After being reborn, my sister insisted on marrying me.

Zhichun East Lane.

restaurant.

"Sister Zhou, you've come at the right time. Let's have breakfast together."

Chen Xinyi stood up and walked to the dining table, her tone perfectly sincere, "Aunt Zheng cooked congee with dried scallops, fried radish cake, and there's also a fruit platter that Siyan just cut. Please don't be shy."

Zhou Min wanted to say that she had already eaten, but Chen Xinyi had already pulled out a chair for her.

That seat was directly opposite Chen Xinyi's seat.

Wei Yi sat to Chen Xinyi's left, while Jin Shilin, whose face was still slightly flushed, sat to her right.

Lin Siyan brought over a bowl and chopsticks and sat down opposite her.

The dining table wasn't big; it just filled five seats.

Zhou Min found herself unknowingly seated in the guest seat, facing the smiling older sister.

Aunt Zheng brought out the porridge, the umami flavor of the dried scallops mixed with the aroma of the white porridge, steaming hot.

The radish cake was pan-fried until golden brown on both sides, with slightly crispy edges.

"How long have you been investing, Sister Zhou?" Chen Xinyi asked casually, picking up a piece of radish cake.

"It's been almost twelve years."

"You started as an analyst?"

"Yes. I worked at Morgan Stanley for three years, then jumped to Zhongding, and worked my way up to partner." Zhou Min recited her resume fluently as if by reflex.

Chen Xinyi nodded, a hint of genuine admiration in her eyes.

"It's really not easy. Investing is much harder and more stressful than running a physical business. At least we can touch the products and look at the stores, but you guys rely entirely on your vision and judgment. Sister Zhou is an early-stage investor; she's investing in people and choosing the right direction. If she can get one out of ten right, that's considered a skill. I really admire her resilience."

Zhou Min was stunned for a moment.

She was prepared for the next question, "So what advantages do you Zhongding have?", but the other party didn't play by the rules.

These words of praise were so sincere and apt that her hand holding the porridge bowl unconsciously relaxed.

The key is that she has seen countless people, yet she couldn't see a trace of hypocrisy on Chen Xinyi's face at this moment.

Zhou Min's rational judgment.

Either it's the little girl's acting skills, which are so good that I can't see any flaws.

Either that's truly how she feels right now.

Regardless of which one it was, Zhou Min felt as if she were facing a formidable enemy.

This...this is really only twenty-one years old?

Chen Xinyi picked up another piece of radish cake for her, then continued drinking her own porridge, not in a hurry to talk about business.

After Zhou Min took a couple of sips of porridge and saw that it was almost done, Chen Xinyi put down her chopsticks and said with a smile:

"Sister Zhou, you came so early today, is it about Ta Ge?"

Zhou Min took a deep breath and decided to stop beating around the bush.

"Yes. I already know IDG's terms. A valuation of 50 million, with 10 million for a 20% stake. That's a very attractive offer, but I can't come up with it. Zhongding's portfolio isn't as large as IDG's, and I won't deny that."

She spoke directly, her tone frank.

Chen Xinyi did not respond immediately, but instead asked a seemingly unrelated question.

"Sister Zhou, what are your own thoughts on the shared bicycle industry?"

Zhou Min thought for a moment and answered seriously: "The technical threshold is not high; the core barriers lie in economies of scale and operational efficiency. Whoever can scale up first and build user stickiness will win. But the prerequisite is a capable team. This field burns through cash quickly, and companies with poor execution will not survive the first round of reshuffling."

Chen Xinyi nodded after listening.

"Sister Zhou's judgment is very accurate, just like Wei Yi's. He said that this track is not about who has more cars, but about who can dispatch quickly, minimize losses, and retain users."

She paused, then suddenly changed the subject.

"Sister Zhou, do you know Lin Dong and General Manager Lin from IDG?"

Zhou Min paused for a moment while holding the bowl of porridge.

"...I know him. He was my senior in college."

"Su Lai told me that President Lin and Su Lai's father are friends." Chen Xinyi said casually, as if she were chatting about family matters.

Zhou Min put down her bowl and simply confessed everything:

"I was the one who approached Donghe. I originally wanted to get him to look at the Tage project together, but he made the first move. IDG has a large scale and makes decisions quickly. I know I can't compete with them, but I really didn't want to give up."

