Fang Zhixing, Executive Director of Hua Yu Capital, was in an exceptionally good mood today.
The company he had been tracking for nearly six months had finally signed the term sheet last week. His new apartment was finished and ready for move-in. Most importantly, Si Fan had returned from a business trip to Germany yesterday, bringing back several "indescribable" souvenirs. Absence makes the heart grow fonder; the two of them hadn't even bothered to adjust to the jet lag before physically experiencing the "craftsmanship" of an old industrial powerhouse, deeply feeling that technology truly makes life better.
Before he left this morning, his mother had even taken the rare initiative to text him, asking him to bring Si Fan home for dinner this weekend.
"Oh no, my wool coat and suit were sent to the dry cleaners yesterday. I won't be able to get them back in time." Si Fan’s joy lasted less than a second before he spiraled into anxiety. "Maybe I should rent one online. If I order today, it should arrive by Saturday."
Fang Zhixing already had his keys in hand, ready to head out. Seeing Si Fan’s nervous, anxious expression only made him more fond of him. He stepped back into the room, pinned Si Fan against the wall, and gave him a deep French kiss.
"My mom would love you even if you were wearing a burlap sack," he whispered, leaning his forehead against Si Fan’s.
Si Fan’s eyes were flushed from the kiss, and he was breathless. He pursed his moist, slightly swollen lips and glared at him. "You’re tracking dirt all over the living room with your shoes again—get lost and go to work."
If he didn't leave now, he’d probably get hit. Fang Zhixing raised his hands in mock surrender, hunched his shoulders like a defeated soldier, and scurried out the door. The heavens were smiling on him; Beijing was bathed in sunlight today, and the early autumn breeze felt incredibly refreshing. Hitting one of those rare days where the traffic wasn't a nightmare, he put on his sunglasses, rolled down the windows, and sped along the Third Ring Road in his newly purchased matte black Tesla. He felt a sense of ethereal bliss, as if time itself had stood still.
When a person is in a good mood, they tend to be more lenient toward people and situations. Fang Zhixing hummed a tune as he checked his schedule, his mouse hovering over the Outlook team-shared calendar.
A project had been pushed his way through several layers of friends. It wasn't particularly attractive, but he couldn't refuse out of social obligation, so he had arranged for a junior analyst to meet them and then politely decline afterward. But since the sun was so bright and the bacon sandwich Si Fan made this morning was so delicious, Fang Zhixing decided to give the project a chance for the sake of the bacon.
According to the calendar, the meeting had started less than five minutes ago. The analyst and the startup founder should have just finished exchanging business cards and sat down. Fang Zhixing hummed a lighthearted tune, carrying his iPad and the still-warm pitch deck his secretary had just printed, and strolled leisurely into the conference room.
There were only two people.
Not counting the analyst, there was one unfamiliar face. Fang Zhixing mentally put a question mark next to this company—between finance, R&D, commercialization, government affairs, PR, and the founder, even if one person wore many hats, the core management team should consist of more than one person.
It looked like another "PPT company" designed to swindle money.
However, why did this person look a bit familiar?
Two pairs of eyes converged on him. "This is our Director, Mr. Fang," the analyst hurriedly stood up to introduce him. "He primarily handles consumer goods and healthcare projects."
"Hua Qing Tech, Jiang Tong." The founder, whom Fang Zhixing had already labeled as a shell company operator, maintained a poised and neither-haughty-nor-humble attitude. He stepped forward calmly to exchange business cards. "A pleasure to meet you."
Fang Zhixing took the card and looked at it. "You did your PhD at S University? What a coincidence, I got my MBA at S University back then."
"Wait..." A flash of inspiration hit him, and he blurted out, "Professor Jiang!"
He remembered where he had seen this face before. When Fang Zhixing had just enrolled, Jiang Tong’s groundbreaking discovery had won a major award in the field of biology. His face, along with the certificate, had been plastered on the university’s homepage for nearly half a month.
Back then, a group of female students in the MBA class had actually flocked to audit undergraduate biology courses. This had left the male students—who had planned to use school as a hunting ground for partners—beating their breasts in frustration and feeling quite stifled.
