Chapter 3. Instant Messaging – How to Monetize?
Ma Tengyun’s face flushed red and felt quite nervous.
He’d only recently conceived this idea, to create an instant messaging tool like ICQ.
Right now, China had no dominant player in instant messaging.
If he could seize this opportunity first… he would undoubtedly become the undisputed king of domestic IM!
Mr. Sun, a man of little education, frowned.
“This whole idea feels impractical.”
“Everyone already has SMS and phone calls.”
“Why bother with redundant messaging software?”
“Instead of wasting time on this…”
“I’d rather invest in coal mines.”
“Or buy land to develop real estate.”
With that, he stood and left with his secretary in tow.
Ma Tengyun stiffened, embarrassed.
He couldn’t deny it— real estate had exploded in value these past few years.
More and more capital flowed into property investments.
Compared to his software venture… real estate did seem like the safer bet.
His hopeful gaze shifted to Ms. Liu.
She was different from Mr. Sun.
She didn’t fixate on coal or property.
“Mr. Ma,” she asked, “how much funding do you need for this project?”
Ma Tengyun calculated.
“An initial investment… of one million.”
This was his estimate.
Having worked in tech for years, even serving as a FidoNet station operator— he understood the costs of internet ventures.
One million… should keep the lights on for a while.
“One million isn’t much.”
Instantly, Ma Tengyun’s eyes brightened.
Was this… actually happening?
“But by your own admission,” Ms. Liu continued,
“this one million is just the starting cost, correct?”
“To fully develop this project…”
“you’d need seven or eight million—maybe even ten.”
Ma Tengyun stammered, caught off guard.
Li Mo watched Ma Tengyun like a man staring at buried treasure.
After reviewing the future business plan,
he knew—investing in this man could yield trillions.
“Do you really think instant messaging has a future?”
Absent-mindedly, Li Mo ruffled Su Qingyan’s hair.
“Instant messaging will be a goldmine.”
His casual touch sent a flush through Su Qingyan’s cheeks.
she had lived in her sister’s shadow.
Su Xiaoxiao was more accomplished, more sociable—
while she was just the quiet, overlooked girl.
But after coming to Shenzhen for university…
Li Mo’s constant care, his small acts of kindness…
made her feel warmth she’d never known.
Slowly, he carved a deep place in her heart.
And now…they were both free.
She wouldn’t let this chance slip away.
Back at the lecture, Ma Tengyun fumbled for words.
He wanted to dodge the question,
but Ms. Liu was razor-sharp.
“You’re right,” he admitted.
“The costs… are significant.”
“But I believe with proper funding…”
“I can build an unrivaled messaging empire!”
Ms. Liu shook her head.
“I don’t doubt your vision.”
“But have you considered… how it will actually make money?”
He had the idea for instant messaging.
But a concrete profit model?
That… he hadn’t figured out yet.