Chapter 103: Old Hu Is Leaving

The two men exchanged a firm handshake, each wearing a smile.

"Director Qin, I hope our future cooperation will be a pleasant one!"

"Mr. He, I hope your investment company will continue to give strong support to student entrepreneurship!" Qin Linle said with a broad smile.

Qin Linle had just taken over the startup office from Ma Liang.

For him to have just assumed office and already secure cooperation with an investment firm whose total assets reached two billion yuan was a source of great satisfaction. This was achievement, real achievement.

More importantly, the president and vice president of the investment company were students at Heavenly Sea University, and they were only in their first year. In a sense, that was also proof of the university's educational success.

To Qin Linle, that significance was even greater than cooperating with a company worth two billion yuan.

"Director Qin, rest assured. Our purpose is to support student startups. We have always believed that the best ideas and the strongest drive are found in students. And anyone brave enough to take that first step while still in university possesses a courage few others can match," Wang Xinrou said with a smile. "Courage is an indispensable part of whether a person can truly succeed."

"Well said! Miss Wang, students are an active group, their thinking endlessly expansive. They can create boundless wealth!" Qin Linle said gravely. "But guidance and selection cannot be taken lightly. They must be given proper attention!"

"Director Qin, you are right. The reason we have limited ourselves to Heavenly Sea University for now is to build our experience. You are a senior in this field and far more experienced than we are, so we hope you will continue to offer us your advice," He Tian said with a smile.

"That is easy enough... In fact, the university currently has several projects. Would you like to take a look? You might find them interesting," Qin Linle said with a smile.

He Tian and Wang Xinrou exchanged a glance and nodded at the same time.

"No problem."

Wang Xinrou had already done a great deal of work.

While the company was still under renovation and the formalities had already been completed, she had begun investigating the situation at Heavenly Sea University.

Her focus was on several non-national key projects at the university.

Heavenly Sea University possessed a vast independent research system.

That was true of many universities nowadays.

When fully one-third of all new achievements every year come from university laboratories, it is enough to show how enormous that market truly is.

According to Wang Xinrou's research, it seemed that nearly all university laboratories were short of funds.

Of course, the funding gap in this area was enormous.

It was not something Tianrou Investment could possibly swallow whole.

But taking over a few projects from it might not be a problem at all.

"Good, good!" Qin Linle hurriedly produced a stack of carefully selected materials.

These were all projects in urgent need of funding. The university approved of their prospects; after all, they had already been approved as official projects, and the preliminary investigations had shown no problems. But the university's funds were limited, and even raising money from outside did not guarantee that the money would actually arrive. So if Tianrou Investment was willing to support them, that would be a solid political achievement. His chances of advancing would become much greater.

From this, one could clearly see the difference between Qin Linle and Ma Liang.

When Ma Liang had been in office, all he ever thought about was how to make money, how to use the policy advantages of the startup office to serve his own interests.

Though Qin Linle was not entirely pure in purpose either, there was an essential difference between seeking promotion and seeking riches when it came to handling collective affairs.

He Tian and Wang Xinrou did not look through the materials right away.

"Director Qin, we'll take a careful look. Once we've made a decision, we'll let you know," He Tian said with a smile. "As for publicity, we'll need you to put in some effort."

"Ha ha ha, rest assured. Supporting students in independent entrepreneurship is my duty. With such favorable conditions here, if I don't introduce you first, who else would I introduce?" Qin Linle said decisively.

---

"Ha! Done!"

Outside the school administration building, Wang Xinrou let out a long breath.

"How does it feel?" He Tian had not originally intended to come with Wang Xinrou to see Director Qin. Especially after the post incident she had stirred up the day before, he still had some prejudice against her.

But in the end, he had not been able to withstand her persistent coaxing and had come along anyway.

In He Tian's view, Wang Xinrou's overall performance had been excellent, and her grasp of Director Qin's mind had been just right.

Tianrou Investment's entry into Heavenly Sea University, and becoming the first choice for student startup applications handled by the startup office, was inseparable from Wang Xinrou's judgment. It made He Tian truly see her ability to handle real business matters.

To be honest, at that moment, Wang Xinrou was a completely different person from the usual one.

Taken together with Wang Xinmeng's achievements, it really did seem true that the Wang sisters had business genes etched into their very bones.

