Full charm points, inherit game assets

Chapter 570 Me or Su Yu, who do you choose?

Lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong.

"Da da da--"

"Ms. Shen, would you like me to arrange a vehicle for you?"

"No thanks."

Shen Yuyan walked calmly and gracefully through the revolving glass door.

A salty sea breeze greets you, mixed with the strong urban atmosphere.

New Era Plaza is not far from the Four Seasons Hotel, only about a ten-minute walk away.

So she didn't call a taxi and took the opportunity to enjoy the night view of Central.

At this time, the lights in Central are just coming on.

The glass curtain wall gleamed under the neon lights and car headlights, and the light flowed like ripples between the buildings on both sides of the street.

Carrying her best friend Xu Qing's Chanel bag, Shen Yuyan moved lightly and confidently through the crowd, seemingly perfectly in tune with the city.

Underfoot is a smooth stone walkway, flanked by world-class office buildings.

Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, BlackRock, Bank of China, HSBC…

Every name is legendary, and every building is a symbol of power and capital.

Pedestrians hurried along the street.

Most of them wore well-tailored suits or business skirts, with neat makeup and exquisite accessories.

Cantonese, Mandarin, and English were spoken in turn.

This is neither a bustling street nor a romantic place with lights.

It is calm, precise, and fast-paced.

But that was exactly the look Shen Yuyan liked best.

This is the only world-class CBD in China.

Compared to the grandeur of Lujiazui in Shanghai, Central in Hong Kong offered her a different kind of serene yet irresistible awe.

Walking here, every breath feels like swallowing the taste of money.

Her original plan was to wait for Youjie Housekeeping to complete its Series B financing and reach its peak valuation before successfully exiting, and then use the funds and resources to find new tracks and start a real capital journey.

She had imagined countless times that one day she would be able to step onto the world stage in a better light.

Although the methods are different now, it has finally arrived.

She stopped involuntarily, stood on the street corner, raised her head, and looked through the gaps between the buildings at the most conspicuous tall building in the night.

The International Finance Centre Two (IFC Two), a 415-meter-tall urban tower, is a landmark building in Central.

Rongliu Capital is located on the 38th floor there.

Her gaze fell on the building, scanning the 38th floor. Her eyes were as clear as cold stars, and her heart pounded violently for a moment.

Tomorrow, she will walk into that place, into the core of Rongliu, and face those financial elites she has long admired.

Immediately, Tang Song's image appeared before her eyes, and her gaze became even more ardent.

She never imagined that there would be someone of this caliber around her.

The actual controller of a $20 billion private equity firm has connections including Anne Kate, Zheng Qiudong, and Shangguan Qiuya.

In this society, one's status is never determined by one's education, morality, or ability, but by the distance between oneself and the truly powerful figures.

Now, her goals are very simple and clear.

Follow the Tang and Song dynasties closely, do your job to the best of your ability, and show your value and charm without reservation.

Unfortunately, her best friend was a bit naive and never took the initiative to fight for anything. When she was with Tang Song, she simply enjoyed the romantic relationship.

Otherwise, if they joined forces, they would definitely be very successful.

but……

Shen Yuyan lowered her eyelashes.

For her, Xu Qing always held an unshakeable position, even more so than Tang Song.

In order not to hurt her or their relationship, she was unwilling to cross that line too quickly and gave Qingqing some time.

"Jingle Bell--"

Her phone vibrated suddenly in her bag, interrupting her thoughts.

Shen Yuyan took out her phone, glanced at it, and quickly answered the call, "Hello? Menglin."

"Where are we, Yu Yan?"

She looked around and said in a light tone, "It's right on Queen's Road, less than a hundred meters from your company."

“Great, I’m already downstairs. I’ll walk to the right along the road and I’ll see you soon.”

"Okay, see you later."

After hanging up the phone, Shen Yuyan let out a long sigh, put away her phone, and continued forward.

She hadn't walked more than a few steps when a familiar yet slightly unfamiliar figure came into view.

Wearing a gray-blue suit dress and high heels, she looked capable and mature, exuding the style of an international urban white-collar worker.

"Menglin," Shen Yuyan called out.

"Yu Yan!" Bai Menglin raised her arm and waved enthusiastically at her.

Then he quickened his pace and gave Shen Yuyan a big hug without hesitation.

"Long time no see. As expected of Hong Kong's financial elite, you're becoming more and more charismatic."

"Haha, our school beauty Shen is still as eloquent as ever."

"Have you decided where to take me to eat?" Shen Yuyan asked with a smile.

