Chapter 52: Outmaneuvered by the Foreigners' Long-Standing Plot

“Top student! Come with me...”

Xiao Menglei, with practiced ease, led Huo Qitai through several dilapidated apartment buildings before slipping into a modest one-story house.

Buzzing...

Upon entering, Huo Qitai immediately heard the roar of computer fans cooling the machines, mingled with the pungent smells of smoke and sweaty feet.

Several students, clearly of elementary or middle school age, were crowded around a single computer, engrossed in the CF biochemical mode game.

Excitement spilled from their lips: “Attack! Quick, attack!” and “Run, run, run... hide fast!”

This was one of the hallmarks of the era—the “black internet café,” referring to unlicensed, hidden establishments tucked away in bleak residential quarters, catering specifically to elementary and middle school students with low fees and grim environments.

Huo Qitai had frequented such black internet cafés countless times during his own school years. Most were small-scale, housing around ten machines; during peak hours, one had to wait for a spot.

Now, in the summer break, nearly all the young students spent their days holed up in these black internet cafés.

The nine machines before them were not only all occupied, but each had a queue of eager players waiting.

“No machines available!”

Huo Qitai anxiously reached into his pocket, ready to use his cash power to resolve the situation.

But Xiao Menglei strode forward briskly, tapping the shoulder of a middle schooler playing QQ Speed.

“Brother Ji, do me a favor. My friend has an urgent matter and needs to get on. Could you please give up your seat for now?”

“Whoa! Who did you think it was? Speedster, no problem! Your friend is my friend. Next time when we have the DOTA match against Second Middle School, how about you be our secret weapon?”

Brother Ji said as he shut down the game and stood up.

Xiao Menglei nodded confidently like a pro: “No problem! I guarantee we’ll beat them to the ground.”

Then he patted the slightly dirty chair and respectfully invited Huo Qitai: “Top student, please sit. Don’t mind the place—the environment in this black internet café is rough, but the atmosphere is top-notch, and the speed is great. The owner just installed fiber optic!”

Huo Qitai smiled as he sat down, logging into QQ.

“You really have status here!” he remarked.

“Of course! Top student, I’m not bragging. Everyone here, no matter what game they play, is my defeated subordinate.”

Talking about games, Xiao Menglei’s confidence soared. He gave a thumbs-up. “From simple CF and QQ Speed to Dragon Nest, DOTA, and StarCraft, I dominate them all!”

But just as he finished boasting, Huo Qitai logged into QQ and was immediately bombarded with a stack of messages.

Not only were there countless niche group chats and private messages, but several beautiful girls had even sent video call requests.

Anyone who lived through that era knew that if the computer’s specs weren’t up to par, logging into QQ with so many pop-ups could easily freeze the machine.

Huo Qitai was somewhat relieved to see that the café’s computers were decent—after about thirty seconds of lag, the mouse started moving again.

Without looking, he closed all the message windows and quickly found Chang Lu in the BS group to initiate a video call.

At this very moment, across the ocean, Chang Lu was casually speaking in English with a bearded foreigner.

“Beautiful Miss Lulu, I swear to God, I have not deceived you. Half a month ago, a domain investor from China already offered 200,000 euros to buy the 55.com domain I hold.”

The bearded man spoke with conviction.

“200,000 euros is a considerable price. While we acknowledge the rarity of 55.com, this price is fair,” Chang Lu responded confidently. “Since another Chinese domain investor offered the same price, that’s market acknowledgment. After my video call with my boss, I believe you will happily complete this deal with us.”

After spending several days on this side of the ocean and delving into some circles within the Bitcoin community, Chang Lu had come to deeply appreciate how valuable and significant Huo Qitai’s pioneering pizza transaction was for physical Bitcoin trading. It had earned him notable renown in both the European and American internet and investment circles.

No wonder, when Chang Lu revealed that “FIRE” wanted to buy 55.com, the bearded man who had been holding out on the price immediately agreed.

“I’m looking forward to meeting this insightful high school investor from the mysterious Eastern land,” the bearded man smiled.

Chang Lu quickly corrected him: “Sorry, Mr. Time, my boss is no longer in high school. He has just been admitted to Peking University, the best university in our country.”

“Then I should call him the best investor among northern hemisphere college students,” the bearded man adjusted his tone.

Just then, Huo Qitai’s video call came through. Chang Lu accepted and gestured politely for the bearded man to sit.

“Oh my God! You’re FIRE who traded two pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins? So young, it’s enviable!”

The bearded man exclaimed, then quickly introduced himself: “You can call me Time. I hold the 55.com domain. I’ve heard from this lovely lady that you’re eager to acquire it?”

“Mr. Time, let’s not beat around the bush. I offered 200,000 euros, and I doubt anyone has offered more. Since you’re willing to sell, naturally the highest bidder takes it,” Huo Qitai said directly.

“Indeed, no one has offered more, but another buyer from China has also offered 200,000 euros.

At the same price, I could easily sell to him.

And I’ve experienced the cunning of you Chinese. I once sold a domain for 100,000 euros only to see it resold months later for over a million dollars to a Chinese internet company.

I suspect both of your parties are playing the same game, right?

There must be some Chinese internet company I don’t know, desperately seeking a short domain and willing to pay a premium.

Believe me, if I wait patiently or actively post the domain for sale on Chinese internet information sites, that company will come knocking.

In that case, my gains might far exceed a mere 200,000 euros.

So tell me, why should I sell the domain to you now at 200,000 euros?”

No wonder the bearded man insisted on a face-to-face video call with Huo Qitai. He was well prepared—this was a direct strike, a decisive move to unseat Huo Qitai.

...