
Renault nodded solemnly. He wasn’t a spoiled heir but a sharp mind in his own right. “I understand, Dad. If this gamble can pave a way for me to catch his attention, I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
Lei Jun’s smile was faint but approving. “Good. I lost to Song Yazhi before, and I can’t say I’ve ever been satisfied with that outcome. If the timeline had been extended, I would have come out on top. This time, I’m counting on you to finish what I started.”
The conversation paused as Lei Jun’s secretary sent over an email containing information about Song Yazhi’s son, Qin Yuan. The father and son leaned in as the details loaded.
“Let’s see what kind of competition we’re up against,” Lei Jun said with a smirk. “Even if he inherited the Iron Lady’s brilliance, a small overseas company can hardly—”
The words died on his lips. His face froze, his eyes widening as he absorbed the information in front of him. Renault leaned closer, his own expression soon mirroring his father’s shock.
“Lingyin? A mobile phone manufacturing company?” Renault stammered, his voice shaking with disbelief. “It dominates 60% of Africa’s mobile phone market? It sells over 100 million phones annually?”
Lei Jun sat back in his chair, visibly shaken. “This… this is impossible!” he muttered, his voice hoarse. His hands trembled as he read the data again, hoping it was a mistake.
Renault’s face turned ashen. “Dad, what’s the point of this bet?” he asked, his tone bordering on despair. “Three years? It hasn’t even started, and we’ve already lost!”
The numbers were irrefutable. Lingyin Group, Qin Yuan’s company, wasn’t just successful—it was a giant. Its dominance in the African market, combined with a valuation that easily soared into the billions, made Renault’s fledgling company seem like a mere ant in comparison.
“This is a dimensional strike!” Renault cried, his voice breaking. “We’re finished before we even begin!”
Lei Jun slumped back, his usual confident demeanor shattered. The room seemed to close in around him as he envisioned the inevitable humiliation awaiting him. “One billion yuan,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “How many phones will we have to sell to cover that loss?”
Meanwhile, at Tan Palace’s Courtyard No. 3, a very different scene unfolded. Song Yazhi’s family gathered in the living room, the atmosphere electric as they pored over the same information.
Song Caifu’s eyes sparkled as she clutched her phone, her face a mix of astonishment and pride. “Brother, you’re incredible!” she squealed, bounding over to Qin Yuan and hugging him tightly.
Song Yazhi, typically composed, was visibly shaken. Her hands trembled as she read the details, her heart pounding in disbelief. “Lingyin,” she murmured. “A mobile phone giant in Africa… a market value of ten billion dollars?”
She turned to Qin Yuan, her voice trembling. “Son, is this true?”
Qin Yuan smiled faintly, his calm demeanor contrasting with the excitement around him. “It’s true, Mom,” he confirmed, his tone steady.
Tears welled in Song Yazhi’s eyes as she pulled him into an embrace. “My child,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, “I’m so proud of you.”
Qin Yuan felt his face flush at the unrestrained affection. Though thirty years old, in his mother’s arms, he suddenly felt like a boy again. “Mom, it’s really not a big deal,” he muttered, though his heart swelled with pride.
As the family calmed, Qin Yuan recounted the story of Lingyin’s rise. He explained its humble beginnings and the relentless work it took to reach its current heights. The room fell silent, each member lost in thought as they processed the magnitude of his achievements.
Song Ziwei’s eyes softened as she looked at Qin Yuan, a mix of admiration and quiet sorrow flickering in her gaze. She couldn’t fathom the sacrifices he must have made to reach such heights.
Song Caifu, on the other hand, was bubbling with excitement. “Brother, you’re a billionaire!” she declared, clapping her hands with glee.
“Not quite,” Qin Yuan said with a chuckle, though he couldn’t hide the pride in his eyes.
Song Yazhi looked at her son, her gaze brimming with love and pride. “You’ve made me the happiest mother in the world,” she said softly.
As news of Lingyin’s dominance spread online, the reaction was nothing short of explosive.
“This is insane!”
“Lei Jun hasn’t just lost the bet—he’s been utterly humiliated!”
“Qin Yuan isn’t just riding on his mother’s coattails. He’s a powerhouse in his own right!”
Netizens dug deeper, connecting Qin Yuan’s success to past events. The irony wasn’t lost on them when someone pointed out the failure of Song Yazhi’s attempt to break into the mobile phone market years ago.
“The Iron Lady couldn’t do it,” one post read, “but her son did.”
As the night wore on, one truth became clear: the billion-yuan bet was over before it even began. And for Qin Yuan, the world was finally seeing him for who he truly was—a king in his own right.