bookbashuk Chapter 47: Undercurrents
Chapter 47: Undercurrents
In the study of Sheng Bokai's private villa in Shanghai, a crisp cracking sound suddenly rang out.
Sheng Xingjie lowered his head, not daring to look at his father's furious face.
On the ground lies a Ming Dynasty porcelain cup, shattered into pieces.
"Useless!" Sheng Bokai's chest heaved violently, his hand pointing at his son trembling slightly. "I sent you to scout out the situation, not to throw yourself into a public performance!"
"The entire industry is laughing at Jiekai, and at you, the Sheng family's designated heir!"
"Dad, I...I did get their internal evaluation..." Sheng Xingjie tried to explain.
"You call that an evaluation?" Sheng Bokai interrupted sharply. "Others have data, samples, and letters of intent to slap you in the face! And what do you have? A nonsensical, shoddy report! Yu Chen even knows the progress of your lab, and what do you have? You can't even figure out which way their door faces!"
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and sat back in the large leather chair, his fingers tapping heavily on the table: "Now it's all over. Jiekai does have priority in licensing Shuangyuan's technology, but after your outburst, the price of this 'priority' is probably not what we discussed before."
"Lin Yusen and Yu Chen are no pushovers. If they don't seize this opportunity to bite us hard, I'll change my surname to yours!"
Sheng Xingjie's face turned deathly pale: "Then... what do we do?"
"What should we do?" Sheng Bokai's eyes were sinister. "You've blocked most of the obvious paths, but there's never just one way in business."
He picked up his phone, dialed a number, and his tone turned cold and calm: "Old Zhao, keep an eye on the people I asked you to keep an eye on. Also, check all the business registration information of Chenxi Technology before and after the change, and all the information you can find about Yu Chen, from birth to the present."
After hanging up the phone, he looked out at the deep night: "Yu Chen... do you think you can rest easy just because you have the technology and Lin Yusen and Sheng Xianmin backing you up?"
---
Suzhou, Shuangyuan Photovoltaic.
The atmosphere in Lin Yusen's office was completely different from that in the Sheng family villa.
Chris sat opposite him, with the latest due diligence report supplements and a draft letter of intent spread out on the coffee table in front of her.
Today she wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, and her hair was neatly pulled back, making her look professional and capable.
She came alone today.
"President Lin, after supplementary due diligence and multiple internal discussions, Huaya has basically reached a consensus on the valuation and prospects of the Chenguang Battery project." Chris pushed the letter of intent forward.
"These are our preliminary terms. We will lead the next round of investment. The amount is negotiable, but we hope to obtain a board seat and veto power on major decisions. Of course, this veto power is limited to major matters involving changes in the technology roadmap and changes in the core team."
Lin Yusen took the document but did not open it immediately. He looked at Chris calmly and said, "Manager Chris, your efficiency is very high. However, the scope of the veto power needs to be clarified. Moreover, the Chenguang Business Unit is still a subsidiary of Shuangyuan. The equity structure of the independent financing entity, Chenxi Technology, has not yet been finalized. It is a bit early to talk about the board of directors now."
"It's not early." Chris smiled slightly, leaned forward a little, and looked sharp. "The technological breakthrough has been made public, and industry attention has increased dramatically. We're not the only ones eyeing this piece of the pie. Let's show our sincerity and secure a cooperation agreement first. We can discuss the details after the new company structure is finalized."
"President Lin, I believe you also need a stable and influential strategic partner to balance the potential...internal pressures."
Her words were loaded with meaning, clearly indicating that she was aware of the turmoil at the annual meeting and the instability within the Sheng family.
Moreover, today's conversation shouldn't have been something someone of her level should have been talking about; she used her family connections.
Lin Yusen stared at her for a moment, then finally picked up the letter of intent and looked through it. After a while, he put the document down: "The terms are generally acceptable. We can further discuss the board seats and the scope of veto power. In addition, I hope that Huaya can provide some industrial resource synergy, such as the introduction of downstream customers in the new energy field."
"Sure," Chris readily agreed. "That's one of the reasons we value this project—not just for the financial returns, but also because it's a key node in our future energy industry chain strategy."
"So, it's a pleasure working with you?"
She reached out her hand.
Lin Yusen shook her hand briefly, then pulled away: "It's been a pleasure working with you."
Chris felt the dry warmth and crisp strength of his palm. As she withdrew her hand, her fingertips inadvertently brushed against her sleeve. She stood up. "I'll have my team coordinate with you on the specific details as soon as possible. Also..." She paused, then asked casually, "If it's convenient after the New Year, I'd like to visit the lab again to check on the progress of the pilot production line."
"You're welcome anytime," Lin Yusen nodded.
Chris walked to the door and glanced back.
Lin Yusen had returned to his desk and was looking down at the documents. His profile was clearly defined under the light, and he appeared calm and focused.
