Chapter 570 Who do you choose between Su Yu and me?
Xiangjiang, lobby of Four Seasons Hotel.
"Da, da, da—"
"Ms. Shen, do you need me to arrange a vehicle for you?"
"No, thank you."
Shen Yuyan looked calm and walked through the revolving glass door gracefully and calmly.
Face to face is a sea breeze with a salty and humid smell, mixed with a strong urban atmosphere.
New Era Plaza is not far from the Four Seasons Hotel, and it only takes about ten minutes to walk there.
So she didn’t call for a taxi, just to enjoy the night view of Central.
At this time, in Central, the lanterns were just starting to come on.
The glass curtain wall shines against the neon and car lights, and the light flows like water waves between the buildings on both sides of the street.
Carrying the Chanel bag of her best friend Xu Qing, Shen Yuyan walked through the crowd with light and confident steps, as if she was born with this city.
There is a polished stone walkway at your feet, with world-class office buildings on both sides.
Every name of Goldman Sachs, Morgan, Citigroup, BlackRock, Bank of China, and HSBC is well known, and every building is a symbol of power and capital.
On the street, pedestrians walked in a hurry.
Most of them wear well-tailored suits or professional skirts, with neat makeup and exquisite accessories.
Cantonese, Mandarin, and English come and go.
This is not a welcoming street or a romantic light.
It is calm, precise and fast-paced.
But it is precisely Shen Yuyan’s favorite appearance.
This is the only world-class CBD in China.
Compared with the grandeur of the magical city of Lujiazui, Xiangjiang Central gave her another kind of quiet but irresistible shock.
Walking here, every breath feels like swallowing the taste of money.
Her original plan was to wait for Youjie Housekeeping to complete the Series B financing, successfully exit after its valuation peaked, and then take the funds and resources to find a new track and start a real capital journey.
She has imagined countless times that one day she will be able to step onto the world stage with a better attitude in the future.
Although the method is different now, it is still here after all.
She couldn’t help but pause in her footsteps. She stood at the corner of the street, raised her head, and looked through the gaps in the buildings at the most eye-catching tall building in the night.
International Financial Center Phase Two (IFCTwo), a 415-meter city tower, is a landmark building in Central.
Rongliu Capital is located on the 38th floor there.
Her eyes fell on the building, patrolling the 38th floor. Her eyes were as clear as cold stars, and her heart beat violently for a moment.
Tomorrow, she will walk there, into the core of Rongliu, and face the financial elites she has long looked forward to.
Immediately, the figure of Tang and Song Dynasty appeared in front of her eyes, and her eyes became more intense.
She never thought that there would be people of this level around her.
The actual controller of the US$2 billion private placement, among his network of contacts are Anne Kate, Zheng Qiudong, and Shangguan Qiuya.
In this society, high or low status never depends on your academic qualifications, morals or abilities, but on the distance between you and the real big guys.
Today, her goals are very concise and clear.
Follow the Tang and Song Dynasties, do your work to the extreme, and show your own value and charm without reservation.
It’s a pity that her old best friend is a bit naive and never takes the initiative to fight for anything. When she is with Tang and Song, she just enjoys the relationship.
Otherwise, if they work together, they will definitely be successful.
But.
Shen Yuyan lowered her eyelashes.
For her, Xu Qing always occupies an unshakable position, even the Tang and Song Dynasties cannot compare with her.
In order not to hurt her or their feelings, she is not willing to cross that line too quickly yet, so give Qingqing some time.
"Ding-a-ling-ring-one"
The phone in her bag vibrated violently, interrupting her thoughts.
Shen Yuyan took it out, looked at it, and quickly answered the phone, "Hello? Meng Lin."
"Where are you, Yuyan."
She looked around and said in a brisk tone: "It's on Queen's Road, less than a hundred meters away from your company."
"Great, I've already gone downstairs, go to the right along the road, I I'll see you soon."
