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Chapter 102: Chapter 102: The Ace Pair of Proud Twins
Chen Cheng’s brows remained furrowed.
After listening to Chen Jin’s narration, he increasingly realized that in this glitzy world built by money, everything, even every person, was clearly priced. The only difference was in their value.
"Miss Wen’s relationship with you, Mr. Chen, and those two sisters, is based on money, a delicate kind of relationship."
Chen Jin did not know to what extent Chen Cheng’s relationship with Xia Yubing and Tong Jialu had developed, but he said, relying on his own experience:
"While Liu Zhiya and Liu Zhiying also require the support of money, in their hearts, there is a deeper sentiment towards you."
Chen Jin said meaningfully, "In their most helpless moments, you were the one who extended a helping hand, and you even saved Liu Zhiying’s life."
"Such sentiment cannot be measured by money."
Chen Cheng gazed at Chen Jin, deeply feeling that this "scholar who gathers gold" had a precise grasp of human nature.
"Liu Zhiya, a junior at the Communication University. She was spotted by a model agency in her freshman year."
"Liu Zhiying, an academic star in the law school, also a junior. If not for this incident, her postgraduate recommendation would have been a sure thing."
"When the two sisters were freshmen, their identical looks and fresh, refined temperament quickly made them popular."
He said this while taking out his phone from his pocket, opening a meticulously edited document with detailed information on the Liu sisters displayed on the screen.
Chen Cheng browsed this information, unintentionally recalling the time when Jin Baogen initially handed over the background of Xia Yubing and Tong Jialu to him.
It seems that these old foxes in the business world always conduct a thorough background check before pouncing on their prey, to ensure their own safety.
He read carefully through the document, from past news to current mainstream platform results, all demonstrating the Liu sisters’ exceptional elegance.
"The Most Beautiful Twin Sisters Become Campus Belles, Winning Worship from Netizens"
"The National Championship of ’I Love Campus Belle’ on Renren Network"
...
On the Facejoking website for ranking university beauties and heartthrobs, the sisters topped the ranks of "Campus Goddesses" of various universities with their outstanding looks and charm, becoming the NO.1 in the hearts of countless otaku.
Moreover, Liu Zhiya and Liu Zhiying were the only two who used their ID photos for the competition.
Chen Cheng’s eyes locked onto those two almost identical ID photos, suddenly understanding that the value of these ace twins was indeed significant.
"Mr. Chen, are you satisfied with this gift?" Chen Jin asked with a smile.
Chen Cheng returned the phone, his expression indifferent.
Whether it was Miss Wen’s sugar-coated bullets or Chen Jin’s current proactive offering, their purpose was the same.
It’s all for the "equal terms" underwriting qualification.
And the only explanation for their elaborate efforts was this.
The next bond issue must definitely surpass five hundred million.
Chen Cheng looked at the man before him, and in his heart, he formed his own judgement:
Chen Jin’s purpose was clear, to foster good relations with him, but as for Miss Wen’s side...
He thought of how the two were old friends who had known each other for many years, and perhaps he could learn something from Chen Jin that even Xia Yubing didn’t know.
"Thanks, Lao Chen."
Chen Cheng’s smile returned, "Actually, we two are from the same house, no need to do this..."
Chen Jin waved his hand, "Ah, let’s keep things separate. To use Mr. Jin’s words, a favor for a favor is what counts as friendship, right?"
Chen Cheng smiled and nodded, then carefully crafted his words to ask:
"Lao Chen, you should be quite familiar with Miss Wen, right?"
"Of course."
"I’m very curious about one thing!" Chen Cheng pretended not to know and asked, "How could a successful independent woman like her..."
"Have a special taste?" he added.
Chen Jin chuckled, "Mr. Chen, your words are only two-thirds correct."
"Which half?"
"Success and special are correct," admitted Chen Jin: "But whether she’s independent or not is another story."
"Oh? Is there a story?"
Chen Jin nodded, telling Chen Cheng all about Miss Wen’s past adventures as a mistress.
Chen Cheng’s understanding was not far from what he already knew.
"So you mean to say, just by being a mistress, she managed to become a director? Her skills must be extraordinary!" Chen Cheng joked.
"Eh, she has a child by that foreigner."
Chen Cheng immediately perked up, realizing that Chen Jin really knew a lot.
"I never would have guessed she’d had a child," Chen Cheng continued fishing for information.
Chen Jin: "However, she’s never brought the child out, nor told anyone whether it’s a son or daughter."
Chen Cheng’s heart, which had just risen, sank again.
"Mr. Chen, why are you asking about this?" Chen Jin was also curious.
After pondering for a moment, Chen Cheng said, "Lao Chen, to be honest, Miss Wen is the reason I insisted on the ’equal terms’ condition."
"What?"
"At first, she came to me wanting to support a fund manager’s rise to the top. I thought there was no big deal, so I entrusted last time’s five hundred million to her."
Chen Cheng skipped some details, then deliberately steered the conversation towards Li Hao,
"I originally thought she had set her sights on some girl from a wealthy family. But today, when CGG issued a notice, I looked and it was a guy!"
Chen Jin suddenly realized, and he accurately stated the person’s name, "Li Hao, right?"
"Lao Chen, you know him?"
After Chen Cheng said this, he felt it was unlikely.
Given Chen Jin’s current status, a packaged, minor fund manager likely wouldn’t catch his eye.
