novelraw Chapter 271: Passing By
Chapter 271: Passing By
Fanfu Suzi Media Co., Ltd.
The atmosphere in the conference room was both lively and dignified.
As Tang Song pushed open the door, he apologized, “Sorry, I was tied up with something urgent.”
“No problem at all, President Tang. Please, take a seat, and let’s continue!” said Liu Fangbo, rising with a warm smile and gesturing amiably.
Lin Muxue immediately stood up to pull out a chair for Tang Song.
Once everyone had settled, Liu Fangbo resumed, “President Tang, we’ve shown you our utmost sincerity and can feel your genuine interest in Fanfu Suzi Media.
“Our company has abundant distribution resources, a professional team brought in by Liyuan from Hangzhou, and I personally own shares in the Yan City Ancient Town Film Base.
“The short drama market is still in its infancy, offering vast opportunities. What we lack is funding.”
“I understand,” Tang Song nodded lightly, his attention on the document in his hands.
The pre-investment valuation stood at 40 million yuan.The company’s original plan for Series A financing was to raise 10 million yuan.
If this went through, Liu Fangbo, who held a 68% stake, would retain absolute control of the company while preserving his influence for future fundraising rounds.
However, after more than an hour of discussions, Tang Song’s attitude had clearly shifted.
The investment terms were flexible and reasonable, with well-defined rights and obligations.
There was evident trust and support for the management team.
The proposed agreement was not only thorough but also expressed genuine sincerity—qualities that other investment firms had failed to provide.
Of course, the decisive factor was Tang Song’s demonstrated capabilities.
Following a brief negotiation, Liu Fangbo expressed his earnest desire to increase the financing amount.
He believed sufficient capital would enable the company to secure a significant share of the lucrative short drama market sooner rather than later.
“President Tang, we hope you’ll consider this carefully,” Liu said. “Even if you don’t agree to increase the funding, we are still happy to proceed under the current terms.”
Tang Song deliberated briefly before leaning toward his investment manager to exchange quiet words.
For an investor, increasing capital and gaining more equity is inherently risky.
It requires a thorough assessment of the target company’s value and potential, the competitive dynamics of the industry, and how extensive control might affect the founding team’s morale.
The system task [Capital Newcomer] demanded precise and reasonable venture investments. Tang Song had to actively participate and ensure a well-balanced deal.
By midday, following additional discussions, the two sides reached an agreement.
Tang Song stood up, extending his hand with a smile. “Chairman Liu, Director Guo, here’s to a successful collaboration. I have confidence in your team and project, and I look forward to seeing remarkable results in the future.”
Both Liu Fangbo and Guo Liyuan breathed sighs of relief, their faces lighting up with barely concealed joy.
“This is a pivotal step toward the glory of Fanfu Suzi Media. Thank you for your trust and support, President Tang!” Liu said, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
“Here’s to a great partnership! Our short drama team will absolutely exceed your expectations!” Guo Liyuan added, her voice trembling slightly with excitement.
The outcome of the negotiation had far surpassed their initial expectations.
Tang Song committed to a one-time investment of 24 million yuan. Once the updated TS (Term Sheet) was ready that afternoon, they could begin preparing for the DD (Due Diligence) process.
The outcome was far better than anyone could have imagined.
After this round of financing and equity expansion, the new ownership structure would be as follows:
Liu Fangbo: 53%Tang Song: 38%Guo Liyuan: 9%The post-investment valuation stood at 64 million yuan.
There would temporarily be no formal board of directors, with Liu Fangbo continuing as the Executive Director.
Tang Song, however, secured veto power over major decisions, as well as rights to information, decision-making participation, supervision, and priority liquidation.
Golden sunlight streamed through the clouds into the conference room, scattering patches of light.
As the 26-year-old CEO of a company now valued at 64 million yuan and about to complete its Series A financing, Guo Liyuan was overwhelmed with excitement.
She firmly shook the hand of her brilliant, star-like alumnus, Tang Song.
A new chapter of her life was about to begin.
Those once-renowned young talents she had tried to catch up to would soon be left in her wake.
This was the reward for choosing the right path and the right person to follow.
