Chapter 26: The Mysterious Investor
Today, Qin Chuan didn't have to tutor Jian Yiling, so he returned to Hengyuan University, where he was currently a sophomore. His coursework had become less demanding, and with his academic prowess, he could easily pass exams even without attending lectures. His GPA wasn't something he had to worry about.
As soon as Qin Chuan entered his dorm room, his roommate and close friend, Bai Youqian, bounded over excitedly. Qin Chuan took a small step back. "What's with the enthusiasm? Speak normally—I don't swing that way."
"Chuan-ge, amazing news! Super fantastic news! We've got our startup funding secured!" Bai Youqian exclaimed with barely-contained excitement, eagerly delivering the thrilling news to Qin Chuan.
"Someone actually agreed to invest?" Qin Chuan's usually stoic expression shifted, revealing a rare glimmer of excitement. He and his roommates had been developing a social networking app that was already in its prototype stage. They had been actively searching for angel investors, but securing investment for a social media platform was challenging. Without funds, they wouldn't even be able to rent the necessary servers.
While Qin Chuan and his roommates were equipped with the technical skills, they didn't have the financial resources. All his roommates came from ordinary families, and Qin Chuan's situation was even less fortunate—he couldn't even be considered middle-class.
"Yes! Two million yuan! Our biggest hurdle is about to be solved!" Bai Youqian was so ecstatic he was practically bouncing around like a child.
"Where's the investor from?" Qin Chuan asked quickly. While Hengyuan University was a well-regarded institution in the city, it wasn't particularly prestigious on a national level. For a university student from an ordinary school, securing investment was no small feat.
"I'm not sure of their real name; we'll probably find out when we sign the contract," Bai Youqian replied, his excitement unabated.
"You don't know their real name?" Qin Chuan frowned, sensing the possibility of a scam. Until they saw the money, he would remain wary.
"They've only been using an alias: F.S."
F.S.? Could it be Fu or some other surname starting with F?
"What percentage of equity are they asking for?" Qin Chuan continued. Angel investors often demanded between 5% to 30% equity, depending on negotiations. Given their current vulnerable position and the sizable offer, it wouldn't be surprising if the investor aimed for a substantial share.
"20%," Bai Youqian answered.
The demand seemed fair. After all, two million yuan was a significant amount for Qin Chuan and his friends at this early stage, and it would address their immediate needs.
"Youqian, give me the contact information. I want to handle the negotiations myself," Qin Chuan said with determination. He didn't want to miss this opportunity.
"Got it!" Bai Youqian passed along the contact details, though he couldn't resist adding a reminder. "Chuan-ge, take care of yourself. Between looking after your mom, tutoring that rich girl, and working with us on the startup, don't run yourself ragged."
Qin Chuan had already skipped most of his college classes and was still barely managing to get four hours of sleep a night.
"I'll be fine," Qin Chuan replied reassuringly.
"That rich girl must be tough to handle, huh?" Bai Youqian asked, curious about the infamous Jian Yiling.
"She's actually much easier to deal with than I expected," Qin Chuan said, thinking back to his sessions with Jian Yiling. Contrary to his assumptions, she wasn't spoiled or troublesome. She was straightforward and didn't make his job difficult. He could even work on his own tasks while tutoring her.
Soon after, Qin Chuan drafted and sent an email to this mysterious "F.S.," eager to move things forward. At the same time, a notification popped up on Jian Yiling's phone, which was on silent in her classroom at Shenghua High School. The message read: **"Hello, I'm Qin Chuan, the primary project lead for Chuangxing."**