1novels Chapter 154 Girls' Generation
Chapter 154 Girls' Generation
Chapter 154 Girls' Generation
In late June, the air in Suzhou at dusk was filled with a dampness different from that of Shanghai's plum rain season.
The moisture here seems gentler, carrying the fragrance of garden plants and the faint fishy smell of Taihu Lake. It clings to the skin without feeling stuffy, but rather gives off a lazy and pleasant feeling of Jiangnan.
When Jiang Yu and his group arrived in Suzhou from Shanghai, it was already afternoon.
The convoy drove along the shore of Jinji Lake, where a giant archway building was under construction on the opposite bank of the shimmering lake.
They stayed at the Shangri-La Hotel in the new district. As soon as they entered their suite, Jiang Yu received a call from Liu Yifei in Los Angeles. The background noise was a bit loud.
"Boss Jiang, I heard you've gone to the Jiangnan water towns again to inspect some fancy dishes?" Liu Yifei's voice was laced with laughter. "Semiconductors? Isn't your business scope a bit too broad these days? From special effects on Pandora to cloud computing along the Huangpu River, and now you're going to make chips? Is building rockets next?"
Jiang Yu leaned back on the sofa, listening to his lover's teasing, tinged with a hint of coquettishness, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips: "There are no plans for rockets for the time being, but a few space tourism companies have sent me business plans. What, you want to be the first actress to go to space? I can invest."
"Go to hell!" Liu Yifei spat lightly, then her tone became more serious, "Seriously, be careful and don't overwork yourself."
"I had tea with Shen Nanpeng and Jack Ma a few days ago, then went to promote my products to the World Expo Bureau leaders in the morning, and then went to Suzhou in the afternoon—are you made of iron?"
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Jiang Yu felt a warmth in his heart. "But how's the filming going?"
"Don't even mention it—" Liu Yifei's voice suddenly broke down, "Director Lü Ke insisted on adding a character arc to my role," saying that only in this way could the character's rebellion and liberation be reflected—"
Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh out loud; he could imagine Liu Yifei's angry yet helpless expression at that moment.
"Stick to what you believe is right. Don't forget, you're one of the most bankable Asian faces in Hollywood right now; you have leverage in negotiations. Should I have David try to have a friendly talk with them?"
"No need for now, I can handle it." Liu Yifei sighed. "I just wanted to vent to you. Okay, I won't bother you any longer, you busy person. Remember to eat on time, and—miss me."
"I think about it every day." Jiang Yu's voice was low and gentle.
After hanging up the phone, the streetlights outside the window were already on.
Wang Wei knocked gently on the door and came in, bringing with her the materials prepared by Zhou Shouzi and the head of the Suzhou branch.
"Boss, General Manager Zhou and his team are already in the conference room," the branch manager reported. "Vice Mayor Li confirmed that he will arrive in half an hour. He just finished a meeting on integrated circuit industry planning, and I heard that our potential investment was mentioned at the meeting. The city attaches great importance to this."
"Hmm." Jiang Yu rubbed his temples, temporarily putting aside his personal emotions and switching to work mode.
In the conference room, Shou Zi Zhou and his assistant were discussing in hushed tones over a pile of documents.
Shou Zi Chew, a formidable figure who will one day make waves in the capital market, is now in charge of the investment department at Light Chaser Holdings.
He was wearing a neatly pressed light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and he was making dense annotations on JCET's financial report with a fountain pen.
"Mr. Jiang," Zhou Shouzi stood up as Jiang Yu entered, speaking quickly and clearly, "I've reviewed JCET's fundamentals. Its position as a leading domestic packaging and testing company is solid, its cost control capabilities are good, and its processes for mainstream packaging technologies like BGA and CSP are mature. However, the problems are also obvious: its R&D in high-end advanced packaging is lagging, it heavily relies on imports for key equipment, and—"
He adjusted his glasses, his gaze sharp behind the lenses. "The management seems somewhat complacent, lacking investment in R&D and a willingness to take risks. Simply put, they're competent now, but not necessarily ideal future partners."
