Chapter Ch99.2 - Extra 6: A Small Episode During Entrepreneurship
Meanwhile, in his car, Yuan Jue couldn’t wait to open his laptop to start writing his evaluation report.
He YiJun was next to him, preparing some materials for his next meeting. Suddenly she commented: “I didn’t expect Shuttle Technology’s Lin Qian to be the Lin Qian that I knew. I thought they just coincidentally had the same name.”
Yuan Jue paused for a moment, then said: “By the way, YiJun, what kind of person is Lin Qian in private?”
He YiJun was a competent secretary who could always figure out what her boss wanted. This time was no different. Without declaring her position on the matter, she replied: “I don’t think I should say anything that could influence your judgment.”
“No, I want to talk about it. Lin Qian’s quite young, which gives him an advantage, but it also brings a lot of uncertainty. We’ve never cooperated with a university student before. I needed to know what kind of person he is.”
He YiJun decided to tell him the truth. “I haven’t had much contact with him. He’s a friend of my former boss’s son. I think his initial capital was also provided by my former employer.”
Yuan Jue nodded. He YiJun had always done and said things objectively, which was why he would sometimes ask for her opinion.
He YiJun declined to say anything else about Lin Qian’s past, and after she saw Yuan Jue’s attitude turn serious, she secretly sneered in her heart.
She didn’t know why Zheng BuLu suddenly broke up with her, but she could guess that it must have something to do with Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing. After breaking up with Zheng BuLu, her status in the Zheng family plummeted, and any backing they had given her disappeared overnight. He Fei had lost his job as the Zheng family secretary and could now only work in a small company. His salary was less than a third of his previous salary.
He YiJun fared a little better. In the first place, she had been able to gain Zheng BuLu’s trust due to her excellent professional abilities. When she left Zheng BuLu’s company, she was able to find a good job. However, without Zheng BuLu’s protection, it was impossible for her salary to be the same as before. Many people in the same trade knew that she had an affair with her former boss. As a secretary, this was a black mark in her record. In the end, she was left dissatisfied and would change jobs frequently.
Until last year, when she finally got hired by this investment firm. It wasn’t the best in the industry, but they were generous and had given He YiJun a salary that satisfied her. Afterward, she had tried her best to gain a firm foothold and win the trust of her boss.
She hadn’t expected to meet Lin Qian again, nor did she expect to see him on such an occasion.
He YiJun wasn’t bad at her work. After working with Yuan Jue for a while, she gained some understanding of how the industry worked. She knew that Lin Qian’s company was in dire need of money. In her short year as Yuan Jue’s secretary, she already understood how vital capital was to these kinds of start-ups, especially for internet-oriented enterprises. The internet was a money-burning industry. No matter how good your idea or product was, as long as you had no money, your company was likely to die at any moment.
In this business, companies go into liquidation every day.
“He’s brilliant. Although he’s just a sophomore, I think his ability should be good. Over time, he’ll definitely become a powerful person.” He YiJun said.
Yuan Jue replied: “I know that. What I want to know is his usual personality.”
He YiJun was silent for a moment, then she said: “I’m not too clear about that. He might’ve been a bit too impulsive in the past, but I think it should have little impact on this.”
Yuan Jue raised a brow. “Impulsive?”
He YiJun recounted some of Lin Qian’s previous fights and brawls, but her voice remained gentle, and she didn’t arouse Yuan Jue’s suspicions. Finally, she commented: “After all, this all happened during his high school days. He was simply young and vigorous. This is common among teenagers, ah.”
Yuan Jue went quiet.
He YiJun noticed this and added: “He used to fight a lot, but it never affected his grades. The teachers were also very tolerant of him.”
Yuan Jue slowly replied: “Impulsivity doesn’t affect learning and doesn’t affect intelligence, but for entrepreneurs, it’s a huge taboo.”
Yuan Jue slowly closed his laptop and felt like he had been a little too hasty. He had been blinded by Lin Qian’s outstanding performance and actually forgotten about other things.
He saw Lin Qian as an excellent person, but it was on the basis of Lin Qian’s ability, intelligence, and bearing. But one’s personality was the key to an enterprise’s success. How many talented people out there were ultimately destroyed by their impulsivity?
Yuan Jue nearly overlooked the fact that a business helmed by a student had a significant probability of failing.
“I have to think it over once more.” Yuan Jue touched his chin.
He YiJun also suggested: “Maybe you can make a more definite decision after you see several other companies.”
Yuan Jue nodded.
The internet industry has a shallow threshold, and almost everyone could take part in it. It was still in a state of savage growth. After a great product appeared, many other imitations were soon to follow. Not long after NOW’s release, many other similar live broadcast apps had popped up, and the teams behind those products were far more mature than Lin Qian.
However, because of that marketing event, no other live broadcasting service could compete with Shuttle Technology in terms of its userbase.
……
“It seems that Yuan Jue has calmed down after leaving and has raised a few concerns regarding our collaboration.” Lin Qian commented.
Zheng PingQing, who was fixing his hair, replied: “I guess we have He YiJun to thank for that.”
