The lobby of Red Peak Capital on the first floor.
Qiao Mai walked in with He Sinian on her arm. As expected of a top-tier venture capital firm in the industry, the lobby’s decor alone was worth more than an ordinary person could earn in three lifetimes.
Qiao Mai secretly rejoiced that she had worn the original owner’s favorite battle dress today—a long black Dior dress—otherwise, she wouldn’t even have made it through the doors.
In the original book’s plot, the “Star Ocean Project,” the most profitable new energy project of the next three years, was incubated right here.
So, she was going to intercept it!
“Ma’am, do you have an appointment?”
The receptionist blocked the two of them, her gaze shifting back and forth between Qiao Mai and He Sinian. Qiao Mai noticed the other person’s eyes linger for an extra two seconds on He Sinian’s logo-free white shirt. Fearing the receptionist’s words might make things difficult for He Sinian, she stepped slightly in front of him.
“No.”
She raised her chin slightly, putting on the airs of a wealthy socialite. “I’m here to see your CEO to discuss an investment.”
The receptionist put on a professional smile. “I’m sorry, our CEO Wang is very busy today and isn’t taking visitors.”
She added, “Besides, Red Peak’s investment threshold starts at twenty million yuan, and you need to present proof of capital verification.”
Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow. Wasn’t this walking right into her crosshairs?!
Just as she was about to verify her funds, a sneer came from behind her.
“I was wondering who it could be. Isn’t this our Beijing circle crown prince, the great President He?”
Qiao Mai turned around.
A young man wearing an unbuttoned black shirt with sunglasses propped on his forehead walked over, surrounded by a group of bodyguards.
He clearly meant trouble.
Qiao Mai leaned back slightly and whispered to He Sinian, “Your business rival?”
Without even looking at the man, He Sinian said coldly, “He’s not worthy.”
“Young Master Zhou.” The receptionist immediately bowed respectfully.
Zhou?
Qiao Mai remembered. The person in the original book who constantly went up against He Sinian was named Zhou Kai, a well-known playboy in the Beijing circle. He was also one of the targets He Sinian ruthlessly dealt with after offending him in the original novel.
Oh, look at that. Just like her, total cannon fodder.
“I heard the He Group’s capital chain snapped and you got kicked off the board of directors?” Zhou Kai smiled offensively. “What’s wrong? Has a drowning dog run to Red Peak Capital to beg for food?”
He Sinian’s expression didn’t change. With one hand slipped into his trouser pocket, he didn’t even lift an eyelid.
Meeting a soft wall, Zhou Kai let out a cold snort and turned his gaze onto Qiao Mai.
“Well, who’s this? Not bad-looking at all. Too bad you backed the wrong horse. Why don’t you dump him right now and come with me? I guarantee I’ll keep you living in absolute comfort.”
Qiao Mai didn’t take his bait. Her gaze fell on the document bag in his hand, which bore the words “Green-Motion Project.”
A doubt welled up in the back of her mind.
Before this, she had always thought He Sinian was just pretending to be poor around her.
Now, it seemed not.
The way He Sinian pretended to be poor applied indiscriminately to everyone.
He was brewing a massive move!
That made it all the more important for her to hurry up and make money. Otherwise, once He Sinian made his comeback, she’d be thrown down into the underground city ahead of schedule!
“Young Master Zhou, right?”
Qiao Mai pulled back her thoughts and looked at the document bag in Zhou Kai’s hand. “Are you here at Red Peak today to finalize the final round of financing for the ‘Green-Motion Project’?”
Zhou Kai’s expression shifted slightly. This matter hadn’t leaked; only people within their own family knew about it. He immediately looked at He Sinian. “He Sinian, did you tell her?”
He Sinian maintained his cold, aloof demeanor, as if he couldn’t be bothered to deal with him.
Ignored once more, Zhou Kai grew somewhat irritated. “You better know when to quit. Do you believe—”
“Don’t look down on people.” Qiao Mai cut him off, mimicking his sarcastic tone. “A project like yours isn’t even worth investing in.”