She took a moment to message her friend Shen Yuyan, who was also negotiating an investment term sheet far away in Beijing.
Meanwhile, Xu Qing stood rooted in place, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.
A company valuation of 64 million yuan… doesn’t that mean my 2% equity option is worth 1.28 million yuan?!
No way! Is this real?
Did I just become a rich woman overnight?
Of course, she knew that exercising options to convert them into actual equity was a long and complicated process that required her to purchase them at the valuation price.
But for someone as money-savvy as Xu Qing, the mere thought of her net worth skyrocketing was exhilarating.
She hadn’t even done anything to earn this! It just… fell into her lap!
Wait, that’s not true! I gave Tang Song a 4090 graphics card!
It seemed the internet was right—such a gift really was a super weapon for winning over guys!
Excited, Xu Qing clenched her fists, her eyes sparkling.
Maybe I should give him another one!
“Xu Qing.”
A pleasant voice interrupted her daydreaming.
She looked up to see the tall and sultry Lin Muxue approaching with a poised and elegant smile.
“What is it, Ms. Lin?” Xu Qing asked, pouting slightly at her rival’s flamboyant demeanor.
Argh, this manipulative “Liu Ruyan” green tea witch is trying to mess with me again!
If only Yanyan were here—she’d definitely have some sharp words to knock her down a peg!
Lin Muxue raised an eyebrow slightly and pulled a gold-embossed business card from her briefcase, handing it to Xu Qing with a warm, friendly tone.
“Just call me Xiaoxue or Luna. Here’s my card. Let’s add each other on WeChat sometime.”
Noticing Xu Qing’s stunned expression and sensing Tang Song’s gaze on them, Lin Muxue grabbed Xu Qing’s arm affectionately and placed the card in her hand.
No matter what, Lin Muxue was determined to present herself well in front of Tang Song and prove her loyalty.
Still, she thought to herself, If we meet in a different setting someday, don’t blame me for showing my true strength!
“Alright, thank you,” Xu Qing said, glancing at the finely crafted business card.
[Lin Muxue, Senior Assistant to the Slover (HK) Trust Committee]
As a legal professional, Xu Qing instantly grasped the weight of such a title. She couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated.
Lin Muxue smiled, her confidence palpable as she exchanged a few more polite words with Xu Qing before gracefully returning to Tang Song’s side, resuming her role as his quiet companion.
Xu Qing exhaled deeply and pulled out her phone, immediately typing a message to her best friend.
Yan City, Gongying Technology Co., Ltd.
“The success of this financing round is the result of everyone’s collective effort. I firmly believe it marks a new starting point toward a brilliant future for Youjie Domestic Services!” Ren Mingyuan said, his face beaming with a bright smile.
The conference room erupted into enthusiastic applause, and the previously tense atmosphere relaxed into one of joy and celebration.
After exchanging congratulations and pleasantries, everyone began heading toward the banquet hall.
New Equity Structure Company Valuation (Pre-investment): 13 million yuan
Previous Equity Structure:
Zhang Tianqi: 42%Shen Yuyan: 40%Hou Shaoyuan: 14%Li Meixia: 2%Wang Ning: 2%Investment:
Gongying Technology invested 6 million yuanHou Shaoyuan followed up with 1 million yuanNew Equity Structure:
Gongying Technology: 30.4%Zhang Tianqi: 27%Shen Yuyan: 26%Hou Shaoyuan: 14%Li Meixia: 1.3%Wang Ning: 1.3%The founding team retained absolute control of the company.
However, Gongying Technology included several stipulations in the investment agreement:
Amendments to the Articles of Association, granting Gongying a veto right on major decisions.Strict clauses such as: Confidentiality agreementsNon-compete clausesAnti-dilution provisionsEquity repurchase agreementsAdditionally, restrictions were imposed on changes to the company’s equity structure and business direction.
Sitting with the signed Investment Term Sheet (TS) in her hands, Shen Yuyan felt both relief and unease.
The most concerning issue was, of course, the “split payment clause.”
After all, the true measure of financing success lay in whether the funds were actually transferred.
Still, this was the best deal they could secure.
Here’s to hoping everything goes smoothly in the future!
