Time reached the end of May, and Chen Pingjiang's freshman year was quickly coming to an end.
The entire University of Finance and Economics also entered exam season, with summer vacation starting in mid-June.
Chen Pingjiang asked Zhu Guangtong and Kuang Minghong if he could be excused from the final exams, as he truly didn't have time to review for them.
If you gave him a book now, he wouldn't be able to read it anyway.
Kuang Minghong said that Chen Pingjiang didn't have to write the papers, but he had to show up in person, and he didn't need to worry about the rest.
Regarding the final exams, to be honest, the University of Finance and Economics was more concerned than Chen Pingjiang.
Chen Pingjiang might not care about this diploma, but the University of Finance and Economics couldn't be without this student.
And Chen Pingjiang's exam scores had to look good, befitting his status.
In this regard, the University of Finance and Economics truly had it tough.
Everyone in the dorm had grown accustomed to this; whoever dared to compare themselves with that punk Chen Pingjiang would be an idiot.
For a time, even the most slacker Zhao Shaoyang and Wang Lei in Dorm 603 were studying every day.
...…
As soon as Chen Pingjiang entered the private room, a row of bosses sitting around a round table not far away quickly stood up.
Businessmen are realists; they don't care about seniority.
In this dog-eat-dog world, strength is everything.
And now Chen Pingjiang was worthy of it.
Zhang Fu, who owned a hotpot restaurant, smiled warmly and said,
"Mr. Chen, a day apart feels like three autumns. How many years has it been since we last met?"
He Zhiyu next to him also walked over smiling, put his arm around Chen Pingjiang's shoulder, and led him to the main seat.
Despite Chen Pingjiang's polite refusals, He Zhiyu insisted he sit down.
"Today, only you can sit in this seat. If you don't sit, no one else would dare to."
Chen Pingjiang had no choice but to give in, smiling as he asked,
"Old He, what's your scheme? You called so many people."
He Zhiyu waved his hand,
"Let's start the banquet first; we can talk while we eat."
After three rounds of wine and five dishes.
A somewhat tipsy He Zhiyu finally looked around and said to Chen Pingjiang,
"Mr. Chen, I'll be direct. Regarding the investment we discussed last time, could you help us out? We are very interested."
Chen Pingjiang pondered for a while,
"Are you referring to Renren.com or Renren Waimai?"
As if fearing Chen Pingjiang might misunderstand, Zhang Fu quickly explained,
"Naturally, it's Renren Waimai. Although we are not in the internet circle, we've recently seen Renren.com's activities everywhere and know how popular it is. So many capital giants are eyeing it; how dare our small arms and legs covet and enter that."
He Zhiyu also nodded,
"I heard that Renren.com's valuation has already exceeded one billion, and it's still growing rapidly. When it reaches two billion, even 5% equity would be one hundred million, and our pocket money can't gather that much."
Chen Pingjiang chuckled.
It seemed He Zhiyu brought him here today, and if he didn't agree, he wouldn't be able to leave, and it would also embarrass He Zhiyu.
At this moment, Zhang Fu was also assisting,
"Mr. Chen, for the Renren Waimai project, just value it at your psychological price; we will agree to any amount."
This matter was nominally initiated by He Zhiyu, but in reality, Zhang Fu was the most enthusiastic.
Zhang Fu's son also started a small internet company and was very optimistic about Renren.com's future prospects.
Hearing that his old man actually knew Chen Pingjiang, and after understanding the Renren Waimai project, he told him to invest no matter what.
Investing now was like picking up money!
Later, even if they wanted to buy, they wouldn't be able to, and would be pushed aside.
Chen Pingjiang also gave a wry smile; these old guys really felt uncomfortable if they didn't give him money.
After nodding, Chen Pingjiang was no longer reserved,
"Let's go with ten billion. You might think it's a bit high right now, but I can tell you that once Renren Waimai and group buying take shape, a future market value of hundreds of billions won't be a problem."
The dozen or so people at the table exchanged glances.
Finally, He Zhiyu nodded, slapped the table, and excitedly said,
"Done, let's all pool together, we want 5% equity."
Although currently, Renren Waimai's valuation definitely wouldn't be ten billion, and even one billion would be difficult, everyone present wasn't foolish.
They were looking at the future and valuing Chen Pingjiang himself.
Chen Pingjiang just casually makes a move, and Renren.com is doing so well.
In the eyes of these people, the Renren Waimai project has even more potential.
Chen Pingjiang wasn't trying to trick these people.
