Full Cup of Water - Chap 23

Xin Qianyu swallowed, coughed twice, and said, “Ah, I heard that’s the case. It’s… do you remember that David who taunted me the last time? Su Zhong used to work in David’s company. I heard David saying that Su Zhong sued two colleagues within a year, got one colleague fired, and the other almost went to jail. In short, he’s a person who’s very good at using legal weapons to defend his rights and interests.”

Michelle was shocked when she heard. “Oh my god! Why didn’t you tell me if you had this kind of gossip? I can also write it in the article.”

“I… I didn’t remember it?” Xin Qianyu took a mouthful of sake, then said earnestly, “Anyway, don’t provoke him. He looks gracious, but he has a strong personality. You don’t want to be sued for an interview that has a high probability of not being written, right?”

Michelle was taken aback but said, “If I’m sued by him, then I’ll be able to make the headlines, right?”

“…” This kid is crazy.

In the end, on the last day of the deadline for the listing plan, the handsome consultant submitted the revised tenth edition to Xin Qianyu with ugly dark circles under his eyes. Xin Qianyu looked at the haggard appearance of the handsome consultant who had been ravaged by the 996 and thought to himself, What’s the use of being handsome? If you work for a few more years, you’ll probably become a bald uncle.

The resolution on who would preside over the listing project was held as scheduled.

Xin Simu was naturally determined to win. Although she did not underestimate the enemy, she was also very confident. She could not say that the professional plan she had worked hard on for more than half a year was not as good as the plan that Xin Qianyu hurriedly got at the last minute, right?

Xin Simu presented the plan to the board of directors in a confident and self-assured manner. She was articulate, and the plan was very detailed and professional, so the old man nodded in satisfaction.

After Xin Simu finished her speech, it was Xin Qianyu’s turn.

The way she looked at Xin Qianyu was like looking at a defeated dog.

Xin Qianyu ignored the arrogance in her eyes, opened the PowerPoint presentation, and proceeded with his report. Halfway through the report, although Xin Simu did not speak, Xin Simu’s father spoke for her. “Your content looks a lot like Xiao Mu’s! Isn’t that plagiarism?”

“Uncle,” Xin Qianyu smiled. “There are regulations for the listing process with more or less only a few doorways. It’s normal for us to have similarities in the plan.”

Uncle Xin didn’t buy it. “But Xiao Mu made it earlier than you. If you make the same thing as her, why should we go for yours?”

“Yes, most of it is the same, but in the next part, I will present something different.” With that said, Xin Qianyu smiled and turned to the next page. “It’s the distribution of equity. In Xiaomu’s plan, as the president, she will get 11% of the shares. I think this is too much. If it were me, I would only get 1%.”

Everyone was shocked when they heard the words. “You’ll only take 1%?”

“Correct. Of course, Gramp’s shares cannot be reduced,” Xin Qianyu said seriously. “In my plan, I’ll only take 1%, and the remaining 10% will be held by ‘Xin’s Asset Management Co., Ltd.’.”

“Xin’s Asset Management Co., Ltd.?” Everyone was very confused. “What company is that?”

“This is the new company I plan to register,” Xin Qianyu replied. “If it’s established, I’ll let the head of the Xin clan serve as the chairman of the company. All relatives of the Xin family will be shareholders. Because ‘Xin’s Asset Management’ will hold 10% of Yuzhuo’s shares, that also means that, as long as you are from the Xin family, you can get Yuzhuo’s equity and dividends after the listing…”

“You mean……”

“To put it simply, l, Xin Qianyu, took out my 10% and will distribute it to all of you here, as well as your wives, children and grandchildren.” Xin Qianyu replied with a slight smile.

Most of the board of directors were relatives of the Xin family, and when they heard this, a passionate uproar started. In Xin Simu’s plan, only people on the board of directors could hold equity. In Xin Qianyu’s plan, not only could they benefit from it, but even their wives and children would get a piece of the action! Wasn’t it exciting?

Speaking of which, the plan that Xin Simu spent more than half a year writing was indeed more professional, but with dividends and equity displayed in front of their eyes, who cared about whether it was professional?

They definitely wanted money!