She gently closed the door, a faint smile playing on her lips—the kind of smile a hunter gives when spotting a prized prey.
---
Weekend, Wuxi, at Nie Xiguang's uncle's house.
The restaurant was brightly lit and filled with the warm aroma of home-cooked meals.
Aunt Shen Shu kept putting food on Nie Xiguang's plate: "Xiguang, eat more. Look at you, are you working too hard in Suzhou? You've lost weight."
Uncle Jiang Ping also asked with concern, "Yes, it's been a long time since you've been back. Are you adjusting well to Shuangyuan? If it's too hard, talk to your dad about transferring back to Shanghai. If that doesn't work out, you can work at your aunt's investment company."
Nie Xiguang felt a warmth in her heart, but also a little guilty: "Uncle and Aunt, I'm fine, not tired. The project has just made progress, and it's a crucial time, so I can't leave."
"Work is important, but your health is even more important." Shen Shu looked at her, then suddenly lowered her voice and asked with a smile, "Xi Guang, tell your aunt the truth, in Suzhou... have you met any nice guys? You're getting old, it's time to start dating."
Nie Xiguang's heart skipped a beat, and she almost dropped her chopsticks. Her face flushed, and she quickly lowered her head to eat her rice: "Auntie... what are you saying? I'm in the lab all day, there are no boys around."
"Aren't there any outstanding young people in the lab?" Uncle laughed. "I heard that the person in charge of your Shuangyuan photovoltaic project, Yu Chen, is very young and promising. He was even mentioned in the last industry briefing."
"It's just a pity there are no photos of him."
"I wonder if he's handsome or not."
Nie Xiguang's heart pounded even faster, but she forced herself to remain calm: "Yu Chen is my superior; we only have professional contact."
Jiang Rui, who had been engrossed in eating, suddenly looked up, blinked, and drawled, "Oh~ work-related contact, huh? Sis, why is your face red?"
"Jiang Rui!" Nie Xiguang glared at him.
"Let's eat!" Shen Shu said with a smile, trying to smooth things over, but seeing Nie Xiguang's evasive eyes, she had a pretty good idea of what was going on.
After dinner, Nie Xiguang helped her aunt clean up the kitchen when Jiang Rui sneaked in and sidled up to her, asking slyly, "Sis, tell me honestly, are you dating that scoundrel Yu Chen?"
Nie Xiguang pinched his arm: "Kid, don't ask such questions!"
"I'm in college! Not a kid anymore!" Jiang Rui rubbed his arm, but his smile widened. "Don't worry, I definitely won't tell Mom and Dad, especially not my aunt! But... when did you two start dating? How far have things progressed? Is he really that amazing?"
Nie Xiguang blushed deeply at his question and pretended to hit him, but Jiang Rui quickly ran away laughing.
Back in the living room, Uncle was watching a travel program on TV. He casually said, "The New Year is almost here. How about we try something different this year? Your aunt has been wanting to go skiing in Changbai Mountain, and Jiang Rui has been saying he hasn't skied in ages. Xiguang, what do you think? Do you have time to go together? Let's relax a bit. We can invite your mom along too."
Skiing in Changbai Mountain?
Nie Xiguang's heart stirred slightly.
Surely Yu Chen can't even know how to ski.
The thought of being able to guide Yu Chen, a complete beginner skier, filled Nie Xiguang with excitement.
"Okay, I'll call my mom right away!" In a corner of Nie Xiguang's heart, anticipation had already begun to stir.
My aunt clapped her hands happily: "Then it's settled! We'll go to Changbai Mountain for Chinese New Year this year!"
Outside the window, night deepens, and the city lights intertwine with the warmth of family life.
Yu Chen received a phone call from Nie Xiguang at home:
Nie Xiguang: My uncle's family suggested going skiing in Changbai Mountain during the Spring Festival. Do you want to go?
Yu Chen: I'm not sure yet. I might have to stay at the factory during the Spring Festival.
Nie Xiguang: Hey, come on, come on! You've been stuck on the production line for a month already. You need to know how to balance work and rest!
Yu Chen: Hmm.....
Yu Chen was still preparing when Nie Xiguang's phone was suddenly snatched away.
Jiang Rui: Brother Chen, if you want to gain our family's approval, you have to defeat me on the ski slopes, otherwise... hmph, I'll show you how terrifying Voldemort is...
"Jiang Rui! Give me back my phone!"
Nie Xiguang's face flushed red. "Yu Chen, don't listen to him. He skates on advanced courses; he's just addicted!"
"Brother Yu, you absolutely have to come!"
"If you can defeat me, I'll send my sister... away..."
Before Jiang Rui could finish speaking, the call was disconnected.
He looked at his phone screen, recalling the [skiing skill] he had already redeemed in the system, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Isn't this just walking right into the line of fire!"