"I feel fantastic. This is the kind of feeling I truly like," Wang Xinrou said with a smile. "Brother He Tian, thank you. I know that without your full support, I would never have reached this point."

"Hahaha, don't thank me yet. If you don't burn through these two hundred million, I'll be the one burning incense in gratitude," He Tian said with a laugh.

He could not let himself simply go along with Wang Xinrou's wishes now. He had already made up his mind to pour cold water on her as much as possible, keeping her in a calm state at all times. She must not develop even the slightest hint of pride or complacency.

Pride and complacency can ruin a person.

No matter how talented that person may be.

"Don't look down on me like that," Wang Xinrou said with a roll of her eyes.

"From my point of view, you still have a great deal to learn. Don't always think you know so much. In truth, you may only understand the barest surface of things. Two hundred million is no small sum anywhere. I hope you will take this seriously," He Tian said gravely. "Always be earnest. Never slack off."

"All right, all right. Do you think I don't understand that? What we need to do now is wait for the office to move in, buy equipment, and recruit staff. As for investment targets... the projects in these materials are our top choices," Wang Xinrou said with a smile. "First, this allows us to build our framework completely. Second, I can learn a great deal. Third, it deepens our ties with the university. That will be of enormous benefit to our next stage of business development."

"Those are all your own responsibilities. Aside from the recruiting and project screening I agreed to help with earlier, everything else has to be handled by you," He Tian said seriously.

"You're the president, after all. Can't you stop dumping everything on me?" Wang Xinrou complained.

"My role as president is destined to be behind the scenes. I only provide financial support," He Tian said with a smile.

"Brother He Tian... tell me the truth. Do you still have a lot of funds right now?" Wang Xinrou asked with a grin, blinking at him.

"What? Are two billion not enough for you? Calm down. Ambition is a good thing, but it has to be realistic. Let's start by seeing how things go. If you can satisfy me, if you can make me see your results... then you do not need to worry about funding at all," He Tian said very seriously.

"Then just wait and see," Wang Xinrou said, clenching her fist. "I'll make you willingly take out even more money!"

---

"Old Hu, come on, have a drink!"

He Tian, Wang Xinmeng, and Wang Xinrou were seeing Old Hu off.

Old Hu was leaving.

Wang Xinmeng and Wang Xinrou felt deep reluctance.

After all, Old Hu had lived at the Wang household for more than three years, sharing their days and nights and handling so many difficult matters. Long ago, he had become like family to them.

And now, that family member was leaving.

They did not know when they would see him again, and both Wang Xinmeng and Wang Xinrou were visibly saddened.

Old Hu cheerfully drank a cup with He Tian.

The fiery liquor warmed his face until it was flushed red.

When one drinks, one should drink strong liquor. Foreign spirits simply do not satisfy.

"Uncle Hu, let me toast you," Wang Xinmeng said softly.

"All right, Miss, I'll finish mine. You drink as you please," Old Hu said, never refusing a toast.

"Uncle Hu, could you please not go?" Wang Xinrou's eyes were full of reluctance.

"Xinrou, I'm leaving so it will be easier to uncover the truth," Old Hu said in a low voice. "I was brought up by Dragon Fang himself. How could I possibly abandon this hatred?"

Wang Xinrou fell silent.

Wang Xinmeng said softly, "Uncle Hu, I believe that if Father knew you were worrying so deeply over his affairs, he would surely be very comforted."

"Comforted? Perhaps," Old Hu said, his eyes full of memory. It was obvious that he and Dragon Fang had a long and complicated past.

"Old Hu, do what you can and no more. I'll say something you may not like to hear: from now on, you are no longer the main force. First, make sure you preserve yourself. Only then should you pursue the truth. Remember that," He Tian said gravely. "Also, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, just speak up. Though we have not known each other for long, I, He Tian, admire you."

"He Tian, I know. I understand. It's just that now that I'm leaving, I can't help worrying. The safety of the eldest miss and the second miss is in your hands," Old Hu said seriously.

"Don't worry, Old Hu. I, He Tian, will do everything I can to protect Xinmeng and Xinrou," He Tian said solemnly.

"Good. Come, let's drink. Today, I want to get drunk," Old Hu said, lifting his cup.

"Today, I'll drink with my life on the line," He Tian said, raising his cup as well.