Chapter 63: Hidden Motives

Tao Zhiming watched him remain silent and continued to persuade, “If it’s an investment, then spending money that others have risked and invested, I might just become elated and carefree, but in the end, fail to do things well.”

“Of course, if it succeeds, you’ll certainly become more confident. By then, those who wish for your investment will be deeply tied to the future model of Supreme Real Estate. Movement and stillness—won’t both types of businesses be needed in the commercial districts of Supreme Real Estate?”

Kinoshita Shufeng smiled faintly.

Though clever, he still doesn’t understand my true intentions.

Does Supreme Real Estate really need to develop commercial districts and residences? Kinoshita Shufeng still thinks that after the land surges in value, selling quickly is the fastest way to make money.

But Tao Zhiming understood well. Isn’t it precisely because he knows you won’t really invest in development that he presents such a grand and forward-looking conceptual plan?

For the Neon people whose ambitions are swelling now, this plan is just right. Even if Kinoshita Shufeng’s vision is limited to making quick money through real estate, he’ll certainly see how much this plan appeals to the outside market.

Acting—act for one, act for two, it’s all the same.

His suggestion for a loan is because he doesn’t wish to relinquish precious early-stage equity, nor does he want the hassle of setting up a dedicated company so soon.

At this moment in Neon, finding money is easy. The cost of loan capital keeps dropping, so operating on a larger scale by paying some interest is simply more cost-effective.

Besides, it’s small business and doesn’t attract much attention.

Moreover, when it’s truly time to scale up, then establish a stable and discreet equity structure. With the cash flow and profitability he can generate, equity financing will be all the more valuable.

After a bit of thought, Kinoshita Shufeng had already calculated.

Ideally, he’d simply hire him into Supreme Real Estate. If he could build up loyalty, then perhaps Tao Zhiming could inspire and assist with the real big projects he actually wanted to undertake.

Loans… just make one a creditor. Apart from demanding repayment, how else can one ask for his wisdom?

Tao Zhiming seemed to understand his thoughts, smiling as he said, “Please trust me. President, I could also be part-time planning consultant for Supreme Real Estate, participating regularly or irregularly in future work. Your company is full of talent, so you hardly lack another executor like me. When it comes to planning and strategy, I won’t hold back. After all, my own ambitions require a highly successful partner.”

“A bookstore… and a dance hall, what kind of ambition is that?” Kinoshita Shufeng muttered along with the conversation.

“…Let’s just say, these are two wishes I want to fulfill in my youth, while I’m still young.”

“…If you hadn’t said it, I’d have forgotten you haven’t graduated yet. How did you suddenly become so childish?” Kinoshita Shufeng couldn’t understand, shaking his head reflectively. “A corporate consultant, huh…”

It seemed he was determined to try entrepreneurship first. With all his experience, Kinoshita Shufeng couldn’t see how a bookstore and dance hall could have a broader future than Supreme Real Estate.

If he didn’t establish this relationship, then after today, Tao Zhiming wouldn’t be so candid, and everything would depend on friendship or his mood.

He had already fulfilled his original promise. This planning proposal was itself a trade: Supreme Real Estate gave Inoue Ryu a ten-billion-yen low-interest loan to persuade him on how to handle his property.

Now the exchange was done, and Tao Zhiming brought up a new cooperation arrangement.

Just hiring him as a part-time consultant was still rather shallow, wasn’t it?

“You said you want to open a disco and a bookstore this year. How much do you want to borrow?” Kinoshita Shufeng asked.

Tao Zhiming’s eyes sparkled. “My goal is for the dance hall to be the strongest in Tokyo. Once I choose the location, I can probably put up five billion yen myself. But that won’t be enough. To establish a specially designed chain bookstore, I’ll need another fifteen billion yen.”

Kinoshita Shufeng was puzzled. “Are you not planning to rent the premises?”

