Although Isabella and Steve Jobs had not known each other for very long, barely half a year in total, the progress of human relationships has never depended on time, but on interests.
If two people's relationship is not maintained by mutual benefit, then no matter how long they have known each other, they are only friends on the surface.
But if two people's relationship is driven by interests from the very beginning, and both sides can get what they need from their exchanges, then even if they have only known each other for a short time, they can become soulmates who talk about everything under the sun.
Of course, childhood friends and friendships formed through learning are exceptions.
This may sound a little crude, but that is simply how things are.
That was exactly why, when Isabella and Jobs had such a strong bond of interest, and since YouTube and Apple had officially partnered up; Jobs was also Disney's largest individual shareholder; and the revenue Isabella had brought Disney had already exceeded ten percent of Disney's total revenue—
So, Apple had something big going on?
Then inviting Isabella over to make an appearance was exactly the kind of thing Jobs would do!
And so, Isabella received an invitation to Apple's 2007 Macworld launch event in San Francisco.
Moreover, this invitation was personally delivered to Leavesden by Jobs's current right-hand man, Tim Cook.
Perhaps he was worried Isabella would not go?
After all, Isabella had rarely attended events before.
When Tim Cook handed the invitation to Isabella, he also solemnly stated that Macworld would be a world-changing launch event. At that time, most people in the tech world would be present to witness a miracle.
To be honest, when speaking with Tim Cook, Isabella could clearly feel that his words carried a nearly mystical quality. However, in her heart, Isabella did not actually feel much emotional fluctuation.
It was not that she was an emotionless eating machine.
Rather, she had already guessed everything.
Because after the iPod, there was only one other Apple product that changed the world.
That was the iPhone—
January 9, 2007.
California.
San Francisco.
Wearing a small white suit, matching high heels, and a neat ponytail, Isabella appeared on the red carpet outside the Moscone West convention center. After shaking hands with Tim Cook, who was welcoming guests at the auditorium entrance, and exchanging a few polite words, she was led by staff into the official venue.
Then—
She saw Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt.
"Oh, Isa, good evening."
As soon as Isabella appeared, Eric Schmidt took the initiative to come forward and greet her with a smile.
The two had met before, back when Google acquired YouTube.
Although they did not know each other deeply, Isabella was now his boss.
So—
That friendly and proactive smile made Isabella very satisfied. She reached out slightly and said, "Hello, Eric. I'm very happy to see you. Aren't you one of the presenters today? Why aren't you backstage?"
"Oh, I am indeed one of the presenters today, but only one of them. The part I'm responsible for is the cooperation between YouTube and Apple TV. That part is very simple, so I came out after getting ready."
"Okay! Then, good luck?"
"Thank you. Uh, this should be your first time here, right? May I have the chance to act as your guide?"
"Hm? Would that be convenient?"
"Of course! It would be my honor to serve you!"
Eric Schmidt raised his right hand and made an inviting gesture toward Isabella.
Then Isabella met Yahoo's founder, Jerry Yang.
"Hello, Miss Haywood. I'm a fan of your films. I'm truly very happy to meet you here."
"Hello, Mr. Yang. To be honest, you are also one of my idols. The first time I saw Yahoo, wow, I could only describe my feelings at the time as magical. It was truly incredible."
"Hahahaha, your YouTube is the same. It's also an amazing website!"
"Oh! Thank you for recognizing it! But that's not my YouTube. It's your tube."
Isabella playfully blinked at Jerry Yang.
The pun made Jerry Yang burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha, Miss Haywood, you really are humorous—"
Perhaps it was because Jerry Yang was still a shining star in America's tech circle at this time.
Or perhaps it was because his laughter was simply too eye-catching.
In any case, after he laughed, Isabella went on to meet many more people.
For example, Intel's CEO.
Then, Walmart's COO.
And also a board member of AT&T, the world's largest telecommunications group, and the CEO of AT&T Mobility, America's third-largest wireless carrier, Stan Sigman—
"Oh! Miss Haywood, although I very much want to say that I'm happy to meet you, to be honest, I actually can't feel happy right now at all. Because earlier, we originally had the chance to work directly with you. We could have competed for AOL like Comcast did, because we needed AOL's dark fiber. Then, wow, we might have seen that genius inspiration called YouTube even earlier. But we missed it, and that truly makes us regretful. I think you should understand what I mean?"
"Of course, Sigman, I understand what you mean! But this is the beauty of fate, isn't it?"
"Yeah, that's indeed true. So, in the future, if there is a chance to cooperate, shall we communicate as early as possible?"
