Chapter 317 - 311: Luckin Coffee Launches, Enemies on a Narrow Road

Wu Yun said with great confidence, "I want to create a coffee brand for our own Huaxia People! So the initial funding for Luckin Coffee is one hundred million! And yes, Luckin Coffee is the name I came up with for this brand. The English name is Luckin Coffee."

"As for the goal..." A corner of Wu Yun’s mouth twitched up. "To surpass our British and American competitors, of course!"

Wang Zhiye instantly understood the sheer scale of Wu Yun’s ambition.

Just then, Xu Chenxi came over with coffee.

"President Wang, let me introduce you. This is Xu Chenxi. She holds a 5% stake in Luckin Coffee. She usually represents me at the company, but of course, if you decide to come aboard, the development strategy will be under your control."

Wang Zhiye took a sip of coffee before speaking. "President Wu, I was wondering if you’ve planned for an employee stock option pool?"

’At his level, without an option pool, he couldn’t get excited about Luckin Coffee. He’d just be another well-paid employee no matter where he went. In that case, it would be better not to change jobs at all.’

"That can be set up. Most of my companies have option pools. President Wang, if you join us, you’ll get profit-sharing equivalent to a 2% stake after one year. After three years, you’ll be vested with 2% of the company’s actual shares."

Wang Zhiye smiled, stood up, and extended his hand. "President Wu! I look forward to working with you!"

...

The plane from the Capital City to Modu landed. Hu Weixiao and her secretary, Xiaozhang, were walking down the concourse toward the arrivals gate.

Hu Weixiao was traveling light with just a shoulder bag, while Xiaozhang trailed behind, laden with luggage and looking strained as she constantly shifted the bags from one hand to the other.

"Xiaozhang, it’s still early. I’m giving you the afternoon off. Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, you’ll come with me to the City Administration Bureau and other relevant departments."

At Hu Weixiao’s words, the weary Xiaozhang instantly perked up.

"President Hu, aren’t you going out this afternoon?" Xiaozhang asked carefully.

Hu Weixiao smiled. "I’m staying in. If you want to go out and explore, feel free. Just be safe."

"Okay, President Hu!"

...

They hailed a cab and headed straight for the luxury hotel they had booked downtown.

After they checked in, Xiaozhang dropped off Hu Weixiao’s bags and then left the room, overjoyed. She planned to go see some of Modu’s most popular attractions.

Not long after Xiaozhang left, the doorbell to Hu Weixiao’s room rang.

Hu Weixiao, who had been gazing out the window by the bed, walked to the door with a complicated expression. She looked through the peephole, saw a familiar man, and then unlocked it.

Wang Wei strolled into the room with a broad smile. After sizing up the layout, he sat down on the large bed as if he owned the place.

Hu Weixiao was about to speak when she saw Wang Wei beckoning her over.

"Brother Wang, shouldn’t we talk about what to do first?" Hu Weixiao said, even as she walked toward him.

The smile vanished from Wang Wei’s face, replaced by a stern look. "Let’s discuss this multi-hundred-million project first."

Ten minutes later, Wang Wei rolled over and sat up. He propped a pillow up behind him and grabbed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the nightstand.

CLICK.

A flickering flame sprang from the exquisite lighter in Wang Wei’s hand.

Wang Wei took a deep drag. Thick smoke billowed from his mouth and nose, quickly dissipating but leaving the faint smell of tobacco lingering in the air.

Hu Weixiao wrinkled her nose at the smell and pulled the covers up a little higher. "Brother Wang, aren’t you afraid I’ll get pregnant?"

Wang Wei scoffed. "What’s there to be afraid of? My main account is already a lost cause. I don’t mind creating a few alts."

Apparently not wanting to dwell on the subject, Wang Wei changed topics. "Alright, spit it out. What was it you wanted to say earlier?"

"Brother Wang, about what you said yesterday... I don’t think we have to follow every single move Little Red Car makes. I think what they’re doing is foolish. Everyone knows it’s impossible to turn a profit right now, so for them to add things like insurance fees... aren’t they just shooting themselves in the foot?" ’Wu Yun must have nothing better to do than to come up with all this pointless nonsense,’ Hu Weixiao thought.

