Chapter 491: Not Following SanDisk and Toshiba
When considering how to win over Japanese companies to join the Flash Memory Alliance, Su Yuanshan had weighed multiple options.
Frankly speaking, given the limited understanding these Japanese firms had about flash memory, their contributions in terms of valuable opinions were close to none. All they would do was make the process of setting standards more complicated for Yuanxin without providing any actual benefits.
Moreover, the current pioneers in flash memory had never attempted to collaborate on a shared set of standards or technology. They simply did whatever suited them best, without the slightest regard for the experience of downstream users.
After prolonged deliberation, Su Yuanshan decided that Yuanxin would not follow in the footsteps of SanDisk or Toshiba.
Since the purpose of forming a Flash Memory Alliance was to accelerate the commercialization of flash technology, it was necessary to grant enough respect and prestige to all alliance members. After all, they were the ones pushing flash memory into the market, the ones actually applying flash chips. If a solution could be proposed that met everyone's needs as comprehensively as possible, it would greatly benefit the long-term cooperation within the alliance.
Furthermore, Su Yuanshan wasn't the least bit worried that Japan's semiconductor companies would grow overly arrogant from the attention. He acknowledged that these longstanding enterprises had impressive depth and capabilities, but Yuanxin had already pushed its technological framework and concepts at least twenty years into the future. Unless Japan somehow managed to bypass the normal pace of historical technological development and chart a completely different course, they were destined to trail behind Li Mingliu and his advancements.
So, with nothing more than his eloquence, Su Yuanshan began extending invitations to the companies he visited.
...
When Su Yuanshan solemnly used the word "respect," a glimmer of appreciation lit up in Yoshida Shoichiro's eyes. He nodded slowly, and a sincere smile began to take shape on his face.
"Would it be convenient to share which companies your side has invited so far?" Mr. Yoshida adjusted his posture, visibly more relaxed now as he posed the question.
Su Yuanshan offered a modest smile. "The companies I've come to visit on this trip are the very ones we hope to collaborate with further in the flash memory sector. I'm honored to say… everyone has shown considerable interest."
"Yes, I'm very interested as well," Yoshida Shoichiro said frankly, nodding.
It was just a standardized alliance, after all. Even if Yuanxin required alliance members to use its flash memory chips, they'd certainly need to offer attractive incentives—something always negotiable.
And judging by the technical specifications Su Yuanshan had revealed, Yuanxin was indeed at the cutting edge of flash memory—just like when they first introduced their EDA software.
No mature commercial enterprise would opt for inferior technology while ignoring advanced solutions—unless, of course, the outdated tech was their own. In that case, they'd be forced to swallow the bitter pill for the sake of protecting internal interests.
Seeing that Yoshida was nodding in agreement, Su Yuanshan lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch.
Although the conversation hadn't seemed long, a considerable amount of time had been lost while Yoshida reviewed documents. Without realizing it, nearly two hours had passed.
Since there were no immediate business operations between them, it seemed appropriate to wrap up this discussion. Once back in China, Su Yuanshan planned to consolidate the technical details and send out formal invitations for a multi-party forum.
Noticing Su Yuanshan checking the time, Yoshida was momentarily taken aback.
—In a business meeting, when one party begins to check the time, it usually means that they've said everything they intended to. If both sides have no further points to discuss, it's time to end the meeting.
Was Su Yuanshan signaling that the conversation was over?
"Mr. Su, aren't you planning to build a new wafer fabrication plant?"
"Well… more precisely, our holding company Deyuan Semiconductor is the one planning to build a new fab. I believe our procurement team has already arrived here?" Su Yuanshan smiled and added, "However, since my main role on this trip is to represent Yuanxin, I won't be getting involved in their affairs. Given the solid foundation of our previous collaboration, I trust Nikon will fulfill Deyuan's orders."
Yoshida Shoichiro was slightly taken aback, then chuckled at himself. "That goes without saying. However, now that the semiconductor industry is fully entering the 0.5-micron era, our lithography machine orders have indeed piled up quite a bit."
"I understand," Su Yuanshan replied and stood up. "Mr. Yoshida, it's been a privilege to receive your valuable insights."
As he shook the elder's hand, Su Yuanshan suddenly felt a bit dazed.
