tropolis, being Hua Country's foremost financial city, is undoubtedly a playground for the wealthy!
The entire tropolis boasts ninety-four five-star hotels, while three-star and four-star hotels are even more nurous.
However, for the truly wealthy, five-star hotels are not their first choice. Compared to luxurious hotels, private clubs with various distinctive features are more favored by the affluent.
Located at the Huangpu River Bund, the Seasons Pavilion, despite being amidst the bustle and glamor, carves out its unique atmosphere.
As twilight approached, a line of cars slowly stopped in front of the club. Wearing leather shoes and a personally tailored suit, Chu Mo got out of the car, and imdiately a woman dressed in a purple cheongsam ca forward to greet him.
Without Chu Mo needing to give it any thought, the cheongsam-clad woman with her respectable attractiveness smiled lightly and respectfully said,
"Mr. Chu, Mr. Sun has been waiting for you for a long ti, I'll show you the way."
Chu Mo nodded with a smile.
Walking into the establishnt, the spaciousness of the lobby, the soft lighting, and the considerate decoration gave off a comfortable and cordial vibe.
Tao Yun, in a beige evening gown and lightly holding her own arm, carried a subtle fragrance that blended perfectly with the scholarly aura of the hall. Chu Mo liked this corner filled with books at just a glance.
If by oneself, one could simply find a corner to nestle in, order a cup of coffee, admire the beautiful scenery outside the window, and let the book pages be blown about by the wind while a blues tune drifts in the air. To quietly enjoy life's pleasures like this would be wonderful indeed.
But Chu Mo didn't have much ti for daydreaming.
Guided by the cheongsam-clad woman, they crossed the lobby and turned down a tranquil corridor, until they arrived at a room door labeled "Hanlin Academy." After lightly knocking twice on the door and receiving permission, the woman in the cheongsam gently pushed it open, and in that instant, a flowing lody of enchanting piano music poured into their ears.
"Little brother Chu, we've all been waiting just for you!"
In the classical and spacious private room, a slightly dark-skinned Sun Shangwu was the first to stand up. This top-tier billionaire worth over thirty billion was beaming with warmth, his robust voice filled with sincerity.
Chu Mo smiled and nodded, stepping forward to shake hands. As they gripped hands, Chu Mo could clearly feel the firmness in the other's shake.
"Little brother, let introduce you—this is President Lu from Fudan University."
As the words fell, Chu Mo reached out his hand again to shake hands with the sixty-sothing-year-old man before him, while Sun Shangwu, acting as the matchmaker, continued to say,
"Mr. Lu, this is the Chu Mo I told you about. Despite being young, Mr. Chu executes his work with utmost reliability."
The elder before him was sowhat stern and serious. After shaking hands, he politely nodded his head and then refrained from any further conversation.
Chu Mo didn't think much of it.
The elder before him was a scholar of Hua Country, enjoying a state stipend, a true luminary. To tell the truth, Chu Mo, with his second-tier university education, really was nothing in the eyes of this senior.
As the guests took their seats, the host, Sun Shangwu, gently clapped his hands, and the cheongsam woman who had been standing nearby imdiately caught on.
After she exited the private room, a mont later, a group of good-looking waiters lined up and then began to set down dish after dish in an orderly fashion on the dining table.
As an obvious regular here, Sun Shangwu started with a smile,
"The cuisine at Seasons Pavilion is rich, innovative, and fresh. The flavors are unique. We co here for sothing new. Since Mr. Lu and brother Chu don't enjoy drinking, let's not bother with the wine culture and just start eating.
"Try this basil curry shrimp pot, with curry flown in by plane, fragrant and appetizing without being overly rich. The shrimp soaked in it has a taste that lingers on the palate. I tried it last ti and just couldn't stop myself from reaching for more!"
With a face full of enthusiasm, Sun Shangwu encouraged everyone to start their al. Chu Mo had a late lunch and was not too hungry at the mont, but the exquisite dishes in front of him certainly aroused his appetite.
Just as Chu Mo was about to pick up his chopsticks, Tao Yun at his side had thoughtfully peeled a plump lobster for him and looked at him eagerly.