The assistant added information from the government level: "Vice Mayor Li of Suzhou is in charge of industry and information technology. He is a well-known industrial mayor in the area and is very enthusiastic about attracting high-end manufacturing, especially in the integrated circuit sector, which can fill the gaps in our industry. They have not only offered preferential packages in terms of land and taxation, but also hinted that they can provide full support in terms of talent apartments, children's education, and even assistance in applying for major national projects. Their goal is very clear: they hope that we will not only come to build a factory, but also become an anchor enterprise for Suzhou's semiconductor industry cluster, driving the entire industrial chain of design, materials, and equipment."
"Quite an appetite, but that's normal." Jiang Yu sat down at the head of the table, tapping his fingers on the surface. "The chip industry is a money-devouring beast, but also a goose that lays golden eggs. If the local government bets correctly, tax revenue, employment, and industrial upgrading will be guaranteed for decades to come. What about us? What do we need?"
"We need a reliable manufacturing base with a certain technological foundation to serve as the basis for Crystal Technology's design capabilities, so as to break free from being completely dependent on others."
Shouzi Zhou answered without hesitation, "JCET can serve as a springboard and a partner, but the core, most advanced manufacturing capabilities must be in our own hands. My suggestion is to establish a joint venture with JCET to jointly develop advanced packaging, while simultaneously selecting an independent site in Suzhou to build our own memory chip manufacturing plant. We need to take a two-pronged approach."
"What about the financial pressure?" Jiang Yu asked.
"Crystal Technology's initial cash reserves remain untouched, and its cash flow is ample, allowing Light Chaser Holdings to increase its investment. If the investment with Hynix goes smoothly, the technology licensing fees and the acquisition of the Wuxi factory can significantly shorten our learning curve and reduce time costs in building our own factory." Shou Zi Chew had clearly done thorough calculations.
Jiang Yu nodded and looked at Wang Wei: "Find out their attitude towards building our own wafer fab, including land and..."
Are there any specific commitments regarding the environmental impact assessment, especially regarding the guarantee of water and electricity?
Wang Wei nodded and noted it down.
Half an hour later, Vice Mayor Li arrived on time.
This is an official in his early fifties who possesses both the refinement of a scholar and the competence of a pragmatist.
He speaks Mandarin with a distinct Wu dialect accent, but his logic is extremely clear.
"Mr. Jiang, it's an honor to meet you! You're truly a promising young man!" Vice Mayor Li warmly shook Jiang Yu's hand with a firm grip. "Many young people in Suzhou are your fans, and watching your films is a must! I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable, Mr. Jiang."
It's truly admirable that they have such a deep understanding and ambition in industries, especially in hard technologies like integrated circuits!
After exchanging pleasantries, the two sides took their seats at the conference table.
Without much formality, Vice Mayor Li instructed the accompanying official from the Industry and Information Technology Bureau to turn on the projector and begin introducing the existing resources and future plans for Suzhou's integrated circuit industry.
"Suzhou's integrated circuit industry started early and has a solid foundation. There are clusters in design, SMIC in manufacturing, and JCET Group as the leader in packaging and testing."
Vice Mayor Li pointed to several areas on the map with a laser pointer. "But what are we lacking? We lack high-end manufacturing, memory chips, and leading companies that can carry the banner of the industrial chain. President Jiang, if you, Chasing Light, are willing to come, we will support you with the full force of the city! The reserved M4 industrial land in the High-tech Zone is close to the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway, and the double-loop substation has already been planned. The industrial water is pre-treated from Yangcheng Lake, and its purity is absolutely guaranteed! As for talent, we can take the lead in training and sending graduates from Soochow University and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University majoring in microelectronics to universities—"
Vice Mayor Li was clearly well-prepared, providing detailed data and specific promises. He even had contingency plans for details such as customs clearance for imported equipment and work permits for foreign engineers that might be encountered in the future.
Jiang Yu listened attentively, occasionally raising some very specific and even demanding questions: "Mayor Li, can the switching time of the dual-circuit power supply be guaranteed to be in the millisecond range? Chip manufacturing cannot afford a power outage."
Can the purity of the industrial water meet the standards for semiconductor-grade ultrapure water? How can a continuous and stable supply be guaranteed?
