Chapter 37 Since becoming my own boss...
Zheng Xiaotian chose a traditional-style private restaurant.
The reason given was high-sounding: his brother had always been a bit of a connoisseur and was afraid that his own materialistic nature would spoil the refined atmosphere. In reality, he just wanted to find a quiet place.
Xia Zhiyao arrived a little early, having changed into a light blue shirt, the hem neatly tucked into high-waisted gray trousers, the lines simple, her demeanor clean and capable.
She stood on the edge of the terrace, quietly gazing at the swaying bamboo grove in the distance, her expression showing a rare sense of relaxation.
As the wind blows, it creates layers of rustling sounds. Behind the bamboo shadows, there is a stream that meanders around the artificial hill, with a stone bridge spanning the water. Fine moss grows in the cracks of the stone slabs.
The golden rays of the setting sun spread across the ripples, and a gentle breeze blew by, carrying the fresh scent of damp bamboo leaves, stirring the stray hairs at her temples. Her hair and the shadows of the bamboo swayed gently in the sunlight, as if they were blending into the same painting.
Not long after, Zheng Yaotian arrived.
He walked in from a distance, tall and slender, a casual suit stretched taut on his body, and his every move exuded an air of prestige and presence.
His hair was slightly long and neatly combed back with hair wax, revealing his well-defined forehead and eyebrows. His features were deep and cold, exuding a sense of composure at first glance and a sense of oppression upon closer inspection. Every detail was just right.
He showed no excessive emotional fluctuations, nor did he display any inappropriate human warmth. Unlike Zheng Xiaotian's relaxed demeanor, which was a blend of aristocratic background and worldly air, Zheng Yaotian possessed a different kind of pure restraint. He exuded the composure of an upper-class family heir, cultivated through systematic training since childhood. He was calm and collected, and capable of taking decisive action.
As he approached, his footsteps were extremely light, as if even the echo on the ground was deliberately concealed. In just a moment, it was clear that he was not someone who would easily speak too intimately with someone he barely knew.
"Is this Zhiyao?" He smiled slightly, his tone polite yet warm.
"Good evening, Mr. Zheng." She nodded in return.
"Hey, don't be so formal." He waved his hand, his smile deepening, and the distance between his brows and eyes instantly disappeared. "Just call me brother. I've known Xiaotian for so long, but he's been keeping you hidden all this time, only letting me see you today. When he gets here later, he'll have to be punished with a drink."
Xia Zhiyao blinked and called out with a smile, "Brother." It was a casual remark, yet it perfectly dissolved the awkwardness of their first meeting.
She paused slightly, a playful smile curving her lips, and added, half-jokingly, "I'm the eldest in my generation, and I've always longed for an older brother. Today, calling him 'brother' has fulfilled my dream."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Yaotian couldn't help but laugh out loud, seemingly genuinely amused: "Then I'll have to fulfill my duties as the older brother properly. Order whatever you want to eat later, it's on me."
She smiled and lowered her head, her movements as she sat down still composed. Every word and every reaction was relaxed yet not casual; friendly, but never overstepping boundaries.
Zheng Yaotian's gaze lingered on her for a few seconds, a subtle hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
Over the years, he has navigated the ups and downs of the business world and seen countless professional women, roughly divided into two categories: one type has a sharp aura, an arrogant demeanor, and keeps people at arm's length; the other type is gentle and cautious, very perceptive and tactful, but often hides their sharpness too deeply, and over time, even their own edges are worn away.
Xia Zhiyao, however, clearly does not belong to either category.
There is a rare balance in her temperament: she knows how to be polite, but she is never obsequious; she is sharp, but she is never aggressive.
She transforms distance into presence, and disguises restraint as composure, respecting others while firmly guarding her own boundaries.
In fact, Zheng Xiaotian had mentioned her when she first returned to China, and his tone was quite meaningful. Now, after several months of project cooperation, just as he said, she has gradually developed her own rhythm, being calm, capable, and ruthless.
Such people may not be likable, but they are extremely reliable. Zheng Yaotian has always preferred dealing with intelligent people, especially those who know when to be sharp and when to sheathe their blade.
Xia Zhiyao is undoubtedly such a person.
