Rebirth of wealth and freedom starts from the World Cup

After spending a pleasant night with Pei Yuhan, Zhao Zixuan met with Godv and Mala Xiangguo again at noon the next day. After a night of careful consideration, they decided to tell the boss the real reason for their poor performance in the finals.

Accompanied by his "chief assistant" Huang Yingying, Zhao Zixuan sat in the living room of the hotel room, opposite him sat Godv and Mala Xiangguo, who looked nervous.

Godv spoke first: "Boss, we are sorry. We are really sorry to you and the team. We did this performance in the finals on purpose."

Zhao Zixuan frowned, but remained calm: "Why are you doing this?"

Spicy Hotpot took over the conversation: "We...we were influenced by external pressure. Someone made us a very high offer and asked us to let the game go."

Zhao Zixuan's eyes became sharp: "You mean, you participated in match-fixing?"

Godv lowered his head: "Yes, Boss. We know we have made a serious mistake and are willing to accept any punishment."

Zhao Zixuan was silent for a while, then said, "Your actions not only betrayed the trust of the club, but also damaged the fairness and reputation of e-sports. Tell me, who bribed you?"

Godv and Mala Xiangguo exchanged complicated looks, as if they saw regret and helplessness in each other's eyes.

Finally, Godv mustered up the courage and spoke slowly: "Boss, we don't want to make excuses for our actions, but the other party...the other party is very powerful, and we couldn't resist the temptation for a moment."

"No matter how powerful you are, it can't be a reason for you to betray us." Zhao Zixuan's tone was very unhappy. "The spirit of e-sports is fair competition and never giving up. Your actions have violated all of this."

Spicy Hotpot took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind: "We are willing to cooperate with the club to find out the culprit behind the scenes. At the same time, we are also willing to accept all penalties stipulated by the law and industry regulations to make up for our mistakes."

Zhao Zixuan nodded, his eyes showing both disappointment and expectation. "You are aware of your mistakes and are willing to take responsibility. This is a good start. But remember, true redemption does not only lie in punishment, but also in whether you can learn lessons from this incident and regain your love and respect for e-sports."

He turned to Huang Yingying and ordered, "Yingying, contact the legal department immediately and prepare relevant materials. At the same time, we must strengthen internal management to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. As for Godv and Mala Xiangguo, they will be temporarily suspended and await further processing results."

Huang Yingying nodded quickly and wrote down Zhao Zixuan's instructions.

Mala Xiangguo lowered his head, looking a little hesitant, as if he had something to say.

Zhao Zixuan keenly caught this detail, walked up to Spicy Hotpot, and asked, "Spicy Hotpot, do you have anything else to say?"

Spicy Hotpot didn't dare to look him in the eye. He lowered his head and said thoughtfully, "Boss, I guess this matter may have something to do with Principal Wang, because I have seen Principal Wang and the people who bribed us appear together before, and I heard that Principal Wang won a lot of money by betting on the world championship this time, so..."

When Zhao Zixuan heard this, his brows frowned slightly, obviously thinking of something.

"Xiang Guo, do you have any solid evidence for what you said?"

Zhao Zixuan asked again, he needed to confirm the authenticity of this information.

Spicy Hotpot looked up at Zhao Zixuan, then quickly lowered his head, his voice trembling: "Boss, I'm just guessing, there's no direct evidence. But that meeting was really unusual, and what happened afterwards... makes me think there's some kind of connection between them."

Zhao Zixuan nodded, motioning for him to continue.

"Boss, I know my behavior was extremely wrong, but I really didn't expect it to come to this. I love e-sports, I want to win, I want to be the champion! Can you give me another chance..."

Mala Xiangguo's voice was full of regret and self-blame.

Zhao Zixuan listened quietly to Mala Xiangguo's story, his eyes showing both severity and sympathy.

He understands that for a player who loves e-sports and desires victory, being driven by money and temptation to do things that violate professional ethics, the inner struggle and pain can be imagined.

