Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 200 Gong Yun's Showdown
On the top floor of Fulin Wangjiang Tower in Shenzhen, the elegant private room is filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The off-white marble floor is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the dazzling light from the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

The ebony dining table exudes a sense of calm and stability, paired with a crimson velvet high-backed chair. Exquisite bone china tableware and gleaming silverware are neatly arranged, radiating a silent luxury.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the river view in the twilight is unobstructed, with the shimmering water reflecting the dazzling lights of the buildings along the banks, like a flowing, radiant painting unfolding.

In a corner, a woman in plain clothes gently plucked the strings of a guzheng, adding to the tranquil and elegant atmosphere.

Gong Yun sat regally in the main seat, wearing a sharply tailored black Chanel suit skirt, a white silk shirt underneath, a Hermès scarf around her neck, and Christien Louboutin red-soled stilettos.

On his wrist was a Patek Philippe watch, gleaming with a subtle yet undeniable luster.

Her makeup and hair were impeccable today, and she exuded a powerful aura, making her completely different from the simple and gentle "Gong Jie" of the past.

A figure stood quietly in the shadows beside the door, a waitress in a well-fitting cheongsam with her head slightly bowed, like a decoration blending into the background.

She pressed her earpiece lightly, listened for a moment, and then stepped forward with almost silent steps, gently breaking the elegant tranquility.

"Mr. Gong, your two guests have arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Gong Yun lowered her eyes, a faint smile curving her lips, and gracefully waved to the woman playing the guzheng in the corner.

The music stopped abruptly, the woman rose, bowed, and quietly left the private room.

"Give the order that the dishes be served as soon as the guests arrive, and that they don't need to serve them anymore!" Gong Yun's voice was calm, but carried an unquestionable instruction.

This is one of the businesses of the Lien Sheng Group in mainland China!

"Yes, Mr. Gong!" the waiter replied respectfully.

Before long, the dishes were served in a continuous stream, each one exquisitely presented, and two bottles of vintage red wine had already been decanted.

The door to the private room was pushed open again, and Chen Mo and Zhao Tiezhu walked in.

Chen Mo glanced at Gong Yun, whose temperament was completely different, and was clearly stunned. He also subconsciously stopped in his tracks.

The woman before him, Gong Yun, was both unfamiliar and dazzling; her imposing aura even made him feel a little pressure for a moment.

Gong Yun stood up with a smile and explained, "President Chen, Xiao Zhao, we just got back to Shenzhen and haven't had time to change our clothes yet. We were just thinking of reporting the results of our trip to Hong Kong to you as soon as possible. I apologize for the rudeness."

Her smile remained the same, but her posture and tone had subtly changed.

Zhao Tiezhu reacted more directly, almost subconsciously shrinking his neck back, a hint of sullenness flashing across his face, before shuffling to catch up with Chen Mo.

"Sister Gong!" Chen Mo's tone sounded calmer than usual, but it carried obvious dissatisfaction: "Shouldn't you give a proper explanation for your trip to Hong Kong?"

"President Chen, Xiao Zhao, don't stand, sit down, let's eat and talk!" Gong Yun smiled gently and gracefully invited the two to sit down.

Chen Mo had been holding back a lot of words and anger, but looking at Gong Yun, he had to admit that her aura of having weathered many storms and taken charge of a major situation made it difficult for him to speak to her as easily as he would to a subordinate.

Zhao Tiezhu, on the other hand, seemed to be used to Gong Yun's "transformation." He simply sat down and keenly sensed that something was wrong.

"Sister Gong, what did you do in Hong Kong? Did you manage to anger Brother Chen? Did you accidentally mess up that 1500 million investment?"

Zhao Tiezhu began to crack jokes skillfully, and poured himself a cup of tea.

"Hey, it's nothing! It's just a day or two's profit for Orange 2! Just sincerely apologize to Brother Chen, and we'll let it go!"

After saying that, he tactically took a big gulp of tea, his eyes darting back and forth between Chen Mo and Gong Yun's faces, trying to guess what major event had occurred.

Did they lose all 1500 million?

Upon hearing Zhao Tiezhu's words, Chen Mo couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth slightly.

Gong Yun couldn't help but laugh.

"It's all your fault, you brat! You ruined my magic!"

