Chapter 119: Chapter 119 Trust of 180 Million_1
"Boss, feel free to ask me anything!"
Seeing Su Xuan’s secretive expression, Ning Yunshi felt curious.
Su Xuan said, "You don’t have to call me ’Boss’ when we’re outside."
Ning Yunshi asked, "Then... what should I call you?"
"Just call me by my name," Su Xuan replied.
"Su... I can’t bring myself to say it."
She genuinely couldn’t. It felt too awkward. But deep down, she was overjoyed. The fact that Su Xuan didn’t want her to call him ’Boss’ meant their relationship had grown closer!
Su Xuan waved his hand dismissively. "Suit yourself. I have a question for you. Has Zhong Zhiping’s project really lost money?"
"It’s currently at a loss, down about eighteen percent," Ning Yunshi confirmed.
Su Xuan looked into Ning Yunshi’s elegant phoenix eyes. "That’s quite a loss. I thought projects you handled never lost money!"
It suddenly dawned on Ning Yunshi why Su Xuan was acting so friendly. She asked embarrassedly, "Boss, are you afraid I’ll lose all your assets?"
"Of course I’m afraid," Su Xuan said. "After all, making money isn’t easy..."
Ning Yunshi smiled. "Don’t worry, Boss. Over ninety-five percent of the projects I’ve handled have been profitable. When I was studying for my doctorate abroad, my supervisor used to say this about me..."
Ning Yunshi blushed slightly as she recounted her supervisor’s evaluation. He had said she was born for capital, a genius in capital management.
Su Xuan nodded. "You are certainly outstanding. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be the TQ Executive President at such a young age."
"You flatter me, Boss."
Ning Yunshi, a woman in her early thirties, lowered her head as a faint blush colored her cheeks.
Su Xuan continued, "So, what’s the deal with Zhong Zhiping’s project?"
Ning Yunshi immediately explained, "Boss, I invested Zhong Zhiping’s two hundred million into a newly listed winery in France. The winery’s location is extremely close to the famous Château Lafite, and its dry red wines are widely favored by industry experts! But starting last month, the vineyard has been suffering from a persistent pest infestation, causing its stock to plummet overnight. Zhong Zhiping’s two hundred million has shrunk by twenty-eight percent—a loss of fifty-six million!"
Su Xuan nodded grimly. "That is a substantial loss."
Ning Yunshi also nodded. "Indeed, not insignificant."
"Is there still a chance to turn this investment around?" Su Xuan asked.
"The contract has three months left," Ning Yunshi said confidently. "I’m certain that within these three months, I can recover all the losses and even make a large profit!"
Su Xuan blinked in amazement. "Go on."
"In about a week, the region where the winery is located will experience a severe heatwave. The local residents are already aware and have made preparations to combat the heat. Once the heatwave hits, the pests plaguing the winery will be completely wiped out, and its stock price will experience a vengeful surge!"
Su Xuan was puzzled. "The pests are afraid of hot weather?"
"Yes!" Ning Yunshi affirmed. "In 1982, Château Lafite encountered a similar incident. A period of scorching heat saved the vineyard and allowed it to produce the world-famous ’82 Lafite!"
"That’s impressive!" Su Xuan exclaimed.
"Exactly," Ning Yunshi continued. "And in reality, the pests only damaged about two-fifths of the grapes, so the situation isn’t as severe as it seems. It’s just that the stock market is notoriously sensitive to this kind of news."
"So you’re saying this project can really make money?" Su Xuan asked.
"It can. Boss, just think of the ’82 Lafite."
"How much do you estimate it can make?"
Ning Yunshi replied immediately, "A few days ago, I ran a data model based on all available information. I estimate this project will yield a profit of at least forty percent on the principal, which is eighty million!"
"Very good," Su Xuan said.
"Boss, I’d also like to ask you something," Ning Yunshi said. "Why are you asking for so many details? What are you planning?"
"You’ll see," Su Xuan replied cryptically.
Afterward, Su Xuan approached Zhong Zhiping and said politely, "Mr. Zhong, are you really at your wits’ end?"
Zhong Zhiping had no idea what Su Xuan was planning. Squeezing his eyes shut until they were teary, he pleaded, "I really am. I have no other choice. If I can’t get this money for my emergency, my company will go bankrupt. My wife and children will have nothing to eat, and my kid is still in school!"
Fearing Su Xuan didn’t believe him, Zhong Zhiping quickly added, "I’m not trying to cheat TQ. I signed an agreement with a performance guarantee! It secures the principal plus ten percent interest. If I could just hold out for three more months, it’s a guaranteed win. But I really can’t last that long!"
"Mr. Zhong, I own a few companies myself, so I understand your predicament," Su Xuan said. "However, wanting to withdraw your investment before the term is up is a breach of contract. And bringing a lawyer to cause trouble for Yunshi... Isn’t that going a bit too far?"
"I had no choice!" Zhong Zhiping mumbled.
"I’ll let you withdraw your investment," Su Xuan said suddenly.
Zhong Zhiping’s head shot up, his face a mask of disbelief. "Really?"
Ning Yunshi was shocked. "Boss, why?"
Su Xuan looked Zhong Zhiping straight in the eye. "But I have one condition. You’ll only get back ninety percent of your principal, and you certainly won’t get the guaranteed ten percent. If you agree, I’ll give you the money tonight."
With that said, Su Xuan didn’t wait for Zhong Zhiping’s answer. He walked over to Ning Yunshi and asked, "If the agreement is transferred to me, it should clear the audit, right?"
OH!
WOW!
Ning Yunshi suddenly understood.
Su Xuan was planning to use his own money to take over Zhong Zhiping’s investment project! And at a ten percent discount, no less! Even if the project ultimately broke even and only the two-hundred-million principal was recovered, Su Xuan would still easily make twenty million! And that wasn’t even considering the potential forty percent profit margin! In the end, Su Xuan stood to make at least one hundred million!
This was a massive deal!
"As long as you both agree, transferring the agreement is no problem," Ning Yunshi nodded immediately.
"I agree!" Zhong Zhiping shouted.
He did the math in his head. The project was already down twenty-eight percent, yet Su Xuan was offering him ninety percent of his principal back. That was an incredibly generous offer, especially considering how out of line his previous actions had been.
"Let’s go," Su Xuan commanded. "Back to the company to sign the transfer agreement."
An hour later, Su Xuan had successfully acquired Zhong Zhiping’s two-hundred-million project at a ten percent discount.
"Boss, I never even thought about transferring the agreement," Ning Yunshi said admiringly after the papers were signed. "Let alone taking over his two hundred million at a discount!"
Su Xuan smiled. "Seeing an agreement through to the end is part of your professional ethics and habit. It’s perfectly understandable that you wouldn’t think of transferring it. Besides, do you really think you could have found someone to take it over?"
"No, I couldn’t have," Ning Yunshi admitted, shaking her head. "Even if I talked until I was blue in the face, I doubt anyone would dare take on a two-hundred-million project that was already down twenty-eight percent."
"Exactly," Su Xuan said. "So you see, I took a big risk playing the good guy today."
Ning Yunshi’s eyes suddenly reddened. She bowed instinctively to Su Xuan. "Thank you for trusting me, Boss!"
That was it. If Su Xuan hadn’t trusted her, he would never have agreed to put up his own money to do this. And he had put up one hundred eighty million!
Su Xuan smiled.
"Ning Yunshi," he said softly. "How are you going to thank me for one hundred eighty million worth of trust?"