"Mr. Chen, Sequoia and SIG Asia Venture Capital can offer a valuation of 1.8 billion."
Zhang Jiancheng got straight to the point.
"Mr. Zhang, no rush. I suggest Sequoia and SIG take another look at FoxTao's profit model, user growth, and conversion rate. We can discuss financing and valuation slowly."
Chen Yansen leaned against the wire fence outside the volleyball court, speaking unhurriedly.
No rush?
Zhang Jiancheng smiled inwardly.
He'd heard Rakuten was already collecting FoxTao's data to build a valuation model and had even hired China's largest business data interdiary to conduct a full assessnt of its business sustainability and compliance risks.
If this dragged on any longer, Sequoia might not even get a bite.
That's why they'd brought SIG in for a joint investnt—sharing both profits and risks to increase their bargaining power.
From their previous interactions, Zhang Jiancheng could tell Chen Yansen was a calm, rational entrepreneur. He absolutely wouldn't back down if the valuation didn't et his expectations.
Hearing Chen Yansen's evasive tone, Zhang Jiancheng smiled. "Is Mr. Chen dissatisfied with the resources behind Sequoia and SIG, or with the valuation itself? I know Rakuten's offer is higher, but their e-comrce resources in China are practically zero. You can't just look at the numbers on paper."
"IDG Capital is also a good choice," Chen Yansen ntioned casually.
IDG had always made large-scale investnts in the dostic internet sector. Compared to Sequoia and SIG, its capital and network better aligned with FoxTao's future developnt.
"Alright, I understand what Mr. Chen ans. It seems we can only compete with IDG on valuation," Zhang Jiancheng said, sounding resigned.
He felt Chen Yansen was too shrewd—none of the usual mistakes young people made. To win him over, it seed only real money would sway this little fox.
"Then, please give a more reasonable valuation based on FoxTao's business model and profit expectations," Chen Yansen replied with a faint smile.
Zhang Jiancheng knew this call was going nowhere. After a few pleasantries, he hung up.
Chen Yansen stayed on the court for a mont, then dialed ng Jie's number to ask her to lunch.
"My dad's here," ng Jie said softly.
ng Zhenguo?
Chen Yansen paused. Look at this father—didn't go ho for New Year's but ca to school to see his daughter. I haven't been ho in three months and only called once, for less than sixty seconds.
Sigh. So father-son relationships are better off severed.
"Alright, invite Uncle ng. Let's go into the city to eat. I'll wait for you at the school gate."
Chen Yansen hung up, got in his car, drove to the gate, rolled down the window, and waited.
A mont later, a black Santana slowly pulled out along Xuelin Road.
"Chen Yansen!" ng Jie leaned out the window, waving a little awkwardly.
"Uncle ng, long ti no see. You look even more dashing," Chen Yansen said with a smile, hands on the wheel.
That little punk.
ng Zhenguo's lips twitched. He didn't want to acknowledge him, but ng Jie in the passenger seat kept nudging him with her elbow.
"Xiao Chen, Uncle ng is treating you to lunch to thank you for taking care of ng Jie at school," ng Zhenguo said through slightly gritted teeth, glancing at Chen Yansen's car.
He hadn't misjudged him—this kid really had so skills. Before his first sester of freshman year was even over, he was already making waves in the business world.
When ng Jie told him Chen Yansen's company was valued at over a billion, he hadn't believed it. He looked it up online and was left speechless.
"I'll make the arrangents. And about that matter in Shanghai—I'm really grateful for Uncle ng's help in diating," Chen Yansen said politely.
He'd already gotten the Sky Garden reservation contact from Xu Xingxing and booked a private room.
Seeing Chen Yansen's insistence, ng Zhenguo didn't refuse further. He asked for the address, had ng Jie turn on the navigation, and started driving.
Chen Yansen stepped on the gas and quickly overtook them. He was worried ng Zhenguo wasn't familiar with the roads in Xu City and wanted to lead the way.
ng Zhenguo misunderstood, thinking the kid was provoking him, and imdiately sped up, overtaking Chen Yansen at the next intersection.