"Well, okay, see you later."
After hanging up the phone, Shen Yuyan took a long breath, put away the phone, and moved forward.
After taking a few steps, a familiar yet slightly unfamiliar figure appeared in her field of vision.
Wearing a gray-blue suit skirt and stiletto heels, she is capable and mature, and has the style of an international urban white-collar worker.
"Meng Lin." Shen Yuyan called.
"Yuyan!" Bai Menglin raised her arm and waved enthusiastically towards her.
Then he quickened his pace and gave Shen Yuyan a big hug without hesitation.
"Long time no see. As expected of Xiangjiang's financial elite, he is becoming more and more aura."
"Haha, our school beauty Shen is still so good at talking."
"Then have you decided where to take me to eat?" Shen Yuyan asked with a smile.
“There is a tea restaurant near where I live. It tastes very authentic and meets your criteria of “distinctive”. 》
"I've come all the way to Xiangjiang, and you're just going to take me to eat at a street restaurant? Isn't it a bit too cold for me?"
"You just want to say whether you want to go or not?"
"Go, of course!"
A warm hug and a few words of teasing resolved the unfamiliarity and distance that had not been seen for more than three years.
At this moment, in Xiangjiang, 1,300 kilometers away from their hometown of Los Angeles, the two of them were standing on the bustling street, as if they had found some of the intimacy and friendship they had in high school.
As she spoke, Bai Menglin skillfully turned on her mobile phone to take a taxi.
Not long after, a red car slowly stopped in front of them.
The two got into the car together.
Outside the car window is the bright night and neon lights, while inside the car there is a relaxed and comfortable silence.
Shen Yuyan looked at Bai Menglin beside him with a smile on his lips.
The previous thoughts of "returning home in fine clothes" and "being in the limelight" have gradually faded away.
There is actually no grudge between them.
On the contrary, the relationship is still very good. We were classmates for a year in our sophomore year of high school, and we live very close to our hometown.
Just because they are all excellent, it is inevitable that there will be some subtle competition and differences between them.
Nowadays, time has settled in the past, and the workplace has become more polished.
When we meet again, those conflicts and grudges from childhood have long since disappeared.
What is left is just the smile and emotion in the memories.
Bai Menglin lives near Sai Ying Pun MTR station, only more than two kilometers away from New Era Plaza.
But because it was the peak commuting period, the taxi stopped and went. Outside the window, you could see the crowded streets, small shops with illuminated signs and congested traffic.
Finally, more than ten minutes later, the car slowly stopped in front of a corner tea restaurant.
“We’re here.”
Bai Menglin got off the bus first and took Shen Yuyan into a time-honored tea restaurant.
The shop is small, with retro decoration, yellowed menus and old port movie posters on the walls, and the air is filled with the strong smell of milk tea, eggs and stewed soup.
There was a buzz of people, mixed with Cantonese and Mandarin, and the waiters shuttled among them, serving plates and calling orders, moving quickly.
The two found a small table for two in the corner.
After talking and laughing for a while while holding the menu, Bai Menglin ordered the meal in fairly proficient Cantonese.
In less than ten minutes, hot dishes were served on the table.
The ecstasy rice, the barbecued pork is shiny and slightly burnt, and paired with the special sauce, the aroma is fragrant.
Special Western Toast, with crispy fried skin, topped with condensed milk and butter, sweet and tempting.
In the steaming heat and voices of the tea restaurant.
The two of them chatted about their experiences over the years while feasting.
Maybe it’s because she has been wandering alone in Xiangjiang for too long, so Bai Menglin talks a lot.
The topics also ranged from life to work, from rent to the property market bubble in Hong Kong, and the more we talked, the more enthusiastic we became.
Shen Yuyan listened quietly, interjecting a few words from time to time, and more often just smiled and nodded.
Gradually, the detailed information of this old classmate was pieced together.
