Full Cup of Water - Chap 27
Xin Qianyu turned his head away.
“I know,” Su Zhong said. “I said something to make you feel awkward again.”
Xin Qianyu acquiesced.
Su Zhong said, “Then should we change the subject abruptly?”
Xin Qianyu did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Uhm, okay.”
Su Zhong said, “Listing is an extremely important step for a company, and the choice of listing method has an incalculable impact on the company’s future development…”
“I see.” Xin Qianyu blinked. “You’re again persuading me to give up buying a shell company to go public, right?”
“I still don’t understand,” Su Zhong said. “Why are you so resistant to accepting M-global’s investment?”
Xin Qianyu swallowed. His mood was actually very complicated. But he still adopted the most “official” standard answer that he used to deal with Xin Mu, Zhu Pu, and Michelle. “You may still not know much about the situation of our company. The board of directors is all surnamed Xin, and they will not be happy to accept people with other surnames.”
“If that’s the case, then why go public?” Su Zhong said.
Xin Qianyu coughed and said, “That’s different. I think if you want to inject capital, you’ll fight for the right to speak.”
“Your company has a big problem, which is the dominance of relatives.” Su Zhong said, hitting the nail on the head.
Xin Qianyu shrugged helplessly. “Yes…many consulting companies have pointed that out.”
Su Zhong said, “In fact, the best way to solve this problem is to introduce external investors. Use the power of capital to break this kind of kin dictatorship. In addition, few people in your company understand the logic of capital operation, and they will suffer a lot after going public. This is why you need M-global.”
Xin Qianyu was silent and had to admit that every word of Su Zhong was right on point.
But Xin Qianyu’s self-esteem was like a sharp knife cutting into his heart.
Xin Qianyu raised his eyelids. “Why are you helping me?”
“You can understand it as me making a valuable investment.” Su Zhong said. “It’s not that I’m helping you. It’s that we will mutually benefit. This is a win-win situation.”
It was probably because he had met with Su Zhong a lot, Xin Qianyu gradually recovered from the shock of reuniting with him. His sanity gradually returned, his thoughts became clearer, and he finally had to seriously examine Su Zhong’s suggestion.
Xin Qianyu thought, Su Zhong is indeed the “great white shark” that everyone talks about. He’s an excellent investor and will not spend money casually. Since he wants to invest in Yuzhuo, he’s naturally doing so because it’s profitable. I ask him to invest, not to beg for his money, but to help him make money. Why do I have to be arrogant, for fear that I’ll be lesser than him if I take the money?
However, Xin Qianyu saying that the board of directors excluded people with other surnames was not an excuse. This was true. If he rushed to say that he wanted to introduce external investment, and they had to give up shares and voting rights, no one would be happy.
Xin Qianyu mainly brought up two issues during the board of directors meeting. One was that Qiushi Education had come to vie for the shell company, which caused the cost of buying the shell company to exceed the expected amount. The other was that M-global intended to invest, which could alleviate the group’s capital crisis and help Yuzhuo go public in the United States.
Uncle Xin was the first to object. “Who knows what the intentions of this outsider are? These American financial predators have big mouths and can swallow us in one bite before we even know what happened!”
Other uncles and aunts were also worried.
Xin Qianyu was silent for a long time and said, “Based on Xiao Mu Jie’s estimate, what will be our market value after we buy the shell company and go public?”
Xin Simu replied slowly, “Ten billion.”
“Okay, ten billion, right?” Xin Qianyu smiled. “According to M-global, if we go public in the United States, he’s confident that our market capitalization will reach fifteen billion!”
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked. No one paid attention to whether this M-global was an outsider. Never mind an outsider. It did not even matter if it was an alien.
However, Xin Simu’s father, Uncle Xin, still resisted stubbornly, gathering several uncles together to oppose it.
Xin Qianyu never thought he could move everyone in one breath, but he believed no one could resist the charm of money. Now the group was short of money, and Su Zhong had money, which meant that he was not far from getting the support of most people.
The “Xin’s Asset Management Co., Ltd.” registration by Xin Qianyu had also been completed. He originally wanted to use this company to pay dividends to his relatives. Unexpectedly, soon after he established the company, an old classmate came to him and asked, “Is Mr Xin doing investments now? Why don’t you invest in me?”
Xin Qianyu had wanted to say, “I just wanted to set up a shell company to pay dividends.” But when he heard the word “investment”, Su Zhong’s face suddenly appeared in front of him, and he heard himself say, “Tell me. I’ll consider it.”
The old classmate was very happy, and he respectfully invited Xin Qianyu to sit in his studio as if he were serving his ancestors. The “studio” looked like a small workshop. But Xin Qianyu did not think there was anything wrong. After all, who could be decent while starting an entrepreneurship?
The old classmate was doing mobile game development and gave Xin Qianyu a chance to try playing it. Xin Qianyu thought this game was very interesting but was a bit rough. The old classmate said, “Roughness is normal. Who doesn’t want to be refined if you have money?”
