Chapter 22: Finding a Company to Take Over Just when she was almost about to give up waiting...
UI designer Li Xiao continued, "What about 'Vision Engine'? They focus on real-time rendering technology, which perfectly meets our needs. I've been following their technical blog for a long time, and their engine is excellent at handling complex models."
Project manager Chen Lu added: "There's also 'Weiguang Technology'! Although they haven't been established for long, their team members all come from large companies, and they are very reliable. My former colleague is now in charge of business there, so he can help me ask around."
Everyone chimed in, suggesting several potential tech companies, including "Digital Innovation Future," "Lingdong Digital," and "Virtual Reality Technology." Each person explained their reasons for recommending the company and their network of contacts. The whiteboard in the meeting room was quickly filled with various company names and contact information.
Just as the discussion was at its most heated, Zhou Xubai hesitated before speaking: "Actually... we all know that the most suitable choice is probably still Qichen Technology." He paused, glanced at Lin Yuwei, and said, "President Gu even specially collected Ms. Lin's work 'The Thorn Birds' before, which at least shows that he approves of our artistic concepts."
There was a moment of silence in the conference room, followed by a chorus of agreeing whispers.
Project manager Chen Lu nodded: "Qichen's technical team is indeed top-notch in China. Their real-time rendering technology and VR interaction solutions are the most mature. If we can get them involved, not only can the current crisis be resolved, but the project quality can also be improved to another level."
Designer Xiaoyu wholeheartedly agreed: "That's right, Venucia Technology's headquarters are in this city, so it's easy to contact them."
Lin Yuwei's gaze swept over the expectant faces of her team members, her fingertips tapping lightly on the conference table. Qichen Technology... Gu Qingyan. A silent ripple stirred in her heart. But she had sworn to him last time that she would never appear in front of him on her own initiative. Now, only three months had passed, was she going to break her promise?
“We are aware of Venucia’s pricing structure.” She finally spoke, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable determination: “Their project initiation threshold and quote are likely to exceed the remaining budget for this project. Let’s first contact the other candidate companies mentioned earlier, and then we’ll have another meeting in two hours.”
For the next two hours, the office was filled with ringing phones, clattering keyboards, and tense conversations as team members went their separate ways to contact the companies they had recommended.
Two hours later, everyone returned to the meeting room, but the news they brought back was more and more disappointing than the last.
Xiaoyu said dejectedly, "Xuan Technology said they would only consider taking on this halfway through project if the price was at least three times higher, and they also demanded an 80% prepayment."
The designer who recommended YunTeng Interactive shook his head with a smile: "YunTeng Interactive is willing to take the job, but their technical director won't be available until next month. Right now, they can only do a preliminary assessment, which is completely out of sync with our schedule."
“Vision Engine rejected it outright.” Li Xiao sighed, “They said they never take on other people’s messes, especially projects with such heavy technical debt.”
Chen Lu's expression was also very serious: "Weiguang Technology is willing to give it a try, but they require us to redo all the preliminary designs and use their standard framework, which means that almost all of our work over the past few months will have to be scrapped and started over."
Other companies' responses were equally disappointing: "Digital Innovation Future" had a project schedule that was already three months in advance, "Lingdong Digital" admitted that its technical capabilities were insufficient to meet such complex requirements, and "Virtual Reality Technology" requested that the delivery period be extended to six months.
Each piece of bad news weighed heavily on the office atmosphere, and when the last company also indicated it couldn't take over, a sense of despair spread through the team.
Zhou Xubai walked to Lin Yuwei's side and said softly, "Yuwei, the situation is already quite clear. Perhaps... we should still contact Qichen? At least to find out their conditions and intentions?"
Looking at the anxious and expectant faces of her team members, Lin Yuwei closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and made a decision when she opened them again.
"That's all for today's meeting." Her voice was filled with undisguised exhaustion. "Everyone has worked hard. Go home and rest now. Let me think about the follow-up plans."
The colleagues looked at each other, hesitant to speak, but eventually packed up their things one by one, talked in hushed tones, and left the office. Before leaving, designer Xiaoyu looked back one last time, her eyes full of worry.
Zhou Xubai stayed until the end: "Shall I discuss this with you? More people means more ideas."
“No need, Xu Bai.” Lin Yuwei interrupted him, her tone gentle but firm: “I want to be alone to clear my mind. You should go back first.”
Zhou Xubai hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded: "Okay, but promise me you won't push yourself too hard. Call me anytime if you need anything."
The office finally quieted down. The last rays of the setting sun shone through the blinds, casting long, alternating stripes of light and shadow on the conference table. Lin Yuwei sat alone in the gradually darkening room, without turning on the lights.
