Turning Point

The door opened moments later, and Richard Huang entered, followed by several executives. He greeted the team warmly.

"Good morning. Welcome to BYD. I trust your journey was comfortable?"

Matthew stepped forward to shake his hand. "Thank you, Mr. Huang. It's an honor to be here."

Richard gestured toward the table. "The honor is ours. Let's get started."

As Matthew and his team moved to set up their laptops and cue cards, Richard Huang raised a hand, halting their movements. His demeanor was calm but firm, an authoritative presence that immediately commanded attention.

"Hold on," Richard said, tilting his head slightly, "what exactly are you preparing?"

Matthew paused mid-motion, confused. "Our presentation, sir. Isn't that why we're here? To pitch our design and discuss potential collaboration?"

Richard exchanged a glance with the executives standing behind him, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Ah, I see there's been a bit of a misunderstanding."

The room grew still. Samantha's brow furrowed, and Leo exchanged a puzzled look with Saimon. 

Matthew stepped forward, his voice laced with cautious curiosity. "A misunderstanding? I don't follow, sir."

Richard took a seat at the head of the table, gesturing for the team to sit as well. His relaxed posture was in stark contrast to the rising tension in the room. 

"Let me clarify. BYD is not here to discuss a partnership in the traditional sense."

Samantha leaned forward, her tone professional but clearly intrigued. "Then… what is this about?"

Richard folded his hands on the table, his expression turning serious. "We are here because your electric vehicle design has immense potential, far more than we expected. After careful evaluation, we at BYD believe your design could become one of our flagship models."

The weight of his words settled over the room, leaving the team momentarily speechless. Matthew blinked, trying to process what he'd just heard. 

"You mean… you want to use our design?"

"Precisely," Richard confirmed. "We want to buy the rights to your design outright. In addition, we'd like to invite all of you to join BYD as part of our core design and innovation team at our headquarters in Shenzhen after you graduate."

The statement hung in the air like a thunderclap. Saimon was the first to break the silence. "Wait, you're serious? You're offering to buy the entire design?"

"Yes," Richard said with a nod. "We're willing to pay a premium for it. This isn't just a student project—it's a commercially viable concept, and we'd like to see it through to production under the BYD brand."

Matthew leaned forward, his mind racing. "How much are we talking about?"

Richard exchanged a quick glance with one of the executives, who handed him a document. Sliding it across the table, Richard said, "For the design, we're prepared to offer $1.5 million, plus a generous relocation package and competitive salaries once you join BYD's design team."

The room fell silent again. Samantha's eyes widened, Leo let out a low whistle, and Saimon muttered, "That's… a lot of money."

Matthew, however, was struggling to contain his conflicted emotions. He cleared his throat. "Mr. Huang, with all due respect, we didn't develop this design just to sell it. My vision was to build a Filipino-owned automobile company. I want to create something that represents our country, something that's ours."

Richard's expression softened, though his tone remained pragmatic. "I understand where you're coming from, Matthew. Believe me, I admire your ambition. But let me give you a reality check. Building an automobile company is one of the most challenging and capital-intensive industries to enter."

He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Matthew's. "Do you know how many startups have tried and failed in this industry? Fisker Automotive, Aptera Motors, Better Place—do those names ring a bell? All of them had groundbreaking ideas, millions in funding, and they still went bankrupt. It takes billions of dollars just to build a manufacturing line. And that's before you even consider marketing, infrastructure, and distribution."

Matthew's grip on his cue cards tightened. "But—"

Richard raised a hand gently, cutting him off. "I'm not saying your dream is impossible, but it's incredibly risky. What you have now is an opportunity to enter the industry under the wing of an established player. You'll gain experience, resources, and the chance to work on projects that could shape the future of mobility."

Samantha, sensing Matthew's hesitation, spoke up. "Mr. Huang, if we were to accept your offer, would we still have creative freedom? Would we still be able to innovate?"

"Absolutely," Richard replied. "At BYD, we value innovation above all else. Your team would have the chance to work on groundbreaking projects and contribute to designs that align with our mission of sustainable mobility. This isn't the end of your journey—it's the beginning."

Leo leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "One-point-five million dollars… and a job at BYD. That's life-changing."

Saimon nodded slowly. "It's hard to ignore the opportunity here, Matt. I mean, I could really use that money. My career will be secured." 

Saimon nodded slowly. "It's hard to ignore the opportunity here, Matt. I mean, I could really use that money. My career will be secured."

Leo leaned back in his chair, tapping a pen against the table. "Same here. I get what you're saying about starting your own company, but Richard has a point. The car industry is brutal, and we're just students. This isn't just a paycheck—it's a way in."

Samantha stayed quiet for a moment, her eyes scanning the document Richard had handed them. Finally, she sighed. "I hate to admit it, but they're offering us a lifeline. We'd be designing cars, creating solutions, and still making an impact. It's just… not the way we originally envisioned it."

Matthew leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as he stared at the offer. The figures on the page blurred in his vision, overshadowed by the weight of the decision they were facing. "I get it. I really do. But selling this design—it feels like giving up on everything we worked for. This wasn't just about making a car; it was about proving what we're capable of."

"And we have proved it," Samantha countered gently. "Look where we are. A global company like BYD is recognizing our talent. That's not failure—it's success on a different scale."

Saimon chimed in, his tone thoughtful. "Look, Matt, we've all got our reasons for being here. For me, it's my family. That money could change everything for them. It's a chance to help them in ways I never thought possible."

Leo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, man. And let's be real—BYD's offering us a chance to do what we love without the constant stress of keeping a business afloat. They're not just buying our design; they're giving us a future."

"In that case I want the BYD to acknowledge that the car that you will be selling is made by a Filipino."

Richard listened carefully to Matthew's request, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he leaned back in his chair and nodded. 

"Very well. You will sign a document after lunch," Richard said. "If you have something to discuss, you can do so now."