—Nikon and Canon were now the undisputed dual monarchs of the lithography machine industry, controlling over 80% of the high-end market.
But over in the West, the seeds of EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography) technology had already been sown—electron beam and soft X-ray lithography systems, though not yet commercialized, were beginning to appear in university labs. By next year at the latest, under the leadership of the Lighthouse Nation's semiconductor consortium, giants like Intel, AMD, Micron, Motorola, and IBM would begin preparing for an EUV alliance.
That was the most advanced light source technology Su Yuanshan could "predict."
It was a technology born from the combined brilliance of the world's top minds—the key to unlocking sub-5nm manufacturing.
And this golden key… would not be handed to the Japanese.
"Not at all, not at all," Yoshida Shoichiro said, seemingly noticing Su Yuanshan's momentary distraction. He gripped his hand firmly and added, "We also hope to deepen our cooperation with Yuanxin. This way, please!"
...
Nikon Headquarters, Accompanying Guest Reception Hall.
As he had put it himself, Sun Xiao was already living the "early retirement" life. And with the bosses far away, his position as the Asia Regional President made him essentially the top figure at Zhiyuan EDA in the area, with no worries about being monitored for attendance.
And today, he was only here as Su Yuanshan's temporary assistant.
That said, as the person in charge of Zhiyuan EDA's operations here, Sun Xiao had spent years in Japan and was well-acquainted with several major semiconductor manufacturers. Naturally, someone from Nikon had come over to keep him company for a chat.
"Matsumoto-san, Mr. Yoshida wouldn't be dragging Mr. Su into a lunch meeting, would he?" Sun Xiao kept glancing at the time. It was nearly lunchtime, and Su Yuanshan still hadn't emerged from his meeting. Meanwhile, he had already booked a famous sashimi restaurant in Tokyo to host their guest.
In Japan... how did it go again? They had great respect for people who dedicated themselves to perfecting a single craft. A sushi chef with fifty years of experience could be praised as a culinary god—and have a bad temper to match. If the reservation was missed, no matter who you were, you wouldn't be getting special treatment.
"There wasn't any such arrangement as far as I know. But if Mr. Su and Mr. Yoshida end up engrossed in their conversation, we should be prepared for lunch nonetheless. In that case, Mr. Sun, please join us too."
"Ugh... that's a bit annoying," Sun Xiao scratched his head. He had left Yuanxin relatively early, but joined the company early too. He knew full well that when Su Yuanshan got carried away talking about technology, he could easily lose track of time.
So Su Yuanshan was busy giving a technical lecture to old Mr. Yoshida?
Just as Sun Xiao was about to check the time again, a young man entered the reception hall, followed by several attendants. He wore a broad smile as he walked in.
His eyes swept the room and quickly landed on Sun Xiao. He walked over.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Sun."
"Hello. And you are?" Sun Xiao saw the young man's youthful face and his distinct features—especially his bearing and racial traits—and instantly guessed his identity.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Lee Jaeyong."
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Chapter 492: The Crown Prince of Samsung
Su Yuanshan followed Yoshida Shoichiro toward the accompanying guest reception room.
Since Sun Xiao had offered to treat him to a meal, he naturally wouldn't refuse. On the one hand, Sun Xiao was his senior schoolmate… but more importantly, seeing Sun Xiao living in retirement mode sparked a need in Su Yuanshan to give him a friendly reminder.
After all, although EDA currently held the advantage, international competitors hadn't thrown in the towel just yet. Under mature business models, these foreign counterparts could easily scale down their operations to manageable sizes and continue progressing in highly specialized technical fields.
One must remember, semiconductors were a thriving industry with boundless potential. As long as one didn't give up entirely, there was always a chance for a comeback. Even if they couldn't reclaim former glory, the sector's continued expansion would inevitably create more market space.
In short, EDA couldn't afford to get complacent.
However, just as they approached the reception room, Su Yuanshan discovered that Sun Xiao was currently engaged in cheerful conversation with a young man who looked to be in his twenties at most.
The reception room was small, more like a lounge, and it was now quite full. Judging by appearances, aside from one or two Nikon employees, the rest didn't seem affiliated with the company at all...
