Just as he had expected, when Mavi and Jennifer, escorted by bodyguards, walked toward the Hongqi convoy, the originally curious onlookers instinctively made way for them, as if sensing something significant.
"Oh! I was wondering why such a grand reception was happening. Turns out it's for foreign guests! Tsk, tsk, tsk… These foreigners sure know how to make an entrance! Judging by their appearance, they must be some important figures from abroad," a middle-aged man, around fifty years old, loudly remarked as if he had figured something out.
Hearing this, the people around him suddenly found his words quite reasonable. They immediately started chiming in, continuing to discuss the topic of "foreign guests." The conversation quickly expanded in all directions, covering various unrelated topics.
Mavi, who was just about to get into the car, couldn't help but feel both helpless and amused as he listened.
"Who would've thought that one day, I'd end up being mistaken for a foreign guest? Well… I guess that's still better than being called a 'foreign devil'..." Mavi mused to himself, finding humor in the situation.
That said, he had no complaints about being regarded as a foreigner. After all, being a regular person in his past life didn't compare to being a reborn Russian businessman now. At least this way, he could enjoy the privileges of being treated as an honored foreign guest.
As the door of the Hongqi car was shut by the bodyguards outside, four Mercedes-Benz W140s flanked his vehicle, ensuring its safety as they headed toward the Summer Palace.
The long-lost sight of a small five-star red flag fluttered on the hood of the car. Mavi observed the bicycles, buses, and countless construction projects scattered throughout the city with great attention.
This overwhelming sense of familiarity stirred a complex mix of emotions within him—especially since it was the year 2000. He clearly remembered that in his previous life, he was still in elementary school at this time.
Fate was unpredictable, and things had changed beyond recognition. Now, he had become a foreign guest from Russia… The more he thought about it, the more surreal it felt.
"What are you staring at? You seem really focused," Jennifer whispered as she leaned in close, curious about what had caught Mavi's attention.
Her voice snapped Mavi back to reality. He chuckled and shook his head. "Nothing much. By the way, do you know how to ride a bicycle?"
"A bicycle? Of course, I do! But… only the kind with four wheels," Jennifer replied hesitantly, fearing that Mavi might tease her. She was referring to a children's bike with training wheels.
Mavi immediately understood and couldn't help but smile. Seeing this, Jennifer thought he was laughing at her and pouted in frustration, raising her hand to playfully punch him. However, before she could, Mavi swiftly grabbed her wrist and pressed her against the leather seat, cornering her.
What happened next didn't need to be explained in detail. Naturally, the two in the back seat ended up sharing a passionate kiss. The driver and the butler in the front seat, experienced professionals, kept their eyes fixed straight ahead, pretending not to notice anything. After all, they knew better than to acknowledge such moments—it was best for their own well-being.
An hour later, the butler, Ivan, who was seated in the front, received a phone call. After answering, he covered the receiver and turned to Mavi.
"Young Master, Mr. Ma just called. He said they're almost at the north gate of the Summer Palace and asked how long it'll take for us to arrive. How should I respond?"
Mavi had come to the Summer Palace for two reasons: first, to indulge in an extravagant meal, and second, to discuss business.
The year 2000 was the perfect time for investments—Tencent was barely two years old, and Alibaba had just been founded the previous year. It was the golden age for venture capital! If he traveled all the way to China and didn't seize the opportunity to invest in these companies, he would truly be doing himself a disservice.
"Tell him we're almost there," Mavi replied, adjusting his mindset. In this life, he was Russian businessman Mavi, and when meeting "Mr. Ma," he had to maintain his composure.
"Understood, Young Master," Ivan said before uncovering the receiver and speaking in English. "We're almost there. See you soon. Bye."
After ending the call, the car fell silent once more.
Meanwhile, in the parking lot outside the north gate of the Summer Palace, a thin man dressed in a loose-fitting black suit sat inside his small Alto car.
He was so skinny that he could almost be described as skin and bones. His facial features bore a striking resemblance to the protagonist from Spielberg's film Paul, the alien comedy.
Indeed, the person Mavi had arranged to meet today was none other than Alibaba's founder, Ma Yun. At this point, Ma Yun was only 36 years old and had yet to become the influential business tycoon known across China.
Seated beside him in the Alto was his business partner, Qiu Yangping, who was responsible for Alibaba's operations. Qiu had studied abroad in the United States and was one of the legendary "18 founders" of Alibaba.
Over the past year, they had done everything possible to secure investment, seeking funding from countless potential investors.
However, since the internet industry in China was still in its infancy, many conservative investors remained skeptical and resistant to new business models. Moreover, Alibaba wasn't the first e-commerce company in China—8848 was established earlier and had a head start.
As a result, few investors were willing to bet on Alibaba. Even those who believed in e-commerce preferred to put their money into 8848.
In his previous life, Japan's SoftBank had been an early supporter of Alibaba, but in this reality, there was little sign of interest. Mavi couldn't help but wonder—was this due to the butterfly effect caused by his presence in this world?
"Mr. Ma, why do you think this Russian investor chose to meet us at the Summer Palace? Do you think he just wants to talk business and then go for a stroll?" Qiu Yangping joked.
He appeared to be around 30 years old, with a scholarly and refined demeanor.
"I don't know. Let's not jump to conclusions. I heard this guy is a big deal—he's a major shareholder of Amazon," Ma Yun said, cautioning Qiu against underestimating their guest.
Amazon was already a far more established and efficient internet company compared to Alibaba. In terms of seniority, Alibaba would have to call Amazon its "big brother."
Because of this connection, when Ma Yun first received news that Mavi wanted to discuss an investment, he had been ecstatic for days. In fact, he had been so excited that he barely slept in his hotel room the previous night!
Mavi's arrival represented a major opportunity for Alibaba. If they seized it, they could reach new heights.
Over the past year, Ma Yun had struggled to find investors. Not only was funding scarce, but even online transactions on Alibaba remained minimal.
If things continued like this, without a breakthrough, Alibaba might not survive long enough to achieve its true potential.
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