"What's wrong?"
Fang Wanqing asked with a smile, seeing that Su Yi's expression wasn't very good.
Su Yi's gaze swept across the brightly lit streetscape of Hong Kong City, as if beneath this bustling scene, he saw the future decline of this free financial city.
He replied,
"Nothing, I just suddenly feel a bit unaccustomed to this kind of party atmosphere. Perhaps I need more time to adapt to an unfamiliar environment."
"Hmm."
Fang Wanqing said,
"I wasn't used to it either when I first came to Hong Kong City."
"Why did you come out too?"
Su Yi asked.
He could tell that Fang Wanqing was still very popular in the entire circle.
"My aunt only asked me to make an appearance; she didn't say I had to stay until the end of the party. And to be honest... I don't really like such occasions. I always feel that everyone's words are insincere, their smiles are fake and stiff, and constantly greeting people is also very tiring."
"It's clear your aunt wants you to see if there are any handsome men you fancy,"
Su Yi said with a smile.
"I've noticed that many young people in the room are looking at Miss Fang."
Fang Wanqing smiled and said,
"I've also noticed that many people's eyes are on Mr. Su!"
"There's a clear difference. These people are noticing me because I embarrassed them, and... they might see me as a romantic rival."
Upon hearing the words 'romantic rival', Fang Wanqing chuckled and said,
"But you really did offend quite a few people tonight. It's probably going to be tough for you to get by in Hong Kong City's financial circle from now on. You know, 'Huifeng Bank' has a great influence in Hong Kong City's financial sector, and Mr. Godfrey also has a significant influence in the financial circle here. Has Mr. Su learned about 'Huanyu' hedge fund, which he manages?
As far as I know, this hedge fund product... Its main investors are a group of business magnates in Hong Kong City, as well as many elite individuals.
Furthermore, this fund product has performed very well over the years. One notable battle was during the 'Swiss franc black swan' event, where it acted as the counterparty to UBS and defeated the Swiss National Bank, which was propping up the Swiss franc exchange rate.
Mr. Godfrey is a star hedge fund manager in the 'Huifeng Global Asset Management' business segment. I hear that 'Huifeng Group' already plans to promote him to president of 'Huifeng Global Asset Management' business, putting him in charge of the entire asset management business."
"No matter. The foundation of our 'Huayi Capital' company isn't in Hong Kong City to begin with. Moreover, in the financial market, everything relies on financial strength, knowledge, and technology. So-called qualifications, connections, and industry influence, while not entirely useless, are at least not the ultimate decisive factors in real market confrontations or in the company's business development."
"That's true,"
Fang Wanqing nodded slightly.
"However..."
Fang Wanqing paused, then continued to ask,
"Are you really planning to invest heavily and enter the international foreign exchange financial market?"
Su Yi nodded and said,
"Naturally, otherwise I wouldn't have come to Hong Kong City."
"But investing overseas, especially in high-risk international financial markets—whether it's the stock market, bond market, futures market, or the most perilous foreign exchange market—looking back at history, neither state-owned capital nor private capital has ever had a winning chance.
In our country's financial history, the soybean financial war in 2004-2005, the iron ore futures market struggle in 2007-2008, the 'National Strategic Copper Reserve' incident, state-owned capital being short-squeezed by Wall Street capital in oil futures... meticulously recounting them, it's truly a series of painful lessons."
"Past failures don't mean future failures,"
strong confidence burst forth in Su Yi's eyes.
"I believe that foreign capital's contempt for our country's capital will come at a heavy price at some point. Times are constantly changing, but people like Godfrey, Gerald, Gary... they are still living in their past perceptions."
"Hmm, I believe you."
Fang Wanqing noticed the determined look in Su Yi's eyes and responded with a smile.
"What do you want to eat? My treat."
Su Yi asked, noticing that it had grown noticeably dark and that neither of them had eaten anything at the venue earlier.
Fang Wanqing smiled and said,
"Since you've put it that way, I'll have to choose carefully."
"Sure, no problem,"
Su Yi replied.
Knowing that Su Yi was now very wealthy, Fang Wanqing didn't stand on ceremony with him.
She chose a Western restaurant nearby with a pleasant ambiance, according to her preferences.
"The 'Ganzhou Zichen New Material Company' project you mentioned last time..."
Su Yi and Fang Wanqing sat at a window-side table in the restaurant.
After ordering, Su Yi initiated the topic,
"How is it progressing now?"
Fang Wanqing said,
"After I came to Hong Kong City, this project was handed over to other teams. However, I heard that the progress wasn't good later on. General Manager Gao of 'Ganzhou Zichen New Material Company' was not satisfied with the investment terms we offered.
