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Chapter 158 0155 [A 19th Birthday Gift to Myself] (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader echo axiu)

The signing ceremony and press conference for the financing agreement were held on the second floor of the Peking University Science and Technology Building.

We mainly invite media outlets in the Beijing area, as well as those with resident reporters in Beijing. Firstly, it won't take up much of their time, and secondly, travel expenses of around a thousand yuan will suffice.

Of course, mainstream financial media outlets, regardless of their headquarters location, will be invited.

Today is the weekend.

The female students in the 04 Yuanpei Class who were slightly more attractive received invitations from Chen Guiliang to work as etiquette hostesses.

Those who are willing to come will receive part-time pay and small gifts, and will also be provided with a good meal of wine and meat at noon.

Wu Meng from the Chinese Literature Department also came.

Ao Yanchen also invited several classmates to be etiquette ladies.

"Is that the place ahead?"

"Yes, the tallest office building."

"Xiao Bian, you have such good taste!"

"..."

Bian Guanyue, who is usually low-key, couldn't help but tell her roommate last night about her boyfriend's company receiving venture capital funding, with a hint of boasting.

She regretted it as soon as she said it; she shouldn't have been so vain.

Bian Guanyue was filled with envy and showered her with compliments. After asking Chen Guiliang for his opinion, she agreed to bring her roommates to see the excitement today.

Moreover, as long as there is enough time, her roommates can all work as hostesses, and if they have nothing else to do, they can just stand on the sidelines as background figures.

Six girls set off at the crack of dawn, rushing over from the Capital University of Economics and Business.

"Senior Sister Ao!" Bian Guanyue called out.

Ao Yanchen smiled and said, "The boss lady is here. Those who are willing to be hostesses, please take them to the second floor to do their makeup and change clothes."

“I want to be a hostess too,” Bian Guanyue said.

Ao Yanchen broke out in a cold sweat: "You're not familiar with the process. Your main responsibility is to stand in certain positions and distribute information packages to the invited guests, etc."

Bian Guanyue laughed and said, "It's alright, it's quite interesting."

After the six girls went upstairs, Ao Yanchen called Chen Guiliang: "Boss Chen, your girlfriend wants to be a hostess, but I didn't force her to."

"It's alright, let her do whatever she wants." Chen Guiliang did not stop her.

Chen Guiliang was in the conference room of the Innovation Center, accompanying Wang Kai and the leaders of the Science Park Company and the Incubator Company who had arrived earlier.

The leaders all looked radiant. This round of financing for ByteDance is the most successful Peking University incubation project in the past two years.

The leaders also took the initiative to help, inviting Founder Group and Qingniao, who were about to move into the Peking University Science and Technology Building. Both companies were very considerate of the leaders, willing to send a vice president from each company as a guest.

Several established companies in the technology building, as well as incubators on the third and fourth floors, also received invitations from Chen Guiliang.

"Where should we put the flower basket?" A junior employee from Fangzheng Group arrived with the flower basket.

Ao Yanchen quickly went over: "Please put it there. Yes, put it in the middle."

For big companies, the flower baskets they send have to be in the center position.

As for the flower baskets from other companies, whoever delivers them first gets to place them in a prominent position.

"Congratulations, junior sister! May your company prosper!"

Several senior students from the neighboring publishing house, which deals with ancient books and academic manuscripts, came over with flower baskets to offer their congratulations.

"He should be called Boss Ao!" a colleague immediately corrected.

"Yes, yes, I can't call you junior sister anymore. Hello, President Ao."

"President Ao looks especially beautiful today."

"..."

Faced with these guys' teasing, Ao Yanchen didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

After exchanging a few jokes, they continued walking inside on the red carpet.

The hostesses, who had received training yesterday and had their makeup done in advance, guided them to the autograph wall for a photo, and then led them to the rest area.

"Wow, this is so professional?"

"This ceremony was so grand! They even laid out a red carpet, and there were autographs and photos."

"Many large companies don't do this, right?"

