Smiling Holdings

Xie Shuyu was not at all surprised by Tang Song's answer.

There was not much work on her end, and the pay was decent. There was no reason for him to refuse.

"I'll send the company address to your WeChat later. Just bring your ID card and bank card over. I've been busy expanding the bakery business lately, so I might not be there. You can look for the Office Director."

"Okay, thank you for your trust, Shuyu-jie." After a pause, Tang Song joked, "No, that's wrong. I should be thanking General Xie for your trust."

Xie Shuyu gave a light laugh. "You're only working part-time. No need to make such a big deal out of it."

"Then here's to Glimmer Coffee growing bigger and stronger, and to creating a brilliant future together!"

The two raised their tea and lightly clinked cups.

Xie Shuyu looked at Tang Song with a trace of curiosity in her eyes.

With her experience and ability, she was quite accurate at judging people.

In her impression, Tang Song was a typical introvert.

Quiet, evasive, fond of thinking independently, and not good at socializing.

Yet in this meeting, he seemed much more confident and cheerful. His whole demeanor was more spirited as well.

It was a small surprise.

She preferred communicating with people like this. It was much easier and improved work efficiency.

"General Xie, it really is you! What a coincidence!" A very magnetic male voice suddenly rang out.

Tang Song looked up in surprise and saw a man in his early thirties standing beside Xie Shuyu with a delighted expression.

A black business jacket, wool sweater, dress pants, and leather shoes.

Side-parted hair and a leather portfolio gave him a refined, gentlemanly appearance.

Xie Shuyu stood up politely and greeted him warmly, "Good afternoon, Manager Wang."

Manager Wang glanced at Tang Song and casually asked, "And this is?"

"Tang Song, one of my Partners." Xie Shuyu smiled as she introduced them. "This is Wang Yunping, a senior manager at Yunjing Consulting."

Wang Yunping took the initiative to extend his hand to Tang Song. "Hello, Mr. Tang."

"Hello." Tang Song hurriedly stood and shook hands with him.

Wang Yunping shifted his gaze back to Xie Shuyu and sincerely praised her. "Awakening from a dream, the heavy clouds have yet to part; dawn light blows into a sparse drizzle. Every time I see General Xie, I think of this Song lyric. You are equally elegant and beautiful."

"Thank you for the compliment." Xie Shuyu smiled reservedly.

Tang Song froze slightly. He had not expected Xie Shuyu's name to come from there. It truly was beautiful.

Awakening from a dream, the sky was dark and overcast, the heavy clouds not yet dispersed. Sparse, fine rain mingled with the faint light of dawn.

Perhaps that was also the origin of "Glimmer Café"?

The two smiled and exchanged a few words about old times.

Wang Yunping waved his portfolio and said, "Our firm recently investigated the current state and investment opportunities of the coffee industry in Yan Province. Would General Xie like to hear about it? It might help with your company's financing."

At those words, Xie Shuyu's eyes immediately lit up, but she then glanced at Tang Song with some hesitation.

After all, she had invited him out for a meal today. This was a little inappropriate.

Tang Song saw Xie Shuyu's concern and took the initiative to say, "Shuyu-jie, your work is important. Don't worry about me."

Xie Shuyu hesitated for a moment, then gestured. "Please sit, Manager Wang."

Wang Yunping nodded and sat directly beside Tang Song, his slightly heated gaze remaining fixed on Xie Shuyu.

The two began discussing topics such as changes in market size, supply chains, product innovation, and investment institutions.

Tang Song listened quietly beside them, but could not find any opening to join the conversation.

About twenty minutes later.

The two stopped talking about investments and began discussing other things.

It was clear that Manager Wang was a well-read and knowledgeable man.

He knew a thing or two about coffee beans, luxury goods, and art.

Looking at Wang Yunping beside him, who chatted and laughed with ease while maintaining a refined, gentlemanly manner, Tang Song once again felt his own inadequacy.

Compared with a true elite like him, Tang Song's overall qualities were far too lacking.

For a moment, he felt somewhat dejected.

He had originally wanted Xie Shuyu to change her impression of him today, yet someone had unexpectedly stolen the spotlight.

The key was that he simply did not have the ability to join the conversation right now.

Once the two had more or less finished talking.

Only then did Wang Yunping turn his attention to Tang Song, as if he had finally remembered there was another person beside him.

He casually pulled out a business card and placed it by Tang Song's hand, saying with a smile, "What industry are you in, Mr. Tang? What company do you hold a position at? Perhaps we can work together sometime.

Yunjing is a professional research and consulting firm focused on investment. We provide enterprises with integrated, specialized services encompassing 'investment research,' 'due diligence,' and 'post-investment management.'"

That was what he said, but with his discerning eye, he had naturally already seen through some of Tang Song's background.

Thus, the introduction sounded more like a tease.

Tang Song was silent for a moment before answering honestly, "The IT industry. I'm currently doing software development at Brocade Business."

"Oh?" Wang Yunping raised his brows, crossed his legs, and smiled. "A programmer? Not bad. With chatGPT skyrocketing and AI investment surging ahead, the entire venture capital market is red-hot. Rare companies become unicorns in minutes, and outstanding talent earns annual salaries of five million. Mr. Tang, you have a promising future ahead."

Tang Song pressed his lips together. "I'll take that as a good omen."

Then Wang Yunping clapped his hands, as if remembering something, and asked, "Brocade Business? The one in Lin Jin Building? Yancheng Jinxiu Trading Co., Ltd.?"

"Yes." Tang Song nodded lightly.

Xie Shuyu asked in surprise, "Does Manager Wang have a partnership with Brocade Business?"

Wang Yunping uncrossed his legs, smiled at Xie Shuyu, and said, "Not exactly. You may not know this, but Brocade Business is currently one of the hottest companies in Yan Province's Investment Community. Countless VC and PE firms want to pile in."

Xie Shuyu sat up straighter and asked curiously, "How so?"

Her Glimmer Coffee had been seeking financing recently, and she had contacted many investors and investment companies. She wanted to know what gave Brocade Business such great appeal.

Wang Yunping folded his hands, resting his elbows on the dining table, and smiled. "Very simple. Smiling Capital has set its sights on it!"

"Smiling Capital!?" Tang Song blurted out, shooting straight up from his chair with a horrified expression.

Wang Yunping frowned. He greatly disliked Tang Song's startled, unsophisticated manner.

Even if he knew his company was about to prosper, there was no need to get this excited, was there?

Xie Shuyu's eyes were filled with envy and shock. "It seems Yancheng is about to gain another listed company."

Wang Yunping glanced at Tang Song and said calmly, "Not necessarily. Although Brocade Business is the leader in its field in Yancheng, it is nowhere near enough when placed in the national market. The Investment Community is still studying Smiling Capital's investment logic this time."

Tang Song sighed, turned to Wang Yunping, and asked in a slightly trembling voice, "Then what is the relationship between Smiling Capital and Smiling Holdings?"

Wang Yunping frowned, somewhat unwilling to answer such a basic question.

However, considering Xie Shuyu was sitting across from him, he still said, "Smiling Capital is the CVC, or corporate venture capital, arm under Smiling Holdings. As for Smiling Holdings, I don't need to explain it, do I? There are very few people in our country who haven't heard that name."

Tang Song's mind buzzed, and he felt as if the world were spinning around him.

In the game "Male God Growth Plan," the first company he had created was Smiling Holdings.

The name came from the first extremely rare character card he had drawn, Secretary Jin. Her original name was Jin Meixiao.