The Luxurious Banquet Hall “Here’s to a successful collaboration. You three are exceptionally talented young individuals, and I look forward to your future accomplishments,” said Zhao Hongkai, the current chairman and CEO of Gongying Technology, as he made an appearance in person, pushing the atmosphere to its peak.
Zhao had been Gongying’s angel investor and, through successive funding rounds, eventually replaced the original founding team to become the company’s top executive.
In fact, apart from Ren Mingyuan and another technical director, most of the original founders had been edged out of the management team during Gongying’s growth.
“Thank you, President Zhao, for your recognition,” Shen Yuyan replied courteously.
“Clink, clink, clink—” The sound of glasses touching filled the room, followed by the warm flow of champagne.
Initially, Zhang Tianqi and Hou Shaoyuan hadn’t thought much about this financing round.
But immersed in the atmosphere and surrounded by praise and recognition, they couldn’t help feeling a bit elated.
At just 25 or 26 years old, they had already completed the angel round for their first entrepreneurial venture.
Even though the amount raised wasn’t enormous, it was still a significant achievement—enough to make a splash within their families.
Watching Ren Mingyuan inch closer to Shen Yuyan, Hou Shaoyuan’s brow furrowed.
He stepped forward, intercepting the senior with a casual yet deliberate conversation.
When it came to School Belle Shen, Hou was determined to win her over.
The 1 million yuan he invested was no small amount, requiring plenty of promises to his family.
He wasn’t about to let Ren Mingyuan beat him to the punch.
As the cool champagne slid down her throat, Shen Yuyan tilted her head slightly, letting the liquid soothe her nerves.
Her eyes half-closed as a sense of relaxation washed over her.
After more than three grueling months, they had finally signed the term sheet.
A small smile played on her lips as the weight on her shoulders began to ease.
With the post-investment valuation reaching 20 million yuan, all that remained was to cooperate with the due diligence process and wait for the funds to arrive.
Now, Shen Yuyan could focus on scaling her operations:
Expanding into new regions.Optimizing and extending Youjie’s housekeeping service system.Increasing investment in digitalization.Enhancing brand building.Recruiting new talent for the team.She also considered leveraging Gongying Technology’s smart home central app for efficient traffic conversion and high-quality customer acquisition.
Thinking of the promising future, she couldn’t help but take another sip of her drink.
She made a mental note to reach out to Guo Liyuan, now the general manager of a media company.
Youjie Domestic Services could collaborate with Guo’s company on advertising and branding efforts.
Given their friendship and alumni connection, such cooperation would undoubtedly be smoother and more fruitful.
Today is also Fanfu Suzi Media’s term sheet negotiation day. I wonder if everything went smoothly there?
Will Tang Song deliver on his promised 5 million yuan investment?
With that thought, she set her glass down and walked to the bag check counter.
Pulling out her cherished Gucci Dionysus bag, she retrieved her phone and noticed an unread WeChat message.
Opening it, she read:
【Liyuan: “Yanyan, I don’t even know how to express the gratitude and excitement I’m feeling right now! The success of this Series A financing is all thanks to you and Qingqing for helping us connect with the right people. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Qingqing’s 2% equity option is arranged as promised! Here’s to our lasting friendship! Thank you so much!”】
Shen Yuyan froze momentarily.
In all the years she had known Guo Liyuan, this was the first time she had seen her so emotional.
Given what she knew, Fanfu Suzi Media had already secured two term sheets and didn’t seem to be in a position to warrant this level of excitement for routine financing.
Her instincts told her something unexpected must have happened.
Curious, she opened her chat with Xu Qing, and immediately a photo came into view.
Her eyes widened slightly in disbelief.
In the picture, Tang Song sat at the center of the meeting table. His crisp white shirt and upright posture exuded confidence and composure.
On either side of him were men and women of steady demeanor.
The men were impeccably dressed in suits, while the women wore elegant, professional outfits.
Their eyes shone with sharpness and decisiveness, and the collective presence radiated undeniable authority.
She quickly glanced at Xu Qing’s message.
Message:
Industry AnalystFinancial AnalystLegal AdvisorData AnalystOperations Management ExpertThis… is Tang Song’s investment team?!
