Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 98 Orange's New Nest

Huabei Qiang Electronics Building.

As Chen Mo followed the property manager into the building, the sunlight outside the glass curtain wall cut out cold, hard geometric light and shadow.

Gong Yun lagged half a step behind, her fingertips lightly touching the fire hydrant next to the elevator button. The metal surface seemed to have fresh polishing marks, and it was a few shades brighter than the one upstairs.

"Mr. Chen, you have excellent taste!"

The property manager was dressed in a suit and tie, with the three gold characters "Wang Jianjun" embossed on his name tag.

"Our building is the only Grade A office building in Futian District with a full glass curtain wall. It is a landmark building with 47 floors and 11 passenger elevators operating around the clock. The average waiting time for the elevator during the morning rush hour is no more than 45 seconds, and there will never be any congestion during the morning rush hour!"

He casually swiped the access card to the 12th floor, and the double-layered fireproof aluminum alloy roller shutter door slid open with a low warning sound.

"At the same time, we also have four 3-ton freight elevators behind us, which can provide 24-hour cargo transportation services. Their load-bearing capacity is industry-leading, ensuring smooth handling of both large equipment and bulk material turnover."

A 3-ton freight elevator is considered a medium-sized freight elevator, and it is indeed quite advanced in the office building sector.

Most office buildings use light freight elevators weighing less than 2 tons, while heavy freight elevators of 5 tons are mostly used in industrial settings.

Wang Jianjun gestured to the spacious corridor: "Look, the 12th floor has a floor height of 3.7 meters and a net height of 2.4 meters. It has an open column design, a usable floor area ratio of 75%, and a whole floor of 1700 square meters. There are enough workstations to accommodate 200 people."

"200. That's a bit too many!"

After muttering something to himself, Chen Mo stepped on the ground to measure the space, his shoes grinding over some unswept wood chips.

It's clear that the previous tenants had just removed the interior decorations and moved out not long ago.

Gong Yun gently shook her canvas bag, the outline of her phone inside digging into her ribs: "Manager Wang! Why does the fire escape seem wider than the one upstairs?"

“Miss Gong has a good eye!” Wang Jianjun immediately replied, “The twelfth floor was originally designed as a refuge floor, but it was later changed. The overall width of the passageway was increased by 30 centimeters according to regulations, making it safer.”

“The usable area is also lower!” Gong Yun pointed to the fire door frame at the end of the corridor: “For the same rent, the usable area is nearly 50 square meters less than the standard floor. Isn’t that a bad deal?”

As Chen Mo turned around, he listened curiously to Sister Gong helping him bargain. It was a good opportunity to learn. As a straight man with a science and engineering background, he even bought fruit at the supermarket and would never haggle with a street vendor.

"And let's talk about these two fire doors!" Gong Yun pointed earnestly at the emergency evacuation route: "Look, this position is right opposite the wealth corner of the corridor!"

"According to feng shui, this is called 'double-door qi intake.' The door hinges face southeast, which corresponds to the hexagram 'Xun represents wind, and wind represents wealth.' In the future, our company's business will surely be as far-reaching as this through-draft, and wealth will flow up the corridor!"

After listening to her serious analysis, Wang Jianjun's smile froze, and he simply pulled out the rent schedule from his briefcase.

"If you're looking for a three-year lease, we can discuss it. The standard price is 90 yuan per square meter, including property management fees. This is for your serious interest."

His gaze swept over Chen Mo, who looked "kind and benevolent," and he pulled out a calculator and tapped a few keys: "88 yuan per square meter! For good luck, this is the most sincere offer we can make!"

Chen Mo turned around and pretended not to see, letting Sister Gong continue to do her thing, as he really didn't know much about bargaining.

In addition, Chen Mo looked at the fire door, corridor, and stairwell. This so-called "double-door auspicious energy" feng shui arrangement, Sister Gong talked about it so convincingly, but it was probably just a hoax.

There's a small company up there that makes new hair dryers, called Fen, and it only rents 200 square meters of space. Chen Mo just doesn't believe that with good fortune, they can sell such a small hair dryer like crazy.
Wang Jianjun could only face the composed Gong Yun and had no choice but to grit his teeth and increase the stakes.

