Chapter 44
Chapter 44: Unveiling New Frontiers
As the news of Jayden's legal antics played on TV, Greg sensed trouble looming. The Vulture Lawyers Group, akin to vampires, circled around cases that drew attention, extracting hefty compensation. Jayden's entanglement with these lawyers didn't bode well for Double-Click.
Song Yang, watching Jayden's melodramatic claims, was both surprised and exasperated. It was like dealing with a persistent dung beetle, relentless in its pursuit.
"Song, let Double-Click handle the lawsuit. We'll navigate through this," Greg urged, wary of Song Yang resorting to unconventional methods.
Ignoring the advice, Song Yang contemplated strategies. Yet, he realized that having influential connections or a robust media presence would have stifled Jayden's maneuvering. The absence of such leverage in the evolving chess game of the American business landscape struck him.
Irene, sensing Song Yang's distress, approached and lightly massaged his temples. She shared a piece of wisdom from her father – dealing with a problematic tooth might not require immediate extraction, but a gentle tap at the right time could make it fall out.
As Irene spoke, Song Yang contemplated her father's metaphor. The essence lay in timing and finesse.
Resigned to the unfolding situation, Song Yang turned his attention to Irene. The scent of white rose perfume lingered as she spoke words of encouragement. The symbolic gesture, a momentary respite from Jayden's onslaught, brought a sense of calm.
Later, when Greg and Wesley joined the discussion, Song Yang made a decisive announcement. The main team gathered, and with the office door closed, Song Yang cut to the chase.
"In the short term, Double-Click's core won't change much. I want to allocate funds to venture into new industries," Song Yang declared, surprising Greg and Irene.
Wesley, the head of the technical department, sensed an opportunity. He had been tinkering with the DART advertising system, and now Song Yang's eagerness for new ventures gave him a chance to contribute to a significant project.
Greg, however, was taken aback. The sudden shift in focus from Double-Click caught him off guard. "Is it too urgent? Double-Click just..."
"Now is the time to enter the market," Song Yang interrupted. Aware of Netscape and Yahoo's impending public offerings, he emphasized the need to adapt swiftly to the changing landscape. The winners in the internet industry were those who seized opportunities when they arose.
"I'm entering the instant messaging and email industry," Song Yang revealed. While Greg and Irene grappled with surprise, Wesley, intrigued by the new concept of instant messaging, saw a door to innovation swinging open.
Song Yang outlined his vision for instant messaging and the accompanying community space. The prospect fascinated Wesley, who now believed in the transformative potential of Double-Click Company.
"What's the project's name?" Wesley inquired.
"Let's go with ICQ for instant messaging, and for the email project, Hotmail's free email service. These projects will operate independently from Double-Click," Song Yang decided, careful not to entangle WPP Group in these new ventures.
The choice of ICQ over Facebook was deliberate. Given the limitations of dial-up internet, instant messaging offered practicality over image-heavy platforms.
As Song Yang shared his plans, Wesley, captivated by the idea of free email, expressed his surprise. Song Yang reassured him, emphasizing the importance of creating a groundbreaking webmail service.
"I'm not concerned about Hotmail's profitability. The goal is to attract attention and set the stage. The mailbox business will support our foray into instant messaging," Song Yang explained.
Wesley, both excited and overwhelmed, acknowledged the challenge of limited manpower. Song Yang, undeterred, emphasized the importance of laying the foundation, paving the way for the Pandora's box of free mailboxes.
As Wesley grappled with the monumental task ahead, he realized that Double-Click's journey into uncharted territories was far from over.
(End of this chapter)