Uber's old rival is quite optimistic about the merger: 'Our love will last till the end of time'

The Uber-Didi Chuxing detente might have been more intense than any of us thought, at least according to Didi President Jean Liu.

In an internal email obtained by the Financial Times (and first spotted by New York Times reporter Mike Isaac), Liu described the years-long battle between the two ride-hailing apps, one that has now come to a close after Uber and Didi announced a $35 billion merger today.

Here's how Liu tells it:

"Uber has been a grand rival and we have had an epic battle...We raged an earth-shaking war, and when we join hands, our love will last till the end of time."

Liu also wrote that Uber "has done better than any Silicon Valley company in China."

It's worth noting that language like this is customary in China. But it still speaks to the expensive and heated battle between the two companies, which was starting to worry investors on both sides.

For more, read Business Insider reporter Rob Price's piece on what this merger means for Uber.