On his side, Lee Jaeyong had also spotted Su Yuanshan.
He stood up with a warm smile and first approached Yoshida Shoichiro. After a respectful handshake and bow, he turned to Su Yuanshan and extended his right hand, still smiling.
"Mr. Su, nice to meet you. I'm Lee Jaeyong from Samsung."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Lee. I…" Su Yuanshan reached out and shook his hand, his face also lighting up with a smile.
"Pleasure's all mine."
...
Sun Xiao's driver followed slowly behind Lee Jaeyong's vehicle.
Since meeting Lee, a smile hadn't left Su Yuanshan's face—even now.
Initially, he had assumed Samsung was planning to expand their wafer fabrication capacity and had sent someone like Lee Jaeyong—a figure clearly of symbolic importance within the electronics division—to engage Nikon. But now it was evident that Lee's presence here was very intentional—he was here specifically to intercept Su Yuanshan.
That's just how these chaebol conglomerates operated. Barring any catastrophic surprises, Lee Jaeyong was the de facto heir to Samsung.
He had entered the company four years ago and had been groomed for succession ever since, training in management and operations from the ground up.
In many ways, Lee Jaeyong could be considered a direct representative of the will of Samsung's current leadership.
"Senior Sun, you said Lee Jaeyong just arrived at Nikon yesterday, right?" Su Yuanshan withdrew his gaze from the license plate of the car ahead and asked.
"Yeah—makes you wonder if he came here just for you," Sun Xiao said, his thoughts racing as he considered the most likely scenario.
Su Yuanshan pressed his lips together and chuckled. "Hard to say, but judging from all this... it looks like Mr. Lee would prefer to engage me on a level beyond just business."
"I think so too. Otherwise, why would he invite you to lunch?" This time it was Zhou Xiaohui who chimed in. "You know, in some people's eyes, the two of you are quite similar."
That comment visibly annoyed Su Yuanshan. "Xiaohui-jie, in what way am I like him?"
Zhou Xiaohui stifled a laugh and waved it off. "Okay, okay, you two are nothing alike—Mr. Lee isn't even worthy of shining your shoes, satisfied?"
"..."
Everyone in the car burst into laughter.
While outsiders might not see it, the people inside the vehicle knew better. No matter how impressive Mr. Lee might be, he was still just an heir—whereas Su Yuanshan was the founder of Yuanxin.
Comparing someone who had built an empire with someone born to inherit one was, frankly, a bit insulting to the former.
...
Lee Jaeyong's car made several turns before stopping in front of an elegant house. He got out first and stood next to Su Yuanshan's door, hands folded in front of him with a genial smile, waiting for Su Yuanshan to exit.
"Mr. Su, this way please."
"Of course, after you."
From the moment they met, the two had been conversing in English—Su Yuanshan didn't speak Korean, and Lee Jaeyong's English was excellent, so communication was smooth. Still, to onlookers, it was a bit odd—a man from mainland China and a South Korean speaking English to each other in Japan...
Once inside, Su Yuanshan paid no attention to whether the restaurant owner was another so-called "culinary god." He simply followed Lee upstairs.
The second floor was narrow and cozy. Inside a small, private room were three tables—one small, two large. Once both men's attendants entered, there was barely room for anyone else.
Lee Jaeyong and Su Yuanshan sat alone at the smaller table by the window.
Su Yuanshan didn't concern himself with whatever "medicine" Lee Jaeyong was brewing. He scanned the room, then gazed out at the faux bamboo grove and artificial rock garden outside the window. He even closed his eyes for a moment to breathe in the fresh air… only then did he redirect his attention.
"This place is nice."
"Yes, perfect for relaxation and leisure," Lee Jaeyong said with a smile. Since they had come upstairs, he hadn't taken his eyes off Su Yuanshan. Now, facing him up close, he finally got a good look at his face.
So young… Lee Jaeyong sighed inwardly.
"But Mr. Lee, you didn't just invite me here to relax, did you?" Su Yuanshan met his gaze without a hint of aggression.
After all… one doesn't hit a smiling man. Even if he didn't particularly like Samsung—or Mr. Lee—Su Yuanshan had long since honed his patience and conversational skills through countless high-stakes business negotiations. His mental fortitude and control were nearly monstrous.