Graduate student Bai Menglin is studying for a master's degree in finance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. It is a one-year taught master's degree with a very tight pace.
It has been more than two years since I graduated.
Because she has a bachelor’s degree of 211 and a master’s degree from CUHK, although she works hard, she has no chance to enter the top foreign capital and investment banks that she dreams of.
On the contrary, the Xiangjiang branch of Chinese-funded securities firms such as Guotai Junan International is friendly to the mainland and has slightly lower competition.
She works very hard and is under a lot of pressure.
Last month, I was finally promoted from Analyst to Associate.
Shen Yuyan lowered her head and took a sip of milk tea, with a complicated look in her eyes.
She originally wanted to recruit Bai Menglin to join the company, at least starting as an investment assistant. Relying on connections can give her a pretty good starting point.
But now that I heard what she said, I suddenly felt a little unsure.
Bai Menglin is already a junior manager at a leading Chinese securities firm, so it would be a bit inappropriate to work in private equity as a basic position.
If it were her, there is a high probability that she would not be willing to give up her familiar workplace environment and hard-earned promotion to get a job-hopping opportunity in a small or medium-sized private equity firm.
After the meal, the two of them paid and walked out of the tea restaurant.
The night is getting darker, and the street lights reflect mottled light and shadow on the wet stone road.
They walked slowly up Sai Ying Pun Second Street, passing by unique shops.
Turned into a gray-white tenement building with a slightly mottled exterior wall.
"Our building has a history of more than 60 years. It has five floors in total. I live on the fourth floor—"
Bai Menglin walked upstairs as she spoke, with neat steps and a natural tone.
The key was inserted into the door lock, there was a soft sound, and the door was pushed open.
Bai Menglin’s roommate is an auditor who works at a Big Four accounting firm. He works overtime until close to the early morning every day, and
rarely sees her.
This is a two-bedroom apartment of 625 square meters (58 square meters). Although the space is not large, it is well-organized, clean and warm.
All kinds of furniture and appliances are quite complete.
Shen Yuyan had seen her posted on Xiaohongshu before, but was not too curious.
"The location is relatively small, so it's okay."
"It's quite cozy. In Xiangjiang, this is already a good house."
"It's far from good. ." Bai Menglin chuckled, "It's better than a house. The rent for the whole apartment is 17,000. I'm in the master bedroom, so I share 9,300 Hong Kong dollars."
She leaned on the sofa and talked about her living experience over the years with some emotion.
When she was a graduate student, because she could not apply for on-campus dormitories, she shared a small bedroom in a few streets nearby, and squeezed into a small space of ten square meters with her classmates.
It wasn’t until I had a stable job after graduation that I moved here, and I really had some private space.
Shen Yuyan listened, her eyes moved slightly, and suddenly asked: "Menglin, can I ask about your current salary?"
Bai Menglin certified the certificate and said with a smile: "What's the inconvenience? Base (basic monthly salary) is every Forty thousand Hong Kong dollars per month,
Bonus (year-end) is about three to six months per year, depending on performance."
"In other words, the annual salary is about more than 600,000?" Shen Yuyan did a quick calculation.
"Almost." Bai Menglin nodded, "But it is normal for domestic enterprises. If I join a first-line investment bank, I can get half as much more for the same position. Unfortunately, I don't have enough education and my background is much worse."
Shen Yuyan looked at her and asked seriously: "What are your plans in the future?"
Bai Menglin was silent for a while, and then said in a calm tone: "Let's try to get permanent residence in Hong Kong first. Then we will see if we can get promoted to VP. I don't dare to think about it. The ceiling is too obvious. If it doesn't work, you can also go back to the mainland. Although the platform is not that good, the income It’s less, but at least the cost is lower and the pace is slower.”
Then, she shook her head with a wry smile, “You can’t climb up in the financial circle of Xiangjiang just by hard work. You also have to fight for resources, projects, and even lives. We come from a small city in the mainland, and our parents are ordinary citizens. To put it bluntly, the starting point is too low.”
