Love Affairs in Melbourne-Chapter 282 - 277: The Fertile Water Should Not Flow into Outsiders’ Fields

Chapter 282: Chapter 277: The Fertile Water Should Not Flow into Outsiders’ Fields

After this "dinner party," Wall Street became even more convinced of Y·Y’s intention to go public; those investors who had believed in Y·Y’s lack of fundraising plans felt duped.

The queue of people wanting to meet the "star entrepreneur" Yan Ling grew longer.

Many had thoroughly investigated Qi Yi’s experience on Wall Street: he graduated from Stanford and started his career at Barclays in investment banking, beginning as a quant. He didn’t stay at Barclays long before moving to Ian’s private equity firm.

Ian intended to carve out a small private fund from his own and let Qi Yi serve as the GP, focusing on Pre-IPO private equity investments.

Qi Yi’s private fund, where he would act as GP, had not been officially established yet, so for most people, Qi Yi was still an investment manager who started as a quant at Ian’s company.

In the past few years, Ian’s private fund mainly ventured in the stock market.

In addition, there were two quite successful Pre-IPO private equity investments. After verification, it was found that both projects were managed by Qi Yi, the "relatively unknown" investment manager.

People on Wall Street began to find it incomprehensible; Y·Y had never raised funds before and couldn’t possibly take the giant leap to go straight to an IPO, turning their heads to list on the New York Stock Exchange.

What was even more puzzling was, even if they were planning to go public, why would they discuss it with the likes of Qi Yi, whose private fund had not reached scale or maturity?

Not to mention, during an IPO, small-scale private funds like this could at most co-invest.

Large investment banks and small ones can raise funds of entirely different magnitudes; if Y·Y considered engaging with a small-scale private fund, they would certainly need one or more large banks to lead the investment.

From now until the final listing, Y·Y would definitely not settle for just a "small and micro private fund" that was still organizing and lacked LPs.

Those with a keen sense of smell on Wall Street, upon hearing about the dinner meeting between Yan Ling and Qi Yi two days earlier, became even more eager to knock on Yan Ling’s office door.

Compared to the paparazzi, investment banks on Wall Street have a more diverse and impressive array of tactics and skills when it comes to catching people.

Wall Street’s major investment banks are filled with high-IQ, high-appearance graduates from prestigious universities.

These vibrant Wall Street "stars of tomorrow," fresh on the job, are often tasked with collecting information before getting their hands on big projects.

Securing a meeting time with entrepreneurs is also one of the most basic professional ethics.

At the boss’s command, these newbies execute in various ways.

Due to their lack of experience, they’re not burdened by preconceived notions.

Their problem-solving styles are varied and full of vigor.

Elites solve problems in ways far richer than paparazzi who are only keen on snapping photos.

When Yan Ling previously "conversed" with Qi Yi, it was at the restaurant that Yan Yan insisted on visiting today.

Yan Yan felt a bit dissatisfied with the words "relatively unknown" in the reports.

After reading the article, Yan Yan joked with Qi Yi: "Xiao Qizi, how have you mixed around for so long and only achieved the ’relatively unknown’ title?"

The meal Yan Ling and Qi Yi had was a bit unnerving with the constant attention from passersby in the restaurant. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

During a single meal, seven or eight people came to greet them—most of whom he didn’t really know.

Having a meal without peace, the feeling of being a "star" wasn’t actually that great.

After the meal, Yan Ling went to buy large sunglasses and a face mask to "vent his frustrations."

Given the choice, Yan Ling certainly wouldn’t opt to dine at this restaurant, at least not during this period where he would not be interested in visiting a place that turned himself into a "spectacle."

But after understanding the full situation, Yan Yan not only showed no understanding but also insisted her first meal in New York had to be at this restaurant.

Qi Yi’s private fund might have Ian’s endorsement, but Qi Yi didn’t have the same powerful background as Ian—garnering a bevy of wealthy LPs eager to invest was out of the question.

Ian’s private fund was hot—small in size yet powerful in reach.

Many chased after Ian hoping to fill the gap left by Yan Yan’s departure as an LP.

As for Ian’s recommended new private fund, most people showed little enthusiasm.

One look into Qi Yi’s background would show he originated from the world of quants, a former Wall Street favorite that had long since cooled.

Therefore, Qi Yi’s fund was still in the process of seeking new LPs.

Ian knew Qi Yi’s capabilities, but the achievements at Ian’s fund were credited under Ian’s performance.

Aside from insiders like Ian or Yan Yan, others were unaware of Qi Yi’s "genuine expertise."

If Yan Yan had become Qi Yi’s LP upon leaving Ian, there would’ve been some promotional effect.

But Yan Yan didn’t do so.

Nor did Qi Yi wish for it.

Previously, as Ian’s employee, Qi Yi didn’t have to be responsible for Yan Yan’s fortune.

But for the soon-to-be-established new private fund, Qi Yi, as the GP, would have to bear full responsibility for its performance.

If Yan Yan became his LP, Qi Yi would definitely feel constrained.

After reading about the "relatively unknown" investment manager, Yan Yan, adhering to the principle of keeping benefits within one’s own circle, decided to make the rumors a reality.

Yan Yan "confiscated" Yan Ling’s full set of disguises.

Wearing oversized sunglasses and intimately linking arms with Yan Ling as his companion, Yan Yan entered Delmonico’s restaurant.

Yan Yan’s plane was due at Kennedy Airport at noon. Not only did she forbid Qi Yi from picking her up at the airport, but she also made Qi Yi, who had already reserved their spot, "line up" outside the restaurant door before its 11:30 opening time.

When Yan Ling arrived at Delmonico’s, escorted by the mysterious girl in black sunglasses, Qi Yi had already been waiting inside for over an hour.

Many who came to the restaurant for lunch were busy business people who had to return to work afterwards.

When Yan Yan and Yan Ling entered around one o’clock, most of the restaurant’s seats were beginning to "turn over."

The restaurant was already doing well, but business was especially booming today after one o’clock, when a fresh wave of Wall Street’s sharpest noses arrived.

Among them were investment managers, newly hired employees, and interns who hadn’t yet graduated, hoping to secure a better chance of receiving a full-time offer from a major bank by netting Yan Ling.

These purposeful young folks tried to choose seats close to where Yan Yan sat.

At first, everything was normal, but when Yan Yan’s ordered grilled cheese sandwich was about to be served, people started approaching Yan Yan’s table to greet Yan Ling and exchange business cards.