Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 183 Lu Qingyue's Dinner
Morgan Stanley's office is located in Room 75T30, 75th Floor, Shanghai World Financial Center.

The towering skyscrapers, with their cold glass curtain walls, reflect the shimmering light of the Pearl of the Orient.

The office, located on a high floor with a great view, is quiet and efficient.

Miss Lu sat upright behind her large desk, exuding a cool and aloof air, as if the bustling Pudong scene outside the window was separated from her by an invisible barrier.

She took a small sip of her black coffee, then focused her gaze back on the screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she processed multinational documents involving billions of dollars.

Last year, she was appointed by headquarters to replace Eric, who was abusing his power, and became the Executive Director (ED) of Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific MTM Group (Smartphone and New Energy Technology Group).

In that year, with her decisive actions and sharp, shrewd insight, she quickly established herself in the male-dominated financial jungle and spearheaded several influential transactions.

Technology company IPOs:

They were deeply involved in the initial capital path design of CATL Power Battery's spin-off from CATL Electronic Battery, and obtained the qualification for CATL's first round of investment.

Assisted Sanhua Intelligent Control, a new energy vehicle electronic control company, in completing its Hong Kong IPO.

Cross-border technology mergers and acquisitions:
Drive the acquisition of an overseas fingerprint recognition team by Huiding Technology, and lead the technology cooperation and joint venture between photovoltaic companies and Ouzhou Thin Film Battery Company.

Strategic investment layout:

The company has shifted its investment focus from OEM manufacturing to branding, specifically in the Bluetooth headset sector, which is associated with smartphones.

Pre-IPO investments in lithium battery material companies are a precise positioning for the upstream of the new energy vehicle industry.

There was a gentle knock on the office door, and her assistant, Chen Min, walked in carrying several documents.

Chen Min, the senior assistant, has successfully passed the six-month probation period and officially become a full-time employee. She is well-dressed, calm, and has lost the naivety of her student days, gaining the competence of a financial elite.

"Miss Lu, the research team just sent over a list of early-stage investments in key domestic battery technology companies. Please take a look!"

Chen Min explained succinctly and gently placed the document on Lu Qingyue's desk.

Lu Qingyue nodded slightly, took the document, and began to read it.

The list is detailed and logically sound.

Lithium battery core:
CATL (which mainly uses ternary lithium batteries and has entered BMW's supply chain)
Tianqi Lithium (high-quality lithium mines, upstream of electrolytes).

A pioneer in solid-state batteries:
To reiterate, CATL (in collaboration with academicians to develop sodium-ion solid-state batteries)
BTD (layout of high-purity lithium nitride, or a precursor to Chen's gaseous lithium, to develop solid-state nitride batteries).
Material innovation:

Fangde Nano (graphite and graphene anode materials supplier for Yuancheng/Ningde/BTD upstream anode materials).

Mergers and acquisitions recommendations:

Follow the North American solid-state battery team (technology introduction).
Domestic university laboratories (such as the mesoporous carbon technology team of Zhao Yuandong at Fudan University, which is being incubated in cooperation).

Lu Qingyue glanced around and quickly made several instructions: "Focus on following up on CATL's Series B financing opportunity, assess the investment feasibility of BTD's lithium nitride capacity expansion project, and contact Professor Zhao's team at Fudan University to explore the possibility of collaborative incubation!"

Her instructions were clear and decisive.

Chen Min quickly jotted down all the key points with meticulous attention to detail.

She then handed over the second document, the "Analysis Report on the Investment Potential of Orange Micro Motors" that Lu Qingyue had specifically instructed to be completed urgently.

Lu Qingyue took the report but did not open it immediately.

She raised her eyes, her gaze falling on the increasingly mature Chen Min, and a rare, almost imperceptible hint of emotion appeared in her usually cool tone: "It seems that President Chen is truly a genius with energy far exceeding that of ordinary people!"

"One company, Yuancheng, which occupies the top end of the new energy supply chain, wasn't enough. It hasn't been long, and they've already created another one."

Lu Qingyue's slender fingers gently tapped the report cover.

"It looks like this is heading back to the source of the global precision manufacturing supply chain."

It has to be said that things that go straight to the source of the supply chain are the venture capitalists' favorite risk-free investments.

Because if the technology at this source is strong enough, it mainly connects with enterprise users, and the speed of making money is much faster than from individual users.

Chen Min held the report at a perfect professional distance, her fingertips lightly touching the edge, her tone so calm that no personal emotion could be detected.

"Miss Lu, Yuancheng's layout in the new energy supply chain has entered a stable production period, focusing on mid-to-high-end electronic and power battery solutions."

