That night!
At Xiao Xi Villa.
A family dinner was being held by the Qin Family and Gu Family. Upon learning of this family dinner, Zhu Zheng sent a message to Bai Lu in advance.
Just two words:
[Come quickly]
Thus, it happened that just as the Qin Family and Gu Family had taken their seats, Bai Lu directly pushed open the door and entered the villa.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Old Master Gu, Old Master Qin, and everyone else turned their gaze towards Bai Lu. Bai Lu also looked at the people inside the room, especially when she saw Gu Chuan, who was arranged to sit next to Qin Jiang. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her fists inexplicably clenched: Gu Chuan!
It's this woman again!
Her appearances in front of Jiang Ge were becoming a bit too frequent, which inexplicably made her feel awkward.
Moreover, unlike Liu Ruyan or Su Yuning, this woman had beauty, ability, and a good family background, and it seemed she even had some connection with the Qin Family. She wasn't stupid! She could tell that today's banquet clearly had some ulterior motive, didn't it?
No wonder... Zheng Ge sent her a message in advance.
For a moment: she inexplicably felt a little wronged, yet she didn't know why she felt wronged.
Who was she?
She was just the financial director of Black Dragon Group. What did Jiang Ge having dinner with someone have to do with her... Zhu Zheng waved his hand: "Bai Lu! You've come at just the right time, we're eating, come join us..."
Bai Lu gritted her teeth and, ignoring everyone's gaze, came to the spot between Qin Jiang and Gu Chuan at the dinner table. However, since everyone had already taken their seats, there were no free spots at the moment.
"What are you looking at..."
Bai Lu looked at Gu Chuan, and the arrogant aura emanating from her directly ignited Bai Lu's fighting spirit. The demeanor of a street-smart big sister, which had almost faded from her, re-emerged. She casually patted Gu Chuan's shoulder: "Didn't you see there's an extra person? Your butt is so big, move over a bit..."
Gu Chuan: ...froze!
Everyone else at the dinner table also froze!
Everyone could tell something was off. This Bai Lu seemed to be here to declare her sovereignty, didn't she?
Old Master Qin was a bit baffled: "Isn't she? Isn't this woman one of Xiao Jiang's subordinates? Why does their relationship seem a bit off? Did we get this family dinner wrong..."
Old Master Gu: "Bai Lu! From the Bai Family. It seems she really likes this Qin Jiang kid. Which girl wouldn't like the aura on this kid..."
"The Bai Family! No way... No family can give way. A son-in-law is sought by a hundred families. There's no first come, first served with this. Whoever can get him is whose he is..."
Although the Bai Family held significant status and power, it wasn't enough to intimidate someone of Old Master Gu's caliber.
Everything!
It all depended on Qin Jiang's attitude.
For a moment.
Everyone at the dinner table subconsciously looked at Qin Jiang, wanting to see what his reaction would be.
Then, under everyone's gaze, Qin Jiang looked at Bai Lu and reprimanded her: "Bai Lu! What are you doing?"
"Ah... Jiang Ge... I..."
Bai Lu looked at Qin Jiang, feeling a little wronged.
Qin Jiang: "In your own home, why are you telling others to move? Just grab a stool and come sit down yourself."
As he spoke, he looked at Gu Chuan again: "You really lack situational awareness. Move over there a bit."
Bai Lu: ˊᵒ̴̶̷̤ꇴᵒ̴̶̷̤ˋ
Gu Chuan: (¬▂¬)
Everyone else: (☉_☉) ∑(;°Д°) ∑(O_O;)
Isn't this?
The favoritism is a bit too obvious, isn't it... "Alright!"
Bai Lu skipped off to grab a chair, and Gu Chuan, without saying anything, shifted her chair a few times to make some space.
Bang!
Bai Lu sat between Qin Jiang and Gu Chuan, beaming with smiles. Qin Jiang merely smiled faintly at this.
Gu Chuan also smiled, and her smile inexplicably held a hint of indulgence and a peculiar meaning.
"Let's eat!"
