Chapter 47: Can You Afford Such Losses?

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When Lu Yao raised his glass, the awkward atmosphere was finally put behind them.

After that, the people in Rong Nianqing’s circle began chatting casually about all sorts of things. They started with where they had recently gone to have fun, then moved on to which places had been most entertaining during their years abroad, and the interesting people they had met there.

Given their respective backgrounds, it was only natural that the conversation soon turned to the things they were currently working on.

Some were starting businesses of their own.

Some were venturing into the art world.

Others were considering buying a sports team.

Before long, they were discussing the recent stock market, and even brought up Fenda Technology, which Lu Yao had recently bought into.

At that point, Jian Xiaojie gave Lu Yao a deliberate glance.

But Lu Yao simply continued drinking and eating snacks in silence.

Information that ordinary people would seize upon and use to make a sudden fortune seemed to interest him not at all.

As the subject changed, they soon arrived at the Internet industry.

Then Gan Xiaoxi, seated diagonally across from Lu Yao, suddenly asked, “By the way, Lu Yao, I heard you recently started a studio too. What does it do?”

Lu Yao smiled.

Was Gan Xiaoxi striking up a conversation because he looked too quiet?

He replied casually, “E-commerce.”

Gan Xiaoxi asked again, “What kind of e-commerce?”

Lu Yao fell silent.

He could hardly tell her that he sold QQ lingerie, could he?

After pondering for two seconds, he smiled and said, “Women’s clothing. Sportswear for women.”

He had intended to let the subject end there, but Rong Nianqing, who had been listening, suddenly joined in. “Women’s clothing? I’ve been thinking about moving into that field myself. Do you design your own pieces, or do you purchase and distribute existing products?”

Lu Yao glanced at her. “Mostly purchasing and distribution, though I’ve also offered some suggestions on the designs.”

Oh?

Who would have thought Lu Yao was not only young, handsome, and talented, but had also dabbled in design?

Rong Nianqing’s interest grew. “Then perhaps we can discuss it sometime. I’m planning to create my own haute couture brand, but my family says the luxury-goods industry has limited room for growth and has advised me not to pursue it. What do you think?”

Limited room for growth in luxury goods?

Any foreign luxury brand could earn tens of billions a year at the very least, and some even more than a hundred billion.

Yet profits of that magnitude were considered “limited” by Rong Nianqing’s family.

They really were gods from the heavens.

Lu Yao did not offer an opinion. Instead, he asked, “You don’t need the money, so are you doing this to prove yourself?”

Rong Nianqing smiled. “To prove myself, yes. But also to make money.”

Very good.

She possessed both of the great vices of the rich second generation.

The most popular saying about them on the Internet in years to come would be:

It isn’t the rich heir who squanders everything and lies flat that you should fear. It’s the one who wants to prove himself!

Take Young Master Wang, for example.

He took three hundred million from his father to start a business. After years of struggle, he finally became an enforcement target saddled with three billion in debt. Then Young Master Wang completely gave up, spending his days eating, drinking, and having fun—and eventually gave Old Wang a grandson.

As for Rong Nianqing…

One look at the way she dressed was enough to tell that she was aloof and possessed a certain aesthetic ideal.

No wonder she wanted to create a luxury fashion brand.

So Lu Yao smiled and said, “I think your family is quite right.”

Rong Nianqing’s blade-like brows rose. “You also think the luxury industry has limited room for growth?”

Lu Yao smiled. “You misunderstand—”

“I think you won’t be able to make it work.”

What?

The moment Lu Yao said that, many people turned their eyes toward him. Even Jian Xiaojie, seated beside him, stiffened at once.

Jian Xiaojie stared at Lu Yao, thinking, Have you had too much to drink?

Unconvinced, Rong Nianqing asked, “Why?”

Lu Yao analyzed the matter calmly. “From the way you dress, I can roughly guess that you favor a cool, restrained aesthetic of the yugen school. If you personally directed and oversaw a fashion brand, its designs would probably follow the same style. Am I right?”

Rong Nianqing nodded. “Yes.”

Lu Yao continued, “But that kind of aesthetic appeals to a relatively niche audience.”

“You may win many awards. You may even build a respectable reputation in the international market. In that sense, you could certainly prove yourself.”

“But as for making money…”

Lu Yao looked at Rong Nianqing and smiled. “What you earn might amount to no more than your pocket money.”

Rong Nianqing smiled. “That’s more or less what my family told me.”

Lu Yao smiled as well. “Then there’s no problem if you treat it as a hobby. Losing ten or twenty billion wouldn’t hurt too much.”

Good heavens!

That remark made everyone in the circle laugh inwardly.

A kept man who made his living hanging around nightclubs, yet he certainly had an impressive tone.

Even Rong Nianqing was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

What an overbearing fellow!

He really knew how to put on airs!

Still somewhat unconvinced, Rong Nianqing asked, “Then what industry do you think would suit me better?”

Something that could both make money and fulfill her ambitions—something that would allow her to prove herself!

Everyone in the group turned their eyes toward Lu Yao once more.

This was practically an examination before the emperor.

If he could not produce a coherent answer, his grandiose pose as an all-knowing strategist would be confirmed beyond doubt.

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Jian Xiaojie was growing anxious.

Wasn’t this making things difficult for him?

He was not even from the same circle as them. His horizons and understanding were who knew how far behind theirs, and they were asking him this?

Jian Xiaojie signaled to Gan Xiaoxi with her eyes, intending to smooth things over and help Lu Yao move past the subject.

But Lu Yao only pondered for two seconds before saying, “Actually, you could open a shopping mall.”

The answer was not particularly bad.

Gan Xiaoxi’s mind began racing. He smiled and said, “You do have some ideas. Real estate is booming right now, and everyone is focusing on property. But I agree that laying out a shopping-mall business in advance could be very promising. If it were a luxury mall, the profits would be even greater!”

Rong Nianqing nodded. “Even luxury brands will spend heavily to establish themselves in prime locations with high foot traffic. Making money directly from them would indeed be highly profitable.”

But that idea would not fulfill her ambitions.

Still, Rong Nianqing had only asked on a whim and had never intended to make things difficult for Lu Yao.

She was therefore prepared to agree with his suggestion.

But before she could open her mouth, Lu Yao added, “Not a luxury mall. Affordable retail.”

What?

Brother, couldn’t you tell I was helping you smooth things over?

Gan Xiaoxi glared at Lu Yao in exasperation.

One of the people in their circle, Chen Yujun, laughed. “That doesn’t sound right. All the major shopping centers are currently transforming themselves in the direction of boutique luxury retail. No matter how well an affordable supermarket performs, wouldn’t it still lose out to the increasingly powerful e-commerce platforms?”

“You work in this industry. You should know that better than anyone.”

Lu Yao nodded. “That strategy would be fine for an ordinary person, but Miss Rong is not an ordinary person.”

Was he flattering her?

Lu Yao was moving so quickly that even Jian Xiaojie could barely keep up.

Rong Nianqing became interested. “What do you mean?”

Lu Yao spread his hands. “It’s very simple—”

“You can afford to lose money.”

What?

What kind of answer was that?

Rong Nianqing laughed helplessly.

She had thought Lu Yao might have some brilliant insight.

But after all that, his point was simply that she was wealthy enough to lose money, and therefore suited to running an affordable retail chain?

That was ridiculous!

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