Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 508, Section 506: Let her give birth
Wang Sheng leaned back in the comfortable sofa chair, listening to Pony Ma and Zeng Liqing's final presentation on Tencent's pre-IPO financing.

Numbers, ratios, valuations, future plans... these cold words collide in the air, sketching a grand blueprint for capital that is about to unfold.

"A comprehensive assessment of the current market environment, the company's growth expectations for the next three years, and the valuation levels of comparable companies."

Pony Ma adjusted his glasses, his tone calm and resolute, "We plan to raise US$6000 million in this pre-IPO round. After the financing is completed, the company's valuation will be tentatively set at around US$6.5 million. This will lay a solid foundation for our listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange's main board."

This figure was astronomical in the Chinese internet industry at the beginning of 2004, fully demonstrating the strong confidence of Tencent's management in its future, as well as the confidence given to them by the cash flow generated by "Legend of Mir".

Wang Sheng's gaze calmly swept over the brief list of terms in his hand.

His thoughts did not remain entirely on the numbers game on paper.

Since the timely $200 million investment in 2000, Tencent's 30% stake has been quietly held under the name of Shengshi Capital, which is wholly owned by him.

This well-structured investment company, registered in the British Virgin Islands, is like a secret treasury. It not only holds shares in Tencent, but also holds the exclusive five-year operating rights for "The Legend of Mir 2" in mainland China, which it signed with Actoz Soft of South Korea.

This agency right was later sub-licensed to Tencent for actual operation.

Over the past two years, the game "Legend" has become Tencent's most lucrative cash cow due to its astonishing ability to generate revenue, and has also brought a steady stream of profit sharing to Shengshi Capital. After paying the agreed-upon share to the Korean side, 70% of the remaining profits flowed into Shengshi Capital's account.

This money, along with Shengshi Capital's early precise investments and partial exits in other projects, has accumulated into a considerable pool of funds that Wang Sheng can completely control.

For him, participating in the corresponding share of this $6000 million funding round was no challenge at all.

The key lies in whether to co-invest and how much to co-invest, which reflects strategic considerations and signals.

"A valuation of $6.5 million..."

Wang Sheng slowly spoke, breaking the brief silence, "It basically matches my assessment of Tencent's current value."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Little Ma and Zeng Liqing, "Shengshi Capital will exercise its preemptive right to invest proportionally, maintaining its 30% shareholding."

He neither chose to increase his holdings nor cash out.

Maintaining the status quo is the most prudent and supportive choice.

Increasing holdings could trigger concerns among management about the dilution of control; cashing out, on the other hand, would be interpreted by the market as a sign of a bearish outlook.

Maintaining this proportion demonstrates both our long-term confidence as the largest institutional investor and strategic partner, and also preserves the delicate power balance with the founding team.

Upon hearing this, both Xiao Ma and Zeng Liqing showed a subtle hint of relief and satisfaction in their eyes.

Wang Sheng's support was crucial for Tencent to successfully navigate the final stage before its IPO.

“That’s great, Chairman Wang.” Little Ma said sincerely, “With your continued support, we are more confident about our future journey.”

"Let the teams from both sides handle the specific legal documents and funding arrangements," Wang Sheng waved his hand, his tone becoming more relaxed. "Going public is a good thing, and it's a new beginning. I hope Tencent can leverage the power of the capital market to truly grow into a world-class internet company."

After chatting for a while about some details of the IPO preparations and possible future business collaborations, Pony Ma and Zeng Liqing tactfully got up to say goodbye.

They knew that Wang Sheng's time was precious, and that the fact that he could take so much time to personally discuss things with them showed that he valued them greatly.

After the two left, the office returned to its quiet state.

Wang Sheng walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the capital city, which was slightly gray under the winter sun but was still full of vitality.

Just then, the internal phone rang, and Li Tingting's voice came through: "Chairman Wang, Miss Fan Xiaopang has been waiting in the meeting room for a while now, what do you think...?"

Wang Sheng: "Let her in."

The office door was gently pushed open and then quietly closed. Wang Sheng had just turned around and hadn't even had a chance to see who it was when a white figure carrying a fragrant scent rushed over, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and clung to him.