"..."

Not only them, but even some media reporters were very surprised by this.

What would be commonplace ten years from now is now a refreshing sight.

Walking the red carpet and taking photos with autograph walls are currently only common practices in the entertainment and fashion industries, and are only done at film festivals, charity galas, and luxury brand launches.

I've never seen a company or enterprise like this before!
The reporter from Beijing TV was very excited upon arrival and told the photographer, "Take as many shots as possible of the red carpet and the autograph wall. Especially when the leaders and celebrities are signing autographs and taking photos, make sure to give them a shot!"

After putting on makeup and changing clothes, Bian Guanyue and her roommates were separated and sent to different places.

Bian Guanyue and Lin Ruonan were very pretty and were assigned by Ao Yanchen to the media check-in area to distribute event information packages to reporters.

Reporters frequently arrived and couldn't resist taking a few photos of them.

Bian Guanyue gazed ahead with composure.

Lin Ruonan, on the other hand, was very proactive, as if it were an innate ability. Whenever a reporter raised their camera, she would automatically face the lens.

After receiving several reporters in a row, Lin Ruonan finally had a chance to rest for a bit. She said in a low voice, "The scene is so high-end and glamorous. No wonder it was organized by a foreign investment institution."

Bian Guanyue corrected, "These were all Chen Guiliang's ideas."

"He's really amazing!" Lin Ruonan exclaimed sincerely. As they were talking, Yu Li, the vice president of Fangzheng in charge of finance and investment, made a dazzling entrance in a professional suit.

Financial media reporters present immediately prepared to take photos.

Other reporters were a step behind because they weren't really familiar with this vice president.

Ao Yanchen stepped forward to shake hands and greet Yu Li. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the hostess guided Yu Li onto the red carpet.

Walking on the red carpet, Yu Li was in high spirits, feeling like a star. She then went to the autograph wall for photos, the shutter clicks incessant, the flashes almost blinding, as if she were attending a fashion extravaganza.

Yu Li thought to herself: This format is really good. In the future, Fangzheng Group's activities should also be organized in this way to appear more high-class.

ByteDance may be a small company, but it exudes a high-class vibe!

Moreover, the cost of showing off is very low; it's just a matter of adding a red carpet and a signature wall.

Shortly after, the vice president of Beida Jade Bird arrived, also a woman, just like the one from Founder Group. Her surname was Su; she was the first principal of Beida Jade Bird and currently serves as vice president, responsible for the expansion of franchised campuses nationwide. She also holds a position at Peking University.

"The city leaders have arrived at the entrance of the science park!" A staff member from the science park called.

City leaders?
Chen Guiliang had just gone to receive the district leaders; he really didn't expect the city leaders to show up.

The CEO of Peking University Science Park Company laughed and said, "I invited them, but I didn't know if they would come, so I didn't tell you in advance."

Chen Guiliang quickly expressed his gratitude and followed the leaders outside to greet them.

He even called Ao Yanzhen midway through the trip, asking her to quickly arrange for the nameplates on the guest seats to be adjusted, and to temporarily write a nameplate for the city leaders by hand.

Although this city leader is only a deputy, he has quite a presence, especially since the Beijing media were quick to react.

The city leader found the red carpet quite novel; he was surprised that businesses were doing this. He asked, "Should I walk down it?"

Before Chen Guiliang could answer, the leader of the science park company laughed and said, "Old X, do you still want to be a star today? Come on, come on, I'll walk the red carpet with you."

Over in the rest area, the company's promotional video is playing on a loop.

This is also refreshing.

The promotional video is only 4 minutes long, and most of it is presented in the form of photos. It starts with a photo of Chen Guiliang alone, then it shows Chen Guiliang and Guo Feng, and then Dong Qianqiu and Ao Yanchen are added.

As the number of employees continued to increase, the office also grew from small to large.

The screen displays data from Renren (a Chinese social networking site), which continues to increase as the year and month progress. Then it shows various activities organized by Renren... The background music is the site's theme song, "The Wind Rises."