Qin Jiang didn't care much for this so-called prestigious family banquet. He was only there out of respect for his grandfather, and also because Old Master Gu's generous gesture today meant he couldn't offend someone who was being friendly.
"Haha..."
Old Master Gu: "Right! If we don't eat, the food will get cold. Let's eat..."
Old Master Qin: "Eat... eat..."
For a moment.
The dinner table fell into an eerie silence. No one brought up any topics; there was only the sound of Si Jiu devouring his food.
"Oh..."
Gu Chuan took a bite of the Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish and found it delicious. She even turned the dish towards Bai Lu: "Do you want to try some..."
Bai Lu: ...What's going on?
What's our relationship? You're actually trying to please me? Hmph! Don't think I don't know your little tricks.
Useless!
I, Bai Lu, don't fall for that... "Hmm... the taste is indeed good..."
That's right! Bai Lu was also a foodie!
Then the dinner table fell into a very strange situation. Besides Si Jiu's ravenous eating, Gu Chuan occasionally recommended various delicious dishes to Bai Lu, and her attitude was very friendly.
This caused Bai Lu's initially cold face to gradually soften into a smile, and the two even showed a tendency to hit it off.
Until.
Cough cough... Old Master Gu coughed twice: "Today is a family banquet for the Qin Family and Gu Family, and everyone who can attend is one of our own. Qin Jiang sitting down to eat this meal can't just be because of the gifts I gave this morning, right...?" He deliberately said something to lighten the mood.
Qin Jiang: "Of course... it is!"
Old Master Gu: "Haha... you're really good at joking. Young, capable, and humorous, your future is boundless..."
Qin Jiang: ...I have to say, Old Master Gu is truly old and cunning. His thick skin is terrifyingly hard to rebut.
Old Master Gu: "It's like this! I've been observing the domestic market recently and I'm also interested in the milk tea industry. Since our two families are old acquaintances: I also know the value of your Black Dragon Group's milk tea industry. I plan to invest 1.5 billion, taking a 40% stake. This can clear all obstacles for Black Dragon Group to expand south and open stores, and I will not participate in management decisions."
He offered very enticing conditions.
1.5 billion!
40% stake!
This meant he valued the two major milk tea brands at nearly 4 billion. Was that little? It was certainly not little.
Although the two major milk tea brands had monthly revenues exceeding 100 million, after deducting various costs and expenses, the net profit reached half, meaning the annual net profit was around 500 million. It might seem like they could earn over 300 billion in seven years without needing financing, but one must not forget a crucial factor: seizing market share.
If the two major milk tea brands continued to develop step-by-step without external financing, it would take at least two or three years to establish a nationwide presence. However, during such a long period, the market would already be dominated by other brands, and by then, Black Dragon's two major milk tea brands would certainly be in a passive position, and a great situation would be ruined... Therefore, the conditions offered by Old Master Gu were very generous, providing both money and no management rights.
Of course, Old Master Gu also had an objective. As long as Qin Jiang agreed, Gu Chuan could handle the investment matters, and the two would spend more and more time together.
By then:
Many things would naturally fall into place!
As for whether Qin Jiang was worth 1.5 billion! Yes! Very much so! This grandson-in-law was impeccable in his eyes, the best candidate for him to manage the Gu Family's mainland business after he took charge. As for Black Dragon Group? Heh heh... it was not even on his radar. To the hundred-billion-dollar Gu's Group, it was child's play... Furthermore, investing in milk tea, in Old Master Gu's eyes, was a sure-fire profit. No matter how he calculated it, it was a good deal.
Today... he held the winning hand!
...Gu Chuan pouted. She was speechless at her Old Master's mysterious confidence. From her understanding of Qin Jiang, he would never agree to any ridiculous investment plan.
Indeed.
Qin Jiang looked at Old Master Gu and said: "milk tea is a key project for Black Dragon Group, how can it be easily financed?"
Old Master Gu was puzzled: "Your meaning?"
Qin Jiang: "We need more money!"
Old Master Gu's smile didn't falter: "How much?"
Qin Jiang: "Ten times!"
Old Master Gu: ╭(°A°`)╮
"How... how much?"