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Shen Mi immediately realized that Xie Rong Zhuo already knew.
“You hesitated for so long,” Xie Rong Zhuo said, “so you still have some conscience.”
In reality, she hadn’t hesitated much at all.
The reason she hadn’t contacted him these past few days was that she was waiting for Wang Bo’s documents. Of course, she couldn’t tell Xie Rong Zhuo that.
Shen Mi blinked her eyes and tried to be charming: “It’s because you’re my precious master.”
Xie Rong Zhuo replied, “Shen Mi, you’re not suited for being coy.”
“…”
Shen Mi couldn’t keep up the act any longer, turned her head away, and let her voice return to normal: “Who was being coy?”
Although they were separated by a screen, Shen Mi could feel Xie Rong Zhuo staring at her. After she mumbled, he didn’t blink.
Just when Shen Mi thought the network had lagged and was about to hang up, she heard Xie Rong Zhuo change his tune and say, “You’re suited for it.”
What did that mean??
Wait, when did she act coy!
Why was Xie Rong Zhuo staring at her so intently…
Shen Mi diverted her gaze, lowered her head, and pushed her long hair, which had fallen onto her shoulder, behind her back. Her toes instinctively curled up under the blanket.
“I’ll be back next Wednesday,” Xie Rong Zhuo broke the silence, “In the meantime, you should interact more with Zhao Bai Li.”
Shen Mi looked up: “Are you suggesting I get to know her better? But isn’t she your cousin?”
“Shen Mi, in business, you shouldn’t rely on anyone to understand your partners,” Xie Rong Zhuo said. “Not even if that person is me.”
Shen Mi pondered for a few seconds and finally understood Xie Rong Zhuo’s meaning.
Although Zhao Bai Li was his cousin and also the fiancée of his good friend, Xie Rong Zhuo didn’t fully understand her abilities and character. Collaborating was different from making friends; even the best project required excellent partners. Once tied to an irresponsible collaborator, it would be too late to back out.
“You’re smart; you should know what I mean,” Xie Rong Zhuo continued. “Take your time to think about it over these few days. If you’re sure you want to proceed, I’ll give you the money.”
“You—” Shen Mi looked at the man on the screen, her expression filled with disbelief, and her sense of guilt instantly peaked.
For a project worth tens of millions, Xie Rong Zhuo easily agreed to give her the funds and handed the initiative over to her. Just a few hours ago, she had only been thinking about her own interests, focused solely on how to persuade him.
Shen Mi’s face flushed with guilt: “I didn’t mean to take advantage of you…”
“No need for you to take advantage,” Xie Rong Zhuo replied casually, leaning back against the sofa, his tone somewhat lazy. “I’ll jump in myself.”
“Master…”
Xie Rong Zhuo looked down at the screen: “What? Has my precious ungrateful disciple had a change of heart?”
Shen Mi shook her head: “No.” She stared at the screen: “I just suddenly realized that you look pretty good on camera; even from this terrible angle, you don’t have a double chin. You’re really handsome.”
Xie Rong Zhuo: “…”
Two seconds later, the video call was disconnected.
Shen Mi: ???
Did I mess up the flattery??
Did Xie Rong Zhuo think I was flirting with him!?
…
The next day, Shen Mi went to meet Zhao Bai Li and spent half a day inspecting the target company.
Zhao Bai Li asked, “Was it Uncle who reminded you to get to know me better before deciding whether to invest?”
Shen Mi replied, “Don’t be angry.”
“I’m not. Uncle is right to do that,” Zhao Bai Li smiled. “I was a useless person before, just living off others and only thinking about men.”
The moment she said those words, Shen Mi knew she had underestimated the determination of this wealthy young lady.
Shen Mi understood this feeling of suppressed resentment all too well.
When someone is constantly denied and suppressed, as long as their dignity remains, they can be ignited with powerful potential. Zhao Bai Li showed Shen Mi the same spirit she had when she wanted to attend a prestigious university.
Zhao Bai Li wasn’t acting out of spite, but out of a burning desire to prove herself. She wanted to succeed with this project even more than Shen Mi.
Shen Mi decided to help her, also helping herself, taking a gamble: “I’ll tell the boss when he gets back, I’ll back your project.”
“You’re the first person who believes in me,” Zhao Bai Li said, her eyes red, as she hugged Shen Mi. “Thank you for your support, it means a lot to me. Shen Mi, if this project fails in the end, I’ll pay you back, I won’t let you lose a penny. Don’t back out on the next project, let’s keep working together, I’ll definitely make you money.”