Meituan had a market value of hundreds of billions in later generations.
This 5% equity would be equivalent to two or three hundred billion.
An investment return rate of two or three hundred times.
These people would practically make money lying down, a sure-win business without them having to worry.
Even if later, this 5% equity was diluted to only 2%, that would still be at least a hundredfold P/E ratio.
Seeing the cooperation finalized, everyone present was ecstatic, constantly toasting Chen Pingjiang.
Finally, they insisted on dragging Chen Pingjiang to a commercial KTV for a second round.
...
Waking up in the morning, Chen Pingjiang felt his eyes burning, a terrible headache, and a very dry mouth.
"Awake?"
Chen Pingjiang hadn't paid attention at first, but suddenly felt that the voice sounded a bit off.
He then looked around the room and realized it was a woman's boudoir.
He turned his head to see Ge Mengshi standing in front of him, wearing a casual pajama and holding a water glass.
Chen Pingjiang was a bit dazed, and asked directly,
"How did I get here?"
"You don't remember anything?"
Chen Pingjiang gave a wry smile,
"I remember nothing."
Ge Mengshi, dressed in home pajamas, had a very different demeanor from her usual cold and sophisticated look:
"Last night, you called me after you drank too much. I picked you up. One time each, we're even."
Chen Pingjiang mostly believed it, but wondered why he called Ge Mengshi and not even Zhou Guanghan or Yan Yan.
After chugging the water, his thirst slightly relieved, Chen Pingjiang curiously asked,
"Why didn't you go to work today?"
"I resigned,"
Ge Mengshi said as if it were a perfectly normal, unremarkable thing.
"What? You resigned? When did this happen? Then you won't be able to afford to keep me anymore?"
Chen Pingjiang's eyes widened.
It was fine until he mentioned that; at that, Ge Mengshi got annoyed, staring directly at Chen Pingjiang:
"Please watch your words. What do you mean 'I keep you'? At most, it's called 'rent'! Also, why did you lie to me that you owned a milk tea shop? Last night when I picked you up, those men around you clearly looked like businessmen. They warned me to take care of you no matter what, caring about you more than their own parents."
"Uh, what did you tell them?"
"I said I was your secretary."
Chen Pingjiang nodded, then smiled,
"One of my businesses is milk tea, so I didn't say anything wrong. Besides, you didn't ask in detail."
"Oh? What other businesses do you have?"
Ge Mengshi asked curiously.
She was truly curious how this young man could mingle with those older men and be so respected, and where he got so many enterprises at such a young age.
Chen Pingjiang's gesture of counting on his fingers made Ge Mengshi gasp.
"Let me count, Renren.com, Renren Waimai, group buying, milk tea, BBQ restaurants..."
"That recently popular Renren.com is yours?"
Ge Mengshi was practically going crazy.
Renren.com's target users were white-collar workers.
Although Ge Mengshi didn't actively use it, she had registered an account to understand it and had a good impression of the website, especially finding the makeup and women's emotional sections very interesting.
Chen Pingjiang raised an eyebrow and retorted,
"What? Can't it be mine?"
Ge Mengshi felt a bit faint; this demeanor was poles apart from her usual coldness.
"Then you still charged me fifty thousand a month for rent?"
"Cough cough."
Chen Pingjiang cleared his throat and said righteously,
"Friendship is friendship, business is business. We have a cooperative relationship. I pretend to be your boyfriend, you pay me. It's perfectly reasonable."
"I..."
Ge Mengshi had a belly full of words, but Chen Pingjiang's retort left her speechless.
Indeed.
She was the one who asked Chen Pingjiang to pretend to be her boyfriend, and she was the one who proposed fifty thousand a month.
But...
How could such a big boss be so bored as to do something like this with her?
"With your net worth, don't you feel undignified accepting fifty thousand a month?"
Chen Pingjiang laughed heartily,
"What's wrong with fifty thousand? Is fifty thousand not money? Don't dismiss small things as insignificant. Besides, why refuse free money?"
Ge Mengshi finally had a deeper understanding of Chen Pingjiang's "unconventional" and "unrestrained" nature.
The atmosphere suddenly grew cold.
Ge Mengshi was digesting the many shocking pieces of information that had suddenly emerged.
Chen Pingjiang asked,
"Why did you just resign?"
"Nothing, I just didn't want to work there anymore."
Ge Mengshi casually found an excuse, not wanting to delve deeper into the matter.
"What are your plans then?"
"I'll rest for a while, then we'll see."
Chen Pingjiang's eyes darted around as he re-examined Ge Mengshi.
