In the car, Xiao Zhengyi was listening carefully as Li Chengzhi briefed him on Chen Mo and the Marching Ant Company. Among everyone present, Li Chengzhi had the most direct contact with the company and knew it best.
He had been chosen as the official liaison with Marching Ants—a rare and significant assignment, especially considering the subject of the collaboration: controlled nuclear fusion.
When Xiao Zhengyi first heard about it, he was stunned. Not only was the Marching Ant Company researching this game-changing technology, but they were also seeking a formal partnership with the government. He hadn't expected a private company to touch something so sensitive, much less lead the charge.
As an experienced negotiator, Xiao Zhengyi was appointed head of the delegation.
Alongside him were experts from the Institute of Plasma Physics. Since nuclear fusion was their field, their presence would be crucial once technical discussions began.
Negotiation is a battlefield without weapons, and success often depends on how well you know your opponent. Before arriving, Xiao Zhengyi had thoroughly studied the profiles of Zhao Min and Chen Mo.
Understanding a counterpart's personality, interests, and psychology can help win an edge at the table. Even though this was a cooperation, maximizing benefits was the goal.
Soon, the motorcade arrived at the Marching Ants headquarters.
As Xiao Zhengyi stepped out, he saw Zhao Min walking over to receive them.
The young woman in front of him was the president of one of the most formidable tech companies in the world. It was hard to believe that such an empire had risen under her leadership.
While Chen Mo's genius in research was the cornerstone of Marching Ant's rise, Zhao Min had been the driving force behind its explosive growth.
In an era of entrenched capital giants, most startups either folded or were acquired under pressure. But Marching Ants had broken through that ceiling and grown into a tech unicorn at record speed.
While the company had started with gimmicky online sales to avoid financial strain, its mid-phase expansion had been ferocious. By the time its competitors noticed, it was too late to stop their momentum. Today, the company was firmly in Chen Mo's hands.
If Marching Ants ever went public, Chen Mo would likely become the richest person in history.
And at the heart of it all was Zhao Min—the bold and visionary woman who helped build an empire.
"President Zhao, nice to meet you," Xiao Zhengyi greeted her, extending his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Xiao," Zhao Min replied with a friendly smile.
As they shook hands, both were already sizing each other up, hoping to extract useful information through body language and tone. One glance was enough—they each knew the other was no pushover.
"Where's Mr. Chen?" Xiao Zhengyi asked.
"Our boss is at a critical point in his research and can't step away," Zhao Min explained. "He's delegated full authority to me for this negotiation."
"Since it's our first time here, would it be possible to tour your facilities?" Xiao Zhengyi asked.
Though he'd read plenty about Marching Ants and had Li Chengzhi's input, he hadn't yet seen the company with his own eyes. This tour would help him understand the company's culture—and Zhao Min herself—more clearly.
"Of course. It would be my pleasure," Zhao Min said with a nod, leading the group to the company's sightseeing vehicle.
While Xiao Zhengyi had done his homework on Zhao Min, she knew little about him. From an information standpoint, she was at a disadvantage. But this tour gave her a chance to observe and learn about her opponent too.
Both of them asked questions and made polite conversation, smiling like old friends. The mood was cordial on the surface, but both were clearly engaged in a silent chess match.
After about half an hour, the group completed the tour and moved into the conference room for formal negotiations.
On the Marching Ant side, Zhao Min was joined by senior decision-makers: Li Lingfeng, Li Huai, Zhu Li, Xiao Yu, and others. Everyone looked unusually serious.
They had only just learned a couple of days ago that their boss was working on nuclear fusion—and already had results. The idea of developing something that significant both scared and amazed them. Their respect for Chen Mo only deepened.
This negotiation would define how the benefits of that technology were shared. No one was taking it lightly.
The official delegation was led by Xiao Zhengyi, with Li Chengzhi, plasma physicist Li Jian, and other legal and technical experts seated beside him. Their expressions were equally solemn.
Everyone understood the importance of this meeting. Controlled nuclear fusion wasn't just another tech breakthrough—it could reshape the entire world. Everything had to be handled carefully and with full regard for national interests.
"Would you like to start, Mr. Xiao, or shall we?" Zhao Min asked.
"Please, go ahead," Xiao Zhengyi replied with a smile.
"Alright. Here are our proposed terms," Zhao Min began calmly. "Once the technology is developed, we propose investing 30 billion yuan to establish a joint venture. We will hold 60% of the shares and retain management control. You may appoint personnel to necessary technical positions."
Xiao Zhengyi immediately shook his head.
"President Zhao, while your company may contribute significantly to the research, the final output and funding requirements are still uncertain. If your company invests 40 billion yuan and provides 70% of the R&D funding, you may take a 15% stake in the joint venture. That is our position."
Zhao Min didn't react—she had clearly anticipated this.
"The core technical information comes from us. The entire R&D will be built around our boss's work. In other words, the main tech is entirely ours. You will only be assisting. Our bottom line is 60% of shares and full management control. We're also willing to provide 60% of R&D funding."
Neither side budged.
Besides Zhao Min and Xiao Zhengyi, the others remained quiet, flipping through the proposed terms and scanning for advantages they could agree on early. But it was clear both proposals exceeded the other's psychological limit. Talks hit a standstill.
After nearly an hour, there was no agreement. The first round of negotiations ended without resolution.
"How did it go?"Chen Mo, who was reviewing a holographic blueprint in the lab, turned to look at Zhao Min as she walked in.
"This is different from typical business deals," she said, sitting down. "Both sides are testing each other. No one wants to show their bottom line too early. If we yield too soon, we lose leverage. Right now, it's all about patience. Don't expect big progress in the next few days."
Chen Mo nodded slightly.
This was a collaboration involving controlled nuclear fusion—if they reached an agreement too quickly, something would definitely be off.
"Any progress at all?" he asked.
Zhao Min shook her head. "Not really. Their offer was worse than we expected. Ours probably shocked them too. On paper, we're the weaker side. But we hold the technology, which gives us a major advantage. As long as we stay patient, we'll get what we want."