“There’s a tea restaurant near where I live. The food is very authentic and meets your criteria for ‘unique’.”

"I traveled all the way to Hong Kong, and you're just going to take me to eat at a street stall? Isn't that a bit too shabby?"

"Just say whether you want to go or not?"

"Go, of course!"

A warm hug and a few lighthearted banter dissolved the awkwardness and distance that had existed for over three years.

At this moment, 1300 kilometers away from their hometown of Los Angeles, the two stood on a bustling street, as if they had rediscovered some of the intimacy and friendship they had shared in high school.

As she spoke, Bai Menglin skillfully opened her phone to hail a taxi.

Not long after, a red taxi slowly pulled up in front of them.

The two got into the car together.

Outside the car window, the night sky was a dazzling display of neon lights, while inside the car, a relaxed and comfortable silence prevailed.

Shen Yuyan looked at Bai Menglin beside her and a smile appeared on her lips.

The previous desire to "return home in glory" and "show off" gradually faded away.

They actually had no grudge against each other.

On the contrary, they had a very good relationship. They were even deskmates for a year in their second year of high school, and their hometowns were also very close.

Because they are all so outstanding, there is inevitably some subtle competition and rivalry between them.

Now, time has settled the past, and the workplace has honed our skills.

When they met again, all the conflicts and grudges from their youth had vanished.

All that remains are smiles and sighs in our memories.

...

Bai Menglin lives near Sai Ying Pun MTR station, just over two kilometers from New Century Plaza.

However, because it was rush hour, the taxi kept stopping and starting, and outside the window were crowded streets, small shops with brightly lit signs, and congested traffic.

After a long and difficult journey of more than ten minutes, the car finally came to a stop in front of a tea restaurant on a street corner.

"arrive."

Bai Menglin got out of the car first and led Shen Yuyan into a time-honored tea restaurant.

The shop is small, with retro decor. The walls are covered with yellowed menus and old Hong Kong movie posters, and the air is filled with the aroma of milk tea, eggs, and stew.

The place was bustling with noise, a mix of Cantonese and Mandarin, as waiters moved about, carrying plates and calling out orders with lightning speed.

The two found a small table for two in the corner.

After chatting and laughing for a while while holding the menu, Bai Menglin ordered her food in fairly fluent Cantonese.

In less than ten minutes, the steaming hot dishes were served one after another.

The "Heartbreakingly Delicious Rice" features glistening, slightly charred char siu paired with a special sauce, its aroma irresistible.

The signature French toast has a crispy outer crust and is topped with condensed milk and butter, making it sweet and tempting.

...

Amidst the rising steam and chatter of the tea restaurant.

The two enjoyed their meal while chatting about their experiences over the years.

Perhaps because she had been adrift in Hong Kong alone for too long, Bai Menglin was unusually talkative.

The conversation ranged from daily life to the workplace, from rent to the Hong Kong property bubble, and they got more and more excited as they talked.

Shen Yuyan listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a few words, but mostly just smiling and nodding.

Gradually, we pieced together the detailed information about this old classmate.

Bai Menglin pursued her postgraduate studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, earning a Master of Finance degree. It was a one-year taught master's program with a very fast pace.

It has been more than two years since I graduated.

Because she graduated from a 211 university and earned her master's degree from Sun Yat-sen University, she had no chance to enter the top foreign-funded companies and investment banks that she dreamed of, despite her hard work.

On the contrary, the Hong Kong branches of Chinese securities firms like Guotai Junan International are more friendly to those with mainland backgrounds, and there is less competition.

She works very hard and is under a lot of pressure.

Last month, I was finally promoted from Analyst to Associate.

Shen Yuyan lowered her head and took a sip of milk tea, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

Her original intention was to recruit Bai Menglin into Rongliu, at least as an investment assistant, so that she could get a decent starting point through connections.

But now that I've heard her say that, I suddenly feel a little unsure.

Bai Menglin is already a junior manager at a top Chinese securities firm, so it seems a bit inappropriate for her to go to a private equity firm to take a basic position.

If it were her, she probably wouldn't be willing to give up her familiar work environment and hard-won promotion to try for a job at a small or medium-sized private equity firm.

...

After the meal, the two paid the bill and left the tea restaurant.

As night deepened, the streetlights cast dappled shadows on the damp cobblestones.

They walked slowly up Second Street in Sai Ying Pun, passing by a series of unique little shops.

We turned into a gray-white tenement building with slightly mottled exterior walls.

"Our building is over 60 years old, with five floors in total, and I live on the fourth floor..."

Bai Menglin spoke as she went upstairs, her steps brisk and her tone natural.