After hearing Xin Qianyu’s equity distribution plan, the pride on Xin Simu’s face was instantly shattered. She knew that she had lost.

However, Xin Simu was unwilling to be defeated.

After the meeting, Xin Simu walked directly to the old man’s office and put forward her views. “If Xin Qianyu’s plan is better than mine, then I have nothing to say. But he won by being generous to others and transferring the equity interests of the group to satisfy his relatives. This makes me unable to agree!”

The old man smiled slightly and said, “So you are unconvinced?”

“Correct!” Xin Simu was usually gentle and obedient, but always tough at critical moments.

The old man nodded and sighed again. “I understand. But did you consider that his plan was not as professional as yours because he did not have the time?”

“This is not an excuse.” Xin Simu would not let it go.

The old man smiled. “You had so much time and found so many consulting agencies. Did these professionals tell you what’s the biggest difficulty for our Yuzhuo Group to go public?”

Xinsmu was slightly startled and stopped talking.

“Don’t be afraid. Say it,” the old man said.

“It’s the issue of our relatives controlling the board of directors.” Xin Simu said boldly. “Now, Xin Qianyu uses the method of dividing shares to satisfy his relatives, which is tantamount to drinking poison to quench his thirst.”

“You are wrong,” the old man said, “He did not distribute the equity to the relatives. Have you forgotten? 10% of the equity will be held by ‘Xin’s Assets’, and that will be still in his hands.”

“But he said that the head of the Xin clan would be the chairman and the relatives would be the shareholders…” Xin Simu said. Suddenly understanding, her face changed slightly. “He only said that the chairman would be the team leader and the relatives would be the shareholders, but he didn’t say who the actual controller of the company would be!”

“Yes. In my opinion, based on the character of that slippery boy, he cannot be willing to account for only 1%. Since ‘Xin’s Assets’ is to be registered by him, he would definitely ensure that the company is controlled by him, which means that the 10% equity is still his. All he did was to give some of the dividends to the group of relatives,” the old man said lightly. “This is why I favour Xiaoyu to manage the listing project. He knows how to deal with his relatives better than you.”

Xin Simu was stunned. “I…”

“His plan was not professional enough, which can be made up for by taking more time and finding a consultant to perfect it,” the old man said calmly. “But you had so much time and did not consider the problems he thought of within half a month. This is where you lose.”

When Xin Simu heard the word “lose”, her face paled, but she could not say a word.

The board of directors voted to approve Xin Qianyu’s plan, and Xin Qianyu became the president of the listing project. Because the listing was now the group’s top priority, all other projects had to make way for it. Therefore, Xin Qianyu’s momentum also surpassed Xin Simu’s. Xin Qianyu was more likely to gain “combat achievements” by charging ahead, while Xin Simu would not be able to surpass Xin Qianyu’s achievements if she kept guarding her headquarters, managing logistics and daily operations.

Zhu Pu and Zhu Zhu both said they were a little worried and did not know if Xin Simu would stab him in the back.

Xin Qianyu said, “Xiao Mu Jie is not such a person who can’t see the bigger picture.”

Zhu Zhu smiled. “I think it’s better for you not to believe in human nature too much.”

“I don’t believe in human nature. I believe in reason.” Xin Qianyu shrugged. “Sister Xiao Mu definitely belongs to the type where reason outweighs human nature. If the listing project is messed up, she, as a member of Yuzhuo, will have no good fruits to eat. She is rational enough to know that only if the listing is successful can she have an interest.”

Zhu Pu frowned. “But, are people so rational?”

“In any case, even if Xiao Mu Jie suddenly took the wrong medicine and was irrational,” Xin Qianyu said calmly. “My mother is still keeping an eye out.”

Zhu Pu felt more at ease when he thought of Xin Mu, who usually had a free-range attitude towards Xin Qianyu but would transform into a protective old hen at critical moments. “That’s also true,” he said.

Xin Qianyu added, “The biggest difficulty is external, which is how the group can go public smoothly in the short term.”

Zhu Zhu asked, “Isn’t there already a plan?”

