Chapter 486: Principal Wang's Purpose

“President Wu, let me give you a little inside information. Once we launch, there are going to be some major shake-ups on all the big platforms!”

Wu Yun knew Principal Wang was referring to how he had spent a fortune poaching gaming streamers from other platforms. But with women present, he probably couldn’t go into detail.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~

“Pardon the interruption, everyone. Your food has arrived.” The waiter brought the exquisite dishes to the table one by one. The plating was artful and looked absolutely appetizing.

“Open these two bottles of red wine for us! Be careful; they’re vintage,” Principal Wang said, pointing to two unremarkable bottles in the corner.

The waiter didn’t need the reminder. He recognized Principal Wang and knew that any wine the guests brought themselves would be incredibly valuable.

Moments later, the waiter had a colleague bring over two decanters and a corkscrew, and the two bottles of red wine were quickly opened.

Principal Wang stood up, raising his wine glass. “President Wu! I’d like to propose a toast to you. I sincerely hope we can cooperate closely for our mutual benefit. A win-win.”

“Besides, we only want exclusive streaming rights for the live-streaming platform. We won’t get involved in other formats, like video platforms.”

“I’ll have to think about it,” Wu Yun said, standing and raising his glass.

In truth, Wu Yun felt Principal Wang had a point. He had already discussed this with Ling Yi and the others, so his earlier comment about broadcasting on television was just a bluff. ‘If I don’t say that, how can I have my team jack up the price and negotiate better terms later?’

Hearing this, Principal Wang also took a large gulp of wine and said with a laugh, “Come on! Let’s eat first! We can talk while we eat.”

After a few rounds of drinks, Wu Yun finally adopted a thoughtful expression. “Principal Wang, I agree to this cooperation in principle. However, I need to go back to my team and evaluate how much this arrangement would benefit us. I’ll notify you of a time and place for negotiations when we’re ready.”

Seeing his goal nearly within reach, Principal Wang was no longer in a hurry. He chuckled. “Of course, President Wu! It’ll be a while before our platform is established anyway, so there’s no rush.”

And so, everyone at the table stood up with their wine glasses. Wu Yun smiled and said, “Then here’s to a successful partnership!”

As is customary for Huaxia People, the party didn’t break up after the business was concluded. On the contrary, things were about to get even more lively, with the possibility of a second and even a third venue.

Principal Wang said with a touch of envy, “President Wu, I truly admire your investment acumen and innovative mindset. You know, I took the five hundred million my dad gave me, and after all these years, my net worth is only a few billion.”

“And now, in less than a year, the valuation of Pinduoduo alone completely eclipses all my ventures combined! I have to say, I’m impressed.”

Principal Wang’s words made the three influencers, who didn’t know much about Wu Yun, stare with wide eyes. This small glimpse was enough to tell them that Wu Yun’s net worth was truly staggering.

Wu Yun gave a faint smile. “You’re too kind. I just had a moment of inspiration, plus I had some spare cash to support the venture.”

PFFT~ Liu Rui, who was sitting next to Principal Wang, spat out his red wine. Thankfully, his head was down, so he didn’t spray the table. The woman beside him quickly grabbed a napkin and began dabbing the stain on his clothes.

Liu Rui caught his breath and said, “President Wu, isn’t that a bit of an understatement? As far as I know, Pinduoduo’s registered capital was 100 million Huaxia Coin! And from what we’ve found, the initial cash burn was right around that figure!”

“I’m sure that even Old Wang here, with his five hundred million, wouldn’t just take out one hundred million to burn!”

Principal Wang nodded in agreement. “Exactly! The internet hyped me up too much back in the day; the pressure was immense. From now on, with President Wu here to draw all the fire, I can just trail behind and make a fortune in peace!”

Wu Yun had heard this sort of flattery many times before, but hearing it from Principal Wang and his friends still made him feel a little light-headed. He quickly composed himself, however, and offered a humble smile. “I still have a long way to go. Take Phoenix Entertainment, for instance. The movies we make in the future might have to rely on your Wanda Cinema Line.”

