Sam Shang quickly looked up at Jason.
Jason had already whipped out the lunchbox, grabbed his chopsticks, and polished off the food inside in no time.
"Slow down, don't rush." Seeing Jason eat so fast, Sam Shang hurriedly said, "If it's not enough, I'll get you more."
"No need, it's enough." Jason finished the exquisite food in a few bites, wiped his mouth, put the lunchbox back, and said, "Sam, you don't have to bring me lunch. The staff meals are enough."
"You're still calling me Sam?" Sam Shang smiled at Jason.
Jason fell silent.
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. I'm going to eat now, see you later." Sam Shang didn't push Jason any further, picked up the lunchbox and left.
Jason glanced at Sam Shang's back, then turned and walked away.
Sam Shang's steps were noticeably lighter as he returned, humming a tune as he joined Ryan King and the others.
"Sam, where did you just go? Why are you so happy? Did something good happen?" Yuzhen Yin called out to Sam Shang from afar, "Hurry up, the food will get cold if you don't eat soon."
Sam Shang's smile faded a little. "It's nothing, I just went outside to get some air. Now I'm hungry. Are you all finished eating?"
"Pretty much." Ryan King glanced at Sam Shang, but didn't ask further. He felt sure Sam Shang hadn't just gone out for some air.
But Sam Shang had his own secrets. If he didn't want to talk, Ryan King wouldn't press.
By now, most people in the restaurant were almost done eating. Some stayed to chat, some left early to rest, and some wandered around to enjoy the scenery.
"Why do I feel like these people aren't here for matchmaking, but for business talks?" Lucas Mu glanced at Winston Fan in the distance. "This Winston Fan really does bring business wherever he goes."
The group followed Lucas Mu's gaze and saw Winston Fan chatting animatedly with several young people. From the look of it, they were definitely talking business.
"That's why Uncle likes him so much," Yuzhen Yin replied. "I think he's got real potential. Most importantly, Yina doesn't dislike him!"
"I think this could work. Miss Yin, would you like to join in too?" Nick Ning saw Yina Yin approach and immediately handed her a copy of the proposal.
Yina Yin skimmed through it and asked, "Have you all been discussing this the whole time?"
"Yeah, this project was suggested by Winston Fan. After looking it over, we all felt it had potential." Next to him was Eric Ding, about the same age as Gu Miao, also a new heir to his family's business.
Winston Fan smiled and said, "I've researched this project for a long time, but the funding needed is pretty big. It's hard for me to handle alone, so I wanted to invite you all to join in. We're all familiar, so I'll skip the formalities. Simply put, I estimate the investment return to be at least thirty percent."
A thirty percent return on investment is nothing to scoff at.
Yina Yin asked with interest, "But why do you want to get into chips? You know the technology has always been monopolized and tightly controlled."
"That's exactly why we want you to join us." Nick Ning smiled. "Everyone knows the Mo Consortium's chip technology is world-leading."
Yina Yin laughed, "Then you should talk to Leo and Theo Mo instead."
"No, no, they're still too young. And we aren't qualified to meet Mr. Mo directly." Eric Ding waved his hand. "But you're different. If you go see Mr. Mo, no matter how busy he is, he'll make time for you."
"We're all familiar here, so let's not beat around the bush." Winston Fan tapped the proposal in his hand. "I'm confident we can push profits to fifty or even sixty percent, as long as we get technical support from the Mo family. I've tried to contact Mr. Mo before, but you can guess the result, right? He wouldn't bother with such a small business, so I never even got to meet him."
Yina Yin asked, "How much initial investment is needed?"
"We need a total of three billion for initial investment, split into three phases. I can put up one billion, but that's my limit—I've just started two new projects and funds are tight. Nick Ning can put in five hundred million, Eric Ding can put in six hundred million. That leaves a gap of nine hundred million. If Miss Yin can persuade the Mo family to join and provide technical support, we can offer ten percent equity for technology shares. The remaining ninety percent will be split according to our investment proportions." Winston Fan said decisively.
Miles Gu couldn't take it anymore.
"What's wrong? Feeling bad?" A voice sounded behind Miles Gu. "If you knew it would end like this, why did you do it in the first place?"
Miles Gu turned around and saw Ethan Yin approaching.
Miles Gu didn't speak, just stared as Yina Yin chatted happily with others.
Yina Yin has never been a spoiled child. On the contrary, she's always had a business mind and management skills. Ethan Yin, as if worried Miles Gu might regret things, gestured toward Yina Yin and said, "Just now, they were discussing a partnership project. It's not a huge deal, but it's not trivial either. If it succeeds, assets could multiply several times over. Her parents may have prepared a generous dowry, but her own family resources far exceed that."
Miles Gu's heart ached even more.
Everyone thinks Yina's businesses are managed by Cherry, so Yina just sits back and enjoys the profits. But think about it—how could that be? Cherry is her chief assistant, sure, and she helps with business matters, but Cherry also manages the Yin Consortium. How could she handle everything herself? Yina may be a bit lazy, but she never slacks off when it comes to important things. Cherry only handles the minor issues; for the big ones, Yina always deals with them personally. Girls raised in families like ours can stand on their own anywhere." Seeing the regret in Miles Gu's eyes, Ethan Yin felt satisfied and added, "Yina may be laid-back, but she never shirks the big stuff."
Miles Gu's heart was bleeding.
What exactly did he miss out on!
As her brother, of course I support my sister's career. And if her future husband wants to start a business, as the elder brother-in-law, I'll support him too.
"Enough." Miles Gu clenched his fists, his face dark and his tone cold.
"If I don't say it, does that mean it doesn't exist?" Ethan Yin laughed softly. "You've only just begun to notice Yina's strengths; soon you'll discover even more."
"You came just to provoke me?" Miles Gu's eyes reddened, his voice harsher.
"No, I came to ask you. We're all moving to Yulan International tonight. Are you coming too?" Ethan Yin said casually. "Yulan International—you remember it, right?"
Miles Gu's pupils contracted.
A scene suddenly flashed through his mind.
Was that the memory of his Primary Persona?
In his memory, Miles Gu's Primary Persona confessed to Yina Yin at Yulan International.
In other words, Yulan International is where Miles Gu and Yina Yin's relationship was sealed.
Ever since the breakup banquet, he felt like a joke. Even though others didn't show it openly, the ridicule and mockery in their eyes was real.