The key was inserted into the lock, and with a soft click, the door was pushed open.

Bai Menglin's roommate is an auditor who works at one of the Big Four accounting firms. He works overtime until almost midnight every day, so they almost never see each other.

This is a 625-square-foot (58-square-meter) two-bedroom apartment. Although the space is not large, it is well-organized, clean and cozy.

The furniture and appliances are quite complete.

Shen Yuyan had seen her post about it on Xiaohongshu before, but she wasn't too curious.

"The space is a bit small, but it'll have to do."

"It's quite cozy. In Hong Kong, this is considered a pretty good apartment."

“Not nearly as good.” Bai Menglin chuckled. “It’s only slightly better than a subdivided flat. The whole apartment costs 17,000 HKD to rent, and I’m in the master bedroom, so I only paid 9300 HKD.”

She leaned back on the sofa and spoke with some emotion about her living experiences over the years.

During her postgraduate studies, because she couldn't apply for on-campus dormitories, she shared a small bedroom with her classmates in a small space of ten square meters, located a few streets away.

I didn't move here until I graduated and had a stable job, which finally gave me some real private space.

Shen Yuyan listened, her eyes flickering slightly, and suddenly asked, "Menglin, may I ask... what is your current salary?"

Bai Menglin paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "What's inconvenient about that? The base salary is HK$40,000 per month, and the bonus is about three to six months' salary per year, depending on performance."

"So, the annual salary is about 600,000?" Shen Yuyan quickly calculated. "About that." Bai Menglin nodded. "But that's normal for a domestic company. If you were to join a top-tier investment bank, you could earn half as much for the same position. Unfortunately, my education level is not high enough and my background is much weaker."

Shen Yuyan looked at her and asked seriously, "So what are your plans after this?"

Bai Menglin was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Let's try to get permanent residency in Hong Kong first. Then we'll see if we can get promoted to VP. I don't dare to think about going any higher; the ceiling is too obvious. If all else fails, we can go back to the mainland. Although the platform is not as good and we earn less, at least the costs are lower and the pace is slower."

Then, she shook her head with a wry smile, "The Hong Kong financial circle isn't something you can climb up just by working hard. You also need resources, projects, and even... your life. People like us who come from small inland cities, and whose parents are ordinary citizens, frankly speaking, have a very low starting point."

The VP (Vice President) of Guotai Junan International is a middle management position, not a true senior executive.

Even so, this was the limit of what she could imagine.

The air fell silent for a moment. Shen Yuyan's gaze lingered on her face for a second before he suddenly spoke in a low voice: "Menglin, have you ever thought about trying your hand at private equity?"

"Private equity?" Bai Menglin was slightly surprised. "I tried investing in a few before, but to be honest, the threshold for private equity is too high. Even those with a scale of tens of billions of dollars have very lean teams, and they can't recruit many people a year. Either top headhunters want you, or you need an internal referral. I simply don't have the resources."

Shen Yuyan nodded.

Of course she knew all of this.

In fact, Rongliu Capital is a rather "special" private equity firm.

Although it manages only $21 billion in assets, which is at most considered medium-sized by industry standards, it operates a variety of strategy funds.

The organizational structure is also exceptionally complex.

Almost every strategy is equipped with an independent research and investment team, strictly divided by industry.

The management style is more like that of a large asset management platform.

This is why the company's staffing is unexpectedly "bloated".

Among them, the WFOE team in Yancheng alone has more than 30 people; and at the headquarters, there are more than 30 permanent staff.

This human resource cost is comparable to that of many private equity firms with assets in the tens of billions of dollars.

It was precisely because Shen Yuyan saw this clearly that she concluded that Tang and Song were obviously not planning to "maintain the status quo," but rather to make a big splash.

The reason she had the idea of ​​"planting Bai Menglin in advance" was based on this judgment.

This is also the main reason why she thinks Lin Muxue is just a "pretty face with no substance".

Having been with the company for so long, I still don't know anything. All I hear is how awesome our company is and how amazing General Manager Tang is.

The quiet little living room remained silent for a full minute.

The gloom surrounding the future seemed to leave Bai Menglin feeling somewhat melancholy.

Shen Yuyan looked at her calmly, "Menglin, what if you had the chance now? Would you be willing to give it a try?"

Bai Menglin paused, then sat up abruptly, looking at Shen Yuyan with an excited expression, "Yuyan...do you have any resources?"

She was always intelligent and had known Shen Yuyan for many years, so she understood the subtext of her words almost instantly.