Orange Technology's precision manufacturing business is currently in the initial stage of technology verification and capacity ramp-up.

She paused slightly before continuing her analysis in a professional tone.

"Currently, the core advantage of both lies in their ability to integrate upstream core technologies and resources."

However, the global market competition environment is complex and volatile, and its future development still requires close monitoring of the speed of technological iteration and the implementation of large-scale production capacity.

She nodded slightly and added, "Didn't you always teach me that the core value of a modern supply chain lies not in 'occupation' but in 'irreplaceability'?"

"This is perhaps the core logic behind my... uh... Orange CEO Chen's strategic plan!"

Chen Min's words not only responded to Lu Qingyue's sentiments but also cleverly steered the conversation back to purely business matters, adhering to her duties as an assistant and not saying a word more than necessary due to their familial relationship.

Lu Qingyue raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly quite satisfied with Chen Min's answer.

She finally picked up the report from Orange Science and quickly skimmed through it.

The closer one looked, the more difficult it became to conceal the surprise in her cool eyes.

She had gradually put Chen Mo aside because she was unable to invest in Yuancheng.

Human energy is limited, and it is already difficult to do one thing well.

But Chen Mo seems to have broken this rule. Orange phones, Yuancheng batteries, Orange Treasure app, and now another company, Orange Technology, which is a global leader in gyroscope technology, has emerged!

This can no longer be explained by luck.

Closing the report, Lu Qingyue's competitive spirit and desire to explore intensified.

She looked up and instructed Chen Min, who was standing beside her, "Get ready and contact President Chen to cancel the meeting scheduled for this afternoon!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Chen Min's eyes, but she didn't ask any further questions and simply nodded.

"Okay, I'll contact Mr. Chen's secretary right away!"

"And another thing," Lu Qingyue added, his tone still calm but with an undeniable air of authority, "I have a dinner party tonight, and I would be honored if Mr. Chen would grace us with his presence. As for the repayment, we can discuss it privately after the dinner!"

Chen Min was truly stunned. She blinked and looked at her boss in disbelief.

She had never seen Lu Qingyue mix her personal social life with her work in such a way, let alone take the initiative to invite men to a dinner party.

For a financial elite like Lu Qingyue, bringing a male companion to a dinner party is essentially a signal of official confirmation.

Lu Qingyue seemed to see through her surprise, and the corners of his cold lips curved upwards very slightly, revealing an almost imperceptible, playful expression: "Just tell him that it's a favor I owed him when I lent him money back then!"

Chen Min, who had never seen Lu Qingyue act like this before, was burning with gossip, but she maintained a professional calm on her face.

She nodded seriously: "Understood, I'll contact them right away!"

Chen Min turned and left the office, gently closing the door behind her.

Once outside, she let out a soft breath, took out her phone, and found Zhou Yumeng's contact information.

She was filled with curiosity.

At that time, Chen Min had just graduated and thought that her cousin was just the owner of a small mobile phone workshop in North China.

But over the past year, the news she'd heard about Chen Mo through work channels had already shed the naivety she had when she first graduated.

In particular, Chen Min's TMT group is responsible for the smartphone and new energy technology industries.

She knew better than anyone else about Yuancheng's technological barriers and industry position in gaseous lithium.

Now there's another one, Cheng Ke, her third brother. She always manages to surprise us.

At the same time, Chen Min felt more confident in the company.

When the call connected, she politely conveyed Lu Qingyue's apologies and invitation to the evening's banquet.

On the other end, Chen Mo, who was preparing to go to the appointment to repay the money, was stunned for a while after receiving Zhou Yumeng's message.

I couldn't get through to their private phone. Are big companies this strict?
Chen Mo directly asked for Zhou Yumeng's phone number and called Chen Min.

"Xiaomin, what's going on? What's your CEO Lu up to?" Chen Mo asked, his voice filled with confusion.

Chen Min gave a wry smile on the other end of the phone: "Third Brother, I really don't know. How could a little assistant like me possibly guess what Miss Lu is thinking? I can only do as she instructs!"

Chen Mo hesitated for a moment: "What kind of banquet is she going to attend? You must know something about it, right?"

"Third Brother, Miss Lu keeps her work and personal life very separate. I'm just her work assistant. I never inquire about her private schedule!"

Chen Min's tone seemed to convey helplessness and caution.

Chen Mo couldn't help but laugh on the other end of the phone.

"Well done, little girl. No wonder you can stay by her side. You're quite professional. Okay, tell her I'll go!"

To be honest, it was just a charity gala, and Chen Mo didn't think much of it.

