Four years after transmigrating, Kyle has fully adapted to this life.
Playing along and exchanging pleasantries have become ingrained in him, like second nature.
He effortlessly knows how to talk to people and how to deal with difficult situations.
However, for some individuals, Kyle doesn't even bother to feign interest.
For example, ICQ's CEO, vardi!
Kyle genuinely dislikes him.
"Mr. Page, it's a pleasure to see you again," vardi said, appearing exceptionally excited.
"Mr. Page," Goldfinger, ICQ's Chief Technology Officer, felt a sense of inferiority in front of Kyle, appearing very shy.
"Be more confident, Goldfinger!"
Kyle invited Goldfinger to sit down and took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, keeping one for himself and handing the other to Goldfinger.
As for vardi, he was completely ignored, as they were not on the same wavelength.
Goldfinger began, "Mr. Page, I've failed to meet your expectations.
I presume you're aware of the slowdown in ICQ's update speed."
Kyle nodded, "I know.
And I know it's not your fault.
It's probably because some people are dismissive of updates.
Wouldn't you agree, vardi?"
Goldfinger was immediately speechless.
As for vardi, his face flushed red, and he seemed to want to speak but couldn't.
In fact, Kyle was right.
As ICQ's Chief Technology Officer, Goldfinger was deeply passionate about technological updates and the pursuit of higher quality technological advancements.
Even after Kyle left ICQ, he always remembered Kyle's past words.
However, his pursuits were met with opposition from both Wisger and vardi.
"Technology is important, but the immediate priority is to rapidly expand the market and increase the number of users worldwide.
As long as we have enough users and defeat our competitors, the market will be ours!"
This was a phrase that Wisger, the chairman of ICQ, often repeated.
vardi also frequently said, "How can we make the board of directors trust our management team more?
How can we make the market believe in ICQ's potential more?
The key to everything lies in profitability data!
The purpose of acquiring dozens of subsidiaries is to quickly monetize hundreds of millions of users and achieve massive profits.
With massive profits, we can achieve the healthy development of ICQ!"
Better technology, higher user experience.
Heh heh!
vardi and Wisger were somewhat dismissive of these things.
Of course, their dismissiveness wasn't a disregard for technological updates, but rather a belief that the current technological means in the instant messaging field across various countries worldwide couldn't rival ICQ's.
In vardi's words, "Which instant messaging service on the market isn't learning from us or copying us right now?"
However, the arrogant vardi and Wisger clearly hadn't considered that even imitations could kill the original!
The launch of Microsoft MSN instant messaging software and the continuous emergence of localized chat software in various countries and regions have rapidly encroached upon the instant messaging market, challenging ICQ's dominant position with wave after wave of assaults.
User experience declined;
The number of daily active users plummeted;
All of this indicated that the ICQ software was continuously losing ground!
"Mr. Page, since you are aware of ICQ's current predicament, and you are one of ICQ's founders, only you can save ICQ now... Please!" vardi bowed deeply to Kyle.
"Heh heh!"
Kyle looked at vardi's sincere expression and let out a cold laugh.
"vardi, do you know how I would describe you?" Kyle said mockingly.
Describe vardi?
Goldfinger leaned in to listen, while vardi was taken aback.
Kyle sneered, "vardi, you are an extremely selfish, intensely jealous, and particularly hypocritical fellow.
I have the utmost contempt for people like you."
vardi: "…"
Goldfinger was also very puzzled: "Mr. Page, did you say that wrong?"
Kyle glanced at Goldfinger, then looked at vardi, and continued, "vardi, if I'm not mistaken, during ICQ's angel round of investment, you were the most active, weren't you?
Subsequently, when News Corp, Sequoia Capital, and Goldman Sachs Investment Bank were introduced as shareholders, you also colluded with them, using various means to isolate me and continuously dilute my shares.
That person should also be you, shouldn't they?"
"Don't rush to refute."
"Let me guess again."
"Getting the company's board of directors to remove me from my position as ICQ's Chief Creative Officer, if I'm not mistaken, was also your doing."
Before he could finish, Goldfinger interrupted him.
"Mr. Page, wasn't it Chairman Wisger who removed you from your position as Chief Creative Officer?" Goldfinger asked, puzzled.
Kyle immediately shook his head and said, "That's why I say you, Goldfinger, can only do technical work.
You wouldn't even know if someone sold you out one day.
If vardi hadn't been stirring things up behind the scenes, do you think someone as proud as Wisger would have done such things?
How do you think vardi got the position of ICQ President?!"
"vardi is just a scoundrel!"
Is it that complicated?
Goldfinger suddenly felt a world full of malice.
Upon hearing this, vardi's expression remained unchanged.
"Yes, I did it."
vardi sighed, "Mr. Page, your shareholding in ICQ was too high, and it had already affected the normal operations of the company's board of directors and decision-making level.
May I ask, was I wrong to eliminate your influence and shares in order to prevent internal strife and facilitate the company's better development?
My conscience is clear!"
"Heh heh, calling you hypocritical, you truly disgust me."
Kyle said disdainfully, "If that were all, then even if I was upset, I wouldn't dislike you as a person.
But you engaged in infighting, for the sake of infighting, to weaken my influence, repeatedly instigating Wisger and rejecting my many proposals.
Can you honestly say that you weren't refuting just for the sake of refuting?"
vardi's expression grew serious.
Kyle continued, "That's why I despise people like you.
Goldfinger is a simple fellow, that goes without saying; Wisger at least upholds his pride and acts openly and honestly; but you, vardi, you always hide in the dark corners, letting others charge ahead, while you appear as pure as a white lotus.
Aren't you disgusting?!"
Aren't you disgusting?
You are disgusting!
These words left the tech-savvy Goldfinger utterly stunned and dumbfounded.
vardi's face, however, was extremely grim.
He had always prided himself on being intelligent, but now his facade was being mercilessly torn apart by Kyle's words, like a knife.
The world is muddled, only I am awake!
All of this was shattered by Kyle!
Kyle stood up, looking down at vardi, and said, "I know you intend to invite me back to ICQ, but what you want isn't my ability and brilliance, but the influence I currently possess!
And, if I haven't miscalculated, once I return to ICQ, your next plan will be to unseat Wisger and take over as CEO, won't it?"
Boom boom~~~!
Goldfinger was stunned!
vardi, however, suppressed his anger, clenched his fists tightly, and remained silent.
"Heh heh!"
Kyle couldn't help but sneer, "See, you don't even have the courage to refute me directly to achieve your goals, what kind of person are you?
That's why I despise people like you!"
"I had originally planned to have a good chat with Wisger, but it seems we'll have to do that another time."
After speaking, Kyle, ignoring Goldfinger's attempts to detain him, left the party with a smile.