623: Chapter 623 Sending Deng Xiaoqi to School

This year, both Fan Shengmei and Fang Sijin were so busy they barely had time to touch the ground.

Running the supply chain, planning store openings, cultivating talent pipelines, finance, taxes, government and business relations—there was a mountain of miscellaneous tasks.

Fan Shengmei had also been tempered by these tasks, and she now had quite the air of a decisive, high-powered female CEO.

Chen Cheng had been acting as the 'dog-headed' advisor behind the scenes, and Xiao Mei Snacks was running very smoothly, with the number of stores already reaching eighteen.

This round of financing was happening because they were almost out of cash.

The initial capital, the subsequent bank mortgage loans, and the squeezed supplier payments had all been mostly exhausted.

The only reason Xiao Mei Snacks could still operate normally was that Fang Sijin had personally lent five million to the company.

Fang Sijin was now a bona fide wealthy woman. The two assets Chen Cheng helped her buy last year had more than tripled in value by this year. By the time Chen Cheng told her to liquidate her position, the original five million had turned into over 17 million.

Fortunately, the first eight stores, after excluding initial renovation investments, had already started to turn a profit.

This gave them the confidence to seek financing in the capital market.

At the very least, it showed that their business model was sound.

When Fan Shengmei came to ask for Chen Cheng's opinion on the Series A financing, Chen Cheng reconsidered the business model of Xiao Mei Snacks from a holistic perspective.

In the end, he decided to let Fan Shengmei find the investment herself.

For one thing, if he continued to invest, it would create a situation within Xiao Mei Snacks where his Zhencheng System and Fan Shengmei would fight for controlling rights.

Moreover, there was also Fang Sijin, a major shareholder who could either seize control or cash out and leave.

Such an equity structure was unfavorable for going public.

The more ambiguous the control, the easier it was to raise doubts in the capital market.

Mainly, Chen Cheng had never really intended to hold a controlling stake in Xiao Mei Snacks in the future.

Secondly, children who haven't weathered storms cannot truly grow up. This financing was a trial for Fan Shengmei and Fang Sijin, and also a test for the entire Xiao Mei Snacks team.

According to Chen Cheng's plan, this round of financing for Xiao Mei Snacks was to raise 40 million at a valuation of 200 million.

For Xiao Mei Snacks, which only had 18 stores, this valuation was clearly inflated.

But Chen Cheng didn't want to sell below this price, meaning he didn't want his stake to be diluted.

Anyway, Chen Cheng wasn't going to worry about the specific process; he left that for Fan Shengmei and Fang Sijin to stress over.

...

"What's this all about?"

Andy glanced at Zhao Yazu, who was sitting in the forward cabin intently looking at her computer, and asked Chen Cheng in a low voice.

At this moment, Chen Cheng, Andy, Zhao Yazu, and Deng Xiaoqi, who was hitching a ride, were on a plane flying to Beijing.

Andy was very puzzled as to why Chen Cheng didn't bring the familiar Zou Yu, but instead brought Zhao Yazu, whom she was seeing for the first time.

With Zhao Yazu present, Andy hadn't felt comfortable asking directly. Only after the plane finished climbing and reached cruising altitude did she find an opportunity to ask.

Chen Cheng looked up at Zhao Yazu, who was dressed in a white shirt paired with a hip-hugging skirt, looking poised and elegant.

He then glanced at Andy, rolled his eyes, made up his mind, and reached out to grab Andy's hand, writing the letters "Spy" on her palm.

At the same time, with a warm smile on his face, he said slowly, "I have to make a trip to the North of the Great Wall this time."

"Conditions are tough there. I've been dragging Zou Yu along lately, and she's tired. Since a new person has arrived, I'll let her take a break."

Andy's expression tightened. She asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Industrial?"

Chen Cheng smiled and nodded, "That should be it."

Andy pursed her lips and switched to Arabic, her voice still very low.

"You know she's a spy, yet you just keep her by your side like this?"

Chen Cheng could speak Arabic purely because of Ben. It wasn't hard for him to learn; having heard it all the time, he naturally picked it up over time.

As for Andy, she had learned it specifically to deal with oil capital.

Chen Cheng smiled and spread his hands, "Since they want to know our secrets, let's be generous and let them see."

"It's not like you don't know me; I'm best at eating the sugar coating and firing the cannonball back."

"Besides, since we've been targeted, if it wasn't her, there would just be someone else."

"This one is quite pretty, and I quite like her."

As he spoke, Scum Cheng smirked and leaned into Andy's ear, "Maybe I can even turn her."

"You know, buddy has a natural talent in this area, and I can always leave people wanting more."

Andy gave him a huffy roll of the eyes, but couldn't say a word.

This little rascal's technique and talent in that area were indeed quite something.

Even she...

Andy swallowed and pressed her long, beautiful legs together.

The two chatted for a while, then ended the conversation and went back to their work.

Deng Xiaoqi was sitting in the forward cabin taking selfies with her phone and editing them all in one go.

But she just didn't dare to post them on social media.

She was a bit afraid of causing trouble for Chen Cheng.

Deng Half-City and her manager, Sister Ling, had both instructed her to learn to keep a low profile at school.

The rest of the journey was uneventful. After landing in Beijing, the group first went to the testing agency to collect samples.

It wasn't that paternity tests couldn't be done in Shanghai, but Wei Guoqiang's wife felt that if it were done in Shanghai, Tan Zongming would have a chance to meddle, so she specifically chose a testing agency in Beijing.

It had been specially arranged, so the sampling was quick and finished in a few minutes.

Afterward, the group went to the Drama Academy.

Although her scores were good enough for the Film Academy, when it came to filling out her preferences, Deng Xiaoqi still put the Drama Academy first.

She had also successfully received her acceptance letter.

Andy was a bit curious about domestic universities, so she tagged along.

"This dark, dreary gate of your school is a bit ugly," Chen Cheng said, looking at the gate of the Drama Academy and teasing Deng Xiaoqi with a chuckle.

"Hmm..." Before Deng Xiaoqi could speak, Andy looked at the dark, boxy gate and mused for a second, "I actually think it's quite nice."

"It fits quite well with the architectural style inside the campus."

Deng Xiaoqi held back a laugh and spread her hands at Chen Cheng, as if to say, "I didn't say that."

Chen Cheng gave her a huffy roll of the eyes and turned to Eleven and Zhao Yazu, saying:

"Eleven, Zhao, go help this girl pick up her delivery. It's at..."

"It's behind the dormitory building, in the corner by the East Gate," Deng Xiaoqi reminded him in a timely manner.

She then felt a bit embarrassed, "Sister Eleven, Sister Yazu, sorry to trouble you."

"You're too kind..." Zhao Yazu smiled in response.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they got out of the car.

Andy and Deng Xiaoqi walked side by side in front, each pulling a suitcase.

Chen Cheng, wearing sunglasses, walked behind them, looking left and right.

With his sunglasses on, no one could tell he was glancing around indiscriminately.

Hmm... those legs are long...

That skin is fair...

This one has big breasts...

This one is amazing, long legs, perky butt (●)(●) and big...

It's a pity about the masks this year; not being able to see their beautiful faces is truly a bit of a regret.

However, just looking at their figures, there wasn't a single ugly young girl walking on campus.

Chen Cheng sighed, "If the juniors at the Drama Academy are already this exceptional, then wouldn't the Hehuan Sect in the city be..."