Reborn in Tokyo: From Heiress to Global Tycoon

Chapter 306 First Encounter at the Rainbow Bridge

(Thanks to "littlepush" for the author certification! Thanks to "光之漫" for the author certification! Two chapters today~)

Late September 1990, Shanghai, China.

Hongqiao Airport VIP parking apron.

An autumn breeze swept across the empty concrete runway, slightly lifting the hem of Chen Zhiyuan's dark gray suit. He stood at the edge of the red carpet, his hands clasped in front of him, his gaze fixed on a tiny black dot appearing at the edge of the gray-white sky.

The officers from the investment promotion bureau and the foreign affairs office standing behind him also looked serious.

Last night, the city received a high-level reception notice directly from the embassy. A top-tier Japanese industrial conglomerate with deep roots is about to arrive in Shanghai for an inspection.

Director Chen had already prepared a draft of over ten pages in his briefcase. From tax breaks in the mature development zones of Puxi to various administrative conveniences for foreign investment, he had memorized all the most favorable conditions that could be offered within the framework of the joint venture. He had even mentally rehearsed several times how to deal with that pot-bellied, rigid-looking, and extremely fussy old-fashioned Japanese businessman.

The fax from Ikeda stated, "Mr. Endo, the managing director of the Saionji Group, led a delegation on an inspection tour." Based on this, Chen Zhiyuan prepared a standard script for attracting investment in heavy industry. He had even rehearsed twice in his mind which development zone's preferential policies to mention during the third round of toasts at the dinner.

It's said that the Saionji family is a long-established noble family. I wonder if they'll come to the talks in kimonos?

The roar of engines came from the end of the runway.

A jet-black Gulfstream G4 cut through the low clouds, its belly almost touching the runway markings. It bore no airline markings; the only distinguishing feature on its fuselage was a tiny silver emblem at the base of the vertical stabilizer.

Chen Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes.

special plane.

He instinctively straightened his back. This was the first time he had ever encountered a Japanese company that would send a private jet to his place.

The Gulfstream G4 taxied to the VIP stand, the cabin door opened, and the folding gangway slowly descended.

The first person to appear at the cabin door was a very tall young man. He wore a dark suit, white gloves, and held an unopened black long-handled umbrella in his left hand. His gaze quickly swept around the tarmac before he stepped aside to make way.

Immediately afterwards, a slender figure wearing a dark blue woolen coat appeared inside the cabin door frame.

Chen Zhiyuan's expression froze for a moment.

That's a girl.

She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, with long black hair tucked behind her ear with a pearl hair clip. She carried a beige lambskin handbag on her left arm, seemingly oblivious to the grand welcoming party with a red carpet spread out below. She didn't even glance at Director Chen, but instead raised her right hand and took a picture of the Soviet-style control tower in the terminal building.

With a "click," white photographic paper was ejected from the bottom of the camera. The girl shook the paper in her hand and observed the gradually developing image with great interest.

Endo walked down the gangway behind the girl. He was wearing a gray three-piece suit, a dark brown leather briefcase, and gold-rimmed glasses that gleamed faintly in the gloomy sky.

Ikeda quickly stepped forward from among his entourage, first bowing to Endo, then stepping aside to guide the group toward the VIP passage.

Chen Zhiyuan stepped forward two steps and extended his right hand.

"Mr. Endo, welcome to Shenhai. You must be tired from your journey." The translator simultaneously translated this sentence into Japanese.

Endo stopped, bowed slightly, and handed over his business card with both hands.

"Director Chen, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Endo, and I am the Managing Director of the Saionji Group. Thank you for your thoughtful arrangements."

The two shook hands. The pressure was moderate, and the handshake lasted precisely two seconds.

Chen Zhiyuan's peripheral vision inevitably drifted to the girl behind Endo who was squatting by the flower bed, taking a Polaroid photo of a trimmed holly bush.

"Mr. Endo, the convoy is waiting ahead." Chen Zhiyuan released his hand, gesturing for them to proceed. "Please move to the VIP lounge for a short rest; tea and refreshments are ready."

Endo nodded slightly and, accompanied by the translator, walked along the red carpet toward the VIP passage. The security guard leaned down and whispered something in the girl's ear. Only then did the girl, who had been squatting by the flower bed, reluctantly stand up, carefully tuck the photograph she had just spat out into her handbag, and follow Fujita forward.

Chen Zhiyuan didn't follow immediately. He stood there watching the group's backs as they walked away, his gaze lingering on that slender figure for a second longer.

