Chapter 913
Qian Youyou's Advice
The new headquarters of the Qian Group is located opposite the Century Tower in Shenzhen's CBD. From the floor-to-ceiling windows of the president's office, one can enjoy a panoramic view of Shenzhen's bustling CBD. The highly recognizable outline of the Century Tower faces this location, like a silent monument proclaiming the business empire of its creator.
The afternoon sun slanted across the large mahogany desk, illuminating the spread-out report with its ink still wet.
Qian Youyou leaned back slightly in the comfortable leather chair, her fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the edge of the report.
The figures on the report are clear and compelling—the commercial street's annual rental income: 98,750,000. Just one step away from breaking 100 million.
Her gaze fell on the series of numbers, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards into a soft arc, her eyes revealing a sincere admiration and indescribable appreciation.
This report summarizes the rental revenue of the commercial complex opposite the Century Building, which was jointly developed by the Qian family and the Century Group, with the latter providing the land.
Initially, there was a heated debate within the Qian family regarding the operating model for this neighborhood.
The father and most of the senior executives preferred to sell the completed street-front shops as a whole to quickly recoup huge sums of money and secure their profits.
Only she defied all opposition and insisted on adopting Lu Yang's seemingly "conservative" or even "disadvantageous" suggestion: all street-facing shops would only be rented, not sold! The first two years would be rent-free to cultivate the market, and after the commercial atmosphere matured, reasonable and sustainable rents would be charged based on foot traffic and prosperity.
"Long-term benefits..." Qian Youyou murmured to herself, her fingertips tracing the nearly 100 million figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
At the time, she did not fully understand Lu Yang's deeper meaning.
Although she trusted his judgment, she also wavered when faced with internal pressures within the group and the desire to quickly recoup funds.
Ultimately, it was the confidence she gained from leading the collaboration, along with her inexplicable faith in Lu Yang, that allowed her to withstand the pressure and forcefully implement the plan.
Looking back now, this was more than just foresight; it was a stroke of genius!
In just a few years, thanks to the popularity brought by the Century Building and the man's subtle guidance on the overall business layout, the street beneath our feet has now become a new trendy landmark and a prime commercial location in Shenzhen.
The figures on the reports, showing that rents have been steadily increasing year by year, are the most compelling proof.
More importantly, the value of these shops themselves has increased more than tenfold compared to their development costs. They are no longer a burden that needs to be quickly monetized, but rather a hen that lays golden eggs continuously. They are one of the most stable and most promising core assets in Qian's commercial real estate sector.
"He came out of the mountains all by himself... in just ten years... he built such a huge family business." Qian Youyou pictured Lu Yang's face, which was sometimes as steady as a mountain and sometimes sharp and edgy, and her eyes were filled with admiration and love.
This admiration stems from countless facts proving his accurate judgment and his courage that is difficult for ordinary people to match.
She could even imagine the complex emotions her father must be feeling as he looked at the report.
Those who opposed it back then are probably speechless now.
This annual cash flow of nearly 100 million and its continuous growth is enough to silence any dissenting voices and further solidify her position within the Qian family.
A polite knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Please come in." Qian Youyou quickly composed herself, regaining the composure typical of a powerful businesswoman.
The door opened, and her secretary stood in the doorway with a professional smile: "Mr. Qian, Mr. Xiao is here. He says he has something urgent to discuss with you. I asked him to wait a moment..."
"Let him in." Qian Youyou nodded slightly, understanding the situation.
Her older brother is the type who only shows up when he needs something, and he's been particularly agitated lately because of the fact that Sina's shares were snatched away by Hong Kong Capital.
However, before the secretary could finish speaking, a figure strode in like a gust of wind, roughly squeezing past her side, accompanied by an impatient shout:
"Get out of the way! I'm your CEO's older brother! His own flesh and blood! Understand? You need an appointment and notification to see your own sister? What kind of rule is that!"
It was Xiao Jun.
He had clearly come at a great speed; his forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, his carefully styled hair was somewhat disheveled, and his face screamed "extremely urgent."
The secretary, who had been pushed aside by him, looked embarrassed and frightened, and quickly bowed deeply to Qian Youyou: "I'm so sorry, President Qian! President Xiao... I really couldn't stop him..."
Qian Youyou's brows furrowed instantly, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes.
She waved her hand, her tone calm but with an undeniable authority: "I know, it's none of your business. Go now. Close the door behind you."
"Yes, Mr. Qian." The secretary felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly withdrew, gently closing the heavy office door to shut out the outside world.
Once the door closed, only the brother and sister remained in the office.
