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On Saturday afternoon, two distinguished guests arrived at the Su family's old residence.

Li Shensi is a household name in the investment world.

He was in his early sixties, with his hair neatly combed, wearing a simple dark jacket, and a smiling face with kind eyes, yet he gave Suning a very shrewd impression.

He is a top venture capital firm in the industry, having invested in several unicorn companies worth tens of billions of dollars, thus earning the title of "King of Unicorns".

Beside him was his daughter, Li Shiyan, who was twenty-one or twenty-two years old and was just a kindergarten teacher.

She wore a well-fitting off-white dress, had a sweet face, and lacked the shrewdness of her father, but possessed a youthful innocence.

"Jianguo, long time no see!" Li Shensi said with a loud laugh as soon as he entered the door, and shook hands with Su Jianguo vigorously.

"It's an honor to have Mr. Li grace us with his presence!" Su Jianguo greeted him warmly. "This must be Shiyan, right? I saw you as a little girl last time, and now you've grown up so much."

"Hello, Uncle Su." Li Shiyan smiled politely.

Li Xiuqin also came out to greet them, and everyone exchanged pleasantries and sat down in the living room.

Li Shensi glanced around the living room, his gaze landing on Su Ning beside him, and paused.

“This is…” He looked at Su Jianguo.

“Oh, this is my eldest son, Su Ning, who was recently found.” Su Jianguo quickly introduced, “Su Ning, come here, this is Uncle Li Shensi, a senior figure in the investment circle. This is his daughter, Li Shiyan, who is two years younger than you.”

Su Ning walked over and nodded politely: "Hello, Uncle Li, hello, Miss Li."

Li Shensi scrutinized Su Ning, his eyes filled with scrutiny and curiosity.

He had heard long ago that Su Jianguo's long-lost son had been found, but this was the first time he had seen him.

The young man in front of me had a straight posture and a calm look in his eyes. Although he was dressed casually, he had a composure beyond his years in his every move.

They lacked the timidity and frivolity of ordinary young people, as well as the arrogance and haughtiness of rich kids.

"Good, a handsome young man." Li Shensi nodded, gesturing for Su Ning to sit down. "Where do you work? Working for your father?"

This is a very natural question. Given Su Jianguo's family business, it's only natural that his son should join the family company after returning home.

Before Su Ning could speak, Su Jianguo answered for him: "Su Ning is currently working at Jin Chen Capital and is learning in the investment department."

“Jin Chen Capital?” Li Shensi was somewhat surprised.

“Yes, intern analyst,” Su Ning replied calmly.

Both Li Shensi and Li Shiyan looked on with surprise, their gazes towards Su Ning filled with more inquiry.

The eldest son of the Su family actually went to work as an intern at another investment company?
This is kind of interesting.

“Jin Chen Capital is good, and President Qu manages it very well.” Li Shensi nodded, then changed the subject, “However, why didn’t you consider joining Jianguo Group? It’s your own company, so you should be able to get up to speed faster.”

The question was direct, and Su Jianguo quickly smoothed things over: "I support the child wanting to gain experience and learn something real outside."

Li Shensi laughed: "Jianguo, you're quite open-minded. But that's true, it doesn't hurt for young people to explore more. What direction is Jin Chen mainly looking at right now?"

“Each group is a little different,” Su Ning answered cautiously. “I’m in the comprehensive fourth group, and the projects I’m currently working on are quite diverse, including new energy and technology.”

"Comprehensive Group Four..." Li Shensi pondered, "Isn't Wu Kezhi the person in charge?"

"Uncle Li knows General Manager Wu?"

"I've heard of him. He's quite capable, but he's a bit stubborn," Li Shensi said casually.

But the meaning behind those words was already quite clear: he knew Wu Kezhi and also knew Wu Kezhi's situation in Jin Chen.

Li Shiyan spoke up at this moment, her voice clear and crisp: "Su Ning, you must be having a tough time as an intern at Jin Chen, right? I heard the competition there is fierce."

"Fortunately, I can learn something," Su Ning said.

A hint of admiration flashed in Li Shensi's eyes.

This young man, facing unfamiliar elders and guests, was neither flattered nor pretentious, and answered very appropriately.

“It’s good that young people have composure,” Li Shensi said. “In the investment industry, the worst thing is to be impetuous. It doesn’t matter where you start, what matters is that you can calm down and learn real skills.”