When Zheng Xiaotian pushed open the door, he was greeted by this scene: his usually stern and unsmiling brother was leaning forward slightly, his expression unusually gentle, and talking quietly with Xia Zhiyao.
It's unclear what they talked about, but the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed, more like a reunion of old acquaintances than a first meeting. Xia Zhiyao smiled, her eyes bright and focused.
Zheng Yaotian stared intently at her, nodding occasionally, his words revealing a hint of agreement and contemplation.
Zheng Xiaotian stood at the door, his steps pausing for half a second. He knew Zheng Yaotian's personality all too well. He was a person who had been disciplined by his family to the point of being rigid. Even in social situations, he would only exchange polite greetings, his responses would be brief and precise, and he would never waste an expression, let alone genuinely participate in a conversation like this.
Xia Zhiyao is not someone who easily gets close to others. No matter how smoothly the cooperation goes, she will always maintain a comfortable distance and not allow anyone to casually step into her private territory.
But these two people in front of me... something just doesn't seem right.
He looked away, put on his usual smile, and asked in a nonchalant tone, "Am I late?"
Zheng Yaotian looked up at him, his tone indifferent: "You're the last one to arrive, even though you organized this gathering."
Zheng Xiaotian was taken aback, then quickly waved his hand: "Brother, have some compassion. I stayed up all night last night and then had to fight with a client this morning. It's a miracle I'm even here now."
"Don't give me that." Zheng Yaotian scoffed and pushed the wine list over. "Order some food and replenish your energy. Look at your dark circles, you look like you've been up for three nights straight."
Zheng Xiaotian waved to the waiter and said with a smile, "You two, don't sandwich me. I'll treat this meal as a way to heal my wounds... Wait here, I'm going to order something lavish, otherwise it'll be a waste of all the hair I've lost."
Xia Zhiyao chuckled softly, turned her face away to avoid the brothers' conversation, tapped her teacup lightly with her fingertips, and stared into the depths of the bamboo forest, as if she were calmly gathering her emotions.
Before long, dishes were served one after another. Steam rose from the large yellow croaker, the crab with roe, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, along with pork tripe and chicken, stir-fried eggs with wood ear mushrooms, and mutton and radish soup. Each dish was exquisitely presented, with attention to detail, and even the garnishes exuded a sense of lavish spending.
Looking at the table, Zheng Xiaotian couldn't help but exclaim, "I want to try this beef priced at 1688, and see if it was cut from the Bull Demon King."
Xia Zhiyao paused slightly, then laughed, her tone light and teasing: "This price isn't even enough for Xiaotian to buy a bottle of wine at the nightclub."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Zheng Xiaotian glanced at her sideways, his lips twitching as he feigned a deeply wronged expression: "Hey, that's all in the past, okay? Do you think I'd dare to spend money recklessly now?"
He sighed dramatically, shaking his head and lamenting, "You don't know the cost of living until you're in charge. Ever since I became a boss, I've been stretching every penny. Isn't that right, bro?"
Zheng Yaotian chuckled softly, not responding immediately, but instead slowly turning the rim of his teacup.
He could tell, of course, that what seemed like a complaint about the hardship of spending money was actually a trap. The two brothers were working together to deliver the unspoken message: starting a business is not easy, and they hoped their brother would take care of them, invest more money, and ideally bring in a few projects that could be implemented.
The conversation, though seemingly casual, carries a profound weight.
Zheng Yaotian lowered his eyes, but he did not respond immediately. He was never in a hurry to express his opinion, especially when it came to things that others had gone around in circles before getting to the point. He preferred to observe first to see how anxious you were, how long you could keep up the act, and whether it was worth it for him to put on this show.
But he didn't expose him. He just glanced at Zheng Xiaotian with a half-smile and said, "Then you have to do those projects well first. Talking isn't enough. Investing money isn't charity."
Zheng Xiaotian immediately put on an innocent look: "I'm just trying my best. Ask Zhiyao, we've been working through the night for several days in a row. Your brother is practically a dog for the client."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Yaotian looked at Xia Zhiyao thoughtfully. His glance was unhurried, as if he were searching for something in her expression, or perhaps he was just casually glancing at her.
"Is that so?" His tone was gentle, devoid of emotion, yet carrying an undeniable weight. "Since you're going all out, let's discuss the cooperation plan in more detail after dinner."