"Women... You really are as shortsighted as your hair is long! You think the insurance fee is pointless? Let me ask you this: if someone crashes one of our Mobikes and sues us because it was our fault, how many of those claims do you think we can afford to pay out?"

’This move from Little Red Car is actually brilliant,’ Wang Wei thought. ’Rolling out these policies right when the authorities are starting to crack down and regulate the industry... you have to admit, it’s incredibly forward-thinking.’

’Otherwise, how could they have a version 2.0 of their app ready to go the moment the official notice came out?’

Hu Weixiao was still frowning. "But I don’t see why we need to hand a huge pile of money over to an insurance company. Major accidents are rare, and in most cases, it’s the user’s own fault. We shouldn’t be held responsible."

Wang Wei slapped her on the ass in exasperation. "Try to see the bigger picture! Little Red Car and Little Yellow Car have both already sold off shares or completed their Series A funding."

"Mobike needs to raise funds, and that’s non-negotiable! If something like that happened to us, it would be a devastating blow to the company!"

"On top of that, because of the current regulatory crackdown on shared bikes in Modu, we’ve already been ordered to suspend operations and get our house in order."

"If we don’t seize this moment, we could lose the entire Modu market!"

"In short, whatever Little Red Car does, we should do it too!"

With that, Wang Wei stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray and lay back down. "I have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow. We need to solve our most pressing problem first."

Then, he slid his hand under the covers.

It was already five in the afternoon by the time the two of them left the hotel.

Wang Wei supported his lower back with a hand. "Sigh. I’m getting old. Can’t deny it anymore."

After Wang Wei’s "counseling," Hu Weixiao was feeling less anxious. She smiled and joked, "In that case, I’ll be sure to order you some nice grilled kidneys tonight!"

Knowing Hu Weixiao was coming to Modu, Wang Wei had already made reservations at Vase Banquet.

Wang Wei tried to sound tough. "My back might be sore, but it’s not so bad that I need to start eating kidneys!"

Seeing Wang Wei trying to defend his masculine pride, Hu Weixiao smiled and placated him, "Alright, alright. You’re the stud, I admit it!"

Just then, a black Maybach pulled up. Wang Wei played the gentleman, opening the door for Hu Weixiao. He only got in himself after she was seated.

With a driver present in the car, Hu Weixiao became much more guarded, only discussing company matters with Wang Wei.

After half an hour in stop-and-go traffic, the Maybach finally arrived at the exclusive villa district where Vase Banquet was located.

It was Hu Weixiao’s first time dining at a private kitchen in such a setting. In the past, she was either traveling for work with a strict expense limit or, more recently, just too busy to have the time.

As a result, she had high hopes for the unique cuisine at Vase Banquet that Wang Wei had told her about.

The two of them had just gotten out of the car and were heading for the main entrance when a Mercedes-Benz Viano van pulled up a short distance behind them.

On a whim, Hu Weixiao glanced back and saw a young man getting out of the van with a beautiful, exotic-looking woman who seemed vaguely familiar.

Hu Weixiao’s pupils constricted. She knew that young man—she’d recognize him even if he were burned to ash. It was none other than Wu Yun, the very rival she was trying to catch up to.

"What is it?" Wang Wei asked, confused, seeing that Hu Weixiao had stopped in her tracks. He followed her gaze and saw a young man and woman walking side-by-side toward them.

Wang Wei also recognized his current rival.

They exchanged a look, and in the brief moment they stood there stunned, the young couple walked right past them.

Hu Weixiao and Wang Wei could clearly hear the bell-like laughter of the exotic beauty walking beside Wu Yun.

"What a small world," Hu Weixiao muttered through clenched teeth. Wu Yun hadn’t actually done anything to wrong her, and their rivalry was just normal business competition.

But for some reason, she felt an inexplicable irritation, like the sort of person who, being miserable themselves, can’t stand to see others happy.

What’s more, seeing Wang Wei blatantly staring at the retreating figure of the exotic beauty beside Wu Yun made Hu Weixiao’s anger flare.

Wang Wei sighed wistfully. "What a coincidence! Weixiao, we should go over and introduce ourselves. Just to say hi."

Hu Weixiao quickly composed herself and nodded. "Let’s go, Brother Wang. I’ve been wanting to witness President Wu’s famous charisma for myself for a while now."