nucmednet Chapter 108 Alum in the Industry
Chapter 108 Alum in the Industry
Chapter 108 The Industry's Acquaintance (4k words, first update, requesting monthly votes)
Accompanied by teacher Jin Zhilong, leaders of the Publicity Department, and reporters from Jiaotong University's campus newspaper, director Wang Jianjun, reporter Zhou Haoran, and three others entered office 315.
The moment they pushed open the door, even the well-informed Wang Jianjun and Zhou Haoran were momentarily stunned.
They were mentally prepared for the office environment of campus entrepreneurship projects. They knew it was impossible to be as bright and clean as the office of Gong Haiyan, CEO of Century Home Network, but at least it should be neat and orderly.
But the scene before them was far from the "interview backdrop" they had envisioned.
It seems that Jiaotong University's preparations were inadequate.
The two exchanged a helpless glance, and Zhou Haoran even secretly regretted it: if he had known this would happen, he would have been better off sticking to the interviews at the school's exhibition hall, at least the background would have been nice.
However, when their eyes swept over the eye-catching slogan on the wall, "Let the excellent you no longer be excellent alone," and the vibrant moments on the photo wall, a sense of reality washed over them, and their initial reservations dissipated somewhat.
Minister Yin cursed Geng Zhi a hundred times in his heart, but on his face he had to force the most enthusiastic smile and introduce him to the program team: "Director Wang, Zhou Ji, this is Geng Zhi, the founder of 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker,' and this is Ma Chunmei, the company's CEO."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the key figures took their seats in the makeshift interview area, and the interview officially began.
Zhou Haoran sat in the middle, with Geng Zhi and Ma Chunmei on either side. Director Wang Jianjun nodded slightly behind the camera, indicating that they could begin.
Zhou Haoran adjusted his posture, revealing a professional yet friendly smile: "Thank you both for the interview. We just finished interviewing Century Family Network, which is about to go public, and seeing this completely different model of 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker' today feels very refreshing. Could you briefly introduce the project?"
Ma Chunmei answered quickly, speaking almost like reciting a text: "Thank you for CCTV's attention. 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker' is a key student innovation and entrepreneurship project cultivated by Jiaotong University in Shanghai. Under the care of university leaders and the guidance of the Science and Technology Innovation Park—we adhere to—and have already received investment from Baihe.com and Jinshajiang Venture Capital, with a valuation of—."
Her answer was perfectly measured, consisting entirely of the standard rhetoric and abstract data given to her by Minister Yin, which made Zhou Haoran raise an eyebrow slightly, showing little interest.
Geng Zhi chimed in at the opportune moment: "Chunmei has talked about the current achievements, but I'd like to talk more about the beginning."
"Initially, we tried organizing an offline event for 'If You Are the One.' When I saw the initially shy male and female guests gradually open up to each other, and when that event ultimately led to nine couples finding love, we felt that we had done the right thing."
"The value of facilitating real connections and partnerships is far greater than any number."
Unlike Ma Chunmei's "report-style" writing, Geng Zhi tells stories, values, and concrete, tangible moments.
After asking a few more routine questions, Zhou Haoran's questions began to delve into the core of the business.
Zhou Haoran: "Straightforward guy, you guys mainly focus on offline operations, while Mr. Gong from Century Family Network says that online is the future because efficiency is paramount. Aren't you taking a slower and more arduous path?"
Geng Zhi smiled slightly, not directly refuting him, and replied calmly, "What we pursue is not faster transactions, but more accurate encounters. Online algorithms can recommend 100 [items] a day..."
People, but you might not want to see any of them. We only hold a few events a week, but we strive to make sure everyone who attends feels it was worthwhile.
He paused, then uttered a sentence that struck Zhou Haoran like a chord: "Our principle is, we'd rather not match than have a fake match. In my opinion, facilitating one truly soulful union is worth more than ten 'good enough' matches."
Zhou Haoran, who was also single and felt both hopeful and weary about marriage and relationships, was deeply moved by this sentence.
Seeing that Geng Zhi was eager to show off his strategic vision, Ma Chunmei immediately added frankly, "But we are also actively embracing efficiency! The system we are developing can import offline data online, and work with Baihe—"
Network collaboration unlocks greater business value —
Geng Zhi seized the opportunity and deliberately interrupted Ma Chunmei: "Chunmei, technology is a tool, an amplifier, but our original intention is the steering wheel. Data may tell users that you two might be a match," but between "might" and a real chemical reaction, there is still a sincere meeting between you.
Zhou Haoran keenly observed the subtle differences in the two founders' philosophies, but she was clearly more attracted to their straightforward views.
She leaned slightly forward, pressing him bluntly, "You keep emphasizing authenticity, but the reality of business is that 'authenticity' often means high costs and difficulty in scaling. Aren't you afraid of being abandoned by capital?"