What seemed like a casual remark actually allowed him to subtly regain control of the situation.
As soon as the dishes were served, the two people opposite them buried their heads in their food, as if they didn't even bother with small talk.
Xia Zhiyao was relatively restrained, her movements unhurried, but her chopsticks were almost constantly in use. Zheng Xiaotian, on the other hand, didn't care about his image at all, his mouth covered in soup as he ate. When picking up food, he accidentally flicked a scallion, which landed on the clean white tablecloth. He didn't even notice, continuing to work hard with his head down, as if he wanted to make up for all the hunger he had felt throughout the day in this one meal.
Zheng Yaotian watched, a slight smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and barely perceptible warmth: "How long has it been since you two had a proper meal together?"
"I had some coffee this morning, and when I got back at noon I just collapsed onto the bed..." Zheng Xiaotian mumbled, still chewing, "Brother, this meal really saved your life."
"Stop talking nonsense and eat more." Zheng Yaotian sighed softly, pushed a plate of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall that was close to him in front of Zheng Xiaotian, and then quietly added a bowl of soup for Xia Zhiyao.
The action was natural, yet carried an indistinct meaning: it was a familiar care for his younger brother, while for her it was an almost instinctive tenderness.
He lowered his eyes to hide his emotions, but his words still carried an unconscious gentleness at the end: "Busy as I am, I still have to eat on time."
Halfway through the meal, Zheng Yaotian put down his chopsticks, his tone as straightforward and direct as his personality: "We have received notification that Nexora has officially confirmed that it will establish its Asia-Pacific market headquarters in Hong Kong and plans to set up a strategic office in mainland China. It is currently looking for the first round of local consulting cooperation teams."
“Nexora?” Xia Zhiyao raised an eyebrow, paused, and put down her chopsticks. Of course, she had heard of that name before.
An overseas unicorn company with generative artificial intelligence technology at its core, backed by investors spanning four major Silicon Valley funds, just completed its Series B financing this year with an astonishingly high valuation, and is recognized in the industry as one of the most imaginative technology targets.
“Their core business will be launched in Asia within six months.” Zheng Yaotian tapped his knuckles lightly on the table, his voice steady and powerful. “We have already identified three institutions for preliminary evaluation, and I have recommended you.”
Xia Zhiyao's heart stirred, but she didn't speak immediately. She just looked up at him quietly.
“Nexora has an additional requirement.” He paused, his gaze fixed on her. “They not only look at the quality of the proposal, but also emphasize that the team must have ‘implementation capabilities,’ not just be able to write PPTs.”
"What do you mean?" She leaned forward slightly.
“This is not just a proposal,” Zheng Yaotian said slowly. “They want you to be involved in the whole process, from the establishment of the strategy office and the formation of the implementation team to the early promotion of the project incubation.”
Zheng Xiaotian clicked his tongue, with a hint of sarcasm: "This is treating a consultant like a partner."
“That’s right.” Zheng Yaotian raised his eyes and glanced at the two of them. “If you don’t want to do it, you can withdraw. But once you’re in, it’s not just fighting one battle, but fighting the entire front.”
Xia Zhiyao tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, her eyes slightly lowered, as if she was processing the information.
She was fully aware of the significance of this opportunity. Nexora was not only a trendsetter in the industry, but also a client that any consulting firm would dream of. Once the cooperation was successful, it would not only lead to a leap in performance figures, but also establish a golden reputation in the industry.
But she also understands that such projects, in which she is deeply involved throughout, involve both risks and rewards.
The establishment of the strategic office, the formation of the implementation team, the initial incubation... every step is a tough battle that consumes a lot of resources. If any link goes wrong, all the investment will be in vain.
She raised her eyes and looked at Zheng Yaotian. His expression was calm, as if he was waiting for her to make a statement, or as if he had already expected her to agree.
"Are there any written documents regarding the conditions and timetable?" she asked, her tone calm but not in a hurry to state her position.
"I'll send you the electronic version first," Zheng Yaotian's voice remained calm. "My assistant will deliver the paper documents to your company tomorrow."
As he spoke, he took out his phone from his pocket, looked down and tapped the screen a few times, as if he were steadily pushing a heavy bargaining chip in front of her.