He noticed that Lee Jaeyong's eyes flickered in surprise for a moment, clearly not expecting such a direct approach.
"Is it wrong to want to get to know Mr. Su?" Lee blinked and attempted a rhetorical counter, trying to steer the conversation back into his control. It was obvious now—Su Yuanshan's poise far exceeded what his age might suggest.
This wasn't the arrogance of youth—it was the composure of someone who already held all the cards.
"Heh, you're too kind, Mr. Lee. Of course it's perfectly fine," Su Yuanshan replied with a laugh. "I just didn't expect to meet you here, in this way."
"So, I guess I'm a little curious myself… maybe Mr. Lee does have something he'd like to discuss?" As he spoke, Su Yuanshan shrugged slightly and gave a polite, apologetic smile. "I come from a technical background, so I tend to prefer getting straight to the optimal solution—whether it's in business or…"
"In dating as well?" Lee Jaeyong asked, intrigued.
"Er… well, when it comes to girlfriends, you still have to follow a bit of protocol, I suppose."
"Haha!" Lee burst into laughter at that.
With his laughter, the previously subtle tension between the two vanished completely.
"Since Mr. Su likes optimal solutions… I won't beat around the bush," Lee said, his smile fading into a more composed and deliberate expression.
"We've heard… Yuanxin is preparing to establish a Flash Memory Alliance?"
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Chapter 493: The Feelings of a Latecomer
Whatever else might be said about him, his nose was sharp.
Su Yuanshan's visit to Japan was publicly framed as a personal goodwill trip, not a commercial endeavor. Moreover, most of his meetings with local executives were held in private settings, so no one truly knew the real purpose behind his presence.
And yet, Lee Jaeyong opened the conversation with "the Flash Memory Alliance"…
Clearly, the enemy had already arrived at Honnō-ji.
Still, Su Yuanshan quickly let it go.
Samsung Electronics had only been around for a little over a decade. From its early cold reception in the U.S. to poaching high-salary talent from Silicon Valley, Samsung's humble beginnings were, in some ways, even more meager than Yuanxin's—especially since they had dived straight into the blood-soaked battleground of the DRAM memory market.
At this point in time, Samsung was entering a critical stage in its rapid expansion across all areas of semiconductors. Its hunger for talent and technology was no less than Yuanxin's. The difference lay in the direction: Yuanxin was poaching talent from Taiwan, while Samsung was aiming at Japan.
...
Steadying himself, Su Yuanshan nodded slowly.
Since both of them were destined to helm enormous corporations, there was no need for disingenuous denial.
"We've made some breakthroughs in the flash memory field," Su Yuanshan said with measured words and a slight smile. "So we hope to deepen cooperation with relevant Japanese companies, to expand upon our current advantages."
Lee Jaeyong nodded in acknowledgment. "Then... would you consider Samsung?"
Su Yuanshan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked a question of his own: "Mr. Lee, how much do you know about our flash memory technical specifications? As far as I recall, we haven't officially released them yet."
Lee Jaeyong smiled subtly. "Not much, but all I need to know is Multi-Level Cell. MLC—compared to the current mainstream SLC architecture in flash memory, it's not a difficult concept to grasp. It doubles the storage capacity per silicon wafer unit, right?"
"Hmm, yes. It's indeed not hard to understand."
"So?" Lee Jaeyong's gaze locked on Su Yuanshan.
Su Yuanshan sighed inwardly. Delivering rejection with grace was an art in itself.
"Mr. Lee, although Yuanxin is a rising company that's been fortunate enough to achieve some modest success in certain fields, that doesn't change the fact that it's still relatively lacking in influence and technological reserves. Therefore, choosing to partner with Japanese firms—who possess solid standing and deep expertise in semiconductors and consumer electronics—was a carefully considered decision."
"As for your esteemed company—"
He paused slightly, carefully observing Lee Jaeyong's expression.
Although the man maintained a polite smile and nodded with decorum, there was no hiding the flicker of disappointment in his eyes—possibly mixed with a trace of indignation.
"To be frank, in the semiconductor field, Samsung, like us, is still a student with much to learn."
Lee Jaeyong nodded while maintaining his smile. "I won't deny that at all."