"I remember the year I started, the President sent a mass email to everyone congratulating you on your paper winning that award. I have a few friends who studied biology; they were so excited at the time, calling you the 'Pride of the West Coast Chinese Community.'"
Dr. Jiang’s professional, polite smile shifted into a few hints of genuine bashfulness. "That’s all in the past."
The "shell company" label was instantly blown away. As Fang Zhixing sat down, he opened his iPad and seriously started a new document. Investing is essentially about investing in people, and Jiang Tong had reignited his interest in this project.
Fang Zhixing hadn't taken any of Jiang Tong’s classes in school, but he was certain Jiang Tong must be an excellent teacher. Eighty percent of pharmaceutical company roadshows are dry and incomprehensible, having a potent hypnotic effect on investors without a biomedical background. However, Jiang Tong explained things in simple terms, moving from the principles of target action to the strategy of the product pipeline, then smoothly detailing clinical progress, commercialization plans, and future market prospects. Supported by data charts with superior aesthetic craftsmanship, the presentation made Fang Zhixing feel as refreshed as a spring breeze.
Like all startups, Hua Qing had its own problems. But Jiang Tong offered a very low price—so low that Fang Zhixing didn't even need to build a model. A few taps on his phone calculator told him it was already attractive enough.
The warm autumn sun shone mellowly into the high-rise conference room. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Fang Zhixing could see a faint line of dark blue mountains in the distance.
He thought his mood couldn't possibly get any better. In this state of peaceful and smooth joy, a sudden stroke of inspiration hit him. He wanted to give Jiang Tong a hand and pass the happiness along.
"Are you in, Boss?" he messaged Xiao Fengtai on WeChat. "There's a company that's quite interesting. Want to meet them?"
Xiao Fengtai replied instantly; it seemed he was in a good mood too. "Give me five minutes."
Fang Zhixing set his phone down and gave Professor Jiang a sincere smile. "This is quite a coincidence. Our fund partner is also in, and he’ll be over in a moment. I’ll save my questions for when he arrives."
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of approaching footsteps came from the hallway.
The doorknob began to turn.
The conference room door opened inward, and Xiao Fengtai walked in.
"This is our partner, Mr. Xiao," Fang Zhixing took over the introduction from the analyst. "Mr. Jiang from Hua Qing Tech, my fellow alumnus."
In theory, both parties should have exchanged business cards at this point, trading "President" titles and humble pleasantries before getting down to business. However, thirty seconds passed, then a minute, and no one spoke. No one moved. The conference room fell into a bizarre and awkward silence.
Fang Zhixing’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two sides, an ominous feeling gradually gathering in his heart. The expressions of both Xiao Fengtai and Jiang Tong were calm—not a true calm, but the senseless, numb blankness that follows a massive and sudden shock. Fang Zhixing suspected he was seeing things, but Xiao Fengtai’s cheek seemed to twitch for a split second.
Jiang Tong was no better. The moment Xiao Fengtai entered the room, his body swayed slightly. Fang Zhixing suspected that for half a second, he wanted to bolt for the door, yet his legs were controlled by logic and remained firmly rooted to the spot.
"Thank you for making the trip today, Mr. Jiang." Xiao Fengtai was the first to break the awkward silence, though in a way that seemed equally awkward and bizarre to Fang Zhixing. He didn't exchange cards; instead, he walked straight to Fang Zhixing’s side, pulled out a chair, and sat down heavily.
"Please continue, I’ll just listen." He leaned forward slightly, propping his elbows on the table, and looked up at Jiang Tong with a smile. The golden, warm sunlight reflected in his eyes, making his gaze exceptionally bright and focused, as if he were truly fascinated by Jiang Tong’s R&D plan and thirsty for knowledge.
However, from Fang Zhixing’s angle, he could see Xiao Fengtai unconsciously and repeatedly rubbing the platinum ring on his right pinky finger.
This was a sign that he was in an extremely foul mood.
The little sun was completely obscured by thick clouds. Inside Fang Zhixing’s mind, a crack of thunder roared, and a torrential downpour began.
***
