Film and Television World Life Record

Chapter 174 Four and a Half Billion Dollars

In the second half of 2017, with the release of a new algorithm, Douyin continued to become popular, with total users exceeding 250 million, and Toutiao users also exceeding 550 million. Yuandian Technology launched its Series B financing round.

This round of financing proceeded quickly, with a total of 12% of equity issued, raising $18 billion and achieving a post-financing valuation of $150 billion.

After the financing, Li Mu still holds 66% of the equity in Origin Technology.

At this time, with the country's strong advocacy for faster speeds and lower fees, data charges dropped rapidly, and the trend of short videos becoming popular among the general public gradually took shape.

The $18 billion that had just been acquired was then spent lavishly by Li Mu to rapidly promote the product and seize market share.

……

Soon, it was 2018. The $18 billion raised before the new year was quickly burned through, but the results were also remarkable. Douyin's total users exceeded 4 million, and Toutiao's total users exceeded 7 million.

In May 2018, Origin Technology launched its Series C financing round, offering another 12% of its equity to raise $33.6 billion, bringing its post-financing valuation to a staggering $28 billion, making it a well-known unicorn company in China.

After dilution, Li Mu's shareholding in Origin Technology decreased to 58.08%.

Subsequently, Origin Technology acquired the title sponsorship rights for the Spring Festival Gala for a high price of 38 billion RMB. The unique influence of the Spring Festival Gala, coupled with the shake-to-win red envelope activity, led to another surge in Douyin users.

……

As 2019 began, Douyin had already begun its internationalization and achieved considerable success. In April, Origin Technology launched its Series D financing round.

This time, the company gave up a total of 13% of its equity, raising $58.5 billion at a post-financing valuation of $450 billion.

The announcement shocked the nation, as a privately held technology company raised a record $58.5 billion in a single funding round.

Li Mu instantly became famous and became a well-known internet mogul in China.

Origin Technology's valuation of $450 billion is indeed dazzling and worthy of envy and admiration. But only Li Mu himself knows that, limited by his own abilities and vision, even with ByteDance in the real world as a reference, Origin Technology's development still lags behind.

In the real world, ByteDance's valuation at this point has already exceeded 100 billion US dollars, and its dozens of products are far superior to those of Origin Technology.

This isn't just a matter of starting a business late; it's also a matter of Li Mu's own abilities. Even with real-world experience to draw upon and avoid pitfalls, not everyone can become a business tycoon.

However, it cannot be said that he did a bad job. Based on real-world experience, it is already quite impressive that Origin Technology has been developed to this scale.

However, at this point, with only a few months separating the timeline from the real world, there is virtually no experience or information that the real world can provide.

How will Origin Technology develop next? It depends entirely on its own abilities.

Good or bad!

This also means that his return to the real world's timeline is not far off. According to the rules, since the real world is the main world, the timeline of the film and television world cannot exceed the timeline of the real world.

This means he will have to return to reality in a few months. There may be opportunities to come back in the future, but it's unknown when.

……

The Happy Five Sisters Network Media Company has been developing well in recent years, and recently completed its Series C financing, with a valuation of 30 billion RMB.

The five sisters all became wealthy women with assets exceeding 100 million yuan, and bought cars and houses in Shanghai, realizing their dream of settling down in Shanghai.

For Fan Shengmei, Guan Juer, Qiu Yingying, and the other girls from out of town, the changes over the past few years have been like a dream, and they never imagined that things would come to this.

It's not just a change in net worth; through years of training, individual abilities have grown, and everyone is more confident. Compared to a few years ago, it's a complete transformation.

Li Mu made it clear long ago that he had no intention of getting married to Fan Shengmei and Qu Xiaoxiao, and that he would not interfere with their comings and goings.

However, for some reason, in the past few years, the two of them not only showed no intention of leaving, but their relationship has become even better, becoming even better best friends than Qiu Yingying and Guan Juer, which is quite surprising.

Fan Shengmei and Qu Xiaoxiao have become best friends? This news left Li Mu stunned for a long time.

Fan Shengmei and Qu Xiaoxiao? The two disliked each other from their first meeting, like oil and water, naturally incompatible. How could two people like that become best friends?

Li Mu was puzzled, but his doubts were soon answered when Fan Shengmei and Qu Xiaoxiao teamed up to play cards with him to learn English.

I thought that by revealing her unwillingness to get married, the two of them would consider leaving. But for reasons unknown, they actually accepted this relationship and even joined forces to fight together.

Li Mu did not want to interfere with their choices. He had not hidden the fact that he was a womanizer and did not want to get married, and it was their freedom to choose.

Andy's mindset has changed a lot in the past few years. Before, she was even averse to dating, let alone marriage and having children. In the last two years, I don't know if she has come to a realization or just become more open-minded, but her mindset has gradually changed.

