Chapter 64

Though it was impossible for Li Xu to fund the establishment of a semiconductor manufacturing company alone, Intel, Texas Instruments, and even the Taiwan provincial government would hold shares. However, as the person who facilitated this project, how could he not take the lead in investing? How could he expect others to follow if he didn't?

Even if his father and mother would support him to some extent, the amount of money required was not a small sum. This was different from investing in Apple and Microsoft, which were still in their infancy.

Moreover, the infrastructure and environment in Taiwan were still far behind what they would be in five or six years, especially since martial law was still in effect, which was the most troublesome issue.

However, Li Xu felt it was still worth taking a gamble. Although Zhang Zhongmou was highly praised decades later, he wouldn't have been able to establish TSMC without significant skills.

Indeed, the "he" mentioned by Li Xu and his father was Zhang Zhongmou, who was currently the vice president of Texas Instruments but would return to Taiwan in 1987 to found TSMC according to historical records.

Although he was highly praised decades later for pioneering the foundry model, in reality, major semiconductor companies had already been experimenting with it. After all, the pressure of costs was obvious, and issues of security and leaks had to be considered, making the separation of design and manufacturing inevitable.

Zhang Zhongmou just took the lead, dared to be the first to try, and with his capabilities and support, naturally achieved great success.

Even though the project was now seven years ahead of schedule, the environment in Taiwan had changed significantly, but Comrade Nikolai wasn't stupid. Otherwise, he wouldn't have established a high-tech center in Hsinchu.

Moreover, the United States still had strong control over Taiwan. For example, the Zhang Xianyi incident in 1987 was entirely within the U.S. government's expectations.

So, starting the project now wasn't too early.

Besides, according to Murphy's Law, if TSMC could start production in 1981 or 1982 in this timeline, Li Xu might be able to set up an outdated production line in the north by 1987.

Setting it up in Shanghai and cultivating a relationship with the elders, oh, the scene would be too beautiful to bear.

With that, the matter was decided. A few days later, as August approached, he finally received the call he had been waiting for.

"What did you do to me, you bastard!" The woman's voice on the phone was clearly angry, unlike her lazy tone last time.

"I didn't do anything, Isabelle. I just told my family," Li Xu replied lazily.

"What do you want!" the other side shouted in a low voice.

"I want Annabelle. I want my daughter," Li Xu answered, his tone cold.

"You..." The other side gritted her teeth but couldn't say anything.

"Let's do this," Li Xu suddenly changed his tone. "I'll come to Paris. It's still summer break, so let's talk face-to-face, okay?"

"Come then!" Despite her reluctance, she answered after a moment of silence.

In fact, Smith hadn't done much, and Li Xu was still keeping an eye on his progress. Everyone has weaknesses, and as long as you grasp them, you can make them submit. For example... family.

Li Xu didn't particularly like this kind of tactic, or overly forceful methods. Even if he had to use family, a gentle and subtle approach would be more appropriate.

He wanted them to fall into the trap silently, struggle, and sink deeper, ultimately having no choice but to submit.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the initiative now, so he had to use forceful methods to turn the tide. After ending the call, he boarded his father's car and flew straight to Paris.

In August, the sun in Paris was strong, but the temperature wasn't high. The temperate maritime climate is characterized by mild winters and cool summers, with little annual temperature variation, and occasional rain.

Ample rainfall is another characteristic of the temperate maritime climate, but the intensity is not great, and it comes and goes quickly.

In the front courtyard of a manor in the southern suburbs of Greater Paris, Li Xu stood at the villa's entrance, watching a car drive around the fountain in the courtyard and stop at the steps.

A servant immediately opened the car door, and a slender, well-proportioned leg emerged, followed by a graceful figure. Even in a simple gray dress, she was still graceful and elegant.

Her wavy black hair swayed gently, and even with large sunglasses obscuring her face, her alluring sexiness couldn't be hidden.

Getting out of the car, the woman walked a few steps to Li Xu, then took off her sunglasses, revealing a face that was exquisitely beautiful yet cold as ice.

This was a face that could drive French men wild, with clear blue eyes that were both ethereal and captivating. Even with a cold expression, her beauty was undiminished.

Of course, it wasn't Sophie Marceau, the French rose who was still a young girl, filming her breakout role.

The beautiful woman in front of him was Isabelle Adjani, one of the most dazzling stars of the French film industry.