He frankly admitted, "Of course we're afraid. But sacrificing authenticity for scale would contradict our original intentions. We believe that what's right will ultimately be right commercially."
"It just takes time. We have long-term patience and are willing to do the difficult but right things."
He didn't criticize the online model at all, but by repeatedly reinforcing the concepts of "offline," "authentic," and "reliable," he implicitly criticized certain phenomena that prioritize traffic and inflate data.
Zhou Haoran, who is well-versed in the industry ecosystem, doesn't know how far Geng Zhi's idealistic persistence can go, but at this moment, she feels a sense of resonance and admiration.
After a brief silence, Zhou Haoran turned the question to Ma Chunmei, changing the subject: "Chunmei, could you talk about your future development plans? Will you aim for an IPO like Century Home Network?"
Ma Chunmei's eyes lit up, and her voice rose a few decibels: "Of course! After the financing is in place, we will rely on Baihe.com's nationwide resources to quickly expand into other first-tier cities, rapidly seize the market, and our goal is—an IPO will be a natural outcome."
Geng Zhi listened from the side, and couldn't help but slightly twitch the corners of his mouth and gently shake his head.
Wang Jianjun, behind the camera, keenly captured this detail, as well as the stark contrast between Geng Zhi and Ma Chunmei in their expressions of vision.
He immediately gestured to Zhou Haoran, signaling her to dig deeper.
Zhou Haoran understood, looked at Geng Zhi again, and asked directly, "Geng Zhi, you seem to have different ideas about the expansion and listing plan you just mentioned?"
Geng Zhi smiled, his gaze clear and bright: "My dream sounds a bit small. I hope that a few years from now, when people mention Jiaotong University's matchmaking service, they'll say, 'Oh, that's a very reliable agency; several of my friends found their happiness there.' I think that's enough."
Zhou Haoran's question became sharp: "It sounds like the two founders don't have entirely the same vision for the company's future and development path?"
Ma Chunmei paused for a moment, then quickly added, "Our general direction is of course the same! It's just that our division of labor and focus are different—"
Geng Zhi appeared more composed, looking at Zhou Haoran: "A healthy team should be able to accommodate different voices. Chunmei, as CEO, is responsible for looking to the stars and finding capital and resources; I am a technologist, responsible for being down-to-earth and focusing on the product and user experience. This tension can actually bring balance."
Behind the camera, Wang Jianjun couldn't help but give a thumbs up, expressing his deep satisfaction with the answer and the dramatic turn of events.
After discussing a few more topics, the formal recording session came to an end.
Zhou Haoran signaled to the cameraman to turn off the camera, but the recorder on the table still had its indicator light on.
She let out a long sigh, leaned back in her chair, and looked at Geng Zhi, saying, "Alright, Geng Zhi, this isn't an interview anymore. As a friend, I want to know the real answer. What are your thoughts on online versus offline models?"
Geng Zhi relaxed as well, and laughed as he made an analogy: "Online solves the efficiency problem, while offline solves the authenticity problem. It's like the difference between online shopping and physical stores, but some experiences must be completed offline."
Zhou Haoran pressed further: "Why 'must'?"
He paused for a moment, then said seriously, "If you're buying clothes, buying a defective product is at most a loss of money. But if you're buying medicine and get fake medicine, the price you pay could be life itself—"
He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood the deeper meaning behind his words.
The air in the office was silent for a few seconds.
Zhou Haoran continued, "What's your opinion on the insincerity in online dating? For example—fake profiles, shills, and scams?"
Geng Zhi was clearly taken aback when he heard Zhou Haoran's sharp and direct question.
"It's okay, we're just discussing this privately now, so feel free to speak your mind," Zhou Haoran encouraged.
Geng Zhi took a deep breath and began to speak frankly: "Zhou Ji, I've thought about this issue many times in private. This isn't a problem with a particular platform; it's when dating becomes a business that only pursues financial figures that systemic risks arise."
"Algorithms themselves have no values, but the people who create them must. If the only performance indicators are the number of paying users and revenue, then deception and misleading practices will become the unspoken rules."
Frankly speaking, this has escalated from business criticism to systemic criticism.
As soon as he finished speaking, not only Zhou Haoran, but also Wang Jianjun, Jin Zhilong and others next to him showed expressions of shock and deep thought.
Wang Jianjun looked at Geng Zhi with an extremely complex gaze; the young man's insight and expression far exceeded his age.
"How do you avoid becoming like that?" Zhu Jianjun couldn't help but suddenly interject with a question.
Geng Zhi met Wang Jianjun's gaze with unwavering determination and said, "This is the nature of business, and we cannot avoid it. But perhaps we can become the alum in the industry, making the water a little clearer."
As soon as the metaphor of "alum" was uttered, Yang Mingxia, who was sitting in the corner taking notes, couldn't help but be the first to applaud, and the others followed suit.
The interviews have all concluded.
