At precisely 6 a.m., Chen Qing woke up, feeling the warmth of two soft bodies next to her. She lazily reached out, drawing sleepy murmurs and giggles from the Jiang sisters, Jiang Shanwu and Jiang Yuanchi. Sitting up, Chen Qing stretched and teased, "I've trained you two so well. Next time the boss visits, I don't know if he'll be pleasantly surprised or utterly furious."
The sisters also stirred, but as Chen Qing got out of bed and headed directly to the bathroom without so much as a cuddle, they exchanged glances, a touch of disappointment flickering across their faces. Still, they dressed quietly and left the inner courtyard suite to freshen up in their own rooms.
Twenty minutes later, Chen Qing, fully dressed and composed, left the suite and walked to the garden library.
The two-story building, built in a traditional Chinese style, housed a collection of over ten thousand volumes centered on Chinese culture, painstakingly curated with the help of several university professors. Though originally intended as a library, Chen Qing now used it as her personal office.
By the time she arrived on the second floor, the Jiang sisters, along with attendants Lily Favell and Kristina Lassam, were already there. They were sorting through the latest domestic and international newspapers and magazines, preparing summaries for Chen Qing and Lin Su.
Settling at the large redwood desk by the window, Chen Qing powered on her laptop. Shortly after, Lin Su walked in, bringing along her sister, Lin Lan.
Chen Qing's expression subtly tightened at the sight of Lin Lan but she said nothing, turning her attention to her email inbox.
The first email was from Simon.
While most reports to Simon went through Sofia's assistant team, Chen Qing and Lin Su had direct contact with him. However, they rarely used it, typically sending him one or two emails per week.
Chen Qing's emails were often lighthearted, filled with tidbits rather than formal updates—a deliberate tactic to maintain Simon's interest, like a girl slipping notes to her crush.
In her most recent email, she had updated Simon on the progress of his garden projects in Suzhou and Hangzhou. She'd also mentioned a new group of attendants she'd recruited from top Chinese universities, describing them as "the cream of the crop."
She had even shared a playful anecdote about arranging a barter deal, exchanging Ukrainian amber for Chinese-made televisions—a modern homage to entrepreneur Mou Qizhong.
Lastly, she had written about acquiring a 30% stake in Beijing's Heaven on Earth nightclub through a shell company in Hong Kong. The $1.5 million investment seemed steep, given that the club had only recently opened, but she noted that her handpicked managers had already taken charge. She had jokingly asked if Simon wanted a private room reserved for him.
Simon's reply had already arrived.
It was brief and direct:
"China is at a stage where serious work can be done. Stop thinking about shortcuts."
Chen Qing pursed her lips in mild annoyance, twirling a pencil between her fingers. So, that was a scolding.
Further down, Simon had included an actual task: to produce a special edition VCD compilation of past Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows, complete with subtitles displaying the names of all the angels in both English and Chinese. He emphasized that the packaging and presentation should be as polished as possible.
Chen Qing tilted her head in thought. Was the boss… indirectly endorsing piracy?
A grin tugged at her lips. Of course, Simon knew that the Chinese VCD market had thrived on bootlegs. By having her spearhead this project, he was cleverly playing the game to promote the Victoria's Secret brand in China.
The idea was ingenious.
Past Victoria's Secret shows had already gained underground popularity in China, but viewers had to rely on magazines or newspapers to identify the models. Adding subtitles would personalize the experience, turning the runway stars into household names.
As the idea settled in, a distant sound of reciting lines reached Chen Qing's ears.
It was Li Youhu and Zhu Momo rehearsing by the lakeside in the garden. Reflecting on Zhu Momo's striking height and the rumors swirling from the U.S., Chen Qing suddenly understood Simon's plan.
By introducing Chinese models into the Victoria's Secret lineup, the show would inevitably grab the attention of Chinese media. With media coverage amplifying the buzz and the VCDs filling in the gaps, the "Victoria's Secret Angels" would achieve widespread recognition in China.
How clever, Chen Qing mused. A perfect example of riding the wave while steering the boat.
Shaking off her thoughts, Chen Qing dove into her emails.