And recently, due to the boom in the domestic new energy passenger vehicle market, companies in the 'lithium battery' industry chain have generally seen improved performance. I estimate that General Manager Gao isn't very keen on financing right now."
"Is that so... That's a real shame."
"Are you very interested in this company?"
Fang Wanqing asked, guessing Su Yi's intentions.
Su Yi replied,
"After you mentioned it last time, I had someone do a preliminary survey of this company. I found that it's quite competitive in the domestic 'lithium battery' anode material sector. It's just that it fell into difficulties due to debt burdens from its early expansion phase. If the entire 'new energy industry' continues to improve in the future, this company is highly likely to overcome its debt problems and experience a surge in performance."
"I think so too. It's a pity we didn't seize the best timing to intervene. Now, it's quite difficult to negotiate this project. After all, our institution, although we intend to establish a presence in the 'new energy industry' sector, our capital and resources invested in this area are relatively limited.
Furthermore, we are a pure investment institution. General Manager Gao has his own ideas for the company's future development. I've met him a few times, and he might want to seek financing from an institution with greater strength that can provide substantial help to his company's current business and rapidly expand its scale."
Fang Wanqing said.
"If General Manager Gao has such an idea.. Then I could give it a try."
"Does your 'Huayi Capital' have resources in this area?"
Fang Wanqing asked, surprised.
"Can you integrate upstream and downstream business resources?"
Su Yi said with a smile,
"I previously invested in a new materials company whose main business is 'lithium battery' separators."
"Wow... you really keep things under wraps,"
Fang Wanqing said, greatly shocked.
Su Yi smiled and said,
"At the time, no one could have predicted that the 'new energy passenger vehicle' market and the 'lithium battery' industry would experience a huge boom after October."
"That's true,"
Fang Wanqing nodded.
"The greatest charm of investment lies in the vague uncertainty."
"Miss Fang's understanding of investment seems to have matured a lot compared to six months ago,"
Su Yi praised with a smile.
"I wonder if you're interested in a change of work environment?"
"Are you trying to poach me?"
Fang Wanqing asked with a smile.
"You can interpret it that way, Our company is currently completely blank in the area of primary market investment. I need talent in this field to build the business structure for this segment."
Of course, Su Yi said this because...
On one hand, he first felt that Fang Wanqing, having been tempered in a global asset management giant like 'Aberdeen Asset', indeed had good capabilities.
On the other hand, he also felt that Fang Wanqing had a profound family background.
If she became a core backbone of his company, then the various connections and background behind Fang Wanqing could appropriately assist the company's future development.
Even if the company couldn't utilize her connections and background,
With this relationship, the company would likely have smoother business development in the future.
"I'm not someone who just jumps ship,"
Fang Wanqing chuckled.
"If General Manager Su wants to poach me, you'll have to show me your sincerity."
"Alright, no problem. I wonder what kind of sincerity would impress Miss Fang."
Su Yi said.
"Hmm... let me think,"
Fang Wanqing replied.
"Alright,"
Su Yi nodded slightly.
"Miss Fang, think it over carefully, and you can reply to me anytime once you've made up your mind."
"Do you really want to do primary market investment business?"
Fang Wanqing asked.
Su Yi replied,
"That's natural. With the gradual improvement of the domestic capital market and financial market systems, as well as the implementation of the registration-based IPO system, the floodgates for IPOs will certainly open widely in the future. Many enterprises that currently find it difficult to list and don't quite meet the requirements will very likely be able to successfully go public.
Facing such a huge future opportunity and the wave of listings under the registration-based system, It can be foreseen... The primary market holds enormous profit opportunities. Since enormous profit opportunities are anticipated, and this anticipation is highly likely to materialize, there is absolutely no reason to abandon this business direction."
"How do you know that the registration-based system will definitely be implemented in the next few years?"
Fang Wanqing asked curiously.
Su Yi said,
"This isn't hard to predict. Domestic regulators have been calling for the implementation of the registration-based system for many years, and market trading systems and listing systems are already largely complete. The general valuation of the stock market has also been digested. If they don't accelerate its promotion now, when will they?
Furthermore, with the increase in domestic economic volume and rising global economic competitiveness, The issue of the IPO backlog. Must always be resolved.
With the conditions for the registration-based system gradually maturing, I don't believe the people in the regulatory layer would miss this opportunity or fail to push this matter forward. And as long as this matter is rapidly pushed forward, Then for major institutions investing in the primary market, it means the spring of the industry has arrived."
