Chapter 7

Liu Dekai and Shang Rongmei opened their mouths wide, staring in surprise at their daughter sitting on the sofa opposite them.

Liu Dekai had a look of unwillingness on his face, "Your meaning is that you two didn't talk about dating at all?"

Liu Xin looked impatient, "Dad, didn't you hear what I just said?"

"I heard," Shang Rongmei also felt impatient, "You, my child, were clearly supposed to meet for a blind date, but look at what you ended up doing?" She pointed at Liu Xin, "It's all your fault. Who asked you to dress like that? Your Aunt Han asked me very tactfully if you had any mental problems. I didn't know how to respond. How can I show my face? I was counting on you to be a bit more ambitious, sigh, you really made me angry. Now you haven't found a boyfriend, and instead, you've been tricked into investing in some animation company. You're a real wastrel..."

"Mom! Mom!" Liu Xin hurriedly interrupted her mother's nagging, "Did you even listen to what I just said? It's not just an animation investment company, it's a cultural group, and Shen Zhenghui is investing ten million!"

The word "ten million" immediately stimulated the sensitive nerves of the couple. Liu Dekai scratched his ear, "Wait, how much did you say?"

Shang Rongmei opened her mouth wide, staring at her daughter with a surprised look.

"Ten million in investment!" Liu Xin said seriously.

"Damn, Shen Xingguo's son is really rich!" Liu Dekai took a deep breath, pushing away his wife's hand that was tightly gripping his arm, "Tell me again, what's going on?"

Liu Xin rolled her eyes and recounted the events of the day in a jumbled manner, with Shang Rongmei constantly interrupting.

"He said he wants to do business with you, and you believe him? How much does he want you to invest?"

...

"What? You only have 5% of the shares, how can that be? The other 95% will all be his, the Shen family's?"

Liu Xin shook her head forcefully, dissatisfied, "Mom, can you please shut up for a moment? He can't get 95% of the shares with ten million. The company originally had three other partners, each with 5% of the shares!"

"But he still gets 80%, and the company will become his one-man show. What use are you then?"

Liu Dekai stopped his wife from nitpicking. He had a serious expression, and before he could speak, Liu Xin had already rebutted her mother.

"He doesn't have 80% of the shares. He plans to give 20% to the daughters of Mayor Xu and Minister Wu," Liu Xin looked at her father, "Dad, he wants to meet Mayor Xu through you."

Liu Dekai slapped his thigh, "This damn son of Shen Xingguo, he knows this stuff right after graduating from university."

Liu Xin and Shang Rongmei both stared at Liu Dekai, who seemed lost in thought. He looked at Liu Xin with a puzzled expression, "Xin Xin, I used to think your interest in those comic books was a waste of money, but now it seems, can this really make money?"

Liu Xin was unhappy with her father using the term "comic books" instead of "manga," but this wasn't the time to argue. She asked anxiously, "Dad, do you think it can make money?"

Liu Dekai stroked his chin, "I don't know about the rest, but Mayor Xu's daughter seems to like writing novels," he stroked his chin and glanced at Liu Xin, "This guy really knows how to flatter."

Shang Rongmei pulled her husband forcefully, "Since it's an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Mayor Xu, shouldn't we invest more?" She looked at Liu Xin, "Xin Xin is naive, Old Liu, you need to think for her."

Liu Dekai glanced at his daughter and sighed, "I've had a hard life all my life!" he lamented.

Shang Rongmei sat next to Liu Xin, "Tell us more about Shen Zhenghui's plan! Let your dad analyze it for you, we can't let the Shen family take all the benefits."

Liu Xin pouted, "When I mentioned our company before, you weren't this concerned."

"Can you, a fool, understand how to make money?" Shang Rongmei poked her daughter's head, "You used to spend money recklessly, now it's time to make money."

Liu Xin muttered, "Fine, I'll show you the agreement we signed."

"What?" Shang Rongmei almost jumped up, "You signed the agreement? How could you sign it so casually?"

"It's not signed, it's just for you to review and give your opinion." Liu Xin said impatiently and went to her room to get her bag.

Liu Dekai shook his head and said to Shang Rongmei, "Look at what you've made of our daughter, she doesn't even act like our daughter."

Shang Rongmei put her hands on her hips, about to get angry, when Liu Xin called from inside, "By the way, Dad, Shen Zhenghui said he plans to spend five million to build an animation building, and he wants you to handle the construction."

Liu Dekai wrinkled his nose, "Xin Xin, quickly bring me the agreement to look at. I'm afraid you'll end up counting the money for Shen Zhenghui after he sells you." He finally smirked, "He's using the comic book company as a front."

...

Meanwhile, at Shen Zhenghui's home, Shen Zhenghui was sitting opposite his parents, with his head down, enduring their questioning.