Chen Mo pretended to knock Zhao Tiezhu on the head, but his tone softened considerably, carrying a hint of complaint.

"Do you know what Sister Gong did in Hong Kong? She brought back a huge problem for our Orange! If we don't handle it well, the higher-ups will come after me!"

"Huh?" Zhao Tiezhu pretended to rub his head, which hadn't actually been hit, and looked at Gong Yun. "Sister Gong, it seems you've really messed up a lot?"

Gong Yun chuckled, then nodded solemnly: "It is indeed a huge problem."

But if we can solve this problem successfully, we can take Orange to the next level, to a completely different height!

Zhao Tiezhu knew some of Gong Yun's background. He raised the scar on his right eyebrow and tentatively asked, "Hey?"

Before Gong Yun could respond, Chen Mo gave Zhao Tiezhu a hard rap on the head: "Damn it! You knew all along! Why didn't you say so when Sister Gong came for the interview?"

"Ouch!"

Zhao Tiezhu was in real pain this time, grimacing as he rubbed his head.

"Didn't I tell you, Brother Chen, back then... um..."

He couldn't help but look at Gong Yun, who was still smiling gently, but whose eyes held a deeper meaning. He forced out an expression that was worse than crying, covered his forehead and sighed, speechless, asking the heavens!

"This... This is clearly the mess that Sister Gong made, so why am I the one who ends up getting beaten up?!"

Chen Mo finally stopped making things difficult for him.

It seems that out of the three, I was the one who was most thoroughly deceived.

No wonder when Zhao Tiezhu recruited Gong Yun in the small workshop, he stammered and only dared to say some vague things like Gong Yun's "complex background" and "might cause trouble".

At the time, Chen Mo thought that Zhao Tiezhu was afraid that the domestic abuser would come looking for trouble, and he was full of righteous indignation and criticized him for making trouble for no reason!
Chen Mo sat down opposite Gong Yun, looking at her intently: "Sister Gong, are you planning to go to Hong Kong to oversee things, or come back?"

Gong Yun smiled, gracefully opened her arms, and showed off her expensive outfit.

“Mr. Chen, isn’t that obvious enough? I dealt with the most urgent matter over there as soon as possible, and I didn’t even have time to change my clothes before rushing ‘home’ to report to you.”

She emphasized the word "home".

"Hmm?" Zhao Tiezhu blinked, feeling like he couldn't keep up with their conversation.

Chen Mo ignored his doubts and continued to confirm the key information: "You also have a younger brother."

"Half-siblings! There's no real affection between them!" Gong Yun said calmly. "He will be fostered by a friend of my father's whom he trusts. He will walk the straight path and join the police force!"

Chen Mo pondered for a moment before asking the most practical question: "Chengzi doesn't have suitable personnel to take over that area immediately. What are your plans?"

“Feiji can act as our interim manager. He has the status and ability, but he doesn’t have much ambition. We can trust him!” Gong Yun answered without hesitation.

When Zhao Tiezhu heard the name "Fei Ji," his ears perked up.
Isn't this the same middleman from the port city who helped Orange clear out a million units of inventory before?

But the conversation between the two still left him completely confused.

Chen Mo exhaled, looked into Gong Yun's eyes, and said in a deep voice, "I believe you!"

Upon hearing these three words, Gong Yun's smile deepened, and a barely perceptible emotion flashed in her eyes.

When the representative of Weijing Group unexpectedly appeared at the board meeting of Liansheng Group and unequivocally supported her, she understood that Chen Mo must have been under tremendous pressure and risk to fight for this opportunity for her and for Chengzi.

“At that time, I will send some ‘mainland employees’ to assist in the company’s name!” Chen Mo continued.

Gong Yun smiled gently, raising her eyebrows slightly: "The people on Xiao Zheng's side?"

Chen Mo nodded.

"Understood!" Gong Yun understood immediately: "I will have Fei Ji place the 'mainland employees' in key positions such as finance, compliance, and auditing to ensure a smooth transition for the Lian Sheng Group and that everything operates transparently!"

Zhao Tiezhu became increasingly confused as he listened, and couldn't help but interject, "Sister Gong, it sounds like... your investment set up a company for us in Hong Kong? What exactly does it do?" Chen Mo also picked up his teacup, wanting to hear how Gong Yun would define this "unexpected gain."

