DF Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Should We Know You?

As Song Ji’an and the others had expected, the afternoon meeting resulted in Liu Yishan’s team offering a final price of 15.6 million, slightly less than their predicted 17 million. Their calculations indicated that Song Ji’an’s shareholding would be 36%.

This wasn’t far from Song Ji’an’s minimum expectation, but they still wanted to push the percentage to 45%, compared to 40%.

The conditions Sheng Jia came up with were extremely tempting and precisely addressed Liu Yishan’s current difficulties.

If she hadn’t been unable to find talent, she wouldn’t have waited until now to expand her scale. Ultimately, her size in the industry was too small to attract the talented people she needed.

Her ambition was no less than any young person with dreams and drive. Her office was plastered with information about industry predecessors, and she always believed that she would surpass them one day.

Development inevitably required sacrifices. Currently, there was no investor more suitable for her than Song Ji’an, because only Song Ji’an would not insist on taking management control but would delegate it to her to manage herself.

Especially since Song Ji’an had Song’s Heavy Industry backing her, which was essentially like catching a ride on a favorable wind. If Liu Yishan were willing to transfer the management rights of the factory to Song Ji’an, it would at least ensure that she wouldn’t lose money. However, she was unwilling. This was her life’s work. Handing over management rights was no different from abandoning a child she had raised little by little. Even if it meant taking risks and spending more effort negotiating, she would rather take the long route.

Currently, there were only two shareholders in the factory: herself and Song Ji’an. As long as she didn’t transfer her shares, she could temporarily retain full management control, at least until the company went public.

As for the conditions proposed by Song Ji’an, she and her team decided to agree after an afternoon of deliberation.

In exchange for a 45% stake, Song Ji’an would invest 16 million and provide resumes of talent screened by Song’s Heavy Industry. Song’s Heavy Industry would make a recommendation for the talent Liu Yishan was interested in to increase credibility.

From signing the contract to the celebratory banquet, it was less than eight hours. The group even exceeded expectations by completing this collaboration on Saturday.

That night, they no longer stayed at the factory. Liu Yishan personally drove them to the city for dinner and arranged accommodation.

Entering the city from the countryside excited Xu Lijing and the others. Luoling was a famous food city with countless delicious options. After dropping off their luggage, the three of them went downstairs together to explore the night market highly recommended on Little Red Book.

Song Ji’an and Sheng Jia stayed at the hotel to organize the final data and wrap things up.

Sheng Jia gained a lot of knowledge on this trip. She originally planned to rest and review everything at the hotel, but then Song Ji’an received a phone call.

“Huh? I’m here? What gala?” Song Ji’an said into the receiver, “Do I have to go? Can’t you delegate it?”

“What time is it tonight?”

“Okay, I’ll ask.”

After hanging up, Song Ji’an turned to Sheng Jia, who was sitting on the sofa. She walked over and plopped down next to her, slouching in a Beijing slump.

“Ugh, more work. I feel like a spinning top now,” she exclaimed.

Sheng Jia looked up from her book. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s my cousin. She has her eye on a gemstone and wants me to bid for it at the auction,” Song Ji’an explained. “Luoling has the Meng family’s auction house. There’s a gala tonight at the auction house, featuring a tested taaffeite, specifically a faceted spessartine garnet that has been tested and certified. My cousin wants it, but it’s a charity auction that doesn’t accept proxy bidding. She has to be there in person, but she’s stuck at work and can’t fly to Luoling tonight, so she wants me to go.”

“What’s taaffeite?” Sheng Jia asked humbly.

“It’s a very rare diamond. The only source of faceted crystals right now is Tunduru, Tanzania. The one being auctioned tonight is perfect in both color and shape.” As Song Ji’an spoke, she forwarded the picture her cousin had sent her to Sheng Jia.

Sheng Jia opened her phone and saw a lonely, almost black diamond placed on red velvet. Even though she wasn’t an expert, she could still see its mystery and beauty.

