What exactly happened to provoke Eliza, a person of such mettle, to actually propose resignation?
Eliza was a true senior executive at Dimeng Corporation, one of the key figures in the development of MP3s, currently serving as the Deputy Section Chief of the Internal Research and Development Department, holding considerable power.
For such an individual to propose resignation within a single day made it difficult not to be curious.
"Eliza, what exactly happened at your company today?" Qin Chuan couldn't help but ask.
Across from him, Eliza's pretty face shifted with an uncertain expression. She picked up her wine glass from the table and drained it in one gulp, then slammed it back down onto the table with considerable force.
"Our company is being acquired!" After a long pause, Eliza said in a hoarse voice. Her eyes were red, her expression sorrowful, and the pain was evident.
Qin Chuan was stunned again, then it dawned on him. Of course, he knew that Dimeng Corporation was going to be acquired. He just hadn't realized the news had been confirmed so quickly.
For someone like Eliza, to witness the fruits of her years of hard work suddenly no longer belong to her, was akin to having a child she had raised for many years forcibly snatched away by a thief. The sorrow was something only she could truly understand.
Even with Qin Chuan's usual eloquence, he didn't know how to comfort her. Logically, given the circumstances, he should have been happy. Yet, Qin Chuan felt no excitement. All he felt was sympathy.
This was the cruelty of capital. Individual ability was truly insignificant in the face of true capital, utterly unable to resist. As someone who had been through similar experiences, Qin Chuan understood this feeling all too well! In his previous life, he had personally witnessed the heartlessness of capital. For the sake of competition or to achieve greater profits, many wealthy corporations and conglomerates resorted to any means necessary. Acquisitions were considered the most benign; far more brutal methods were commonplace.
"Is the news confirmed?" After a long hesitation, Qin Chuan finally managed to ask the simple question.
"It's confirmed. Our CEO personally admitted it in front of all the company employees." "Soon, our company will be completely acquired by S3." "Anyone who obstructs this acquisition plan will be targeted." Eliza sat there, her expression filled with pain and desolation.
Seeing this, Qin Chuan became anxious. "You shouldn't have resigned yourself then! If they dismiss you, you'll get more benefits."
Eliza chuckled self-mockingly. "It doesn't matter. I don't care about that compensation!" "I'm just heartbroken that after years of hard work and selfless dedication to the company, the success I finally achieved has become a wedding dress for someone else." "And to think I'm powerless to stop these ruthless individuals from destroying their own empire for short-term gain." As she spoke, Eliza seemed to find an outlet for her pent-up frustration, launching into a torrent of curses. She seemed to curse almost half the company, including the CEO of Dimeng Corporation.
"I just don't understand, their company was developing so well, on the right track. Why would they agree to the acquisition? What does that damned S3 have besides a bit of dirty money?!" "I swear on my honor, if Dimeng Corporation is acquired by S3, within five years, it will be completely ruined by their incompetent leader." "Dimeng Corporation will be wiped off the face of this earth!"
Listening to Eliza's incisive analysis, Qin Chuan's heart began to race uncontrollably. A flicker of excitement ignited deep within his dark, piercing eyes, fixed intently on Eliza. This woman was even smarter and more insightful than he had imagined; she was a true genius, dissecting problems with such precision. As a reborn individual, he knew that Dimeng Corporation's decline in his previous life began with this acquisition, and it truly marked the beginning of their downfall. Their proud achievements in the graphics card sector, and the multimedia industry which held their greatest hopes, all ended in failure, a tragic end. They were surpassed one by one by later entrants like Nvidia and AMD, much to everyone's regret. Eliza's ability to foresee such an outcome was truly astonishing.
At this moment, Qin Chuan became more determined than ever to lure Eliza back to China to work for him. Such talent, once encountered, must not be let go. He was willing to pay any price.
"Eliza, didn't they promise you a higher position or greater benefits?" Qin Chuan asked.
"Yes, but I didn't agree." Eliza sneered. "Do they really think everyone in the world is like them, willing to sell their conscience and everything they have for money!" "It's not just me; many people in R&D within the company also refused those so-called high-paying temptations."
Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan's heart pounded even faster. He desperately wanted to reveal his thoughts immediately, but he managed to restrain himself. Haste makes waste, and now was truly not the time for an open declaration. Not only in terms of his relationship with Eliza, but also in other matters, everything was far from ripe.
"Eliza, in this era, it's so rare to find someone like you who stays true to their inner dreams and isn't swayed by worldly wealth!" "I deeply admire you!" Qin Chuan praised. Eliza, uncharacteristically shy, waved her hands. "No, no!" "People like me are actually quite foolish, stubborn, and bad-tempered. Not many people actually like me."
Qin Chuan immediately retorted, "How could that be? You're beautiful, have a great figure, and are so capable. Only those who don't understand you would find you difficult to get along with." "Those who truly understand you will like you!"
Unbeknownst to herself, a captivating blush crept onto Eliza's fair and beautiful face. Whether it was the wine or something else, her light blue, jewel-like eyes gazed intently at the charming Chinese man before her, finding him more captivating the longer she looked.
Suddenly, her eyes shifted, and she changed the subject. "Qin Chuan, let's stop talking about my matters. How about we talk about something more romantic?"
"Romantic matters?" Qin Chuan was bewildered, not understanding at first.
"For example, have you ever had a girlfriend? And how did you end up with Ms. Fang, your current companion?" Eliza asked enthusiastically, her large sapphire eyes shining brightly.
"Ms. Fang is not my girlfriend." Qin Chuan explained.
Now it was Eliza's turn to be surprised, her pretty face etched with astonishment. "How is that possible? Last night, I clearly saw how intimate you two were..."
Qin Chuan shook his head and smiled. "We were just pretending to be a couple. Ms. Fang is merely my business partner, to deal with Karl and his ilk." "My real girlfriend is still in my country and I didn't bring her along."
Eliza's beautiful eyes widened, as if she had heard something incredibly unbelievable. Then, as if thinking of something else, a spark of excitement flickered deep within her eyes...