Gong Yun smiled slightly, her tone even carrying a subtle hint of complexity and pride in her biological father's business acumen.

"It is a diversified group with a current market value of approximately HK$700 billion, holding 38 subsidiaries and operating in 75 sectors."

Through legitimate legal and commercial channels, we at Orange acquired 33.4% of the shares and gained actual control.

Of course, due to some legacy legal issues, some assets may need to be divested.

"How much more?!" Zhao Tiezhu was stunned, his mouth agape, counting on his fingers for a long time: "1500 million. To take 33.4% of a 700 billion group?"

"Holy crap! Holy crap! Sister Gong, are you robbing the Hong Kong stock market? This is faster than robbing a bank!"

Gong Yun was amused by his reaction, and then began to explain in more detail the enormous "business" that had been risked to save Chengzi, speaking calmly and professionally:
Lien Sheng Group's Structure and Business Scope

Core holding: 38 subsidiaries hold shares in each other, resulting in a complex structure.

Orange acquired a 33.4% stake from Honest Trust in the Cayman Islands through proper legal procedures. Combined with the 33.31% held by its strategic ally, Viking Tourism Group, Orange has a solid controlling stake (over 66.71%).

Business layering:

Legally registered front desks (25 companies): Hong Kong-listed company "Lian Sheng Holdings", licensed bank "New Venture Bank", and chain restaurant "Fook Lam Catering Group".
Gray Area (8 companies): Macau casino intermediaries (holding sub-licenses), Southeast Asian entertainment venue management.

Hidden back-end (5 companies): Holland, Canada, North America, Bassian, and Southeast Asian trading and real estate companies, responsible for smuggling and overseas asset accumulation.

Collaborative logic:

The cash flow generated by nightclubs and bathhouses was purified by "New Creation Bank" and then injected into overseas real estate investments.

The original logistics network is being transformed into a cross-border cold chain supply chain service for the catering industry.

Macau casino derivative businesses contribute 35% of net profit annually.

Listing and Capital Operations:
The company will acquire restaurant and property assets through a reverse takeover of the Hong Kong-listed company "Helen Si Ting International".

Financially, they split Macau's profits into Southeast Asia to avoid disclosure and used overseas bond issuance to achieve tax arbitrage.

Risks and challenges:

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) requires companies to disclose the actual controllers of businesses before 2012 and to cut off non-compliant businesses, which carries the risk of legal repercussions.

The FBL's North American and Canadian operations were monitored and raided.

Former members of the Vitality Society held mid-level management positions, leading to violent activities and a brawl scandal that caused the stock price to plummet by 11% in a single day.

Zhao Tiezhu was stunned; the amount of information was so overwhelming that his brain was almost overloaded.

Isn't Sister Gong Zhao Jie's wife, sister-in-law?

This sounds like the script for the direct successor of a Hong Kong underworld boss!
Chen Mo's brows furrowed more and more; each and every one of these matters was a thorny problem.

He immediately ordered, "Sister Gong, immediately handle the news that Chengzi actually controls the Liansheng Group discreetly, and do everything in our power to control any public opinion in China that involves the connection between the two!"

"We need to find another way to get rid of those shady businesses and the original mid-level managers of the vibrant community, and replace them with our own people!"

If it's not easy to clear out, then add more money and let them use the money to retire abroad. We absolutely cannot let Lian Sheng cause any trouble in Hong Kong!
Stability is paramount!

He knew what the forces behind Xiao Zheng were focused on, and if something went wrong, international public opinion would be very passive for us!
As for utilizing Lian Sheng's resources, that can only be discussed after the "mainland employees" have taken full control and the transition is smooth.

He had complete confidence in the abilities and discipline of these young men with buzz cuts, and was not worried at all about not being able to handle those restless and energetic middle-level members of the community!
Chen Mo wasn't sure if these young men were capable of fighting, but if they started to fight, those middle-level members of the energetic clubs probably wouldn't last more than two or three moves before being beaten to a pulp.

If we can't explain it with grand principles, we can talk about physics.

After the explanations were finished, the last bit of estrangement between the three seemed to melt away in Gong Yun's candid conversation.

Shared interests and risks bind the three of them more closely together. Besides their friendship, there are also Orange's shares and the huge risk that if things are not handled properly, they could all "eat the melon" (meaning they would all suffer the consequences).