Someone sent a pillow when he was sleepy; wasn't this perfect?
He needed experienced professional managers like her under him.
A top student who graduated from the London Business School, and a COO of a listed company, Ge Mengshi perfectly met his requirements in terms of both education and work experience.
"Are you interested in working for me?"
Ge Mengshi was stunned for a moment.
It felt like things were turning upside down.
"Doing what?"
Chen Pingjiang thought for a moment and said,
"I'm currently in charge of the internet companies, but my other catering company is currently in a free-range state. Especially now that the weather is gradually warming up in May, neither my Little Chen BBQ nor Miaochao have particularly suitable managers. If you're willing, help me manage the catering company."
"Let me introduce Zhizhen Catering in detail. It currently has two catering brands: Little Chen BBQ, which has eight branches concentrated in Xianlin University Town; and Miaochao, which now has nearly twenty branches, with its flagship store in Xinjiekou having opened recently."
"Actually, my vision for catering is very grand. Although the BBQ restaurants are difficult to replicate, I only plan to cover the entire Dongjiang. But Miaochao's model is quite easy to replicate; it could even cover the whole country and go public someday. Furthermore, I have another catering brand concept that, once implemented, will also be a huge hit."
Ge Mengshi's surprise was by no means small.
She was truly curious how one person's energy could be so robust to manage so many projects.
Two brands with nearly thirty branches combined, and even new brands waiting to be developed.
"Wait, are you the son of a big conglomerate, or a rich second-generation or official second-generation?"
Ge Mengshi thought it must be the case; otherwise, it would be impossible to explain how Chen Pingjiang could be so successful as a freshman.
But unfortunately, Chen Pingjiang's answer disappointed her.
"What rich second-generation or official second-generation? My parents are honest, ordinary employees. All of this was built from scratch through hard work over a year."
As Chen Pingjiang spoke, he heavily emphasized the idioms "hard work" and "from scratch."
But his tone made Ge Mengshi feel like he was showing off, and she even wanted to punch Chen Pingjiang.
Listen, is this even human talk?
Do you think anyone can build such a vast empire through hard work?
Those who haven't started a business think it's as simple as eating and drinking, but only after truly doing it do they realize the difficulties.
However, Ge Mengshi glanced at Chen Pingjiang.
"This guy probably isn't in that category."
At this moment, Chen Pingjiang's voice rang out again:
"I hope you seriously consider it. Zhizhen Catering especially needs your addition. In fact, I'm currently looking for good professional managers, but haven't found suitable ones for a while.
The further we go, the harder it will be for me to juggle so many things simultaneously, and I don't want the development of so many good projects to stagnate because of my personal reasons.
If you are willing to join, I am personally willing to transfer 5% of the shares. You will manage the company as a co-founder, and besides providing the general direction, I will not interfere with any of your decisions."
Chen Pingjiang knew all too well the importance of excellent talent to a company.
Liu Bei still visited thatched cottages three times.
Talent determines the height of an enterprise, guides its development direction, and is the most important resource for enterprise development.
Chen Pingjiang could certainly guarantee the general direction and macroeconomic strategy.
But specific matters still required execution from those below him.
As for the five percent of shares, it meant nothing to Chen Pingjiang in the future.
If he was stingy with shares, the catering business would definitely not succeed.
If you want a horse to run, you naturally have to feed it grass.
And Ge Mengshi's identity was not merely that of a general executive but a co-founder.
Was Ge Mengshi tempted?
Naturally, she was!
Although Zhizhen Catering's scale was relatively small, backed by Renren.com and Chen Pingjiang, resources would certainly not be lacking, and the starting point would be much higher.
"So, from now on, should I call you Mr. Chen?"
After a long pause, Ge Mengshi said with a light laugh.
Chen Pingjiang chuckled, waving his hand,
"What's with 'Mr.' between us? Just call me by my name, we are partners."
"How will this work now? I rented you to impersonate my boyfriend, and now you've become my boss. It sounds so messy."
Chen Pingjiang said carelessly,
"What's the big deal? In the company, I'm your boss. If needed, I'm your fake boyfriend."
However, Ge Mengshi shook her head,
"Just saying that is fine, but I don't want to complicate our relationship so much. I'll make things clear to my parents these next two days, lest they misunderstand and cause future awkwardness."
She was a decisive person herself.
If it continued, they would get more and more entangled.
It was just a fit of pique initially, but now that their identities had changed, she didn't want to cause any misunderstandings in the future.
(End of chapter)
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