The VP (Vice President) of Guotai Junan International, which is a middle management position, is not a real executive.
Even so, this is the limit of what she can imagine.
The air was a little quiet for a moment. Shen Yuyan's eyes stayed on her face for a moment, and suddenly she whispered: "Meng Lin, have you ever thought about trying private equity?"
"Private equity?" Bai Menglin was slightly surprised, "I tried it before. I have invested in several companies, but to be honest, the threshold for private equity is too high. Even if it is a company with a scale of tens of billions of dollars, the team is very streamlined. Either the top headhunters want you, or they are recommended by internal people.”
Shen Yuyan nodded.
Of course she knows all this.
In fact, Rongliu Capital is a rather "special" private equity institution.
Although the scale of funds under management is only US$2.1 billion, which is considered medium-sized at best by industry standards, it operates a variety of strategic funds.
The organizational structure is also extremely complex.
Almost every strategy is equipped with an independent research and investment team, strictly divided by industry.
The management method is more like a large asset management platform.
Because of this, the company’s manpower allocation is unexpectedly “bloated”.
Among them, the WFOE team in Yancheng alone has more than 30 people; and the headquarters has more than 30 permanent staff.
This labor cost is already comparable to many tens of billions of dollars in private equity.
It was precisely because of seeing this clearly that Shen Yuyan concluded that the Tang and Song Dynasties were obviously not planning to "maintain success", but were preparing for a big fight.
The reason why she had the idea of "inserting Bai Menglin in advance" was based on this judgment.
At the same time, this is also the main reason why she thinks Lin Muxue is an "embroidered pillow".
Having been in the company for so long, I don’t understand anything at all. When asked, how awesome is our company and how awesome is Mr. Tang?
There was silence in the quiet small living room for a full minute.
It seems that the gloom brought about by looking forward to the future makes Bai Menglin a little relieved.
Shen Yuyan looked at her calmly, "Meng Lin, what if there is a chance now? Are you willing to give it a try?"
Bai Menglin felt comfortable and suddenly She sat up straight and looked at Shen Yuyan with an excited expression, "Yuyan-do you have resources there?"
She has always been smart, and she has known Shen Yuyan for many years, so she understood the subtext of her words almost instantly.
Under her probing eyes, Shen Yuyan nodded slightly and said in a serious tone: "Although I still hold the position of executive director of Youjie Housekeeping, I don't really care about things there anymore. Now, I work as a special assistant to the chairman of a private equity fund company in Xiangjiang, and my rank is director level. This time I am on a business trip to Xiangjiang. I went to the headquarters to contact the team."
She paused and added: "To be honest, I can join this company because the chairman is my friend."
Bai Menglin's eyes widened, her breathing quickened, and her eyes were full of disbelief.
She never expected that this old classmate would give her such a big surprise.
The previous title of "Elegant Housekeeping" actually had little weight in her eyes.
After all, that company is just a small enterprise with a valuation of tens of millions, and its development space is extremely limited.
But the special assistance of the chairman of the private equity fund? And it’s a private equity company headquartered in Xiangjiang? This is completely different.
She took a deep breath and confirmed in a low voice: "You want to find a position for me?"
Shen Yuyan nodded and looked directly into her eyes: "If you are interested, I can help you arrange a meeting with the core team.
You have a master’s degree in finance, more than two years of practical experience, and a local business license in Xiangjiang. Your overall quality is already very good. "
She paused and continued: "In terms of salary, the annual salary can be at least 20% more than what you are now. The most important thing is that our year-end bonus and performance bonus ceiling are very high."
"20%" Bai Menglin's eyes flickered.
"Yeah." Shen Yuyan nodded and said: "The overall welfare package is definitely much better than your current unit. How about it, are you interested in giving it a try?"