If I can't outrun your beat-up Santana, what was the point of spending two million?
Chen Yansen chuckled, easily overtaking again and staying in front, irritating ng Zhenguo.
"Dad, what are you doing? Can't you drive normally? Think you're in The Fast and the Furious?" ng Jie pouted, seeing her father still trying to catch up.
"???"
ng Zhenguo's mouth fell open. He wanted to say, That kid started it! Why should I let him have his way?
"Safety first," ng Jie tugged his sleeve.
Sigh. If I'd known this would happen, your mom and I would've tried for a second child. A daughter is so obedient, but she always sides with outsiders.
ng Zhenguo sighed, feeling both helpless and frustrated.
"No way! Dad, you're talking nonsense!" ng Jie quickly retorted.
Half an hour later, they arrived at Sky Garden. Guided by staff, they went to the top floor.
Coincidentally, the private room arranged was the sa one where Liu Muyan's "ex-fiancé" had been last ti. Chen Yansen didn't mind and seated ng Zhenguo at the head of the table.
Chen Yansen and ng Jie sat side by side.
ng Zhenguo hesitated, glanced at his daughter's expression, and held back whatever he was about to say.
Chen Yansen signaled for the dishes to be served. Soon, the table was filled with ten exquisite courses, plus two bottles of Moutai.
"Xiao Chen, this is too extravagant," ng Zhenguo frowned.
"When treating Uncle ng, of course it should be a bit more formal. ng Jie and I usually just eat in the school cafeteria," Chen Yansen said, leaving ng Zhenguo with nothing to criticize.
"You drink?" ng Zhenguo asked.
"I usually don't. But I can drink with Uncle ng," Chen Yansen replied without hesitation, making ng Zhenguo chuckle inwardly.
With Chen Yansen's shrewdness, he could keep eight or ten won on the side without ng Jie ever noticing. His daughter was too simple-minded to outmaneuver soone as slick as this kid.
"Then let's have a drink," ng Zhenguo said casually.
He hadn't planned to drink, but suddenly rembered twenty years ago, when he first visited his father-in-law's house and got forced into getting drunk. He later learned his father-in-law had wanted to test his drinking habits and character.
Back then, he'd scoffed. Today, for so reason, he'd inexplicably suggested a drink.
Chen Yansen skillfully opened the Moutai's packaging and cap.
Never drinks?
ng Zhenguo sneered inwardly. He'd been drinking for decades and had never been as smooth as Chen Yansen.
"Uncle ng, let toast you. Thanks for your help last ti. I'll finish this; you drink at your own pace." Chen Yansen raised his small glass, his tone sincere. Though Tang Qingshan had done most of the behind-the-scenes work, ng Zhenguo had pulled strings too.
He owed him this favor.
"Xiao Chen, ng Jie is straightforward, almost boyish. This is her first ti dating. I don't exactly support it, but I won't object either. Please take good care of her for ," ng Zhenguo said earnestly, his expression serious.
He just didn't like Chen Yansen!
But since his daughter liked him, he couldn't say much.
"Uncle ng, this is my first ti dating too," Chen Yansen said truthfully, then downed his drink in one go.
ng Zhenguo was amused. They were both n—he wasn't about to believe that nonsense.
Determined to get Chen Yansen drunk, he bluntly said small glasses weren't enough and they should switch to smaller decanters.
Chen Yansen didn't back down. Standing at 1.86 ters, with a tabolism almost three tis the average person's, his alcohol tolerance was naturally high.
They went back and forth, glass after glass.
Seeing this, ng Jie grew anxious and cut in, "Can you two eat sothing? All you're doing is drinking!"
She felt sorry for her father and worried about Chen Yansen.
The two exchanged a glance, silently took a bite of food, then raised their glasses again in unison.
ng Zhenguo couldn't rember how many glasses he'd had. He only vaguely recalled dropping his chopsticks three tis.
He started rambling, "Xiao Chen, young people in love get impulsive easily. You have to take precautions."
"..."
Hearing this, ng Jie buried her head in embarrassnt, covering her ears. She regretted letting Chen Yansen have lunch with her father.