Is it possible for professors from local universities specializing in microelectronics to participate in the early-stage process development of our factory, either on a part-time basis or through project collaboration?
"If we need to bring in a group of top-notch engineers from South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan, to what extent can the government coordinate the resettlement of their families and the enrollment of their children in international schools?"
These questions hit the nail on the head, leaving the Suzhou officials accompanying him speechless with astonishment and further convinced that this young entertainment tycoon was genuinely interested in the semiconductor industry and not just dabbling in it or speculating on land.
Vice Mayor Li was not stumped by the questions; instead, he became even more excited, answering each one in detail, and even instructing his subordinates to take notes on some of them on the spot.
follow up.
"Mr. Jiang, don't worry! These are the kinds of questions only a truly pragmatic entrepreneur would ask!"
Vice Mayor Li leaned forward, his gaze intense. "In Suzhou, when it comes to industry, we don't talk nonsense; we solve real problems for businesses! Give us a list of issues that require government coordination, and we'll set up special teams to tackle them one by one! What we need are companies like yours—those that lay high-tech golden eggs on the sycamore trees of Suzhou!"
The talks lasted for more than two hours and were conducted in a warm and pragmatic atmosphere.
Both parties agreed that Zhou Shouzi would lead his team to conduct more in-depth discussions and on-site inspections with relevant departments of the Shenzhen Municipal Government and Changjiang Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.
The following day, accompanied by Vice Mayor Li and the Director of the Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Jiang Yu and his delegation visited the core factory of JCET Group located in Suzhou Industrial Park.
After donning a full set of anti-static cleanroom suits and undergoing a rigorous air shower procedure, we entered a Class 10,000 cleanroom with constant temperature and humidity.
The massive automated equipment emitted a deep, rhythmic hum, its robotic arms moving tirelessly and precisely, the air filled with the faint scent of special chemicals.
The chairman and CT0 of JCET Group accompanied and explained the process throughout.
"Mr. Jiang, this is our core packaging line, which mainly packages mobile application processors and baseband chips. The yield rate is consistently above 99.3%."
CT0 pointed to a high-speed production line and introduced it with a tone of pride mixed with a hint of helplessness: "The pick-and-place machine is from ASMPacific, the wire bonding machine is from K&S, and the testing equipment mainly comes from Israel and Japan—our own equipment is still catching up."
Jiang Yu observed very carefully, stopping from time to time to inquire about the material costs of a certain process step, the technical level requirements for operators, and the special challenges that different customer chip designs pose to packaging.
He even asked a very detailed question: "I noticed that you use gold wire for some of your bonding wires and copper wire for others. Is this choice based on customer requirements or cost considerations? Do you have data on the long-term impact on reliability?"
This question made Changdian's CT0's eyes light up, and his gaze towards Jiang Yu completely changed; this was definitely someone who knew his stuff!
He immediately began to explain in detail, and the two sides exchanged views on professional issues such as packaging materials, thermal management, and signal integrity for more than ten minutes, leaving Vice Mayor Li and Chairman Changdian unable to get a word in edgewise.
At the closed-door meeting following the visit, Jiang Yu made his stance clear to JCET's management: "JCET has solid technological expertise and cost control capabilities, making it an indispensable packaging and testing force in China. ChasingLight is willing to invest as a strategic investor and jointly establish an advanced packaging joint laboratory. However, the prerequisite is that JCET must provide substantial R&D budgets and demonstrate determination, and be fully open in terms of data sharing and process collaboration. What we want is not just production capacity, but partners to jointly climb the peak of technology."
The chairman of Changdian felt both pressure and an unprecedented opportunity, and excitedly stated that he would immediately convene a board meeting to thoroughly study President Jiang's proposal.
As they left JCET and sat in the car back at the hotel, Shou-Tzu Chew summarized: "JCET has its value, especially as a supplement to our initial production capacity and a partner for learning processes. But core, future-oriented technologies must be in our own hands."
Building our own factory is imperative. The Suzhou government's attitude and conditions are among the best in the country right now.
Looking at the Suzhou Industrial Park rushing past the car window, Jiang Yu slowly said, "Building our own factory is a long-term goal, and it will take time."
