Chapter 513: Girls Are All the Same

Running a company is not about never sharing stocks, but knowing which investments can burn you.

Especially when your future industry plans conflict strongly with your shareholders, including direct competition in the same category, you will surely be restricted.

By then, being weak becomes a mortal sin.

Jiang Qin’s future strategies exactly match the forbidden areas of these two companies, so he can only use one to intimidate the other, always swaying like grass in the wind.

“Damn, is this what it feels like to be a jerk?”

“……”

In the following days, Jiang Qin took Feng Nanshu around for meals and fun.

Apart from being a bit whiny at night, the little rich girl was a sunny, cheerful beauty during the day.

They even took the employees from the Shanghai station for team building with meals and singing.

When the staff saw the boss and his wife singing “Friends Walk Together for Life” and “Talk to Me if You’re in Pain, My Good Brother,” everyone was baffled.

By the end of July, the two traveled to Guangzhou to visit the thousand-year-old Great Buddha Temple, a place touted as the real-life version of “Spirited Away” by many online.

Dressed in a white floral dress and a khaki fisherman’s hat, the little rich girl waved at Jiang Qin, calling him to hurry, making the strange night lively and bright.

During this time, Peng Sheng still thought Jiang Qin would visit again.

Why?

Because he believed Jiang Qin’s real purpose was to discuss a payment platform collaboration to ensure the continuation of the group-buy.

Honestly, the reason Li Haidong of Tenpay didn’t meet with Jiang Qin last time was partly due to an earlier collaboration with Dianping and partially due to the investment department’s schedule.

They still hope to invest in the group-buy site, potentially making Tencent the biggest winner in the group-buy showdown.

Thus, they want to use the Tenpay collaboration agreement as a bargaining chip to persuade Jiang Qin.

After all, for the upcoming group-buy showdown, payment tools are essential.

And since last contact, Peng Sheng feels Jiang Qin, although hesitant, seems rather willing to accept Tencent’s investment.

In that case, they would have both capital and online payment platforms, right?

What he didn’t expect was that since that meeting, Jiang Qin had not shown himself, as if he had retired for good.

“President Jiang’s behavior is really unpredictable…”

Peng Sheng pondered in his office but couldn’t unravel it.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin had taken Feng Nanshu to Hangzhou, and after a night’s rest, met with Alipay’s CEO Pang Rui.

Just like on Tencent’s side, Lu Zhichuan, the manager of the investment department, also came, even saying nearly the same thing—if you need funds, I’m ready to invest heavily.

“Our funds are indeed tight…”

“But tight as they are, I still believe we can hold on…”

“If someday our funds really run dry, I’ll come seek help without being asked…”

Jiang Qin showed no resistance, just hesitated, seemingly tempted but undecided and thus appeared very ambiguous.

Lu Zhichuan felt he couldn’t give up on Jiang Qin, resembling a girl who neither accepts nor declines a confession.

Keep trying and you’ll catch up to me then ha-ha-ha.

Just… full of youthful vigor!

Although the talks on investment didn’t succeed, the specifics of Alipay integrating with the group-buy and helping with a national university promotion through Zhihu went smoothly.

Unlike WeChat’s promotion manager He Qizhong and Tenpay’s Li Haidong, Pang Rui doesn’t concern herself with subsidiary investments or strategies nor does she use her position to aid Lu Zhichuan in cajoling Jiang Qin into Alibaba’s fold.

Since the Alipay project is a core part of Alibaba’s ecosystem, the cornerstone of electronic commerce, her authority is substantial, and any investment has to make way for this promotion plan.

Currently, with Jiang Qin holding resources of university students nationwide and consumer markets in major cities, these channels are what Pang Rui values most.

So even if Jiang Qin doesn’t accept Alibaba’s investment, the integration of Alipay with the group-buy can’t be hindered by anyone.

This is where Tenpay’s stance is different.

Because their business isn’t as crucial to Tencent’s strategy at present as WeChat’s promotion is, the two major companies’ attitudes toward the group-buy differ—this is how product positioning and industry planning vary.

It’s these slight differences that allow Jiang Qin to play both sides.

“Then let’s proceed with the joint promotion as scheduled.”

“Sure, we’ll send a special tech team to oversee the Alipay-group-buy integration.”