"Uncle, don't worry. I bought the best," Chen Yansen, slightly tipsy but still sowhat clear-headed, said half-jokingly.
ng Jie, covering her ears, didn't hear.
"Good that you brought it." ng Zhenguo mumbled incoherently, instinctively raising his glass again. But before it reached halfway, he slumped onto the table.
"Your dad's asleep."
Chen Yansen nudged ng Jie and whispered.
"Ah? What do we do?" ng Jie looked up, her face full of embarrassnt.
Even she had seen through Old ng's little ga. Chen Yansen had understood perfectly well.
He'd tried to get Chen Yansen drunk but ended up completely wasted himself.
"Let's get a room so Uncle ng can rest first," Chen Yansen suggested.
"That's the only way," ng Jie nodded.
The two helped ng Zhenguo to the guest room and unceremoniously dumped him on the bed.
"Why don't you sober up here too?" ng Jie pointed to the other bed in the room.
"You'll sober up with ?" Chen Yansen grinned mischievously and pulled ng Jie into a hug.
"My dad's here," ng Jie whispered shyly, glancing at the soundly sleeping ng Zhenguo.
"It's fine. Your dad's asleep. He won't bother us," Chen Yansen said, pulling her down onto the soft bed.
"Just kissing," ng Jie warned, grabbing Chen Yansen's hand.
"I'll just hold you. I won't do anything inappropriate," Chen Yansen said seriously.
About a dozen minutes later, ng Jie struggled to jump off the bed, hurriedly straightening her clothes. She glared at Chen Yansen. "You're untrustworthy."
"I'm a businessman. I don't even have morals—what integrity are you expecting? But, though small, it's quite cute."
Chen Yansen gestured with his hand and comnted with a smile.
"Chen Yansen, you're asking for it!" ng Jie pounced back, straddling him and playfully wrestling.
...
...
By sunset, ng Zhenguo slowly opened his eyes.
Seeing this, ng Jie quickly handed him a bottle of water. "Dad, you really shouldn't drink next ti."
"Xiao Jie, don't talk to Uncle ng like that. Uncle ng, let's drink again tonight," Chen Yansen, sitting in a chair, joked with a smile.
Drink again?
You trying to drink to death, kid?!
ng Zhenguo shook his head repeatedly. "It's right to drink less. Xiao Chen, you didn't stop at noon either."
"Dad, Chen Yansen did try to stop you, but you insisted on opening another bottle," ng Jie tilted her head, looking a bit tired.
"Oh, really?" ng Zhenguo finally realized he must have truly overdone it at noon. He laughed awkwardly.
"Alright, you two head back to school. Seeing you get along so well, your mom and I are relieved," ng Zhenguo changed the subject.
They chatted a bit longer before Chen Yansen stood to leave. "Then we won't disturb your rest any further."
With that, he took ng Jie's hand and walked out.
"I'll drive back," ng Jie said, reaching into Chen Yansen's pocket, fumbling for a mont, and pulling out the car key.
"Alright." Chen Yansen didn't refuse. It had only been a few hours—he was definitely still over the limit.
ng Jie had gotten her license earlier than Chen Yansen, but she had little driving experience. Fortunately, it was the New Year holiday, and they were heading toward the suburbs, so the road wasn't crowded.
By the ti they got out of the car, ng Jie's palms were sweaty—clearly, the drive had been more stressful than she'd expected.
Chen Yansen walked ng Jie to her dorm, then turned and headed back to the startup park. As soon as he reached the second floor, a middle-aged man in his forties greeted him with an ingratiating smile.
"Mr. Chen, I'm Liao Wei from Yunsu Express. Please forgive my abrupt visit," Liao Wei said, his posture extrely humble, unlike soone worth tens of millions.
His eyes glead with shrewdness. His round, slightly chubby face bore a resemblance to a heavier Deng Chao, and his slicked-back hair shone brightly.
Chen Yansen narrowed his eyes at Liao Wei, a thought flashing through his mind. He suddenly recalled the group from a few days ago—this was most likely the man behind it.
His expression darkened, the friendliness vanishing instantly.
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