Hidden Moth-Chapter 410 - 228: Orchid’s Fragrance and Jade’s Luster

Chapter 410: Chapter 228: Orchid’s Fragrance and Jade’s Luster

Li Chun introduced Lan Jiwan to everyone at the dinner party, mentioning that she is a Tier Three Sorcerer from the Heart Plate Sect, currently needing experience in the Jianghu. She recently joined the group as her assistant to learn about production management.

Li Chun then mentioned that Lan Jiwan is planning to start an entrepreneurial journey with fellow sect members. They have already chosen a project to take over a processing factory in the Nanhua Suburb and introduced its unique business features.

Li Chun openly admitted her investment involvement, holding 30% of the shares. She jokingly yet sincerely told Qian Guran and He Kao that any custom processing needs in the future should be discussed with her or Lan Jiwan.

Everyone raised their glasses, commenting on how business-savvy Li Chun is, not missing any marketing opportunity even while drinking. Lan Jiwan was generous, standing to toast each person, thanking everyone for their future business care.

He Kao secretly thought that the Shi Haotu couple showed great kindness, intentionally bringing Lan Jiwan to the occasion to introduce connections, perfectly suited as everyone present belonged to them.

What does it mean to belong to them? It means they saved the Shi Haotu couple this time.

According to the Magic Sect’s "official account," firstly, He Kao went to Huishiming Brand on a business trip, sensing malice in the technical director Shi Yun Road, raising his alertness.

He Kao informed Qian Guran, who happened to be in Nanhua, allowing Qian Guran to secretly monitor Shi Yun Road. As a Tier Four Government Official from the Qi Observation Sect, he discovered Shi Yun Road’s unintentional murderous intentions towards Shi Haotu and his wife.

At that moment, Lin Qingshuang arrived with two disciples, taking advantage of the long holiday to expand their horizons, learned of the situation from Qian Guran, and thus took subsequent actions...

The Shi Haotu couple originally wanted to invite Lin Qingshuang and her two disciples to today’s gathering, but Lin Qingshuang had already returned to Qi Yuan with her disciples.

The Shi Haotu couple knew that no gratitude was excessive for such great kindness, and amidst the fall of the Huiming Shi Family, it was an excellent opportunity to foster good relations with the Magic Sect’s members.

Regrettably, they were unsure about what the other party liked or wanted.

Senior Lin Qingshuang lacked nothing, and things were manageable on Qian Guran’s side, given their business collaboration, as the Huishi Group had already hired Yao Shaolan, Qian Guran’s partner, as chief legal advisor.

However, they were unsure of He Kao’s interests. While directly giving money or gifts might lead to rejection, being refused outright would make things awkward.

This mindset of theirs had long been clear to Qian Guran. Old Qian mentioned at the table, "Xiao Kao, you ought to give President Shi and them the chance to thank you; otherwise, they’ll come rushing to have drinks with you after work every day."

Shi Haotu quickly agreed, "Exactly, exactly! Is there anything we can assist Teacher He with?"

Why did He Kao suddenly become Teacher He? He was deputed to Huishiming Brand for on-site technical support services; the polite term for him was Teacher He.

Teacher He raised his cup and said, "I’ve been working at Huishiming Brand these days, and I find this company quite good. President Li mentioned investing in Junior Sister Lan’s new company, tempting me to invest in Huishiming Brand as well."

Shi Haotu pursued, "How do you wish to invest?"

He Kao candidly mentioned, "I heard Steward Zou from the Micro Realm Sect planned to offer six million for a thirty percent share and a director’s position, but President Shi rejected it?"

Li Chun promptly explained, "Huishiming Brand has other partners, so we couldn’t make such a decision. At that time, we mentioned offering Steward Zou ten percent of shares and a director’s seat, free of charge."

Qian Guran smiled and said, "We’re all insiders here, no need to beat around the bush. Precisely because you offered it free, Steward Zou lost interest. Let’s hear Xiao Kao’s suggestion; if it’s not suitable, you needn’t hold back."