Below it was a plaque with a description in both Chinese and English, and its current price was listed as $35,000 per carat.

Even without the specific price, it was clear from the per-carat price that this diamond was worth a fortune.

“It’s beautiful,” Sheng Jia praised sincerely.

Song Ji’an’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t you come with me? It’ll be boring if I go alone.”

“Me?” Sheng Jia rarely felt curious. “Can I go?”

“Of course, why not?” Song Ji’an waved her hand dismissively. “It’s just a regular charity auction. Most of the people who go are bored housewives or girls our age. Maybe some celebrities, but there aren’t many restrictions.”

“Oh right, I’ll call Su Zhaolin and ask if they want to go.” Song Ji’an remembered.

Bringing her classmates to a high-end auction felt like an interesting idea.

Unfortunately, Xu Lijing and the others were already lost in the night market, and their phones were unreachable.

“So, will you come with me?” Song Ji’an looked at the night view outside the window and turned to Sheng Jia with pleading eyes, her round eyes full of entreaty.

Probably even the most hardened heart couldn’t bear to see her like this. Sheng Jia turned her head, avoiding her gaze, and said nothing.

“Sheng Jia,” Song Ji’an saw that there was hope and quickly lengthened her voice and shook Sheng Jia’s arm. “Come with me, please.”

“Stop,” Sheng Jia pulled her hand away and sighed. “Fine, I’ll go with you.”

“Yay!” Song Ji’an smiled, her eyebrows curved, looking triumphant. “I’ll have someone drive over.”

Her cousin had already arranged for a car to pick her up in Luoling. Now it was just a matter of changing the destination from the airport to the hotel.

After leaving a message for Xu Lijing and the others, the two went downstairs. A Bentley was waiting for them, even with two formal dresses inside.

Song Ji’an frowned as soon as she got in and took them out disdainfully.

“I just don’t get it. Why do you have to wear a dress to a charity gala? We’re the buyers, as long as we have money, who cares what the guests wear?” she complained.

The driver Auntie smiled in the mirror. “Miss, Ah Xiang prepared two women’s suits for you. She knows you don’t like wearing dresses.”

“I don’t like wearing suits either,” Song Ji’an muttered.

Sheng Jia, on the other hand, took out the two carefully prepared women’s suits from the bag. The fabric was extremely soft. “So, should we wear them?”

The driver Auntie glanced at Sheng Jia in the mirror, her gaze kind.

“Fine,” Song Ji’an finally compromised. “I’m not going to any more of these galas.”

She hated all kinds of banquets and avoided them as much as possible. She wouldn’t have gone this time if her cousin hadn’t begged her.

The two quickly changed in the car. The auction house was located in an estate in the suburbs, which was lavishly decorated and filled with luxurious cars. However, the traffic control was excellent, and there were no traffic jams. They waited normally at the entrance and were allowed in after their invitations were checked.

The organizer of this event was a domestic woman who focused on charitable foundations. She was wealthy and had worked as a doctor without borders when she was young. Now that she was retired and had no children, she planned to auction off some of her treasures. The money raised would be used to support girls in remote mountainous areas.

She had already held dozens of such charity galas in several places across the country. Because of her influence, many people were honored to receive her invitation.

Especially most of the entertainment industry stars, who would voluntarily promote and record it after receiving the invitation.

The Song family and this lady were family friends. When visiting her house a long time ago, Song Ji’an’s cousin had taken a liking to this rare taaffeite. However, at that time, she didn’t feel right asking the old lady to part with it. She was extremely excited when she heard the news that the gemstone was about to be auctioned off and called Song Ji’an.

It was a real shame that she couldn’t come. After entering the venue, Song Ji’an took out her phone and took a few pictures to send to her.

It wasn’t auction time yet, and the hall was mostly filled with auction exhibits and people strolling around. The Meng family’s auction house took the high-end route and never allowed reporters or media to enter, so the conversations inside were very relaxed and pleasant.