Su Yuanshan smiled back. "Then I hope Mr. Lee can understand the mindset of a latecomer eager to catch up."
Lee Jaeyong exhaled slowly just as the waiter brought in the first course. He gestured for Su Yuanshan to go ahead and eat first.
Su Yuanshan picked up his chopsticks, and for a brief moment, a ridiculous thought popped into his mind—what if Lee Jaeyong had poisoned the dish to get rid of him? That would be a real loss.
"I understand Yuanxin's choice," Lee Jaeyong said, lifting his chopsticks and lowering his gaze. He added in a quieter tone, "Looking at Yuanxin's steps from the EDA stage onward, it seems that at every turn, you've sought collaboration with the more developed Western nations."
"Well, that's what happens when you're poor."
"Mr. Su is too modest. Yuanxin hasn't even considered going public, which clearly means it's not short on funds. Not to mention, you're a major shareholder in Xinghai, which makes you even less in need of money."
Su Yuanshan waved him off. "That's a different matter altogether."
"Heh." Lee Jaeyong chuckled. "Try the fish."
In Western business logic, that may be "a different matter." But in Eastern thinking, it was absolutely one and the same. Still, since Su Yuanshan refused to acknowledge it, Lee didn't press.
His main goal in coming to Japan was to acquire Yuanxin's flash memory technology. But from the look of things now… Yuanxin had made up its mind to work exclusively with the Japanese.
Since the main goal was unattainable, he would focus on a secondary one.
At the very least, he wanted to establish some kind of "friendship" with Su Yuanshan—the true controller of Yuanxin.
After all, the future was long, and they were both still so young.
...
After the meal, the two exchanged contact information in a cordial manner and went their separate ways.
On the ride back, it was inevitable that the conversation turned to Lee Jaeyong.
"Xiaoshan, I have to hand it to you," Sun Xiao sighed, recalling how Su Yuanshan had tactfully rejected Samsung earlier. "That could've been a simple 'no,' but you made it sound like a bouquet of flowers."
"Well, I had to give him some face. He did come all the way here just to see me…"
"But why not include Samsung? If you're planning to challenge Intel and SanDisk, Samsung would be a solid ally."
"If it's about confrontation, then sure, Samsung is a strong partner. But the Flash Memory Alliance wasn't created just to confront anyone—it's about expanding the market and making money. And Samsung... is a wolf." Su Yuanshan pressed his lips together and smiled faintly. "No, actually, a tiger. And I'm not interested in bargaining with tigers for their hides."
Su Yuanshan's comment on Samsung left everyone stunned. Even Zhou Xiaohui couldn't immediately understand why Su would regard Samsung with such caution. Compared to Intel or Texas Instruments, wasn't Samsung still the new kid on the block? What was there to be so wary of?
But Zhou Xiaohui also knew that in all of Yuanxin's strategic plans, there was "temporarily" no intention to engage with Samsung. That meant… in Su Yuanshan's view, Samsung wasn't a potential ally—it was a direct rival.
"Samsung Electronics, over the past two decades, went from producing low-end goods to building world-class wafer fabs and catching up to the leading tier in memory technology. Their drive and vision are extraordinary. What's more, their ambitions go far beyond semiconductors—they're aiming to dominate the entire consumer electronics industry."
"In that sense, their goals directly conflict with Yuanxin's. They are our natural enemies."
"But then what about Sony?" Sun Xiao asked curiously. "Why can we work with Sony?"
"Because Sony, relatively speaking, plays by the rules. And our markets don't overlap too much. Don't forget—Japan's semiconductor and electronics industries once swept the globe."
"But Samsung is different… They'll do anything for profit."
Su Yuanshan gazed out the window at the darkening sky and smiled faintly. "Given South Korea's limited population and land, Samsung has a much greater need to expand beyond its borders compared to Japanese firms."
"And what's the closest, most promising market to South Korea?"
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Chapter 494: The Elder Inside the Gate
Looking at Yuanxin's development up to this point—people in this lifetime might not see it, but anyone with memories from a past life would instantly recognize that, in the semiconductor sector, Yuanxin was following in Samsung's footsteps—only with an even more aggressive trajectory.
