Chapter 291 - 217: You Really Have Nothing at All

Chapter 291: Chapter 217: You Really Have Nothing at All

One of the most important core patents was for a start-stop control system. The paper on it, published just two weeks ago, was of an exceptionally high standard and had garnered widespread attention.

What the...?

Reading this, Lin Chu felt a stir.

He suddenly connected it to many other things.

He’d actually had a fleeting thought about it during yesterday’s opening ceremony.

’How could an ordinary MBA opening ceremony get a big shot like Li Bin to attend?’

And Tang Rubo, too.

Li Bin and Tang Rubo both graduated from Peking University, but they were also both in the auto industry. For them to appear at such an event at the same time seemed like a huge coincidence.

But now, it seemed it might not have been a coincidence at all.

They were like wolves that had smelled meat, and it was probably all related to this lab.

And also...

Chen Yuanxing.

He’d enrolled in the MBA program but hadn’t shown up for class in three years. For him to suddenly start attending now... the timing was a little too perfect.

’They’re probably all here for the lab.’

"I’m the one who seems to have stumbled into the middle of this," Lin Chu muttered, starting to piece things together.

But Chen Yuanxing hadn’t revealed a single bit of this information last night.

"Thanks. I’ve got a much clearer picture now. I’ll treat you to dinner sometime to thank you."

Lin Chu casually texted back to Gu Tong.

Gu Tong teased back, "That’s a pretty weak offer, don’t you think? At least set a specific time. What’s keeping you so busy lately?"

An offer to treat someone "sometime" was usually just a polite gesture, with no real intention behind it.

"Hahaha, I really am busy these days. There’s a lot going on at the club, and I’m also taking MBA classes at Peking University. This weekend, though. Definitely this weekend."

Since she had called him out, Lin Chu decided to commit.

’A single meal was no big deal, after all.’

"Hmm?"

"Someone of your caliber needs an MBA from Peking University? You guys are really pulling out all the stops, aren’t you? Everyone’s got their own angle. You’re all after Su Chaoyue’s lab, aren’t you?"

"But your approach is so roundabout! They’re fighting tooth and nail for that tech, practically at each other’s throats!"

Gu Tong continued to tease him.

After reading that, Lin Chu understood completely.

’Looks like this lab is a pretty big deal in its field.’

"Who are you referring to when you say ’they’?"

Lin Chu asked.

Gu Tong: "Toyota from overseas. Domestically, you have NIO—they’re the auto giants. Then for the low-altitude aircraft makers, there are two new startups backed by major investors who are also keeping a close eye on it. And of course, the local Peng City company, DJI. They’re all watching this lab."

"But foreign investment is pretty much out of the question. Our assessment is that Professor Su’s research will likely be added to the restricted export list. Even commercial partnerships would require approval from government administrative bodies."

"MQ only invests in mature commercial companies. We aren’t looking to get involved with labs for now—the risk is too high."

Tsk, tsk.

’What a scene.’

’So the competition is already that fierce?’

’From the sound of it, Chen Yuanxing was just a con man trying to build an empire from scratch. Nothing was set in stone yet. He had nothing—the technology was likely immature, and he didn’t even have the investment lined up.’

’This guy... he’s really something else.’

"Alright, I get it. Thanks a lot. And I’m serious about this weekend. Sunday at 8 p.m., at the Intercontinental in Overseas Chinese Town."

Lin Chu specified the exact time and place.

This was the same place he’d had his first date with Liao Meili. It was definitely a high-class, ultra-luxurious spot.

Gu Tong: "(Thumbs up) You really don’t commit until you get something in return. I’m impressed. I’ll be there on time."

Now that the time and place were set, the dinner was officially a sure thing.

’Gu Tong was both speechless and amused. Unbelievable. This man was just too shrewd.’

Lin Chu: "OK."

He decisively ended the chat.

This just went to show the importance of having the right connections.

Without her, who knew how long it would have taken him to bridge this information gap and sort everything out on his own.

...

「Noon.」

Lin Chu and Chen Yuanxing met at a restaurant near the university. It was just the two of them for a casual meal, mainly to discuss business.

"Let’s get straight to business. If we consider mass-producing the first aircraft to be 100% completion, where would you say your current progress is?"

They ordered their food, and after a few hasty bites to curb his hunger, Lin Chu cut straight to the chase, his tone tinged with interrogation.

The more he thought about it, the less reliable Chen Yuanxing seemed.

Chen Yuanxing’s expression flickered for a moment before he broke into an extremely confident smile. "Thirty percent," he said. "And if the investment comes through, we’ll immediately be at fifty percent. All the preliminary prep work is done. The rest is just following the steps for production."

Lin Chu’s face remained calm as he watched him, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"Have you solved the technical challenges of low-altitude navigation?"

This was one of the key research achievements of Su Chaoyue’s lab.

Low-altitude navigation was far more critical than ground-based navigation, and also far more complex to implement. After all, it involved three-dimensional space and was subject to airspace regulations.

Chen Yuanxing looked taken aback and subconsciously rubbed his nose.

This was indeed one of the core issues, and one of the most difficult ones at that.

It was just...

’He never would have expected this. Last night, Lin Chu had acted like a complete layman, doing nothing but making jokes about Zhou Xingchi movies. How did he suddenly become so knowledgeable today?’

’Asking such an insider question?’

’What happened?’

’Did he get a divine download of information or something?’

"Well, about that... there are already mature solutions on the market. As long as we have the money, it’s just a matter of paying some licensing fees to use the technology directly."

"After all, developing it ourselves would be too costly in terms of both time and money. It’s not something a startup can afford."

"I anticipate that we’ll begin our own in-house R&D on that particular technology only after we’ve manufactured the final product and reached an order volume of a thousand units."

He said this with the same unwavering confidence, radiating a powerful sense of conviction.