"Xiang Guo, I understand how you feel."

Zhao Zixuan's voice was gentle and calm. "But e-sports is not just a game. It is also a commitment and responsibility to oneself, the team, and the audience. Your actions this time not only hurt the interests of the club, but also damaged the fairness and reputation of e-sports."

He paused, giving Mala Xiangguo enough time to digest these words.

"However, we are human and to err is the most important thing. We must learn from our mistakes and learn how to avoid making them again."

Zhao Zixuan's eyes became deep. "Regarding the matter you mentioned about Principal Wang, I will send someone to investigate. If there is evidence that he is involved in this matter, we will never tolerate it. But before that, you need to be responsible for your actions."

He looked at Godv and Mala Xiangguo, and his tone became serious: "A temporary suspension is necessary. This is a punishment for your behavior and an explanation to the club and other players. But during the suspension, I hope you can deeply reflect on your mistakes and strengthen your self-discipline and professional ethics."

"At the same time, I will consider giving you a chance, a chance to prove yourself again." Zhao Zixuan continued: "But this requires you to use practical actions to prove your change and growth. Only when you truly recognize your mistakes and work hard for them, can you regain everyone's trust and respect."

When Mala Xiangguo and Godv heard this, a glimmer of hope flashed in their eyes.

They know that this road will be full of hardships and challenges, but they also understand that only by facing it bravely can they stand up again.

"Thank you, Boss. We will definitely cherish this opportunity and work hard to correct our mistakes."

Mala Xiangguo and Godv said in unison.

Zhao Zixuan nodded and motioned for them to leave first.

After everyone left, Pei Yuhan came out of the bedroom in her pajamas. She looked very listless, especially her panda eyes, which were obviously caused by overwork last night.

When Huang Yingying saw Pei Yuhan's appearance, a hint of jealousy and envy flashed in her eyes.

"Boss, I'm sorry. It was my poor management that led to the team members being bribed and participating in a fake match..."

Pei Yuhan came to Zhao Zixuan, knelt beside him, and said with an apologetic look on her face.

Zhao Zixuan patted Pei Yuhan's shoulder gently, his tone full of comfort: "Don't say that, it's not easy to manage an e-sports club, especially in the face of such temptation and pressure. This is not your fault alone."

He looked at Pei Yuhan's tired panda eyes, and couldn't help but feel distressed. "You must not have had enough rest last night, right? Go and have a rest first, I'll take care of things here."

Pei Yuhan shook her head and insisted: "No, Boss, I want to stay here and listen to your opinions and plans on this matter. I also want to do something for the club."

Seeing this, Zhao Zixuan no longer forced her to rest.

He looked at Huang Yingying, motioned her to sit down, and then began to explain his ideas: "First, we must conduct a comprehensive and in-depth investigation of this incident and find out who is behind it. No matter who he is, he must be punished accordingly. Secondly, we must strengthen internal management, improve the professional ethics and self-discipline of the team members, and ensure that such incidents do not happen again. Finally, we must strengthen communication and cooperation with the outside world to jointly maintain fairness and justice in the e-sports industry."

Pei Yuhan and Huang Yingying both listened to Zhao Zixuan's speech carefully, nodding in agreement from time to time.

"Also, Yuhan."

Zhao Zixuan turned to look at Pei Yuhan and said, "Although this incident has brought you a lot of pressure and trouble, you should not blame yourself too much. We all see your ability and hard work. I believe that under your leadership, the club will get better and better."

Pei Yuhan couldn't help but feel tears in her eyes after hearing what Zhao Zixuan said.

She looked at Zhao Zixuan gratefully, then nodded firmly: "Boss, thank you. I will definitely work harder and live up to your expectations."

Zhao Zixuan touched the top of her head and said with a smile: "You worked very hard last night and your performance was remarkable. I am very satisfied." Pei Yuhan secretly glanced at Huang Yingying beside her and lowered her head shyly: "BOSS..."