Xia Zhiyao took the message, glanced at it, then put her phone face down, not in a hurry to look at it closely or give any further reaction.
Watching the interaction between the two, Zheng Xiaotian laughed and joked, "Wow, bro, you've landed a big order right away. Should I start preparing a celebration banquet?"
"Let's prepare a contingency plan first." Zheng Yaotian glanced at him indifferently, but his tone subtly returned to the main topic, "It's easy to get involved, but only those who stand to the end win."
The atmosphere at the dining table instantly quieted down, with only the wind blowing through the window cracks, gently lifting a corner of the tablecloth and making a few soft sounds.
"What do you think?" Zheng Yaotian asked, his gaze falling on Xia Zhiyao.
She paused for a few seconds, then looked up to meet his gaze, her tone calm and unhurried: "I only have one question: is this war worth fighting?"
Zheng Yaotian looked at her and suddenly smiled, "Of course."
“Then let’s give it a try.” She continued, her tone still calm, but her eyes sharpened. “The location is Singapore.”
"Singapore?" Zheng Xiaotian raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't the plan to set up the headquarters in China?"
“The boss is Chinese, but he prefers Singapore,” Zheng Yaotian explained calmly. “We may set up a technology incubation outpost in Shenzhen later. The policies are in place, and the local government has provided very favorable conditions.”
He paused, then looked at Xia Zhiyao: "There's another reason. Although the company is registered overseas and controlled by a fund, the founders and core members are almost all Chinese. After the Series B funding, they decided to return to China to develop the local market."
Zheng Xiaotian looked down at the documents and muttered to himself, "This is not just an ordinary negotiation... If it succeeds, it will be a landmark case between Chinese and foreign capital."
"Why didn't they choose an established company?" Xia Zhiyao suddenly asked.
“We made our selections and contacted them,” Zheng Yaotian said calmly. “But they said those agencies were too standardized, too conservative, and not agile enough.”
Zheng Xiaotian clicked his tongue: "Quite the sharp tongue."
“But they know exactly what they want.” Zheng Yaotian closed the file and tapped his knuckles lightly on the table. “That’s why I said that if you take this job, it means you’re not just going to be consultants, but to bring this company down from the PowerPoint presentation and onto the ground, making it real and feasible, hitting the mark in one shot.”
Xia Zhiyao raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone calm: "Tactics are not a vision; the present is not the future."
“Accurate.” Zheng Yaotian nodded, his gaze sweeping across her face before settling on Zheng Xiaotian. “Get ready, we’re flying to Singapore at the end of the month.”
"So fast?" Zheng Xiaotian was taken aback, his water glass, which was hanging in mid-air, stopped. "They're already over there?"
"Part of the founding team has already settled in Singapore, while another part is still remotely directing operations from Silicon Valley," Zheng Yaotian said calmly. "But the core execution has all moved back to China. They need to complete the financing loop, team recruitment, and market validation here, and launch the first round of test products as soon as possible."
“Then we need to scout the location beforehand.” Xia Zhiyao tapped the rim of her cup lightly, her gaze already fixed on the next step of the plan. Before she finished speaking, she forced a yawn, but still couldn’t completely hide her fatigue.
Zheng Xiaotian glanced at her, his tone casual like an older brother: "Alright, now that you're done talking, go home and catch up on your sleep. You look so tired, it makes me sleepy just looking at you."
He stretched as he spoke: "I'm not in a rush to come to the company tomorrow."
Xia Zhiyao stopped trying to be strong, and simply rubbed her temples, her tone becoming more relaxed: "Sleeping is also part of the battle. I'll join the team tomorrow afternoon, and we'll discuss the specific implementation plan in detail then."
She paused after speaking, then looked at Zheng Yaotian, who had been sitting quietly opposite her, and said with a polite tone of gratitude, "Thank you for this opportunity, brother."
“We’re all on the same side,” Zheng Yaotian looked at her, smiled faintly, his words gentle yet measured, “No need for such formalities.”
He stood up: "Tomorrow I will have my team pack up the relevant materials and send them to your email. Once you have evaluated the preliminary framework, we will arrange a formal meeting."
Xia Zhiyao nodded, her eyes regaining their clarity: "Understood."
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