Chapter 177 - The Next Dragon
Two days later, Iris began her official lessons with Grandpa Lu. Since his Mediterranean property was quite far from her penthouse, Grandpa Lu moved to one of his properties that was the nearest to her place.
It was a penthouse unit in a condominium building called Platinum Sky only a few blocks away from Gold Heights. Professor Schwarz revealed to Iris that Lu Jianhong owned all the Platinum Sky buildings in the country. It seemed that there were also other Platinum Sky properties in other countries across Asia as well.
Qiao Yu also came with her. He had no idea who he was meeting with. Iris only told him that her new business mentor wanted to examine her entire financial portfolio and also to talk to her financial manager.
When he first heard about it, Qiao Yu was very unhappy. He thought that he was more than enough to manage her finances. There was no need for a business mentor. After all, he already achieved their goal of making her into a billionaire in her early twenties. He was doing an excellent job, if he may say so himself.
He initially declined but Iris was insistent. She was the boss, so even if he didn't like it, he still went with her to meet this so-called business mentor. It felt like he was getting ready for battle. He was already assuming that the business mentor would not be able to compare to his knowledge and skills. He would surely show Iris that he alone was enough to handle her finances.
But when he met Iris' so-called business mentor, Qiao Yu's mind went blank. He stood frozen and stared with unseeing eyes at Grandpa Lu.
"Eh? What's wrong with him?! I want to know! I said hello but he's not responding!" Grandpa Lu squinted his eyes at the frozen financial manager.
Iris shrugged. "He'll be fine, Grandpa Lu. I think that's a normal reaction from him. He did that with me before too. My assistant and I thought that he was having a stroke. He'll return to normal soon."
When Qiao Yu regained his senses, he watched Iris and the legendary Lu Jianhong chatting comfortably with each other. What was going on? Was it the end of the world?
"S-sir L-lu Jianhong!" he exclaimed. His usually stern expression was replaced with disbelief."Don't shout! I may be old but I'm not deaf! So I hear you're the financial advisor of Xiulan my girl? What are you waiting for? Introduce yourself!"
"A-ah, yes!" Qiao Yu almost stumbled on his own feet as he hurriedly stepped forward and almost bit his tongue in his excitement to introduce himself.
This was Lu Jianhong! The legendary business genius and the true king of the country's business world!
After introducing himself, Qiao Yu handed the elderly man his business card with trembling fingers.
Iris stood at the side, amused at her financial manager's sudden subservient behaviour. It seemed that her new mentor was really someone impressive and respected by people of the business world.
After the greetings, Grandpa Lu led Iris and Qiao Yu to his home office. The place was almost bare and looked like it wasn't used often.
"I've had this place for years, but this is actually the first time that I'm staying here. I even forgot that I have this property! Ahahaha! But I still prefer the open fields and nature than the bustling city!" Grandpa Lu turned to Iris. "Xiulan my girl, why don't you, Kalisha and Akio move to my mansion instead? It's pretty big. We'll all fit in there!"
Iris smiled before shaking her head. "Thank you for the invitation, Grandpa Lu, but I can't. I'm currently living with my boyfriend."
"What?! Aren't you progressing too fast in your relationship?! You have to think things through carefully first!"
She just smiled politely, not saying anything, but Grandpa Lu could feel her stubbornness.While the two were talking, Qiao Yu sat in a daze. Was he dreaming? If he wasn't seeing the evidence with his own eyes, he would never believe that Iris' new business mentor was THE Lu Jianhong. How did this happen? And from hearing them talk, it seemed that they were quite close. She was calling him Grandpa, for goodness' sake! This was just unbelievable!
After the small talk and refreshments, they began to talk business.
The boisterous Grandpa Lu suddenly became serious, strict and focused. He carefully studied every detail of Iris' financial portfolio that Qiao Yu was currently managing. He questioned Qiao Yu several times.
At first, Qiao Yu felt very nervous (and honestly scared) in front of the business legend but as time went on, he calmed down and stopped hesitating in his answers. After all, this was his element and what he was good at.
Grandpa Lu stroked his mustache as he listened to the financial manager. He nodded, approving of him.
"From now on, you'll also meet me regularly," he told Qiao Yu. "The three of us will strategize on how to improve this girl's finances. We are going to raise the next dragon of the business world! Don't you find it exciting? Ahahaha!"
Qiao Yu was shocked but his head was already nodding on its own. Then he looked at the nonchalant Iris who was calmly sipping her tea, as if she wasn't the dragon the business legend was referring to.
This…what in the world was happening today?