Right now, we need a faster entry point and readily available technological springboards. How are things going with Chen Jingming's negotiations in South Korea?
Wang Wei immediately checked the email and replied: "Latest news from President Chen: Hynix's board of directors has approved our investment plan in principle. The detailed negotiations regarding the transfer of the Wuxi factory and NAND flash memory technology have also been completed. Hynix Chairman Kim Jong-gap hopes you can go to South Korea as soon as possible to complete the final signing ceremony. The date—he hopes it will be July 6th."
"July 6th —" Jiang Yu calculated the schedule. "In Suzhou, Shou Zi, you stay here and continue to communicate in depth with the municipal government and Changdian. Make sure the feasibility report and joint venture plan for investing in the factory are solid. We'll wait for President Chen and his team to return from South Korea to make a decision. Wang Wei, make the arrangements. We'll fly directly to Seoul on the afternoon of July 5th."
Shanghai Pudong International Airport, afternoon of July 5.
The flight time from Shanghai to Seoul is very short, less than two hours.
When the plane landed at Incheon International Airport, it was evening in Seoul, and the skyline was painted a brilliant golden-red by the setting sun.
Jiang Yu and Wang Wei, along with five professionally trained and sharp-eyed bodyguards, a group of seven, walked out of the private jet exit.
Chen Jingming was already waiting at the exit with two assistants. He was in good shape, wearing a dark gray shirt, and exuded a capable yet shrewd air.
"Mr. Jiang, you must be tired from your journey." Chen Jingming greeted him in a low voice, "Chairman Jin Zhongjia of Hailix has come in person and is waiting for you in the VIP room. The treatment he's given is very high. However—"
He paused, a hint of helplessness in his expression. "The arrival hall outside seems a bit too crowded."
Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow: "A reporter? Or a fan?"
"Yes, they are." Chen Jingming gestured to the faint commotion coming from not far away. "It seems to be a very popular girl group called Girls' Generation. They landed around the same time as you, and the place is packed with fans and entertainment reporters. We should avoid them if we go through the VIP entrance."
The group quickly passed through the dedicated passage, preparing to leave through the side door.
This side door connects to the VIP parking lot, which is usually quite quiet.
However, just as they were about to step out of the glass door, a vortex of sound seemed to explode from the exit of the ordinary arrival hall next door!
Ah! Sunny!
'
"Taeyeon!"
"yes!!!"
"Look here! Girls' Generation! This way!"
Deafening screams, choked with sobs, a mix of shouts in Japanese, Korean, and English, and a deluge of camera flashes instantly engulfed the entire arrival level!
A surging crowd, frenzied fans, reporters scrambling for positions, and airport security maintaining order poured out of that exit, instantly blocking the passage and even affecting the side entrance area where Jiang Yu and his group were located.
Nine young, beautiful girls, with exquisite makeup but unable to hide their exhaustion, struggled to get through the human wall, like a small boat in a stormy sea, under the desperate protection of several tall agents and assistants.
They were Girls' Generation, who became famous throughout Asia with their song "Gee" and were at the peak of their careers.
Jiang Yu's group of seven or eight people, though small in number, possessed an exceptionally outstanding presence.
Jiang Yu, in particular, whose simple casual attire could not conceal his powerful aura, along with his capable Wang Wei and elite bodyguards, stood out like rocks in the chaotic environment.
Several entertainment reporters who were originally filming Girls' Generation instinctively felt that there seemed to be an "even bigger fish" here, and their cameras subconsciously turned around.
"Who is that? I've never seen him before, a new actor?"
"No, he doesn't have the air of an idol—could he be the son of some tycoon?"
"Wait a minute—that young man, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before—a financial magazine! Yes! That Chinese billionaire who invests in Hollywood! Jiang Yu! Chairman Jiang Yu!"
"What?! Jiang Yu? The one who invested in 'Iron Man'? What's he doing here?!"
"Breaking news! Absolutely breaking news! Take a picture!"
The fastest-reacting reporters, like sharks smelling blood, turned their cameras and started snapping away at Jiang Yu.
Two of the bolder ones even tried to break through the bodyguards' cordon and rush over for an interview.
"President Jiang Yu! What is the purpose of your visit to South Korea?"