Qian Youyou's gaze fell on Xiao Jun, filled with scrutiny and a hint of barely perceptible reproach: "Brother, you're in your forties and the president of a multi-billion dollar listed company. This is the company, not home. Don't you understand basic rules and respect? Was it so hard to make a phone call before coming? Have your secretary inform me. What if I'm in an important meeting or have important guests here? If you barged in like this, where would I put my face? Where would the Qian family's face be?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, carrying an invisible pressure.
Xiao Jun couldn't listen to these "trivial details" at the moment. He waved his hand irritably, as if shooing away flies, and went straight to the guest chair opposite Qian Youyou's desk. He plopped down heavily, and the chair groaned under its weight.
"Alright, alright! My dear sister! What kind of time is this to be talking to me about these formalities? I'm your own brother! Your own brother, even if we're broken, we're still connected!" Xiao Jun leaned forward, his hands braced on the edge of the desk, his eyes fixed on Qian Youyou, his voice sharp with urgency, "I'm asking you, do you know? Your man, Lu Yang! He! He's going to reduce his holdings of Little Prodigy's shares at a high price, and he plans to do so on a large scale."
Seeing Xiao Jun's anxious expression, Qian Youyou's brows relaxed a little. She leaned back in her chair, picked up the perfectly warm coffee on the table, took a small sip, and asked in a calm tone, as if discussing the weather: "Is that all?"
She put down her coffee cup, looked at Xiao Jun, and her eyes held a hint of "you're making a mountain out of a molehill": "I thought the sky had fallen and I needed to go find the Nuwa Stone to patch the hole right away. Was it really worth you barging into my office like a headless fly?"
"Isn't this the sky falling?!" Xiao Jun slammed his hand on the table, nearly knocking over his coffee cup. His voice rose even higher, filled with disbelief. "Qian Youyou! My dear sister! Are you really confused or just pretending? Why am I, your older brother, able to sit comfortably in the position of CEO of Little Prodigy? Huh? Is it because of my amazing management skills? Or my business acumen that can turn the tide?"
He gave a self-deprecating sneer, pointing to his own nose: "None of that! It's all because of Lu Yang, this big shot, who sits firmly in the position of the major shareholder! It's because of the controlling stake he holds that I'm backed up! Why don't those old foxes on the board, or those covetous capital outside, dare to touch me? Isn't it because they're afraid of Lu Yang?"
Xiao Jun became increasingly agitated as he spoke, almost spitting out words: "Now look what's happened! He's going to reduce his holdings at the peak of the stock price! And judging from the tone, it might not be just once! Starting at 5%, and he'll continue reducing as the market improves! What if he reduces his holdings to the point where his percentage of shares drops drastically and he's no longer the largest shareholder? What if someone takes advantage of his share reduction and the loosening of the shareholding structure to pull some dirty tricks behind my back, colluding with other shareholders to try and oust me? Without his shares as a stabilizing force, can I, as the president, still sit securely? Huh?!"
He poured out all his worries, all his fears, and all his anxiety about the possibility of losing his position.
This was his core interest, the foundation of all his current glory and power. Looking at Xiao Jun's flushed face and bloodshot eyes, Qian Youyou remained silent for a moment.
She could understand her brother's concerns. This position was indeed his livelihood, especially after he had bet almost all his wealth on internet companies like Sina, only to have it snatched away by Li Zekai and suffer heavy losses. The position of president of Little Prodigy was even more important to him.
"So," Qian Youyou said slowly, her voice clear and calm, "you mean, you want me to persuade him? To whisper sweet nothings in his ear and get him to abandon the share reduction plan, thus securing your position as CEO?"
"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" Xiao Jun nodded repeatedly as if grasping at a lifeline, his eyes gleaming with hope. "Youyou, you're his woman! The mother of his son! Even though you haven't registered your marriage, it's a fact! He'll definitely listen to you! As long as you ask, he'll consider it. For your brother's sake, for your brother's future, please help me, just this once. Talk to him properly, now is really not the time to reduce holdings, the risk is too great."
He almost pleaded.
However, Qian Youyou slowly and firmly shook her head, her eyes showing no hesitation: "No."
"What?!" The hope on Xiao Jun's face froze instantly, turning into astonishment and anger. "What did you say? No?! Qian Youyou! I'm your own brother!"
“Precisely because you are my own brother.” Qian Youyou’s gaze was fixed on Xiao Jun, with an almost cold clarity. “I can’t help you whisper in your ear. If I really did, I wouldn’t be helping you, I would be harming you.”
"Harm me?!" Xiao Jun was completely dumbfounded and couldn't understand his sister's logic at all.
“That’s right, he harmed you.” Qian Youyou’s tone was resolute. “Who is Lu Yang? You’ve witnessed him build this empire from scratch over the past ten years. Every major decision he made, was it impulsive? And every one of them proved to be well-thought-out in hindsight? His decision to reduce his holdings must have its reasons, its deeper considerations that you can’t see or understand!”