Zhou Haoran put away his recorder, gave Geng Zhi a deep look, and extended his hand: "Thank you, Geng Zhi. Today's interview was very inspiring. I hope you keep it up. This is my business card. Let's keep in touch."
"Thank you, Reporter Zhou. We also welcome you and the audience to continue to supervise us and this industry in the future." Geng Zhi accepted the business card with both hands.
Zhou Haoran also politely greeted Ma Chunmei: "Thank you too, Chunmei, keep it up!"
Having completed their assigned task, Wang Jianjun and Zhou Haoran, still wanting more, volunteered to see more of the daily life of the "Jiaotong University matchmakers."
They toured the photo wall in the office with great interest, listening to Geng Zhi recount the stories behind each event.
"Hey, isn't this Wang Qinqin, who's been all the rage lately?" Zhou Haoran exclaimed excitedly, pointing to a group photo.
"This should be your first episode of 'If You Are the One,' right?" Wang Jianjun replied.
"Director Wang, how did you know?" Geng Zhi asked curiously.
Wang Jianjun said with a smile, "I've seen the video clips online. Your motivational speech to the volunteers was very inspiring."
Seeing the program team's great interest, Geng Zhi even brought along Li Haipeng, Sun Xiaowen, Shu Beibei, and Yang Mingxia to help with the explanation.
Listening to these young people recount the joys and sorrows of starting a business, and seeing the sincere light in their eyes, Wang Jianjun couldn't help but exclaim, "This is wonderful; this is the true essence of youth and entrepreneurship!"
Ma Chunmei, who had been unable to get a word in edgewise, stood on the periphery of the crowd, watching Geng Zhi being fawned over like a star, and felt a burning jealousy in her heart.
As the production team left, Minister Yin was the last to leave. He gave Geng Zhi two thumbs-up, nodded emphatically, and his eyes were full of "You're really something!"
No sooner had the production crew left than cheers erupted in office 315.
"Boss! What you just said was fantastic!" Yang Mingxia exclaimed, her face flushed with excitement.
She counted on her fingers:
"Better a mismatch than a fake match," "Facilitating one true love is better than ten make-up marriages," "Become a role model in the industry"—I need to quickly compile these golden quotes and add them to the promotional materials; they're guaranteed to go viral!
After receiving everyone's praise, Geng Zhi and Li Haipeng went to the restroom together.
"Boss, this time we unexpectedly connected with CCTV. Won't it be even smoother for us to prepare for that 3.15 special event?" Li Haipeng said, unable to hide his excitement.
"It's a good opportunity. Vice Dean Liu of the School of Media and Communication has tentatively agreed to cooperate. As long as the research data we provide is solid, the white paper should be ready soon," Geng Zhi said in a low voice.
"Um!"
Li Haipeng continued his report: "Mingxia said that Zhang Xinxin has been getting very close to Ma Chunmei lately. She's already poached a human resources manager at a high price, and he'll be in place soon. I guess next they'll be slowly replacing him with their own people."
"Let her do whatever she wants. As long as it doesn't harm the users' interests. Continue with your business in Jinling as usual, and make some minor adjustments later on. On the surface, you can gradually align yourself with her side to gain her trust."
"clear."
After parting ways with Li Haipeng, Geng Zhi called Song Qing and Huang Haitang to go to office 401 to continue discussing the Momo app.
The development plan.
As they left the campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and entered the CCTV special interview vehicle, Wang Jianjun and Zhou Haoran were still not completely out of the atmosphere of the interview they had just had.
Compared to the formalized and glamorous presentation of yesterday's interview with "Century Family Network," what I saw and heard today at "Jiaotong University Matchmaker" felt much more down-to-earth, authentic, and aligned more closely with the national policy of encouraging campus entrepreneurship.
Geng Zhi's idealistic glimmer, ironically, aligns even better with the "new economy stories" that their program aims to uncover.
"Xiao Zhou, Xiao Zheng, thank you for insisting on interviewing the matchmaker from Jiaotong University." The results—were unexpectedly good. Wang Jianjun couldn't help but exclaim.
"Yes, I really didn't expect it to be like this before I came." Zhou Haoran also felt the same way.
Photographer Lao Liu chimed in, "But I think that guy, Geng Zhi, has overly idealistic ideas, like Don Quixote. Can you really survive like that in this industry?"
Wang Jianjun shook his head, gazing at the street scene flashing past the car window, and said three words meaningfully: "Hard to say."
The car was quiet for a moment.
"Director Wang," Zhou Haoran suddenly asked, "how much screen time will we ultimately get for this episode—the material about the Jiaotong University matchmaker?"
Before coming, Wang Jianjun's plan was very clear: the main focus would definitely be on "Century Family Network", and "Jiaotong University Matchmaker" would only be an embellishment, and it would be good if it got a few shots or tens of seconds.
At that moment, he made his decision almost without hesitation: "I will allocate half of the time from the 'Century Family Network' to the Jiaotong University matchmaking service."
PS: 10,000-word update today >