Given that, Samsung was naturally the biggest obstacle to Yuanxin's rise.
Cooperation? Better forget it. The only valuable thing Samsung currently had was their memory technology, and frankly... Su Yuanshan had no intention of touching that.
Yuanxin simply needed to secure its hold on core chip design, wafer fabrication, and flash memory—nothing more.
What's more, Su Yuanshan had never even considered allowing Samsung into China's globalization process.
...
Back at the hotel, Su Yuanshan began going over the summary of their trip with Zhou Xiaohui. Off to the side, Wen Xiaoqian couldn't really contribute, but she was sharp enough to know this was a prime opportunity to learn. So she listened closely, not missing a single word of their conversation or their approach to strategic review.
"Seems like everything went just as we expected, huh?" Su Yuanshan was flipping through a little notebook, line by line, and then turned to Zhou Xiaohui with a grin. "Xiaohui-jie, where do you think would be the best place to host the formal invitation forum next time?"
"Hmmm…" Zhou Xiaohui rested her chin on her hand, tapping her cheek lightly with the cap of her pen. After a few seconds of contemplation, she smirked. "The way you asked that, it's not really about the best place—it's more about who gets to decide what the best place is."
"Haha! Got me there. I was genuinely asking where would be best... Logically, we should hold it at our provincial headquarters, but both Hushi and the Special Zone are solid options too."
"Why not ask some of the higher-ups?"
"Forget it. Asking would just offend people." Su Yuanshan shook his head. He knew full well that just by mentioning it—or even without saying anything—the leadership in Hushi would almost certainly pull the relationship card. Given that the wafer fab and flash memory design center were located there, they'd waste no time calling in a favor and demanding it be held in their city.
But the Special Zone also had strong reasons to host it. On one hand, it was home to China's largest electronics manufacturing cluster—albeit still a loosely defined "cluster"—which made it attractive to foreign investors. On the other hand, if Yuanxin wanted to become a world-class foundry, these Japanese companies were their target clientele.
Still, Su Yuanshan wasn't holding out much hope that Japanese firms would outsource manufacturing to them. The Japanese were notoriously stubborn and took great pride in their manufacturing heritage… Even if they acknowledged Yuanxin's R&D capabilities, they might still refuse to let Yuanxin do their manufacturing.
Zhou Xiaohui thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Well… you're not wrong, but I still think it'd be good to at least check in. After all, this is the first time China and Japan's semiconductor industries are coming together at such a high level… Even if the government isn't micromanaging us, not giving them a heads-up might rub some leaders the wrong way."
Su Yuanshan smacked his lips and frowned slightly. "You've got a point… but I'm a little worried…"
"Worried about what?"
"Mm… nothing." Su Yuanshan shook his head, then after a few seconds said, "Let's not worry about it now. There's still time. I'll talk it over with Jing-jie and see how we should position it."
What he was actually worried about was the potential for the leadership to inject a political angle into the initiative. Just recently, a military exercise across the strait had put all of Southeast Asia on edge. Things had only just started to calm down on the surface. If the cooperation with Japanese enterprises took on a political tone, it would inevitably stir up unnecessary trouble.
One had to remember, Japan's business conglomerates weren't exactly politically pure.
After a pause, Su Yuanshan flipped to the last page of their itinerary. "So once we visit Akio Morita tomorrow, our mission here is complete?"
"Yes."
"Great, let's get some rest then."
Su Yuanshan closed his notebook and wished the two women good night.
...
The next day, a car sent by Sony picked up Su Yuanshan and brought him to Sony's headquarters. There, he met up with Ken Kutaragi, who had already prepared everything, and together they headed to the home of Akio Morita.
Since suffering a stroke, Akio Morita had never returned to the company. He had chosen to quietly recuperate at home. Thanks to careful attention from his family and caretakers, he had regained some of his speech abilities, but his age made it difficult for him to move freely.
Upon entering a traditional Japanese courtyard-style residence, Su Yuanshan saw an elderly man seated in a wheelchair at the entrance, a blanket covering his legs, wearing a slightly stiff smile as he looked at him.
"Mr. Morita, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Su Yuanshan quickly stepped forward with Ken Kutaragi, bowed slightly, and extended both hands.
Akio Morita raised his right hand and gently returned the handshake.