In front of her lay project proposals, a list of rejected companies, and incomplete code and technical documents left by Zhichuang Internet. On her laptop screen, the browser was on the official website of Qichen Technology, where the name "Executive President Gu Qingyan" was prominently displayed.
Lin Yuwei's fingers unconsciously slid across the touchpad, the cursor hovering over that familiar name, as if reflecting the turmoil of her inner conflict. The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the city lights lit up one after another, casting her lonely figure on the glass curtain wall of the office.
The sky outside the window had completely darkened, and only the computer screen emitted a faint glow in the office. Lin Yuwei sat alone in the darkness, her gaze never leaving that familiar name. The scales in her heart were swaying violently. On one side was the twenty years of mutual torment and struggle with Gu Qingyan, and on the other side was the crisis that the entire team's months of hard work might be in vain, as well as the reputation that Shiguang Studio had just built.
Ultimately, a sense of responsibility and the importance she placed on the project overcame her inner turmoil and struggle. She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and gently touched the screen with her fingertips, dialing the number she thought she would never contact again.
The ringing of the phone was exceptionally clear in the quiet office, each beep striking her heart. Time seemed to stretch out. Lin Yuwei's fingertips grew slightly cold, and anxiety almost overwhelmed her. Would he answer? And if he did, what would his attitude be?
Just as she was about to give up waiting, the call was suddenly answered, and Gu Qingyan's deep, clear voice came from the other end: "Hello?"
Just that one word, that familiar voice, made Lin Yuwei's nose suddenly sting with tears, and countless memories flooded her mind. She quickly calmed herself down and forced herself to speak in the most professional tone: "Mr. Gu, I'm sorry to bother you. I'm Lin Yuwei, the head of Shiguang Studio. We are currently facing an urgent project crisis and would like to inquire whether Qichen Technology can provide technical support." She briefly explained the situation of Zhichuang Internet's collapse and the serious predicament the project was facing, deliberately omitting personal emotions and speaking entirely with professional terminology and factual data.
Gu Qingyan listened quietly on the other end of the phone, occasionally offering brief responses to show his understanding. His voice was calm and businesslike, without any emotional fluctuation: "It does sound very tricky. If an assessment is needed, please provide detailed project information and a current status report."
"I'll get it sorted out and send it to you today," Lin Yuwei said, noticing that her palms were slightly sweaty.
"After receiving the materials, I will have the team evaluate them." Gu Qingyan's voice remained emotionless, as if she were handling a routine business consultation.
The call was brief and efficient, without any unnecessary small talk or questions. After hanging up, Lin Yuwei leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh of relief. A glimmer of hope had finally appeared, however faint, but at least it existed.
She immediately got to work, organizing project documents and technical requirements, and sent all the materials to the email address designated by Gu Qingyan overnight.
The next morning, as Lin Yuwei was discussing alternative plans with her team, her phone suddenly rang. It was Gu Qingyan calling! She quickly answered the phone, and his still-cold voice came from the other end: "I have received the materials. I have an hour free at 10 a.m. You can bring your core team over to give a full presentation so that our team can better understand this project."
Lin Yuwei glanced at the time; it was 9:30. Her heart sank. There was only half an hour, barely enough time for them to drive to Qichen Technology. There wasn't even time to prepare. She wasn't sure if Gu Qingyan was deliberately making things difficult for her, but for the sake of the project, she had no room for hesitation.
“Okay, we’ll be there on time at ten o’clock.” She heard herself answer, her voice calm and decisive beyond her expectations. After hanging up the phone, she immediately stood up: “Xu Bai, Xiao Yu, Li Xiao, Chen Lu, get ready. We’re going to Qichen Technology now. We must be there before ten o’clock. President Gu only has one hour to listen to our presentation.”
The team members were clearly taken aback, but seeing Lin Yuwei's resolute expression, no one raised any objections. They quickly packed up the necessary materials and equipment, and the five of them hurriedly went downstairs and drove to the headquarters of Venucia Technology, located on the other side of the city.
The atmosphere inside the car was tense and quiet. Everyone was silently preparing for their upcoming presentations. Lin Yuwei looked out the window at the rapidly receding street scene, her fingers unconsciously tightening. This meeting would determine the fate of the project and might also change the course of many things.
The car came to a smooth stop in front of the Venucia Technology headquarters building. After getting out of the car, the five people couldn't help but look up. The towering glass curtain wall building gleamed in the sunlight, and the modern design showcased the grandeur and strength of the technology company.
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Author's Note: Gu Qingyan acted strictly business on the surface, but he felt incredibly happy after hanging up the phone. [doge emoji with rose in hand]
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