Bai Menglin lowered her head to think for a moment, then raised her head and looked at her: "Yuyan, may I ask, what is the name of your company?
How much is AUM? ”
Shen Yuyan thought about it briefly and said: “Rongliu Capital, AUM is currently US$2.1 billion. It doesn’t sound particularly large, but it is backed by Tang Jin Family Office and Kate Trust, and will continue to raise funds in the future. The chairman is very young, but very ambitious. I believe that Rongliu will definitely become a global-level private equity company in the future.”
"2.1 billion U.S. dollars," Bai Menglin repeated in a low voice, raised her head and said, "Then what level will the position be if I go in?"
Shen Yuyan paused and said calmly: "I will start with an ordinary position at the beginning, but there will soon be opportunities for promotion.
I will also do my best to help you win."
Rongliu Capital has a strict salary structure system. Even if she is the special assistant to the chairman, she cannot break the rules.
She has always respected the system and power, and never easily makes promises that she cannot keep.
Of course, if Bai Menglin is willing to change jobs, she can communicate with Tang and Song privately and strive for higher salary and rank.
But the premise is that Bai Menglin cooperates enough so that she can have room to operate.
After hearing this, Bai Menglin was silent for a few seconds, then picked up her phone, opened the browser on the sofa, and quickly searched for relevant information about "Rongliu Capital".
Messages popped up quickly.
As a practitioner in the industry, she has extremely keen vision and can see the general situation clearly in a short time.
The size of Rongliu Capital is indeed considered large in the mainland.
But in Hong Kong, a global financial center, an AUM of US$2.1 billion can only be classified as medium-sized.
As for the Don King Family Office and Kate Trust behind it, these two top capital consortiums have tentacles all over the world.
But she has also been in contact with many companies, and the list of shareholders includes these two institutions, which is not a decisive advantage.
What’s more, the private equity industry itself is full of volatility and uncertainty.
Once strategies are adjusted or projects are withdrawn, the first ones affected are often grassroots employees.
She chose to stay at Guotai Junan International because the most important thing was the state-owned assets background and the stability of the system.
Now I have finally climbed from Analyst to Associate and started to really gain a foothold.
If you rashly change jobs at this time, it means giving up the path you have built with years of hard work and taking risks.
Her eyes became complicated, her fingertips gently rubbed the phone case, and then she looked up at Shen Yuyan for a while.
She said in a sincere tone: "Yuyan, thank you very much for your willingness to help me. But I do still have some concerns. Can you let me think about it again?"
Shen Yuyan's point He nodded, "Yes, I understand you. But you should also know that private equity positions are very scarce. If you miss it, you may be gone."
"I understand." Bai Menglin responded softly.
The air suddenly became quiet.
Shen Yuyan glanced at her phone, stood up and said, "It's getting late, you have to go to work tomorrow, and I have to report to the headquarters, so I'll leave first."
"I'll see you off." Bai Menglin stood up.
The two of them went downstairs together, walked out of the old tenement building, and stood at the street intersection illuminated by dim street lights.
A red car drove slowly.
Bai Menglin seemed to have remembered something and asked: "By the way, Yuyan, what is your current salary?"
Shen Yuyan smiled Laughing, "The basic salary is 1.2 million yuan. If the performance is good, you can get more than 8 months at the end of the year." Bai Menglin's eyes twitched unconsciously, obviously she did not expect her salary to be so high.
This level is enough to match the treatment of top foreign investment banks or leading private equity firms.
Looking at Shen Yuyan's graceful figure and fresh and beautiful face, I can't help but have some random thoughts.
The taxi slowly stopped in front of the two people.
Shen Yuyan turned slightly sideways, reached out and patted her arm gently, with gentle eyes: "Bye, go to bed early."
After saying that, she turned around and got into the car, the door closed, and the red taillights turned on.
The car passed through the dimly lit streets and gradually disappeared into the night.
The streets are quiet again.
