Liu Yutong then began to introduce him to the blueprint of Wanlong Aerospace Technology Company.
“President Chu, as the first investor, I think it’s necessary for me to brief you on our plan.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Hai couldn’t help but grumble internally: “When did I ever agree to invest?”
But he only dared to complain to himself, not out loud.
“First, Wanlong Aerospace’s primary step is to develop private carrier rockets, breaking foreign technological monopolies to achieve low-cost, high-frequency satellite launches.”
“Second, we’ll deploy a satellite internet plan. Our goal is to launch thousands of low-orbit satellites within twenty years, building a global satellite internet network. In the future, no matter where you are on Earth, you’ll have high-speed internet access, completely replacing traditional ground base stations.”
“Third, we’ll venture into deep-space exploration, focusing on lunar mineral resource development and Mars rover R&D. We’ll pursue private space exploration, and eventually achieve manned space tourism…”
After listening to Liu Yutong’s “outrageous ramblings,” Chu Hai fell silent for a long time.
He suddenly recalled that when Liu Yutong had previously talked about making chips, he’d worn the exact same expression.
Back then, he thought a girl of eighteen or nineteen wanting to develop chips was pure nonsense.
But now?
The 90-nanometer production line for Longxin chips was running steadily, with a yield rate exceeding 90%, and small-scale mass production had already begun.
So when Liu Yutong proposed aerospace, Chu Hai’s first reaction wasn’t “impossible,” but rather “this woman has gone crazy,” “she’s talking nonsense,” and “she wants to drain my pockets.”
But what if she actually pulled it off?
That wouldn’t be a market of hundreds or thousands of billions—it would be a super blue ocean starting in the trillions.
Space mining, space tourism, global satellite internet… The more he thought about it, the more ridiculously dreamy it seemed.
Still, he probably wouldn’t live to see it in his lifetime.
Calm down! Calm down!
You’ve already invested in three of her projects!
Chu Hai frantically reminded himself.
Longxin, Wanhui Select, Weibo—three projects that were still just taking his money without paying back a single cent.
This damn aerospace venture? He might never see a return in his lifetime. Forget it.
“Um… Director Liu! Your project is indeed very promising, very imaginative, and has a great deal of… of vision. But AEG Capital is currently a bit tight on funds, so you see…”
“One word: are you investing or not?” Liu Yutong cut straight through his polite excuses.
Chu Hai jolted. “Yes! Yes! I’m very willing to invest! Director Liu, to be honest, my childhood dream was to become an astronaut and explore the stars. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to fulfill that dream.”
Liu Yutong immediately assured him, “President Chu, I promise, your childhood dream will come true.”
As she spoke, she noticed his eyes had suddenly grown bright and watery. “Hey, why are you crying?”
Chu Hai quickly wiped his face. “Emotion, it’s emotion! Tears of joy!”
Joy my ass!
He wanted to slap himself. He shouldn’t have invited her for tea today. He’d really screwed himself this time.
The three previous projects he’d invested in, though far from going public, were at least things he could wait for.
But this so-called aerospace tech company? He probably wouldn’t see a return in his whole life.
Chu Hai was smiling when he walked out of Yunlu Club, but the moment he got into his car, the smile vanished.
Seeing his grim expression, his driver Old Zhang couldn’t help but worry: “Boss, you look like you’ve been crying. Are you okay?”
Chu Hai waved a hand. “It’s nothing. I’m just happy because I might have a chance to meet my grandma someday.”
Old Zhang: “???”
Hadn’t his grandma already passed away?
How would he meet her? By going up to heaven?
He didn’t dare ask further and quickly handed his boss a bottle of water.
Chu Hai took it and chugged a big gulp.
Fifty billion!
A full fifty billion!
He’d thrown over ten billion into Longxin, over ten billion into Wanhui Select, several billion into Weibo, and now another aerospace company—another fifty billion.
Add it all up, and the money AEG Capital had poured into Liu Yutong’s projects had surpassed a hundred billion.
And he hadn’t seen a single cent in return.
Was this woman trying to drain him dry or what?
The more Chu Hai thought about it, the more it hurt. He clutched his chest, feeling his heart bleed.
“Boss, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Old Zhang.”
“Yes?”
“Do you think, at our age, we’ll ever see humans land on Mars?”
Old Zhang was taken aback, unsure why his boss would ask such a question, but he thought carefully: “That’s… a stretch, isn’t it? How many years would that take?”
Chu Hai nodded with a somber tone. “I think so too.”
He paused, then added, “But my money has already flown to Mars.”
Old Zhang: “???”
He had no idea what his boss was talking about, but it didn’t sound good.
Chu Hai pulled out his phone and made a call.
When it connected, he adjusted his emotions and made his voice sound cheerful and excited.
“Old Ji, where are you? I’ve got a huge project to share with you—a really, really good one. I just decided to invest fifty billion. Right, right… Only because we’re close. I wouldn’t bother with anyone else…”
On the other end was Ji Zhe, the head of Qixing Capital.
He had once gone to Mingzhu City with Chu Hai and had also invested in projects under Liu Yutong.
The two had an ironclad relationship.
As soon as Ji Zhe heard that Chu Hai had found a great project and invested fifty billion, he perked up.
“Brother, where are you? I’ll come find you right now!”
He’d known Chu Hai for years and understood his character. If Chu Hai praised a project that much and threw in fifty billion, it had to be a top-tier investment—maybe even a high-return, short-term goldmine.
So, without even asking for details, he was eager to meet.
“Sure, sure! I’ll be at our usual spot in the capital.”
“Great, see you in half an hour.”
After hanging up, Chu Hai immediately told the driver, “Old Zhang, to the usual place.”
“Yes, sir.”
Just imagining the look of disappointment on Ji Zhe’s face made Chu Hai’s mood improve. He couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath.
Old Ji, you’ve been my brother for all these years, so we’ve got to share both the good and the bad.
Now that I’m in a hole, it’s not right for you to stand up there on your own, is it?
Not right at all.
Absolutely not right.
So, brother, come on down.
Come keep me company.
Old Zhang caught sight of his boss’s expression in the rearview mirror and felt puzzled.
Hadn’t he been scowling just earlier?
Why was a phone call making him so happy?
Rich people sure are fickle!
Half an hour later, the two met at a barbecue joint.
After about five minutes of conversation…
Ji Zhe’s expression went from initial excitement, to gradually freezing, to red-hot—all in less than five minutes.
“Miss Liu said to find a like-minded partner to invest together, and I thought of you right away. Tell me, am I a good brother or what!”
“Let me warn you in advance—if you want to turn down the investment, you’ll have to tell Miss Liu yourself,” Chu Hai said.
Ji Zhe didn’t say a word, just kept his head down, searching for something under the table.
Chu Hai was puzzled. “What are you looking for?”
“A wine bottle,” Ji Zhe replied.
Chu Hai felt a sense of dread. “You... what are you looking for a wine bottle for?”
Ji Zhe finally found an empty bottle. He grabbed it, shot up from his seat with a ferocious expression, and roared, “Screw it, I’ll kill you first, you bastard!”