She showed her utmost sincerity.
Shen Mi: “It seems you have a lot of faith in this project.”
The two girls hit it off instantly, chatting until it was almost dark before Shen Mi said goodbye to Zhao Bai Li.
As she was about to leave, she suddenly saw a familiar face.
Ke Zhan was wearing a gray suit. He was two years older than Shen Mi, but he still looked quite young, and wearing a suit made him seem like a child wearing adult clothes.
He stood by the car: “Shen Mi, are you free to chat? It’s about work.”
Sitting in the coffee shop, Ke Zhan didn’t ask Shen Mi what she wanted to drink, he simply ordered a velvet latte and a snow-skin mochi.
Ke Zhan pushed the pastry towards Shen Mi: “Don’t you love these? Why aren’t you eating?”
Shen Mi said: “I don’t really like to eat sweets from outside anymore.”
“Right,” Ke Zhan chuckled self-deprecatingly, “You used to have it tough, you didn’t have anything to eat, so you thought everything was delicious. Now you’re not so easily impressed.”
Shen Mi heard the implication in his words and said directly: “Looking forward, climbing higher, having standards for yourself, learning to choose, what’s wrong with that?”
Ke Zhan’s expression turned a little downcast: “Everyone would choose that way, there’s nothing wrong with you. I was too harsh last time, I’m apologizing here.”
Shen Mi smiled: “It’s nothing.”
The more calm she was, the more pain Ke Zhan felt inside. It showed that she no longer cared about his words, she no longer cared about him as a person.
“I know you lied to me last time. Xie Rong Zhuo isn’t married at all.”
Shen Mi picked up her coffee and took a small sip.
“Oh, so what? We’ll get married sooner or later.”
“Don’t lie to me, you two aren’t even together.”
Shen Mi didn’t continue to fabricate.
Creating one lie means having to continue with countless small lies. Ke Zhan wasn’t worth the effort and energy she’d need to maintain the lie.
She didn’t respond. Let him think whatever he wanted, Shen Mi didn’t care.
Ke Zhan knew Shen Mi had no patience for him now, and the only reason she was willing to sit down and have coffee with him was because he had helped her in the past.
He got back to the point: “I wanted to talk to you about your project. Forgot to mention, I’m working for my uncle’s investment company now.”
Shen Mi and him were in the same field, it was normal for colleagues to talk about work.
Everyone in this circle knew each other, who was making money, who was losing money, what projects were being invested in, everyone knew. Knowing that Zhao Bai Li was in contact with them, Ke Zhan still came to intervene, the answer was obvious.
“You want to persuade me not to work with Zhao Bai Li?”
Ke Zhan said: “The eldest daughter of Mei Na Capital has two older brothers above her. Her father, though he spoils her, doesn’t intend to hand over the company to her. He only sees her as a tool to help her brothers, using her to arrange a marriage with Zhong Guang Pu’s son.”
Shen Mi: “Isn’t that why she’s out looking for investment because her family doesn’t support her? What does that prove?”
Ke Zhan: “I went to check out that company before. It’s a bunch of college students who started their own business. They’re good at software, but their system is a mess. My uncle doesn’t think this project is good, that’s why it fell to Zhao Bai Li. She won’t last long.”
Shen Mi: “You’re being too absolute.”
Ke Zhan: “I’m doing this for your own good.”
Shen Mi: “Thanks, I don’t need it.”
A moment of silence passed.
“These projects take a minimum of a year to see results, and some take at least three to five years. The waiting process is agonizing, someone with a weak mindset can’t handle the pressure. Zhao Bai Li is only two years older than you, can you guarantee she can handle it?”
Shen Mi: “I trust my partner.”
Ke Zhan: “Yes, you dare to trust her, because you only need to be responsible for getting investment, using the investor’s money to make a profit with nothing. But have you ever thought about what you would face if you fail? Zhao Bai Li’s parents are rich, they can help her settle things and send her abroad. She’ll still be a young lady. What about you, Shen Mi? Who will clean up the mess for you? Do you think Xie Rong Zhuo will still care about you then?”
Shen Mi suddenly laughed: “Do you know, Senior, when I said I wanted to go to university, to buy a house in a big city, my aunt and the others also poured cold water on me and laughed at me.”
