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On Friday evening, Suning was reviewing project materials compiled by Chen Xi in Ningyuan Capital's office when his phone rang.

It turned out to be Li Shiyan calling.

"Suning, are you busy?" Li Shiyan's voice sounded cheerful.

"I'm fine, looking at some documents. Need anything?"

"My dad cooked some of his signature dishes today and would like to invite you over for dinner," Li Shiyan said. "Are you free?"

Su Ning hesitated for a moment; he knew this meal was no ordinary affair…

Li Shensi personally cooked for the guests, so he must have something to say, or he might still want to bring Su Ning and Li Shiyan together.

But refusing wouldn't be appropriate either, since the two families are old friends and it would be awkward to refuse.

“Okay, I’ll be there around seven,” he said.

After hanging up the phone, Su Ning continued to look at the documents for a while before driving off at 6:30.

When Su Ning arrived at the Li family's house, Li Shiyan was already waiting at the door.

"You're here." She was wearing a light-colored knit sweater and a long skirt today, looking very homey. "My dad is busy in the kitchen, so he asked me to show you around first."

The Li family mansion is very large, decorated in a Chinese style with mahogany furniture, calligraphy and paintings, and antiques, giving it a very sophisticated feel.

Li Shiyan led him on a tour of the study, the tea room, and finally to the restaurant.

Several dishes were already laid out on the table: steamed grouper, braised pork, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a pot of fragrant slow-cooked soup.

Li Shensi came out of the kitchen wearing an apron, carrying a plate of poached chicken: "Suning is here? Sit down, sit down, the food will be ready soon."

"Uncle Li, you're too kind, you even cooked for me yourself," Su Ning said.

"Just doing this occasionally, to stretch my muscles." Li Shensi took off his apron. "Shiyan, open a bottle of red wine."

The three sat down, and Li Shiyan poured wine for each of them. Li Shensi raised his glass and said, "Come on, let's have a drink first. To celebrate the start of Suning's business."

"Thank you, Uncle Li."

After clinking glasses, Li Shensi got down to business: "How's the company's preparation going? Have you found an office yet?"

“Found it, in Pudong,” Suning said. “Ningyuan Capital focuses on investments in healthcare and high technology.”

“Ningyuan…that’s a good name.” Li Shensi nodded. “What about funding? Has the start-up capital been secured?”

"It's resolved; the two billion has been secured."

Li Shensi paused, his hand still holding the food in his chopsticks: "Two billion? So fast?"

He was indeed a little surprised.

Although I know the Su family is not short of money, two billion is not a small amount, and Su Ning said that he does not need the family's money.

It's only been a few days, and they've already raised the money?
“Part of it was provided by my dad, and part of it was invested by my LP,” Su Ning said vaguely.

"Who is LP?" Li Shensi pressed. "Do I know her?"

“There’s an overseas fund called Funing Technology, you may not have heard of it,” Su Ning said. “There are also some individual investors, but I can’t disclose them at the moment.”

Li Shensi looked at Su Ning with a probing gaze.

Having been an investor for so many years, he knows the ins and outs of this industry all too well…

A new fund that raises two billion in just a few days either has an extremely strong background or a very compelling story.

Suning, on the other hand, clearly belongs to the former category.

"What about the team?" he changed the subject. "Is it just you alone?"

"The basic framework has been established," said Su Ning. "The investment director and risk control director are already in place, and they are both professionals with many years of experience. We will begin recruiting investment managers and analysts next week."

Li Shensi was even more surprised. He thought it would take Suning at least one or two months to set up the framework, but he didn't expect it to be so fast.

"Where did you find the investment director and risk control director?"

“They were recommended by a headhunter.” Su Ning said without changing his expression. “Chen Xi used to work at Goldman Sachs and a US dollar fund, and Zhang Yuan is a lawyer who graduated from Harvard Law School. They both have very solid backgrounds.”

This statement is half true and half false. Chen Xi and Zhang Yuan's resumes are indeed "solid," but they are not real people.

