Chapter 117 All of Them

January 11th, Wednesday.

In the conference room of Round Dream Ventures, the investors were sipping tea while waiting for President Pei's arrival.

Many of these investors had come all the way from the capital, and their complexions weren't good, whether due to the wear and tear of travel or something else.

Li Shi tried his best to liven up the atmosphere, but the way these investors looked at Meng Chang made it seem like they wanted to devour him alive.

As for Meng Chang, he had a "whatever" expression on his face.

He was like someone who had been completely burned out. Although he was physically present, his thoughts and soul seemed to have drifted off somewhere else.

The atmosphere in the room was somewhat stiff.

Although the investors would occasionally engage in polite conversation and exchange pleasantries, everyone wore a gloomy expression, showing that they were in a bad mood.

This was understandable. How could they be in a good mood when their money had vanished into thin air?

Ordinary people would feel a pang of heartache for months after losing a few thousand yuan on the stock market, and they'd want to hang themselves after losing a hundred thousand. These investors, on the other hand, had lost millions.

Although investment involved risk, these investors were well aware of this, but who would have thought that Meng Chang, a seemingly reliable entrepreneur with thick eyebrows and big eyes, would mess things up so badly?

Meng Chang's Cold Noodles Girl had received at least 20 million in investment, and after a round of hype, its valuation had soared to nearly 300 million. In the end, Meng Chang squandered it all.

The investors were left with nothing but shares in Cold Noodles Girl.

But now, Cold Noodles Girl had been exposed to all sorts of negative news, and Meng Chang had become a person subject to enforcement. No one would take over this mess, and the shares were worthless.

How could these investors not be angry?

Of course, these were the rules of business. No matter how angry the investors were, they couldn't do anything to Meng Chang. Moreover, even if they did, they wouldn't be able to squeeze any money out of him.

As for Meng Chang, he had already resigned himself to his fate.

Although he wasn't responsible for the investors' money, the investment agreement he signed with President Li stipulated that he was responsible for Cold Noodles Girl's debts. Now, he owed suppliers millions, and this debt would be added to his personal debt.

When the cash flow problems arose, Meng Chang had tried everything to find investors and save Cold Noodles Girl's fate, but President Pei's two sales of shares, the series of negative news about Cold Noodles Girl, and other events had seriously affected investors' confidence in Cold Noodles Girl.

The investors' conditions were very strict: without signing an unlimited joint and several liability agreement, they wouldn't give a single cent.

Meng Chang was in a dilemma, but he certainly couldn't take such a hot potato, because he knew very well that if he didn't take the money, he'd only owe a few million, but if he did, he'd probably owe hundreds of millions.

As a result, the longer he waited, the more debt he incurred, until he couldn't hold on any longer and the news broke.

After becoming a person subject to enforcement, Meng Chang knew very well that the Cold Noodles Girl brand was finished. Even if the Great Luo Golden Immortal were to be reborn, he wouldn't be able to save it.

In that case, he might as well play dead. A dead pig wasn't afraid of boiling water. He'd just pay off the debt slowly, and the other investors could do whatever they wanted.

So, Cold Noodles Girl had actually become a dead end.

As for Li Shi, he was actually in the best state of mind, apart from He Desheng.

Li Shi had also invested some money, but his reasons and motivations for investing were completely different from those of the other investors.

When he heard that Cold Noodles Girl was about to fail, Li Shi did panic for a moment, but President Pei's statement that he was willing to step in rekindled his infinite confidence.

As long as President Pei hadn't completely given up on a project, it couldn't be said to have completely failed!

The scene remained in this contradictory and delicate atmosphere, waiting for President Pei's arrival.

Finally, there was a sound of footsteps outside.

The conference room door opened, and outside the door, He Desheng said respectfully to a young man, "President Pei, everyone is here."

Everyone in the conference room immediately stood up, looking at President Pei as if he were the last straw for a drowning person.

Some of the investors had some special guesses about the timing of President Pei's appearance.

The investors had arrived in the morning, so why did President Pei specifically set the time for the afternoon? Was there any special meaning to this?

After all, there were too many stories and mysteries surrounding President Pei. Many things that would be ordinary and reasonable for others had a special meaning when it came to President Pei.

Pei Qian waved to everyone, "Hello, everyone! Please sit down."

The spirited President Pei brought vitality to the previously lifeless conference room.

The investors couldn't help but wonder what good news President Pei had encountered to be so happy.

Rumor had it that President Pei had always been someone who didn't show his emotions easily. Even when he had made several hundred million from the Dayak Corporation, he hadn't shown much joy.

Today, however, he was beaming. Could it be that he had made more than 500 million in some industry?

The momentum of these investors was invisibly diminished.

And Pei Qian had only one thought in his mind: the exams are finally over!

Today was the last closed-book exam in the morning. Although he hadn't answered perfectly, and he had missed a few knowledge points when reviewing, he had at least answered fairly well. He was sure to pass, and whether he got a 65 or a 70 would depend on fate.

He had worked so hard to study for so long, and now he was finally free. How could he not be happy?

Unconsciously, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and everyone noticed.

Pei Qian didn't care. Anyway, he just wanted to understand the situation today, see if he could acquire some junk assets, so that he could lose money better in the future. He didn't care what these investors thought.

Pei Qian sat down in the seat of honor. Li Shi and He Desheng were on his left and right, the other investors were lined up on both sides of the conference table, and Meng Chang sat alone directly opposite President Pei, looking a bit like he was being interrogated.