“Uncle Li is right,” Su Ning nodded.

The topic quickly shifted elsewhere.

Li Shensi and Su Jianguo talked about their past collaboration, current market changes, and some mutual friends.

Li Shiyan occasionally chimed in, but spent most of her time observing Suning.

She found that this eldest son of the Su family was a bit special; he didn't talk much, but every time he did, he got to the point.

He was even able to chime in on some of the industry topics his father and Li Shensi were discussing, and not just in generalities, but with real knowledge.

This doesn't seem like a typical intern.

Midway through, Li Xiuqin took Li Shiyan to the garden to admire the flowers, leaving only three men in the living room.

Li Shensi took a sip of tea and looked at Su Ning: "Su Ning, what's your biggest takeaway from working on the project at Jin Chen?"

This is a deeper question than the previous small talk.

Suning thought about it and said, "I feel that investing is not just about looking at numbers and models, but also about looking at people and teams. The same business model can yield vastly different results when implemented by different people."

"Oh?" Li Shensi became interested. "Tell me more about it."

“For example, our team is currently working on a shared electric bike project. The founder previously failed with a shared bicycle project. Many people are not optimistic about it because of his ‘failure record.’ But our team leader believes that the way he handled debts and maintained the team after his previous failure actually proves his sense of responsibility and credibility. Investing is about investing in people, not perfect resumes.”

These words made Li Shensi's eyes turn serious.

"Is this how Wu Kezhi taught you?"

"It's based on my own observations and conclusions," Su Ning said. "Mr. Wu mostly let us figure it out ourselves."

“Figure it out yourself…” Li Shensi repeated these three words, then laughed, “Jianguo, your son is quite interesting.”

Su Jianguo was beaming, but he said modestly, "He's still far from good enough; he's just a beginner."

"For someone just starting out to say something like that is already better than many people who have been doing it for years." Li Shensi looked at Su Ning. "Su Ning, you just said that investing depends on the person. So how do you judge whether someone is worth investing in?"

This is the real test.

Suning paused for a moment and said, "I think there are several dimensions: First, does he have genuine passion and conviction for what he does, instead of just following the trend? Second, does he have the ability to learn and iterate? The market is changing, and people must change too. Third, how does he treat his partners and team? Is it a win-win mentality or a exploitative mentality? Fourth, how does he face failure? Is it shirking responsibility or reflecting on growth?"

After listening, Li Shensi remained silent for a long time.

Then, he slowly nodded: "Jianguo, your son, nurture him well. Given time, he will amount to something."

Su Jianguo was overjoyed to receive such praise as the "King of Unicorns".

"Mr. Li, you flatter me. He still needs more experience."

“Training is necessary, but you have a good foundation.” Li Shensi looked at Su Ning with genuine appreciation in his eyes. “Su Ning, do your best at Jin Chen. I have high hopes for you.”

"Thank you, Uncle Li," Su Ning said calmly.

……

Soon, tea and snacks were served, making the atmosphere even more harmonious.

After returning from admiring the flowers, Li Shiyan sat next to her father, and when she looked at Su Ning again, her eyes were completely different.

She grew up in a wealthy family. Through her father, Li Shensi, she had seen too many boastful young people, as well as many people with real talent.

But it's rare to find someone like Suning who is calm, reserved, insightful, and unassuming.

As Li Shensi left the Su family home, he patted Su Ning on the shoulder again at the door: "Work hard. If you have the chance, go visit Shiyan. You young people should get to know each other better."

"Of course, Uncle Li, take care."

After seeing the guests off, Su Jianguo couldn't hide his excitement: "Su Ning, you did a fantastic job today! Li Shensi is such a picky person, it's not easy to get him to say 'you can amount to something'!"

"Dad, am I just showing off my limited skills in front of an expert?" Su Ning said.

"Haha, humility makes you fat! Do you want to become fat?" Su Jianguo remarked. "You've certainly learned something during your time at Jin Chen Capital."

Li Xiuqin was also pleased: "I always said that Suning is smart and learns everything quickly."

……

At that moment, in the car leaving the Su family's house, Li Shensi said to his daughter, "Shiyan, keep a close eye on this Su Ning."

"Dad, do you really think he's that amazing?" Li Shiyan asked.