Zhou Kai’s expression changed drastically. “What are you talking about?! A gold digger who only knows how to hustle men, what do you know about investment?!”
Qiao Mai was displeased. “If you want to talk, talk, why resort to personal attacks?”
Folding her arms across her chest to make herself look unapproachable, she continued, “What you’re importing is the German B-39 solid-state battery, but it’s unstable in high-temperature environments. Once mass-produced, it’ll trigger spontaneous combustion accidents. Didn’t you know?”
He Sinian’s gaze shifted slightly, looking at Qiao Mai with probing eyes.
Zhou Kai straight-up blew his top. “This is slander! I can sue you!”
Qiao Mai was utterly unfazed. “The TÜV Rheinland laboratory in Germany rejected your submitted samples last week because the thermal runaway test failed. With data like that, you actually dare to go around scamming people for capital?”
Zhou Kai opened his mouth, a layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead. He had only learned about the sample rejection last night.
How did this woman know about it too?
He snapped his head toward He Sinian, just as he was about to speak—
“Young Master Zhou, is what this lady said true? Is there something wrong with the patents for the Green-Motion Project?”
At that moment, a middle-aged man with refined features and an extraordinary bearing walked over, followed by three elites dressed as high-level executives.
Zhou Kai panicked instantly. “President Wang, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about; don’t be fooled by her! Our Zhou family came with sincerity today. Why don’t we go upstairs and discuss it?”
Upon seeing President Wang, Qiao Mai’s eyes lit up instantly. This was the big boss of Red Peak, her God of Wealth. She had to put on a good show.
“President Wang, you can call the person in charge at the TÜV Rheinland lab right now. Ask them if the samples submitted for the Green-Motion Project last week were rejected because they failed the thermal runaway test.”
Everything she said came straight from the original book. What could she do? She had a god’s-eye view.
While Qiao Mai felt secretly smug, behind her, the look in He Sinian’s eyes had already turned icy cold.
Her performance today far exceeded her capabilities.
Who told her this information?
Zhou Kai still wanted to make a last-ditch struggle, trying to persuade President Wang not to believe Qiao Mai.
However, President Wang only hesitated for a few seconds before instructing his assistant to check.
The assistant made a phone call, returned, and reported in a deep voice, “President Wang, the samples for the Green-Motion Project were indeed rejected for failing the tests.”
President Wang immediately darkened his face. “Young Master Zhou, Red Peak Capital does not welcome fraudsters.”
“Our cooperation—is canceled!”
Zhou Kai looked as though he had been struck by lightning. If this financing fell through, the old man back home would break his legs!
“President Wang! Listen to my explanation!” he pleaded, cupping his hands. “There’s still room for turnaround on this, let’s talk in private, alright?”
“No need. Show them out!” President Wang didn’t give him an ounce of face.
Zhou Kai walked out with a dark expression. As he passed Qiao Mai, he pointed a finger at her. The meaning in his eyes was crystal clear: we’ll see about this.
Qiao Mai tilted her head defiantly. That’ll teach him to curse at her first!
“Ma’am, are you also here to discuss cooperation?” President Wang looked at Qiao Mai, his tone remarkably polite. As he spoke, his gaze lingered on He Sinian for a split second.
Qiao Mai went straight to the point. “I like the ‘Star Ocean Project’ that Red Peak is currently incubating. I’ll put up twenty million for a five percent initial stake.”
Her overly blunt approach caught even an old hand like President Wang off guard.
The Star Ocean Project was Red Peak’s most confidential high-quality venture at present; even someone at Zhou Kai’s level had no idea about it.
And yet she had managed to sniff it out completely!
Equally shocked was He Sinian.
Accurately pointing out the fatal flaw in the Green-Motion Project, casually dropping top-secret developments from a German laboratory, and even locking onto the “Star Ocean Project,” which was still under confidentiality wraps inside Red Peak—
Someone must be pulling the strings behind her back!
What on earth is her motive for going to such elaborate lengths to get close to him?