Lin Qian smiled. “He’ll hate He YiJun so bad in the future.”
Right now, they were at the science and technology summit. There were many representatives of various investment firms attending, and newly made start-ups were seizing this opportunity to show their faces. Shuttle Technology, the current leading figure in live broadcasting software, was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to speak for 10 minutes.
It wasn’t time for Lin Qian’s speech yet, so they had been busy exchanging business cards.
Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing were handsome, but they weren’t quite old enough, so few people came to chat with them.
Yuan Jue also came with He YiJun and had greeted Lin Qian: “I look forward to your speech.”
Lin Qian joked: “Mr. Yuan, do you want to take this opportunity to sign a contract with me before I go up and perform?”
Yuan Jue played along and said: “The contract is being revised, we’ll talk again in a little while.”
Zheng PingQing inserted: “That might be tough to accomplish later.”
Yuan Jue was a little unhappy at Zheng PingQing’s words, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he laughed and said: “I’ll wait and see.”
After saying his farewells, Yuan Jue left Lin Qian and met another acquaintance of his. This person was in charge of another company. As they chatted, the young man who was following his acquaintance suddenly asked He YiJun: “Aren’t you the secretary of Zheng PingQing’s father?”
He YiJun’s eye twitched, but she quickly recognized the person in front of her. She immediately smiled and greeted: “Young master Zheng, hello.”
This person was Zheng Chong. After being stimulated by Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing during Huo YeRui’s birthday party, he had tried his best and managed to get into an ordinary university instead of repeating a grade.
His father had been extremely pleased by his progress and, for the next two years, had begun to encourage Zheng Chong to learn the business. However, Zheng Chong’s father hadn’t arranged his son to enter his company. Instead, Zheng Chong had been given to a friend and had joined that friend’s company. He became a small intern first to experience the workings of a company. Although his position was quite low, Zheng Chong was often taken along to some crucial occasions to see the world.
Zheng Chong was actually very unwilling to go to work, but at the thought of his painful past, he eventually agreed to come to this summit.
He YiJun had often helped deal with his several fights with Zheng PingQing in the past. This was why Zheng Chong was able to recognize He YiJun. While he didn’t know that she was no longer Zheng BuLu’s secretary, he was still happy to see her. He impatiently asked: “Is Zheng PingQing here? Lin Qian? Where are they?”
Yuan Jue raised a brow. “You know Lin Qian?”
Zheng Chong’s expression turned a little strange at the question.
Seeing this, He YiJun naturally noticed that the enmity between him and Zheng PingQing had not yet dissipated. Her lips quirked up, and she said: “Why, do you still have a vendetta against PingQing?”
At the mention of Zheng PingQing, Zheng Chong’s expression became even worse. “No way, ah.”
Zheng Chong couldn’t be compared to Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing’s calm demeanors. One could tell from a glance that he was still a hairy boy and that he was incompatible with the summit’s more mature atmosphere.
Zheng Chong still had a great impression of Zheng PingQing mainly because if it wasn’t for him, Lin Qian might’ve been his tutor instead!
Yuan Jue looked at He YiJun, but she didn’t explain things right away. It was only after they had left Zheng Chong that she gave him a brief account of her relationship with Zheng Chong. Of course, she added some embellishments and included Lin Qian in the story.
In any case, if Zheng Chong decided to seek revenge on Zheng PingQing, Lin Qian certainly wouldn’t just sit by and let it happen. Yuan Jue wouldn’t know the truth.
Zheng Chong was a hot-head. Once Lin Qian gets involved with him, it would be hard for Yuan Jue to invest in him.
The conversation Yuan Jue had with He YiJun after visiting Shuttle Technology had led him to doubt Lin Qian and had thus delayed their collaboration. But after seeing several other live broadcast companies, Yuan Jue still obviously preferred Lin Qian. He YiJun was worried that she wouldn’t be able to find another reason to stop Yuan Jue from investing in Lin Qian, but unexpectedly, God gave her a big help in the form of Zheng Chong.
He YiJun had met Zheng Chong several times before. He was a brainless second-generation rich kid. What’s more, he was impulsive enough that he could potentially start a fight with Zheng PingQing on a solemn occasion like this.
He YiJun couldn’t help but look forward to it. As long as Zheng Chong made a move, she estimated that even other investment companies attending today’s summit would give up and avoid Lin Qian.
“I hope they don’t meet each other.” He YiJun anxiously told Yuan Jue. “That child has a mischievous and impetuous character, ah. He doesn’t care about the place or time. I hope he doesn’t affect Lin Qian’s image.”
Yuan Jue commented in a heavy tone: “I guess Lin Qian really just a student, ah. To be so reckless, regardless of the consequences. I guess he still needs a few more years of experience.”
But before he could finish speaking, Zheng Chong was already upon them. Zheng Chong tried to pry Zheng PingQing away from Lin Qian, saying as he did so: “Get out of my way, ah. Don’t block me from speaking with Lin Qian!”
But Zheng PingQing remained motionless. “You can talk to him from there. He can hear you just fine.”
Zheng Chong clicked his tongue. “You go away, ah. I haven’t seen him for so long. Let me see him, let me see him.”