"Ms. Gong! If you sign the contract today, we'll add another two months of rent-free renovation period."

Chen Mo seemingly casually knocked on the frame of the fire door, and Gong Yun's lips curved slightly: "Mr. Chen! What do you think?"

"Oh!" Chen Mo turned around and nodded: "Okay, let's sign the contract today, two months' deposit and three months' rent in advance, right? Let's settle the payment in one lump sum!"

Wang Jianjun's pupils contracted slightly. Was this General Manager Chen really that straightforward?

As a veteran salesman with ten years of experience, he had long ago discovered from the business registration information that Orange Technology was just a small counterfeit mobile phone workshop with a registered capital of less than one million yuan in North China, but at this moment he suddenly felt a sense of pressure.

The "General Manager Chen" in front of me, wearing an inexpensive polo shirt, handed over 450,000 yuan in full without batting an eye, settling a quarter's rent, instead of paying a 30% deposit first and then dragging his feet on getting the rest back.

"Deal!" Wang Jianjun pulled out the contract he always kept in his briefcase, filled in a "2" on the rent-free period clause, paused, and said, "President Chen is a straightforward person. I'll call the legal department right away."

"Wait!" Gong Yun suddenly stopped Chen Mo and took the contract: "The contract must stipulate that the fresh air system must be cleaned by the property management before the renovation, and the formaldehyde test report must be qualified before we sign the contract!"

Chen Mo did not feel offended and let Sister Gong continue talking.

She hovered her finger over the "Breach of Contract Clause": "If the building is temporarily closed due to property reasons, a written notice must be given 72 hours in advance, otherwise the rent will be reduced on a daily basis."

Wang Jianjun's forehead was beaded with sweat. When this Miss Gong got serious, the sense of pressure she brought was much stronger than that of General Manager Chen.

He then noticed that this woman, who always carried a faded canvas bag and smiled with her eyes downcast, was far more difficult to deal with than those corporate executives in suits.

The former is used to using pomp and circumstance to cover up his arrogance and ignorance, while the latter's words always hit the nail on the head at crucial moments.

One minute it's feng shui, the next it's terms and conditions. Are you a feng shui master or a lawyer? You can't possibly be a sorcerer, can you?

A short while later, the property management's legal representative arrived, and Sister Gong asked them to explain the restrictive clauses one by one.

Chen Mo leaned against the window and watched the traffic below. In the distance, the LED screen of the North China Strong Market was playing an advertisement that read, "Dovy, understands your beauty better - every moment deserves to shine."

He took out his phone and sent a message to Zhao Tiezhu.

"We'll be moving to a new place soon, how about I get you a 20-square-meter manager's office?"

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen! How's it going? Is it the SEG Plaza of Tencent?"

"."

"You want to work there? Then get out of here at Tencent! Our Orange can't tolerate a big shot like you!"

"No, no, no! I've only just gotten comfortable in my supervisor position! Besides, I can't code, so why would anyone hire me? I'm still relying on you, Brother Chen, to give me a job!"

Zhao Tiezhu, that kid, has always been shameless.

"By the way, Brother Chen! A chip manufacturer came to promote their chips!"

"We've already been using Lianfa for so long, and we also have Zhan Xun as a backup plan. We can just refuse, why bring this up?"

"They're offering a 30% discount, so each chip only costs 17.5 yuan!"

"What kind of chip? Don't try to save money and give me a substandard one!"

"How could I do something that would ruin our reputation! It's the improved version of Huawei's K3V1. I checked the data, and they're willing to specifically adapt it for our Orange OS. Apart from a 2% loss in computing performance, the overall impact is minimal!"

Chen Mo was taken aback. Just as he was about to reply to Zhao Tiezhu, the long-lost mechanical system notification sound came to his mind.

[System Notification: You are currently engaged in irregular business activities. The chip supplier's profit margin is -15%, which does not meet the minimum profit requirement of 3%. Sales of devices using this chip will no longer earn you R&D points.]

K3V1... well, to be precise, an improved version of K3V1.