Li Shensi didn't press further, but he already understood...

Suning's venture this time is no joke.

Two billion in funding, a professional team, a clear strategy...

This kid is very well prepared; he's probably already planning to start his own business.

“It seems you’re serious.” Li Shensi took a sip of his drink. “That’s good, it’s a good thing that young people have drive. But Xiao Ning, I have to remind you, the investment industry is very complex, especially in the medical and high-tech sectors. The professional threshold is high, and the risks are also great. You’re new to the industry, so you have to be very careful.”

“I understand.” Suning nodded. “So in the early stages, we will focus on some relatively mature sectors, such as medical imaging AI and industrial robots. We will not touch anything too early or with too much technological risk for the time being.”

“Yes, that’s the right approach,” Li Shensi said. “In addition, while fundraising is important, investing in good projects is even more important. The first fund should have at least two standout projects to make a name for itself and lay the foundation for subsequent fundraising.”

“We’re already looking at them,” Su Ning said. “Chen Xi has selected the first batch of projects, and due diligence will begin next week.”

Li Shensi watched Su Ning speak eloquently and felt a sense of emotion.

This kid is much more mature than he imagined, and he's very thoughtful.

It seems that Su Jianguo has done a good job in training him.

“Oh, right,” Li Shensi suddenly remembered something, “Does your fund need any LPs? I have some friends who are also interested in healthcare and high technology, I can introduce you to them.”

This statement was both a gesture of goodwill and a test.

Su Ning thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Li, the first fund's LP quota is already full. However, the second fund may open up some shares, and we will definitely give priority to friends you introduce."

They accepted the good intentions while maintaining their independence.

Li Shensi smiled: "Okay, then let's wait for the second episode."

The meal was fairly pleasant.

Li Shensi didn't mention trying to match him with Li Shiyan again; they just talked about the industry, investments, and market trends.

……

After the meal, Li Shiyan escorted Su Ning to the door.

“My dad seems to be looking at you with new respect today,” she said with a smile. “He rarely praises people like that.”

"Uncle Li, you flatter me," Su Ning said.

"You're really amazing." Li Shiyan looked at him. "You've set up the company in just a few days. I didn't expect it to be so fast."

“When you start a business, you have to be quick,” Suning said. “If you’re too late, the opportunity will be gone.”

The two stood at the doorway, a cool night breeze blowing by.

“Um…” Li Shiyan hesitated for a moment, “Lan Qianyi…will she go to your company?”

"Yes," Su Ning said without hiding anything. "She'll start work next week."

Li Shiyan's eyes darkened slightly, but she quickly smiled again: "That's good. She's very capable and can help you."

"Thank you."

"Alright, you can go back now. Be careful on your way."

"OK, bye."

Watching Su Ning's car drive away, Li Shiyan stood there for a long time without moving.

Li Shensi came out and stood beside her: "What are you looking at?"

"It's nothing." Li Shiyan turned around. "Dad, do you think Su Ning can succeed?"

"It's hard to say," Li Shensi said frankly. "In the investment industry, seven parts skill and three parts luck. But he is well prepared and has a high starting point, so the probability of success is not small."

"So... are you still planning to bring us together?"

Li Shensi glanced at his daughter and sighed, "Shiyan, you can't force matters of the heart. Su Ning is a very principled person; once he's made up his mind, no one can change it. You... don't get too deeply involved."

"I know," Li Shiyan said softly, "but I just... I just can't let go."

"Time heals all wounds." Li Shensi patted her shoulder. "Let's go back inside, it's chilly outside."

The father and daughter entered the mansion.

Meanwhile, Suning drove back to the city, his mind replaying the conversation from earlier that evening.

Li Shensi's attitude is very clear: from initial indifference to current recognition, and even to proactively offering to introduce resources.

This shows that he earned respect through his abilities.

But that's not enough; he needs to let his performance speak for itself. Ningyuan Capital's first move must be a resounding success.