No joke, if Lian Sheng's situation isn't handled properly, Gong Yun herself will be in trouble, and Chen Mo's career will have to go into a period of dormancy, with all the support and help turning in the opposite direction.

Then, the atmosphere at the table eased up, and Chen Mo changed to a lighter topic, asking Zhao Tiezhu with a smile.

"By the way, have you decided where to study for your degree? Domestically, Fudan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, and Wuhan University; internationally, Stanford University, Princeton University, Pennsylvania University, and Cornell University—I've already looked into all the options for you!"

Chen Mo really used all his connections to help Zhao Tiezhu, and ended up owing a lot of favors!
Zhao Tiezhu, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by the string of resounding names.

He said sheepishly, "Brother Chen... I... I didn't even finish junior high school."

Chen Mo couldn't help but chuckle, provoking him: "What? Got scared? Who was it that patted their chest and said they'd bring back a master's degree for me to see, that they'd build cars and airplanes?"

Zhao Tiezhu chuckled: "Brother Chen, it's not that I'm a coward! I just want to... add a double layer of insurance!"

"Haha!" Gong Yun looked at him curiously.

"I admit I'm not cut out for studying! But my second brother is amazing! He won awards in math competitions when he was little! If we hadn't been so poor back then and couldn't afford tutoring, he might be a prospect for Tsinghua or Peking University now!"

Zhao Tiezhu's eyes lit up: "This is what I'm thinking. I'll find a school in China this year and just hang around and study!"

"Next year, after my brother finishes his college entrance exam, I'll take him abroad! By then, I guarantee I'll bring you back at least a genuine master's degree!"

"Damn it!" Chen Mo sneered, "You're trying to play a trick on me, aren't you?"

Zhao Tiezhu muttered under his breath, "It was clearly Brother Chen who went all in first. Do you even know my own limitations?"

Chen Mo knew that pushing him too far wouldn't work, so after a moment's thought, he nodded: "Alright! But don't just go out and fool around. Even if it's for building cars, try to recruit some talent from those universities!"

Although North America lags behind in universal education, it still has many geniuses from all over the world!

After Chen Mo helped analyze the situation, Zhao Tiezhu decided to first adapt to life in China for a year, and then apply to the University of Pennsylvania for Engineering Management and Manufacturing Systems (Systems Engineering + MBA) with his younger brother next year to learn some practical courses such as supply chain and lean production.

Chen Mo asked curiously, "Why don't you just take your brother away now? I have some referral slots and donation channels that I can use!"

Zhao Tiezhu was unusually serious: "He's been working so hard for the college entrance exam for so many years, he's even done the ninety-nine prostrations, he's just one step away from this final push!"

"Besides," he said with a grin, "I need to learn how to say 'good morning' and 'thank you' first, otherwise when I go to North America, I won't understand what foreign girls are saying when they try to chat me up, which will really hinder international communication!"

Chen Mo laughed and scolded, "You're learning English just for this?"

Gong Yun smiled and spoke up for him.

"Mr. Chen, you need some motivation in life!"

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Chen Mo only drank two glasses of red wine, and as soon as the alcohol hit him, he was carried away by Xiao Zheng.

Zhao Tiezhu and Gong Yun stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the black Mercedes-Benz S600 (W221) merge into the traffic.

Zhao Tiezhu suddenly asked softly, "Sister Gong, do you think I can come back?"

Gong Yun lowered her eyes and smiled slightly.

"You know what? Xiaomeng told me that someone once said to Mr. Chen: 'You don't have to be responsible for everyone who helped you when you started your business for the rest of your life.' Guess how Mr. Chen responded?"

Zhao Tiezhu paused for a moment, then laughed heartily: "Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore! Anyway, everything I have now was given to me by Brother Chen, and he can take it back whenever he wants!"

"These days feel like a dream. I should go and study for a few years first. When I come back, I'll ask Brother Chen and you for money to build cars!"

Gong Yun smiled gently yet confidently: "Don't worry! When the time comes, Mr. Chen and I will prepare the 100 billion you need for car manufacturing!"

In her view, to integrate R&D, supply chain, and upstream and downstream operations, coupled with a long payment cycle, 100 billion is just the starting point.
(End of this chapter)