"Listening to you, it seems to make some sense. Your vision is truly impressive; I had never thought about these issues before."
Fang Wanqing said.
"This is just a rough expectation of mine. Whether reality will unfold as expected still needs to be verified over time. However, regardless of whether it's primary market investment or secondary market investment, the fundamental source of wealth still comes from one's own cognitive operations in actual actions. Even if this anticipated direction carries risks, I am willing to bear them."
Su Yi said.
"Hmm,"
Fang Wanqing nodded.
"Any investment is accompanied by risk."
The two chatted while eating, and before they knew it, time flew by.
When Fang Wanqing felt she had eaten enough and came back to her senses, it was already past 8 PM.
Su Yi saw her put down her fork, called the waiter to settle the bill, and then got up to leave the restaurant with Fang Wanqing.
Just then, the waiter suddenly brought over an umbrella and said,
"Sir, it's raining outside, but the restaurant only has one umbrella. I apologize for that."
"It's alright, thank you,"
Su Yi said, taking the umbrella and smiling as he thanked the waiter.
The waiter saw that Su Yi was quite polite, and seeing how beautiful Fang Wanqing was, couldn't help but show a look of envy towards the two.
Afterward, he watched the two leave.
Stepping out of the restaurant, it was indeed drizzling outside.
Night had fallen, and the entire night scene, illuminated by neon lights, appeared hazy.
Su Yi shielded both of them with the umbrella, hailed a taxi by the roadside, and then got into the car with Fang Wanqing, intending to drop her off first.
"The weather in Hong Kong City changes quickly, and it's very humid. I wasn't used to it when I first arrived."
Fang Wanqing said.
Su Yi smiled and said,
"I don't think much of it. The weather in my hometown is also very unpredictable, and the humidity is even heavier than in Hong Kong City, so I've been used to it since I was little."
"Is that so?"
Fang Wanqing asked, surprised.
Su Yi nodded and asked,
"Has Miss Fang been to Yuzhou?"
Fang Wanqing shook her head.
Su Yi said,
"Then I'll take you to see it someday. Everyone says Hong Kong City is a mountain city, but actually, my hometown is."
During their brief conversation, the taxi had already circled into the Mid-Levels villa area.
"I'm here,"
Fang Wanqing said, gently waving to Su Yi as the taxi stopped.
Su Yi opened the car door and asked the taxi driver to wait for a moment.
He walked a few steps with Fang Wanqing, and only when he saw the villa's butler rushing out with a large umbrella to greet Fang Wanqing did he get back into the car.
"This is the Huo family villa, young man. Your girlfriend is probably not simple, is she?"
On Su Yi's way back to the hotel, the taxi driver couldn't help but covertly glance at Su Yi a few times, saying with emotion.
"Huo family villa, which Huo family?"
Su Yi asked.
The taxi driver chuckled and said,
"In our Hong Kong City, how many Huo families can live here and be called the Huo family? This must be a princess from one of the Huo branches, right? She's truly beautiful, young man, you have quite some good fortune!"
Su Yi felt a clear jolt inside upon hearing the taxi driver's words.
He hadn't expected that the family background of Fang Wanqing's so-called distant aunt's husband would be so profound.
However, even if the power behind Fang Wanqing was so strong, it had nothing to do with him for now.
And... as he said, in the financial market, what matters is solid ability.
No background or connections can control the market, let alone change the outcome.
Furthermore...
He knew that for a family background like Fang's,
What they valued most was one's origin and family lineage.
He wouldn't foolishly try to delve into these things behind her, nor would he think about cultivating or leveraging these intricate relationships.
Having understood this.
After returning to the hotel, Su Yi wholeheartedly continued to focus on researching the subsequent trading plan.
The 'Brexit referendum' black swan event.
Was an event that caused immense shocks to the global economic landscape and the financial market.
And for him, and for the development and capital accumulation of his 'Huayi Capital' company, it was also an immense opportunity not to be missed.
Knowing the cards in hand.
He wanted to seize this opportunity, using his utmost ability and capital mobilization power, to teach those international capitals that looked down on Chinese-funded institutions, those that had ruthlessly harvested Chinese capital for over two decades, and those arrogant, contemptuous 'Wall Street capitals' who believed that Chinese capital entering international financial markets was merely meat on a chopping block to be slaughtered at will, by digging a deep trap and giving them a good lesson.
At the same time, he also wanted these international capitals, accustomed to harvesting Chinese-funded institutions, to understand that...
Times have changed!
(End of Chapter)