Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years-Chapter 439 - 429: Learning How to Squeeze the Toothpaste

The new smartphone, seen as the top rival by Lei Jun, was already placed in front of Qi Hao.

This was a prototype.

Crystal S1!

The launch event was scheduled for December 18, but the prototype had been made as early as July, when Let the Bullets Fly 3 hadn't even wrapped up filming.

It had to undergo various tests and optimizations to ensure a successful debut.

"It works fine, not too hot."

As a major shareholder of Xiaomi, Qi Hao naturally didn't lack Xiaomi phones.

So he mainly compared the new smartphone from Northtop Technology with Xiaomi, running WeChat, QQ, Weibo, and web pages simultaneously while also playing games intensively.

"If we wait a bit longer, it might even be better."

Zhang Nan came to the film set specifically to deliver the phone to Qi Hao.

"It's good enough, too much is as bad as too little. You need to learn how to squeeze toothpaste in your spare time."

Qi Hao returned the phone to Zhang Nan, as it couldn't be revealed yet.

"Squeeze toothpaste? I'll study it seriously."

Zhang Nan took the phone and carefully placed it in his briefcase.

He made the trip just to let the boss see the result of their months of hard work firsthand.

In the first half of the year, Northtop Technology continued to deliver patent technology with high efficiency.

The productivity of the research institute was astonishing.

It made Zhang Nan feel like research was an easy task, and he often had to slap himself back to reality.

Meanwhile, Northtop Technology's Technology Application Department was also established.

The first product was not actually a phone, but the Xiaoshui Bluetooth earphones.

Launched in the first half of the year, they were quite a hit due to their good quality and low price, incorporating several new technologies.

However, the profit margin on the earphones was low; they were mainly a way to gain notice, with the real product being the phone.

"Did those suppliers make things difficult for us?"

Given the current situation, Northtop Technology could only focus on the product's edges with their technology.

The core components had to be procured.

Thus, if suppliers started acting tricky, the weaknesses would be exposed immediately.

Now would be the best time to kill off the Crystal phone.

"No, they actually want us to order more, thinking we're too conservative."

Zhang Nan found it a bit odd.

In business, who would complain if you order more?

They can't wait for you to clear out their inventory.

"Old Zhang, think about it: I'm selling chips, but there's a company also researching chips. What do you think that means for me?"

Qi Hao was helpless.

Zhang Nan was indeed lacking a bit in ability, but fortunately, he was very diligent and open to learning and professional advice, so there wasn't much issue with him managing Northtop Technology.

He just needed frequent strategic guidance.

"A potential competitor, I suppose. I seem to understand a bit, but we can't just stop our research, can we?"

Zhang Nan became serious, sensing that such things were quite possible.

He wasn't oblivious to the issue but believed that compared to tech giants, Northtop Technology was miles apart, and rationally, no one would perceive them as a threat to Qualcomm, Zeiss, or Samsung.

"Plan early and stay vigilant. Competitors, as they say in Let the Bullets Fly, 'You and money don't matter to me, but the absence of you is crucial.'"

Qi Hao had received Xiaomi's business information.

Using this, he had once glimpsed the future of the smartphone industry.

The same was true for DJI.

The notion of technology without borders didn't really exist.

The very purpose of establishing Northtop Technology was to prepare for potential pitfalls in the future.

"I understand. I'll go back and hold a meeting with everyone."

Zhang Nan was also starting to feel a sense of crisis.

"Don't make a big fuss. As the old saying goes, despise the enemy strategically, value them tactically, too much grievance can damage your intestines, see the broader view with a long-term perspective."

After wrapping up the topic, Qi Hao mentioned Xiaomi.

Zhanqi Laiden wasn't present, but speaking with Zhang Nan was the same. Zhonghao Entertainment was going public, changing from a limited liability company to a joint-stock company.

The founding members had mostly become shareholders.

Everyone was now tied together.

"Actually, I didn't expect Xiaomi to be valued so highly. We shouldn't stop, continue to help bolster it. Since we might be stepping out, we must aim for maximum profit."

Holding several marketing companies, the current East Hao Group understands the internet bubble better than internet companies.

With the impending release of the Crystal S1, future prospects of competition far outweighed cooperation, so Xiaomi planned to split from Donghao Venture Capital.

Moreover, Lei Jun felt that the East Hao Group was too aggressive, easily drawing siege and sanctions from Western tech forces.

If they saw East Hao Group as Xiaomi's major shareholder, there was no guaranteeing they wouldn't vent their anger on him.

Better to cut ties sooner.

Despite Qi Hao's unique insights into the smartphone industry, Lei Jun deemed these insights somewhat shallow, handling them easily.

With Xiaomi on the verge of releasing the Mi 3, they had amassed a huge base of faithful users, so what was there to fear about a competitor starting only at the end of the year?

A 3rd generation versus a 1st generation had the advantage.

This did seem a bit ungrateful.

Initially, Lei Jun didn't want to sell his assets or risk the failure of the startup, thus choosing to expand through financing.

It was Donghao Venture Capital that invested real money, giving Xiaomi its current valuation of 45 billion US Dollars.

For venture capital, the real feast should be the IPO.

You don't usually ask people to disembark midway.

Thus, a process of cutting losses was inevitable.

As the world's leading unicorn company, numerous investment firms would still be willing to buy in at a premium.

DST Global, Temasek, Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global, and the like were lining up to hear the news.

"In the end, it's still a bit of a shame."

Zhang Nan's perspective represented that of most people; even within the group, many wanted to clash with Lei Jun.

"There are gains and losses. A large sum of funds would accelerate our development significantly. Your Northtop Technology is a priority for development. You've been a bit too conservative; increase the intensity, raise the incentive system by 20%, and continue expanding..."

Qi Hao, who knew Xiaomi's commercial information, naturally knew how strong Xiaomi would become.

But Xiaomi took too big of a step.

When it IPOed in 2018, its market value was 3803.94 billion Hong Kong Dollars, roughly 48.473 billion US Dollars.

That wasn't much higher than this year's 45 billion US Dollar Series C.

This was over five years.

Even the Series D and E rounds were only carried out through secret financing, not revealing their specific valuations.

Of course, when Xiaomi's market cap peaked, it broke through a trillion Hong Kong Dollars.

But Qi Hao had to face reality.

With the foundational tech gift package awarded by the system, Northtop Technology was established and succeeded in continuous R&D, launching the Crystal phone brand.

In such a scenario, can Xiaomi still break past a trillion Hong Kong Dollars?