Compared to this formidable lineup, Gongying Technology’s delegation seemed almost amateurish.
How is this even possible?
Where did he find such a team? Was it through a specialized consulting firm?
Her gaze shifted to a woman seated to Tang Song’s left, and her focus narrowed.
【Qingqing: “You won’t believe this—it shocked me too. Fanfu Suzi’s pre-investment valuation is 40 million yuan!”】
Previously, the term sheets Fanfu Suzi Media received pegged their valuation at 30 to 35 million yuan—significantly undervalued due to aggressive price suppression by investment firms.
But Tang Song had been astonishingly generous, offering a valuation of 40 million yuan.
No wonder Guo Liyuan was so thrilled.
【Qingqing: “Also, Tang Song personally invested 24 million yuan, taking a 38% stake. Post-investment…”】
Seeing the number 24 million, Shen Yuyan’s expression froze.
She scrolled up and down the screen repeatedly, confirming it wasn’t a mistake.
Her heart clenched painfully.
24 million? He put up 24 million yuan in cash? How is that even possible?!
Even billionaires typically don’t have access to such a large amount of liquid cash; their wealth is usually tied up in stocks and assets.
Taking a deep breath, her trembling fingers typed a reply:
“Surely the funds will be injected in multiple installments? Are there strict performance requirements tied to the deal?”
【Qingqing: “Nope. Once due diligence is completed, the investment agreement will be signed, and the full amount will be paid within a week. You should’ve seen our big boss and Liyuan—they looked ready to kneel down and call Tang Song their godfather.”】
【Qingqing: “Okay, gotta go for now. Lin Muxue’s calling me to join Tang Song for lunch.”】
Shen Yuyan stood in stunned silence, her face growing increasingly pale as her phone screen dimmed.
“Yuyan, why are you zoning out here?” Hou Shaoyuan, his face slightly flushed from alcohol, walked over and handed her a champagne glass.
“Come on, let’s toast. As the seed investor of this company, I’ve watched Youjie Domestic Services flourish under your leadership. Here’s to us working together to achieve even greater success!”
Without a word, Shen Yuyan accepted the glass but didn’t clink it against his.
Instead, she brought the rim of the glass to her lips and tilted her head back.
“Gulp, gulp—”
She downed half the glass of champagne in one go.
Hou Shaoyuan, slightly tipsy, immediately expressed concern. “Yuyan, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine,” Shen Yuyan replied, her lips pressed tightly together. Her eyes, however, betrayed emotions that were impossible to articulate.
The thought of Fanfu Suzi Media, now valued at 64 million yuan, and Guo Liyuan, a former classmate who had long seemed unremarkable, surging ahead of her in leaps and bounds, was hard enough to stomach.
What crushed her even more was the sheer magnitude of Tang Song’s 24 million yuan investment—and everything it represented.
Her company, Youjie Domestic Services, had already signed its term sheet with Gongying Technology. Even if she wanted to back out now, her partners wouldn’t agree, nor would Tang Song be willing to invest.
He had made it clear from the start: if the founding team lacked cohesion, he wouldn’t invest.
The truth hit her like a freight train.
The unease she’d felt during that fateful conversation with Tang Song at the Beicheng Garden restaurant suddenly made sense.
It had been her instincts warning her of what was to come.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change her destiny—a dream she had long pursued—had slipped through her fingers.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the blue skies and white clouds of Beijing seemed blindingly bright.
Shen Yuyan’s eyes reddened as the weight of regret bore down on her. The source of thɪs content is N0veI.Fiɾe.net
So, it’s her!
Just as she was about to message her friend for details about the financing, several new messages from Xu Qing popped up.
【Qingqing: “Yanyan, I’m so pissed! That Lin Muxue is such a green tea! When you get back, I’m going to vent to you properly!”】
【Qingqing: “The financing went really well for Fanfu Suzi Media. We proposed a few amendments, and we’ve just finalized the negotiations. The official term sheet signing will happen this afternoon. I’ll send you a picture of the signing later!”】
Shen Yuyan immediately replied:
“I saw Liyuan’s message. Relax and enjoy your 2% equity incentive. Are you still at the scene? What’s the final valuation of the company? And how much did Tang Song invest?”