Chapter 2307: A Successful Beginning

In fact, Zheng Yao and Dong Chenxi had come today mainly to get a sense of the situation from Zhao Fusheng.

After all, they knew that Xue Yuanfang had met with Zhao Fusheng.

They had originally thought Xue Yuanfang would choose to join forces with Zhao Fusheng, but they didn't expect him to be so cautious.

But thinking about it, this matter was no small thing. If Xue Yuanfang had agreed outright, they might have had their doubts.

These days, being cautious never hurt anyone.

"Don't worry."

Zhao Fusheng smiled at Dong Chenxi and Zheng Yao. "Xue Yuanfang isn't stupid. Or rather, no one in the Xue family is stupid. They know how to choose what's best for them."

Dong Chenxi and Zheng Yao nodded.

That was true.

In business, as long as Xue Yuanfang and his family weren't brain-dead, they should know the value of the shares in these subsidiaries under the Future Group.

To put it bluntly, the interests involved were substantial.

Money moves people. Even if they knew that taking this bait would make them a target, the Xue family couldn't refuse.

More importantly, the choice before the Xue family was legal and reasonable.

They wouldn't even have to bear any criticism or suspicion.

After all, over the years, Xue Yuanfang's cooperation with Zhao Fusheng had always gone smoothly.

"Aren't you afraid the Xue family will be like the others?"

Zheng Yao asked Zhao Fusheng in confusion.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head. "It's different."

Then he said meaningfully to Zheng Yao, "You have to understand, others don't care about appearances, so they act gracelessly. But the Xue family is different."

Huh?

Zheng Yao and Dong Chenxi looked at each other, bewildered.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled. He couldn't tell them that the big shot in the Xue family was someone who would reach the top.

At a time like this, they had to care about their reputation.

"Alright."

Zheng Yao nodded helplessly.

Since Zhao Fusheng had said so, what else could she say?

No matter what, she would support Zhao Fusheng's decision.

"Alright, you two stop worrying."

Seeing their expressions, Zhao Fusheng knew they were still concerned. He smiled and said, "How about we go on vacation after this is over?"

"Vacation?"

Zheng Yao was taken aback, then laughed. "I'm fine with it, but are you sure Dong Chenxi has time?"

"..."

Zhao Fusheng was speechless.

He just remembered that Dong Chenxi might not be free.

Zhao Fusheng certainly wouldn't sell his shares in Future Investment.

Are you kidding?

The most valuable company he owned was Future Investment.

So, as Zhao Fusheng's real money bag, it naturally needed Dong Chenxi to hold the fort.

Vacation was definitely a luxury for Dong Chenxi.

"How about this: you could go to the US for a while. I'll let you use my estate in Los Angeles."

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said to Dong Chenxi, who looked dissatisfied.

"Really?"

Dong Chenxi's eyes lit up.

She naturally knew about Chacwell Estate and had liked it when she visited before.

But it was a place Zhao Fusheng loved, so she hadn't dared to ask to use it.

Now that Zhao Fusheng offered it himself, Dong Chenxi wouldn't refuse.

"Of course."

Zhao Fusheng chuckled. "I don't go there anyway, and Fan Baobao doesn't have time either. If you have time this time, just stay there."

"Deal!"

Dong Chenxi agreed immediately.

She wasn't stupid. Such a good opportunity was hard to come by; only a fool would refuse.

"You, really."

Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng helplessly. "Didn't you know she's been coveting your estate for a long time?"

Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily and waved his hand. "It's fine. We don't live there anyway."

Dong Chenxi nodded. "Exactly. I call it making use of waste."

Waste...

Thinking of an estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars being called that by these two, Zheng Yao felt exhausted.

Reuniting with old friends was always pleasant. Zhao Fusheng even kept them for a simple meal at home.

With nothing else to do, they chatted about the future.

"Are you really planning to raise funds for Future Technology too?"

Over dinner, Dong Chenxi asked Zhao Fusheng in confusion.