Chu Mo smiled as he placed the lobster from his plate in his mouth, chewed gently, swallowed, and then said with a light chuckle,
"Don't worry about , just eat whatever you want."
Upon hearing this, the girl with the breathtaking beauty beside him hesitated for a mont. However, she soon gave up insisting, nodded gently, and began to enjoy the food with elegance.
anwhile, Sun Shangwu, who had stood up to serve a bowl of soup to the elderly Mr. Lu, smiled and said:
"Mr. Lu, please try this Vietnase-style seafood shrimp soup. The base of the soup is raw fish, to which shrimp paste and crab paste are added, and then it's stewed with tomatoes, sour plums, and chili peppers, before being finally sprinkled with a little French red wine. It's sowhat like French seafood soup, and it's delicious."
After tasting it with a spoon, the elderly man pursed his lips slightly. Then, for the first ti, the usually stern elder revealed a smile and remarked softly:
"Sour, it really is. You've gone to a lot of trouble, Xiaowu. After all these years, you still rember I like to eat sour things!"
"Mr. Lu, if it hadn't been for you back then... there would be no Sun Shangwu today. To say sothing that might sound unfilial, you're even closer to than my parents."
The elder, with a satisfied look in his eyes, took another sip of soup before speaking deeply:
"Over the years, our Fudan University has produced quite a few outstanding talents. However, if we're talking about who has really made a significant contribution to society, it's half you, Sun Shangwu, and half Liu Ziqi, and then there's He Can. It's a pity that lad went abroad a few years ago, otherwise He Can would have gone far.
Xiaowu, I sought you out this ti because I, old Lu, have lost all my pride. Whether our departnt's research can continue or not depends on whether you, our big chairman, are willing to give the nod."
As the old man finished speaking, Sun Shangwu across the table suddenly looked helplessly in Chu Mo's direction.
Chu Mo, who had a premonition and grasped sothing without showing it, glanced casually at the elder across from him. After a mont, his expression returned to calm.
Sun Shangwu clearly respected the old man in front of him. After several hesitant monts, he finally put down his utensils and said earnestly:
"Mr. Lu, if you had co to two weeks earlier, I would have easily pledged three to five billion without even furrowing my brow.
But I've recently invested all my funds in a new project, and I'm indeed a bit strapped for cash right now. Let think of a solution, and see if I can mobilize so funds from a few friends.
Within one week, I'll raise thirty million for you, and then donate it to our departnt in my personal na. What do you think...?"
Sun Shangwu, with a cautious look on his face as he spoke, saw the elder across from him furrow his brows—clearly, thirty million was not enough to solve his problem.
"Xiaowu, you should know that my research has hit a bottleneck.
If it weren't for the dire lack of funds, the research grants from above are simply a drop in the bucket—I wouldn't lower myself to ask you for help.
The entire research project has now reached a critical juncture. We must purchase the advanced equipnt from Arica, and thirty million... sigh!"
At that mont, Tao Yun, who had been eating, now sat obediently next to him. Sun Shangwu, with a darkened face, hesitated again before ultimately turning his gaze to Chu Mo.
"Young brother Chu, you know the situation. I've invested twenty-three billion on my own in Bafang International. I really can't co up with any more money right now. Even assembling this thirty million would require to transfer out what I have in my hands.
I know you have funds, young brother Chu. If you're willing to invest in Mr. Lu's research project, once the results co out, it'll definitely be explosive news.
I can't go into detail right now, but at the very least, it can put our Hua Country more than ten years ahead of the world in a certain field. By then, you'll certainly be a distinguished guest at Fudan University, and if there's anything you need in the future, dozens of scholars from Fudan will have your back."
Chu Mo didn't rush to agree but casually asked:
"How much funding is needed specifically?"
At that, the elder who had previously disregarded Chu Mo leaned forward for the first ti and spoke directly to him:
"You're interested in my research, young student? Scientific research is no child's play—it's a very costly industry."
Chu Mo suddenly chuckled, his eyes flashing with a aningful smile.
In the entire world, Chu Mo didn't believe there was any industry that could burn through his wealth.
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