"Are you here to discuss film and television collaborations? Does Light Chaser Pictures plan to enter the South Korean market?"
What are your thoughts on the South Korean entertainment industry?
The sudden attention made Jiang Yu frown slightly. He glanced at the Girls' Generation group, who were surrounded not far away, and the girls were also looking at him with curiosity and surprise.
Their eyes met briefly in the air. Jiang Yu could even see Kim Tae-yeon, the petite woman in the middle known as "the team," with a professional smile on her face and a hint of confusion and scrutiny in her eyes regarding the commotion.
Just as several reporters were about to rush in, another group of people arrived as if by divine intervention.
"Make way! Please make way!"
"Unauthorized personnel, please step back!"
Hynix Chairman Kim Jong-gap, a pivotal figure in the South Korean business world, personally led seven or eight Hynix executives and more security personnel in black suits, parting the crowd with an unquestionable air, and quickly approached Kang Woo.
Jin Zhongjia was nearly sixty years old, with gray hair, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and a serious expression. But at this moment, he showed an extremely warm and even somewhat respectful smile to Jiang Yu.
He bowed slightly and said loudly in accented but very clear Chinese, "President Jiang! It's an honor to have you here. I'm so sorry I didn't greet you sooner. You must have had a long journey!"
He addressed Kang Woo as "Chairman," a respectful title for the top leader of a company in South Korea, and spoke with great formality.
This scene was like cold water being poured into a boiling oil pan, instantly igniting the entire audience!
At least a third of the camera shots and attention that were originally focused on Girls' Generation suddenly turned to this side!
Even many screaming fans fell silent for a moment, looking around curiously.
"The Golden Bell Armor Chairman of Hynix?! He personally came to pick me up at the airport?!"
"My God! Just who is that young man? Why would Chairman Kim treat him like this?!"
"Jiang Yu—Hynix—could it be that rumored huge investment?!"
"Quick! Send the message! It's headline news! Absolutely headline news!"
Flashes of light rained down like a galaxy, illuminating Jiang Yu and Jin Zhongjia and freezing the moment they shook hands.
Beside them, the members of Girls' Generation were also taken aback by this sudden turn of events.
The manager quickly moved them out, but several members, especially Yoona and Sooyoung, who are lively, couldn't help but keep turning back out of curiosity.
"OMG, is that the Chinese super-rich guy they were talking about in the news? He looks so young and has such an impressive presence!" Yoona whispered to Tae-yeon beside her.
Kim Tae-yeon glanced at it, nodded, and remained silent, though she was also somewhat shaken.
Those figures, seemingly far removed from their idol world, unexpectedly found themselves intersecting with each other.
Kwon Yuri lowered her voice, a hint of excitement in it, and said, "Even Chairman Kim of Hynix is being so respectful; it must be a super big collaboration! Are we witnessing history?"
"Hurry up, kids, stop looking!" the agent urged anxiously, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. This was a perfect opportunity to get along, but unfortunately, the occasion was completely inappropriate.
Kim Jong-gap was clearly a master of media etiquette. He addressed the numerous cameras in loud Korean, making sure every reporter present could hear him clearly.
"Good morning, friends from the media. This is Mr. Jiang Yu, Chairman of China Chasing Light Group, a very important strategic partner and respected friend of Hynix. We will hold a formal press conference tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM at the Shilla Hotel to announce more detailed information regarding our upcoming major cooperation. Now, please allow us to take our leave. Thank you for your attention!"
Before the reporters could react, Hynix's security personnel and Jiang Yu's bodyguards had already formed a human wall, protecting Jiang Yu and his entourage, including Jin Zhongjia, as they quickly and orderly made their way to the VIP parking lot.
He left behind a commotion of excited reporters rushing to publish their stories, as well as a flurry of discussion among fans and passersby.
"Wow! That Chinese oppa completely overwhelmed me with his presence!"
"He's even more stylish than the chaebol heirs in TV dramas! And the best part is, he's young!"
"A strategic partnership with SK Hynix? Is it an investment? No wonder Chairman Kim personally intervened!"
"I absolutely have to go to tomorrow's press conference! It's definitely going to be the headline in the finance and technology sections!"
