I Have Divorced Your Sister, Why Are You Not Leaving?
Chapter 40 - Tencent’s Rapid Growth & the Soaring Land Value!

Chapter 40. Tencent’s Rapid Growth & the Soaring Land Value!

Li Mo paused to think. He seemed to recall… Didn’t Ma Tengyun have a female alt-account called LonelyGirl? Was the Internet Café Guru actually in an online romance with Ma Tengyun? Of course, he didn’t mention it. He simply offered the guru his blessings. Then he went online for a while, reminiscing about old times.

The next afternoon, Li Mo convened a regular meeting at the company.

“Alright, three months have passed. Tengyun, give us an update on Tencent’s progress.”

Ma Tengyun immediately stood up, barely containing his excitement. “Mr. Mo, after three months of development… Tencent has now surpassed one million users! And growth is accelerating—many enterprises and schools are voluntarily adopting QQ. The ‘Passionate Chat Companion’ department has been disbanded.”

Li Mo gave him a strange look. The department was dissolved… So why are you still chatting? Did you actually get addicted?

“Good, very good.”

Seeing Li Mo’s satisfied expression, Ma Tengyun finally relaxed. “However, Mr. Mo, with this explosive user growth… our servers are struggling to keep up. The initial three million is already burned through. Even salaries are being covered by Qingyan Investment now. We… need another round of funding.”

As he spoke, a shadow of worry crossed his face. Right now, his biggest concern wasn’t just funding—it was Tencent’s lack of a profit model. Over in Hangzhou, Teacher Ma’s Alibaba was already turning steady profits. But Tencent? Still completely in the dark about monetization.

“No problem. If the money’s gone, we’ll inject more. This time, I plan to invest 50 million. Going forward, Tencent will operate as a fully independent division. Salaries? Self-funded.”

Li Mo’s words first silenced the Five Tiger Generals—then sent them into cheers. No one expected Li Mo to pledge 50 million this time. At Tencent’s current burn rate, that could keep them afloat for years!

“Mr. Mo, do you even have 50 million?! Didn’t you just buy that land parcel?” Ma Tengyun suddenly realized something. Lately, Li Mo’s expenditures had likely exceeded 100 million. Yet, his visible income streams? Just those stock market gains from his “God of Stocks” phase. After that… had Mr. Mo earned anything at all? And those monthly salaries and rent payments in the millions? An astronomical sum… yet Mr. Mo never once mentioned financial strain?

“I’m out of money.”

Li Mo’s blunt statement froze Ma Tengyun in place. The celebratory mood among the five collapsed instantly.

“If funds are tight… we can take pay cuts—I’ll return my salary!” Having drawn hundreds of thousands over these months, Ma Tengyun had actually been losing sleep over it.

“No need. Selling that land parcel will solve everything.”

Instantly, the team’s spirits revived. Right! Mr. Mo still owned that plot! Liquidating it now would bring a massive cash infusion. Feasible. Completely feasible. Just thinking about it steadied their nerves.

“But Mr. Mo, that land isn’t worth 50 million. A developer recently approached me… offering 20 million. I refused outright.” Ma Tengyun knew Li Mo would never sell at that price. Holding onto it left room for appreciation. But if they dumped a 31 million purchase so quickly? That’d be a catastrophic loss.

“Then we’ll sell it for more.”

Ma Tengyun blinked. However, experience had taught him: whenever Mr. Mo said something incomprehensible—just nod in agreement. If only Teacher Ma were here… then he’d truly understand what vision means.

“Mmm… I agree.”

Li Mo studied Ma Tengyun. Had the guy… lost some IQ points? Back during the land auction, he’d claimed to “grasp Mr. Mo’s profound intent.” But how? Even with the system’s investment tips, Li Mo himself hadn’t fully understood it then!

The other four Tiger Generals also eyed Ma Tengyun suspiciously. They sensed he’d acquired an air of inscrutable wisdom. Though they suspected it might be an act.

Just then, Ma Tengyun’s phone rang.

“President Ma. I hear your boss owns that abandoned development plot. Could you discuss selling it? I’m offering 200 million.”

Ma Tengyun’s hand trembled slightly. “Hmm, 200 million? Seems low. We’ll reconsider later. Goodbye.”

He’d only been pretending aloofness, yet somehow—the bluff worked! Remembering how he’d lectured Teacher Ma at the auction, an exhilarating rush surged through him.

Ahem—this is what they call foresight! This is strategic vision!

The four Tiger Generals now gazed at him with newfound awe. Apparently, Ma Tengyun had absorbed 1% of Mr. Mo’s prowess!

“What’s happening, Tengyun?! 200 million?!”

Ma Tengyun almost tapped the table like Li Mo often did—but stopped himself. Best not mimic the boss too obviously. Instead, he sipped his tea calmly.

“Nothing major. Someone just offered 200 million for Mr. Mo’s land.”

The conference room echoed with four simultaneous gasps.

“200 million?! That’s nearly 200 million in pure profit! A masterstroke!”

Watching Zeng Liqing’s excitement, Ma Tengyun waved a dismissive hand. “Sit down. Working under Mr. Mo, such reactions are unbecoming. If we embarrass him in public later, what then?”

The four hung their heads slightly. Clearly, Ma Tengyun’s growth trajectory far outpaced theirs. They were still too green.

“Alright, I’ll expedite the land sale. Tengyun, forward any offers to me immediately—along with the buyer’s background. We’ll liquidate and reinvest promptly.”

Li Mo’s thoughts drifted to Teacher Ma—still pouring resources into overseas ventures these past months. Doing the math, his cash flow must be critically strained.

As expected… once Teacher Ma commits to something… even my advice won’t deter him.

The auction memory resurfaced—and with it, Ji Wanxian. That woman… her nobility was innate, her aura untouchable. Of everything at the auction, she’d left the deepest impression. He’d given her his QQ number. Yet she never added him.

Meanwhile, back in his office, Ma Tengyun finally dropped his composed facade. Alone, he could no longer contain his euphoria! Today, he’d utterly outshone the other four Tigers!

But… this wasn’t enough. Recalling how he’d schooled Teacher Ma previously, he itched to call him now—yet… would reaching out first seem too deliberate?

As he agonized, his phone rang. Teacher Ma’s name flashed onscreen.

The moment he answered, Teacher Ma launched into complaints about internet startups burning cash—and how real estate brought faster returns.

Ma Tengyun froze. This… is perfect synergy!

“Mmm… quite true. That land Mr. Mo bought? Someone just offered 250 million.”