Under her probing gaze, Shen Yuyan nodded slightly, her tone serious: "Although I still hold the position of executive director of Youjie Housekeeping, I don't really manage things there anymore. Now, I work as a special assistant to the chairman of a Hong Kong private equity fund company, at the director level. This business trip to Hong Kong is to meet with the headquarters and the team."

She paused, then added, "To be honest, I was able to get into this company because the chairman is my friend."

Bai Menglin's eyes widened, her breathing became slightly rapid, and her eyes were filled with disbelief.

She never expected that her old classmate would give her such a big surprise.

The title of "Youjie Housekeeping" used to carry little weight in her eyes.

After all, that company was just a small business valued at around ten million, with extremely limited room for growth.

But a special assistant to the chairman of a private equity firm? And a private equity firm headquartered in Hong Kong? That's completely different.

She took a deep breath and asked softly, "You want to... find me a seat?"

Shen Yuyan nodded and looked directly into her eyes: "If you're interested, I can arrange for you to meet with the core team. You have a master's degree in finance, more than two years of practical experience, and a local Hong Kong license, so your overall qualifications are already quite good."

She paused, then continued, "As for salary, your annual salary will be at least 20% higher than it is now. Most importantly, our year-end bonus and performance bonus caps are very high."

“20%…” Bai Menglin’s eyes flickered.

"Hmm." Shen Yuyan nodded and said, "The overall benefits are definitely much better than your current company. How about it, are you interested in giving it a try?"

Bai Menglin lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then looked up at her: "Yu Yan, may I ask, what's your company's name? How much is your AUM?"

Shen Yuyan considered for a moment and said, “Rongliu Capital currently has $21 billion in AUM. It doesn’t sound particularly large, but it is backed by the Tang Jin family office and the Kate Trust, and will continue to raise funds. The chairman is very young, but very ambitious… I believe that Rongliu will definitely become a global-level private equity firm in the future.”

“$21 billion…” Bai Menglin repeated softly, then looked up and asked, “If I go in, what level of position will I be in?”

Shen Yuyan paused for a moment, then said in a calm tone, "You'll start with an ordinary position, but there will be opportunities for promotion soon, and I will do my best to help you get them."

Rongliu Capital has a strict salary structure system, and even if she is the chairman's special assistant, she cannot break the rules.

She has always held the system and power in awe, and never makes promises she cannot keep.

Of course, if Bai Menglin is willing to switch jobs, she can communicate with Tang Song privately and try to get higher pay and a higher rank.

But the prerequisite is that Bai Menglin cooperates enough, only then will I have room to maneuver.

Upon hearing this, Bai Menglin remained silent for a few seconds, then picked up her phone, opened her browser on the sofa, and quickly searched for information about "Rongliu Capital".

Messages popped up quickly.

As an industry professional, she had a very keen eye and quickly grasped the general situation.

Rongliu Capital's size is indeed considered large in mainland China.

However, in Hong Kong, a global financial center, $21 billion in assets under management (AUM) can only be considered a medium-sized enterprise.

As for the Don King family office and the Kate Trust behind them, these two top-tier financial groups have tentacles all over the world.

However, she has also contacted many companies, and these two institutions are among their shareholders, so it is not a decisive advantage.

Moreover, the private equity industry itself is full of volatility and uncertainty.

When a strategy is adjusted or a project is withdrawn, the first to be affected are often the frontline employees.

She chose to stay at Guotai Junan International because of its state-owned background and the stability within the system.

Now, after much effort, I've climbed from Analyst to Associate and am finally starting to establish myself.

If you rashly switch jobs at this time, it means giving up the path you have worked hard to build over the years and taking a risk.

Her gaze became complicated, her fingertips gently stroking the phone case, and after a long while she looked up at Shen Yuyan.

He said sincerely, "Yu Yan, thank you so much for your help. But I do have some concerns. Could you let me think about it some more?"

Shen Yuyan nodded. "Okay, I understand. But you should also know that private equity positions are extremely scarce, and once you miss out, they may be gone forever."

“I understand,” Bai Menglin replied softly.

The air suddenly became somewhat still.

Shen Yuyan glanced at her phone, stood up and said, "It's getting late. You have to go to work tomorrow, and I also have to report to headquarters, so I'll be leaving now."

"I'll see you off." Bai Menglin stood up.

The two went downstairs together, walked out of the old tenement building, and stood at the street corner illuminated by the dim streetlights.

A red taxi slowly drove up.

Bai Menglin seemed to remember something and asked, "By the way, Yu Yan, what is your current salary?"

Shen Yuyan smiled and said, "The basic salary is 120 million RMB. If you perform well, you can get more than 8 months' salary at the end of the year."