Since he became famous, Lei Jun has dragged him to similar events twice. They are just a matter of introducing each other to each other's connections and discussing investment and cooperation opportunities.

“Okay, Third Brother, then I’ll go tell Miss Lu that you agreed!” Chen Min agreed, and then asked, “Tell me the address of your hotel in Shanghai. Miss Lu said she will pick you up in person!”

"He even came to pick you up in person?" Chen Mo chuckled, his tone slightly teasing. "Why do I feel like this is a trap?"

Chen Min rarely heard her cousin speak in this tone, so she relaxed and made a small joke.

"Maybe Miss Lu has taken a liking to you? Look at you, Third Brother! You two are a perfect match, with her family background and abilities, and your wealth and status. You're a good match!"

This little brat thought Lu Qingyue and Chen Mo were a perfect match a long time ago, but of course, that was just wishful thinking on her part.

"Huh?" Chen Mo chuckled on the phone: "You little brat, you dare to dream like that! I'm only 27, the time when I should be focusing on my career, I don't have time to think about those things!"

Chen Min laughed, with a hint of sisterly slyness.

"Haha! Then I'll have to tell your aunt that her son said he's only 27, the prime of his life, and doesn't have time to think about personal matters, okay?"

Chen Mo was both amused and exasperated: "No, no, no! You little brat, don't make things worse for me. I told my mom we're looking for it, so let's put it off as long as possible!"

Chen Min laughed even harder on the other end of the phone.

"Hehe, scared now? By the way, Third Brother, I didn't know you weren't coming back for Chinese New Year this year. Second Sister came back with big bags and small packages. Second Brother's husband is really living the high life now, driving a Mercedes-Benz!"

Chen Mo's expression turned very strange as his cousin vividly described how his second sister, Chen Lan, and her husband had "made it big".

Finally, he couldn't help but interrupt: "Xiaomin, let's just say, is it possible that I arranged your second sister and brother-in-law's jobs?"

"Ah!" Chen Min exclaimed in surprise from the other end of the phone, "You have businesses in Chongqing now?"

Chen Mo smiled, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of Versailles: "Is that so strange? My businesses extend far beyond this mountain city!"

"."

When Chen Min heard his Versailles, she suddenly felt like giving up on trying.

But she quickly recovered.

"Alright, Third Brother! If I ever can't make it in the future, I'll come and come to you for help!"

"Haha!" Chen Mo laughed. "Hurry up and come over. I'm really looking for a highly educated finance manager like you!"

After hanging up the phone, Chen Min stood in the corridor, looking at the scenery of Huangpu River outside the window, her heart unable to calm down for a long time.

Her cousin's business empire seemed far larger and more complex than what she saw in the report. After all, even the most detailed Morgan Stanley report could only provide a general overview of the business; as for the company's development, Orange wasn't a publicly listed company and wouldn't proactively disclose information.

Inside the office, Lu Qingyue picked up the Orange Science report again, her gaze sharp.

Her once calm heart was stirred by Chen Mo's series of "surprises."

At the charity gala that evening, she suddenly felt a strong desire to see that "old friend" of the same age.

Hotel suite.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm golden hue over the hotel room.

Chen Mo stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting his collar.

That ordinary face appeared somewhat solemn in the mirror.

Zhou Yumeng stood to the side, holding her neatly ironed dark suit jacket, and couldn't help but smile as she watched her boss's unusually "serious" demeanor.

"Mr. Chen, could it be that Ms. Lu suddenly changed the business meeting into a private dinner because she wants to talk to you about something else?" Her tone carried a hint of gossip.

Chen Mo loosened his tie, and a barely perceptible hint of wariness flashed in his eyes in the mirror, but his tone was deliberately relaxed.

"Hmph, you're overthinking it! That Miss Lu has been a businesswoman since birth. Her sudden change of heart probably means she's eyeing one of our Orange Group's companies again!"

He subconsciously thought that this was another form of negotiation strategy by Lu Qingyue.

The previous oranges and Yuancheng oranges were just like this!
This Miss Lu is the kind of person who deliberately befriends me with ulterior motives.

Zhou Yumeng was both amused and exasperated. That wasn't her intention at all, but seeing Chen Mo's "ready for battle" look, she didn't say anything more.

Chen Mo straightened his shirt collar.

The well-tailored men's suit he was wearing was one that Zhou Yumeng had arranged for a luxury store to bring to his door beforehand, from which he selected the suit.

The overall style leans towards casual and fashionable, avoiding being overly formal or impolite while still showing the importance attached to the invitation.

After all, when dealing with someone like Lu Qingyue, regardless of personal relationship, one must maintain a proper public image.

