Reborn in 2012, building a new energy empire

Chapter 131 Meeting Again

That afternoon, Zhou Mingyu called.

"The money arrived so quickly." Zhou Mingyu's voice on the phone was tinged with laughter, a sense of relief washing over him. "Want to get together tonight? Same place, my treat. Jiutian Investment has been a huge success; we have to celebrate."

"Tonight?" Jiang Haoran repeated, his tone calm.

"Let's do it tonight, while the iron is hot." Zhou Mingyu's tone left no room for doubt, revealing the familiarity of an organizer. "I'll send you the address. It's the same old place, the rooftop bar that's been reserved for the rooftop. It's quiet and has a good view."

"Okay, see you in a bit."

After the phone call ended and a brief buzz followed, the office fell into an almost absolute silence once again.

Jiang Haoran didn't lean back in his chair. He slowly turned the chair around and calmly surveyed the office that belonged to "Jiutian Investment".

At this moment, the trading room was empty. All kinds of market data software on the large screen were shut down, leaving only a dark standby interface that reflected the star-like dotted light sources embedded in the ceiling.

This room witnessed the entire process of the first fund, from fundraising, building positions, operation to its final perfect liquidation.

Every decision, every risk control measure, and every bit of profit accumulation is closely related to every inch of space and every piece of equipment here.

At this moment, however, he perceived something different: a sense of weight and steadiness. Because he knew that there were things here that he had firmly grasped in his hands.

The "old place" that Zhou Mingyu mentioned is a members-only bar on the top floor of a historic building near the Bund.

It is not open to the public and is hidden deep within the bustling city, occupying a prime location for viewing the dazzling night view of both sides of the Huangpu River.

The terrace is meticulously designed to ensure privacy while offering panoramic views of Shanghai's iconic skyline.

When Jiang Haoran arrived, Zhou Mingyu was already there, joking and playing around.

The best viewing area on the terrace was already occupied by several familiar faces. Jiang Haoran didn't stop walking; his gaze had already swept over them.

"Brother Jiang!"

"Haoran is here!"

"Please have a seat!"

Unlike the tentative and evaluative first meeting I remembered, this time, greetings rang out almost simultaneously, warm, natural, and even carrying a hint of subtle flattery.

Chen Zi'an stood up first, extended his hand, and smiled much more sincerely than before: "Brother Jiang, we meet again! This time I must properly toast you!"

Zhao Rui also slowly stood up, his face still showing that lazy expression, but his tone was clearly different: "Impressive."

Two words, concise yet carrying more weight than any previous polite words.

Cheng Yirou didn't get up. She simply raised her champagne glass gracefully, nodded slightly in Jiang Haoran's direction, and said with her red lips, "Congratulations, President Jiang." Her voice was clear, carrying her unique directness and boldness.

Wang Hao and Li Zhenyu surrounded them, their faces beaming with smiles.

After everyone took their seats, Zhou Mingyu naturally took the head seat, and Jiang Haoran was placed in the most honored position beside him.

The waiter approached silently and presented the wine list. Zhou Mingyu didn't even glance at it, and directly ordered, "Bring me all the champagne and whiskey I have here, and as usual, some snacks to go with them."

"Okay, Mr. Zhou."

Soon, the table was filled with expensive champagne chilled in ice buckets, fine single malt whiskies, and a dazzling array of exquisite snacks. The atmosphere quickly warmed up.

Zhou Mingyu personally poured the drinks, handing the first glass of amber-colored whiskey to Jiang Haoran. Then, raising his glass to everyone, he said, "The first glass, no need for words, is a toast to the successful completion of the first phase of the 'Nine Heavens Investment' fund! And a toast to Haoran, for his strategic planning and decisive victory!"

"Respect to Brother Jiang!"

"Homage to the Heavens!"

"Cheers!"

The glasses clinked crisply, and the golden liquid rippled under the light.

The strong, mellow liquor slid down my throat, as if burning away and releasing all the pressure and struggle of the past six months.

After a glass of wine, he started talking non-stop.

"Brother Jiang, you're amazing!" Wang Hao gave a thumbs up, his face flushed with excitement and alcohol. "I heard that the final liquidation net worth was... my god, the whole industry is buzzing about it!"

"An eightfold return in just six months is simply incredible! My dad's old friends who have been in the private equity business for over a decade all shook their heads when they heard this, saying they couldn't believe it was Zhou Shao's classmate who did it."

Li Zhenyu couldn't help but chime in, his tone full of admiration: "Yes, Brother Jiang. The key is that the pullback was controlled so beautifully, almost a smooth upward curve. This isn't just about making money, it's art! We all say privately that this isn't luck, it's absolute skill overwhelming!"

Chen Zi'an pushed up his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses gleaming with shrewd calculation: "Haoran, no, President Jiang, to be honest, this has truly opened our eyes."

"I used to think that the theories and complex models in those books were far removed from reality. But Jiang, you did it, and you perfectly replicated and even surpassed the theoretically optimal solution. This is not just a successful investment; it's a perfect business case study."

He paused, leaned forward slightly, and his tone became more eager, "I heard Mingyu mention that the second phase of the foundation will be launched after the holiday? I wonder—is there any opportunity for us to learn from them, even if it's just starting with the smallest share?"

His words were like a pebble thrown into a lake that was already rippling, instantly creating even bigger waves.

Zhao Rui stopped playing with the lighter, looked up at Jiang Haoran, and his eyes, which always held a sense of aloofness, were now more serious than ever before: "Jiang Haoran, I, Zhao Rui, rarely submit to anyone. But this time, you have truly opened my eyes. The magic of capital is on full display in you. This is skill, great skill."

"Count me in for the second phase of Jiutian Investment if there's a chance. I'll talk to my dad back home; 100 million yuan is no problem." His words were crisp and decisive, carrying his unique style of being both carefree and extremely serious.

Cheng Yirou gently swirled the champagne glass in her hand, the bubbles rising gracefully along the side of the glass. She looked at Jiang Haoran, her gaze direct and frank: "Mr. Jiang, I won't beat around the bush. My family is in real estate, and cash flow is strictly controlled right now, but I still have some disposable funds under my personal name."

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"I'm very interested in your capabilities and the 'Nine Days Investment' model. For the second round, I hope to become a formal LP (Limited Partner), and I hope to secure as much of a quota as possible." Her tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination and the competence characteristic of a businesswoman.

Wang Hao and Li Zhenyu were even more eager to get on board, expressing their desire to "get on board," even if it meant standing room only.

Praise, admiration, respect, and most importantly, a strong desire to participate in the next round of investment, all intertwined in the bubbly champagne and the rich aroma of whiskey.

These young people, who come from wealthy families and are usually arrogant, revealed their truest needs to Jiang Haoran almost without reservation: to follow the strong and obtain excessive and safe returns on capital.

Jiang Haoran listened quietly throughout, a gentle and calm smile on his face. He neither became complacent because of the flattery nor showed any eagerness to respond to the fervent investment intentions.

He would occasionally raise his glass in a gesture of respect, and occasionally offer a brief response to discussions about market trends or investment philosophies. His words were concise and insightful, always hitting the nail on the head. This made the young people present, who had more or less been involved in the family business, nod in approval, and their impression of him as an "investment god" became even more solidified.

Looking at Jiang Haoran's young yet extremely composed face, at his unhurried demeanor as he raised his glass, and at the vision and perspective he displayed in just a few words that far exceeded his age, the initial interest they might have had, perhaps due to Zhou Mingyu's influence, had long since transformed into strong conviction and a determination to follow him after this miraculous eight-fold increase in performance.