Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 47: Willing to Bet or Not? (2)

A war of words ensued.

Lin Xu had never actually participated in any formal business negotiations before, so in his mind, these high-stakes financial discussions should have been sophisticated and solemn affairs. 

He imagined business elites in tailored suits and gold-rimmed glasses sitting across long conference tables, engaging in meticulous verbal sparring with rigorous arguments and sharp rhetoric.

The table should have been piled with thick documents, the large screen displaying data charts.

Secretaries should have stood quietly by, ready to record any weaknesses in the opponent's arguments and whisper them to their bosses, who would then deliver a fatal blow with high-level rhetoric full of "legal clauses, business conventions, and economic principles."

However, reality couldn't have been more different from his imagination.

From the very beginning, the negotiation was filled with flowery language and enough profanity to make Lin Xu think they were drunk at a late-night food stall.

The large screen had long gone into sleep mode from inactivity, silently cycling through advertisements for men's hair growth products.

The secretary only did two things:

And pick up documents that angry investors threw at Ren Jian's face.

"Damn it, Old Ren, what the hell were you thinking?"

"No matter how you spin it, did you even discuss this with us before making decisions?"

"We invested because we trusted you—why else would we have chosen your company over all the others in the industry?"

"Damn it, I thought you'd finally gotten serious when I saw how well your test vessel was coming along."

"But then you turn around and pull this kind of stunt!?"

"Anyway, I'm not wasting any more breath on you today."

"You want to get into synthetic fibers and materials?"

"You claim you already have the technical documentation ready for implementation?"

"Then show it to me right now!"

"If you can't produce it, we're done talking about further investments!"

"We can see your company's financial situation—you've got less than 70 million in cash reserves. How much will be left after next month's payroll?"

"Your monetization timeline is years away. If I don't invest, who the hell else would dare to?"

The balding investor ranted and raged, but Ren Jian remained as steady as a mountain.

"I absolutely cannot show you the full documentation—it's highly sensitive and remarkably complete."

"But we haven't completed practical production trials or filed patents yet, so early disclosure is impossible."

"So you don't have it?" the balding man challenged.

"We have it, but we can't show it," Ren Jian replied calmly.

"What if I insist on seeing it?"

"Then finalize the investment first."

"And if I refuse to invest?"

"Then you don't get to see it."

"Damn you... Old Ren, are you fucking messing with me?" The investor slammed the table and stood up, pointing at the documents. 

"You expect us to hand over 200 million based on this flimsy material?"

"Do I look like a child to you?"

"I'm not trying to trick you out of your money," Ren Jian remained unruffled.

"This investment proposal is based on your confidence in Test Vessel Three and has nothing to do with Tianqiong Technology's current acquisition activities."

"If you believe the investment conditions have changed, then withdraw."

"I never said you couldn't."

At this point, not only the investor across the table but even Lin Xu was stunned.

Holy shit.

Aren't you basically trying to sabotage the negotiation by talking like this?

The investor threatens you, and you counter-threaten the investor?

Is this some kind of negotiation tactic?

But it doesn't... seem quite right.

Judging by Ren Jian's expression, he didn't seem to be bluffing.

His gaze was unwavering, his posture completely relaxed.

It was as if he genuinely didn't care about the 200 million investment on the table and hadn't even tried to fight for it.

His entire demeanor conveyed one underlying message:

Take it or leave it.

Lin Xu thought that if he were sitting across from Ren Jian, he probably would have been intimidated.

But the balding investor wasn't having any of it.

"Trying to scare me? No investment?"

"Fine, no investment it is!"

"We only have a letter of intent anyway—I'm out!"

"Be my guest and do it yourself. Let's see how long your meager funds last!"

With that, the investor stood up angrily and made for the door.

Ren Jian cleared his throat and spoke:

"Wait."

The investor paused mid-step and turned back:

"Changed your mind? Still want to talk?"

"If we're talking, show us the complete documentation for our experts to review."

"I'll pretend what just happened didn't occur and give you another chance!"

"No," Ren Jian shook his head.

"I'm giving you another chance."

"You have no idea how much profit these two materials could generate if industrialized."

"If you don't understand, ask your expert here."

"You might not get it, but he certainly does."

The balding man looked at the bespectacled middle-aged man beside him, who nodded, clearly urging him to continue negotiations.

But Ren Jian still refused to concede.

"Like I said, we've shown you preliminary materials—you should be able to assess the authenticity of this process documentation."

"If you want to invest or collaborate later, make your judgment based on these initial materials."

"If you can't make that judgment..."

"Then I'll find a more knowledgeable investor."

"...Damn it!" The investor cursed and stormed out.

The expert he brought looked helplessly around before sighing and following him out.

Lin Xu, who hadn't had a chance to speak the entire time, finally approached Ren Jian:

"So... we failed?"

"That's right," Ren Jian nodded slightly.

"But only the negotiation failed—we haven't."

"Don't worry, Lin Xu."

"Even without your ideas, I still have options."

"Funding? Factories?"

"This process documentation is already quite complete. Can we get the patents sorted within a month?"

"If we can... then we won't need investors."

"Too many investors would just complicate our equity structure—which isn't what you... what we want, right?"

"So..."

"Let's go all in and take the gamble!"

"Fifty million for subsequent production, trials, new equipment purchases, and salaries—let's budget fifty million total."

"One hundred million altogether."

"I happen to have a property I can sell."

"What do you say, Lin Xu? Are you in?"

Lin Xu frowned at the question.

Was he in?

Truthfully, obtaining the complete technical documentation posed no difficulty or uncertainty for him personally.

The real risks in the trial production process lay in equipment acquisition and practical operations.

Many advanced devices required for the process wouldn't be easy to obtain, and the actual operations would need an experienced technical lead.

Without solving these two issues, trial production would face serious delays.

But...

With Xu Jin's connections, perhaps it wouldn't be so difficult?

Lin Xu took a deep breath.

Decision made.

He looked up at Ren Jian and nodded firmly:

"I'm in!"

"And let's not aim for one month."

"Two weeks!"

"One week to secure equipment and personnel, one week to complete trial production while filing patents simultaneously!"