At the school office building, Lih Xiao arrived at the office of the Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee, Lui Zhaojiang, to report on her work.
The Youth League Committee department's role varies across different schools; its power can be substantial or negligible, but it holds significant influence on the International campus.
Logistical management, student recruitment, and allocation of resources all fall within the scope of the Youth League Committee's jurisdiction.
Therefore, the project to establish an entrepreneurship center naturally fell to the Youth League Committee.
"Are you saying that this student named Shen Yuan wants to invest in the entrepreneurship center?"
"Yes."
Lih Xiao had just roughly outlined the situation.
The project for the International Entrepreneurship Center was led by one of the vice-chancellors, with a preparation team consisting of 5 members. The team leader was Secretary Kong of the Youth League Committee, followed by Deputy Secretary Lui Zhaojiang, with Lih Xiao and two other female teachers as part of the team members.
Secretary Kong was in charge of only the general direction; the Deputy Secretary, Lui Zhaojiang, drove all the significant tasks, while the other three team members were responsible for the practical implementation.
However, Lih Xiao had strong aversions to this Lui Zhaojiang.
Lui Zhaojiang was around 40 years old, wearing a pair of silver-framed glasses, and seemingly lacking in exercise, which resulted in a somewhat stout figure. When he sat down, his belly had several layers of fat.
This greasy middle-aged man often used the excuse of advancing the project to ask her out for meals; whenever there were meetings with investors, he also wanted her to accompany them for drinks and laughter.
Lih Xiao declined every time, but with each refusal, her workload increased, evidence of Lui Zhaojiang using his authority to pressure.
"Does he have the capacity to do so?"
"Was the capital verified?"
Upon hearing that a student wanted to invest in the entrepreneurship center, Lui Zhaojiang's first reaction was undoubtedly one of disbelief. Although some students at the International campus indeed came from wealthy families, this was a project worth several millions.
Even if some students' families had the financial capability, it was ultimately parents' money; the students themselves certainly had no final say.
Lih Xiao explained, "I didn't believe it at first either, but after I saw his bank account balance, there were 10 million yuan."Nôv(el)B\\jnn
"How much did you say?"
Lui Zhaojiang thought he might have heard wrong.
"10 million."
"10 million???"
Lui Zhaojiang drew in a sharp breath.
That's a fortune!
Unexpectedly, the school had produced such a wealthy individual.
"But are you sure this money isn't from his parents and that he has control over it?"
Lui Zhaojiang wanted to make sure once more.
Lih Xiao nodded: "It's his own money, and he can dispose of it as he sees fit."
"That's excellent!"
Lui Zhaojiang's mood suddenly shifted, and a wave of joy surged within him, "In that case, we don't need to cooperate with a third-party company."
The entrepreneurship center project had been in preparation for over a month, but due to financial difficulties, the progress was virtually nil.
Lih Xiao shook her head, "I'm not too clear on the specifics. I haven't seen him much lately."
After getting hit with a curveball by Shen Yuan, Lui Zhaojiang took out his frustration on Lih Xiao, speaking sternly, "Don't you have a grip on your own student's situation?"
"Those are personal matters of the students, which I have no right to pry into."
Lih Xiao wasn't about to indulge him; after all, she had already offended Lui Zhaojiang several times and wasn't afraid of doing it again.
Lui Zhaojiang gave Lih Xiao a cold look, then started to silently strategize.
Getting the entrepreneurial base project moving was urgent; it had made no progress for so long that Secretary Kong would definitely hold him responsible if it continued.
Since Shen Yuan had the investment capacity, as a school leader, it wouldn't hurt to lower his posture a bit. Otherwise, if Shen Yuan decided to invest elsewhere, he would really regret it.
After coming to this realization, Lui Zhaojiang inquired again, "Do you think you could arrange a meal with him?"
Lih Xiao considered it and replied, "I'll have to ask. I'm not sure."
"Well, go ahead and ask. He can choose the time and place, and we'll cover the meal expenses with the group's fund."
"Sure."
...
In dormitory 503, Shen Yuan received a WeChat message from counselor Lih Xiao, saying that Lui Zhaojiang wanted to invite him for a meal to discuss the specifics of the investments and to see when he would be available.
But he didn't rush to reply, deciding to leave Lui Zhaojiang in suspense a bit longer.
Although Shen Yuan was still a university student, he was no rookie in business; he would help in the travel agency during winter and summer breaks, and Old Shen would occasionally share some insights with him.
Business negotiations are all about who has the weightier chips, who can occupy the advantageous position.
Shen Yuan's chip was the 10 million exclusive investment fund, and the school leadership desperately needed this money to construct the entrepreneurial base. So, it was clear that the scales were tipped in Shen Yuan's favor in the negotiation.
It was with such leverage that Shen Yuan could achieve his goal: he wanted complete autonomy over the entrepreneurial base without any interference from the school.
Who to invest in and how much to invest was all up to him to decide.
Moreover, Lui Zhaojiang was just a vice secretary; someone else would have the final say, so there was no need to be too courteous with him.
As Shen Yuan mulled over this, his WeChat chimed again—it was a message from Fang Minhui.
"Shen Yuan, what are you up to? Do you have time to take a walk on the sports field?"
A walk?
Shen Yuan was puzzled; didn't Fang Minhui usually ask him to have a frozen drink?
Strangely enough, since their first experience together, Minhui had gradually revealed her automatic talents, while Chen Na's learning progress was slower, requiring Shen Yuan to engage the clutch each time.
Shen Yuan replied, "I thought you would ask me out for a frozen drink."
"I can't, I've got my period...."
Shen Yuan suddenly understood why Fang Minhui had not been in touch recently.
However, Minhui quickly added another line, "But if you want, we can still do it there."
Seeing this WeChat message, Shen Yuan's lips curled into a faint smile.
"..."