Thinking of this, he sent Chen Xi a WeChat message: "Send me the materials for the first project of due diligence next Monday, I'll take another look tonight."

Chen Xi quickly replied: "Sent. Mr. Su, I am very optimistic about this project. It has leading technology, a solid team, and a large market potential. If the due diligence is satisfactory, I suggest you follow up closely."

"clear."

……

On Saturday afternoon, Suning was in Tomson Riviera when his phone rang.

I didn't expect it to be Gao Yue calling.

"Suning, are you busy?"

"Mr. Gao? I'm not busy, I'm at home. Is there something you need?"

“I just happened to be visiting a friend in Lujiazui, near Tomson Riviera,” Gao Yue said. “I heard you live here too? If it’s convenient, I’d like to come over and sit for a bit, and we can chat about something.”

Suning was a little surprised, but didn't refuse: "It's convenient, please come over. I'll send you the address."

After hanging up the phone, he sent the address and then tidied up the living room a bit.

There's really nothing to tidy up; his house is always clean and tidy.

Half an hour later, the doorbell rang.

Suning opened the door, and Gao Yue stood at the entrance, carrying a fruit basket.

"Sorry to bother you," she said with a smile.

"Mr. Gao, you're too kind. You even brought gifts." Su Ning accepted the fruit basket. "Please come in."

Gao Yue walked in and looked around the living room.

The decor is a minimalist modern style, with black, white and gray as the main colors. The furniture is very stylish, but it doesn't feel very lived-in.

“Your house… is quite clean,” Gao Yue said.

“I live alone, and I’m too lazy to make a fuss.” Su Ning poured her a glass of water. “Sit down.”

Gao Yue sat down on the sofa and looked around.

She noticed that there were almost no traces of women in the entire house...

There were no women's slippers, no cosmetics, no bags or jewelry, and even the accessories were mostly unisex.

This surprised Gao Yue a bit. She knew that Su Ning and Lan Qianyi were dating. Logically speaking, a girlfriend should leave some traces.

"Mr. Gao, you're here today for more than just a visit, aren't you?" Su Ning asked directly.

Gao Yue withdrew her gaze and smiled: "There is indeed something. First of all, congratulations on starting your business. I heard that Ningyuan Capital has 2 billion yuan in funding and is moving very quickly."

"The news spread really fast," Su Ning said.

“This industry is only so big.” Gao Yue took a sip of water. “Secondly… I’m here to sound out what you’re thinking. You haven’t been at Jin Chen for long, but you’ve been through a lot. I’d like to know what your opinion is on Jin Chen’s current situation?”

The question was very direct. Su Ning thought for a moment, "Does President Gao want to hear the truth?"

"of course."

“Jin Chen is currently experiencing severe internal strife,” Su Ning said bluntly. “Qu Zhonghui wants to centralize power, and the founder has long been dissatisfied with him. Li Shensi came to check and break the deadlock. Middle-level managers are all insecure, and lower-level employees are at a loss. In this kind of environment, it’s impossible to achieve good results.”

Gao Yue nodded: "You're right. So... who do you think will win?"

“Li Shensi,” Su Ning said with certainty, “He’s not here to retire; he’s here to make strategic moves. Qu Zhonghui has been in business for many years, but his vision is limited; he can’t compete with a player of Li Shensi’s caliber.”

"So how long do you think... President Qu can stay at Jin Chen?"

"At most a year," Su Ning said. "Li Shensi won't let him stay for long. He'll either sideline him, force him out, or Qu Zhonghui will make a mistake himself. In short, Qu Zhonghui's era is coming to an end."

Gao Yue remained silent for a while. These judgments were actually basically consistent with her own observations.

"Then why did you choose to leave at this time?" she asked. "Since Li Shensi is going to win, and you have this kind of relationship with him, wouldn't it be more promising for you to stay in Jin Chen?"

“Because I don’t want to be a pawn.” Su Ning said directly, “Whether it’s Li Shensi or Qu Zhonghui, I don’t want to participate in their games. I want to play my own game.”

