Chapter 58: Breakthrough at a Single Point

Building C, Xiaoshan Entrepreneurship Park.

Lu Liang found the phone number of Assistant Hu Weiwei on Mobike's official website.

He scheduled a time to meet at the coffee shop by the entrance.

Close to eleven o'clock, Hu Weiwei arrived alone.

She was a mature 32-year-old woman with a strong aura, very much like Tang Caidie, but possessing a confidence that Tang Caidie lacked.

"President Lu, I apologize. I hope I'm not late."

Her laughter was crisp and clear, letting Lu Liang know immediately that she was neither a mere vase nor the rumored mistress of Li Bing.

Lu Liang said, "I just arrived myself. President Hu, what would you like to drink?"

"An Americano is fine."

Hu Weiwei smiled as she sized up Lu Liang as well.

She regarded ofo as her greatest competitor. To put it without exaggeration, Mobike existed precisely because of ofo.

When ofo successfully secured financing yesterday, Hu Weiwei received the news immediately, which was why she agreed to come and meet Lu Liang.

Otherwise, Star Capital, with a registered capital of only 6 million, would not have been enough to catch her eye.

Sipping his coffee, Lu Liang spoke casually, "Yesterday, I invested in a company in SUFE named ofo."

Hu Weiwei nodded and answered truthfully, "I saw them back in Beijing at the beginning of the year. It's also because of ofo that Mobike is here today."

Lu Liang said, "I feel the relationship between ofo and Mobike is just like Meituan and Dianping back in the day."

"So, President Lu, you want to hedge your bets on both sides? No matter who wins or loses, you don't lose?" Hu Weiwei asked with a smile.

Lu Liang smiled and nodded, admitting it generously.

Hu Weiwei spoke on her own accord, "Mobike had no money, so President Li helped pull in investments. The supply chain had issues, so he brought in Foxconn. We lacked management talent, so he brought Wang Xiaofeng over to be my CEO."

At last, she looked at Lu Liang, "President Lu, what do you think you can do for Mobike?"

Aside from the initial two rounds, subsequent corporate financing required money as merely a baseline condition; more importantly, it required a network of connections.

For instance, the final round of financing for internet companies usually favored foreign capital, because ambitious enterprises all wanted to expand overseas, and foreign capital could provide overseas networks.

If Star Capital only had money,

then she was sorry, she would not accept Lu Liang's investment.

The corners of Lu Liang's mouth curled into a smile, "Listening to you, Mobike sounds like President Li's Mobike, rather than your Mobike, President Hu."

"President Lu, if you wish to speak in that manner, let's end it here for today. I still have matters to attend to."

Hu Weiwei's expression shifted slightly. Lu Liang's words had hit precisely at the pain point she least wished to touch.

Li Bing was like a super nanny, escorting Mobike's development every step of the way. All the difficulties faced during the company's early startup phase had been resolved by him, which also made her feel like a puppet.

The funding, the supply chain, and even the management team had all been found by Li Bing. If she were to have a conflict with Li Bing in the future, it went without saying whom others would support.

Lu Liang remained unhurried and said softly, "Star Capital is humble and cannot compare to President Li's vast wealth and resources, but what Star Capital can do is unconditionally support any decision you make."

Last night, he had thought a great deal and realized that compared to Li Bing, he and his Star Capital were mere small fries.

Lu Liang was unwilling to resign himself to watching wealth slip right before his eyes, so he thought of breaking through from a single point using Hu Weiwei.

Having a heavyweight figure escort you during the startup phase was a good thing, but if that heavyweight figure micromanaged every little detail, it was easy to lose sovereignty.

Therefore, Lu Liang wanted to come and test whether the rumors about the two of them were true or not.

If they were, he could have Chen Jinchun book a ticket back to Shanghai right now; if not, it meant there was still a possibility.

Hu Weiwei fell silent for a long time, "President Lu, Mobike is not short of funds for the time being. If the need arises, I will contact you."

Seeming to think this tone might cause Lu Liang to misunderstand, she smiled and added, "When that time comes, please make sure you don't pretend not to know me."

Hu Weiwei could not refuse autonomy. Even though Lu Liang seemed lacking in strength, it was still an extra force. Every little bit helped, to prepare for a rainy day.

Just in case she ever truly had a falling out with Li Bing, she wouldn't be completely powerless and at the mercy of others.

