Chereads / E-Ladies: Navigating the Wired World / Chapter 3 - Episode 3: The Underestimated Female Entrepreneur

Chapter 3 - Episode 3: The Underestimated Female Entrepreneur

"I really have no choice with you. It just so happens that I don't have class that day, so I'll reluctantly keep you company~" Li Jiniang intentionally swayed her body, "I know, you're after my body, aren't you? My cute Little Yinyin?"

"Jixiang is the best~~ I love you so much!" Zhou Xueyin unreservedly threw herself at her again.

"Don't worry, with Jixiang here, success is guaranteed!" Kang Siyin also cheered them on.

"Yinyin, when your company is up and running, I'll come be your designer. Don't you look down on me, huh. Hehe." Even though they were far from that point, Yao Shanshan eagerly volunteered herself.

"No problem! Once the company starts up. Jixiang will definitely be the marketing manager, and I'll take her with me to do business talks. We'll surely be successful! And KK, I'll hire you as the chief engineer of our website! With your understanding of computers, you'll definitely manage the site perfectly! And Shanshan, do I even need to say it? You'll definitely be the art director, and you must make our website look gorgeous!" Zhou Xueyin was full of hopeful expectations for the website she would soon create.

"Alright! You said it! You absolutely can't go back on your word!" Li Jiniang suddenly looked at Zhou Xueyin seriously, "To be honest, my parents even said I should go back home and get married after graduation, but if Yinyin's company takes off, then I'll have an excuse not to go back!"

"Eh? No way, how old are you to be pushed like that?" Zhou Xueyin looked incredulously at Li Jiniang, "But, you're saying you'll help with my startup? Will your parents agree?"

"I definitely can't say startup, just say I'm working for you. As long as it's helping out an acquaintance, my parents probably won't say much," Li Jiniang said, also unsure.

"I also..." Kang Siyin nodded, "I have communication disorder, as you all know. If it weren't for having common topics with you all and your tolerance towards me, I probably wouldn't have been able to get through these four years of university. So no matter what my family says, I'll definitely stick to my current thoughts and staunchly support Yinyin in her entrepreneurship!"

"If not for my family's money, which my dad has been giving to the daughter of his second wife, I'd definitely be over there providing funds for Yinyin's startup! That way, she wouldn't have to constantly deal with other people's attitudes... Then I could still be the major shareholder, hehe, right? Yinyin?" Yao Shanshan said shyly with a smile.

"You guys are all too good to me!" Zhou Xueyin looked at the four people, moved, "If... I say, I haven't even told my parents about my business idea, would you kill me?"

"It's fine, no rush, you can talk to them about the investment later!" Li Jiniang encouraged her, "Honestly, your idea to create an online community primarily for women is really great!"

"Yeah, just look at those current mature online communities, there's no place for female users. The moment they know you're a woman, either they swarm you with thirst, or they sit up high and mock you. There's just no way to have a proper conversation..." Kang Siyin shared her experiences on social networks.

"And that's to say nothing of... Remember how I went for that job interview at a game company? A guy who wasn't even formally trained in art, and who drew worse than me, got hired. How unfair is that! It's infuriating!" Yao Shanshan, recalling her own job-hunting experience, spoke angrily.

"So it's precisely because they don't value women, this community forum—I really have to get it started! I'll show them that girls can also dominate the internet!" Zhou Xueyin's belief became even firmer.

Sure enough, at the meeting with investors two days later, Zhou Xueyin once again encountered the deep-seated malice this society held towards female entrepreneurs.

The investment company was located in Wudaokou, not too far from their Agricultural University.

Both dressed in professional attire, they arrived at the entrance to the investment company.

Having Li Jiniang with you really made a difference; she immediately became the center of attention, especially among the male entrepreneurs.

While waiting for their interview, there were already people eagerly trying to get Li Jiniang's contact information.

Of course, their impulsive reactions were all suppressed back down by the cold and iceberg-like aura of Li Jixiang.

As for these inexperienced young lads who couldn't control themselves after seeing Li Jixiang's impressive figure, that was to be expected.

Zhou Xueyin never would have imagined that the investors, whom she thought hadn't seen anything of the world, stood up from their seats after seeing Li Jixiang. Their gaze was just like that of the interviewees, filled with the greedy glint seen in hungry wolves at the sight of a tasty flock of sheep.

"Hello, I am Zhou Xueyin, about to graduate from Agricultural University as a senior," Zhou Xueyin introduced herself proactively, thinking whether she could draw their attention away from Li Jixiang.

"Mm, very good. And this beauty is..." The man stretched out his hand towards Li Jixiang, trying to cop a feel under the guise of shaking hands.

"Me? I am nothing, just a foil, you may as well pretend I'm not here!" Li Jixiang didn't reach out her hand but instead smiled politely at the man.

"Um... Mr. Lu?" Zhou Xueyin glanced at the man's office desk and just happened to see his business card holder with the name Lu Zhongyou, "May I start introducing my project now?"

"Go ahead, go ahead..." Lu Zhongyou's gaze never left the upper half of Jixiang's body.

"According to the surveys I conducted at my school, I found that many people are involved in the construction of online communities, among which many of the users are female users. So I thought..." Zhou Xueyin began passionately describing her entrepreneurship plan.

"Just get to the point, I don't want to hear what research you've done or what you've been up to. Just say the field of your startup, that's enough!" Lu Zhongyou interrupted her mercilessly.

"Cough cough, alright, I want to build a women's community! Here, female netizens can chat and discuss freely. The community will also provide coupons, group purchase information, and other convenient services for the surrounding area..." Zhou Xueyin described following her written proposal.

"Oh... sounds good..." Lu Zhongyou nodded perfunctorily, his eyes still on Li Jixiang, completely disregarding the business proposal in his hands.

"So, my startup budget is roughly around 40,000 to 80,000 yuan..." Zhou Xueyin finished introducing her proposal and mentioned the amount of startup capital needed.

"Well... you see, your idea is very good! But unfortunately, our finance department isn't in today. I can't approve any funds for you." Lu Zhongyou pretended to have difficulty, "How about this? This weekend, you come to this bar, and then I'll give you the check?"

Lu Zhongyou wrote an address on the back of his business card and handed it to Li Jixiang.

Li Jixiang looked at Zhou Xueyin hesitantly and accepted it.

"May I ask if this beauty could leave me a contact number? So we can follow up on the matter," pleaded Lu Zhongyou, his eyes gleaming with the light of catching prey.

"Ah, I am sorry Mr. Lu. She hasn't bought a phone yet, so she doesn't have a contact number. If we need anything, we'll contact you!" Zhou Xueyin made a decisive move and took Lu Zhongyou's hand, extricating Li Jixiang from the situation.

"Oh... well! If you want to sign an investment agreement with us, contact me over the weekend." Lu Zhongyou sat back down in his chair, his face showing disappointment.

"Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to my business plan! Now we must take our leave!" Zhou Xueyin took back the business plan she had given to Lu Zhongyou and pulled Li Jixiang as they rushed out of the office.