Zhiyuan Technology’s bright prospects were earned through Luo Xiao and his team’s day and night efforts. As people who hadn’t yet entered society but had the courage to chase their dreams, they truly experienced the cruelty of reality during their entrepreneurial journey. The hardships were beyond imagination, and facing rejection while maintaining enthusiasm was common. At this point, Luo Xiao and his team suddenly realized that technical skills and blueprints alone didn’t mean much.
Not everything could be achieved just by having big dreams.
Funding was a major issue.
Without money, they understood what it meant to be unable to move forward.
Even when they had everything else, lack of funding made it seem like they had nothing.
But no matter how difficult it was, Luo Xiao and his team gritted their teeth and persevered.
When Zhiyuan was surrounded by endless darkness, some people did give up and leave. But those who stayed, encouraging each other, had already begun to treat Zhiyuan as their own child.
They clearly knew that darkness was temporary. Once their gold was discovered, they were destined for great things. This was the do-or-die belief of entrepreneurs.
As Zhiyuan’s leader and core developer, Luo Xiao, who might one day become CEO, had another reason to make Zhiyuan successful beyond these beliefs.
Once nearly dying, Zhiyuan was revived through Luo Xiao’s unconventional decisions.
They only lacked one opportunity to be recognized by someone who could spot talent.
Soon enough, that person came.
It was an investment from a well-known investor in the capital.
Thus, after barely surviving, Zhiyuan Technology finally saw a ray of hope – one bright enough to make them dance with joy.
With this money injection, like fresh blood flowing in, the project began running smoothly. They quickly got on track and started showing promise, becoming quite popular.
Once one person discovered this dark horse, more people noticed.
From then on, Zhiyuan Technology became the target of many eager investors.
Their rising trend was unstoppable.
When Yan Cheng first invested through Chai Yue, he didn’t know that putting more than half his eggs in Zhiyuan’s basket would change their fate.
This breakthrough didn’t make Luo Xiao relax. Because he had long-term plans, his vision was correspondingly far-reaching.
He knew that short-term projects relying solely on others’ investments couldn’t last.
To truly make Zhiyuan Technology big and strong, they needed major shareholders.
These shareholders needed to trust them completely and be willing to invest heavily in Zhiyuan.
In fact, there were many willing to invest small amounts.
But true major shareholders… were still hesitant.
Luo Xiao was confident in himself, but after serious conversations still getting negative responses, he suddenly had an idea.
Remember who helped you, though his intention was to get more help.
So, before returning to Hangzhou during summer break to convince his parents, Luo Xiao specially contacted Chai Yue, who had been Zhiyuan’s lifesaver. His purpose was clear – he hoped Chai Yue and the person who had invested through him could witness Zhiyuan’s growth together.
He showed his utmost sincerity.
…
During a period of anxious waiting without news.
The light in Luo Xiao’s eyes gradually dimmed from the long wait…
Just when he was about to lose heart,
Fortunately, his wait wasn’t in vain,
He finally saw light through the clouds.
Luo Xiao took this dinner meeting very seriously.
After returning to the capital, besides focusing on work, he rarely took time to let Chen Jin Lin accompany him to buy formal wear.
Some things he didn’t say, but Chen Jin Lin could understand.
He was grateful she was willing to give him his own space, letting him quietly create surprises for her while pretending not to know.
Entrepreneurship and love could be equated.
It just depended on how one weighed these two potentially conflicting things on the scale of their heart.
However, on the day of the dinner.
Luo Xiao never expected to coincidentally meet his girlfriend’s sister.
In the elegant restaurant lobby, under the crystal chandelier’s gentle light, Luo Xiao stood there, narrowing his eyes to hide his shock. Twenty minutes earlier, they had booked a private room early, chatting excitedly while waiting for Chai Yue and his group to arrive. When Luo Xiao received Chai Yue’s text, he immediately stood up, gesturing to his companions that it was time to wrap up, then adjusted his clothes and went out to greet them.
Actually, Luo Xiao had only been in contact with Chai Yue.
Chai Yue was like a middleman, responsible for making connections.
But he knew a lot, and when talking with him, there wasn’t much need to consider too much – just explain what needed explaining, and he would relay it.
Besides, before this dinner, not having the behind-the-scenes boss’s contact information was normal.
However, at this moment, Luo Xiao had a vague guess.
Little did he know this was all arranged by Chai Yue voluntarily.
Everyone would be tempted by a promising prospect, especially given Chai Yue’s professional nature and habits. Plus, with the other party being his good brother, he naturally wanted to get involved personally, and he also wanted to invest a small amount…
Regarding this, Yan Cheng, upholding the spirit of “brothers share both fortune and hardship,” didn’t have many strange opinions.
Thus, leading to the current situation.
Before Luo Xiao’s mind could react, his body moved quickly to greet them, shaking hands with Chai Yue and Yan Cheng one by one, then following procedure to greet Chen Jin Yao. When his gaze stopped on Chen Jin Yao, even though his eyes showed some struggle, he still blurted out without thinking, “Sister.”
Chen Jin Yao: “…”
Yan Cheng frowned: “??????”
During their time in Hangzhou, Chen Jin Yao had a good impression of Luo Xiao.
After becoming familiar over several days, Luo Xiao wasn’t as reserved as at first, and with Chen Jin Yao’s agreement following Chen Jin Lin’s suggestion, he directly called Chen Jin Yao “Sister.” After calling her that for a while, it naturally became a conditioned reflex.