"How could that be? Then I shall await the good news from President Hu."

The corners of Lu Liang's mouth curved upward. He knew he had bet correctly.

By noon, the two of them found a place to eat.

Refusing to believe the rumors, Lu Liang insisted on trying Hangzhou's unique specialty dish: West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy.

And then he learned that the West Lake was the West Lake, the vinegar was vinegar, and the fish was fish—what a magical trinity.

No wonder it had to be eaten right by the West Lake to be authentic, so one could throw the plate straight into the lake along with the dish.

"West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy teaches every stubborn mouth a lesson."

Hu Weiwei could not help laughing. After finishing the meal and paying the bill, she bade farewell and left first.

With matters settled and nothing else to do, Lu Liang took a few photos by the West Lake to mark his presence and intended to return to Shanghai.

Chen Jinchun reminded him in a soft voice, "President Lu, didn't we waste the hotel room by booking it?"

"Since it's already booked, you can go stay in it if you want. Just remember to get an invoice and have President Tang reimburse you," Lu Liang said with a smile.

"No way, I want to go back with you too."

At four in the afternoon, the two returned to Shanghai.

"It's not quite on the way, so you should hail a cab and go back yourself."

Leaving those words behind, Lu Liang headed to the parking lot to get his car.

Chen Jinchun felt deeply aggrieved. Watching his departing figure, she wished she could find a voodoo doll, paste Lu Liang's name on it, and jab it fiercely with needles.

Driving away from the high-speed railway station, Lu Liang bought a Mickey Mouse plush toy at a mall, and then went to Zhang Qian's home to visit his goddaughter.

The little one had received word in advance and was waiting eagerly at home. Upon seeing Lu Liang, she sprinted forward and leaped onto him.

"Do you like this Mickey Mouse?" Lu Liang smiled warmly as he hugged the little one and pulled out the doll hidden behind his back.

"Thank you, Uncle, but the one with the bow is Minnie~"

Clutching the doll and unable to put it down, the little one still politely corrected Lu Liang's mistake.

"No wonder I felt this mouse looked a bit different from the ones I saw when I was little."

"Uncle, did you watch cartoons when you were little too?"

"Of course! Black Cat Detective, Brothers Calabash, and Shuke and Beita."

"Mom lied to me again. She even told me she never watched cartoons when she was little."

Seeing her mother about to erupt in anger, the little one let out a gasp, scurried hurriedly back to her room, and said, "I still have homework to finish!"

Zhang Qian wore a tender yet helpless expression, "You, sooner or later you're going to spoil her rotten."

"Aren't little girls meant to be pampered?"

Lu Liang said with a smile, suddenly noticing that Zhang Qian was dressed quite seductively today—in a blue knit dress that hugged her curves, looking plump and alluring.

Without a certain degree of worldly experience, one probably couldn't pull off the vibe Zhang Qian exuded, much like a ripe, juicy peach.

Lu Liang hugged Zhang Qian as they snuggled on the sofa, listening to her talk about recent events.

Her mother had been discharged from the hospital but still needed quiet recuperation. Not wanting to be a burden to them, she had her husband take her back to her hometown.

Recently, she had also been constantly searching for entrepreneurial opportunities.

Zhang Qian asked, "Brother Liang, what do you think of urban fast food?"

Although working at a beauty salon was relatively relaxing, she lacked confidence in it and felt it wasn't a long-term business.

Urban fast food was different; as long as you built a solid reputation, you could keep doing it for ten or twenty years.

She knew she would eventually lose her youth and looks, and that day wouldn't be too far off.

By then, Lu Liang would no longer have any interest in her.

Zhang Qian needed a long-term, stable income, and she had been considering the urban fast food project for a long time.

"If you've decided, just go do it. Just tell me how much money you need."

Lu Liang mumbled in response. Having woken up a bit early today and made a round trip to Hangzhou, he was starting to feel sleepy.

Zhang Qian spoke in a gentle, soft voice, "I probably won't need capital for this project; I still have some savings of my own."

Yet after a long while, Lu Liang gave no reply, and the steady sound of breathing came from beside her ear.

Zhang Qian could not help smiling. She gently slid her arm out from under him and covered him with a blanket.

She leaned over to kiss Lu Liang on the cheek, then walked into her daughter's bedroom, closed the door, and kept the living room quiet.