Li Shi said, "President Pei, let me briefly explain the current situation of Cold Noodles Girl."

Listening to Li Shi's account, Pei Qian roughly understood.

In short, Cold Noodles Girl had run out of money, couldn't get more funding, and the money the stores were making was far from enough to support normal operations, so the valuation had collapsed, and the shares in the hands of the investors were worthless.

None of these words were false, and no one dared to deceive President Pei, because He Desheng could verify this information with a little verification.

Falsifying in front of President Pei would only backfire. It was better to be open and honest to leave a good impression on President Pei.

Everyone was waiting for President Pei to speak.

In everyone's opinion, the current situation of Cold Noodles Girl was a dead end. It had already been determined that it would lose money completely. Who would continue to throw money into it? President Pei had already made several million through Cold Noodles Girl and safely extricated himself, so there was even less reason to return to this quagmire.

However, Pei Qian's first sentence stunned everyone.

"How many shares of Cold Noodles Girl do you have? I want them all."

The investors looked at each other, the happiness coming too suddenly, and they weren't mentally prepared.

Even a glimmer of hope flashed in Meng Chang's dazed eyes.

In terms of shares, Meng Chang, as the founder, obviously had the most shares, but no matter how many shares he had, it was useless if no one wanted them. According to common sense, the investors had the right to sell their shares first, and it wasn't the founder's turn. But judging from President Pei's meaning, it seemed like he wanted all the shares?

If that was the case, he could sell some of the shares in his hand and recover a little bit of capital.

Of course, selling shares at this point in time would definitely not be at the previous valuation. It would probably be sold for less than the price of cabbage.

But sell if he could, at least to pay off some of the debt first.

Now, Meng Chang had completely stopped fantasizing about financial freedom. He just wanted to reduce his debt as much as possible.

An investor raised his hand and tentatively asked, "President Pei, what price are you planning to acquire the shares at?"

Pei Qian looked at He Desheng.

He Desheng whispered in Pei Qian's ear, "President Pei, Meng Chang, the founder, still has at least 40% of the shares, and President Li has less than 30%. Given the current situation of Cold Noodles Girl, everyone's psychological price will be very low. Giving a symbolic three to five million should be about right."

Pei Qian was slightly surprised, "President Li has so much?"

He Desheng nodded, "Yes, President Li recently acquired a small portion of the shares at a low price, and the price was also very low."

Pei Qian looked at Li Shi, who returned a smile.

Pei Qian was a little speechless and had a premonition that President Li would probably not sell his shares.

But it didn't matter, anyway, President Li only had less than 30% of the shares, and it had absolutely no impact on the control of Cold Noodles Girl. Moreover, Pei Qian didn't think that Cold Noodles Girl could make money in his hands. The brand's reputation was completely ruined.

Pei Qian looked around at everyone and said, "3 million to buy all the shares of Cold Noodles Girl, but the premise is that I must be able to buy more than 70% of the shares at once, otherwise I won't buy."

He didn't waste any more words and directly quoted a bottom price according to the figure given by He Desheng.

According to He Desheng's view, Cold Noodles Girl was basically not worth saving, and letting it go bankrupt was the most rational choice. But since President Pei wanted to buy it, He Desheng, as a subordinate, still had to estimate a suitable price.

Compared to the peak valuation of Cold Noodles Girl, 3 million was definitely not even the price of cabbage. Each of these investors would get at most a few hundred thousand, which was almost a tenfold reduction compared to the previous investment.

But it was better to have a few hundred thousand than nothing. If they didn't sell, they would definitely not find the next buyer, and they wouldn't even have a few hundred thousand.

Of course, if it was any lower, it would be a bit insulting, and these investors might get angry and refuse to sell, which would not be good.

After President Pei gave the price, these investors looked at each other.

They were definitely not satisfied with this number, but there was nothing they could do. Most people knew that getting a few hundred thousand was already very good.

President Pei's opening price was directly stuck at a slightly lower position than their psychological price, making them very uncomfortable.

A glimmer of hope appeared in Meng Chang's eyes, "President Pei, do you want my shares too?"

Pei Qian nodded, "Of course, at this price, I'll take anything. But after all, Cold Noodles Girl is a company you founded. Are you sure you want to sell it?"

Anyway, it was the price of cabbage, it was the same to buy from anyone.

Meng Chang immediately nodded, "Sell!"

He was now carrying millions of debts. Although his shares could only be sold for a little over a million according to President Pei's offer, which was not enough to pay off these debts, he could pay off a little bit.

Originally, he thought that selling these shares would be enough to achieve financial freedom, but now he was only paying off one million of debt, Meng Chang was filled with mixed emotions.

The ideal was beautiful, but reality taught him a lesson.

The other investors had nothing to say. Seeing Meng Chang's attitude, Cold Noodles Girl was definitely hopeless, and holding these shares was a waste.

Moreover, President Pei had already made it clear that unless he could buy more than 70% of the shares, he would not buy any at all, which also made the investors completely give up the idea of bargaining.

Forget it, run if they could.

The investors exchanged a few waves of glances and finally accepted.

Li Shi symbolically sold a small portion, keeping about 20% in his hands. Meng Chang sold all his shares to pay off at least part of his debt.

A person like Meng Chang would not be willing to be a deadbeat. He still hoped that he could pay off all his debts and make a comeback one day.