Chapter 321: Suggestion
Chapter 321: Suggestion
Nie Zhan had promised to take Lu Jiaxin skiing, and he intended to keep his word. It was fortunate that France had many ski resorts to choose from. However, before their departure, he expressed his regret with a slight hint of disappointment: "It's a shame Courchevel is closed now; otherwise, I would have taken you there. I guarantee you'd be begging to come back next year."
Lu Jiaxin's curiosity was piqued. "What's so special about that place?"
Nie Zhan happily enlightened her. Courchevel, he explained, was nestled in the heart of France's three valleys, surrounded by lush forests, and boasted an unparalleled geographical location. This meant that the area remained blanketed in thick snow throughout the entire ski season. But that wasn't all—it was also a leisure destination that combined skiing with vacation getaways. The resort boasted over a dozen five-star hotels and was home to a plethora of luxury brands like Dior, Hermes, LV, and Rolex. It was the perfect place to indulge in some retail therapy for luxury goods when one needed a break from the slopes.
Lu Jiaxin's inner monologue acknowledged that this was indeed a playground for the wealthy.
Upon arriving at the ski resort, Nie Zhan patiently taught Lu Jiaxin how to ski. She already knew how to ice skate, so with Nie Zhan's guidance, she picked up skiing in no time. During their eight-day stay at the resort, Nie Zhan was frequently approached by beautiful women.
After yet another rejection of a voluptuous woman, Lu Jiaxin teased with a hint of sourness: "You're quite the popular one."
Nie Zhan pulled her hand and smiled. "I don't even remember what those women looked like. Jiaxin, you're the only one in my heart."
Lu Jiaxin's heart melted at his words, and she took the initiative to hug him. "Smooth talker," she murmured.
However, throughout their time together, Nie Zhan had only held her hand and nothing more. It was normal for couples to cuddle and embrace, but he had refrained, maintaining a gentlemanly distance.
Nie Zhan froze, his entire body going rigid. After a moment, he said, "I mean every word I say. In my heart, you're the most beautiful, and no one can compare."
Lu Jiaxin's heart soared at his flattery.
Happy times always passed too quickly, and before they knew it, their vacation had come to an end. As they prepared to leave, Lu Jiaxin found herself reluctant to depart.
Noticing her expression, Nie Zhan smiled and said, "Let's come back during the winter break. We'll go to Courchevel and have a blast."
"Won't you be busy at the end of the year? It's usually the busiest time for work," Lu Jiaxin pointed out.
"It'll be fine as long as I make the necessary arrangements," Nie Zhan assured her. A well-established company should have a mature operating system in place, allowing it to function smoothly even in the absence of the chairman or president. Otherwise, it would be problematic.
The mention of the company prompted Lu Jiaxin to inquire about Man Sang Properties' debt ratio. Upon hearing that it was only twenty percent, she found the figure surprisingly low.
Just then, the car arrived, and Lu Jiaxin, intending to discuss company matters further, asked Gu Wenfeng to replace the driver. Of all the people around her, she trusted Gu Wenfeng the most. As for Qian Xiao Xiao, she was still relatively new to the world of bodyguards.
As the car headed towards the airport, Lu Jiaxin resumed her line of questioning. "What about your company's land reserves?"
Land reserves were of paramount importance to a real estate company. A substantial land reserve could provide a strategic advantage during the rapid development phase of the real estate industry, enabling the company to expand swiftly.
Nie Zhan shared with her the details of Man Sang's land reserves. As a publicly traded company, Man Sang was required to disclose such information to its shareholders, allowing them insight into the company's development and operations. There were no secrets to hide.
After a moment's thought, Lu Jiaxin asked, "Nie Zhan, what are your thoughts on the reform and opening-up of the mainland?"
Nie Zhan expressed his opinion that the mainland's reform efforts were significant, especially in the special economic zone of Guangzhou, which had experienced rapid economic growth. "My grandfather is very optimistic about the mainland," he continued. "That's why he partnered with the local government a couple of years ago to open a branch there."
Nie Zhan nodded. "The population in the mainland is vast, and the prospects for the real estate business are promising. However, the environment is still not conducive in the past two years. It's important to establish good relationships with the mainland first and then enter the market when the time is right."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiaxin suddenly understood why Old Mr. Nie had insisted on Nie Zhan returning to take over Mansang Properties. Nie Jingwen was a decent person, but he lacked foresight and decisiveness.
Nie Zhan looked at her and asked with a smile, "Why the sudden interest in the company's operations today? Do you intend to invest in real estate?"
Lu Jiaxin shook her head, indicating that she would focus on her studies this year and consider investments next year. "Nie Zhan, if you have such high hopes for the mainland's development, why don't you stock up on more land? Mansang's debt ratio is so low that you can easily take out loans to buy land. I think a debt of below 50% is manageable."
This number was already quite conservative.
Nie Zhan looked at her and asked, "Jiaxin, do you know what a 50% debt ratio means? If there's any fluctuation in the real estate market, the bank will come knocking for their debt, and the company could go bankrupt due to a broken capital chain."
Of course, Lu Jiaxin was aware of this, but she also knew that Hong Kong's real estate market would soar like a rocket in the next decade! There would be fluctuations along the way, but as long as the company maintained a good operating condition, it could withstand even significant fluctuations.
"You haven't lived in the mainland, so you don't understand how much the people there yearn for developed areas like Europe, America, and Hong Kong. Once the economy picks up and people have money in their hands, they will find ways to move abroad or settle in Hong Kong," Lu Jiaxin explained.
"As a special economic zone, Guangzhou has received a lot of support from the mainland government. Being a transit point, Hong Kong will attract—no, is already attracting—many companies to set up base here. With its prime location, the number of companies moving in will only increase, and so will the number of people working here. People need food, clothing, and shelter, and I predict that Hong Kong's real estate market will be on fire."
Nie Zhan fell into deep thought after hearing her words.
Lu Jiaxin didn't say anything more. She had laid out her thoughts in detail, and if Nie Zhan still didn't increase their land reserves and missed this opportunity, she couldn't do much more.
Nie Zhan snapped out of his reverie and realized that Lu Jiaxin had fallen asleep, leaning on him. Looking at her flawless face, he couldn't help but reach out. But just as his hand touched her, she woke up.
Yawning, Lu Jiaxin asked, "Have we arrived?"
"Almost," Nie Zhan smiled. "Don't sleep anymore. We'll be on a plane for over ten hours, so you can sleep then."
"Okay," she replied.
Nie Zhan held her hand, their fingers intertwining. "Jiaxin, thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"You hold 60% of Qirui Company, while Su Heyuan is in second place. Not only are you the chief designer, but the company's development and direction are also under your control, right?" Nie Zhan asked.
"Why do you think so?" Lu Jiaxin asked. Nie Zhan had interacted with Su Heyuan on many occasions, and the two were now friends.
"He may have worked in a clothing factory, but he's not sensitive to fashion and trends. However, Qirui's precise positioning and keen sense of fashion are recognized throughout the industry. It was Qirui that propelled Su Heyuan into the ranks of the nouveau riche in the business world," Nie Zhan explained.
Su Heyuan had gained not only wealth but also fame. Nowadays, he was highly sought after in business circles, and the Hong Kong media praised him as a natural-born talent. On the other hand, Lu Jiaxin remained unknown in the business world. It was no wonder that Su Heyuan treated her so well; anyone would want to prop her up.
(End of Chapter)
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