“Pleased to be in cooperation.”

“Pleased indeed.”

Jiang Qin stood, shook hands with Pang Rui, both smiling brightly like the spring sun.

Young yet steady, extravagant but not ostentatious, was Pang Rui’s first impression of Jiang Qin when she first met him as a student passionate about entrepreneurship.

She didn’t expect that in just two years, they would be sitting at the same negotiation table.

Pang Rui had respected Jiang Qin back then, yet she underestimated him.

Proactive strategic setups, dual-track development—considering the vigor of the group-buy in the coupon war, she didn’t know how far Jiang Qin could go, especially since he was only twenty years old and outlasting many.

Pang Rui sighed then bid Jiang Qin goodbye, leaving the meeting room.

Jiang Qin also stood, buttoned up his suit, straightened out a wrinkle, and seemed ready to leave.

At that moment, only Lu Zhichuan remained seated in the room, filled with a sense of powerlessness.

Still unable to persuade him, perhaps his earlier perception of Jiang Qin’s interest was just an illusion.

But as Lu Zhichuan replayed Jiang Qin’s words trying to reassess his actions, Jiang Qin’s gentle voice suddenly rang by his ear.

“Manager Lu, it’s getting late. How about we have dinner together?”

“?”

Lu Zhichuan paused his tea drinking, his hand involuntarily clenched on the desk.

Not an illusion.

There’s definitely potential for investment.

Since Jiang Qin had finished negotiating with Alipay, if he had no need for investment, he could have just left instead of making such an offer.

From Lu Zhichuan’s many years of experience, even though Jiang Qin hadn’t decided on accepting the investment, his willingness to maintain their relationship indicated he was leaving himself open to it.

“President Jiang, this is like slapping my face. I’m the host and you’re the guest; why should the guest treat the host? If we’re treating, it should be me.”

Jiang Qin looked at him earnestly: “Manager Lu, I really appreciate you because you remind me of a good brother from my university days, named Zhuang Chen.”

Lu Zhichuan smiled after hearing this: “No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity with President Jiang.”

“Then, what shall we eat?”

Hearing “what to eat,” Lu Zhichuan frowned, hesitated for over twenty seconds without responding.

Jiang Qin nodded: “Your silence is deafening.”

“……”

At eight in the evening, under the initial glow of street lamps and deep moonlight, both men left the River Hotpot with satisfied smiles on their faces.

Then Lu Zhichuan pointed east down the street with a knowing look.

That was the end of their business cooperation, a street known as Foot Massage Street.

Neon lights flickered across the street, looking dream-like amidst the red and green lights, drawing many lost souls into the night.

The working girls here, seemingly enchanted by Granny Witch’s spells, forgot their real names and only remembered nicknames like “Xinxin,” “Nana,” “Xiangxiang,” “Mengrou.”

Although they forgot their names, they still had dreams like saving enough money to return to the village and find a dependable man…

Seeing this, Jiang Qin’s eyes lit up and he immediately made his way across the street.

Lu Zhichuan followed with a smile, thinking all men are the same when they see such a place—they can’t move their legs.

But this was fine as washing feet together meant brotherhood and easier discussions.

What Lu Zhichuan didn’t anticipate was Jiang Qin not heading to the foot bath city but to a shop called “Rainbow Ice Cream” at the intersection.

“Hello, could I get a rainbow ice cream?”

“Would you like the large or small serving?”

“Just a small one, can’t let her eat too much.”

Jiang Qin took out his wallet to pay, rubbing his hands while waiting. When he received the rainbow-like ice cream, he let out a wow: “Manager Lu, would you like one? I have a good friend who loves these colorful sweets.”

Lu Zhichuan looked at Jiang Qin puzzled, not sure what to say.

He had seen this man laugh many times today—mysteriously, confidently, modestly, cautiously. But he could genuinely feel his happiness this time, a first.

“Is President Jiang’s friend a girl?”

“How did you know?”

Lu Zhichuan didn’t answer but paused, looked again at the foot bath city across the street then rummaged through his wallet: “Then, get me a rainbow ice cream too.”

Jiang Qin turned to him: “For yourself?”

“No, I just remembered my wife seems to like these colorful things too.”

“Ah, girls are all the same.”

“……”