Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

That makes sense.

Yang Fan thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay, then I'll be the chief judge."

"That's great." Lin Qingyue breathed a sigh of relief, her smile becoming even brighter.

"Then I'll have my secretary send you the detailed arrangements."

After the business was finished, the atmosphere relaxed.

Lin Qingyue got up to make tea, and asked Yang Fan with her back to him:

"What have you been busy with lately? I see those projects you invested in seem to be progressing well?"

"Mm." Yang Fan leaned back in his chair.

"Zhou Yao's billiards hall is under renovation and should open next month. Chen Mo's AI team is progressing well and is already conducting the second round of testing."

"Zhou Yao's billiards hall..." Lin Qingyue turned around, carrying a teacup as she walked over.

"The location is excellent. I passed by and saw it; it's right next to the esports hotel, so it should attract a lot of customers."

"You know that too?" Yang Fan took the teacup.

"Of course." Lin Qingyue sat down on the sofa next to him.

"I'm the principal, so I need to know about everything that happens around the school."

She paused, her tone appreciative: "And that girl is really quick. From the moment she decided to do it until now, less than a month has passed, the company is registered, the venue is rented, and the renovation team has started work... Such execution, no wonder she's Zhou Jin's sister."

Yang Fan smiled: "Those two siblings, one steady and the other impulsive, complement each other quite well."

"So do you think the billiard hall can work?" Lin Qingyue asked.

"Yes," Yang Fan said confidently. "Although Zhou Yao is impatient, she is serious about her work."

"Moreover, she has a wide network of contacts, understands student psychology, and knows what everyone wants. As long as she manages the details well, the success rate is very high."

"You think highly of her?" Lin Qingyue raised an eyebrow.

"What I'm optimistic about is her potential," Yang Fan said.

"When young people start their own businesses, what they sometimes lack is not ideas, but opportunities and confidence. If I give them opportunities, they will have confidence on their own."

Lin Qingyue looked at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions:

"Yang Fan, you know what? Sometimes I feel like you're not quite like a young man in his twenties."

"Oh?" Yang Fan raised an eyebrow. "What does it look like?"

"Like someone who has... been through a lot." Lin Qingyue said softly.

"He has a keen eye for problems, acts with composure, yet is willing to give young people opportunities. These qualities are rare."

Yang Fan smiled and said, "Maybe I'm just lucky; I understood some principles early on."

He didn't explain much; he couldn't very well say he had an investment system.

Lin Qingyue didn't press further and changed the subject:

"By the way, how's Zhou Jin's e-sports hotel? I heard business is booming?"

"Completely booked," Yang Fan said.

"After the May Day holiday, weekends are basically fully booked, and weekdays have an occupancy rate of 60-70%. He's already considering opening a branch."

"So fast?" Lin Qingyue exclaimed in surprise.

"The demand is there," Yang Fan said.

"There are so many students in the university town, but not many entertainment venues."

"The e-sports hotel model perfectly addresses the pain points of young people—they want to play well and stay comfortably."

"So, are you planning to open branch stores?"

"It depends," Yang Fan said. "If Zhou Jin can prove that the profit model of the first store is sustainable, opening branches is not out of the question. But we can't take too big a step; we have to proceed steadily."

Lin Qingyue nodded: "You've considered everything very thoroughly."

The two chatted for a while longer, until it got dark.

Lin Qingyue glanced out the window: "It's almost six o'clock, shall we have dinner together?"

"Okay," Yang Fan said. "The same private kitchen as last time?"

"No." Lin Qingyue thought for a moment, "I want to eat hot pot today."

Yang Fan was taken aback: "Hot pot?"

"Okay." Lin Qingyue stood up, picked up her coat, and said, "Let's go to your shop. I've never eaten there during opening hours before; I want to see what it's like."

"Okay." Yang Fan stood up as well. "Then I'll have to call ahead and reserve a spot. If we go at this time, we'll definitely have to wait in line."

"it is good."

At 6:30 p.m., a long queue had indeed formed in front of "Qianweifang".

A dozen or so people sat on small stools by the door, some playing on their phones, some chatting, and the aroma of hot pot wafted through the air.

Looking at the scene, Lin Qingyue exclaimed, "Business is really good."

"The main reason is that it tastes good," Yang Fan said. "Students are picky eaters; if something doesn't taste good, they won't come back after just one visit."

He led Lin Qingyue through the side door and went straight up to the second floor.

Wang Xiuying was busy in the kitchen when she heard that Lin Qingyue had arrived, so she quickly asked Lin Xiaoyu to arrange a small private room for her.

"Principal Lin, what brings you here?" Wang Xiuying came out wiping her hands, looking somewhat flustered.

"Auntie, just call me Qingyue." Lin Qingyue smiled gently. "I heard your hot pot is especially delicious, so I've come to try it."

"Okay, okay, please have a seat!" Wang Xiuying said quickly. "I'll make you the best pot of soup!"

Soon, the hot pot arrived.

Lin Qingyue took a bite, and her eyes lit up: "Hmm... this taste is indeed special."

"Aunt Lin is from Guizhou, and this is how it's done in her hometown," Yang Fan explained. "The beans and rice need to be soaked overnight beforehand, and then simmered with bone broth to bring out this rich yet not greasy flavor."

"No wonder." Lin Qingyue took another sip of soup. "It's very flavorful, and the aftertaste is sweet."

She looked at Yang Fan and said, "I'm truly impressed by your investment acumen. It's no wonder this restaurant is so popular; it's bound to be a hit."

"It's mainly because Aunt Lin is a good cook," Yang Fan said. "I just gave her a chance."

"Giving opportunities is also very important," Lin Qingyue said softly. "What many people lack is just an opportunity."

The two ate and chatted, and before they knew it, the ingredients in the pot were gone.

Lin Qingyue put down her chopsticks and sighed contentedly, "It's been so long since I've eaten this much."

"If you like it, come often," Yang Fan said. "You're always welcome."

Lin Qingyue looked at him and suddenly asked, "Yang Fan, aren't you afraid of being distracted by investing in so many projects?"

"I'm afraid," Yang Fan said frankly, "but I have my methods."

"What method?"

"Focus on the big picture and let go of the small ones," Yang Fan said. "We'll keep a close eye on a few core projects, such as Chen Mo's AI team and Zhou Yao's billiards hall."

"For other smaller projects, I provide funding and advice, but I don't micromanage everything."

He paused for a moment, then added, "And I believe in them. They need enough space to grow."

Lin Qingyue said thoughtfully, "You're nurturing entrepreneurs, not just investing in projects."

"You could say that," Yang Fan nodded. "Projects may fail, but people grow. If we fail this time, we'll gain experience next time. As long as we're still here, there's always a chance."

These words were spoken in a simple and straightforward manner, but Lin Qingyue understood their deeper meaning.

Yang Fan is not making a one-off deal, but a long-term investment—an investment in people and the future.

"I'm increasingly convinced that working with you was the right decision," Lin Qingyue said earnestly.

Yang Fan smiled: "Me too."