"No problem. I don't think anyone in this world would refuse an olive branch from AT&T, would they?"
"Hahahaha— That is indeed true. We at AT&T are incredibly powerful—"
If the people outside the venue were allowed to look at the current scene, then in the eyes of the general public, everyone attending Apple's launch event at this moment would be a first-rate big shot. But in Isabella's eyes—
It was not that she was showing off.
In terms of wealth alone, none of these people could compare with her.
Not even Jerry Yang.
Because Yahoo's market value had already fallen, while Google's was much higher.
As for power?
At this point in time, the power in these people's hands was certainly greater than Isabella's, but all that power had been granted to them by the shareholders behind them. If their masters were dissatisfied, they could be replaced whenever those masters wished.
But Isabella—
Sorry.
She was a shareholder of Google.
And a shareholder with voting rights, one who controlled one of Google's major business groups.
Most importantly, her backers made Google's two largest shareholders afraid to touch her.
So, whether it was Intel's CEO or Walmart's COO, they all took the initiative to come over and meet her.
It was not her wandering around everywhere, casually chatting with people.
Seriously!
The feeling of becoming the sun the moment she entered the tech circle was amazing!
At this moment, Isabella truly had a feeling: no one understood technology better than her!
Because no matter what she said, others could only say she was right!
After socializing for a while, Jobs appeared on stage wearing Lei Jun's beloved, forever-unchanging black sweater and blue jeans, and Apple's first launch event of 2007 officially began.
The first topic Jobs talked about was Apple's cooperation with Intel. Apple had officially abandoned PowerPC, the processor it had jointly developed with Motorola, the previous year. Because the architecture had very serious issues and could no longer continue to iterate, Apple had officially embraced Intel.
This cooperation made both sides happy, and the sales of the new Macs were excellent.
Then, the second topic Jobs spoke about was the iPod—
"The iPod has already become the most popular music player in the world."
"Nothing else even comes close."
Next, the third topic Jobs discussed was related to iTunes—
"Since its release in 2003, iTunes has sold a total of two billion songs."
"And right now, the iTunes platform is selling songs at a rate of five million per day."
"This achievement has made us the fourth-largest music retailer in the world."
"But this is still not Apple's most surprising result at the moment."
"What is truly astonishing is the movie and TV purchase feature that iTunes only officially launched last year. So far, millions of users have purchased 50 million TV episodes and 1.3 million films through iTunes."
"If it continues growing at this speed—"
"In Apple TV's first year on the market, Apple will become the fourth-largest film and TV retailer in the world!"
With the appearance of Apple TV, the fourth topic also arrived.
Google's CEO stepped onto the stage and began explaining the official cooperation between the two companies.
After showing the guests present, as well as the viewers watching from home, YouTube on Apple TV, the true focus of this launch event finally arrived. Steve Jobs returned to the stage empty-handed, and then—
He rambled on about a long stretch of tech history.
Or rather, the history of the mobile phone industry.
When every topic began revolving around phones, everyone knew what Jobs wanted to do.
When he pulled the iPhone out of his trouser pocket and said, "From today onward, Apple will reinvent the phone"—
The Moscone West convention center immediately erupted!
This was not because there had never been touchscreen phones on the market before the iPhone appeared.
It was because Jobs's taste was truly world-class, and Apple's integration technology was also world-leading. Its palm-sized dimensions and battery-like thickness made the compact iPhone look incredibly refined. It was like a painting formed naturally in one piece.
"Ohhhhhhh—this is really too cool—"
"My God! A phone that only weighs 4.8 ounces? This is practically a thin aluminum sheet!"
"Steve has created history once again! He was simply born for technology!"
"I want to get my hands on it right away! So there should be a hands-on session later, right?"
"There should be, right? When I came in just now, I saw booths being set up outside!"
As everyone cheered, Isabella also smiled and clapped. This was not only because she had guessed everything correctly, but also because—
Right now, she was still an Apple shareholder.
That's right!
After meeting Jobs, she had bought ten million shares of Apple stock at around 60 dollars per share.
The total cost was 600 million.
This investment could not exactly be called huge—
Because ten million shares of Apple stock only accounted for about one percent of Apple's total shares.
But this investment could not exactly be called small either—
Because, with the iPod continuing to show strength, Apple's stock price had already reached 85 dollars.
After the iPhone was released, breaking through 200 would only be a matter of minutes.
In one year, 600 million would become 2 billion. This return on investment was dozens of times higher than what Madoff got from running fraud!
Mm.