Now calling out so openly, Luo Xiao scratched his head, not knowing what emotion to feel.
He wished the ground would open up so he could crawl in.
Yan Cheng’s inquiring gaze swept back and forth between Luo Xiao and Chen Jin Yao.
Not hiding his roguishness, pursing his lips and raising his eyebrows, soon narrowing his eyes.
Chen Jin Yao glared at him sideways, knowing exactly what he was thinking. She wanted to cover her face with her hands, but thought better of it, instead nudging Yan Cheng’s waist. When Yan Cheng looked down at her, her bright eyes motioned for him to bend down, then she explained softly: “Jin Lin’s boyfriend.”
Although the situation was awkward for a while.
But having reached this point, a bit more awkwardness didn’t matter.
They looked at each other silently for a few seconds.
Chen Jin Yao nodded, responding to Luo Xiao with an “Mm.”
Then gestured toward Yan Cheng, completely composed, “This is your brother-in-law.”
Luo Xiao: “…”
Luo Xiao narrowed his eyes: “Brother-in-law.”
Yan Cheng seemed about to whistle, but under Chen Jin Yao’s threatening gaze, didn’t dare act up, only taking on an elder’s manner, nodding, “Mm.”
“…” After the surprise, Chai Yue, feeling like an outsider, was frowning, his mood truly complex.
Fate was truly wonderful!
Everything should have been reasonable before, and before seeing Chen Jin Yao, Luo Xiao had even imagined how he would eloquently showcase Zhiyuan Technology’s strength and win over the future major shareholder, but at this moment, no matter what, he still felt uncomfortable. Even though they had nothing, even though Zhiyuan had attracted attention purely based on its prospects, he inexplicably felt like he was using connections.
The others around were laughing and chatting.
Celebrating wildly with drinks because of Yan Cheng’s quick investment.
“Young Master Yan, rest assured, our Zhiyuan will definitely achieve great things in the future.”
“Zhiyuan Technology will definitely take root in the capital and grow into a towering tree!” Alcohol easily made people excited, leading them to speak freely, or perhaps it was the fountain of hope and good news making them extremely excited.
Whatever it was, it was enough to make these impatient young people happy for a long time.
“In the future, not just in the capital, but in the whole country, the whole world, Zhiyuan Technology will be a resounding name, enough to scare others hahahahaha.”
Yan Cheng was infected by their mood for a moment, seeming to glimpse their grand ambitions and being moved by them, “Right.”
He had always been lazy, though not quite to the point of being completely aimless, but barely reaching the height of getting by. Among the Yan family children, he had the least ambition, just running Er Guan, seeking small stability.
Now, watching these people continuously toasting to their dreams, somehow his chest grew warm, this feeling of wanting to roll up his sleeves and work with them suddenly reached a new intensity. Yan Cheng calmed his emotions, raised his eyes to look at Luo Xiao across from him, who might become family in the future.
At this moment, Luo Xiao was very quiet, so quiet it was out of place with those around him, and still wearing that expression of melancholy, possibly from feeling he had used connections and gotten stuck on that thought.
“Hmph.” Yan Cheng lazily lifted the corner of his mouth, laughing mercilessly, hesitated for a moment, not knowing who he was answering, “I’ve been optimistic about Zhiyuan Technology from the start.”
Another wave of cheers.
Someone swayed over wanting to toast.
Yan Cheng declined politely: “Otherwise I wouldn’t have agreed to meet with you.”
At this, the expression of doubt disappeared from Luo Xiao’s face.
He raised his eyebrows, “Zhiyuan Technology is the best.”
After countless rounds of drinks, many people were drunk.
Chen Jin Yao hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, maintaining clarity throughout.
And because Chen Jin Yao was beside him, Yan Cheng hadn’t drunk much either.
Compared to Luo Xiao possibly having to take his four dead drunk companions back, Chen Jin Yao’s group had it much easier, with only Chai Yue red-faced and bragging.
Before dispersing.
Some people were swaying and falling asleep, others babbling endlessly.
Besides this, the serious talk was over.
Everything that needed to be discussed had been settled.
The table was a mess, looking even worse under the harsh lights.
Yan Cheng called a server to pay the bill.
Luo Xiao rushed to pay, after all, according to reason, they should pay.
This was basic social etiquette, showing character in small things. Luo Xiao reacted strongly, insisting on paying, and Yan Cheng raised his eyebrows, looked at Chen Jin Yao, then let him do it.
“I originally thought as a brother-in-law, I should treat this meal,” Yan Cheng turned slightly, whispering ambiguously in Chen Jin Yao’s ear.
“…” Hearing this, Chen Jin Yao rolled her eyes, speechless.
Some people were drunk and unwilling to leave, so they compromised and sat down again.
Thinking to wait a while longer, until they sobered up a bit.
Chen Jin Yao raised her eyes to look directly at Luo Xiao, finally asking the question she had held all evening: “Luo Xiao, starting your own business, and doing it in the highly competitive capital, is part of the reason…”
Because of Jin Lin.
“Yes,” Luo Xiao answered decisively.
Before she could finish her sentence, he had already answered “yes.”
From this forceful “yes,” Chen Jin Yao narrowed her eyes, guessing that Luo Xiao probably knew what she was going to ask.
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