What more could I possibly ask for? (Please vote for recommendations)

Wang Xiaobo smiled, “No need to be so surprised.”

“You have more than a dozen QQ groups with two thousand members each. Your reputation is obvious, and calculating your profits is easy.”

“I only happened to hear about it from Liu Xingyue, so I know all those groups are actually run by you.”

Chen Ling raised an eyebrow, “She told you this?”

“Same as I said before.” Wang Xiaobo waved his hand, “Don’t misunderstand. I’ve known her since childhood, but neither of us is the other’s type.”

Chen Ling nodded, “Just taking advantage of opportunities.”

“Even being able to do that isn’t easy.” Wang Xiaobo sighed, “Almost every imaginable industry has already been explored. Making money is so hard nowadays.”

Chen Ling couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly—this was 2008! The group-buying wars hadn’t started yet, ride-hailing apps were still far away, not to mention digital currencies, bargain platforms, and short video apps...

The real excitement was yet to come. This was just the beginning.

Wang Xiaobo didn’t notice Chen Ling’s amusement, continuing, “Take my family’s business, for example. A loan is coming due and we’re short on cash. If we can’t solve it soon, next time you see me…”

“Forget about OMEGA watches, I probably won’t even afford CASIO anymore.”

“So don’t treat me as some rich kid—I might not be one for much longer.”

Despite his self-deprecating smile, Wang Xiaobo’s tone was tinged with melancholy.

Clearly, for someone who had lived two decades of luxury, such a blow was sudden and overwhelming.

Chen Ling suddenly found Wang Xiaobo intriguing.

Ordinarily, if a wealthy heir learned their family was about to go bankrupt, they’d collapse—who would have the presence of mind to come study at school?

And from this alone, it was clear he wasn’t just a spoiled idler living off his family’s fortune...

“Cash flow issues should be manageable, right?” Chen Ling asked, “Bridge loans between big companies aren’t that hard, and there are financial firms everywhere…”

“But for companies already on the brink of insolvency, it’s much tougher.” Wang Xiaobo sighed, his gaze darkening.

He quickly regained his smile, “So, to secure a good job in the future, I have to study hard. See? Coming to evening study sessions—patching up the pen after the sheep have escaped.”

“Um…” Chen Ling’s mind stirred, “Forgive me for asking, but how much cash do you need?”

“Thanks for your concern, but your few million won’t be enough!” Wang Xiaobo kept smiling, “I’d hoped we could work together someday, but now… it seems unlikely!”

“What does your family do that needs such a huge cash flow? Real estate?” Chen Ling guessed.

Wang Xiaobo nodded, “Just a small company, nothing much. Three hundred million and we’re teetering on bankruptcy…”

In the real estate industry, three hundred million isn’t a huge sum, but it’s not trivial either.

When liabilities exceed assets, without a cash infusion, bankruptcy is inevitable.

Chen Ling pondered…

If nothing unexpected happened, this was likely due to the influence of the system’s template.

But how to conjure up money in such a situation?

“Damn—” Chen Ling suddenly cursed himself inwardly, “How could I forget that trick!”

“What’s wrong?” Wang Xiaobo asked in confusion.

Chen Ling looked at him, his smile sly, “Does your company have any projects already delivered?”

“There are some…” Wang Xiaobo replied with regret, “But those projects are about to become unfinished buildings. If only the provident fund loans weren’t so slow, it wouldn’t be like this…”

Hearing this, Chen Ling understood.

According to regulations, after customers pay the down payment for their homes, the banks issue loans. For commercial loans, payments can be released once the building reaches three stories, allowing developers to recoup funds and continue construction.

But for provident fund loans, the rule is that the building must be fully topped out before the funds are released.

This creates a timing gap. If the proportion of provident fund loan customers is too high, developers can easily face cash flow problems.

Small developers are especially vulnerable.

So around 2008, unfinished projects were everywhere. Aside from market cooling, poor management, lax supervision, and excessive leverage, loan methods were an indirect cause.

Moreover, the overall economic climate had worsened recently.

As a result, many developers offered different discounts to customers depending on whether they paid in full, used commercial loans, or opted for provident fund loans.

Some developers even refused to accept provident fund loans altogether.

Understanding the situation Wang Xiaobo’s family business faced, Chen Ling’s heart began to race!

“I have a solution!” he said to Wang Xiaobo, “I can help your family overcome this crisis.”

Wang Xiaobo stared at him, the forced smile gone, replaced by seriousness, “Are you serious?”

“I make millions a month, after all.” Chen Ling grinned, “If I’m lying, I’m a puppy.”

Wang Xiaobo laughed again!

This time, it was genuine.

Because maybe, there was hope!

“Then quickly, tell me…”

“No rush. For something like this, I should talk to your father, right? Besides, I can’t help for nothing, can I?” Chen Ling’s fox tail was raised high.

But Wang Xiaobo eagerly grabbed it, “Come, let’s go home and meet my parents!”

He impatiently pulled Chen Ling toward a nearby yellow sports car.

“Hey—don’t be so hasty! I haven’t returned my bicycle yet!”

“Who needs a bicycle now!”

—

Half an hour later, Lin Yu Villa, western Riverside City.

Wang Xiaobo enthusiastically welcomed Chen Ling inside. On the way, he’d already called his parents.

So now, his mother waited at the door with slippers, his father behind her, looking excitedly at Chen Ling.

Watching Chen Ling change into slippers, Wang Xiaobo’s father hurried forward, “Mr. Chen, hello! I’m Wang Zhicheng, Xiaobo’s father. I heard… you have a way to solve my company’s financial difficulties?”

He led Chen Ling to the living room to sit. Only then did Chen Ling take a look around.

Wang Zhicheng had a square face, thick brows, and large eyes—he looked upright and honest.

According to Wang Xiaobo’s earlier introduction, Wang Zhicheng had worked with Liu Xuefeng in his early years, then ventured into business, weathered many ups and downs.

He’d carved out a place for himself, starting in building materials, then moving into real estate, and by his thirties had truly made his fortune. Though not a top tycoon, he was certainly wealthy.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bought his son an eighty-thousand-yuan watch.

“No need for formality, Uncle Wang. Just call me Chen. Xiaobo and I only just met, but Liu Xingyue is my girlfriend, and I’ve met Director Liu, so…”

“Why don’t you tell me the specifics first?”

Wang Zhicheng understood, giving an awkward laugh, “All right.”

He began to explain to Chen Ling…

The situation was even more complicated than Wang Xiaobo had described.

Wang Zhicheng’s Zhicheng Real Estate Company had a three-hundred-million loan due on October 15th.

It was originally a five-year credit loan, but due to the economic climate, tightening of credit, and the company’s shrinking assets, the bank suddenly canceled the credit facility.

Now, Zhicheng Company had to repay the three hundred million loan.

Bridge loans wouldn’t work—the interest was unbearable, and the company had no other assets to use as collateral.

For example, the family’s houses and cars had already been mortgaged, raising only forty or fifty million, still far short of three hundred million.

In other words, if he couldn’t somehow conjure up three hundred million, the outcome was clear—company bankruptcy, unfinished projects.

“Chen…” Wang Zhicheng, not putting on airs despite Chen Ling’s youth, spoke sincerely, “If you truly have a way to help me through this crisis, I’m willing to give you ten percent of Zhicheng Company’s shares…”

“No! Twenty percent!”