"But—did he just glance at Taeyeon unnie? (Fans start imagining)"
"Hey! Don't talk nonsense! Quickly upload the video and photos of today's airport pickup online! The headline should be 'Shocking! Hynix Chairman Kim personally welcomes Chinese tycoon Jiang Yu at Incheon Airport, potentially rewriting the semiconductor landscape!'"
Girls' Generation finally boarded their van and drove away from the airport.
In the car, the manager immediately took out his phone and, sure enough, saw that news about "Kang Woo arriving in South Korea" was already rapidly climbing the Naver real-time search rankings. He seemed thoughtful.
Sitting in the extended limousine on the way to the Shilla Hotel, Kim Jong-gap said apologetically, "Chairman Jiang, I didn't expect the airport to be so chaotic. Please forgive me."
"Chairman Kim, you're too kind. We're already flattered that you came to pick us up in person," Jiang Yu replied with a smile. "It seems that the enthusiasm of the Korean media and fans is indeed very high."
"Yes, especially for someone like Chairman Jiang who is capable, young, and—well, a topic of discussion." Kim Jong-gap smiled meaningfully.
He clearly saw the excited looks in the eyes of those entertainment reporters as well.
The convoy arrived at the Shilla Hotel, located in Jung-gu, Seoul, which belongs to the Samsung Group and is the preferred accommodation for top South Korean political and business figures and foreign dignitaries.
Jiang Yu stayed in the hotel's presidential suite, which occupies the best view on the top floor, overlooking Nanshan Mountain and part of the city landscape.
After a short rest, the dinner was held in a private room of the Korean restaurant on the upper floor of the hotel.
Jin Zhongjia hosted the event, and several core directors and executives in charge of technology from Hynix were all present, while Jiang Yu, Chen Jingming, and Wang Wei were on the other side.
The banquet was a state-of-the-art royal Korean set meal, with exquisite dishes serving classic dishes such as grilled meat, raw beef salad, ginseng chicken soup, gujeopardo, and shinseollo, accompanied by warmed traditional rice wine.
The waiters, dressed in hanbok, knelt to serve customers, displaying impeccable manners.
Once the banquet begins, it's naturally followed by polite greetings and business compliments.
Jin Zhongjia praised Light Chaser Animation Studios' success in Hollywood, especially mentioning that the visuals of "Iron Man" were breathtaking, and he watched it three times.
Jiang Yu responded modestly and highly praised Hynix's deep expertise in storage technology and its resilience in the global market.
After a few cups of rice wine, the atmosphere became even more harmonious.
Jin Zhongjia put down his wine glass, sighed, and his tone became sincere: "Chairman Jiang, to be honest, this global financial crisis has been a devastating blow to the memory chip industry. DRAM prices have fallen below cost, and the company has suffered huge losses for several consecutive quarters, with very tight cash flow. Banks are tightening their belts, and the capital market is watching closely—at this time, SKH's willingness to come as a strategic investor, bringing real money and sincere intentions for technological cooperation, is not only an investment for us, but also a lifeline, a hope for survival and a better future. SKH will always remember this kindness."
The SK Hynix executives present nodded in agreement, their faces showing emotion.
They are the ones who feel the coldness of human relationships most deeply during this industry downturn.
Jiang Yu raised his glass and solemnly said, "Chairman Jin, everyone, you flatter me. What we value is Hynix's decades of accumulated technological expertise, patent barriers, and excellent engineering culture. Memory is the lifeblood of the digital world, and its importance will only increase in the future era of data explosion. The current difficulties are cyclical, but the value of technology and the wisdom of talent are eternal. Our cooperation is based on a shared belief in the future, complementary strengths, and a win-win situation. I believe that if we work together through this winter, we will be even stronger when spring comes."
These words affirmed the other party's value and demonstrated the strategic and long-term nature of the cooperation, and were spoken sincerely and powerfully.
Hynix executives raised their glasses in response, bringing the banquet to a climax.
After the dinner, Kim Jong-gap and the others politely took their leave.
In the study of the suite, Chen Jingming gave Jiang Yu his final report.