Chen Mo fell into deep thought. What did they mean by selling at a loss? Was it charity? Or simply to train the team and gain experience?

Moreover, the system's restriction clause requires suppliers to guarantee a profit margin of at least 3%, otherwise it would be a violation.

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen, are you there?"

"exist"

Afterwards, Chen Mo took out his phone and asked Zhao Tiezhu about the improved K3V1.

After all, his memories of this chip from his previous life were all hearsay and inevitably inaccurate. Now, Chen Mo realized that the head of Hai Si had personally come to him and was willing to provide Orange OS with a complete customized chip solution.

Chen Mo finally truly felt the popularity of Orange 1, giving K3V1, which he had already sentenced to death in his previous life, a glimmer of hope.

The Orange 1's configuration was designed to cater to the 6 million people with a monthly income of less than 1000 yuan, so its positioning wasn't high, and it used a chip that was two generations behind the mainstream.
Should Orange1 adopt K3V1?

Chen Mo stared at his phone screen in silence for a moment, his fingertips rubbing the volume buttons on the side.

Behind her, Gong Yun was annotating the supplementary clauses with the property management's legal department, one by one. Sunlight filtered through the newly grown wisps of hair behind her ears, casting a fuzzy shadow on the contract.

He suddenly dialed Zhao Tiezhu's number.
"Have Hai Si send over 30 compatible engineering samples, and you can personally go to the OEM factory to conduct actual installation tests."

Chen Mo paused, tapped his knuckles on the windowsill, and stared at the LED screen in the distance at the North China Strong Market, where an advertisement from OPPO was playing: "Foxconn Chip: Experience Ultimate Speed."

"If Orange 1 can operate stably, then we'll move 30% of the orders from Lianfaco to them!"

"Brother Chen! If 30% of the orders are placed, that's 15,000 chips a day!"

Zhao Tiezhu's exclamation exploded through the receiver: "They offered a 30% discount, but you refused and insisted on paying the original price? If you want to do charity, then do me a favor. I'm a genuine impoverished household!"

"Even if we sell at the original price, Orange Technology will still make a profit!"

Chen Mo gazed at the traffic in Huaqiangbei outside the window. On the LED screen, the advertisement for "Xoton chip's extreme speed experience" featured by OPPO reflected his tightly pursed lips: "Tell President He that Orange is willing to be the first testing ground for domestically produced chips, but not because she's waging a price war!"

"I hope they will invest the money they save in research and development, and then come back to talk to us about discounts when they come out with a truly competitive product."

Zhao Tiezhu sighed on the other end of the phone. He knew that Brother Chen was sometimes easy to talk to, but at other times he was so stubborn that he both respected and feared him.

Chen Mo knew the other person was thinking he was "acting impulsively," and he rubbed his fingertips against the hot phone case.

Suddenly, I remembered that in my previous life, Hai Si was able to escape her backup status and step into the limelight only because of external forces from the enemy, which was somewhat of a dark joke.

At that moment, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a beam of light on the man who had just turned twenty-five.

Chen Mo suddenly laughed and tapped his knuckles on the windowsill: "Men should always try things impulsively when they're young, it's better than regretting it when they're old!"

Zhao Tiezhu, on the other side, was not quite sure what he had heard and looked completely bewildered.

“I’ve been very cautious. We’ll start with small-scale trial production and then gradually replace it.” He softened his tone, his fingertips gently tracing the edge of the windowsill. “If the improved K3V1 can withstand the test of the market, we’ll have another chip ally in the future.”

Before he finished speaking, he looked at the distant blue sky and suddenly smiled.

"Listen to me, you little rascal, be generous when you're negotiating. Don't be stingy. Only friendships built on helping each other in times of need can stand the test of time. Don't let them think we're taking advantage of them."

The words he didn't say lingered in his throat.

He knew that the Maritime Silk Road in later generations had proven over ten years that, given the right environment, domestically produced chips could completely transform from a "little fire dragon" into an "ice unicorn."

Orange Technology's upcoming mass production of gaseous lithium batteries will inevitably require trusted allies in the field of electronic control chips. Rather than relying on others when they have grown into towering trees, it is better to partner with them when they are seedlings.