"It's too early to say he's amazing," Li Shensi said, looking out the window at the street scene. "But he has potential, and very solid potential at that. Su Jianguo is lucky; he found his lost son, and he's a promising talent." "Then what do you mean by letting him come visit me?"

Haha, what do you think?

"Dad, do you really want to marry me off like this?"

"You're not a child anymore! It's not appropriate for you to stay in kindergarten as a teacher every day."

"Hmph! I'd rather."

"Fine! It's all my fault for spoiling you."

……

After the internship pairings were finalized, the Human Resources Department officially issued the assessment notice.

The notice was very detailed, and the assessment was divided into two stages, which directly affected whether the intern would stay or leave after the internship ended.

Phase 1: Partner Projects

Each pair of partners is required to jointly select an early-stage project with investment potential and complete a comprehensive investment analysis report.

The report should include a full range of content, including industry analysis, company research, financial forecasts, risk assessment, and investment recommendations.

After completion, a simulated "meeting" is required...

This involves giving a presentation in front of a mock investment committee composed of department heads and being questioned by senior company executives.

The core of this assessment is "teamwork".

The evaluation is divided into two parts: the quality of the report (60%) and the performance in the on-site presentation and Q&A session (40%).

More importantly, the scoring will clearly distinguish the roles and contributions of the "speaker" and the "cooperator." This means that the two people must work closely together; one must be willing to step forward and take on the responsibility of giving the speech, while the other must be willing to provide behind-the-scenes support, data supplementation, and emergency assistance.

If either side falters or there is a significant rift in their cooperation, it will severely impact the overall score.

Phase Two: Peer Evaluation Project.

This one tests individual ability and judgment even more.

Each pair is required to work separately, each choosing a different project independently and completing an analysis report independently.

Then, the two need to give presentations and speeches to each other, trying their best to "sell" their chosen projects.

The listener, on the other hand, must act as an investment decision-maker, independently judging whether to "invest" in the project based on the other party's presentation and analysis, and providing detailed reasons.

Finally, the investment decisions and rationale presented by both parties will serve as important references and will be included in their individual performance evaluation scores.

In short, the first stage tests whether you can cooperate well for a common goal; the second stage tests whether you are truly capable of what you are capable of without cooperation.

The news immediately put pressure on the interns.

This is not just about writing a report; it's a comprehensive examination...

Research ability, analytical ability, presentation skills, adaptability, teamwork ability, and even independent judgment on people and projects.

After receiving the notification, Gao Sicong immediately held a meeting with his partner: "In the first phase, we must choose a project with highlights, and the report must be solid. I will be responsible for the presentation, and you will focus on providing data support and assisting with the Q&A session."

His partner naturally had no objections; Gao Sicong's abilities were evident to all.

Zeng Hao and Qiu Shuang were also discussing: "Let's choose something safe, not too niche. We'll write the report together, and the speech... how about we take turns speaking about a part?"

Hao Shuai looked at the notification and whistled, "Interesting! We still have to 'promote' and 'invest' with each other. Sun Yiqiu, which direction should we choose for the first phase? Technology, consumer goods, or healthcare?"

Sun Yiqiu was unsure: "I...I'll listen to you, you have more experience."

“Don’t listen to me, let’s think together,” Hao Shuai said. “This is a collaborative project, so you need to have ideas. Come on, let’s list out the directions that we each think have potential.”

In the technology group, Lan Qianyi forwarded the notification to Suning and added a sentence: "What are your initial thoughts on the direction of the first phase of the project? I personally prefer to look at the application of AI in vertical industrial fields, or new energy sub-materials."

Suning quickly replied: "Sure. The valuation of industrial AI is relatively reasonable at present, and projects with real-world verification cases are more suitable for in-depth analysis. I have collected a few candidates and will send them to you for selection tonight."

Lan Qianyi was somewhat surprised by Suning's efficiency when she saw the reply.

She originally thought it would take time to discuss the direction, but she didn't expect that the other party already had a specific pool of alternatives.

After thinking for a moment, she posted another message: "Who will be in charge of the first stage of the speech? I can take charge of the speech part."

This time, Suning responded even faster: "Your presentation skills are superior, that's fine. I'll be responsible for the core data modeling and inquiry support for the report."

The division of labor was quickly agreed upon in just a few words, so efficient that it didn't seem like a first collaboration.

