50: Chapter 51 The Aftermath of Becoming a Frightened Bird

"In summary," Shen Nian concluded her report, looking calmly at Yu Bo. "The new generation prototype has achieved a qualitative leap in performance, stability, and cost control. We are now ready for small-batch trial production and the launch of our Pre-A round of financing. Next, we will focus on advancing POC testing with two top-tier industry clients, while simultaneously beginning to contact potential strategic investors. Of course, 'Listening to the Waves,' as our most important early investor, has the right of first refusal. We look forward to continuing to work hand-in-hand with 'Listening to the Waves' to create the future together."

Her closing remarks were resonant and confident, once again drawing everyone's attention back to the project and the business itself.

The meeting ended in applause. Shen Nian personally escorted Yu Bo and the other two to the elevator.

"Chairman Yu, Director Zhao, Manager Wang, thank you for your hard work. I will have my assistant email the detailed meeting minutes and supplementary materials to you all later." Shen Nian handed over a prepared USB drive, her smile remaining appropriate.

"Thank you for your hard work, CEO Shen. The report was excellent, and the progress of 'Wing Flight' is impressive." Yu Bo took the USB drive, his tone carrying the standard approval of an investor.

"It's all thanks to the team's efforts, and it wouldn't have been possible without the consistent support of 'Listening to the Waves'." Shen Nian nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping politely over the three of them. "The elevator is here, so I won't see you out any further. Let's keep in touch."

"Very well, let's keep in touch." Yu Bo nodded and walked into the elevator first.

The elevator doors slowly closed, reflecting the three blurry figures on the metal walls. The formulaic smile on Yu Bo's face vanished instantly, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Chairman Yu," investment manager Wang Rui, a sharp-eyed returnee in his early thirties, chuckled in a low voice. "CEO Shen's presence today was incredible. I even felt like our questions earlier were a bit too harsh."

Zhao Min also nodded in agreement. "Indeed, CEO Shen was too well-prepared this time, and... she feels 'steadier' than before, with an air of having everything under control. It's a good thing."

Yu Bo gave an "Mm," not saying much else. Was it a good thing? Perhaps for "Wing Flight" it was. But for him, Shen Nian's watertight "normality" made him feel more uneasy than direct entanglement. She was like a piece of jade that had been carefully polished—warm, hard, and flawless. You knew deep down it might contain complex veins or even cracks, but from the outside, you couldn't see a thing.

Returning to the "Listening to the Waves" office, Yu Bo stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling traffic below, unconsciously playing with the USB drive that Shen Nian had given him. The metal casing was cold.

His phone vibrated; it was a WeChat message from Su Xiaoxiao of "Mingtu Technology," her tone excited yet anxious. "Chairman Yu, sorry to bother you! We followed your advice, polished our BP again, and visited several supply chain companies, but we are still unsure about cost control and mass production... Senior Brother Zhou Ming says that CEO Shen of 'Wing Flight' is a veteran of hardware startups and has super rich experience in this area! We... could we be so bold as to ask for your help in introducing us so we can learn from CEO Shen? I don't know... would it be too much trouble for you?"

Yu Bo looked at this message, his eyes turning completely cold.

An introduction? Learning from her? A coincidence? Or... another chess piece patiently laid out by Shen Nian that had unknowingly rolled to his feet?

Su Xiaoxiao's request was reasonable and beyond reproach. Shen Nian's experience was indeed valuable for "Mingtu." It looked like a purely natural business request born out of project development.

But Yu Bo did not believe in coincidences, especially after Shen Nian had just perfectly performed the role of "CEO Shen."

Yu Bo stared at Su Xiaoxiao's message on the screen, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing against the cold edge of his phone. Sunlight shone through the huge floor-to-ceiling window, casting bright spots on the floor, yet it could not dispel the growing chill in his heart.

At first glance, Su Xiaoxiao's request was logically self-consistent. It was natural for a startup team encountering hardware mass production problems to want to consult an industry senior with successful experience. Shen Nian's "Wing Flight" had started from scratch and navigated almost all the pitfalls of hardware entrepreneurship; her experience was indeed a valuable asset for "Mingtu."

However, the most critical point, like a tiny poisonous thorn, suddenly pierced into Yu Bo's thoughts, bringing a sharp sting and a clear warning—she could have just gone directly to Shen Nian.

Yes, Su Xiaoxiao, or rather "Mingtu Technology," could have contacted Shen Nian directly. In the business world, cross-industry and cross-stage consultation and communication were not uncommon. Especially in Jiangcheng, he had already "bumped into" Shen Nian, and Shen Nian also "happened" to know their mentor, and even "enthusiastically" introduced him to "Mingtu." This network connection clearly existed for Su Xiaoxiao and the others. They could have used "Chairman Yu Bo came to inspect and was very interested in our project" as a stepping stone, or simply used the identity of "CEO Shen's alumni/junior team" to directly send emails, make calls, or even use teachers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology to bridge the gap and contact Shen Nian to seek guidance.

This would have been more direct, more efficient, and more in line with standard business practices than going through him, the investor, for an "introduction."

Then why did Su Xiaoxiao have to take this detour and specifically ask him to "help with an introduction"?

Was it because the young people were thin-skinned and felt it would be easier to open up with his connection? Was it out of respect for him, feeling that utilizing his connection would be safer? Or... was this simply the result of Shen Nian's instruction, or at the very least, her implication?

Yu Bo almost immediately ruled out the first two possibilities. Su Xiaoxiao might be lively and simple, but Zhou Ming and Lin Yuan were no fools. When it came to key project problems, they would choose the most efficient path, not the most "polite" one. Contacting Shen Nian directly, even if rejected, would at most result in an email sinking into the sea, without any loss. But going through his introduction might instead incur a favor, or even make him feel that they lacked ability if they had to rely on an investor for such basic networking.

Unless... they had received some kind of hint that going through his introduction was the "correct" way, or the way with a higher success rate.

Who could this hint have come from?

In Yu Bo's mind, Shen Nian's flawless, business-like face at the review meeting instantly appeared, along with her calm words at the elevator: "Let's keep in touch."

That was it. This was very likely Shen Nian's doing.

However, just as the alarm bells in Yu Bo's heart were ringing and he was preparing to carefully consider how to dismantle this move, a nearly absurd yet incredibly realistic thought sprouted like weeds from a corner of his heart, instantly diluting some of the tension and chill.

What... am I afraid of?

This thought carried a hint of self-mockery, as well as a certain recklessness inherent in a man's bones.

I am a man. No matter how beautiful, intelligent, or skilled Shen Nian is, at the end of the day, what can she do to me? Can she swallow me whole, or ruin my reputation? Taking a step back, even if... even if something really happened that crossed the line, under the inherent prejudices and rules of this society, the one who would suffer, bear more criticism, and pay the price would certainly not be me.

This realization was cold, even despicable, but at this moment, it strangely gave him a sense of confidence that he was "invincible." He wasn't encouraging or expecting anything to cross the line; he just suddenly realized that he might have been too nervous, too led by the nose by Shen Nian.

More importantly, he still had the System. This existence that transcended common sense was his greatest trump card and reliance. As long as it wasn't physical harm that endangered his life, the System could always provide various unexpected support and solutions. Money, information, or even... assistance in certain special states? Although he hadn't fully explored all the functions of the System, this sense of security from "having a cheat" was real.

Thinking of this, Yu Bo's brows, which had been slightly furrowed, slowly relaxed. The coldness and vigilance in his eyes did not disappear, but the tension of being faced with a formidable enemy dissipated quite a bit.