She knew very well how Zhao Fusheng had treated Future Technology from the start—like a beloved son.

Apart from Future Investment, Future Technology was the most valued company in the entire Future Group.

And now Zhao Fusheng was planning to raise funds for the company. That really surprised Dong Chenxi.

"Money isn't made by one person alone."

Zhao Fusheng smiled faintly. "Besides, do you think it would be easy to go public without raising funds?"

Dong Chenxi fell silent.

She understood what Zhao Fusheng meant.

Going public required a certain number of shareholders, and the regulations for listed companies meant that Future Technology needed to raise funds.

But what she didn't understand was whether Zhao Fusheng really intended to take Future Technology public.

"So that's why you spun off the voice live streaming platform earlier?"

Looking at Zhao Fusheng, Zheng Yao suddenly thought of something and asked.

"Yes."

Zhao Fusheng laughed. "Actually, I think the live streaming industry will develop well in the future and has good prospects for going public."

"..."

Zheng Yao and Dong Chenxi looked at each other and saw only one word written on Zhao Fusheng's face: cunning.

This guy was clearly setting a trap!

"You guys, don't overthink it."

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand and said to them, "I'm just telling you, from now on we need to learn to enjoy life, not work so hard all day."

Then Zhao Fusheng looked at Dong Chenxi: "Especially you, gradually hand over your tasks to your subordinates. You just answer to me, don't work too hard, understand?"

"Don't worry."

Dong Chenxi nodded, naturally understanding that Zhao Fusheng meant well for her.

...

...

Soon, Xue Yuanfang arranged to meet Zhao Fusheng again.

Only this time, he brought the Xue family's opinion.

"Are you really planning to step back?"

Looking at Zhao Fusheng, Xue Yuanfang asked.

"Not exactly."

Zhao Fusheng smiled and explained, "Except for Future Investment and Future Security, I will seek financing for all the other subsidiaries under the group. As you know, Hanxing Investment focuses on investments in South Korea. If anyone wants to enter the Korean market, I think we can talk. The rest—Future Technology, Future Advertising, Future Real Estate—can all be financed. Forget Future Film and Television; its equity structure is already messy. If someone is interested, I wouldn't mind."

"I recall that voice live-streaming platform under Future Technology seems quite good."

Xue Yuanfang looked at Zhao Fusheng meaningfully.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Indeed, many people are streaming on it now, especially those voice streamers—it's quite interesting."

As he spoke, he recalled a segment he had heard a few days ago and said to Xue Yuanfang with a smile, "Hello everyone, I'm MC Mendeleev. I'll bring you an original song I wrote and composed myself, 'The Periodic Table.' This song took me ten years of seclusion to create, and it will be more popular than any of your songs. Listen: Hydrogen helium I lithium beryllium boron, carbon nitrogen he oxygen fluorine neon, sodium magnesium that aluminum silicon phosphorus, sulfur chlorine this argon potassium calcium."

"Pfft!"

Xue Yuanfang burst out laughing, looking at Zhao Fusheng speechlessly: "You jerk, why are you so boring?"

Zhao Fusheng pursed his lips: "It's all the same routine. When I'm bored, I ponder it—don't you think that's the idea?"

"That's true."

Xue Yuanfang laughed: "The state is broken, I mountains and rivers remain; the city is spring, he grass and trees deep. Moved by the times, these flowers shed tears; hating separation, those birds startle the heart. Beacon fires, I stretch three months; a family letter, he is worth ten thousand gold. White hair, this scratching grows shorter; utterly, that hairpin cannot hold—Hello everyone, I'm MC Du Fu?"

As they spoke, both of them burst into laughter.

"Seriously, is your family interested?"

After laughing for a while, Zhao Fusheng asked Xue Yuanfang seriously.

"Not bad."