Although she still fears marriage and has no plans to get married, she inevitably feels lonely and sometimes even fantasizes about adopting a child.

But, how can an adopted child compare to a biological one?

Under Li Mu's persuasion, she slowly became tempted. As a woman, who wouldn't want to be a mother at least once?

Everyone admires outstanding men, and Andy is no exception. Although she knew that Li Mu was a womanizer, and Andy had no intention of getting married, she didn't care that much.

That evening, Li Mu was reading at home when Andy came over with two bottles of red wine. The two chatted for a while, had a few drinks, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Li Mu noticed that Andy was acting strangely today and said, "Andy, you..."

Andy took a big gulp of red wine, as if he had mustered up some energy.

"Li Mu, you're currently the only man I'm not opposed to physical contact with, I think..."

Li Mu instantly understood her purpose; the two had discussed this topic before: "I want a child."

Even someone as aloof as Andy blushed instantly.

Li Mu finished his glass of red wine in one gulp, glanced at Andy whose face was flushed, and without saying a word, picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

Andy, her face flushed, buried her head in Li Mu's arms, remaining motionless. Only her trembling body proved how unsettled she was inside.

The moon set in the west, the stars filled the sky, and with a painful groan, a cheerful melody began to play.

The next morning.

Andy nestled in Li Mu's arms: "Thank you, Li Mu!"

Li Mu laughed and said, "What are you thanking me for? Thank me for making such a big profit."

Andy blushed slightly, unsure of what to say.

Li Mu gently stroked her smooth skin with one hand.

"However, Andy, you should know that I am not a faithful person. I can have children, but I cannot give you marriage."

Andy glared at him: "I'm not blind to your affairs with Xiao Fan and Xiao Qu. But like you, I don't want to get married. Having a child would be nice, so I won't be lonely when I'm old."

Li Mu said, "You've thought it through so thoroughly?"

Andy sighed: "You know my situation. It took a lot of courage to choose to have a child. I don't want to get married anymore, and I don't want to burden anyone."

"Besides, I know you rich people all too well. Who among you is faithful for life?"

Li Mu gently ran one hand over the object, asking curiously, "I admit it's about me, but what about Old Tan? Is he the same way?"

Andy said, "What do you think?"

Before Li Mu could speak, he continued, "Old Tan has had quite a few girlfriends. When I first met him, his catchphrase was 'Too little money, too many beautiful women.' When his business took off, his catchphrase changed to 'Too little time, too many beautiful women.' Now his catchphrase is 'Too short life, too many beautiful women.'"

"However, he was indifferent to women and never let pleasure interfere with his work. He even turned rivals in love into comrades-in-arms on several occasions."

The two chatted for a while before Li Mu got up. Andy wasn't feeling well and would probably have to rest at home for a couple of days.

Several more months passed, and Li Mu's return to reality drew closer. Andy communicated with him frequently during this time and finally got what he wanted.

She just submitted her resignation and is going back to the United States.

Although Li Mu was somewhat reluctant, he agreed. Fortunately, given the size of Origin Technology, it already had no shortage of excellent CFOs.

And so, we got closer and closer to the real-world timeline, and the time for our return drew ever closer.

Finally, one evening, Li Mu tasted a few cups of wine, and a thought struck him. A flash of light appeared, and he vanished completely.

Chapter 175 Return to Reality and Rewards

The city at night is hazy and quiet.

Around 4 a.m., Li Mu opened his eyes and found himself back in the real world.

He spent over four years in the world of Ode to Joy, the longest he'd ever spent in the film and television industry. He lay quietly in bed for a long time before finally readjusting to the real world.

After getting up and washing up, Li Mu sat down on the sofa in the living room, opened the system, and checked the evaluation and rewards for this time.

[System: Congratulations on completing the mission. Return to the main world.]

[Task Performance: Excellent]

[Task rewards are being processed]

[System: Standard Rewards. Select two items from the following options as mission rewards.]

I. Li Mu's Cybersecurity Techniques

II. Li Mu's Driving Skills

Part Three: Li Mu's Flirting Techniques

[IV. Physical Fitness Rewards] (The results of four and a half years of training in the film and television world, partially projected into the real world.)

[V. Monetary Rewards] (Wealth from the film and television world, a very small portion of which can be converted into real-world currency.)

[System: Special Reward - Outstanding performance in the mission grants an additional opportunity to select a reward.] (Note: This reward can be saved for up to three future film and television worlds. If no reward is selected within three worlds, the reward will be cancelled.)

The system's evaluation surprised Li Mu; it was rated as excellent, granting him an extra chance to choose a reward.

However, considering his entry into the film and television world, he may not have done well in other aspects, but he did an excellent job in the two tasks of "becoming a business tycoon" and "dealing with sycophants".