Once you have capital, making money is just this easy.
What?
Someone says Isabella was making money by relying on memories from her previous life?
Without memories from her previous life, it would not have been so simple to operate?
Dear—
Even if she did not have memories from her previous life, as long as she had capital, she could still make this money.
Because the invitation to today's new product launch event was delivered to her by Tim Cook under Steve Jobs's orders.
He had already made it clear that Apple was about to explode.
As long as you were not stupid!
You only had to follow him in!
That was all just picking up free money!
Don't say this kind of behavior involves insider trading—
Any stock god who remains standing plays insider trading.
For example, that one on Capitol Hill.
This person's deeds are all over the streets. They don't even bother pretending.
Another example is Warren Buffett.
His final major move before retirement was buying a large amount of Chevron stock.
At the time, many people could not understand it.
But in 2026—
Trump himself said they had been planning the thing with Maduro for more than a year.
If we reverse the timeline, we can see that right after Washington started making its moves, Warren Buffett bought into Chevron.
Because Chevron is the only American oil company with extraction capability and business bases in Venezuela.
Then, after a year of back-and-forth, before the arrest, the old man's profits in his public accounts alone had already tripled.
Energy is a relatively stable market. To get double returns in a market like this within a year?
Those who understand, understand.
If finance is fully opened up and capital is left uncontrolled, that person has only one ending.
Cough.
However, although Apple's stock was now very suitable for arbitrage, arbitrage was not Isabella's core purpose at the moment.
Making money was very simple for her now. When she had no money, she only needed to punch the industries that needed media, and those people would obediently spit out gold coins. It was still the same saying: once you have been a pirate, you will realize that being a pirate is really damn interesting.
Her core reason for buying Apple stock was actually—
"Oh, Isa, don't you not use phones? So why were you so happy after seeing the iPhone?"
As the launch event ended, Isabella followed the crowd out.
As she got into the car, Margot curiously asked the question in her heart.
Yes, Isabella had also brought Margot Robbie along for this trip as an assistant.
Because Isabella felt that attending the event alone would be rather boring.
As before, her mother and older sister were unwilling to appear in such public settings.
The little assistant's question made Isabella laugh. "Because I have something new to film again."
"All digital devices have a testing phase before they go on sale, so—"
"The next vlog has a topic now."
"Really?" Margot looked doubtful. "But why do I feel like your smile isn't that simple?"
"Although YouTube is a media company and needs a constant stream of content, the current YouTube has already moved onto the right track operationally, and quite a few individuals have already started posting videos on it, so—"
"What you're thinking about probably isn't posting a review, right?"
"It isn't posting an iPhone review on YouTube, right?"
"Because now, no matter how many videos you post, YouTube's user numbers won't suddenly surge anymore."
"Yo, Marg, I didn't expect you to have a bit of business talent," Isabella said, somewhat surprised.
But the smile on her face betrayed the fact that her heart was not shocked at all.
Her teasing words made Margot roll her eyes and turn away. "Can't be bothered with you."
Margot was actually right.
Letting the world's first iPhone review video appear on YouTube? That was not her true demand right now at all!
Her true demand was to enter Apple's board of directors and take control of Apple.
This was not because she was wildly ambitious!
It was the inevitable result of development.
The era humanity was about to enter next was the mobile internet era.
There were only two ports into this era.
One was iOS, the other was Android.
So—
I want them all.
However, this matter had to be approached slowly. At the very least, while Steve Jobs was still alive, it could not be done.
Uh—
Steve Jobs falling ill had also happened on schedule in Isabella's current life.
And Jobs could not be saved.
Because his fate was not good. In ordinary investigator Old A's American cultural theory, he was a short-lived species.
Therefore, when he was young, he joined Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and what he believed in was Krishna.
Back then, this thing wanted to enter Fengxian County and was decisively suppressed. Over in Russia, it was clearly classified as an evil cult.
It had even been banned by countries like Singapore and Malaysia as early as the 1970s.
It was just—
Everyone has to take responsibility for the choices they make.
After strolling around Apple's launch event, Isabella's New Year holiday officially came to an end.
She boarded the plane back home, returned to the Order of the Phoenix crew, and began working like an ox and a horse again in the new year.
All right.
That was nonsense.
Right now, she was actually already in a state where she filmed if she wanted to film and rested if she did not.
Because now, no one in the media and entertainment industry dared urge her to work.
So, she, who went to work on time every day—
"Aiya, aiya—"
"I really am dedicated—"
Looking at herself in the mirror, wearing battle-damaged makeup, Isabella smiled smugly.