Xin Qianyu thought it was fun, so he asked, “How much are you still short?”
The old classmate said, “Two million.” Xin Qianyu was sad for a while. “Are you so poor that you have to borrow two million now?” The old classmate looked dishevelled. “Because my dad doesn’t support my career and wants me to go back and carry on my family’s business.” Xin Qianyu patted his old classmate on the shoulder. “Okay, give me a plan. I will go back to the company and follow the process before notifying you.”
The old classmate was moved almost to tears.
However, Xin Qianyu did not actually understand much about investments. When he looked back at it, he felt that although his old classmate was an old friend and two million was money he could get at any time, he would be really upset if he was cheated. Xin Qianyu thought for a while and called Su Zhong to tell him about this. Su Zhong said, “Then I’ll take a look too.”
After hanging up the phone, Xin Qianyu felt he was in trouble. Wasn’t asking Su Zhong to look at an investment plan worth two million yuan tantamount to asking Xin Qianyu to sell milk tea for twenty yuan?
However, Su Zhong seemed very happy to help and appeared at the agreed place the next day.
Xin Qianyu and Su Zhong went to the old classmate’s studio together for a look. The old classmate stayed by Su Zhong’s side, and while making tea with a smile, said, “Although I’m meeting this gentleman for the first time, you look very amiable. This gentleman is dignified and with an extraordinary presence, an honourable man at first glance.”
Su Zhong said, “Are you five million short?”
“Two million…” The old classmate said.
Su Zhong said, “If you want to do it, do your best. I will invest twenty million in you. Work hard.”
The old classmate was moved to tears. “You’re such a good man, Mr Su!”
Su Zhong was startled. “How do you know my surname is Su?”
The old classmate said, embarrassed, “Well, I saw the hot searches today…”
“Hot searches?” Su Zhong and Xin Qianyu stared blankly.
Xin Qianyu hurriedly picked up his mobile phone, and sure enough, he saw that Su Zhong was currently a hot topic. It turned out that Michelle’s interview had been released. As a financial journalist, Michelle always wrote sensational headlines because the battlefield was on social media. The subheading of this interview was “M-global President Su Zhong: The thing I regret the most is coming to Wall Street. Even though I made billions, I was not happy”.
Netizens had ridiculed:
Regret making ten billion?
What new way of showing off is this?
Can rich people nowadays be more down-to-earth?……
President Su’s unfortunate billions!
Please let me bear this misfortune!
Am I the only one looking at his face?
So handsome, Lao Gong!
Lao Gong, don’t cry. Let me give you warmth!
……
In short, Su Zhong was on hot searches because of his “unfortunate billions” statement, and his appearance and temperament also contributed to his popularity.
However, Su Zhong did not want to be popular. These short-lived moments of enthusiasm were more troublesome than good for him.
However, this interview had become popular, and some people benefitted, for example, Michelle.
Michelle wrote an article with a flood of views, and she was so happy that she could not sleep for three days and nights.
For this reason, Michelle called Xin Qianyu to thank him and invited Xin Qianyu to a party for a drink.
At the invitation, Xin Qianyu went and saw Su Zhong again at the party.
But this was actually not surprising. After all, this was an industry gathering. However, what surprised Xin Qianyu was that Thomas and Lilith were standing next to Su Zhong.
Never mind about Thomas since he was Su Zhong’s assistant after all and it seemed normal for him to follow Su Zhong to Asia. But what about Lilith?
Xin Qianyu did not want to think deeply, but his drunkenness instantly faded a bit. He turned away indifferently and walked to the balcony alone to get some breeze.
After he stood on the balcony for just a few minutes, he heard Lilith coming from behind. “Is it Xin Qianyu?”
Xin Qianyu frowned, his face full of unhappiness. But when he turned around, he smiled professionally. “Oh, it’s you? Aren’t you based at the U.S. headquarters?”
Lilith smiled and said, “Well, Lao Su wanted to come to the Asia-Pacific Region to be the president. Of course, I will follow. After all, we have a good relationship!”
Xin Qianyu sneered. “Really? If it’s so good, why haven’t you gotten him since it’s been two years? Is it you who can’t do it or him who can’t do it?”
Lilith’s face froze for half a second but soon showed an aggrieved expression. “What do you mean by that? He’s just my gay best friend.”
“Don’t tell me this.” Xin Qianyu did not want to feign civility with Lilith like before, but now he was even more reckless, and said coldly, “I’m not interested in knowing. You can just do whatever you want. Anyway, I don’t want him anymore…”
“You don’t want me anymore?” Su Zhong’s voice sounded by the door.
Xin Qianyu’s eyes followed the sound and saw Su Zhong in a white shirt and suit. He looked very handsome, but his expression was frail and dazed, which did not match the image of this “Prince Charming”.
This was embarrassing.
Even more embarrassing was that Thomas was standing next to Su Zhong.