“I’m not like them! I believe in your ability. I’m using my uncle’s experience to advise you. My uncle has been an investor for over ten years, he’s experienced. If he doesn’t invest in a project, it can’t be a good one. I’m saving you!”
“Even the greatest investors can fall for Ponzi schemes. How can you be so sure your uncle won’t make a mistake?” Shen Mi smiled wryly: “Besides, I’ve done some research on your uncle’s company. It’s not very profitable, right? Last year, they barely managed to break even, and they actually lost quite a bit, didn’t they?”
Ke Zhan couldn’t answer, because he didn’t know those details.
“How do you know so much?”
“There are plenty of people who give me inside information.” Shen Mi smiled without her eyes smiling: “And this kind of thing, it can’t be hidden forever. Just like you coming to me today, it’s not really for my own good, but to be a spokesperson for the Bi family, to persuade me to give up on Zhao Bai Li and instead support the Bi family’s second son, right, Senior?”
Ke Zhan couldn’t look her in the eye, he stammered: “Why would I do that…”
“Because of some male inferiority complex, inexplicably looking down on women. Zhao Bai Li and the Bi family’s second son both went to your uncle, but he didn’t even look at her materials. He just told her to settle down and marry, have a husband and raise children. Isn’t that bullying?”
“But my uncle said that this project really isn’t viable; otherwise, he wouldn’t have partnered with the second son of the Bi family…”
“I trust my own judgment.” Shen Mi’s voice was soft, yet it sent a chill down Ke Zhan’s spine. She stood up, a smile hiding a knife: “I look forward to meeting at the peak.”
“Shen Mi.” Ke Zhan called out to her, “You still need money, right? I can help you with part of it.”
“Sure.” Shen Mi sat back down, placing her Hermes bag on the table: “How much are you willing to invest?”
Ke Zhan glanced at her bag and pondered for a few seconds: “Seven million. That’s all I can afford for now. We can discuss the share later; you can also consider it a loan.”
“Okay.” Shen Mi agreed.
Wang Bo was right; the more people that come in, the more secure it feels. No one can guarantee that the project will definitely make money.
“But I have one condition.” Ke Zhan stated.
Shen Mi had already guessed: “Go ahead.”
“Give me a chance to be with you.” Ke Zhan said, “As long as you agree, I won’t charge you any interest on that money.”
“Then I’m sorry.” Shen Mi didn’t hesitate to refuse, “My boss has plenty of money, I don’t need to sell myself.”
Ke Zhan looked at her face, revealing a mixture of surprise and understanding: “If I were Xie Rongzhuo, I would give you money too.”
“Unfortunately, you’ll never be him.”
Shen Mi walked out of the coffee shop, her back straight, her high heels clicking.
It felt good, really good.
She’d never been this assertive before.
Once she reached a secluded spot, Shen Mi lifted her bag and kissed it. In this world of fame and fortune, facing snobs, the right tools are essential!
She hugged her bag and went into the subway station, sending a message to the bag’s owner.
Shen Mi: Master, what time is your flight the day after tomorrow?
Shen Mi: I’ll go pick you up.
Xie Rongzhuo replied quickly: “Pick me up, or pick up my money?”
Shen Mi: “…”
Shen Mi: “Of course I’ll pick you up!”
She sent a cute bunny with a heart emoji.
dsm: Good mood.
dsm: Seems like you’ve been having a good time without me these past few days.
For the last few years, Shen Mi had always found it amazing how, even without any emotion conveyed through text, she and Xie Rongzhuo could accurately sense each other’s feelings.
Could this be a kind of mental connection?
She was about to concoct some excuse to appease him.
A new message popped up in the chat box: “Three minutes.”
dsm: Still haven’t come up with a good excuse?
Shen Mi: “…”
Did Xie Rongzhuo install surveillance on her?!
She typed nervously: “Just went through security, didn’t see you.”
For the past two days, Shen Mi had been anxious, afraid that Xie Rongzhuo would change his mind after returning, especially since he had a good relationship with the Bi family.
Suddenly, she received a transfer from Xie Rongzhuo. Shen Mi was so excited she almost jumped out of her skin.
He had actually transferred the money without even discussing it first?!
She was about to call him to express her gratitude when a message popped up from Xie Rongzhuo on WeChat.
dsm: The money’s arrived. Still coming to pick me up?
Author’s Note:
Xie Rongzhuo: She will come, she won’t come, she will come…