"I can’t say I know him, but Miss Wen indeed brought him to a gathering last month," Chen Jin said.
"She brought him along?"
Chen Jin nodded, "At the time, she said Li Hao was a capable young man who excels at analyzing market trends with a unique investment perspective."
"Miss Wen highly praised him, considering him a rising star in the finance world. However, the specifics of their relationship, I’m not aware of," he continued.
Chen Cheng pondered silently after listening.
Was Wen Shulin’s high regard for Li Hao really just because of his talent?
Or was there some unknown backstory that he wasn’t aware of?
"Then Lao Chen, what do you think about this Li Hao? Do you think he’s worth supporting?" Chen Cheng asked tentatively.
"I’ve chatted with him a few times. He mixes Chinese and English a lot, like he’s lived abroad for a long time," Chen Jin recalled. "From what I’ve seen in our brief encounter, I wouldn’t say he’s outstanding, but he’s definitely not mediocre either."
"Otherwise, Wen Shulin wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to recommend him."
Chen Cheng nodded in agreement.
And Chen Jin, the sly old fox, sensed from their short interaction that Chen Cheng was particularly interested in this Li Hao.
"Mr. Chen, do you have issues with him?" he asked casually.
Chen Cheng grinned awkwardly, "Don’t even know him. Just asking casually."
Chen Jin’s eyes gleamed as he pushed his glasses up his nose. "How about I call him out directly? You can talk face to face?"
"Is that okay?"
"Of course, it’s okay." Chen Jin picked up his phone again and started searching for Li Hao’s contact in WeChat.
And he, naturally, would not be unfriended after being added like Wu Dongyi had been.
Soon, a WeChat voice call came through.
"Uncle Chen!"
Chen Jin spoke with a smile in his voice, "Xiao Li, are you busy?"
"Just checked my schedule for tomorrow."
Chen Cheng, listening to the voice coming through the phone, found it indeed matched exactly what Chen Jin had described.
"That’s perfect," Chen Jin pointed to the private room, using his gaze to ask whether to meet there.
Chen Cheng shook his head.
"I’ve just finished a meeting too. How about we find a place to have a drink?" Chen Jin got the hint.
"Sure!" Li Hao accepted promptly. "Shall I find a place?"
"Yes, I have a new friend here who I’d like to introduce you to."
"Thank you, Uncle Chen! I’ll send the location to you in a bit!"
"Alright."
After hanging up the call, Chen Jin, with a smile plastered on his face, said: "Mr. Chen, shall we go?"
The two left the private room, said their goodbyes to Zhang Jingsong and others, and Chen Cheng approached the cashier, "Sister Xiao Meier, Lao Chen and I will step out for a bit."
Xiao Meier nodded slightly, "Be safe on your way."
The two then left Wanbao Hall and went to the parking lot.
Chen Jin’s car was a Bentley, complete with a driver.
Of course, the secretary who had come in earlier to ask if there was space was also there.
She opened the car door for them, and the two Chens took their seats in the back.
Chen Jin pulled out two cigars from the middle compartment in the back and handed one to Chen Cheng, "He should be sending it soon."
Taking it, Chen Cheng smiled and said, "Lao Chen, don’t introduce what I do just yet."
"Understood, I know."
It wasn’t long before Li Hao sent Chen Jin the location.
Chen Jin handed his phone to the driver who, after confirming, drove the Bentley away into the night of Big Willow Tree.
Back at Wanbao Hall, Xiao Meier with hands propped under her chin, looked towards the door and murmured:
"Xiao Cheng, how long until you’re back tonight?"
At that moment, Zhang Yuan came over, holding Zhang Jingsong’s bank card, "Sister-in-law, let’s settle the bill."
Seeing Xiao Meier’s vacant gaze fixed on the door outside, she called out again, "Sister-in-law?"
Xiao Meier snapped back to reality, "What is it, Yuan Yuan?"
"My dad asked me to pay."
Zhang Yuan handed over the card.
Xiao Meier checked the cashier system, "It’s already paid."
"Already paid?" Zhang Yuan was surprised, "Who paid?"
Xiao Meier had been in the kitchen and did not know who had paid, it must have been Zhao Ling.
She then looked at the charge details, which clearly showed "Linkedin Fund."
She pointed to the text on the screen, "Here."
Zhang Yuan peered over, let out a long sigh, "This meal is truly exhausting."
"What?" Xiao Meier didn’t understand.
Zhang Yuan shook her head, "Nothing, I’ll let my dad know."
"Mm!"
Xiao Meier sat back down, opened her phone, and while looking at a photo with Chen Cheng, mumbled:
"You haven’t even seen the new pajamas I specially bought!"
...
When the Bentley arrived at Xinyuan Street again, Chen Cheng somehow felt it looked familiar.
It was not until the car stopped in front of building number 1 at courtyard number 63 that he realized that he had returned to the place where Xia Yubing and her sister had taken him to buy a suit.
"Isn’t this the tailor shop?"
Chen Jin, who was there for the first time, looked at the storefront and the mannequins in suits in the window, "Are we at the wrong place?" 𝒏𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
Just as he was about to call Li Hao again, Chen Cheng remembered Xia Yubing telling him that inside the store was a small bar not open to the public.
"It should be here," he said to Chen Jin.
Chen Jin pocketed his phone, "Mr. Chen has been here before?"
"Bought clothes, but never drank."
He laughed and led Chen Jin inside, saying: "Seems like this Li Hao does have something up his sleeve!"