Although the two had a loan relationship and were considered "old friends," they actually didn't have much interaction and weren't close at all.

It was exactly 6 p.m.

A black Bentley Mulsanne silently glided to the hotel entrance, its sleek lines gleaming with understated luxury in the setting sun.

Lu Qingyue leaned against the car door.

She changed out of her business suit and into a champagne-colored silk dress. The simple design accentuated her beautiful figure, and the fabric shimmered softly in the afterglow of the setting sun.

A delicate diamond necklace adorned her neck, its subtle movements shimmering with light, making it even more dazzling than the cold glass facade of the hotel behind her.

As Chen Mo approached, a faint, elegant fragrance with a refreshing citrus top note wafted over, replacing the cool, cedar scent that he remembered from Lu Qingyue.

This subtle change caused Chen Mo's guard to loosen slightly.

"Mr. Chen!"

Lu Qingyue nodded slightly, her tone still calm, but it seemed less businesslike and cold than when she was in the office during the day.

"Get in the car. The dinner is in the old villa area. It may take half an hour to get there."

The car interior was spacious, yet the atmosphere was subtly quiet.

A high-end audio system played soothing jazz music that flowed through the air.

Lu Qingyue gazed at the shadows of the French plane trees rushing past the window, the dappled light dancing on her perfect profile.

Suddenly, she spoke, her voice calm and even, but she posed an extremely professional and crucial question: "The key to the stability of Orange Technology's high-precision gyroscope lies in the use of a special ferrite composite coating, right?"

Chen Mo was suddenly startled!
This is one of Orange Science's undisclosed core patented technologies; outsiders only know about the coating at most!

He remained expressionless, merely tilting his head slightly: "Miss Lu has done a truly meticulous job of researching our Orange Department!"

"Morgan Stanley's top materials analysts have conducted simulations and calculations!"

She turned her head, the light and shadow of the streetlights flickering in her deep eyes.

"This coating has a lower average coefficient of friction than the diamond-like carbon (DLC) films currently being tested in the industry, and its theoretical hardness is also about 37% lower! This is a significant technological advantage!"

To put it simply, Orange Technology's coating technology is amazing. The coating is thin, wear-resistant, not very hard, and easy to process.

She paused, her gaze sharp as she looked at Chen Mo, as if trying to pierce through his calm.

"But your mass production yield rate is incredibly stable at over 92%, which is what analysts find 'terrifying'."

That's it!

This Ms. Lu was indeed eyeing Orange Technology's technological potential and manufacturing capabilities.

Chen Mo smiled, his tone carrying a hint of candid confidence: "You have to have some real skills to keep hidden before you dare to put them on the international market, right?"

The car slowly drove into the quiet and elegant old villa area, shaded by plane trees.

Lu Qingyue suddenly raised his hand and pointed to a rather old-fashioned red brick building on the street corner, his tone carrying a rare and elusive emotion.

"Look, that used to be a famous watchmaking workshop in Shanghai. I heard that in the 1930s, the master craftsmen there could repair complex observatory clocks!"

She turned her head to the side, a hint of melancholy and reminiscence flashing in her eyes that Chen Mo couldn't understand, completely different from her usual cold and shrewd demeanor.

Chen Mo felt a slight stirring in his heart, but his strong rationality made him suppress the urge to ask further questions.

He reminded himself that the person opposite him was an elite from a top investment bank, and every word he said might have a purpose.

He didn't want to fall into any carefully designed contextual traps in the subsequent negotiations because of momentary curiosity or inexplicable emotions.

He simply followed her gaze, gave a soft "hmm," and didn't reply.

The dinner was held in a retro French-style house with a small garden.

The maid respectfully opened the door, and the scene inside surprised Chen Mo slightly.

It was not the grand banquet with celebrities gathering and clinking glasses that he had imagined.

Under the warm light, a long table was set with only two sets of exquisite tableware.

Inside the fireplace, the burning pine wood crackled softly and released a pleasant woody aroma.

A slightly yellowed old world map hangs on the wall, adding a touch of solemnity and privacy.

Lu Qingyue took off her coat and handed it to the maid, then turned to Chen Mo and spoke in a more relaxed tone than she had in the car.

"Don't be shy! My grandfather was a native of Shanghai, and he always said that if you really want to talk business, you have to have some drinks first, so you can have a comfortable atmosphere!"

She used the slightly playful and old-fashioned Shanghai expression "drinking old wine".

When the waiter brought over the decanted Burgundy wine, Chen Mo subconsciously waved his hand: "Thank you, but I tend to make mistakes when I drink, so no thanks!"