Zhao Zixuan did not continue to joke, but suddenly thought of something and asked Huang Yingying: "Yingying, Mr. Zhou's flight is today, right?"

Huang Yingying responded without hesitation: "Yes, Boss, Mr. Zhou will arrive in Los Angeles at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Do you need me to arrange someone to pick him up at the airport?"

"No, we'll go directly to the airport after lunch." Zhao Zixuan seemed to have planned it in advance, and ordered: "Call Ms. Mao again and ask her to rush to the airport on time to meet me. This trip is very important and it affects whether TikTok can go public this year. Tell Ms. Mao to cancel all arrangements for the next two days."

Huang Yingying nodded as she wrote down the words, "Okay."

…………

3pm.

Amid the hustle and bustle of the Los Angeles airport, Zhao Zixuan's welcoming team stood out. Not only did he attend in person, he also led a large team, demonstrating his extreme importance to this reception.

When Zhou Shouzi, the new CEO of Heguang Technology, and his entourage slowly walked out of the airport, the atmosphere at the scene reached a climax.

However, among this group of distinguished guests, there were not only the little superman Li Zekai and the president of PAG Capital, Shan Jianwei, but what surprised Zhao Zixuan the most was that Li Yanning was also here.

Her appearance was like a beautiful landscape, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Li Yanning, dressed in a professional suit, jogged over. Zhao Zixuan opened his arms and caught Li Yanning who jumped into his arms without hesitation.

In front of everyone, they hugged each other without any hesitation.

Zhao Zixuan looked down at the beauty in his arms, his eyes full of tenderness and doting. He gently patted Li Yanning on the back and jokingly said, "Why are you here? And you've lost so much weight. Did you not eat well when I was not around?"

Hearing this, Li Yanning looked up at Zhao Zixuan, tears glistening in her eyes.

She responded affectionately: "Zixuan, I miss you so much! No matter how busy I am, I will come to see you. Also, I want to see what kind of people those partners you mentioned are."

Zhao Zixuan was amused by Li Yanning's words. He gently scratched her nose and said lovingly, "Silly girl, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future. But I'm really happy that you can come. Let's go, I'll take you to meet Mr. Zhou and the others."

As he spoke, Zhao Zixuan took Li Yanning's hand and walked towards Zhou Shouzi and others.

As they walked, he introduced Zhou Shouzi, "Mr. Zhou, this is Li Zekai, you should know him, right? Then I won't introduce him any further. This is Li Yanning, she is the granddaughter of Li Chaoren. Yanning, this is our new CEO Zhou Shouzi of Heguang Technology. Whether we can ring the bell at Nasdaq this year depends on Mr. Zhou's performance."

Hearing this, Zhou Shouzi smiled and extended his hand to Li Yanning, saying politely and gracefully, "Ms. Li, I have heard of you for a long time. It is a great honor to meet you here. The artificial intelligence company Swallow AI you founded has great development potential. If there is a chance, I think we can have a chance to cooperate deeply."

Li Yanning responded modestly: "Mr. Zhou, you are too kind. Swallow AI still has a lot to learn and grow. I am very honored to receive your recognition. Regarding cooperation, I have always been open-minded. I believe that as long as we can find common goals and interests, we will be able to work together."

Li Zekai suddenly interrupted and said jokingly, "Swallow AI is also Zixuan's company. Whether to cooperate or not is just a matter of Zixuan's words. Why does Mr. Zhou have to go far away? Am I right, Zixuan?"

Li Zekai's words made the atmosphere on the scene more relaxed and lively. He cleverly turned the topic to Zhao Zixuan, causing everyone to focus their attention on this young and promising entrepreneur.

Zhao Zixuan responded to Li Zekai with a smile, and the tacit understanding between the two was fully revealed in their words.

However, this harmonious atmosphere was soon broken by Shan Jianwei's intervention.

He walked out of the crowd and headed straight towards Zhao Zixuan, his tone containing a serious yet kind reminder.