Principal Wang sat up straight, his face flushed from the alcohol. He patted his chest and declared, “No problem! If you need anything, I’ll personally coordinate it!”

Just then, Xu Chenxi’s phone rang. She smiled, stood up, and said, “Darling, I need to step out and take this call.”

Then she turned to the others in the room. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.”

Qin Qiang watched the graceful Xu Chenxi leave. Her poise, figure, and style were clearly a world apart from the influencers at the table. Once she had closed the door behind her, he asked, “President Wu, is that the girlfriend you mentioned online?”

A smirk played on Wu Yun’s lips. “One of my… female friends.”

The three men, including Principal Wang, immediately gave Wu Yun a thumbs-up.

Qin Qiang asked, puzzled, “President Wu, that woman’s bearing and temperament are extraordinary. What does she do for a living?”

“Yeah, I was wondering too!” Liu Rui added, his eyes full of curiosity.

Seeing their curious expressions, Wu Yun said casually, “You’ve all heard of Luckin Coffee, right?”

At this, one of the women next to Principal Wang—one who looked like she’d only had minor work done—said excitedly, “I do! My besties and I love their coffee. We go there all the time in the afternoons to post pictures!”

At that, Principal Wang spoke up. “President Wu, isn’t Luckin Coffee controlled by your Nirvana Investment? Oh, right! I remember there’s a minority shareholder named Xu Chenxi who’s also an executive director on the board. Is that her?”

Nowadays, corporate information is completely transparent on official government websites. As long as a company is registered, anyone who cares to look can find the records.

Wu Yun wasn’t surprised that Principal Wang was so well-informed. “That’s right. Since she’s with me, I’m not going to let her be treated poorly, am I?”

The three influencers all looked on with envy, and the eyes of one woman, in particular, flickered with calculation.

“I thought I was generous with women, but I never expected to meet someone who puts me to shame! I just change girlfriends quickly…” Principal Wang was at a loss for words, marveling at Wu Yun’s extravagance. He’d seen men give women cars and houses, but he’d never seen someone be this generous to a mistress.

While Principal Wang was impressed by Wu Yun’s extravagance, he didn’t necessarily approve. With that kind of money and energy, he could have a new influencer girlfriend every day of the week, and none of them would be the same!

Wu Yun shrugged. “I’m not like you, playing the field so much. You go through girlfriends faster than you change clothes. I’ve never even been to things like the Hainan Rendez-Vous. I can count the number of times I’ve been to a club on one hand.”

‘Thinking about it,’ Wu Yun mused, ‘my social life really is pathetic. This completely goes against the very principle of being a tycoon.’

Principal Wang looked a bit awkward. “I’ve never been to the Hainan Rendez-Vous either, but I have taken a group of beauties out on the town!”

Just then, Xu Chenxi pushed the door open and came back in. Seeing all eyes on her, she smiled graciously. “Were you all talking about me? Why is everyone staring?”

Wu Yun beckoned to Xu Chenxi. After pulling her down to sit beside him, he said, “We were just talking about Luckin Coffee. Saying you’re quite the little heiress.”

Xu Chenxi let out a little “Oh,” and said coquettishly, “What heiress? I’m just riding your coattails!”

Then she whispered in his ear, “It’s mainly because you have some very strong coattails to ride~”

Principal Wang and the other two men watched this woman, who was dressed like a modern-day executive, act so coquettishly. The words coming out of her mouth created a sense of stark contrast.

‘What a bitch!’ The three influencers exchanged a look, each seeing the same thought in the others’ eyes.

Principal Wang didn’t dwell on the subject, changing topics instead. “Anyway, forget all that. I’d rather just play some games! I’ve gotten really hooked on your PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds lately!”

At this, Principal Wang’s spirits lifted. “Hey, why don’t we squad up after dinner? There are four of us, perfect for a Chicken Dinner team!”

“Chicken Dinner?” Liu Rui perked up as well, but then added, “Ah! My account is on the European servers! Looks like President Wu is getting another hundred yuan out of me tonight!”