He Kao said, "I can offer six million, which is all the funds I have now, for ten percent of the shares. If ten percent is too much, I’m willing to go a bit lower; but preferably with a director’s seat."

Shi Haotu queried, "Would Teacher He personally assume the director’s role, or appoint someone else?"

Why does He Kao want to invest in Huishiming Brand? Firstly, because he sees promise in the project, akin to Zou Tianjin’s previous intentions, and he has essentially understood the company’s valuation.

Before going public, at least for now, the internal valuation of ten percent shares in the company is approximately six million.

This doesn’t mean six million guarantees acquiring the shares; good projects will see share transfer premiums, and Huishiming Brand doesn’t lack funds, hence may not oblige.

By doing this, He Kao also hopes the Shi Haotu couple stops feeling indebted about the life-saving matter. As long as they agree, the favor is returned; further issues can be addressed later.

Shi Haotu didn’t speak further, directly asking how He Kao wished to arrange this director’s seat.

He Kao replied, "I would like to appoint someone to take on the director’s role, someone President Shi has likely met, namely Huang Si, disciple of Senior Lin Qingshuang. Huang Si is also an employee under President Qian, my superior, and we’ve grown up together."

Li Chun nodded repeatedly, saying, "Great, great, this arrangement is excellent! Is Director Huang coming to work?"

Why was she so pleased? Because it achieves multiple goals. Gratitude to Senior Lin Qingshuang was still uncertain; organizing for her disciple serves as returning the favor equally.

Directors may hold high managerial positions internally or serve as external directors lacking any actual duties, typically attending board meetings and overseeing management.

He Kao smiled and replied, "Whether he accepts a specific position at Huishiming Brand depends on President Qian’s willingness to let go."

Qian Guran waved and replied, "I cannot dictate Huang Si’s decisions. He can come if he wishes, though I doubt Senior Lin Qingshuang would be willing to let him go."

He Kao said, "Let’s seek Huang Xiaopang’s personal opinion, though I don’t think he’ll change jobs to come to Nanhua; rather, he’ll serve as director for now."

Why arrange Huang Xiaopang? Because there was simply no suitable person at present, and He Kao anticipated Shi Haotu and his wife would be happy about this decision; chiefly to annoy Huang Xiaopang.

Once upon a time, Huang Xiaopang bragged endlessly to He Kao about knowing a domineering female CEO, Director Meng Ya from Jinxing Media.

Later, Huang Xiaopang might have developed a liking for Meng Ya, and he started to feel hesitant and depressed, always feeling that he wasn’t good enough for her. It’s just a director, after all, Huishiming Brand is much stronger than Jinxing Media, He Kao arranged it for him today!

Qian Guran: "Xiao Kao, you haven’t told Huang Si about this yet, have you?"

He Kao: "I just thought of it at the table, of course, I haven’t had time to tell him. I’ll discuss it with him when I return to Qi Yuan. Since it’s like helping us out, I imagine he won’t refuse."

Yao Shaolan timely interjected: "Then I will also lend a little help. The acquisition on Junior Sister Lan’s side and Junior Brother He’s shareholding, I’ll handle the legal procedures."

Since everyone had been drinking, they declined the entertainment arrangement for later. After the meal, Shi Haotu sent a driver to take the guests back, with the three of them riding in the same business car.

They first arrived at the apartment building where He Kao lived, Qian Guran sent the driver away, and He Kao invited him and Yao Shaolan up for some tea. Once inside, Old Qian smiled and said: "Xiao Kao, that Assistant Lan today seemed to have quite the fondness for you."

Jiwan had an inexplicable natural sense of affinity towards He Kao. The feeling between people is so mysterious, sometimes you can see someone just once and have a great impression.

Old Qian was a high-tier sorcerer skilled in the Qi Observation Skill, so he could certainly see it. He Kao knowingly asked, "Oh, how did President Qian see that?"