Dong Qianqiu sat in the rest area, watching the company's promotional video, feeling a little awkward.

He was assigned to Game Science, and although he received 4% of Game Science's shares, it seemed that he suddenly became "two separate families" with Guo Feng and Ao Yanzhen.

The opening ceremony began at 10:30 a.m.

Project manager Wang Kai served as the host, introducing today's theme and participating guests.

Then came speeches from leaders at all levels—each speaking for only a few minutes, but if they really wanted to go on and on, Chen Guiliang couldn't stop them.

Finally, it was the founder's turn to speak, and Chen Guiliang walked onto the stage.

"Thank you to all the leaders, entrepreneurs, media reporters, and my classmates, colleagues, and friends... I am very happy today because tomorrow is my 19th birthday!"

You'll only turn 19 tomorrow?
The audience was stunned.

A reporter opened the package of information he had received earlier and, after confirming the contents, became even more speechless.

Damn, so young!
Reporters have already come up with a headline: "His 19th birthday gift to himself - a $500 million investment, with a post-investment valuation of $3000 million."

The city leader turned to the leaders of the science park and the district and said, "You're young and promising."

Chen Guiliang continued, "The investment from IDG and DFJ is the best birthday gift I can give myself, and also a gift I can give to students across the country! Because our Renren.com is specifically designed for students. After the Series A funding, we will gradually open up registration functions for high school students, vocational school students, and junior high school students..."

"The internet is not a monster, but rather depends on how it is used. Renren.com is the online home and online community for all students. Students can write diaries, upload photos, and discuss interests, hobbies, and aspirations with other students here."

"I have carefully studied the spirit of the 'Ministry of Education's Key Work Points for 2005,' and the school's intranet will actively cooperate with the strategies of invigorating the nation through science and education and strengthening the nation through talent... We have all kinds of groups. There are even groups focused on academic research, with doctoral and master's students, and lower-year students can ask them questions without any obstacles..."

"Thanks to the investments from IDG and DFJ, Xiaonei.com has sufficient funds to expand to schools across the country, giving us the opportunity to serve more students..."

"In the future, we will develop the campus network into..."

After Chen Guiliang finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted.

The female students who worked part-time as hostesses clapped their hands especially hard, because they were about to get paid.

Lin Ruonan stood in the corner and whispered, "Your boyfriend talks like a boss, it makes people want to sleep. But that opening line about his 19th birthday really stunned everyone."

Bianguanyue remained silent, quietly serving as the backdrop for the ceremony.

Next, the investors came on stage.

Lin Dongliang and Fu Jixun went up together, each holding a microphone.

Fu Jixun smiled broadly: "Here, I'd like to wish Boss Chen a happy 19th birthday a day in advance!"

Lin Dongliang said, "There's no need to add 19 years; it makes us seem too old."

"Hahaha!"

There was a burst of laughter from the audience.

Fu Jixun said, "I've been in venture capital for several years now, and this is the first time I've invested in such a young founder. Heroes come from all walks of life and are not defined by age. On the contrary, as a student online community, Xiaonei.com's 19-year-old founder understands better what student users need. That's why DJF chose to invest in Xiaonei.com."

After a round of applause, Lin Dongliang said, "Mr. Fu is absolutely right, and that's exactly what I was thinking too. Since the rise of the internet, young people have always been the main users. Now, with the widespread availability of computers and broadband, more and more students are becoming internet users. Renren.com has a huge student user base, and its future prospects are limitless!"

The two of them took turns talking, doing their best to promote Renren.com.

Then, the hostesses guided the three parties to the signing table to sign a financing agreement in both Chinese and English, and showed the signed page to the reporters for close-up photos.

They shook hands and took photos, the lights were turned on, and ribbons and colorful plastic fragments flew around.

The special effects were quite novel, and the reporters quickly took photos and videos.

Next is a Q&A session with the media.

(End of this chapter)