Gao Yue looked at him with a complicated expression.

She suddenly realized that she had been underestimating this young man all along...

It's not just about background, but also about vision and courage.

“Mr. Gao,” Su Ning suddenly asked, “are you interested in joining Ningyuan Capital?”

Gao Yue was taken aback: "Me?"

“Yes.” Su Ning said seriously, “You have been with Jin Chen for so many years, rising from HR to director, and you have rich experience in the investment industry, company management, and talent selection. Ningyuan Capital is just starting out and needs talent like you.”

The invitation came suddenly, and Gao Yue didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Although the two had mentioned it briefly in the director's office last time, Gao Yue always treated that conversation as a joke.

To everyone's surprise, Su Ning was serious and actually extended an invitation to her.

“I know you have a good salary and a stable position at Jin Chen,” Su Ning continued, “but I can offer you something better: a partner position with equity and decision-making power. Moreover, Ningyuan Capital will be a place where ability truly matters, with no internal strife, no factions, only getting things done.”

That's very tempting.

Gao Yue worked at Jin Chen for ten years. Although she became a director, she was often powerless to do what she wanted because of Qu Zhonghui's authority.

Moreover, she knew that once Qu Zhonghui lost power, her position as the personnel director would also be unstable.

“I need time to think about it! After all, your Ningyuan Capital is just a startup,” Gao Yue said.

“I understand.” Su Ning nodded. “However, Mr. Gao, opportunities don’t wait for anyone. Ningyuan Capital is currently in a period of rapid development. The earlier you join, the bigger the share of the pie you can get.”

"Furthermore, I have another prediction: Jin Chen will experience a wave of personnel turmoil. Before Qu Zhonghui leaves, he will definitely purge a group of people and install a group of his own. As the HR director, you will be in a difficult position. Rather than being passive later, it's better to take the initiative now."

These words struck a chord with Gao Yue, who had indeed been feeling pressured lately...

Qu Zhonghui has already hinted to her to adjust the personnel for certain positions, while Li Shensi is also paying attention to personnel changes.

Being caught in the middle as the HR director is really tough for her.

"I will seriously consider it," Gao Yue said.

"Then I'll wait for your good news."

"I'm curious! Why do you want to recruit me?"

"We clicked! The first time I saw you, I thought you were really cool."

"Haha, is it really as good as you say?"

"Worse than that."

Gao Yue then remembered that Su Ning's place was too clean. "By the way! Aren't you and Lan Qianyi boyfriend and girlfriend? Why are there no traces of a girl here?"

“This is my private space, and you are the first woman to come here,” Su Ning said naturally. “Although Lan Qianyi and I are together, I’ve always been the one going to her place; she’s never come here.”

Gao Yue was a little surprised. She had seen too many workplace couples who either had constant conflicts after moving in together or broke up because of work.

It's rare to see a relationship like Suning's and Lan Qianyi's, where they are both close and independent.

“You guys are quite mature…” she said sincerely.

"Relationships, like work, need to be nurtured," Su Ning said. "Distance makes the heart grow fonder."

The two chatted for a while longer before Gao Yue got up to say goodbye.

As Su Ning saw her to the door, she said one last thing: "President Gao, the doors of Ningyuan Capital are always open for you. Contact me anytime you've made up your mind."

"Okay, thank you."

After seeing Gao Yue off, Su Ning closed the door and leaned against it, thinking for a moment.

Gao Yue is a very capable and experienced person with extensive connections in Jin Chen.

If we can recruit her, it will be a great help to Ningyuan Capital.

Whether she will come is still unknown.

But it doesn't matter, he has plenty of patience.

And then there's Wu Kezhi, who has been considering it for so long but still hasn't made a decision.

Clearly, Wu Kezhi and Gao Yue share the same concern: startups are far from having strong vitality.

Moreover, it's hard to guarantee that the new rich kids like Suning aren't just a passing fancy; if they're not careful, it's the executives who will suffer.

...(End of chapter)