Ikeda lagged behind the group. He slowed his pace as if he had forgotten something, and only when Endo and his group were more than ten meters away from Chen Zhiyuan did he quietly turn back and whisper in Chen Zhiyuan's ear.

"Director Chen," Ikeda lowered his voice, "that person just now was the eldest daughter of the Saionji family."

Chen Zhiyuan's brow twitched slightly.

"For this trip, Executive Director Endo is in full charge of business coordination. The young lady…" Ikeda hesitated, then added, "is ostensibly here to relax. But the final approval authority within the group rests with her."

"Signature rights?"

"Yes." Ikeda's voice lowered even further. "It's a rule of the Saionji family. Any external investment exceeding a certain amount must be signed by the head of the family or a direct blood relative. Executive Director Endo can negotiate terms and set the framework, but the final decision only counts if the eldest daughter signs it."

"The young lady came along this time ostensibly for an inspection, but actually she just felt that life in Japan was too boring and wanted to relax."

Ikeda glanced at the girl's back and lowered his voice even further.

"Regarding the specific business metrics, I'll need you to coordinate with Executive Director Endo. But in terms of the overall direction... you know what I mean."

Director Chen nodded calmly.

He looked at the back of the girl who had walked more than twenty meters ahead and was looking at the pillars of the terminal building. He tore up and rearranged the reception speech he had prepared in his mind.

A wealthy heiress who makes the final decisions. A housekeeper who does the work.

Understood.

Chen Zhiyuan patted Ikeda on the shoulder and quickly caught up with the group ahead.

"Mr. Endo," Chen Zhiyuan caught up from behind, his smile returning to its warm tone, "The motorcade is ready. A welcome dinner will be held for everyone at the Peace Hotel tonight. Does Miss have any dietary restrictions?"

Endo turned his head and glanced at Satsuki, who was being led by Fujita towards the convoy.

"The young lady doesn't eat spicy food and prefers French desserts," Endo said businesslike. "Also, she's extremely sensitive to the smell of smoke. Please arrange a non-smoking private room."

"No problem, no problem." Chen Zhiyuan nodded repeatedly, already thinking about what to replace the originally planned Moutai with.

……

Peace Hotel, eighth-floor private room.

The night view of the Huangpu River unfolds through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The skyline of Pudong on the opposite bank is pitch black, with only a few scattered red navigation lights flickering on the river surface.

Eight cold dishes were laid out on the round table. The sweet and sour aroma of the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish mingled with the steam from the crab roe xiaolongbao, filling the warm yellow light.

Chen Zhiyuan sat to the right of the head of the table, with the translator right next to him. Endo sat directly opposite the head of the table, his back ramrod straight, with only half a finger's width of Shaoxing rice wine in his glass.

Satsuki sat to Endo's left. Her plate was barely touched, and a small silver spoon was drawing meaningless circles in a bowl of almond tofu.

"...So this Bund, from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, has always been the financial heart of the Far East." Chen Zhiyuan put down his chopsticks and pointed to the row of European-style buildings outside the window that were lit with warm lights. "HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Jardine Matheson all clustered on this street back then. If Mr. Endo is interested, I can arrange for someone to take you to visit the clock tower of the Customs House tomorrow."

The translator will translate this passage into fluent Japanese.

Endo nodded slightly, politely raised his glass, and took a sip.

"Director Chen's knowledge of Shenhai's history is truly admirable." Endo put down his glass and lightly touched the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "Speaking of which, our advance team just returned from Bangkok last month. The head of the industrial zone on the east coast of Chonburi Province, Thailand, specifically arranged an English proficiency test for the production line workers—three hundred recent vocational school graduates, and their average spoken English reached a TOEIC score of 480."

Endo gently rotated the base of the wine glass with his fingers.

"For export-oriented manufacturing companies like ours, the fact that production line foremen can directly read the English version of the equipment operation manuals means that the number of technical advisors sent by Japan can be reduced by nearly 40%. This alone can save 120 million yen in personnel costs annually."

The translator translated this passage into Chinese. Chen Zhiyuan's hand holding the teacup didn't move, but the muscles at the corners of his eyes tightened for a moment.

Endo didn't give him a chance to respond, continuing to speak at the same pace.

"Penang in Malaysia is even more interesting. The free trade zone offers a ten-year income tax exemption for export-oriented companies—not five, but a full ten years. The first five years are fully exempt, and the next five years are half-taxed. Furthermore, land leases can be renewed for up to ninety-nine years, practically equivalent to freehold ownership."