“120 million…8 months’ year-end bonus…” Bai Menglin’s eyes twitched involuntarily, clearly not expecting her salary to be so high.

This level is already comparable to the treatment offered by top foreign investment banks or leading private equity firms.

Looking at Shen Yuyan's graceful figure and fresh, beautiful face, he couldn't help but have some wild thoughts.

The taxi slowly stopped in front of the two of them.

Shen Yuyan turned slightly to the side, reached out and gently patted her arm, her eyes gentle: "Bye-bye, get some rest."

After saying that, he turned around, got into the car, closed the door, and the red taillights lit up.

The car drove through the dimly lit streets and gradually disappeared into the night.

The streets returned to quiet.

……

Yanjing Tiancheng, large single-level apartment.

"Ding ding ding—" The notification sound of a video call rang out in the night.

【Lime】

Tang Song, who was editing videos in his study, quickly picked up his phone and answered the call.

The next second, Liu Qingning's familiar face appeared on the screen, her big, watery eyes blinking adorably.

Tang Song's eyes softened instantly. "Good evening, my darling Qing Ning."

"Good evening, silly Song." She tilted her head, her tone soft and affectionate. "Still working?"

"Yeah, it's almost done." Tang Song leaned back in his chair, beaming. "You missed me, didn't you?"

"No."

"Oh well, I thought you missed me and was planning to fly to Shenzhen to see you right away."

"Hmph, all you do is say nice things."

Tang Song smiled and didn't continue the topic, instead inquiring about her health.

In fact, he had already booked a flight to Shenzhen for tomorrow morning.

I'm planning to give this "white moonlight" (my ideal woman) a surprise.

The two chatted sweetly for a while, exchanging words back and forth.

Liu Qingning stretched, then moved her phone back slightly and smoothed her long, flowing hair in front of the camera.

At the same time, her entire upper body also entered the frame.

The white short-sleeved dress accentuates her shapely figure, with her E-cup breasts particularly eye-catching, her lines full yet graceful.

Tang Song's eyes narrowed slightly, and he instantly became much more alert. He leaned forward subconsciously, his eyes burning with anticipation.

"Beautiful Qingning, can I ask you something?"

"What's the matter? Tell me."

"You've lost a lot of weight lately, and your figure has improved a lot. Lift up your shirt so I can have a good look at you?"

"Pah! You lecherous scoundrel, you're not learning anything good!" Liu Qingning pouted and waved her hand across the screen, as if she were "educating" him.

"Please, it's been so long, I really miss you, just let me see you."

They began to use both gentle persuasion and persistent tactics during the Tang and Song dynasties.

After a period of consistent skincare, fitness, and conditioning, Bai Yueguang's condition has indeed fully recovered, and her figure has returned to its peak.

It's been so long since we last met, Tang Song really wants to see her.

Liu Qingning stared at him with an ambiguous look in her eyes. After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke: "I have a question for you. You must answer it immediately. No hesitation and no lying."

Tang Song's lips twitched, wondering what his white moonlight was thinking.

About to speak.

Liu Qingning suddenly leaned forward, her fingers gently pulling down her collar, revealing large swathes of her fair skin, which made Tang Song's heart race.

The key point is... it's actually hollow inside.

At the same time, Bai Yueguang's face showed an innocent and sweet expression, with light bangs and bright, watery eyes.

With her naturally youthful appearance, she seemed to have transformed back into that unforgettable figure from her high school days.

The key is to match it with the sexy movements at this time.

It completely turned a pure love anime into a hentai anime.

Tang Song's Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but whisper, "Go ahead and ask."

Liu Qingning smiled slightly, staring into his eyes, and slowly counted down: "3...2—"

Tang Song held his breath, his expression tense.

"1.5--"

"Uh..." Tang Song's eye twitched, and he almost choked.

"1!" Liu Qingning raised her voice and suddenly said, "If Su Yu and I confessed to you at the same time, who would you choose? Answer quickly!"

Tang Song's expression changed slightly, but almost without hesitation, he used the self-cultivation of a qualified scumbag and said in a very fast voice, "You!"

"Oh, I see." Liu Qingning smiled sweetly. "It's getting late, I should go to sleep. Bye, goodnight."

"Wait! You haven't lifted your clothes yet!" Tang Song was so anxious that he almost jumped up from his chair.

"When did I say that I would show you the answers you gave me?" Liu Qingning opened her innocent big eyes. "How could you be so mean? I don't want to play with you anymore."

After saying that, she hung up without hesitation.

(End of this chapter)