Affection System: I have everything the goddess wants.

Cao Xu didn't beat around the bush; his tone was sincere and frank, precisely addressing the other party's core anxieties.

"Chairman Liu, I understand your concerns. But you can rest assured that I have a clear understanding of the situation and I also understand the rules of the capital market."

"My 15% is just the publicly traded shares. But I know that the company's core equity is mostly held by you personally, locked up by related companies, and supported by a group of existing shareholders and institutional investors acting in concert."

Your absolute control over Yaoyuan Technology is as solid as a rock; my small shareholding cannot cause any trouble whatsoever.

"From beginning to end, I have only one goal—to hold the shares for the long term, enjoy the company's performance growth and valuation dividends, and make purely financial investments without seizing power, interfering in operations, or participating in board games."

These words were frank and straightforward, hitting the nail on the head and directly dispelling Chairman Liu's biggest concerns.

After a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, Chairman Liu's tone softened considerably, carrying a hint of relief and seriousness: "President Cao is indeed insightful, with a clear mind and exceptional vision."

"Although you currently have no worries about control, you already hold such a significant stake in the company, making you a crucial and important shareholder."

I genuinely want to have an in-depth conversation with you in person, to hear your unique perspectives on the emerging fields of live-streaming e-commerce and AI-powered digital marketing. I also want to finalize our future collaboration and working relationship, dispel any misunderstandings, and build mutual trust.

Cao Xu smiled faintly and calmly replied, "That's exactly what I was thinking."

I also deeply admire Chairman Liu's vision and perspective gained through years of dedicated work in the industry, and I would like to hear your guidance in person. Misunderstandings often stem from unfamiliarity; a thorough conversation in person will naturally dispel them.

"Great! I really look forward to meeting with President Cao." Chairman Liu's tone was completely relaxed, and he became more sincere.

"I will take the high-speed train to Hangzhou this afternoon, and I will pay a visit upon arrival." Cao Xu arranged the itinerary with impeccable manners.

"Then I will await Mr. Cao's arrival with full respect," Chairman Liu replied solemnly.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two ended the call.

Cao Xu casually hung up the phone, stubbed out his cigarette with his fingertips, and a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

As expected of a seasoned shrewd businessman with decades of experience in the business world, he never uttered a single direct question throughout the entire process. Yet, every word he spoke was filled with probing and apprehension, subtly expressing his unease about his excessively high shareholding and the threat it posed to his control. He was a man of deep thoughts and profound cunning.

If you want to establish yourself in the capital market, you really can't underestimate these veteran bigwigs.

After gathering his thoughts, Cao Xu took out his phone's contacts, found Dean Zhang's number from the School of Finance, and dialed it directly.

The call was quickly answered, and Dean Zhang's gentle voice came through: "Xiao Cao, why are you calling me all of a sudden? Is something wrong?"

"Teacher, I'm sorry to bother you."

Cao Xu spoke respectfully and got straight to the point, "I recently increased my stake in Yaoyuan Technology again, and now I hold a total of 15%. The chairman of the company has specially invited me to Hangzhou for a meeting, and I need to take a few days off to go to Hangzhou to handle related matters."

Dean Zhang on the other end of the phone fell silent instantly, his voice filled with disbelief and shock: "15%?!"

Having worked in the financial industry for decades, he knew all too well what this ratio meant, and immediately pressed for an answer in a deep voice:

"Xiao Cao, tell your teacher the truth, is this really just a simple financial investment, or do you plan to continue increasing your holdings and gradually seek control of Yaoyuan Technology?"

"You need to think this through. 15% is already the maximum investment. If you continue to increase your holdings, you will need to use tens or hundreds of billions of dollars."

Now that Chairman Liu and the existing shareholders are wary of you, if you make any further moves, it will inevitably trigger a board standoff, a buying frenzy in the market, and a chaotic capital battle—the risks are extremely high!

Cao Xu replied confidently and calmly, "Teacher, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'm purely optimistic about the long-term value of this sector and have no intention of seizing power or interfering with its operations."

Dean Zhang still didn't believe it, and sighed helplessly:

"You kid, who would believe that? In normal financial investment, who would throw around a billion dollars in cash to buy the largest shareholder of a listed company? Anyone would think you have ulterior motives."

Cao Xu chuckled inwardly. He had no choice but to accept the equity reward given by the system; he had no control over it at all.

He then explained, "That's why Chairman Liu specifically asked to meet with me this time. I went there to express my stance in person, dispel his and the board's concerns, and stabilize everyone's mindset."

I will have to temporarily miss the classes during this period, and I am specifically informing you of this.

"Okay, I understand." Dean Zhang agreed without the slightest hesitation.

"Business is important. Don't worry about the courses. I will personally speak with your advisor and all the professors later. Your situation is special, so all your coursework will be handled specially. You don't need to be strict about attendance."

Changing the subject, Dean Zhang continued, his tone tinged with concern and favoritism:

"And in the lab, you don't always have to think about accommodating your seniors and proactively buying meals and doing logistical chores for them every day."

I put you in the lab to gain research experience and accumulate academic achievements, not to do logistical support. Chen Jie and his group really don't understand this.

Cao Xu quickly and sincerely explained, "Teacher, please don't blame my senior brother. Brother Jie takes good care of me in the lab. I usually have a lot of coursework and other things to do, so I can't really help with the research in the lab. It's only right that I do some logistical work."

As you mentioned before, my name will be included in subsequent papers. I'm relatively well-off financially, so I can only do small things to make up for it.

"You're just too low-key and too kind."

Dean Zhang smiled helplessly and succinctly revealed the crux of the matter.

"You don't need to be so accommodating to them. I don't know how much money you've made from your overseas investments, but the funds you used to increase your stake in Far East Technology alone are at least in the billions."

"These senior students may study finance their whole lives and still not be able to touch this level of capital. It's their good fortune to be able to get to know you, work with you, and do you a favor."

"If you simply lend a hand in the future, you can save them ten years of hard work."

"They just see you as a student with some savings; they haven't figured out your true abilities at all. Don't worry about it. I'll personally talk to Chen Jie later and tell them to adjust their mindset and get along with you properly."

After saying that, Dean Zhang hung up the phone.

Cao Xu listened to the busy tone on the receiver, shook his head helplessly, and felt a warm feeling in his heart.

With this bigwig from the college protecting me, I can basically do whatever I want on campus.

He put down his phone, casually opened WeChat, and sent a message to Cheng Xiaoyu, his private banking manager: "Book me a high-speed train ticket to Hangzhou this afternoon."

The moment the message was sent, Cheng Xiaoyu replied instantly, professionally and meticulously:

[Received, Mr. Cao. We'll secure the best train for you right away. Also, please let us know your private travel benefits:]

This trip includes complimentary VIP pick-up and drop-off service at the high-speed rail station. This service can be arranged via a private car within the station, or you can provide your license plate number in advance to allow your private car to drive directly onto the platform to pick up and drop off passengers without needing to enter the station or queue for security checks.

......