Qian Guran: "I am clearly your superior and a much higher-level leader. Today at the table, she toasted to me with just five cups of wine in total, yet she took the initiative to toast you twelve times.

If it were a different setting, I’d suspect she wanted to get you drunk to do something!"

Yao Shaolan gave him a sideways glance: "Isn’t that pretty normal? She was drinking herself, so I think she was just happy."

Both of them were sorcerers from the Qi Observation Sect, and what they said was right. He Kao asked them again: "Did you sense any malice?"

Qian Guran: "No malice, I only sensed that she was very happy. Don’t be overly paranoid all the time, not everyone is Shi Yun Road."

Not wanting to dwell on the topic of Lan Jiwan, He Kao took the initiative to say, "Old Qian, I returned to Qi Yuan a few days ago and encountered a stranger sorcerer at the train station."

Qian Guran’s attention was indeed diverted, and he promptly inquired about who it was. He Kao took out paper and pen, drawing a few sketches from different angles—let’s call them sketches.

He Kao hadn’t specifically studied art, but with his current cultivation, his consciousness and movements were very well-coordinated, allowing him to draw very precise lines.

There’s not much artistic value in these portraits, but they’re perfect for identifying someone. Qian Guran collected these sketches so that if he ever meets that stranger sorcerer, he’d recognize them.

Meanwhile, Shi Haotu and his wife were chatting with Lan Jiwan in the car.

Shi Haotu laughed: "I didn’t expect He Kao to buy shares in Huishiming Brand and recommend Lin Qingshuang’s top disciple to serve as a director."

Li Chun: "That’s great, couldn’t ask for better. This person is meticulous, considering everything thoroughly."

Lan Jiwan asked: "When Steward Zou wanted to invest in Huishiming Brand, you actually refused. Why are you so pleased about Mr. He’s investment today?"

Shi Haotu: "It wasn’t exactly a refusal, when Steward Zou approached me, I was a bit bewildered and unresponsive at the time. If it were on today’s terms, I would have welcomed Steward Zou’s investment too, at least wouldn’t have opposed it."

Lan Jiwan: "At least wouldn’t oppose, but probably wouldn’t be as happy as today, right?"

Li Chun explained: "It’s different, the situation is entirely different. Steward Zou was investing six million but didn’t really care much. He Kao is investing six million but it’s everything he has, almost all of his wealth."

Zou Tianjin was just playing a casual move, whether it succeeded or not didn’t affect him personally.

He Kao is genuinely participating in this project, has come to work in the field, and Li Chun can gather from other aspects that this six million constitutes nearly all the liquid assets he can muster after excluding real estate.

He Kao’s funds include his daily savings, the income from Lin Qingshuang’s sale of wild ginseng he entrusted, and the income from selling gold bars to Qian Guran.

Although his income seemed considerable this past year, his expenses were also high, so what he can currently bring out is only this much.

This not only demonstrates his real optimism about the Huishiming Brand project, but also shows that the project’s prospects are closely tied to his personal interests, and ten percent of the shares aren’t that exploitive.

Another reason, which Shi Haotu and his wife were too tactful to mention directly, is that He Kao gave them an opportunity to repay a favor.

Shi Haotu sighed again: "But the Huishiming Brand project may not yield dividends this year and next."

Li Chun: "In any case, we won’t cheat him." She then turned her head and said, "Junior Sister Lan, I noticed you seemed quite interested in that He Kao, toasting him at the table."

Lan Jiwan: "I also feel too shy to keep toasting you all, but this person is rather humble."

The humble He Kao, after sending off Old Qian and Lawyer Yao, stood on the balcony gazing at the night view of the Pearl River. He could see that Lan Jiwan was still not quite adept at socializing, but he could also sense that she was very happy.

This happiness seemed ostensibly without reason, but being able to return to normal social life without clashing with her secret sorcerer identity should be what she deeply aspires for.

He Kao also asked himself—what does he desire?

**