"Brother Sheng..." Fan Xiaopang's voice was thick with nasal tone, as if he had suffered a great injustice. He buried his head in the crook of his neck, and the fluffy edge of his woolen hat made him feel a little itchy.

Wang Sheng instinctively put his arm around her waist to prevent her from falling.

Looking down, I saw that she had taken off her sunglasses, and her usually bright and sparkling eyes were now red and watery, making her look pitiful.

"What's going on here?"

Wang Sheng, holding Fan Xiaopang, sat down in the comfortable, spacious executive chair and chuckled, "Who upset our Miss Fan? Did she suffer any injustice in Hollywood? That can't be right, the feedback from the 'Twilight' crew was pretty good, wasn't it?"

"I wasn't wronged!" Fan Xiaopang raised her head, denying it defiantly, but her eyes were even redder. She stared into Wang Sheng's eyes, bit her lower lip, and as if having made up her mind, asked bluntly, "Brother Sheng, tell me the truth, is it... is it that you have a child?"

Wang Sheng paused slightly as he stroked her cheek. Looking at her tense and aggrieved expression, as if she were afraid of hearing a positive answer, he felt a little amused, yet also inexplicably touched.

He had no intention of hiding anything; at his position, some things couldn't be concealed, nor was there any need to. So he nodded, his tone flat: "Mm."

A simple syllable, yet it struck Fan Xiaopang's heart like a heavy hammer.

Despite having suspected it beforehand, hearing it confirmed by Wang Sheng himself caused a wave of bitterness, resentment, and a strong sense of crisis to instantly break down her psychological defenses.

Tears welled up and rolled down his cheeks, soaking the collar of Wang Sheng's expensive shirt.

"Why...why her..." Fan Xiaopang choked, his voice breaking, "I...I can have children too...why didn't you choose me...do you...do you like her more..."

Wang Sheng looked at her, tears streaming down her face, and sighed speechlessly.

He raised his hand and roughly wiped away the tears on her face with his fingertips.

"What are you thinking about all day?" His tone was a mix of teasing and helplessness. "That thing is purely random, a matter of probability. It's not like we've never had sex without a condom before. Who can you blame if you don't get pregnant? You can't just choose who gets pregnant."

He paused, looking at Fan Xiaopang's stunned expression, and continued, "Besides, didn't you always say you wanted to make 'Fan Xiaopang' an international superstar? You had a bright future ahead of you, fighting hard, and you didn't mention having kids at all. What, now that you see others have kids, you're getting envious?"

Fan Xiaopang was speechless, unable to refute him for a moment. She had indeed always prioritized her career, enjoying the spotlight and the rapid rise brought about by preferential treatment in resources.

"I..." She opened her mouth, wanting to say that she could give up some things for him, but she was also reluctant to give up the dazzling career that was already within her reach. This contradiction made her feel even more uncomfortable.

Seeing her conflicted expression, Wang Sheng shook his head. His hand, which had been wiping away her tears, slid down and slipped inside her open down jacket and thin cashmere sweater, his warm palm resting on her delicate waist.

“If you’re really willing to give up everything you have now, give up your bright future, just to have a baby…” Wang Sheng lowered his voice, with a hint of seduction, yet also as if stating a fact, “then let’s have the baby now, I have no objection.”

His actions and words were like an electric current running through Fan Xiaopang's body.

She trembled and looked up at him with teary eyes.

The office was brightly lit, and her reflection was mirrored in his deep eyes, conveying a calm of complete control and a pure masculine desire.

Resentment, jealousy, unease... all sorts of complex emotions seemed to be strangely soothed by this familiar touch and domineering words, transforming into another, more direct and primal desire.

She really missed him.

I miss his embrace, his warmth, and the feeling of being needed and possessed by him, especially now that I feel my position might be threatened.

Fan Xiaopang didn't push him away. Instead, she pressed herself even closer to him, tilted her head back, and offered her red lips, still wet with tears and a hint of defiant determination.

Wang Sheng responded, his hands moving swiftly as he skillfully unhooked her bra...

(End of this chapter)