One from Jared Buckley, the head of Apollo Management's China division, stood out. Buckley, stationed in China since Simon's visit earlier that year, had expanded his team to over 200 members, focusing on food and beverages, real estate, and electronics.
His latest update discussed ongoing negotiations to acquire a majority stake in Foshan-based Haitian Flavouring & Food Co., a prominent condiments company. With its high profit margins and lack of stringent regulations, the condiment industry had become a priority for Apollo.
The proposed deal would see Apollo acquire 60% of Haitian through a combination of capital injection and share purchase, while the local government retained minority ownership. Apollo pledged to retain the existing management team and support the company's expansion domestically and internationally, with a future IPO in the works.
Buckley's email also mentioned two other projects in Guangdong:
Evergrande Investment: A $2 million (RMB 20 million) deal for a 40% stake in the fledgling real estate company founded by Xu Jiayin. Despite being only three months old, Evergrande's founder had already proven his acumen, netting RMB 200 million from a prior project. Simon had personally approved this investment, along with a $100 million credit line to fuel future developments.
Country Garden Research: Buckley's team was conducting due diligence on Country Garden, a Foshan-based real estate company. Its innovative hotel-style property development model had piqued Apollo's interest.
As the printer hummed to life, Chen Qing stretched and glanced at the time. It was already 7 a.m. Time for breakfast.
By the time Chen Qing descended to the dining area, the Jiang sisters had already neatly compiled the printed reports along with their summaries and followed her downstairs.
Lin Lan, who had been poring over Zhejiang investment proposals with her sister, shot Lin Su a knowing look as Chen Qing left the room without a word.
Lin Su could only sigh.
While she hated to admit it, she increasingly felt outpaced by Chen Qing's energy and efficiency.
But the two women weren't rivals—not in the conventional sense. They shared the same man, the same goals, and even the same workload. What was there to fight over?
Still, Lin Su resolved to push back—at least a little. Her father's demands, after all, deserved attention.
Over breakfast in the inner courtyard's dining room, Lin Su finally broached the subject. "Xiao Qing, about the film city project. I'd like to propose Hangzhou. What do you think?"
Chen Qing looked up from her documents, casting a brief glance at Lin Lan before addressing Lin Su. "Do you understand Simon's strategy?"
Lin Su nodded.
Simon envisioned Jinshu Media as a vertically integrated system reminiscent of Hollywood's Golden Age studios like MGM. Every link in the entertainment chain—production, distribution, stars, theaters—would be controlled under one roof.
For China, still lacking a cohesive industry infrastructure, this model was not just ambitious but necessary.
Satisfied, Chen Qing said, "I've already initiated discussions with Suzhou's municipal government. Vertical integration requires substantial tax incentives and policy support. My connections in Suzhou make negotiations easier. In about a month, I'll have a draft agreement. If you want Hangzhou, you'll need to secure comparable terms within the same timeframe."
Lin Lan interjected, "A month isn't enough. Hangzhou is a provincial capital; decisions there take much longer than in Suzhou."
Chen Qing's lips curved into a sly smile. "That's precisely the challenge. If Hangzhou's officials are truly interested, they'll find a way. Otherwise, why waste time?"
Unwilling to back down, Lin Lan pressed, "But you've already started groundwork in Suzhou. That gives you an unfair advantage."
Chen Qing shrugged. "Lin Su could have started sooner, too. That's not my fault."
Lin Lan turned to her sister, exasperated. "What have you been doing all this time?"
Lin Su felt a twinge of guilt. While she worked just as hard as Chen Qing, she had a tendency to defer to her on major decisions.
Frustrated, she shoved the Zhejiang proposal folder across the table. "Here, look through this today. I need an answer by tomorrow. If you don't give me one, I'll take out all my money for this project."
Chen Qing's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare."
Lin Su's determined expression said otherwise. Realizing she might lose this battle, Chen Qing sighed and softened her tone. "Fine, I'll review it. But I'm swamped today. It'll take time."
Lin Lan smirked. "Time can always be made, Qing-jie. As you said—seize the day."
Chen Qing shot Lin Lan a withering look. "…"
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