Writing Web Novels In America-Chapter 149 - 147: Small Pebbles on the Path to Ideals

The next morning, Wang Jian came to the office with a listless spirit.

Of course, this was because he had spent the previous night thoroughly researching information on Apple computers, not for any other reason.

However, this partnership was different from Nokia, which had the backing of AT&T; its current situation was truly too dire.

Since 1993, the three major rating agencies had been continuously downgrading Apple’s stock until last year when it had completely plummeted to junk status.

To regain investors’ confidence, the Apple Company had brought back the founder, Mr. Steve Jobs.

Yet it was this founder who announced at a news conference that Apple computers would stick to their own operating system and not switch to the then-dominant Windows system.

This had caused investors hoping for change to be disappointed once again, leaving Apple’s sell orders on NASDAQ with no takers for a time.

But Jobs was ruthless; he used the pretext of "patent infringement" to hope to take a big bite out of the juggernaut Microsoft.

And Microsoft, which was in the midst of a "browser war" with Netscape, actually complied!

"150 million US dollars, huh? Money seems so easy to make?" Wang Jian couldn’t hide his envy as he looked at the news briefing.

Just then, Tom walked into the office, "Wang, the representative from Apple is here."

Wang Jian put down the file and stood up, "Let’s go and meet this once-mighty giant that has declined."

When he and Tom walked into the conference room, Dorsey was talking to a gaunt Caucasian.

Upon seeing Wang Jian’s arrival, they quickly stood up. Dorsey pointed at the Apple representative opposite him, "Wang, this is an old acquaintance."

The gaunt Caucasian extended his hand with a smile, "I used to work for IBM’s PC division. Some of your company’s computer equipment was sold through me."

Hmm?

Apple had researched the website and sent someone who had dealt with them before to take charge of the communication?

Wang Jian, recalling the quote that had nearly brought him to tears, said, "You are..."

"Tim Cook." The other person responded with a smile, "Back then, I could never have imagined that your website would grow to such a scale in less than a year."

Honestly, facing this nearly bankrupt electronics company, Wang Jian felt somewhat superior.

As he walked towards the main seat in the conference room, he casually asked, "How did you end up jumping from IBM to Apple? Forgive my directness, but currently you folks are a bit..."

"Not doing too well?" Cook answered unabashedly, "Mr. Wang, have you seen the news conference where Mr. Jobs returned to Apple?"

"He said something that deeply moved me, ’Technology changes the world, and Apple will be the pioneer.’"

Observing Cook, who was as fervent as a religious fanatic, Wang Jian made an effort to appear moved.

Although he himself was cynical about dreams, dealing with idealists was simply too good an opportunity to miss!

Cook, seeing Wang Jian’s expression, took a deep breath, "I think Mr. Wang can surely understand this unique romanticism of technology people, after all, we are different from those hyenas on Wall Street."

"Of course." Wang Jian pointed to the dark circles under his eyes, "When I thought about starting cooperation with Apple under Mr. Jobs’ leadership today, I was so excited last night that I couldn’t sleep."

Then he heaved a helpless sigh, "But our website has investments from Goldman Sachs Investment, and the project manager named Lehman, he really does not recognize faces, only money!"

Upon hearing this, Cook nodded understandingly, "Yes, those hyenas, in their pursuit of profit, had even once driven Mr. Jobs out of Apple."

"But now, everything is different." Cook took out a small device, "This is an upgraded version of the audio player overseen by Mr. Jobs himself."

"I firmly believe that it will completely revolutionize the current audio market."

Wang Jian took the device and compared it to the prototype he had received before.

Smaller and more portable.

After fiddling with it for a while, he set the device down, "I have no doubt about Mr. Jobs’ judgment of the market; our collaboration will surely be a win-win."

"Of course." Cook opened his briefcase and handed Wang Jian a document, "Apple is acquiring a small music company in New York and will be responsible for upgrading its recording studios."

"And your website only needs to provide the relevant copyright authorizations to get 50% of the audio download revenue."

Wang Jian flipped through the document, his brows gradually furrowing.

"This audio download website, will it be wholly owned by Apple?"

Cook also flipped to the relevant document, "Yes, that’s correct."

Damn idealists, they’re all damned actors!

Wang Jian tapped his fingers lightly on the tabletop and pondered for a moment before saying, "I think paid audio will have a certain impact on paid reading, which should be detrimental to the website’s interests."

Cook pretended to be surprised, "But the authorizations we require are all for completed works."

Wang Jian took the document that Tom handed him, "This is the revenue that the website and the author could obtain each month after ’Arcane Throne’ is completed."

"We also have significant interests in this matter."

Cook looked at the document, his expression showing sudden understanding, "Then I can report back and suggest increasing the share of the split."

Sky-high asking prices, settling for less in the end, huh?

Wang Jian closed the folder, "I wonder when Apple’s audio player will be released and how many music companies have granted you authorization?"

"I think Apple’s first product since Mr. Jobs’ return must not have a small budget for research and development, right?"

He turned to look at Tom, appearing to speak offhandedly, "I borrowed your MD player to listen to some music yesterday, and it was quite good."

Then, Wang Jian turned to look at Cook again, smiling as he asked, "Or perhaps, is Apple planning to follow in Sony’s footsteps and acquire a large music company? I just wonder how much time the investors will give Mr. Jobs."

At this moment, Cook completely lost the look of an idealist, staring intently at Wang Jian for a while.

Then, with a "ha-ha" laugh, Cook casually tossed the folder on the table into the conference room’s trash can and took out another document from his bag.

"Sorry, I took the wrong file." Cook casually apologized, "I assume, Mr. Wang, that you won’t mind my carelessness?"

The hell with your carelessness!

"How could I?" Wang Jian took the document and started to read it carefully, whilst effortlessly responding, "After all, on the path of pursuing dreams, there are bound to be some pebbles."

Observing the series of actions between Apple’s representative and the young writer, Musk experienced a fleeting moment of mental abstraction.

Weren’t they just talking about technology and ideals?

That switch happened way too fast!

He looked up at Wang Jian, his mind racing.

Shit!

Dreams alone just won’t do it.

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