Chapter 644: Chapter 354: Liu Zhiya’s Efforts (Part 2)
"That’s great, Sister Xiao Han, thank you!" Liu Zhiya excitedly held Zhao Han’s hand, "Just meeting Xu Yongrui is already a huge help!"
The two girls exchanged a smile, and Zhao Han teased, "Looks like our school flower Liu really likes that Brother Cheng!"
Liu Zhiya blushed with embarrassment, "Sister Xiao Han, stop teasing me."
...
...
No matter where Liu Zhiya went, she undoubtedly became the focus of the boys’ attention.
With her tall figure and innate outstanding charm, even just casually walking on campus would draw frequent glances from the boys around.
Zhao Han looked at the boys secretly looking at Liu Zhiya and couldn’t help but jokingly say, "Look, we’ve only walked a short while, and you’ve already caught quite a few eyes. If they knew you’re already taken, I guess quite a few hearts would break."
Liu Zhiya gently patted Zhao Han’s shoulder and said playfully, "Sister Xiao Han, stop making fun of me. I’m just thinking about how to help Brother Cheng, I have no time to worry about that."
"Alright, alright, I won’t say any more."
Zhao Han waved her hand with a smile, "But seriously, I’m quite envious of you. You’ve come all the way to Harbin for him, and you’re thinking about solving his work problems. Seems like he’s really good to you!"
Liu Zhiya’s face beamed with happiness, "I haven’t done much, just trying to do my part. Brother Cheng is good to me, I don’t want to see him worrying about work issues."
As they talked, they had already reached the school’s coffee corner.
"Senior Brother." Zhao Han quickly stepped forward and greeted a boy.
Xu Yongrui turned around and was stunned by Liu Zhiya’s outstanding charm.
Zhao Han waved her hand in front of him, "Senior Brother? Snap out of it!"
Xu Yongrui snapped back to reality and smiled with a bit of embarrassment, "Ah, Xiao Han, did you call me out for something?"
"Senior Brother, let me introduce you to my good friend, Liu Zhiya. The campus belle of the Communication University of China."
Zhao Han pointed at Liu Zhiya and said, "Xiao Ya, this is the Senior Brother Xu Yongrui I told you about, Professor Zhang’s student."
"Hello, Senior Brother Xu." Liu Zhiya nodded politely.
"Hello."
"Xiao Ya came to Harbin this time to inquire with Professor Zhang about some matters," Zhao Han explained, "Her boyfriend is very interested in Professor Zhang’s research project and would like to find an opportunity to meet him."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yongrui frowned slightly, "Professor Zhang is very busy lately and may not be convenient to meet guests."
Liu Zhiya quickly said, "Senior Brother Xu, I know Professor Zhang is busy, we won’t disturb him too long. We just want to briefly understand the project’s situation, and if suitable, our company is considering investing."
"Investing?" Xu Yongrui had a trace of doubt in his tone, "Which company are you from?"
"Dili Private Equity." Liu Zhiya replied.
Hearing the name, Xu Yongrui could hardly believe it, "Dili Private Equity? The one that was in the news recently?"
Liu Zhiya nodded proudly.
"What? Senior Brother, do you know them?" Zhao Han asked curiously.
"That company formed a fund with Central Tungsten Hi-Tech and Japan’s Xingye to start mining," Xu Yongrui explained, "The company owner is Chen Cheng, a pretty young fellow."
"Chen Cheng?" Zhao Han turned to Liu Zhiya, "Xiao Ya, the Brother Cheng you mentioned, wouldn’t happen to be..."
Liu Zhiya couldn’t suppress her smile, "Indeed, Dili Private Equity belongs to Brother Cheng. And, on the day of the signing ceremony, my sister and I were also present."
This stunned Xu Yongrui, he looked at Liu Zhiya up and down, filled with disbelief.
Zhao Han was also stunned, she looked at Liu Zhiya and then at Xu Yongrui, before finally reacting after a long while, "Wait, Xiao Ya, are you saying that Brother Cheng is that... Chen Cheng from the news?"