Lu Qingyue had already elegantly poured herself half a glass, gently swirling the glass as she watched the deep red liquid cling to the side.

"It's alright!" She looked up at him. "Then let's have water instead of wine. Actually, the reason I invited you here today wasn't just to discuss that loan!"

She put down her wine glass, took a thin document from her handbag, and gently pushed it in front of Chen Mo.

Chen Mo picked up the document, his gaze quickly sweeping over the key clauses, his pupils slightly contracting.

This is a debt-to-equity swap agreement.

The content concerns the $1 million he borrowed last year, which Lu Qingyue hopes to convert into convertible bonds of Orange Micro Motor.

These terms are incredibly favorable: the convertible bond interest rate is as low as an astonishing 1%, but the conversion price is a full 300% higher than the current comprehensive valuation given by Morgan Stanley for Orange Technology!

"Miss Lu, what is this?" Chen Mo raised his eyes, his gaze filled with doubt and scrutiny.

This doesn't seem like a proposal from profit-driven capital; it's more like a bet made with strong conviction.

"I'm gambling!"

Lu Qingyue took a sip of wine, the firelight from the fireplace dancing in her clear eyes, reflecting a firm and fervent light.

"I bet Orange Technology can grow into an indispensable source of technology and a core of the supply chain in the global precision manufacturing field before 2014."

She paused, her tone calm yet powerful.

"Morgan Stanley's investment committee believes that OrangeTech's technology path is unique but too risky, and it relies too much on core technologies and a few major clients. Therefore, I am willing to make this investment in my personal capacity!"

Lu Qingyue looked at Chen Mo, and the melancholy in her eyes resurfaced, yet strangely blended with her strong professional rationality.

"And let's consider this a bet for my grandfather's generation's dedication and passion for precision manufacturing!"

Outside the window, the night wind rustled through the leaves of the sycamore trees.

Inside the fireplace, a piece of pine wood burst into several bright sparks.

Chen Mo suddenly remembered Chen Min's joking remark during the day about "marrying someone of equal social standing".

Only now did he truly understand that women like Lu Qingyue might never value wealth and status in the conventional sense.

What she valued was the "technical wrench" he possessed, which had the potential to reshape the global precision manufacturing landscape—the ability to break conventions and create scarcity.

As for Lu Qingyue's grandfather in Shanghai who had run a watch workshop and could repair observatory clocks, Chen Mo would only listen to it as a story to bring them closer and add a personal touch to the negotiation.

Chen Mo remained silent for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the generous agreement as he weighed his options.

Finally, he raised his head, his gaze honest and firm, and decisively chose to refuse.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Lu!” His voice was clear and calm: “Chengke’s debt-to-equity swap is not feasible at the moment, but I am equally confident that Chengke’s technology will become an indispensable part of the global precision manufacturing industry by 2014!”

"but."

He emphasized his words, making them resounding and forceful.

"The premise and foundation of all this is that it must be a pure, technology company rooted in China. Its control and core interests must remain here. I appreciate your kindness and high regard!"

Despite being rejected so directly, Lu Qingyue showed no anger or disappointment.

She stared at Chen Mo quietly for a few seconds, then suddenly, a beautiful smile curved her lips.

That smile was different from her usual polite and aloof business smile; it was as if ice had melted and spring water had begun to flow, warmer than the flames of a fireplace and brighter and more captivating than the champagne-colored dress she wore.

"President Chen!" She smiled and shook her head, her tone carrying a rare, genuine ease and even appreciation: "You really are a very interesting person!"

She raised her glass, gesturing towards Chen Mo who was drinking water instead of alcohol: "Alright, then I wish you success in advance."

Chen Mo raised his water glass and gently clinked it against Lu Qingyue's wine glass.

The conversation gradually became more relaxed, and the two chatted about the differences between Eastern and Western table manners, interesting anecdotes about festival customs, and their first impressions of each other. The more they talked, the more they clicked, and the atmosphere became very relaxed.

Lu Qingyue rarely chatted with people her age like this, since very few people could achieve the same level of success as her. Most of the time, she was either facing juniors who needed guidance or opponents with whom she needed to compete.

But now, facing Chen Mo, she surprisingly let down her guard. When she got excited, she would even raise her hand to brush away the stray hairs from her temples, and the smile in her eyes was brighter than the firelight in the fireplace.

Chen Mo listened attentively, occasionally interjecting to share some interesting stories from his entrepreneurial journey, which always elicited a light, cheerful laugh from her.

As night deepened outside the window, the whispers inside the Western-style building mingled with the crackling of burning pine wood, creating a rare sense of tranquility.

(End of this chapter)