24: Chapter 25 Shen Nian's Charm and Talent.

"We can talk," Shen Nian said readily, leaning forward slightly with her elbows on the desk and her fingers interlaced. This posture accentuated the curves of her upper body, and the neckline of her silk blouse rippled slightly with the movement. "Our target financing for the Pre-A round is twenty million, releasing 10% of our equity. We are already in contact with several institutions, and the valuation is roughly in this range."

Yu Bo pondered for a moment. "The valuation is acceptable. But Listening to the Waves wishes to lead the investment, and our stake cannot be lower than 5%. That is to say, we would invest ten million for a 5% stake. Of course, we could also invest twenty million for a 12.8% stake. Most importantly, this twenty million can be transferred in one lump sum." He looked at Shen Nian with a calm gaze. "We require a board observer seat; we won't participate in daily management, but we will have full rights to information and inquiry. We require monthly core operational and financial data briefings, a formal meeting every quarter, and a comprehensive audit every year. Furthermore, we reserve the right to review all original operational, financial, and technical documents of the company at any time, provided we give prior notice."

After hearing Yu Bo's offer and conditions, the composed smile on Shen Nian's face paused slightly. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, immediately replaced by deeper inquiry and interest. She sat up straight, placing her hands on the table, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the back of her hand.

"Twenty million, 12.8%..." She repeated in a low voice, looking up at Yu Bo with sharp eyes. "Chairman Yu, this ratio, along with the board observer seat and the right to audit at any time, approaches the level of involvement of a co-founder. Moreover, twenty million in a single lump sum is a significant amount for a Pre-A round, and it implies that you are taking on a great deal of risk and have significant confidence in us."

She paused, leaned forward slightly again, her gaze locked onto Yu Bo. "May I ask why? As far as I know, Listening to the Waves has just been established, and its funds shouldn't be unlimited. To place such a heavy bet on Wing Flight, and even be willing to provide so much cash at once—is it purely because you are optimistic about this project, or are there... other considerations?"

Her question was direct, yet her gaze was not aggressive; instead, it carried a touch of well-measured curiosity and exploration, as if it were merely casual chat between friends. But Yu Bo knew that this question went straight to the core.

"The project itself is worth ten million." Yu Bo did not evade, giving the first reason.

Shen Nian let out a soft "Oh," her voice rising slightly at the end with a sense of "as I thought" realization, though she was clearly not entirely satisfied with this answer. She leaned back slightly, her elbows still resting on the table, her fingers unconsciously twirling a lock of curled hair hanging in front of her chest. This posture made her look more relaxed, but due to the angle, the full curves of her bust wrapped in her suit skirt were even more prominent, and the third button of her silk blouse seemed to be under significant pressure, pulling slightly taut.

"Ten million..." She repeated, her gaze scanning Yu Bo's face as if weighing the true substance of his words. "And what about the other ten million? Chairman Yu wouldn't be telling me it's just to show off the deep pockets of Listening to the Waves, would you? This kind of muscle-flexing comes at a high cost."

Her tone carried a faint tease, but her gaze was sharp as a knife, attempting to cut through Yu Bo's calm exterior.

Yu Bo met her gaze, the corners of his mouth curling into an extremely faint arc. He didn't answer immediately; instead, he relaxed his posture, placed his hands together on the table, and looked at her with composure. "CEO Shen, in your opinion, what is the most important thing to look at when making an investment decision?"

Shen Nian raised an eyebrow, seemingly a bit surprised by Yu Bo's counter-question, but she was not flustered. She stopped twirling her hair and instead gently tapped her temple with an elegant gesture. "Looking at the people, the team, and the vision and execution ability of the founder. Technology will iterate, and the market will change, but people are the relatively constant core variable."

"Exactly." Yu Bo nodded, his gaze landing on her face with honesty and undisguised appreciation. "So, I've changed my mind. The other ten million is an investment in you, Shen Nian."