“The plans are all in theory.” Xin Qianyu frowned. In fact, he was also very worried. “The economy isn’t good now. The regulations are strict, and the road ahead is vast.”

Michelle contacted Xin Qianyu again, and the message was, “Come right away! I have the one to recommend!” Then sent a location.

Xin Qianyu looked at this suspicious and terrifying message and immediately called her. Michelle picked up the phone and said, “I don’t have time to explain to you. Just come here quickly! After passing this village, there will be no such shop!”

Xin Qianyu thought to himself, Could it be some silly prank?

Michelle had sent the location of the “Koi Pond” Japanese restaurant.

Speaking of which, this Japanese restaurant was where Xin Qianyu and Su Zhong had their last date. Because “Koi Pond” had such a meaning, Xin Qianyu’s eyelids jumped when he saw these words.

However, he did not think much about it and only felt it was a coincidence.

After all, “Koi Pond” was a very popular restaurant, and there were a lot of people who went there to eat. So it was not surprising that Michelle eats there.

Xin Qianyu drove to the “Koi Pond” at Michelle’s urging.

After he arrived, he reported Michelle’s name to the welcome lady in a kimono at the front desk, and another waitress in a kimono took Xin Qianyu inside. Xin Qianyu thought the waitress would take him to a booth, but unexpectedly, she took him directly to the back door, which opened into an elegant Japanese garden.

“Is there a backyard here?” Xin Qianyu had only been to this restaurant twice, so he did not know there was a hidden area outside the back door, and it was the “VIP area”.

Unlike the overcrowding in the front of the restaurant, the courtyard was a VIP area. It was quiet and had excellent privacy. Under the guidance of the kimono lady, Xin Qianyu walked along the stone path for a few minutes to a quiet room surrounded by pine, cypress and landscape stones.

Xin Qianyu was surprised. “The service fee for such a high-level VIP area should be very expensive, right? Michelle didn’t ask me to come and pay for it, did she?”

The waitress opened the lattice door and invited Xin Qianyu in.

Xin Qianyu entered the room but saw a man with picturesque features sitting under the carved wooden beam. It was really such a small world and his ex-boyfriend was just around the corner.

“Zhong…” Xin Qianyu choked the almost blurted out “Zhong Ge” back into his stomach, picked up the demeanour of an arrogant president, and said indifferently, “Mr Su?”

Hearing the words “Mr Su”, Su Zhong straightened his back slightly, stood up slowly, and stretched out his hand to Xin Qianyu. “Master Xin, I have heard so much about you.”

Hearing the words “Master Xin”, Xin Qianyu was in a daze.

In the industry, Xin Simu had already taken the name “President Xin” first, so everyone knew to avoid it and would not call Xin Qianyu “President Xin”. However, if Xin Qianyu was called “Xiao President Xin”, it seemed disrespectful. Xin Simu was “President Xin”, but Xin Qianyu was just “Xiao President Xin”?

Later, everyone got used to calling Xin Qianyu “Master Xin”.

In the past two years, Xin Qianyu had heard many others call him “Master Xin” politely, respectfully or sneeringly. However, hearing the three words “Master Xin” from Su Zhong’s cold tone really had a unique meaning, which made Xin Qianyu have complex feelings.

At this time, Michelle, who was sitting next to him, stood up happily, asked them to sit down, and whispered to Xin Qianyu, “How is it? I didn’t lie to you, did I? It’s really the one, isn’t it?”

Xin Qianyu pulled at the corner of his mouth. “The one! Really the one!”

Incense was burning in the elegant room and smelled of pure white sandalwood.

But it was not very pleasant to smell this when eating. Xin Qianyu believed this would interfere with taste and affect the food’s overall colour, aroma, and taste. But he didn’t say anything and just frowned.

Su Zhong said, “Why, is the food not to Master Xin’s taste?”

“Hmm?” Xin Qianyu was startled. “What?”

Su Zhong said, “You don’t look very happy.”

Hearing Su Zhong’s words, Xin Qianyu was shocked. How could you tell? This was Su Zhong!

Xin Qianyu immediately thought, Could it be that Wall Street was really so turbulent and scheming that it had trained the socially awkward Su Zhong to observe words and expressions?