Liu Wanying didn't mind giving her brother's founding disciple a bit of a hand—though of course, a "former" needed to be added now. Former disciple.
Beyond her curiosity about the project's development and a degree of validation of her own judgment, the most important reason was that her niece genuinely liked him.
Because of the "defection from the sect" matter, Liu Wanying had been grilled by her older brother repeatedly these past two days about the project's viability. She had gone over it again and again—the product logic held up, there were financial risks involved, and whether it would succeed was up to fate.
She knew she had become a kind of endorsement, but this was simply her objective assessment, without any exaggeration.
At the same time, over these two days, whether actively or passively, she had also learned that neither her brother, nor her sister-in-law, nor even her niece herself shied away from one fact: over the past year, Yu Xing had indeed been very good to Shanshan, regularly picking her up and helping with her homework.
Liu Jingrong had even reflected on this point, wondering if he'd perhaps made his disciple help out too much...
That said, although Liu Wanying already held Yu Xing in fairly high regard, seeing him again today made her feel that his execution, his thinking about the project, and his determination were truly extraordinary.
Just take the 299-yuan price with 200 yuan paid out as commission—it was clearly designed to scale up rapidly, and the purpose behind that... it wasn't mere self-satisfaction either. He had probably thought very deeply about that conversation they'd had the other day.
Liu Wanying couldn't help marveling inwardly: how could there be someone so easy to enlighten—just one hint and he got it?
But the moment she glanced at the two university students who had come along today, her emotions settled considerably.
"How did you all split the shareholding?" Liu Wanying asked casually about the registration details as she watched her niece climb down from the carousel.
"Hmm..." Yu Xing deliberated. "Let's talk about it later."
Liu Wanying turned her head, a little puzzled. "You haven't settled it yet?"
That was not very good execution.
"We need to register a company on the mainland anyway, and the actual business will operate mainly through that company," Yu Xing explained first, then added quite naturally, "It's easier to talk about this in front of you. University students are thin-skinned."
"You are..." Liu Wanying's hand paused as she reached for her water. "You really are honest. Making money off university students, hiring university students, and now holding the team's equity over university students too..."
Yu Xing was not proud of it. "Eh, just something done in passing."
It really was done in passing.
For lunch, they weren't picky about the place. The four adults and one child ordered a tableful of dishes at a small restaurant nearby.
Once the food arrived, Yu Xing said while eating, "The Hong Kong company is about to be registered, so the equity needs to be divided. Xiaoying, what do you think?"
Lü Haiying let out a soft "huh," looked blankly at her boyfriend who had been caught off guard, then at Liu Wanying who showed no reaction, and finally turned hesitantly toward the eldest senior brother who had raised the topic.
"It's fine, you can say whatever you're thinking. We're all family here, everything's negotiable," Yu Xing said kindly.
Lü Haiying waited a few seconds, didn't get her boyfriend's opinion, and said a bit shyly, "I—either way is fine for me."
Yu Xing nodded, but instead of continuing to question Zhong Zhiling, he stood up to serve food to his junior sister.
Zhong Zhiling's mind was racing. He'd been busy these past two days, and he had planned to wait for his senior brother to bring up the equity issue with him, or ask privately tonight. He never expected it to come up right here.
Granted, his senior brother had indeed started this project, but if he could ask for more, he naturally wanted more. Otherwise, what was the point of serving as a test subject and taking a leave of absence from school for nothing more than a salary?
Zhong Zhiling figured that once his senior brother finished serving his junior sister, he would return to the topic. But no matter how long he waited, Yu Xing didn't bring it up again, instead chatting about regional cuisines.
Just as lunch was about to end and Zhong Zhiling was feeling exceptionally restless, he suddenly heard a question.
"Zhiling, what's your take on the equity?" Yu Xing asked, turning his head.
"Well, this matter..." Zhong Zhiling quietly drew a breath, then deliberated.
Yu Xing smiled. "Anyway, this is the parent company. We'll set up a subsidiary on the mainland, and all the business will go through the subsidiary, so we can split things again later. For now, let's keep it at 8.6%."