"Mr. Zhao, I heard that you provided Ivanka with a lot of financial support. I'm telling you the truth, but you don't want to dislike it. The most taboo thing for businessmen is to get involved in these complicated political struggles, especially in this land of democracy and freedom..."

Zhao Zixuan's expression slightly restrained when he heard this, and it was obvious that he cared a lot about Shan Jianwei's words.

"Mr. Shan, I appreciate your reminder. I do support candidates who I believe can promote economic development, but please rest assured that I always maintain my duty as a businessman and will not let my personal political stance affect the normal operation and decision-making of the company."

He continued: "At the same time, I also believe that in a diversified and open market environment like the United States, any excellent company will be able to find a suitable development space for itself."

Zhao Zixuan's answer not only expressed his position, but also demonstrated his foresight and confidence.

He is fully aware of the principle of doing business as business, and understands how to maintain the independence and competitiveness of the company in a complex political environment.

At this time, the people around seemed to have sensed the subtle change in the atmosphere and they all quieted down, waiting for further communication between Zhao Zixuan and Shan Jianwei.

Zhao Zixuan continued to discuss the subtle relationship between business and politics with Shan Jianwei in a calm manner, demonstrating his wisdom and demeanor as a successful entrepreneur.

Just when the conversation between Zhao Zixuan and Shan Jianwei was reaching a critical point.

Sudden.

A dazzling flash broke the silence around them, and then a group of reporters holding cameras and microphones rushed in like a tide, instantly surrounding the few people.

"Mr. Zhao, what is your opinion on the recent political situation in the United States? How does this affect your business? Is the rumored TikTok's recent IPO plan true?"

"Mr. Shan, as the president of PAG Capital, why did you choose to invest in TikTok? Do you think political factors play an increasingly important role in investment decisions?"

The reporters' questions came one after another, each one was sharp and direct, trying to dig out more valuable information from the two business giants.

Zhao Zixuan first smiled and nodded to the reporters to thank them for their attention, then replied:

"As an entrepreneur, I have always been highly concerned and sensitive about the political situation in the United States. Changes in the political environment will indeed have a certain impact on the business, but I think the key lies in how we can respond flexibly and maintain the sound operation of the business."

"As for TikTok's listing plan, as an individual, I cannot directly disclose the specific details, but what I can say is that as the world's leading short video platform, TikTok has very broad development prospects and we are full of confidence in its future."

Shan Jianwei then took over the topic and said calmly: "As the president of PAG Capital, we consider a variety of factors when making investment decisions, including market prospects, corporate teams, and technical strength. Of course, the political environment is also an aspect we pay attention to, but it is not the only determining factor."

"We chose to invest in TikTok because we saw its huge potential and innovation in the short video field. We believe it can bring a better experience to users and bring us considerable returns..."

The answers given by the two business tycoons not only demonstrated their professionalism, but also cleverly avoided sensitive topics, winning the respect of the reporters present.

As the interview progressed, the reporters, with their keen insight and analytical skills, gradually captured a hint of something unusual in the words of Zhao Zixuan and Shan Jianwei.

Although both of them cleverly avoided directly answering specific questions about TikTok's listing plans, their tone, attitude and optimistic outlook on TikTok's future development all implicitly revealed a certain message.

Therefore, a reporter keenly captured and analyzed this series of information and came to a conclusion - TikTok, owned by Heguang Technology Group, is likely to be spun off and listed soon!
This discovery quickly spread among the journalist community, attracting more attention and discussion.

Although this conclusion has not been officially confirmed, it undoubtedly provides the media and the public with a new perspective to examine the future development of Wako Technology Group and TikTok.

For the Heguang Technology Group, the spin-off and listing of TikTok may mean more flexible capital operations and broader development space; for investors and consumers, this will also be a major event worthy of attention and anticipation.

That evening, a news report titled "Shocking, short video social media leader TikTok is about to be listed on Nasdaq!" went viral, and Zhao Zixuan, the largest shareholder, was listed on the hot search list and became a hot topic of discussion after dinner. (End of this chapter)