There was a hint of helplessness in her voice when she said this, like a student who had prepared for an exam for a long time but whose paper was handed in early by the top student in the next class.

Chen Xinyi smiled.

"Sister Zhou, you and IDG don't actually need to compete. You're an early-stage investor, while IDG is a large-scale, later-stage follow-on investor. You invest in people, while they invest in data. At this stage, TAGE is still cultivating user habits and refining its business model. What we need are not investors who push for data, but investors who are willing to grow with the team."

She leaned forward slightly, her peach blossom eyes holding a certainty beyond her years.

"Do you think it's more suitable for us to cooperate with IDG, or for us to cooperate with you?"

Zhou Min fell silent.

She was right.

When IDG invests, they demand data, performance, and rapid expansion. But startups, in their most vulnerable phase, need investors who understand them best.

She dared to come to Chen Xinyi even though she knew IDG was incredibly powerful.

It's because she believes she has this advantage.

Because of its smaller size, Zhongding Capital is actually more willing to support projects it believes in.

In the early stages, IDG really just spent money like crazy.

IDG will only start investing heavily in resources if it can demonstrate the qualities of an industry unicorn.

Chen Xinyi was waiting for her silence.

"Sister Zhou, I have a suggestion. Zhongding Capital can lead the investment, with IDG Capital participating. You will have a smaller stake, while they have the capital. This way, you will have the right to lead the investment, and TAGE can also leverage IDG's resources for the next round of financing."

She held up three fingers.

"A win-win situation for all three parties."

Zhou Min's eyes lit up.

She had considered this option, but she thought Chen Xinyi would use IDG's offer to pressure her, forcing her to raise the price, or simply kick her out of the game.

Unexpectedly, the other party took the initiative to help her secure the lead pitching position.

Structured financing, where the lead investor has priority, is the ideal way for early-stage investors to enter the market.

She was prepared to go to great lengths to secure it, but Chen Xinyi simply presented the proposal to her.

"I've spoken with Mr. Lin, and he agrees in principle," Chen Xinyi added, as if she were adding a trivial detail.

Zhou Min was stunned again.

They even communicated with IDG beforehand? When?

She had just spoken to Lin Donghe on the phone yesterday, but he didn't reveal anything.

Chen Xinyi looked at her expression and explained with a smile:

"The night before last, I called Su Lai and asked her to arrange a half-hour chat with President Lin. President Lin is a very nice person; he agreed after I finished speaking. He said that Sister Zhou, you are his junior colleague, and his abilities are trustworthy. It would be a good thing if we could invest together."

Zhou Min picked up her teacup and took a big gulp.

Is it really that simple?

Is it really as easy as she says?

Having been in the financial industry for so many years, Zhou Min is no naive or innocent girl.

She didn't think things would be that simple.

There must be more to this story.

But it seems to be working in my favor.

Chen Xinyi placed another piece of radish cake on Zhou Min's plate, her tone sincere.

"Sister Zhou, we're neighbors, and we should be friends in the future. I have a habit in business: I'd rather earn less than lose money on making friends with people who are worthwhile."

Zhou Min put down her chopsticks and looked at her intently.

"Xinyi, are you really only a senior in college?"

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"When I was your age, all I knew was idolizing celebrities. And you? Sigh, it's infuriating to compare yourself to others."

"Sister Zhou, you're too modest," Chen Xinyi laughed. "You're in real finance; my little side hustle can't compare."

"What you're doing isn't small-time stuff. You're born to do business."

Zhou Min took her leave, completely satisfied.

As she was changing her shoes in the entryway, she couldn't help but glance back at the dining table.

Wei Yi and Jin Shilin were still sitting at the dining table. Jin Shilin put a piece of radish cake on Wei Yi's plate, while Wei Yi was drinking porridge.

Chen Xinyi and Lin Siyan came out to see her off. Chen Xinyi and Lin Siyan said something to each other, and Lin Siyan rarely showed a smile.

The relationships are indeed complicated.

But surprisingly, there's a sense of harmony.

Like a dish of ingredients that seem completely mismatched, but when cooked together, they turn out to be a delicious dish.

Zhou Min hesitated at the door, then finally said, "I'll come for a formal visit next time."