Liu Zhiya nodded with a smile, "That’s him."
"Oh my God!" Zhao Han couldn’t help but exclaim, "So your boyfriend is Chen Cheng! No wonder you’re so secretive about everything related to him!"
"Not really, I just truly don’t know much about his business, not hiding anything," Liu Zhiya smiled.
"A campus beauty dating a CEO, what a fairy tale!" Zhao Han’s gossiping nature was reignited, "Tell me, how did you two meet?"
Liu Zhiya couldn’t share how she met Chen Cheng, so she quickly changed the topic, "Sister Xiao Han, let’s talk about Professor Zhang first."
Only then did Zhao Han remember the purpose of the trip. She turned to Xu Yongrui and said with slight embarrassment, "Senior Brother, sorry for the drama."
"No worries," Xu Yongrui waved it off with a smile, but soon his smile froze, "Xiao Ya, to be honest, your boyfriend might return empty-handed."
"Huh? Why?" To Liu Zhiya, Chen Cheng was always smooth-sailing, seeking information was just to add a cherry on top.
"Our professor doesn’t really like dealing with these institutions," Xu Yongrui explained calmly, "especially financial ones. Previously, several investment companies wanted to collaborate with Professor Zhang but were all turned down."
"What?"
Liu Zhiya’s heart sank immediately, she didn’t expect things to be so complicated.
She asked again, "Is it because Professor Zhang doesn’t like socializing? Or..."
"Not entirely." Xu Yongrui’s tone was a bit vague, "Professor Zhang is wholeheartedly focused on research and has always been skeptical about the workings of the capital market. He always feels that those investment companies are more concerned with short-term interests, which would interfere with his research progress. Moreover..."
He paused slightly, "Recently, Professor Zhang seems to have encountered some troubling things, and he’s become particularly sensitive and cautious, firmly rejecting such cooperation invitations."
"I remember your laboratory reached a cooperation with a tech innovation company at the beginning of the year? There was even a ceremony at the school!" Zhao Han asked, "It was called... called Xin something."
"Xin Neng."
Xu Yongrui blurted it out and then realized he let slip, quickly adding, "Anyway, it’s something everyone knows."
"What is it?" Liu Zhiya pursued.
"It’s just that this company wasn’t originally working in our research field, it was after they found Professor Zhang that they made the switch," Xu Yongrui continued, "But..."
"But what?"
"But what’s the matter?"
Xu Yongrui lowered his voice, "Just my personal feeling, this company doesn’t seem to be doing real work."
"Not doing real work?" Liu Zhiya and Zhao Han asked in unison, both filled with confusion.
Xu Yongrui nodded, speaking even softer, "I heard that this company was previously engaged in some speculative business, not a good reputation. Moreover, the project they are collaborating on with Professor Zhang feels a bit odd."
"Odd?" Liu Zhiya pursued again, "What’s odd about it?"
"My adviser’s research is top-tier in the industry, many large enterprises want to work with him, but he turned them all down. But he chose this obscure Xin Neng instead," Xu Yongrui voiced his own dissatisfaction, "Also, last time when applying for subsidies, this company messed it up and lost tens of millions."
Zhao Han covered her mouth in shock upon hearing the figure, "Ah? So serious!"
However, Liu Zhiya, who had seen big waves with Chen Cheng, remained calm, "Then, Senior Brother, according to you, with Professor Zhang being so excellent, why would he cooperate with this company?"
Xu Yongrui lowered his voice further, "You two can’t tell anyone."
"Hmm!"
"Hmm!"
Liu Zhiya perked up her ears, afraid of missing key information.
He sighed, "About a year ago, something major seemed to have happened in his family, and during that time, my adviser’s whole demeanor was off."
Xu Yongrui paused for a moment, "I heard it has something to do with his son, but other fellow students in the lab say it’s because Professor Zhang needed money back then, so..."