Liang Kexiu nagged about Liu Xin, from her clothing to her appearance, from her personality to her education. In her words, Liu Xin seemed to have no redeeming qualities and was completely unworthy of Shen Zhenghui. Shen Zhenghui couldn't bear his mother's nagging and his father's stern gaze any longer, "I'm not dating her. We just share some common interests and plan to do business together."

"You share common interests? What kind of interests? I don't know about them."

"What kind of business?"

The couple's focus was completely different.

"Culture and publishing industry." Shen Zhenghui squinted and nodded.

His father sneered, "Publishing industry? The publishing industry is struggling. Only publishers of textbooks and those with political tasks are doing well. Do you see any private publishing companies doing well? And you want to jump into it?"

Shen Zhenghui rolled his eyes, "I'm investing my own money, you don't need to worry."

"Nonsense, isn't your money my money?" Shen Xingguo was confused by his son's words.

Shen Zhenghui raised an eyebrow and looked at Shen Xingguo with half-closed eyes.

Liang Kexiu quickly pulled on Shen Xingguo's sleeve and said to Shen Zhenghui, "Why don't you discuss your investment plans with us? We're not against supporting you. Your dad has a much wider network of connections, and many business matters rely on relationships..."

Shen Zhenghui shrugged, "That's why I'm bringing Liu Xin in as a partner, because I also want to enter the real estate market."

His father became very interested, "Come on, come on," he said, "Show me your business plan. I want to see what you can do."

Shen Xingguo was also very interested in the real estate market, and this blind date with Liu Xin wasn't without ulterior motives.

"I have my own plans, you'll see." Shen Zhenghui spread his hands, "I'll cherish the money I earn and won't waste it."

Shen Xingguo's face darkened, "Your dad just wants to help you, not to scheme. Forget it, I won't meddle in your affairs."

Liang Kexiu tried to smooth things over, "Oh, we're just trying to help you. We're not interfering. You're just starting out in society, after all."

Shen Zhenghui rolled his eyes and reluctantly took out a draft agreement.

Shen Xingguo and Liang Kexiu read it with great interest. After finishing, Shen Xingguo touched his nose and didn't say anything, while Liang Kexiu was full of thoughts but didn't know where to start.

Finally, Shen Xingguo returned the agreement and the attached plan to Shen Zhenghui, "This kind of thing shouldn't be shown to others."

"Didn't you want to see it?" Shen Zhenghui spread his hands.

Shen Xingguo was angry but quickly suppressed his anger, "Did you show this to Liu Xin?"

Shen Zhenghui nodded.

Shen Xingguo sneered, "Liu Dekai is a sly old fox. Don't think you can trick him or his daughter. You'll see, he'll definitely try to get more shares for his daughter."

"Oh," Shen Zhenghui nodded and countered, "Isn't more money better?"

"How will you control the company then?" Shen Xingguo asked, frustrated.

"The decision-making will be mine, as stated in the agreement." Shen Zhenghui shrugged, "That's the bottom line. As for the investment, it's up to him."

"No!" Shen Xingguo decided, "This is just helping him make money. No matter how much he invests, we'll invest the same amount."

"Then the shares given away will be more." Shen Zhenghui reminded.

Shen Xingguo snorted, "I'm afraid they won't accept it."

Sure enough, just as he said this, the landline rang.

Shen Xingguo walked over, checked the caller ID, and made a gesture to his wife, "Sure enough, it's Old Liu!"

He picked up the phone and started his Oscar-worthy performance.

Liu Dekai on the other end was probably flattering Shen Zhenghui's abilities, and Shen Xingguo kept laughing and being modest, praising Liu Xin for being well-read and gentle. Shen Zhenghui felt goosebumps, and Liang Kexiu leaned in to listen.

Then they started discussing Shen Zhenghui's plan. Liu Dekai said he wanted to support his daughter's entrepreneurship and would invest her dowry. Shen Xingguo said he would support Shen Zhenghui's entrepreneurship and would invest the future dowry money. Both were saying polite words, but inwardly they were cursing each other for being hypocritical.

Finally, they agreed over the phone that each family would invest thirty million in the plan.

After hanging up, Shen Zhenghui looked at Shen Xingguo with disbelief, "Do you have thirty million in liquid funds?"

"Isn't there a bank?" Shen Xingguo had a look of "you're too young," and continued, "I and Old Liu will use the company's name to invest in you. Your dad will be your major shareholder." Then Shen Xingguo muttered, "Including the shares given away, the Shen family will still have 50% of the shares, outpacing the Liu family."

"Not that much, right?" Shen Zhenghui frowned.

"You need to invest another ten million!" Shen Xingguo said in a tone that brooked no argument, "If you don't have it, I'll lend it to you!"

Shen Zhenghui tilted his head, this time without arguing.