"Long time no see, Isabelle," Li Xu opened his arms, wanting to give the beauty a hug, but Isabelle took a step back, her blue eyes still coldly staring at him.

"I'm here, Edward," she said, her chin slightly raised, appearing quite haughty.

"Alright," Li Xu didn't mind at all, "So, where's Annabelle?"

"We'll talk about that in a moment," Isabelle said bluntly.

"Then there's nothing to talk about," Li Xu replied just as bluntly. "Unless my daughter is here, there's nothing to discuss."

Isabelle glared at him, and Li Xu stood his ground calmly. This continued for several minutes before the cold beauty finally said, "I need to make a call."

Li Xu gestured for her to go ahead and waved for a servant, who then led Isabelle to a small house nearby.

A few minutes later, Isabelle returned and stood with Li Xu at the entrance, waiting.

It didn't take long, just a few minutes, before another car drove into the manor. Li Xu glanced at Isabelle, noting the speed, which clearly indicated preparation.

Isabelle ignored him, but when a middle-aged white woman emerged from the car carrying a small baby, her frozen face suddenly broke into a warm, maternal smile.

"Anna, Anna, look here," Isabelle smiled and clapped her hands in front of the little one, who immediately cooed and reached out for her mother.

Li Xu moved closer but stopped just short, his eyes showing a hint of hesitation as he looked at the beautiful little one.

But when Isabelle turned around, all he could see was his smile.

"Let me hold her," Li Xu said softly.

Isabelle didn't say yes or no, just stood there holding the baby, her face smiling but with a hint of challenge in her eyes.

Li Xu didn't mind, rubbed his hands, took a few deep breaths, and then, mimicking Isabelle, walked to the little one and gently clapped his hands: "Hey, Anna, look here."

The little one turned her head, her blue eyes, just like her mother's, staring blankly at the young man in front of her, her mouth slightly open, drooling without realizing it.

But a few seconds later, she suddenly smiled, cooing and waving her hands, looking very happy.

"See, she likes me," Li Xu said smugly, reaching under the little one's armpits and lifting her from her mother's arms.

The little one was clearly surprised, her head swaying as she searched for her mother, but once she found her, she calmed down. At this point, Li Xu carefully placed his arm under her bottom, lifting her tiny body into his arms, afraid of dropping her.

Despite his calm expression, his body was tense, which was clearly noticed by others.

Isabelle immediately huffed, her challenging look becoming even more intense.

And the little Annabelle, feeling uncomfortable in his arms, started to squirm and look for her mother. But as Li Xu relaxed slightly, she quickly calmed down.

Then, her blue eyes curiously examined the man holding her, and she smiled again.

"I told you, she likes me," Li Xu said smugly, then kissed her chubby little cheek.

The kiss didn't help; the little one, who had been smiling just moments ago, suddenly burst into tears. Li Xu's face showed a hint of panic, unsure of what to do.

This wasn't an act; it was his first time holding a baby, both in this life and the previous one.

"Let me handle it," Isabelle huffed, snatching the little one from his arms and gently patting her, occasionally giving Li Xu a disdainful look.

"I'm just not used to it," Li Xu explained.

"Right, just not used to it," Isabelle said sarcastically.

"As a father, isn't it normal to be a bit clumsy when meeting his daughter for the first time?" Li Xu raised an eyebrow in rebuttal.

"You do know it's the first time, right?" Isabelle's tone remained sarcastic.

"You didn't tell me you were pregnant, and you didn't tell me the baby was born. What was I supposed to do?" Li Xu huffed, not caring that the nanny who came with Isabelle was staring in shock.

Isabelle was momentarily speechless and grumbled, "Anna's eyes don't look like yours at all."

"I know what you're trying to say, but you might not know, Isabelle, my grandmother was a classic blonde with blue eyes," Li Xu huffed. "In fact, my grandfather knew about this much earlier than I did. He did a lot of checks without alarming you."

"What?!" Isabelle was shocked.

"If he wasn't absolutely sure, he wouldn't have told me. The medical reports are in the house; you can look at them anytime," Li Xu pointed his thumb backward.

Isabelle stared at him, speechless.

"Alright, don't scare the child. Let's go inside and talk," Li Xu pointed to the little one in her arms, who seemed to sense her mother's bad mood, her little face already wrinkled, looking pitifully at her mother.

After soothing the child, Isabelle took a deep breath and walked into the villa.