Chapter 207: Sorry, I Zoned Out!

Bored, Shen Fei started browsing the financial newspaper on the table.

However, he soon stumbled upon a piece of shocking news. The article reported that Tesi Wax, a new energy-powered car, had been involved in over a dozen accidents abroad, causing its stock price to plummet. The newspaper featured analyses and insights from various experts about the volatility of Tesi Wax’s stock price.

After carefully reading the content, Shen Fei leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to think.

Tesi Wax had experienced dramatic highs and lows in his previous life. This brand disrupted decades of stability in the car market, triggering unprecedented fluctuations. The beneficiaries of this volatility were, of course, capital investors—while ordinary stockholders, oblivious to the game, were repeatedly exploited.

Memories from his past life scattered in his mind until a waiter broke his trance with, “Mr. Shen?”

Snapping back to reality, Shen Fei looked behind the waiter and focused his gaze. Standing there was a middle-aged man dressed in a sleek suit—he must be Ji Lu, the founder of “Life on a Skewer.”

“Are you Mr. Shen?” Ji Lu’s eyes showed slight surprise when he saw Shen Fei.

After all, the young man before him, appearing barely in his twenties, was supposedly the big investor who’d shown interest in his barbecue venture?

“Yes, hello, Mr. Ji!” Shen Fei smiled, stood up, and greeted him briefly. “Have a seat. Would you like a drink or something to eat?”

“I’ll take an iced Americano, thank you,” Ji Lu said directly.

Once his coffee was served, Ji Lu sipped it briefly before getting straight to the point. “Mr. Shen, forgive my bluntness, but how can I be certain you have the resources to invest in my barbecue venture?”

On his way to this upscale business restaurant, Ji Lu had searched for individuals named Shen Fei online. Although he found some results, none indicated the ability to finance such a project, which made him skeptical.

Having been an entrepreneur in two lifetimes, Shen Fei immediately understood Ji Lu’s concerns. He calmly replied, “Mr. Ji, have you heard of Scar Healing Cream or the Xinyue Group?”

If Xinyue Group wasn’t familiar, Scar Healing Cream was different. Recently, it had been trending in public discussions. Even if Ji Lu wasn’t actively following the news, he still had some awareness of it.

“Scar Healing Cream?” Ji Lu looked at Shen Fei with curiosity. How were these related?

“Yes. Xinyue Group is my company, and Scar Healing Cream is one of our products,” Shen Fei said confidently, his tone firm and unwavering.

Hearing this, Ji Lu was thoroughly shocked. He hadn’t expected the young man before him to be the founder of Scar Healing Cream.

Although the product had faced widespread criticism online, Ji Lu had his reservations about those claims. After all, it was endorsed by Jiang Tiancheng, the CEO of Chengyou Technology, and approved by Jiang Tiancheng’s grandfather, Jiang Anbang—a highly reputable figure in Shenzhen’s business circles. Ji Lu believed Jiang Anbang’s integrity would prevent him from tarnishing his reputation for a problematic product.

Considering this, Scar Healing Cream seemed even more credible. If its advertised effects proved true, it would dominate the skincare market. With such a product and company, Shen Fei could certainly afford to invest in “Life on a Skewer.”

“Mr. Ji, what’s wrong?” Shen Fei pretended not to notice Ji Lu’s reaction.

“Oh, sorry, Mr. Shen, I zoned out!” Ji Lu quickly apologized, pulling his thoughts back together. Observing the quiet, high-end dining environment around him, his doubts started to fade.

“It’s fine. May I take a look at your business plan now?” Shen Fei asked.

“Of course, please have a look!” Ji Lu handed over the document without hesitation.

Shen Fei accepted it and began reading carefully, page by page. The content was nearly identical to what he remembered from his previous life—detailing the business’s creation, plans for growth, and a clear vision for its future. The ambition to challenge hot pot giant Haidilao was palpable throughout the document.

As described in the plan, “Life on a Skewer” had indeed achieved that goal in Shen Fei’s previous life. Shen Fei couldn’t help but admire Ji Lu—he truly was a remarkable entrepreneur.

After finishing the final page with satisfaction, Shen Fei nodded. “Mr. Ji, let me ask you this: if I gave you one year to dominate the barbecue market in first-tier cities, would you have the confidence to achieve it?”

Ji Lu was stunned. “One year to dominate the nationwide barbecue market? Are you serious?”

“Life on a Skewer” was still in its infancy, and many of its processes were incomplete. Rapid expansion would involve significant risks and require massive capital. Ji Lu suddenly felt as if Shen Fei wasn’t here to invest but to sabotage him as part of a competitor’s scheme.

“Mr. Shen, surely you understand the risks and the enormous amount of funding this would require!” Ji Lu exclaimed, baffled.

Shen Fei, however, wasn’t concerned. In his previous life, “Life on a Skewer” had taken just three years to dominate the market, build its brand, and go public. Its potential was massive, and Shen Fei had full confidence in it.

“Mr. Ji, I’ll give you 600 million for 70% of ‘Life on a Skewer.’ What do you think?” Shen Fei proposed bluntly.

“This…” Ji Lu was momentarily speechless.

“I know giving up majority control feels hard, but consider this: to achieve your goal, you’ll need multiple rounds of financing. In the end, your ownership will still be diluted.”

Pausing briefly, Shen Fei continued, “I’m offering 600 million as a starting point. If you need more funding later, I’ll provide it. You won’t need to seek further investments, and you’ll retain at least 23% ownership—this benefits both of us.”

Ji Lu remained silent, his mind racing. Shen Fei’s words aligned with his concerns. Giving up majority control was painful, but if he missed this opportunity, future financing rounds might leave him with even less.

“Mr. Ji, take your time to think it over. Nothing we’ve discussed today is set in stone. But I can promise you this: although I’ll hold majority shares, ‘Life on a Skewer’ will still require your leadership,” Shen Fei said calmly.