Chapter 642 No Good Intentions
“Somebody wants to take over Sunshine Corporation?” Nan Xing exclaimed. “Ouyang Duo failed to take over Nanshi Corporation, and his own company is taken instead?”
“Ouyang Duo set his sights on Nanshi Corporation, and others can have theirs on Sunshine Corporation,” Nan Zhengde postulated. “This is normal. Perhaps they have been eyeing them for a long time and were merely waiting for the right moment. Ouyang Duo’s rash and failed attack on Nanshi Corporation has given them the perfect opportunity to do so. This is karma at its finest.”
“In that case, why don’t we take advantage of the situation and perform a hostile takeover of Sunshine Corporation?” Nan Xing suggested. “Ouyang Duo intended to take over Nanshi Corporation, didn’t he? Since we have now defeated him, why don’t we press home our advantage?”
Nan Zhengde exchanged a glance with Nan Chen before motioning for the latter to explain.
“Have you heard of Coke and Pepsi?” Nan Chen asked his brother.
“Of course I have. How can I not know about the world’s two famous carbonated beverage companies? Do I look that stupid?” Nan Xing was displeased.
“There was once an executive of Coke who tried to sell Pepsi a huge trade secret that was enough to threaten Coke’s position. However, Pepsi disclosed the matter to Coke, implying to its competitors that there was something wrong with them internally. The thing is, Pepsi is Coke’s biggest competitor. Do you know why Pepsi did that?”
Nan Xing shook his head. “I don’t.”
“Pepsi’s top management believed that it was because of the existence of competitors that filled them with a sense of crisis. That’s why the company has been going strong for a hundred years. If their only competitor collapsed, they alone would dominate the market. Without a competitor, they would have no sense of crisis and slowly regressed.”
Nan Xing understood. “Oh, so it’s equivalent to the catfish effect.”
“That’s right. Grandpa often told me this story before I became CEO, and I still remember it. Because of Ouyang Duo’s watchful eyes, I was always filled with that sense of crisis, and that’s why Nanshi Corporation has maintained steady growth. Nanshi Corporation would have no more rivals in the province if I took the opportunity to take over Sunshine Corporation. Who would I compete with then?
“Moreover, Sunshine Corporation is immense. It has undergone a series of blind expansions in recent years and contains many hidden dangers. If I take over, it may not help Nanshi Corporation improve but will instead be a liability. Being unprepared for mergers and acquisitions is like forcibly swallowing a piece of half-cooked food. Not only can it not be digested, but it will also damage your body.
“Also, if I take the opportunity to take over Sunshine Corporation, how am I different from Ouyang Duo? Others will not think it’s due to my wolfish ambition like his. They’ll say it’s a plan I’ve laid out long ago. Though I could short-sell Sunshine Corporation and make a fortune just to prove that I can take them, I don’t want to do that.”
Nan Xing completely understood after his brother finished. However, another question crossed his mind.
“I’m wondering about the person who’s trying to take over Sunshine Corporation. Could he have bitten off more than he could chew?”
“This person must not be monopolizing but is instead carving up Sunshine Corporation with foreign capital. Or perhaps he doesn’t want the controlling right but simply intends to bottom-fish. If he manages to buy them for a cheaper price and help Sunshine Corporation regain its stability, he will still make a fortune when the stock price rebounds later.
“Another possibility is that his own company needs to lay out some plans in the banking industry and have Sunshine Corporation mainly focus on them. Holding shares in Sunshine Corporation will complete his strategic layout, so he bought a large number of shares. Whatever his reasons are, this man is a master and our future competitor.”
“Then we have to find out who he is as soon as possible,” Nan Xing said anxiously. “Otherwise, how can we be on our guard against him?”
Nan Chen nodded. “This person should show himself soon.”
“All right, enough work talk. Let’s finish up our meal,” Feng Wan reprimanded her husband. “That’s all you do, Darling. Chen seldom comes home for a meal. Can’t you talk less about work?”
Nan Zhengde laughed. “You can’t blame me for this! They were talking about it among themselves. How is that my fault?”
The family chatted and laughed as they ate. It had been a long time since they had been so at ease.
Suddenly, Nan Chen’s phone vibrated. Jiang Zhe was calling.
Nan Chen picked up. “What’s the matter?”
“I found out about the offshore company that had been buying Sunshine Corporation shares en masse, Mr. Chen,” Jiang Zhe reported. “One of the major shareholders is from the province, and his name is Rong Yi.”
“Rong Yi? The Rong Yi we know?” Nan Chen could not believe his ears.
“That’s right,” Jiang Zhe confirmed. “It is the young pianist Rong Yi, the one who doesn’t care about the family business and devotes himself only to art.”
“Are you sure?” Nan Chen was still in disbelief.
“I am sure. What’s more, somebody photographed Rong Yi in Flower City purchasing Sunshine Corporation’s building to house Prosperity Holdings in the city.”
“Is Sunshine Corporation’s office building in Flower City that old building, Century Plaza?”
“Yes, Mr. Chen, it is indeed that old building. However, Prosperity Holdings bought it at a very high price.”
“All right, I got it.” Nan Chen hung up the phone and sank deep in thought.
He did not expect the mystery man to be Rong Yi, of all people.
Rong Yi was a well-known young pianist in China who had won many international awards.
The man was handsome and elegant like a prince. He was a rare superstar in the piano world.
However, those who knew the truth were also aware that Rong Yi was a wealthy heir and that his family was the Rong family behind Prosperity Holdings.
Rong Yi, however, had never cared to participate in his family business. He had lived abroad for many years to devote himself to art and had outstanding achievements in that field.
If Jiang Zhe had not discovered that he was a shareholder in that offshore company, Nan Chen would never have imagined the mysterious mastermind to be a musician.
It seems that he is not only a master in the music world but also in the financial world. Moreover, he is a master who knows how to conceal himself.
Nan Zhengde and Nan Xing saw that Nan Chen was preoccupied, so they did not bother him.
Jerking himself out of his reverie, Nan Chen asked Nan Zhengde abruptly, “Does that old Century Plaza have anything to do with the Rong family in the past?”
“Why are you asking this all of a sudden? Century Plaza is not as old as it was over twenty years ago but is a landmark building in Flower City. Back then, it was the headquarters of Prosperity Holdings. Later, Prosperity Holdings fought us many times and lost Flower City. The building seemed to be mortgaged to some company and later became the office of Sunshine Corporation in Flower City.”
“That makes sense,” Nan Chen said thoughtfully. “Prosperity Holdings bought back that old building to be their office in Flower City.”
“Were they also the ones who bought Sunshine Corporation?” Nan Zhengde exclaimed in surprise.
Nan Chen nodded. “Yes. It turns out that they are returning to Flower City with no good intentions this time!”