"Mr. Jiang, all legal and commercial terms have been confirmed. The final agreement is as follows: Chasing Light Investment will subscribe for 10% of Hynix's newly issued shares in a private placement for US$5.5 million in cash, becoming its third-largest shareholder and obtaining an observer seat on the board of directors. Hynix will transfer its wafer foundry in Wuxi, which is basically equipped but not yet in mass production, to our Crystal Technology for a symbolic price of RMB 1.2 million. In addition, Hynix will license and transfer one of its mature production lines for 50nm process NAND flash memory, along with related core patent packages and know-how, to Crystal Technology for US$4000 million, including two years of technical support and on-site training for fifty engineers, to support us in building our own memory chip manufacturing plant in Suzhou."
Chen Jingming handed Jiang Yu a thick summary of the agreement, his face showing the relief of having completed a difficult task: "Although the equipment in the Wuxi factory isn't the most advanced, its infrastructure is excellent and it's well-maintained. After we take over, we only need to make some adaptation modifications and upgrades, and it's expected to start providing us with stable foundry capacity within six months, greatly alleviating the problem of design being constrained by manufacturing. Although the 50nm NAND technology is two generations behind Hynix's most advanced 3nm, it's enough for us to quickly enter the consumer-grade SSD, USB flash drive, and mobile phone embedded storage markets, establishing a basic industrial closed loop from chip design to manufacturing and packaging. Most importantly, we've gained valuable manufacturing experience, technical documentation, and a trained team, which will save us at least three years and hundreds of millions of dollars in trial and error costs compared to figuring it out from scratch."
Jiang Yu carefully reviewed the key terms, nodded, and praised, "Well done, Jingming. This price and these terms are extremely favorable to us at this point in time. Hynix has secured a life-saving cash flow and a potential bridge to enter the Chinese market in the future, while we have obtained a ticket to enter the memory manufacturing field, a ready-made springboard, and a valuable technological legacy. A win-win situation."
"And another thing," Chen Jingming added, a strange and amused look on his face, "starting this afternoon, the South Korean media and the internet have gone completely crazy. Your resume, your net worth, and even some details of your life have been thoroughly investigated. Now, the name 'Jiang Yu' is almost as popular as a top celebrity on South Korean search engines and social networks."
Wang Wei also smiled and handed over her tablet, which displayed trending topics and forum discussions on Korean websites:
Naver Real-Time Search Ranking:
1.#姜宇韩国2.#海力士投资3.#姜宇是谁4.#少女时代机场5.#中国年轻富豪6.#追光集团7.#姜宇理想型（？）
8. #SemiconductorCooperation 9. #ShillaHotelPressConference 10. #KimJongJiaAirportWelcome Click on the seventh topic, "Ideal Type," and it's as lively as a variety show scene:
[Hot Topic] This Chinese chairman, Jiang Yu, is practically a male protagonist from a novel! Born in the 80s, he started from scratch, and his net worth is rumored to be in the billions of dollars. He's invested in Hollywood, and now he's investing in core South Korean technology! And to top it all off, he's incredibly handsome! His charisma is amazing!
Reply 1: He's really handsome! That side profile photo from the airport is enough for him to debut as a celebrity! He's more good-looking than many actors!
Reply 2: I heard she's over 180cm tall! And her figure is amazing! She doesn't look like some middle-aged tycoons who have gotten overweight at all!
Reply 3: Isn't ability the most important thing? At 28 years old (according to the Korean age system), he controls such a huge business empire. What kind of monstrous intelligence and execution ability does that require?
Reply 4: So—does he have Korean ancestry? (A classic question from a Korean netizen)
Reply 5: Stop daydreaming, he's a legitimate Chinese tycoon. But he's undeniably outstanding—it's hard to believe he's real.
Reply 6: So the question is, what kind of woman is worthy of a man like this? I nominate Kim Tae-hee! A top student, beautiful, from a good family, and with top-notch looks!
Reply 7: Son Ye-jin is great too! She's a good actress, has a gentle temperament, and is the nation's first love!
Reply 8: Jun Ji-hyun! Only a queen with a commanding presence can hold her own!
Reply 9: Song Hye-kyo! Her beauty and popularity are unmatched!