The fingers Shen Nian was using to twirl her hair paused imperceptibly, and her breathing hitched for a split second. She had met too many investors and had heard plenty of flattery, but this was the first time in such a serious negotiation setting that she had received such a direct, calm, and almost "pricing" affirmation.

"Me?" She quickly adjusted her expression, her eyes shifting with a hint of playfulness, mixed with a trace of wariness at being offended. "Chairman Yu, I... I can't accept such words. Wing Flight is the team's hard work; it's not a one-person show for me."

"The team is very important," Yu Bo did not deny. "But the direction and courage of the leader determine how far the team can go. I have read your materials and understand your past experience. A Ph.D. from Columbia, Google X Lab, giving up a high salary to return to the country to start a business... every step shows your vision, resilience, and ambition. And these," he paused, his tone becoming more certain, "are exactly why I believe Wing Flight can succeed, and succeed greatly. The other ten million is a premium investment in your personal ability and potential."

Shen Nian listened quietly, the smile on her face gradually fading, replaced by a look of focus and deep thought. Yu Bo's words stripped away the superficial flattery and struck straight to the essence, making it impossible for her to easily brush them off as "politeness" or "flattery."

"Premium investment..." She chewed on the word in a low voice, her body unconsciously leaning forward slightly again, as if wanting to get closer to see the sincerity in Yu Bo's eyes. This movement brought her bust almost touching the edge of the table, and the view down her neckline became increasingly thought-provoking. But she seemed completely unaware, or perhaps, she knew deep down that her focused and slightly stunned expression, combined with this highly impactful physical posture, was in itself a weapon.

"Chairman Yu, your evaluation... is too high." She finally spoke, her voice lower than before, carrying a trace of genuine emotion and a hint of imperceptible tremor. "So high that it makes me a little... scared. Afraid that I won't be able to live up to this trust, and afraid that your twenty million will go down the drain."

"Trust is mutual." Yu Bo's gaze was calm, not wavering in the slightest due to her posture or words. "I dare to invest because I trust my judgment, and I believe you have the ability to manage these funds and create returns far exceeding their value. As for going down the drain..." He smiled lightly, his smile carrying a powerful self-confidence. "Investment inherently carries risks. But Listening to the Waves and I are both willing and able to bear this risk. The question is, do you dare to accept it?"

Shen Nian looked at him, and the meeting room was so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing. A silent contest filled the air, one of intellect and also of will.

It felt as long as a century, or perhaps it was only a short ten seconds. Shen Nian suddenly smiled, a smile that no longer held the previous testing or pretense—it was radiant, bright, and carried a kind of do-or-die determination and high-spirited fighting will.

"If you dare to invest, why wouldn't I dare to accept?" She said clearly, word by word, "Twenty million, 12.8%, I accept all your conditions."

As she spoke, she extended her hand again. This time, her hand was firm and powerful, carrying warmth and determination.

Yu Bo also extended his hand to shake hers. The two hands clasped tightly, as if they had reached some kind of covenant that transcended a commercial contract.

"However," Shen Nian held his hand but didn't let go immediately. She leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, and spoke in a volume only the two of them could hear. Her eyes flashed with cunning and a hint of indescribable allure. "Chairman Yu, you've given me such a high 'premium,' if you discover later that I'm not what I seem, or... if I disappoint you, you can't regret it, okay?"

Her words had hooks, and her gaze was like a small brush, gently sweeping across the tip of Yu Bo's heart.

Yu Bo held her hand steadily, his gaze not dodging in the slightest, but rather becoming even calmer. "I never regret the decisions I make. As for whether I'll be disappointed..." He applied a little pressure, returning the squeeze of her hand. "That will depend on CEO Shen's... performance from here on out."

A flash of surprise crossed Shen Nian's eyes, immediately turning into deeper appreciation and... amusement. This man was even harder to handle than she had imagined, and... even more interesting.

"Very well, Chairman Yu, then... let's wait and see." She retreated to a safe distance, her smile still bright, but with a bit more gravity.