Jiang Jinyue breezed over her history with Fang Zhi, and Fang Zhi likewise maintained a strictly professional demeanor.
"Although Qingci Technology is a very young enterprise, your achievements over the past few years have been remarkable. A tree standing taller than the forest will be broken by the wind; many people want to swallow up such a succulent piece of meat. Finding a backer will help you go much further."
This was Lanchuang Capital, after all. With funding from them, they would effectively have an endless supply of blood, and they would never have to worry about money again. As Fang Zhi said, with such a powerful backer, no one would dare to plot against them again.
Meng Zanchen was very tempted, but he remained silent. The three of them had founded the company together, but Jiang Jinyue held the most shares, and for the past few years, their roles had been clearly defined. He handled outreach, Yan Bocong handled the technology, and Jiang Jinyue oversaw the entire company, steering its direction. Her results proved that she had a keen eye. Therefore, both Meng Zanchen and Yan Bocong listened to her.
Fang Zhi also knew that Jiang Jinyue was the one who made the decisions. His previous small talk with Meng Zanchen and the others had just been waiting for her; this was the real negotiation.
"This is our preliminary investment proposal. Miss Jiang, you may take a look." Fang Zhi pushed a document toward Jiang Jinyue.
Jiang Jinyue picked up the proposal, glanced at it, and smiled. Just as Fang Zhi felt a weight lifting off his chest, he saw Jiang Jinyue push the document right back to him.
"The terms are very generous. If I were still a student who hadn't yet left school, I would accept this pie falling from the sky in a heartbeat." Jiang Jinyue looked straight at Fang Zhi, her tone calm but imposing. "Lanchuang Capital is the capital of all capitals. For you to go to such lengths for a small company for no reason, you must be aiming for something much bigger than what others would want."
*Of course,* he thought, *we are aiming for you.*
Fang Zhi swallowed the mouthful of tea he had just taken and replied with a smile: "Capital exists to make money. We invest in whatever projects are profitable; what we value is your ability to generate profit."
"Is that so?" Fang Zhi felt a bit unnerved under Jiang Jinyue's gaze. Having followed Lu Chenhuai for many years, he maintained a composed expression. "It is natural for Miss Jiang to have concerns. Why don't you discuss it further? Such an important matter requires careful consideration. Shall we schedule another time, Miss Jiang?"
"Very well."
The company did not belong to Jiang Jinyue alone. Since it was a matter of life and death, she could not make a snap decision to refuse. Meng Zanchen and Yan Bocong trusted her, and she had to respect them in return.
As soon as Fang Zhi left, Meng Zanchen immediately leaned in, gossiping: "You actually know the boss of Blue Venture Technology! If we had known you had these connections, we wouldn't have been worried about a thing!"
Jiang Jinyue glanced at Meng Zanchen. "Did you put on weight?"
Meng Zanchen looked baffled. "No, I've actually lost two pounds in the last two days."
"Then on what grounds do you think the boss of Lanchuang Capital would personally come to negotiate with us?"
Before Meng Zanchen could grasp what she meant, Yan Bocong couldn't help but chuckle.
"He's not the boss of Lanchuang Capital. With that air about him, he really looked like a big boss, though," said Meng Zanchen.
Jiang Jinyue hadn't known who the boss of Lanchuang Capital was before, but the moment she saw Fang Zhi, she had guessed. She had searched online just now. Although there was no specific information about the owner of Lanchuang Capital, the descriptions matched Lu Chenhuai perfectly. Besides him, who else could order Fang Zhi around?
Meng Zanchen’s earlier remark wasn't wrong, though. Even a minor official at the prime minister’s gate commands respect, and a strong general has no weak soldiers under his command. Lu Chenhuai’s special assistant was no ordinary person.
***
Fang Zhi returned from Qingci Technology and headed straight for Lu Chenhuai’s office.
"President Lu—"
Lu Chenhuai glanced up at him. Fang Zhi retreated to the door, knocked, and entered again. "I left the proposal, but I don't think Miss Jiang will accept our investment."
Lu Chenhuai put down his pen, setting aside the *Lantingji Xu* he had been halfway through copying. "Give me the details."
Fang Zhi reconstructed every word Jiang Jinyue had said as accurately as he could.
"She certainly has backbone!"
Fang Zhi couldn't tell what Lu Chenhuai’s attitude was, so he tentatively asked: "Then... should we intervene regarding the Ye family?"
Lu Chenhuai looked up, and Fang Zhi quickly added, "I'll go get back to work, President Lu."
Once out of the office, Fang Zhi let out a sigh of relief, though he didn't feel entirely at ease. This was a romantic hunt disguised as a business negotiation. He had his work cut out for him.
Inside the office, with the door closed, Lu Chenhuai looked at the half-finished *Lantingji Xu*. He rubbed his shirt cuff with one hand and a cold sneer curled his lips. He had been climbing through the ranks of the business world for so many years, only to be fooled by a young girl. He had thought she was a docile Bichon Frise, but it turned out she was a little wildcat hiding her claws.
She had refused him with such backbone—was it because Su Jing was her backer?
Jiang Jinyue hadn't originally intended to ask Su Jing for help. Between the money she had earned over the years, the pocket money Su Jing gave her, and the proceeds from selling the bags and jewelry Lu Chenhuai had given her, funding hadn't been an issue. But after receiving the recording from the private investigator, she had changed her mind.
She could understand Su Yan’s motive for harming her, as they had been at odds since she arrived at the Su family residence, but Ye Zhilan’s intent to harm her was unexpected. Since she wanted to acquire her company, she would have her beloved Su Jing invest in it instead. That would be enough to annoy her to death.
Jiang Jinyue had told Meng Zanchen and Yan Bocong of her intention to refuse Lanchuang Capital’s investment, and neither of them had any objections. For one, Jiang Jinyue had always been the one to make these decisions, and for another, they were also wary of such "good fortune" appearing out of thin air; they feared it might hide a deeper conspiracy.
"Boss Yue, someone is here to see you." The receptionist followed Ding Ning in calling Jiang Jinyue "Boss Yue."
Jiang Jinyue emerged from her office, scanned the entrance, and her delicate brows immediately furrowed.
"Yueyue," Ye Zhan called out. He had a lot he wanted to say, but seeing her cold attitude, the words caught in his throat.
"What do you want, Young Master Ye?"
"I brought you tea and snacks from that shop you like, Ma Ji." Ye Zhan held out the bag as if waiting for credit.
Jiang Jinyue glanced at it but didn't reach for it. "This is Qingci Technology, not your home at Yuesheng Mansion."
Ye Zhan and Su Yan’s matrimonial home was at Yuesheng Mansion. At the mention of this, Ye Zhan was filled with bitterness. The one he loved was Jiang Jinyue; it had always been her.
Jiang Jinyue didn't want to look at his regretful face and turned to walk away.
"Yueyue, I know you've been having problems with financing lately. I can help you."
Jiang Jinyue reacted as if she had heard a ridiculous joke. "Could it be that you had a hand in sabotaging the investments we had already negotiated?"
Ye Zhan hurriedly waved his hands. "No! I only just heard that my sister had been meddling, driving away your investors and trying to acquire your company."
"You, a young master who is out of the loop and marginalized by his own sister—on what grounds do you claim you can help me with an investment?"