Thomas wished he was deaf and said weakly, “Oh, actually, my Chinese isn’t very good. I didn’t understand a word you just said.”
Xin Qianyu turned away and left without saying a word.
Lilith shed tears on the spot, pitiful and delicate.
Su Zhong regarded her as if she was nothing and chased after Xin Qianyu in the direction he had left.
Xin Qianyu sent a message to Michelle saying that he was leaving and then walked out of the venue.
Unexpectedly, Su Zhong chased after him from behind.
Xin Qianyu stared at Su Zhong, feeling more and more surprised. It seemed like it was the first time that Su Zhong chased after him when he was angry.
Su Zhong looked aggrieved. “Where are you going?” The tone was exactly the same as if he was saying, “You don’t want me anymore.”
Xin Qianyu turned away and said, “I’m going home.”
“I’ll send you.” Su Zhong said.
Xin Qianyu said, “I’ll drive myself.”
“No,” Su Zhong said resolutely. “You drank.”
Xin Qianyu was dumbfounded now.
Su Zhong led Xin Qianyu into his car and drove in the direction of Xin Qianyu’s residence very skillfully.
Xin Qianyu suspected that Su Zhong had been following him. Otherwise, how could he always meet him by chance and know where Xin Qianyu’s residence was?
Su Zhong was stalking him?
——This thought made Xin Qianyu feel inexplicable chills and he rubbed his arms.
“Are you cold?” Su Zhong asked.
“Yeah.” Xin Qianyu nodded faintly. He was no longer surprised by Su Zhong’s observation skills.
Su Zhong took out a light brown cashmere blanket from the storage compartment.
The moment he saw this cashmere blanket, Xin Qianyu was startled.
This was the blanket Xin Qianyu was used to before.
In Su Zhong’s student dormitory previously, Xin Qianyu was used to draping it around himself. After they started living together, Xin Qianyu often draped this blanket around himself to watch TV at home.
This blanket… should be in the home where they used to live together, right?
The home where they used to live together……
Xin Qianyu went into a daze.
Xin Qianyu had not returned there since he decided to break up with Su Zhong.
After all, that residence was Su Zhong’s private property.
Speaking of which, where were the clothes and supplies that Xin Qianyu had put there?
It stood to reason that Su Zhong should have cleared them away, right?
However, when he saw Su Zhong taking out the old blanket so naturally, Xin Qianyu was not sure.
Xin Qianyu wrapped the blanket around himself and said dryly, “It’s so old. You haven’t thrown it away yet?”
“This is your stuff,” Su Zhong said. “So I kept it.”
Xin Qianyu turned his head and said, “Then did you let Lilith use it?”
This question was so strange. Xin Qianyu did not know why he said this.
Su Zhong also seemed to find it very strange, and said, “Why would I let her use it?”
Xin Qianyu could not control his emotions, and said a little gloomily, “What if she was cold too?”
“Why would it matter to me?” Su Zhong said, puzzled.
“…” Xin Qianyu was speechless for a while, but the unyielding aura in his chest seemed to have dissipated.
Xin Qianyu gathered his shawl together and said, “Why is she not in the United States?”
“This was a personnel transfer decided by the headquarters,” Su Zhong said.
Xin Qianyu knew that it was probably Lilith who took the initiative in applying to come to the Asia-Pacific Region with Su Zhong. It was really haunting.
Xin Qianyu muttered, “She’s really attentive.”
Su Zhong did not seem to understand. “Do you care about her very much?”
Xin Qianyu was startled. “Who said that?”
Su Zhong seemed unhappy. “You were just worried about whether she was cold or not.”
“…” Xin Qianyu did not know how to answer, so he just looked towards the window.
Su Zhong sent Xin Qianyu to the base of his apartment block. Xin Qianyu took off the blanket and was about to get out of the car, but heard Su Zhong say, “Everything that used to be there is still there. If you have anything you want, you can come back and get it.”
Xin Qianyu was startled when he heard the words, and then upset. “I have nothing I want.”
“Yeah,” Su Zhong said. “You don’t even want me anymore.”
Xin Qianyu’s heart throbbed, but he pretended not to hear, pushed open the door and got out of the car.
“What I said is the truth, but no one believes me.” Su Zhong’s voice was full of distress.
Xin Qianyu could not help but look back. “What?”
“The thing I regretted most is going to Wall Street. No matter what I got, I still feel unfortunate.”
Su Zhong’s gaze at Xin Qianyu was deeper than the night behind the street lamp.
Su Zhong’s hand touched his chest, which was surging but silent like a sea thousands of miles beneath.
Su Zhong’s eyes were like a pair of whirlpools, seeming as if they could pull Xin Qianyu into a deep place that could not be broken free from. This caused Xin Qianyu to be scared, thinking he should turn around and run away from him. But the vortex seemed to have suction, trapping Xin Qianyu’s feet firmly in place. Xin Qianyu was bewitched and asked a question that should not be asked at all. “Why?”
