Chapter 43: "You're Very Good at Fooling Around, So I Invested (Plus More)"
The next day, around 10 am.
Several roommates of Xu Jingren skipped class together and arrived at the studio.
The studio was tidy and organized now, and the team members were both excited and nervous.
"It's coming! It's coming!" Wang Ping, who was standing at the window, cheered, and the others rushed over to join him. They looked out the window as a brand-new BMW parked downstairs.
Soon after, Fang Hong got out of the passenger seat, followed by a man who stepped out from the driver's seat. The man opened the back door, revealing a middle-aged man in his thirties, wearing a suit and leather shoes—Cao Chenghui.
"Boss really brought the VC over. This investor seems like a capable one," Yuan Jie remarked, observing the brand-new BMW and the chauffeur. He watched as Fang Hong led the investors inside.
"Stop standing around. They're coming up. Don't act like you've never seen the world," Xu Jingren urged, and everyone quickly turned away from the window, now both nervous and excited. For them, this day was crucial—the future of Quantum Jump depended on whether they could attract investment.
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Meanwhile, Fang Hong escorted Cao Chenghui into the building. Their destination was the studio on the fourth floor.
"You've done a good job setting up. Keep it up. Do you remember what I told you before?" Fang Hong whispered to Cao Chenghui.
"Don't worry, boss!" Cao Chenghui whispered back, secretly pleased with himself. He enjoyed playing the part of a professional investor, especially with the boss's permission. It felt different when pretending in front of others.
After a short while, they reached the fourth floor. Fang Hong opened the studio door, gesturing for Cao Chenghui to enter.
"Mr. Cao, please!" Fang Hong said with a smile.
Cao Chenghui nodded and stepped inside, scanning the room with curiosity. Xu Jingren and the other roommates, unaware of the situation, looked up from their work.
"Mr. Cao, this is the workplace and startup team behind Quantum Jump," Fang Hong said, addressing the group. Then he turned to his roommates and added, "Take a break."
Everyone stopped what they were doing. Sun Xin immediately offered them water.
Fang Hong invited Cao Chenghui to sit on the sofa, then introduced Xu Jingren and the rest of the team to him. He looked at his roommates and smiled, "This is Mr. Cao Chenghui, the senior manager from Qunxing Capital."
Everyone greeted Mr. Cao, and several roommates nervously wondered if they would be able to secure the investment they so desperately needed. The engineering students, not known for their communication skills, were especially cautious.
At that moment, the team admired Fang Hong even more. It was a relief to have a leader who could speak well and handle situations with calm composure.
"I've seen many university startup teams like yours," Cao Chenghui began, settling into the sofa. His tone was calm, as he looked around the room. "To be honest, I don't see anything that sets you apart from other young teams. The angel round of investment isn't about the product—it's about the people."
Put it on!
In reality, Cao Chenghui was feeling a bit excited. He had rehearsed these lines yesterday, and he was now playing the role of the investor perfectly. His speech was smooth and calculated.
"You're absolutely right, Mr. Cao," Fang Hong responded with a smile. "But let me show you what sets us apart. Please take a moment to experience the product our team has developed."
Cao Chenghui nodded and got up. Fang Hong guided him to the computer where he opened the Quantum Weibo website and began explaining its functions.
At this moment, Cao Chenghui was secretly impressed. The boss didn't just excel in stock trading—he understood the Internet, too.
Although Cao Chenghui nodded in acknowledgment, he didn't fully understand what was being explained. He didn't comment on the technical details, as he hadn't grasped everything. However, his ability to pretend was exceptional, and Fang Hong had already coached him to stay quiet and just look like a knowledgeable VC.
After a while, the product demonstration concluded.
Cao Chenghui sat back on the sofa and looked at Fang Hong. "Your product hasn't been launched yet, and Fanfou was already established ahead of you. The Internet industry changes rapidly. If we're talking about long-term success, Fanfou has a stronger chance. It seems like I'd be better off investing in them than in you."
In truth, Cao Chenghui didn't know much about Fanfou, but Fang Hong had prepared him to deliver these lines. They were part of a script designed to make the conversation sound genuine, and the VC's tone was filled with emotion.
Xu Jingren and his roommates exchanged glances, feeling the weight of the situation. They now understood that securing investment from this VC was not going to be easy.
Everyone looked toward Fang Hong, hoping he could turn the situation around.
"It's true that in this industry, being ahead often leads to success. But there are exceptions. Sometimes the so-called forerunners end up being martyrs, not pioneers," Fang Hong said confidently. "It's like the food industry—while most focus on that, we're focusing on a niche: the chef exchange community. We're narrowing in on micro-blogging, a space where larger companies are currently not interested. This is Quantum Jump's opportunity, especially as the domestic internet landscape changes with the transition from 2G to 3G..."
Fang Hong spoke passionately, and his roommates couldn't help but admire his eloquence. They watched as Cao Chenghui nodded along, and they began to feel that something might actually be going on here!
After some time, Cao Chenghui smiled and said, "I have to say, you're very good at fooling around."
These words stunned Xu Jingren and his roommates. What did that mean?
Cao Chenghui then explained, "The reason I'm investing in you is simple: because if you can fool me, you can fool other investors as well. And that's enough of a reason for me."
The roommates were speechless for a moment. Was this really how VC investors think? They were taken aback, unsure of how to respond.
But in the end, the decision was made: Cao Chenghui was going to invest in Quantum Jump.
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