Xue Yuanfang nodded: "The family's opinion is that since you're seeking financing, we are undoubtedly the most suitable partners. But we certainly can't take it all alone. My uncle's idea is whether we could consider others. Of course, rest assured, the ones I introduce are all legitimate businessmen with spare cash and companies. Even if they lack cash, they can compensate with equity. What do you think?"

"Okay."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "I won't get involved in the specifics. Zheng Yao will form a team; you negotiate with them."

Xue Yuanfang was a bit surprised, but then thought of Zhao Fusheng's personality and naturally understood his meaning.

"Also, there's one more thing."

Zhao Fusheng looked at Xue Yuanfang: "I won't easily give up management rights of the companies."

"Hmm?"

Xue Yuanfang looked at Zhao Fusheng in surprise: "What do you mean?"

"I mean, for example, Future Technology. I previously promised the current management shares, so I will only finance a portion of the equity, but I will retain voting rights. But Future Advertising—if someone likes it, I can hand it all over."

Zhao Fusheng looked at Xue Yuanfang seriously.

Xue Yuanfang nodded.

Frankly, the people behind him also knew that the companies under the Future Group were all performing very well. Their investment now was, in essence, Zhao Fusheng giving everyone money.

This investment was definitely a sure win.

Of course, once they became shareholders and entered the board, they would certainly place their own people.

But since Zhao Fusheng didn't intend to give up management rights, Xue Yuanfang wouldn't force it.

He wasn't stupid. The Xue family couldn't take it all; they would have to bring others in. If the company succeeded in financing but management was handed over to someone else, what if they lost money?

Everyone invested to make money. If they lost money due to changes in management, the instigator would certainly bear the primary responsibility.

Xue Yuanfang didn't want to be that unlucky one.

"I have no objection. To be honest, I wish all your companies' management rights would remain unchanged."

Xue Yuanfang said to Zhao Fusheng seriously.

This was his true feeling.

After all, no one knew better than him how sound the financial condition of the Future Group under Zhao Fusheng's leadership was.

In other words, even if the Future Group didn't go public, Zhao Fusheng's wealth accumulation wouldn't be much slower.

But since he planned to step back, making such a choice was undoubtedly to leave a good outcome for the Future Group.

After all, in China, sometimes making money doesn't guarantee safety.

...

...

When Zhao Fusheng said he wouldn't get involved, he truly didn't.

He handed over the negotiation power to the team led by Zheng Yao. In his own words, the rest was a professional matter beyond his purview.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng didn't put all the Future Group's subsidiaries up for financing at once.

He started with Future Advertising.

Future Film and Television was a listed company; the equity change from financing was just a beginning.

As for companies like Future Advertising that weren't listed, the outside world naturally understood what financing meant.

Soon, various media and investment circles began to pay attention to this matter.

Naturally, that included Jiang Ning.

"Bastard!"

Jiang Ning angrily threw a newspaper to the ground. Her beautiful face no longer held its usual composure, filled instead with rage.

"See, I told you he'd fool you, didn't I?"

Sitting across from Jiang Ning was a man in his early thirties, dressed in a suit, looking quite refined.

"How do you know?"

Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow and looked at him: "Mr. Chen, don't tell me you had me followed."

"Not followed."

The man named Mr. Chen shook his head, looking at Jiang Ning with a half-smile: "I've always told you not to underestimate that Zhao Fusheng. Why don't you believe me?"

"I never underestimated him."

Jiang Ning didn't agree with him and explained seriously: "I just don't understand what gives him the confidence to think we can't do anything to him?"

She truly didn't understand.

If Zhao Fusheng wasn't an idiot, he should have investigated how powerful the forces behind her were. Yet he still chose to silently refuse to cooperate with her. Was there something wrong with that guy's brain?

"You know Xue Yuanfang, right?"

Mr. Chen glanced at Jiang Ning and said, "He contacted me through someone else. His intention is to meet and talk with me."

"With you?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning was stunned.

For the first time, she realized that perhaps this matter had gone beyond what she could understand.