Reborn in 2012, building a new energy empire

Chapter 132 Standing at the Forefront of the Tide

We must keep up!

Chen Zian took a sip of wine, his mind racing as he calculated how much personal capital he could mobilize, and even began to consider how to persuade his father to contribute a portion of the family trust's quota.

This guy is a real dragon. If you don't follow him early on, you might not even see his taillights later.

Zhao Rui lit a cigarette, squinted through the smoke at Jiang Haoran, who was vaguely surrounded by the crowd, and made up his mind.

[Vision, decisiveness, and character—all top-notch. This investment is worth taking a big gamble.]

Cheng Yirou put down her champagne glass, her fingers unconsciously stroking the glacier white bag, already thinking about how to have a deeper, one-on-one conversation with Jiang Haoran.

[We're already holding on tight to Brother Yu, but we need to hold on even tighter to Brother Jiang, this newly discovered and even stronger golden thigh!]

Wang Hao and Li Zhenyu exchanged a glance, both seeing the same determination in each other's eyes.

Zhou Mingyu took it all in, a faint smile playing on his lips. He clinked glasses with Jiang Haoran and said in a low voice, "It seems the second round of fundraising is no longer a problem. Haoran, this is a big gift I'm giving you today."

Jiang Haoran clinked glasses with him, his gaze sweeping over the young faces filled with eagerness and longing, while outside the window, the city nightscape shone like a starry river.

He knew that tonight's celebration was not only a celebration of past successes, but also a celebration of a broader road to the future, built on trust and expectations backed by real money.

He raised his voice slightly to ensure everyone could hear him, his tone calm and sincere, displaying a composure beyond his years: "Thank you all for your recognition. Jiutian's achievements today are inseparable from Mingyu's support and the entire team's hard work."

"Regarding the second phase of the fund," he paused, clearly sensing the sudden tension and anticipation in the air, "when it launches after the New Year, we will conduct a formal fundraising roadshow and qualification confirmation. At that time, we welcome everyone to participate in the evaluation based on a full understanding of the project, strategy, and risks."

"The path to wealth lies in companionship and long-term commitment. I hope our relationship is not just one of investor and investee, but one of mutual trust."

Partners who grow together.

After the words were spoken, there was a moment of silence in the booth, followed by an even more enthusiastic reaction.

"That's awesome! Brother Jiang, please let us know as soon as possible!" Wang Hao almost jumped up, his face glowing even brighter, as if he could already see himself participating in the scene.

Cheng Yirou's faint smile deepened, and she raised her glass to Jiang Haoran again, saying, "Looking forward to the roadshow. Mr. Jiang, I believe we will be excellent partners."

Zhou Mingyu watched as Jiang Haoran, with just a few words, not only satisfied everyone's expectations but also steadily controlled the pace and initiative.

Instead of a potentially ostentatious banquet, it steered the event toward a more constructive path for future cooperation, with even greater admiration in the eyes of the guests.

This classmate of his always manages to give him new surprises.

The atmosphere became even more lively and harmonious in the time that followed.

The topics are no longer limited to investment, and occasionally include campus anecdotes and industry gossip, but no matter how they shift, Jiang Haoran remains the invisible center.

He didn't talk much, but whenever he did, he always drew everyone's attention. After several rounds of drinks, the night deepened, and the lights on the Bund began to go out one by one.

Jiang Haoran glanced at his watch, stood up first, and said naturally, "It's getting late. I have things to do tomorrow. I'm very happy today. Let's get together again after the New Year."

As soon as he stood up, everyone else followed suit. Although they were still enjoying themselves, no one would go against the "protagonist" at this moment.

"Brother Jiang, I'll have the driver take you!" Wang Hao said eagerly.

"Haoran, be careful on the road." Chen Zian had already resumed his polite demeanor.

Zhao Rui simply nodded, his hands in his pockets.

Cheng Yirou smiled and said goodbye, "Good night, Mr. Jiang. Keep in touch."

Zhou Mingyu patted Jiang Haoran on the shoulder: "I'll take you downstairs."

The two left the terrace surrounded by people.

In the elevator, Zhou Mingyu chuckled, "Those three words, 'Let's have a get-together after the New Year,' are probably making them uneasy this holiday. They'll all be thinking about how to stock up on supplies."

Jiang Haoran smiled, his eyes clear: "It's good to have expectations. But water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. We need to make the keel of the boat stronger first."

Stepping out of the warm indoors, the cool, damp night breeze rushed towards me, instantly dispelling the slight warmth on my skin and clearing my mind.

Zhou Mingyu's car was already waiting in front of the door, its black body gleaming faintly under the neon lights. Upon seeing the two emerge, the driver immediately got out and respectfully opened the rear door.

"Are you sure you don't need me to take you?" Zhou Mingyu stood by the car and asked again to confirm.

"Really, there's no need." Jiang Haoran shook his head, his tone gentle but firm. "You've had a long day, go home and rest early."

Zhou Mingyu understood his personality and knew that this was not just polite talk, so he did not insist.

He nodded, but instructed the driver beside him, "Old Chen, take President Jiang back. Make sure he gets there safely."

"Yes, Young Master Zhou." Driver Chen immediately replied, turning to Jiang Haoran with a respectful and professional demeanor, "Mr. Jiang, please."

Seeing this, Jiang Haoran knew that this was Zhou Mingyu's good intention and a prudent arrangement. Refusing would be pretentious, so he stopped refusing, thanked Zhou Mingyu, and bent down to get into the car.

"Drive carefully. See you after the New Year." Zhou Mingyu closed the car door for him and waved through the car window.

The vehicle drove smoothly away, merging into the still-flowing river of cars in the dead of night. Zhou Mingyu stood there watching for a while before turning around and getting into his other car.

The car was warm and quiet, creating a separate world from the chilly outside.

Old Chen was a skilled driver, and the car ran extremely smoothly, with almost no bumps or noise. The back seat was spacious, and Jiang Haoran loosened his tie, leaned back in the soft leather seat, and closed his eyes.

The sounds of the terrace bar, the clinking of glasses, and the murmurs of praise, eagerness, and calculation that seemed to linger in his ears still seemed faint.

But at this moment, all of that was shut out, leaving only the low rumble of the engine and his own breathing.

Those eager faces and longing eyes are both pressure and motivation.

They were eager to bet real money, not only because of Zhou Mingyu's reputation, but also because of "Jiutian Investment's" solid performance.

The phenomenal return rate of "Nine Heavens Investment" in its first phase is the sharpest knife to tear down the barriers between social circles.

He knew that from this moment on, the names "Jiutian Investment" and "Jiang Haoran" would no longer be confined to a small circle.

Capital has the keenest sense of smell, and tonight's ripples will soon spread, attracting more and more complex attention and funds.

Capital is greedy and swift. It may flock to you today because of high returns, but it may also recede rapidly tomorrow due to temporary fluctuations or a more attractive story.

Transforming the influx of "hot money" and "enthusiasm" driven by short-term profits into genuine "trust" and "companionship" in Jiutian Investment's long-term philosophy, investment principles, and team capabilities is a more challenging task than simply obtaining high returns.

The second phase will be an even bigger battle, and a crucial step in truly propelling "Nine Heavens" onto a broader stage. He cannot afford to be complacent in the slightest.

The tide of capital has already surged because of him. And he stands at the forefront of that tide.