She paused, her tone tinged with a warning: "You're only worried about your position, only seeing the current stock price peak. But have you ever considered why he chose to sell when everyone was bullish and the stock price was at its highest? Didn't he want to make money? Didn't he know that selling might cause market volatility? He knew better than anyone! But he still did it. What does that mean?"
Qian Youyou's eyes sharpened: "This means that what he sees is likely a huge risk that you can't see! It means that he judges that this so-called 'high point' is likely to be a peak that will never be reached again for a long time to come, or even for the next few years!"
These words sent a jolt through Xiao Jun's heart.
Lu Yang's warning about the "abyss" echoed in his ears once more. Back then, in the study of the Lu residence, he was only focused on his anger and worry about his shares, and hadn't given it much thought.
Now that my sister has pointed it out so bluntly, a chill instantly ran from the soles of my feet up my spine.
"I advise you," Qian Youyou's voice softened slightly, but still carried an undeniable force, "Don't focus all your energy on whether you can hold onto your CEO position. Since even he has chosen to significantly reduce his holdings and cash out at this juncture, as the CEO of Little Prodigy, holding a portion of the shares, why not follow suit? While the stock price is at its historical high, why not reduce your holdings as well?"
"Follow...and reduce holdings together?" Xiao Jun murmured, repeating the question as if he were hearing this option for the first time, and his whole body froze.
This thought never crossed his mind when he was overwhelmed by anger and anxiety.
Qian Youyou nodded: "Yes. Cash out at the peak, secure your profits. Getting real money is more important than anything else. As for what happens next..."
She gently shook her head, her gaze deep. "We can talk about it later. Having cash on hand gives you the option to attack or defend. It's better than putting all your chips in a position that may face huge uncertainty. What if... I mean, what if his judgment is right, the bubble really bursts, and the stock price really crashes? Then the cash you have will be your most valuable resource, and it might even allow you to buy back more chips at a lower price after the storm."
“But… what if…” Xiao Jun opened his mouth, his throat dry and tight, the words “What if he’s wrong?” stuck in his throat, he couldn’t say them.
Deep down, he had already begun to waver.
Lu Yang's countless "prophetic" pronouncements from the past flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
Each time, Lu Yang was ultimately proven to be right.
Betting on Lu Yang's foresight? Or betting on your own judgment, betting that the internet feast will never end?
This decision was so heavy that he could hardly breathe.
If you gamble on Lu Yang, it means giving up a portion of the shares he relies on for his livelihood, giving up some control over the company, and betting on an uncertain future return.
If he were to gamble on himself... would he really be confident of defeating that "strange" Lu Yang?
In a short time.
A profound sense of contradiction and uncertainty overwhelmed him like a cold tide.
He slumped into the large chair, as if all his strength had been drained away. His eyes were vacant as he stared at the expensive chandelier on the ceiling, lost in an unprecedented state of confusion and struggle.
Qian Youyou sighed silently as she looked at her older brother's dejected appearance.
She has said everything she could and should have said.
The rest of the path is up to him to choose.
"That's all I have to say." Qian Youyou's voice returned to its businesslike coolness, breaking the silence. "Whether you listen or not is up to you. This is a major decision concerning your own interests and future, and no one can make that decision for you. Alright, I still have important documents to process and several meetings to attend. You should go back first. Go back and calm down, and think this through carefully. Do you trust Lu Yang's undefeated insight over the past ten years, or... trust your own judgment?"
She picked up a document from the table, making a gesture as if to see him off, her gaze already refocused on the text, no longer looking at Xiao Jun.
The order to leave was clear and decisive.
Xiao Jun seemed to be startled awake. He glanced blankly at his sister and saw her profile, which was already in working mode. He knew that there was no point in staying any longer.
He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. He simply stood up listlessly, his steps unsteady, and like a wandering ghost, dragged his heavy steps slowly toward the door.
His hand gripped the cold doorknob, pausing for a few seconds, as if processing the enormous amount of information and the even greater pressure of making a decision.
Finally, he gently turned the doorknob, lowered his head, and walked out, forgetting to close the door.
Qian Youyou raised her head, looking at the wide-open office door and her older brother's dejected figure disappearing around the corner of the corridor, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
She picked up the intercom: "Xiao Wang, come in for a moment and close the door."
She put down the phone, her gaze returning to the report showing nearly 100 million in rental income, but her thoughts drifted to the man probably drinking coffee in the top-floor office of the building across the street.
Just how deep of an "abyss" did he see?
And, elder brother, will he be able to make a truly wise choice? (End of Chapter)