And while she ignored everything outside the window and focused only on acting in films, another matter related to her was actually underway outside.
That was winning awards—
On January 15, 2007, the 64th Golden Globe Awards were officially held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
Then, The Devil Wears Prada won three major awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.
Chris Columbus won Best Director.
Maggie Smith won Best Supporting Actress – Drama.
Isabella Haywood took Best Actress – Drama and Best Original Song.
A grand slam!
Do not ask who the opponents were.
That question had no meaning right now.
Because at the moment, no one dared win an award in front of Isabella.
Or rather, even something like the Nobel Peace Prize was a matter of wanting it badly and getting it specially.
Because the Golden Globes were too low-level, so—
Warner accepted on her behalf.
When the time came to February 11, 2007, the 60th British Academy Film Awards and the 49th Grammy Awards were held at the same time.
Due to the time difference, the British Academy Film Awards announced their winners first.
Then, Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Makeup and Hair, Best Original Music, Best Sound, and Outstanding British Film, twelve major awards in total, all entered Prada's pocket together.
Still a grand slam!
And at the Grammys a little later, Isabella once again won six major awards: Producer of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Music Video, and Best Recording Package.
Still a grand slam!
Although the British Academy Film Awards and the Grammys were much higher-class than the Golden Globes, since they were held on the same day, Isabella, who could not spread her favor evenly, did not attend either of them—yeah right!
She attended the British Academy Film Awards ceremony.
Because it was personally overseen by the royal family.
The person presenting her award was even that good friend J.K. Rowling had mentioned, the old lady's favorite eldest daughter, the real princess who helped her avoid—taxes—and her true, true, true, true, true backer.
Since those in the know already understood Isabella's background, her choice did not surprise anyone.
But when Isabella warmly hugged the eldest princess in broad daylight—
The people who hated her became even more annoyed.
Isabella, on the other hand, was very happy.
Not convinced?
Come hit me then!
On the third day after the British Academy Film Awards and the Grammys ended, the 27th Brit Awards were also held in London.
Although they also gave Isabella a grand slam, since this award's influence could not match Isabella's power, Isabella's assistant, Margot Robbie, simply told the organizers to send the trophies directly to Leavesden.
When the time reached February 25, 2007, the 79th Academy Awards opened at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
Isabella personally went to receive this award.
This was not because the Oscars had the same level of prestige as the British Academy Film Awards.
It was because the broadcaster of the Academy Awards was ABC, which belonged to Disney.
Robert Iger gave her a call, so she gave him some face.
Of course, it was also related to Jobs.
Jobs was Disney's largest individual shareholder.
When Isabella had destroyed even News Corporation, her will was the rule in Hollywood.
Unsurprisingly, it was still a grand slam.
After holding up four Oscars at the same time, for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Song, there was actually only one thought in Isabella's mind, and that was—
"Fuck!"
"These four Oscars are really fucking heavy!
Are they filled with lead?"
Although Isabella had many complaints in her heart, in her view, the victory at this moment was only natural.
But in the eyes of the general public, countless people around the world, and nearly sixty million viewers watching live, she, dressed in gorgeous clothes, holding four golden statues, and smiling, was simply an earth-shaking superstar!
As for the reason—
"Ooooooh—Isabella is the first person in the world to win Best Actress at the Oscars as a minor?"
"Right, right, right! Isabella has created new history again—she really is too amazing—"
"No, no, no! Isabella created more than one piece of history! Because besides winning an Oscar for Best Actress before turning seventeen, she also won Grammys as a minor! Emmys too! She is the first person in the world to achieve a grand slam across acting and music as a minor! And! Even if we ignore the age limit! She is also the first grand slam collector across the acting and music circles!"
"Bullshit! What do you mean, grand slam? She made a clean sweep! Besides the Oscars, Grammys, and Emmys, she also has the British Academy, the Brits, and the Golden Globes! And her 'having them all' isn't just winning a single award, but winning every category she could win across all those awards! There is already no one in acting and music who is stronger than her! No one!"
"Oh—shit—this is too exaggerated! This is too exaggerated!"
"Why do I feel like Isabella's life experience is absurdly heaven-defying? If her deeds were put into a novel—"
"Oh damn, I don't think any author would dare write her experiences into a novel, because readers would curse them as a stupid pig!"
"Mm! I think so too! But this is reality, isn't it?"
"Yeah! Isabella won! So she obtained everything! Oh—this really is the perfect example of winner takes all!"
"Isabella is amazing!"
"I like her even more today!"