The one who was most worried was Li Xiaoxian.

He was all alone and had to work two jobs on his own...

One person needs to create a complete collaborative project simulation, and another person needs to create an additional independent project for the second phase.

The workload is more than twice that of others.

"Isn't this bullying honest people?!" he complained to the administration with a long face.

But rules are rules, and no one can help him.

……

In the afternoon, the heads of each group were called to a meeting to clarify the evaluation criteria and timelines.

When Wu Kezhi returned, Lin Yuming immediately went up to him to inquire.

"Boss, I heard this assessment is pretty strict? Have the scoring details been released?"

“Hmm.” Wu Kezhi sat down. “In the first phase of the collaborative project, the report accounts for 60%, and the on-site performance accounts for 40%. In the on-site performance, the speaker’s logic, stage presence, and responses account for 25%, and the collaborator’s supplements, data support, and crisis management account for 15%. The second phase of mutual evaluation mainly focuses on the quality of individual projects, as well as the judgment and reasoning when acting as a ‘judge’.”

"This design... is pretty ruthless." Lin Yuming clicked his tongue. "It requires seamless cooperation, but also individual efforts. If the cooperation is not good, the first phase will collapse; if the individual's ability is not good, they will be exposed in the second phase."

"So this time we can see things clearly," Wu Kezhi said. "Who are truly capable, who are just sucking up to powerful figures, and who are just putting on a good show."

“Then our group…” Lin Yuming looked at Sun Yiqiu and Su Ning at their workstations outside.

"The key to Sun Yiqiu and Hao Shuai's team is how much Sun Yiqiu can contribute to the collaboration and his individual project skills," Wu Kezhi analyzed. "As for Sun Ning and Lan Qianyi's team... I'm actually looking forward to it. Both of them are capable of standing on their own. It's hard to say whether their collaboration will be 1+1>2 or whether they will be at odds with each other."

Just then, Sun Yiqiu knocked on the door and came in, holding a notebook in his hand.

"General Manager Wu, Manager Lin... I have some preliminary ideas regarding the performance evaluation criteria. Could you please review them?"

Wu Kezhi and Lin Yuming exchanged a glance.

"Speak," Wu Kezhi gestured for him to sit down.

Sun Yiqiu opened his notebook: "After discussing with Hao Shuai, we initially came up with three directions: one is intelligent warehousing robots, another is vertical agricultural technology, and the third is a second-hand high-end consumer goods trading platform. Hao Shuai prefers the first one because it has strong technological highlights; I... I think the third one might be closer to reality, and the business model is easier to verify. I don't know which one is more suitable for evaluation?"

He didn't blindly follow Hao Shuai's advice; instead, he had his own thoughts and knew to ask for guidance. This eased Wu Kezhi's expression slightly.

"First, find the preliminary market data and representative companies for the three directions," Wu Kezhi instructed. "Make a simple comparison table to see which direction has more solid data and more room for analysis. Show it to me tomorrow."

"Okay! Thank you, Mr. Wu!" Sun Yiqiu was overjoyed and quickly went back to prepare.

Meanwhile, Suning and Lan Qianyi have already begun substantive work.

The two created an online shared document. Lan Qianyi was responsible for writing the section on industry trends and competitive landscape, while Suning was responsible for building the financial forecasting model and risk quantification module.

The document was filled at a visible speed, with no overlap or omissions in the division of labor.

Occasionally, Lan Qianyi would tag Suning in the document, asking about the source or assumptions of a certain data; Suning would then provide a concise explanation in the comments and attach a reference link.

All communication was completed within the document, with not a single unnecessary word of chatter.

This highly efficient, almost cold, collaborative approach left Lin Yuming, who happened to catch a glimpse of it, speechless with astonishment.

"Boss, look at those two..." Lin Yuming lowered his voice, "This doesn't look like cooperation, it's more like two precision instruments docking."

Wu Kezhi glanced at the real-time editing history of the shared document, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"As long as the problem is solved, the form doesn't matter."

The assessment process has begun, and pressure and opportunity are simultaneously descending upon every intern.

Will they stand out from the crowd, or fade away in disappointment?
The next month will be the time to see the true test.

Everyone must find their place and play their own melody in the duet of cooperation and competition.

The final note will determine whether they can stay with Jin Chen Capital and continue this game about investment, growth, and the future.

...(End of chapter)