Zhong Zhiling wasn't quite satisfied. He knew the company centered on his senior brother and didn't fantasize about getting thirty or forty percent, but he had thought there was hope of fighting for a 20% target.
At this point, Lü Haiying asked in confusion, "Why 8.6%? So precise—odd and even, everything included?"
Her question was identical to the one Zhong Zhiling had asked when he first heard about the ability values.
Yu Xing didn't look at his junior brother and said with a smile, "Xiaoying, let me explain this number. It's like this—it's based on Zhiling's and my..."
Zhong Zhiling had never come clean to his girlfriend about the debt issue. He wanted to shoot his senior brother a look, but had nowhere to direct it. Seeing that a detailed discussion was truly about to unfold, he finally cut in: "I can accept 8.6%."
Yu Xing stopped his explanation. Lü Haiying looked at her boyfriend, while Liu Wanying sensed something fishy.
Zhong Zhiling said earnestly, "It's divided according to my and Senior Brother's abilities. My ability is only 8.6% of his. Yeah, no problem—there's still the mainland subsidiary to register anyway."
There was still a chance, still a chance...
Lü Haiying burst out laughing. "Really? Then I'm even worse off. I was hopeless at all that accounting stuff, and I don't know if I can do the business side... My ability value must be even lower."
"None of us has experience on the business side. We'll all practice—think about what questions clients might have, how we should answer them, things like that," Yu Xing said with a smile. "The first time is unfamiliar, the second time is easy. I have faith in you. How about this, Xiaoying—you take 6.4% first, so the two of you make up 15%, and I'll hold another 15% in trust as equity incentives. If we can build this up, we'll need to bring in talent."
Lü Haiying nodded, raising no objection.
Zhong Zhiling could only nod as well, unable to voice any objection.
"OK, Sister Ying, that's how we've split it." Yu Xing wrapped up the matter done in passing, then raised his glass. "Come on, let's thank Sister Ying together—thank you, Sister Ying, for helping us set sail!"
He stood up, and Zhong Zhiling and Lü Haiying hurriedly raised their glasses and stood too.
Liu Wanying shot Yu Xing a glance and laughed. "Don't give me that routine."
But she still raised her glass and took a sip of fruit juice. "Here's wishing you success. If you succeed, remember to buy me a lipstick."
Everyone laughed.
Having played all morning and then joined this discussion, Lü Haiying finally worked up her courage. "Sister Ying, your lips are so pretty, and the lipstick you're wearing is pretty too."
"You're quite..." Liu Wanying complimented her, "you've got that university-student vitality. Looking at you today reminds me of my own college days. Come here, Xiaoying, sit over here. I went shopping a couple of days ago and still have a few lipsticks in my bag. I'll give you a MAC Chili—it's not picky about skin tone."
Lü Haiying obediently came over and sat down.
Liu Wanying first handed her a wet wipe to clean her lips, then took a lipstick from her bag. As she taught her how to apply it, she said, "You university students can get away with anything, but from now on you could also wear a touch of makeup. Men all say one thing and mean another—they always want their girlfriends to be prettier."
Zhong Zhiling spread his hands.
"Look at you—once it's on, even your complexion looks better." Liu Wanying regarded the young girl with satisfaction and smiled. "A bit of light makeup, some lipstick, and long hair—from university girl to career woman in an instant."
Lü Haiying grinned foolishly.
Zhong Zhiling remarked, "Mm, long hair is nice. You should grow it out."
Lü Haiying glanced at her boyfriend. "Didn't you used to say short hair was cool? Why do you say long hair is better now?"
Zhong Zhiling: "Uh..."
Just then, Yu Xing's phone rang. After answering and saying a few words, he gave instructions to his second-in-command: "Zhiling, there are a few student clubs tonight. Go work on them—tell them we're offering sponsorship, money paid by commission, 200 yuan per head, nominally for a social science survey."
Zhong Zhiling's spirits lifted. Good—work had come!
As long as he had work to do, as long as he did that work well, he'd have the standing to negotiate again over shares in the mainland subsidiary!