Reply 10: Han Hyo-joo! A pure and refreshing beauty, and her acting is great too!
Reply 11: Have you guys forgotten about Girls' Generation? They were spotted together at the airport today! Although they didn't interact, the scene was still very pleasing to the eye!
Especially Taeyeon, petite and adorable, such a charming contrast! (Attached is a candid photo of them together at the airport, taken at a tricky angle, making it look like they're making eye contact)
Reply 12: Girls' Generation? Idols and these top-tier tycoons? The class difference is too great — although I also like Girls' Generation.
Reply 13: Hey upstairs, you still have to have dreams! What if? (doge)
Reply 14: What are you all comparing? He already has a girlfriend!
Reply 15: Whether he is or not, it doesn't affect our discussion! By the way, does anyone else think he looks a bit like a combination of a young Jung Woo-sung and a young Won Bin?
Looking at these wildly imaginative and overly enthusiastic comments, as well as the various "composite photos" that photoshopped him together with different Korean actresses, Jiang Yu was both amused and exasperated, finding it all rather absurdly humorous.
"I've truly witnessed the creativity and sense of humor of South Korean netizens." He shook his head, handed the computer back to Wang Wei, and said, "Don't worry about it, it's purely for entertainment. The focus is still on tomorrow's signing ceremony and the subsequent formation of the technical support team."
"Understood." Chen Jingming and Wang Wei nodded.
However, things often turn out differently than expected.
Just as Jiang Yu was about to rest, Wang Wei's phone started ringing frequently, and email notifications kept coming in.
After checking it, her expression became somewhat subtle.
"Boss, it looks like you won't have any peace and quiet tonight." Wang Wei handed her phone to Jiang Yu with a wry smile. "Starting half an hour ago, my work phone and email have been flooded with—well, requests from Korean entertainment agencies."
The screen displays a series of missed calls and email summaries:
From: Head of Films at CJ Entertainment. Email Subject: Urgent Meeting Request Regarding Deepening Collaboration on "The Thieves" and Exploring Future Projects.
From: Representative Director of Lotte Entertainment. No answer to phone call, but a follow-up text message was sent: We sincerely invite Chairman Kang Yu to visit us in Korea during his stay and provide guidance to explore new opportunities for Korea-China co-productions.
From: ShowboCorp Business Division. Email Subject: Urgent! Regarding the acquisition of films from Light Chaser Animation Studios and co-production.
From: SM Entertainment Headquarters (?!). The call went unanswered, but the message indicated a desire to discuss "potential music and film collaborations," and subtly mentioned "the coincidence at the airport today."
From: JYP Entertainment Strategic Partnerships Department. Email Subject: A Vision for Strategic Synergy between JYP's Global Artist Resources and Light Chaser Animation Platform.
"This—" Jiang Yu was also somewhat taken aback.
He knew that his investment in Hynix would attract attention in the financial world of South Korea, but he did not expect the entertainment industry to react so quickly and enthusiastically as well.
It seems that his success in Hollywood and his unexpected "appearance" alongside Girls' Generation at the airport today have greatly alarmed South Korean entertainment companies.
Who wouldn't want to get involved with such a young tycoon who has access to top global film and television resources, is financially powerful, and seems interested in the South Korean market?
"It seems that our Korean friends have an exceptionally keen business sense."
Jiang Yu smiled and instructed Wang Wei, "Politely but firmly decline all non-urgent meeting requests, citing my full schedule and focus on current business collaborations. If CJ insists, have them contact our business development department to schedule a conference call after I leave Korea. For everyone else, give the same standard reply."
"Okay, boss." Wang Wei immediately went to handle it.
Jiang Yu walked to the suite's wide floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the dazzling, star-like night view of Seoul.
High-rise buildings line both banks of the Han River, brightly lit.
This place is not only a crucial hub for the future global semiconductor industry, but also the epicenter of Asian pop culture.
He has just placed a piece on this semiconductor chessboard that will have a far-reaching impact.
As for the bizarre entertainment show next door, he has no plans to perform on stage for the time being, but he doesn't mind occasionally being a spectator, or becoming a powerful behind-the-scenes force when needed.