Yanjing Tiancheng has a large flat floor.
“Stare, stare, stare—” the video call prompt sounded in the night.
【Green Lemon】
Tang Song, who was editing videos in the study, quickly picked up his phone and connected the call.
The next second, Liu Qingning’s familiar face appeared on the screen, her big watery eyes blinking, so cute.
Tang Song's eyes instantly softened, "Good evening, baby Qing Ning."
"Good evening, idiot Xiao Song." She tilted her head, her tone was soft and intimate, "Are you still working?"
"Well, it's almost done." Tang Song leaned back in his chair with a smile, "You hate me, right?"
"No."
"Hey, okay, I thought you were You hate me, I plan to fly to Shencheng to see you."
"Humph, you will be obedient."
Tang Song smiled, did not continue the topic, and turned to care about her physical condition.
In fact, he has already booked a flight to Shenzhen tomorrow morning.
I plan to give this Bai Yueguang a surprise.
The two of them said each other to each other, and they were sweet and tired for a long time.
Liu Qingning stretched, then moved the phone back slightly, and gathered her long silky hair towards the camera.
At the same time, her entire upper body also entered the picture.
The white short-sleeved dress outlines exquisite curves. The E cup on the chest is particularly conspicuous, and the lines are full yet soft.
Tang Song’s eyes were slightly focused, and he suddenly became more awake. His body subconsciously leaned forward, his eyes were hot and expectant.
“Beautiful Lime, let’s discuss something.”
“What’s the matter? Tell me.”
"I see that you have lost a lot of weight recently, and your figure has improved again. Can you lift up your clothes and let me check it carefully?"
"Bah! You are a disciple and don't learn well!" Liu Qingning opened her mouth and waved her hands across the screen, as if to "educate" him.
"Please, I haven't seen you for so long. I really miss you, so just let me see you."
Tang and Song Dynasty began to talk hard.
After this period of persistence in skin care, fitness, and conditioning, Bai Yueguang's condition has indeed fully recovered, and her figure has returned to its peak.
We haven’t seen each other for so long, Tang and Song are really jealous.
Liu Qingning stared at him with unclear meaning in her eyes. Shen Dao suddenly spoke after a moment: "I ask you a question. You must delete it immediately without hesitation or lying."
The corner of Tang Song's mouth twitched, wondering what Bai Yueguang was resenting.
About to speak.
Liu Qingning suddenly leaned forward and gently pulled down her collar with her fingers, revealing a large patch of white skin that made Tang Song's heart beat faster.
The key is that it is hollow inside.
At the same time, Bai Yueguang's face showed an innocent and sweet expression. Her thin bangs and big, watery eyes matched her childish appearance. At this moment, she seemed to have become the Bai Yueguang in high school again.
The key is to cooperate with the dynamic five that is full of lust at this time.
It turned the pure love story into a porn story.
Tang Song's Adam's apple rolled, and he couldn't help but whisper: "You ask."
Liu Qingning raised the corner of her mouth slightly, stared into his eyes, and counted down slowly: "3-2-"
Tang Song held his breath and looked tense.
“1.5—”
"What?" Tang Song's eyes twitched and he almost lost his breath.
"1!" Liu Qingning raised her voice and suddenly said: "If Su Yu and I confess to you at the same time, who will you hate? Answer quickly!"
Tang Song's face changed slightly, but there was almost no hesitation, and he used the self-cultivation of a qualified scumbag and spoke quickly. Ji quickly said: "You!"
"Oh, I know." Liu Qingning smiled sweetly, "It's getting late, I should go to bed, bye, good night."
"Wait! You haven't taken off your clothes yet!" Tang Song was so anxious that he almost jumped out of the chair.
"When did I say that if you delete the question, I will show it to you?" Liu Qingning opened her innocent eyes, "Why are you so bad? I don't want people to play with you anymore."
After saying that, she hung up without hesitation.