"Yuanshan-kun, thank you for coming to visit this old man."
"No, I should be the one thanking you for this honor," Su Yuanshan replied as he felt the dry, almost withered hand in his grasp. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly—Mr. Morita probably didn't have many years left.
Akio Morita smiled—though due to his partial paralysis, it was an awkward expression. But in his eyes, there was unmistakable warmth and joy.
"Please."
An attendant came forward to push the wheelchair, guiding them into a warmly lit living room.
...
"May I see the MP3 player?" Once seated in the living room, Akio Morita didn't ask about anything else—instead, the first thing he did was request to see the MP3.
…Of course, that was no problem.
Su Yuanshan took out the MP3 player and the accompanying headphones, handing them to Akio Morita and even kindly offered to help him put them on.
"This is the next-generation audio device with a cost structure comparable to MD?" Morita asked as he examined the MP3, showing no overt surprise—but it was clear he liked it.
After all… it had copied the iPod's appearance design.
"Yes, that's correct."
"The MP3 format came out of your previous collaboration with our audio division?"
"Yes."
"And from the very beginning, Yuanxin planned to build a content licensing system around it?"
"Yes."
Though Morita's speech was slow and somewhat slurred, Su Yuanshan still caught every word clearly.
Their conversation cut straight to the heart of Yuanxin's strategic collaboration with Sony's audio division.
Morita chuckled softly and shook his head, letting out a light sigh.
"Thank you, Yuanshan-kun, for thinking of working with Sony."
"It is I who should thank you, Mr. Morita," Su Yuanshan said sincerely, pressing his lips into a line. "Thank you for trusting Yuanxin."
By now, if Su Yuanshan still couldn't tell that the earlier cooperation with Sony's audio division had received direct support from this Sony founder, then he really had no business in this industry.
Sony's headquarters had gone to extraordinary lengths to support the collaboration—so much so that they had even replaced the head of their audio division to make it happen.
All of it had clearly stemmed from this elder's trust in Yuanxin's vision.
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Chapter 495: We Need Imagination
In Yuanxin's collaborations with international companies, it may appear to some—through certain lenses—that Yuanxin never takes a loss, that it's always winning. But in truth, every single one of its partnerships has required substantial investment and compromise.
At the outset, just to collaborate with Sony, Yuanxin gave up its ambitions of taking VCD and DVD products to overseas markets. Later, it authorized Sony to use its mobile phone designs and chip solutions, and even signed an agreement promising not to enter the Japanese market for the short term. After that, Yuanxin leveraged its leading lithium battery technology to form a joint venture with Sony's battery division.
In short, these collaborations were all achieved through Yuanxin trading its technology and market leverage.
As for its cooperation with Texas Instruments, that was won through both capital and shares.
So if anyone ever said that Yuanxin was just "climbing the corporate ladder" by attaching itself to giants, Su Yuanshan would absolutely not agree.
That said, in the audiovisual field, Su Yuanshan had indeed hitched his wagon to a giant—Sony. In terms of copyrights and global audiovisual reach, Yuanxin held virtually no influence.
Well… there was one department notorious for piracy, but that had already been "cleaned up."
This is why Su Yuanshan's gratitude toward Akio Morita was genuine. Not everyone could recognize, much less believe in, the future of internet applications.
Technology could be anticipated. But applications—those required nurturing, and sometimes a stroke of inspiration. They couldn't be predicted.
Su Yuanshan also understood that Sony hadn't necessarily foreseen the future either. They had simply chosen a path that could be called either foolish or visionary: they had decided to believe in Yuanxin.
...
Akio Morita smiled and waved off Su Yuanshan's expression of concern.
"Yuanshan-kun, what's next for the audiovisual industry? I mean, before the age of global internet truly arrives." He paused, letting out a frustrated sigh. "I probably won't live to see that day."
…Su Yuanshan and Ken Kutaragi exchanged a glance. The latter gave a brief, awkward smile and tried to console him: "President, I'm sure you'll live to see it."
"I accept your kind lie," Akio Morita replied slowly, his gaze turning toward Su Yuanshan, as if he stubbornly awaited a real answer.
Su Yuanshan subtly inhaled, burying a bitter smile in his eyes.