Endo raised his eyelids, looked at Chen Zhiyuan, and had a gentle smile on his lips.

"Of course, the climate can't compare to Shanghai's distinct four seasons. The young lady raved about the mango sticky rice in Bangkok last time she went, and talked about it for days afterward."

Chen Zhiyuan slowly placed the teacup back on the table.

Southeast Asia.

This implies that there are other options.

"Haha, Southeast Asia is indeed quite nice." He placed a piece of crab meat lion's head meatball on Endo's plate with unhurried movements. "However, Mr. Endo, when it comes to the quality and learning ability of our workers, the industrial workers of Shenhai are renowned. Before liberation, this place was a major industrial center in the country, with a very solid foundation in textiles, machinery, and shipbuilding."

Chen Zhiyuan put down his chopsticks and held up one finger.

"Regarding English proficiency, let me elaborate. The Thai workers' English is indeed quite good, but what about their Japanese? Your equipment operating procedures and quality control documents are all originally in Japanese, aren't they?" He looked at Endo, slowing his speech slightly. "Shinkai University of Foreign Studies graduates over three hundred Japanese majors every year. Our Japanese-invested enterprises in the development zone never lack on-site management personnel who can communicate directly in Japanese. Has Mr. Endo factored in the hidden costs of translation and communication?"

The translator translated this passage into Japanese. Endo listened and nodded noncommittally.

"Director Chen is right. Japanese-speaking talent is indeed an advantage for Shenhai." Endo picked up the crab meat lion's head meatball, took a small bite, chewed and swallowed before continuing, "However, frankly speaking, the tax plan offered by the Penang Free Trade Zone, with its ten-year tax exemption period, means that for every dollar invested in fixed assets, an additional 0.17 dollars in net profit can be recovered in the first ten years. This figure is the single variable with the highest weight in our financial model."

He put down his chopsticks and placed his hands, folded, on the edge of the table.

"Of course, taxation is only one dimension. We are also comprehensively assessing logistics efficiency, supply chain depth, and—" Endo paused, his gaze calmly settling on Chen Zhiyuan's face, "the long-term policy stability of local governments."

As Chen Zhiyuan listened to the translator's account, he secretly labeled the Japanese butler in his mind—he was meticulous and wouldn't be able to pry out a single word of his true intentions tonight.

He was preparing to try and elicit information by following the policy line when a low, deep barge whistle pierced through the soundproof glass and entered the private room.

"Waaah—"

Satsuki, who had been sitting in the main seat and showed no interest in the conversation, stopped stirring the almond tofu with the silver spoon in her hand.

She frowned slightly, took out a pure white handkerchief, and covered her nose.

Endo.

Satsuki's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a clear hint of irritation.

"The suite's windows couldn't be closed properly. The boats on the river kept honking their horns, which gave me a headache."

Endo immediately put down his chopsticks and bowed slightly.

"It was my oversight. I contacted the front desk immediately after I got back and asked them to change me to a room on a higher floor."

"And another thing." Satsuki picked up a mint leaf from the table with her fingertips, brought it close to her nose to smell it, then frowned and put it down. "The air here has a... how should I put it, a fishy smell of river water. It's completely different from Tokyo."

Endo nodded. "After the inspection tomorrow, I'll arrange a car to take you for a drive in the suburbs, to find a place with good air quality so you can relax."

Satsuki hummed in agreement, picked up the silver spoon again, and continued stirring the bowl of almond tofu, which had almost turned into a paste.

Chen Zhiyuan overheard this conversation (in fact, he understood Japanese).

Delicate. Willful. Has absolutely no interest in business.

He'd seen these rich heiresses before—the darlings of Japanese zaibatsu families, brought out by their families to broaden their horizons and incidentally sign documents. The real decision-makers were, in a one-hundredth of all, the butler across from him with the rimless glasses.

but……

Chen Zhiyuan picked up his teacup, concealing the thoughtful curve of his lips. Endo was practically a stinking rock; he hadn't revealed a single genuine intention tonight. On the contrary, this young lady's likes and dislikes were written all over her face—she complained about the noise, the crowd, and the dirt.

If we can't win over Endo head-on, we might as well try a different approach. Let the young lady "like" a certain place. Once she starts acting cute, even the most stubborn Endo will have to give in.

A rich girl's capriciousness can sometimes be more effective than the terms of a negotiation.