Chapter 88

Seek votes! Seek support! ...

"Which company? How much are they planning to invest?" Jiang Yan was very concerned about this issue.

Song Chen handed the business card to Zeng Qian, who followed him in, and casually replied, "One and a half million US dollars, 50% equity in the independent Alibaba company! I refused it!"

Jiang Yan frowned and said, "Refused? Without negotiation?" It wasn't that she doubted Song Chen; everyone admired his sharp and far-sighted vision. The fact that someone approached him just a week after Alibaba went online was another ironclad proof. However, she was very skeptical of the other party's negotiation skills and methods, which had more to do with one's experience than intelligence.

"The funds were too little, and the demands exceeded my bottom line!" Song Chen spun his office chair, rolling the ballpoint pen between his fingers.

Jiang Yan knew Song Chen's assessment of Alibaba's future value. Even if she thought the valuation of several billion dollars was exaggerated, compared to 50% equity for 1.5 million, she also found it unacceptable. Moreover, the company's finances were not in such dire straits that they needed to sell the company at a low price. She believed that if one venture capital firm came, there would definitely be a second, a third...

Jiang Yan, not knowing Song Chen's bottom line, asked as the company's financial officer, "Is 1.5 million US dollars too little? How much do you plan to ask for?"

Song Chen thought seriously for a moment and smiled, "At least 60 million US dollars, and no more than 50% equity. I think I can accept that!"

"60 million US dollars!" Jiang Yan raised her eyebrows and pointed at Song Chen, speaking bluntly, "You're crazy!"

"Otherwise, how could I tell you that I plan to become a billionaire this year?" Song Chen was unfazed by Jiang Yan's completely distrustful gaze, "Look, I just launched a project, and someone is already eager to give me money! Yan, you have to believe in my vision!"

Zhai Yan also thought Song Chen's asking price was too high and asked with concern, "What if your high asking price scares them away? Remember, there are other B2B websites in China besides us!"

Song Chen looked at Zhai Yan and Jiang Yan with confidence and said, "Trust me, the Alibaba department, including the IM department and the search engine department, I believe more venture capital firms will soon see the value in my resources!"

As he spoke, the phone on his desk rang. Seeing an unfamiliar number, Song Chen pointed at the phone and smiled, "It might be a venture capital firm calling!"

The two women giggled, and Song Chen answered the phone. In an instant, his smiling face turned serious, and soon he fell silent. After a long time, he quietly said, "Okay."

Zhai Yan asked, "What's wrong?"

Song Chen forced a smile and, after a moment of silence, when the two women thought he wouldn't answer, he said softly, "It's my father's call!"

Zhai Yan and Jiang Yan exchanged glances and fell silent.

...

In the evening, a drizzle fell from the sky. Many employees of Chenxing, who had just finished work but didn't have umbrellas, were hiding under the eaves of Xiaonan Building, cursing the rain for coming at the wrong time, and chatting with colleagues about the new beautiful colleagues who had joined the Alibaba department.

At this moment, a woman walked over with an umbrella. She wore a white high-necked sweater dress, a nude velvet coat, and black stockings that wrapped her long, fair legs, exuding a natural and pure charm.

"It's the general manager's girlfriend!" She nudged her colleague with her elbow, her eyes filled with a mix of jealousy, admiration, and sympathy.

"The general manager's girlfriend is so beautiful! I heard she has a good temper and speaks softly. The general manager is really lucky..."

"Once you have money, having a beautiful girlfriend is normal. What's enviable is that the general manager has too many beautiful girls around him!" someone said with a sour tone.

"Right, let's not even talk about his official girlfriend. Xu Xiaoying, his mistress, and Manager Zhai and Manager Jiang are rumored to have ambiguous relationships with the general manager... Not to mention the recent expansion of the general manager's office! I heard Secretary Zeng dumped her boyfriend recently..."

"Enough, enough! She's coming over, don't say such things, or you'll get fired!"

Zhang Ruoxi, of course, couldn't hear the private gossip. When an employee greeted her, she maintained a faint smile and said, "Hello!" "Are you off work?" and quickly took the elevator to the 16th floor, the headquarters of Chenxing Company.

The general manager's office was empty. Zeng Qian, who had just returned from the restroom, saw Zhang Ruoxi and looked surprised. She bowed respectfully and said, "Miss Zhang!"

"Where's Chen?" Zhang Ruoxi pointed to the office and asked.

Before Zeng Qian could answer, Jiang Yan, passing by the secretary's office, saw Zhang Ruoxi and couldn't help but smile and call out, "Ruoxi!"

"Yan, are you still at work?" Zhang Ruoxi turned to see Jiang Yan and couldn't help but smile.

"Overtime tonight!" Jiang Yan couldn't help but complain when she saw Zhang Ruoxi, "Can't help it! You know, your man spends a lot and likes to delegate tasks to his subordinates. We can only be helpless! Looking for Chen?"

"Um!" Jiang Yan called Song Chen very naturally and intimately. Although Zhang Ruoxi's face remained calm, thinking of his promiscuity, her eyes dimmed. Jiang Yan, who had been watching her expression, felt a twinge of guilt. But for a woman, even if something wasn't right, she still had to fight for it. In her mind, Song Chen shouldn't belong to Zhang Ruoxi...

Because Zhang Ruoxi couldn't bring more help to Song Chen!

In China, what's more important than background?

"Let's go to my office and talk!"

Then, Zhang Ruoxi went to Jiang Yan's equally simple office and learned that Song Chen had gone to the Song family for dinner.

"Did your uncle call?" Zhang Ruoxi frowned deeply, her face filled with worry.

Although the term "uncle" sounded a bit harsh, considering Zhang Ruoxi's good relationship with Song Chen's mother and occasional cohabitation, she felt at ease. Seeing Zhang Ruoxi's overly concerned expression, Jiang Yan smiled, "What's wrong? You look like Song Chen went into a tiger's den! Even if they are at odds, they are still father and son!"

"Like father, like son. Chen's personality is stubborn, and I'm afraid his father's isn't much better. I'm afraid they'll have a falling out!" Zhang Ruoxi sighed, not hiding her worry in front of Jiang Yan, "His uncle shouldn't have invited Chen home!"

Jiang Yan was taken aback and instantly understood what Zhang Ruoxi was worried about—Huang Zhen!

"Manager Jiang, are you looking for me?"

As they were silent, a sweet and pleasant voice came from behind them.

Zhang Ruoxi turned around, and the atmosphere froze.

Xu Xiaoying.