"You remember this, kid, I want to see the quality control report for this trial production batch myself."

Before hanging up, he added, "Tell President He that our Orange chip orders were never a handout because of any 'domestic' label!"

A glint of light appeared in Chen Mo's eyes.

"We're betting that she can lead her team to break through in this industry and become a real asset behind Orange in the future—not based on sentiment, but entirely on her skills."

When Chen Mo hung up the phone, he noticed that Gong Yun was standing behind him at some point, her faded canvas bag strap loosely wrapped around her wrist, revealing a glimpse of her fair wrist.

"Mr. Chen! It's settled!"

She pulled an unopened bottle of mineral water from her faded canvas bag, which refracted a faint light in the sunlight. She looked at Chen Mo with a curious gaze.

"Okay! Let's sign it then!" Chen Mo unscrewed the bottle cap and took two gulps, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down on his polo shirt collar. "We still need to pick up the company car later, and we have to finish the paperwork before four o'clock. You can drive, right?"

"Will do!"

He shook the half-empty bottle of water: "Also, does this property have any existing renovation teams? I'd like to move in as soon as possible."

Gong Yun didn't reply, but turned around and called Wang Jianjun over.

In just a few words, Chen Mo figured out the renovation details left by the previous tenant.

With gray mineral wool ceiling panels, raised floor, and existing electrical wiring, all that's needed is to add office furniture and partitions.

He decisively chose the "move-in ready" option and even circled the location of the temporary warehouse behind the freight elevator on the floor plan.

"Sister Gong! I'm leaving the renovation to you." Chen Mo pushed the contract to Wang Jianjun, then suddenly added as if remembering something, "Remember to use environmentally friendly materials and pay attention to the formaldehyde levels. We're not short of money."

As Gong Yun nodded, the sunlight slanted across her profile.

Chen Mo caught a glimpse of the shadow cast by her eyelashes under her eyes and suddenly remembered the gentle way she had combed Xiaomi's fur in the small workshop this morning.

When Chen Mo signed the last "Mo" on the contract, Wang Jianjun finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"Mr. Chen! What does Miss Gong do at your company? She's so talented, I'm tempted to poach her as our top salesperson!"

"Ha ha!"

Chen Mo closed his pen, chuckled, and shook his head.

"Manager Wang! Sister Gong is the pillar of our Orange Company. Without her keeping that monkey in check, he might just tear the ceiling off one day. I can't bear to part with such a talented person. I'll even promote her and give her a raise!"

Gong Yun lowered her eyes and smiled softly, the sunlight falling perfectly into her eyes.

Chen Mo couldn't see what was hidden in that glimmer of light and shadow.

She chuckled softly, the canvas bag strap forming a neat knot in her palm: "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Chen."

She paused for a moment, then said, "But rather than a raise, I'd like to boldly ask for a small room by the window next to the break room for Xiaomi!"

"Xiao Mi!" Chen Mo was taken aback, then blinked. "No problem!"

He picked up a pen and drew a circle on the floor plan: "The southwest corner of the twelfth floor has the best lighting!"

"We can store some cat food for Xiaomi in the break room later!"

"Thank you, Mr. Chen!" Her canvas bag strap was finally no longer knotted. "I'll try my best to get the renovation team to start work tomorrow!"

He Tingbo had just stepped onto the steps in front of the Maritime Silk Road R&D building when Zhao Tiezhu called.

She held the phone for thirty seconds, then suddenly gripped the briefcase strap tightly, her eyes behind her glasses shining brightly.

Just as the marketing manager next to her was about to speak, she suddenly turned around, her high heels clicking rapidly on the ground.

"Hurry! Notify the lab to prepare 30 engineering samples of K3V1 chips adapted for Orange OS. They must be delivered to Orange Technology before 9 PM tonight!"

In the office, Yu Dazui took off his glasses and rubbed his temples. When he glanced casually out the window, he suddenly sat up straight.
In front of the glass curtain wall of the Maritime Silk Road R&D building, the "Chip Queen," who is always cold and aloof, was waving her arms while holding her phone, her briefcase swinging in a semi-circle, almost hitting a passing intern.

(End of this chapter)