Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a dispute between a shop owner, Liu, and the management of a digital mall regarding compensation for damages caused by a sudden water leak, focusing on the valuation of intangible assets, specifically source code worth 1.5 million yuan [1][6]. Group 1: Incident Overview - On June 26, 2025, a water pipe burst in a digital mall in Hangzhou, causing significant damage to Liu's store, which had been operating for 18 years [1][3]. - Liu's store specializes in data recovery and software development, although he admits he is not a professional programmer and often outsources development work [3][5]. Group 2: Damage Assessment - Liu's primary concern is not the hardware loss but the damage to a hard drive containing valuable source code for various projects, which he claims represents a cumulative investment of 1.5 million yuan [5][6]. - He has provided documentation, including copyright registration and contracts, to substantiate his claims regarding the value of the code [5][11]. Group 3: Dispute Details - The management of the mall has only recognized approximately 20,000 yuan in damages, citing discrepancies in Liu's claims and the lack of clear evidence for the value of the source code [11][14]. - Liu's claim of 1.5 million yuan is contested on several grounds, including the absence of a backup for the code and the fact that the software in question had been removed from the Apple App Store [6][14]. Group 4: Management's Position - The mall management has taken a pragmatic approach, assisting in the recovery of items and collecting damage reports, but insists on requiring more substantial proof from Liu to justify any compensation [11][14]. - They proposed a compensation ratio significantly lower than Liu's expectations, highlighting the ongoing negotiation challenges between future value and actual loss [11][14].