In his mind, twenty billion yen was all for decoration and operation—far too extravagant. Even the most luxurious Tokyo cabarets could open with just over one billion yen for rent and renovation. How could a bookstore need so much? How many bookstores did this guy intend to open in one go, and what kind of dance hall would be Tokyo’s strongest?

Tao Zhiming shook his head honestly. “Of course not renting. With the real estate market so good now, buying the premises means I can immediately get loans against them. Though I’ll pay interest later, I believe the appreciation rate will outpace the interest. With substantial funds in hand, I can run these two businesses as I envision.”

“…So, you want to borrow fifteen billion yen?” Kinoshita Shufeng hesitated.

Fifteen billion yen was really a lot, nearly a tenth of what he earned last year.

He lent Inoue Ryu ten billion yen because his work was directly tied to the progress of Supreme Real Estate’s Supreme Paradise Town project. Tao Zhiming’s fifteen billion yen request was for another location, though he said he’d eventually open these businesses in Supreme Paradise Town.

But Kinoshita Shufeng had no intention of actually building such a commercial district. He was just drawn to the concept’s hype and thought perhaps he could sell the design with the project later.

Tao Zhiming continued to persuade, “Today, another rate cut was announced. The banks will surely face a deposit rate crisis. They’ll have to lend to stay profitable, and Supreme Real Estate is such a high-quality client—you’re bound to get more funds. Fifteen billion yen is just a little bit. And if Youhe Holdings takes charge, you could save a lot of money, right?”

Ueno Yosuke had been silent all day, just listening and learning.

Fifteen billion yen, just a little bit?

Damn it! How does this guy say it so lightly?

Kinoshita Shufeng sighed. “What about the planning consultant’s fee? Does it depend on the amount I provide, and you devote different levels of time and wisdom?”

Tao Zhiming shook his head vigorously. “Of course not! I’ll do everything I can!”

“…Too outstanding, it’s honestly vexing,” Kinoshita Shufeng said, conflicted. “Let me not decide yet. My brain’s been hard at work all day. Wanting to open a dance hall and such—clearly you have sides I haven’t seen. How about I pay, and you take me out for a night? Let me see another side of you beyond your eloquence!”

For the first time today, Tao Zhiming showed a truly bewildered expression, which brought Kinoshita Shufeng a touch of pleasure.

He was genuinely surprised—a dignified president of Supreme Real Estate making such a request.

Tao Zhiming’s head started to ache.

Why not just say you want to have fun? Why talk about seeing another side of me, as if you know me so well?

You’re middle-aged—go find your own high-class, slow-paced pleasures! A bubble bath, isn’t that nice?

Taking a middle-aged man clubbing—Tao Zhiming really hadn’t thought about that.

“Are you serious?”

“Absolutely!”

“…Spare me, don’t you find it awkward, Brother Shufeng?”

Hearing that title, Kinoshita Shufeng laughed helplessly.

Then, as if thinking of something, he said with feeling, “You came to Supreme Real Estate’s information session with such clear intentions. Never wanted to join the company—only wanted me to solve your housing problem and lay the groundwork for your plans to open a bookstore and dance hall, even at the cost of devising this Supreme Paradise Town plan that’s so exhausting?”

Ueno Yosuke screamed inwardly: He didn’t spend much effort! He only started yesterday—yesterday!

Though he’d never thought of working for someone, when he interviewed at Supreme Real Estate, Tao Zhiming truly hadn’t figured out what he wanted for his future.

Now, he could only say, “If I don’t struggle for my dreams first, I won’t be content.”

“I see… There’s been too much said today. Let me mull it over. If you won’t take me clubbing, then after dinner, have someone send you both back to rest.”

Faced with Tao Zhiming’s determination, Kinoshita Shufeng became uncertain.

Could it be that the plans for the bookstore and dance hall truly hold a future even broader than Supreme Real Estate?

Tao Zhiming felt relieved—taking a middle-aged man clubbing would be a drag.

He was still curious how Kudo Chang Le’s harvest went today.

With Neon lowering interest rates again, there ought to be a tidy profit today!