Zheng PingQing rolled his eyes.
Ever since Huo YeRui’s birthday party, Zheng Chong would come and try to harass Lin Qian from time to time. And every time this happened, Zheng PingQing would block him. Zheng Chong even visited Lin Qian in A University once. Later, when Lin Qian became too busy with his studies and career to pay attention to him, Zheng Chong gave up.
Honestly, Zheng PingQing had to wonder whether this guy was suffering from some sort of Stockholm syndrome. If Zheng Chong didn’t constantly have girlfriends and had no signs of bending, Zheng PingQing would’ve already made sure that Zheng Chong didn’t have the chance to see Lin Qian.
Lin Qian’s face popped out from behind Zheng PingQing’s shoulder, and he smiled at Zheng Chong. “Why are you here?”
Once Zheng Chong saw Lin Qian, his entire mood instantly stabilized. He solemnly replied: “I listened to your words and studied hard. I’ve gotten an internship and am following my boss today. I’m carrying his bag.”
“That’s great.” Like coaxing a child, Lin Qian encouraged: “Continue to work hard.”
Zheng Chong saluted and said: “I know, I’ll work hard, ah.”
They were like father and child. Even their words had a paternalistic tone to it. Lin Qian asked Zheng Chong about his studies and work, then gave him some advice.
Meanwhile, Zheng Chong….took out a pad and began to take notes.
With arms crossed, Zheng PingQing rolled his eyes non-stop.
He YiJun: “….???”
Yuan Jue: “…???”
After a while, Lin Qian finally dismissed Zheng Chong. Then, he turned to Yuan Jue and chuckled embarrassedly: “Children nowadays are like this. You need to teach them slowly.”
Lin Qian said this in a completely adult tone.
Yuan Jue gave Lin Qian a blank stare as he robotically replied: “Yes, yes, that’s right.”
After who knows how long, Yuan Jue finally came back to his senses, he slowly looked towards He YiJun.
He YiJun’s entire person felt sluggish.
It wasn’t supposed to play out like this!
While He YiJun’s mind was in chaos, the summit officially began.
And by the time the summit ended. Yuan Jue’s expression was extremely ugly.
He had known that anyone who met Lin Qian would be impressed by him. But he never imagined that Lin Qian could shine so brightly on stage. He was simply too dazzling, ah.
Zheng PingQing’s words before the summit hadn’t been out of arrogance.
Now, they were no longer Lin Qian’s only choice.
Yuan Jue took a deep breath. He knew that ultimately, he was the one responsible for this. However, if it hadn’t been for He YiJun, he wouldn’t have delayed signing the contract again and again.
He needed to explain himself to the company. Similarly, He YiJun needed to explain herself to him. From the very start, He YiJun had given him completely false information.
As He YiJun followed behind him with trembling hands, she said: “Mr. Yuan…”
Yuan Jue didn’t respond.
He YiJun’s heart suddenly cooled. This was the best job she had been able to find. Once Yuan Jue fired her, she may never turn around from this.
But she couldn’t understand.
Why are those people acting so strangely?
All of a sudden, she heard a familiar voice. She turned around and saw Zheng Chong stretching his arms and attempting to get past Zheng PingQing. He complained: “Why are you stopping me from seeing Lin Qian, ah, ah, ah-”
Zheng PingQing had pressed Zheng Chong down to his knees and was now slapping Zheng Chong on the top of his head. “Is this how you talk to your second dad?!”
“Mr. Yuan.” He YiJun quickly called out to Yuan Jue so that he could see, but Yuan Jue had already slammed the car door closed and was already driving away. There was nothing left but a trail of exhaust gas.
He YiJun: “….”
On the other side, Zheng Chong continued to shout abuse at Zheng PingQing: “Let me go! I really want to punch you, ah!”
Zheng PingQing gave him another conk. “How can you talk to your father like this! Such an unfilial son!”
Right after the summit, Lin Qian had been surrounded by people who wanted to talk to him. Zheng PingQing had taken this opportunity to find Zheng Chong while Lin Qian was busy.
“I don’t have a father like you, ah. Lin Qian is my dad!” Zheng Chong yelled.
“Humph!” Zheng PingQing sarcastically replied: “That’s fine. You can call me mom too.”
Zheng Chong: “….”
Zheng Chong’s hands froze, and he slowly looked at Zheng PingQing with trembling eyes. “What…what did you say?”
Zheng PingQing raised a brow. “Is it that difficult to comprehend?”
Zheng Chong stuttered: “The rumors…the rumors are true?”
Zheng PingQing replied with a sneer.
Zheng Chong exclaimed: “I don’t want! I don’t want a mother like you-”
The author has something to say:
_(:з」∠)_ The ending of the villain is shown here.
This extra also shows the development of Ah Qian and Boss Ke’s company!
Zheng Chong wasn’t supposed to be in this chapter, but I didn’t have a suitable plot to put him in, so I just dropped him here. Hehe.
To those that had forgotten, Zheng Chong is the son Ah Qian and Xiao Qing had acquired in Chapter 24.
What a chapter! Managed to kill three birds with one stone!