Until someone approached Song Ji’an –

“Little sister, where are you from? Don’t you know that taking pictures isn’t allowed at auctions?”

It was a man with a decent appearance. Song Ji’an sized him up. He looked familiar, like a celebrity.

He spoke in a very arrogant tone, looking down on Song Ji’an and Sheng Jia’s attire. Seeing that he couldn’t tell what brand it was, the contempt in his eyes deepened.

Song Ji’an didn’t plan to say anything to him. She turned and pulled Sheng Jia to walk inside.

“I thought not just anyone could come to an auction. They should tell the organizers not to let influencers in. Taking pictures everywhere, it’s so uncultured,” the man said sarcastically.

Song Ji’an stopped. There wasn’t even an offended expression on her face. Instead, she found it a bit funny. “Excuse me, are you calling us influencers?”

“Who else could I be talking about?” The man smiled politely and walked in front of them. “Since you’re here, shouldn’t you follow the rules?”

Song Ji’an: “Can I ask who you are?”

“Li Mingliang,” the man said his name with pride.

He was the most popular rising star in the entertainment industry. He had won several TV drama awards after his debut, and the company was heavily promoting him. Several of his blockbuster dramas were currently airing during prime time.

He had perhaps gotten a bit cocky in the entertainment industry recently. Coupled with his enjoyment of lecturing others, especially young women with lower status than him, his desire to teach was even greater.

He had already imagined seeing flattery and apology on Song Ji’an and Sheng Jia’s faces, but unexpectedly, the two girls’ expressions didn’t change after he spoke. Perhaps they did, but that emotion was called confusion.

“Have you heard of him?” Song Ji’an asked Sheng Jia blankly.

Sheng Jia shook her head. “I haven’t. Who is he?”

Li Mingliang: …

His face flushed red with anger. “You don’t know me?”

Song Ji’an was even more confused. “Should we know you?”

Perhaps Song Ji’an’s tone was too sincere, but it left him speechless. In the end, he became enraged and called the security guards, requesting them to kick out these two rule-breaking girls.

This was the first time Song Ji’an had encountered such a thing. She and Sheng Jia exchanged a glance and waited patiently.

Relying on their tacit understanding, they both knew that they were intentionally provoking this person. Now he looked more like a clown.

Song Ji’an’s powerful background made her fearless, while Sheng Jia, knowing that the other party’s background was strong, didn’t take this little episode seriously.

When the security guards arrived, Song Ji’an handed them the invitation and said with a smile, “I don’t think Mr. Li Mingliang’s offense against me is enough for him to be qualified to attend this charity gala anymore, what do you think?”

Perhaps this was her true face that she never showed. Even with a polite smile, she displayed the arrogance that belonged to her class. She didn’t even glance at Li Mingliang, pulling Sheng Jia to walk inside.

Halfway there, Sheng Jia whispered something in her ear. Song Ji’an’s smile widened. She turned to Li Mingliang, who was flailing his arms and shouting at the bodyguards, angrily asking if they were mistaken and repeatedly emphasizing his identity. She pointed to a girl in the distance wearing an incongruous bear hat and squatting in front of an exhibit, sighing with emotion. “You seem to look down on influencers and think you’re superior?”

“But some influencers are much more noble than you. Do you know who she is? She’s an influencer teacher who researches geological conservation and provides popular science education. Her invitation was personally written by Fu Minglang, the organizer of this gala. That one is an influencer blogger who live-streams rescuing wild animals. Her invitation was also personally written by Ms. Fu.”

“And you, where did you get the invitation to enter this event?”

This time, her smile was genuine, but her eyes were full of mockery. “Mr. Li Mingliang, congratulations, you’ve permanently lost the opportunity to enter this door.”

After speaking, she ignored Li Mingliang’s reaction and walked into the inner hall with Sheng Jia.