So the old man really did have an obsession with film and entertainment.
It was said that the acquisition of Columbia Pictures had been a decision he pushed forward single-handedly—an act of ambition that may have indirectly contributed to the stroke that later sidelined him. At the time of his stroke, Sony Pictures was hemorrhaging money.
It still was.
Perhaps that was exactly why Akio Morita was now willing to bet Sony's future in this space on Su Yuanshan.
"The internet is merely one platform for TV, film, and music products."
Since the old man was intent on getting a serious answer, Su Yuanshan began to carefully organize his thoughts and tried to describe the future as logically as possible.
Akio Morita nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
"So, content remains the core of the audiovisual industry. But we also know that content moves in trends."
"Romance films, action flicks, dramas, war epics… It's not that any one genre becomes obsolete or outdated. But if you look at the history of cinema, there have been periods when audiences favored certain types of films over others."
At that moment, Ken Kutaragi interjected, "So what Su-san means is, we need to find the next trending genre?"
Su Yuanshan paused for a few seconds, then smiled and replied with a question: "Why not create a new genre?"
"Create?"
"Yes, create." Su Yuanshan pressed his lips together, speaking in a calm voice. "Every man has an Ultraman in his heart. Personally, I've always hoped to see a vast world filled with countless superheroes."
"You're not seriously suggesting... creating an Ultraman film franchise, are you?" Kutaragi looked half amused, half bewildered. To him, Ultraman was something only children watched.
But Akio Morita stared at Su Yuanshan thoughtfully.
"Heh, from a mass-appeal standpoint, Ultraman may not be quite right for the big screen," Su Yuanshan chuckled. "Western comics and fantasy stories are often easier for broader audiences to accept. Take Marvel comics, for instance—they have deep cultural roots in the U.S.… And in terms of world-building, I personally think it's superb. If I remember correctly, you guys still hold the rights to Spider-Man, don't you?"
Kutaragi nodded slowly.
"Mr. Kutaragi, I believe in the potential of superhero films. Not just as a personal preference, but because this world needs stories like that—stories that satisfy our imagination of powers beyond human limits. And with the advancement of technology, high-quality science fiction films will rise again."
Su Yuanshan turned to Akio Morita, speaking slowly.
"Human souls have been confined in flesh for too long. We all need…"
"…imagination."
"Exactly. That's why Yuanxin hopes to enter this space through its partnership with Sony."
...
...
Even though Akio Morita was deeply engaged in the conversation, his physical condition could no longer allow for prolonged discussion. Soon, a doctor arrived and interrupted them.
Morita asked Su Yuanshan and Kutaragi to stay for lunch, saying he would rest for a bit. He also left the living room for them to continue talking.
As the old man's wheelchair turned down the corridor, Ken Kutaragi withdrew his gaze and furrowed his brow slightly.
Unlike Akio Morita—or even Norio Ohga—Kutaragi came from a pure technical background.
Although he had begun handling some business affairs in recent years, compared to his predecessors, he still had a lot to learn. Fortunately, Sony already had a clear path ahead—it just needed a resolute leader to steer the ship forward.
And if all else failed… well, they could always follow Yuanxin.
In just four or five years, Yuanxin had grown into an astonishing force. How could it be a mistake to follow them? After all, Yuanxin's route was built on hard technology—not the kind of speculative finance or trade business that could get rich overnight.
"Su-san, I do have one question…"
"Go ahead, Mr. Kutaragi."
"You speak highly of Marvel's influence… but hasn't Marvel been losing money for years? They've sold off tons of rights just to stay afloat."
Su Yuanshan sighed. Marvel really had fallen on hard times these past couple of decades… Most of its crown jewels had already been sold off, and the company itself had been passed around in acquisition after acquisition.
By the time Iron Man was made, it was a desperate gamble.
And honestly, even now… Marvel was close to filing for bankruptcy protection.
"Yes, exactly. That's why now is the perfect time to buy in. Oh, by the way—what's the status of the Titanic investment?"
"We've invested $80 million."
"Hmm, that'll do." Su Yuanshan paused, then added, "Here's a little tip—Xinghai Foundation will be buying into Marvel at the right moment."
"That ticket—we have to grab it."
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