Hearing her assistant's reminder, Lin Su looked up and realized they had arrived at their destination. She put away the documents on her lap and got out of the car.
They were at an island located between Jinji Lake and Dushu Lake on the western side of the Suzhou Industrial Park.
Though referred to as an "island," it was actually a several-square-kilometer landmass nestled between the two lakes, not entirely separated from the mainland.
Stepping out of the car, Lin Su took in the sight of the bustling construction scene around her.
This was another property Simon was building in China, securing 20 hectares of land on the southern edge of the lake, close to Dushu Lake, where he planned to construct a Chinese-style garden estate.
With the steady influx of Westeros companies like Cisco, Nokia, and Tinkerbell into the Suzhou Industrial Park, the city government quickly approved this highly coveted plot. When they heard that Simon Westeros wanted a personal residence here, they didn't hesitate to grant him the 20 hectares.
Furthermore, before heading to Suzhou, they had also secured a plot in Hangzhou near West Lake. Since West Lake is a national scenic area, the plot couldn't compare in size to Suzhou's, but they managed to obtain five hectares—enough space to stand out. Situated on the northern shore of West Lake, the property was adjacent to the former residence of Chiang Ching-kuo from the 1930s, ensuring excellent feng shui.
Under the sweltering sun, Chen Qing, dressed in her usual confident business attire, approached them with her entourage.
Lin Su inwardly thought of them as a group of "cronies."
After a brief, Western-style hug, Chen Qing pulled Lin Su along, enthusiastically introducing the design of this private garden, which was set to be even larger than Suzhou's famous four gardens combined. She pointed out locations for an artificial lake, a flower garden, pavilions, and a library.
Lin Su suspected that Chen Qing just wanted an excuse to show off.
It was peak summer in China, after all.
Both women were fair-skinned, typical of Jiangnan women. However, Lin Su was a shade paler, likely because of her privileged background growing up. Evidently, this particular aesthetic appealed to a certain man, who naturally favored Lin Su.
Understanding this, Lin Su still patiently accompanied Chen Qing as they walked around the construction site.
The largest of Suzhou's four famous gardens, the Humble Administrator's Garden, covers just over five hectares. In comparison, this project spans 20 hectares—equivalent to 300 mu—a scale akin to a large urban community. It was a major project, and as Chen Qing explained, top garden construction teams from southern China, such as the renowned Xiangshan Guild, had been contracted for the build.
After a quick tour, half an hour had passed.
If not for the assistant bringing over a sunshade and hat, Lin Su feared she might suffer from heatstroke. Chen Qing, however, seemed unfazed, showing no signs of fatigue; back in college, she had trained in long-distance running, and her fitness was indeed superior. Otherwise… she wouldn't have always taken advantage of Lin Su in certain situations.
After the tour, they didn't linger much longer. Both women got into the Mercedes that Lin Su had arrived in. Chen Qing instructed the driver to head to the airport and asked Lin Su, "How did things go with the Fiat delegation?"
Lin Su shook her head, looking a bit lackluster. "There's no hope for Hangzhou."
"Good. If Fiat settles in Zhejiang Province, we'd have to look elsewhere for our own plans in China," Chen Qing said, pursing her lips. "Besides, even if Hangzhou were chosen for this project, I doubt it would go well. Those Italians act like their heads are held way too high, like they're doing us a favor by even considering a Ferrari here. With that attitude, it's no wonder they struggle in China."
Fiat Group, controlled by the Agnelli family, had recently dispatched a team to China for exploration. Since both women were already in the country and given Fiat's good relations with the Westeros system, Simon had tasked Chen Qing and Lin Su with assisting them. However, after only two days, Chen Qing opted out, leaving Lin Su to entertain the delegation alone.
Lin Su shot her a displeased look. "So that's why you bailed halfway?"
"Yep. I'm not catering to those self-important lords."
Just as Simon had suspected, even without his reminder, Chen Qing had sensed that the Fiat team didn't seem reliable, and by extension, the company might not be either.
To her, it was better not to waste time.
Chen Qing considered her time extremely valuable these days.
Lin Su, on the other hand, accompanied the Fiat team from Beijing to Nanjing for an entire week, and out of politeness, extended an invitation for them to visit her hometown of Hangzhou.
Though she also doubted the project's potential, Lin Su dutifully fulfilled her task.
After all, both couldn't abandon the delegation; a certain man had specifically instructed them to handle it.
As they chatted, the car reached the airport. Accompanied by a small entourage, they boarded a Gulfstream V bound for the United States. After more than ten hours in the air, the Gulfstream touched down at New York International Airport on Tuesday morning, July 16.
Egret had crossed the $400 billion valuation threshold just yesterday.
With Egret's market cap reaching a new high, Simon's personal wealth once again became a focal point in the media.
Early this morning, the respected Fortune magazine updated Simon's estimated net worth on its website—$1.3 trillion. Since breaking the trillion-dollar mark in February, Simon's personal fortune had increased by nearly $300 billion in less than six months.
Although this was only an estimate, it was close to the truth.
Simon's holdings alone in Egret, Cisco, AOL, Daenerys, and Tinkerbell—each valued above $200 billion—amounted to $1.0173 trillion.
This $1.0173 trillion was an accurate figure.
Fortune magazine had broadly estimated his remaining assets at $300 billion, which was likely understated due to the difficulty in valuing private companies like Cersei Capital and Verizon Telecom.
The initial shock of Simon's fortune surpassing $1 trillion had dulled somewhat; $1.3 trillion seemed almost beyond imagination.
Yet, those at the top of society understood just how extraordinary this wealth truly was.
Chen Qing was deeply aware of this.
Moreover, shortly after their return to North America, both women received a call from Forbes magazine, seeking an interview.
The message was sent to both, but Chen Qing, having her own ideas, intercepted it.
It was obvious Forbes had reached out with the upcoming 1996 Forbes 400 in mind. Thanks to the skyrocketing stock prices of Stober and other investments, both women's net worth had reached the threshold to qualify as one of America's 400 wealthiest.
On Long Island.
At the seaside estate of the Guofeng Dance Troupe, Chen Qing had just spent ten minutes discussing matters with her boss over the phone. She reluctantly ended the call, now clear on the Forbes issue. Her boss had left it up to them whether they wanted to be included.
Chen Qing understood the implications.
Being on the list certainly had its advantages.
For instance, as two Chinese-born women who had made it onto Forbes, they would gain instant recognition back home, at least within China's elite circles. Even if they ranked near the bottom, their wealth in terms of billions of yuan would be enough to command respect.
With such a title, they could do a great deal without needing to invoke their boss's name.
Of course, downsides existed.
New billionaires always attract scrutiny, and with their background as Chinese-Americans, their sudden rise into the ranks of America's wealthiest could prompt both local and foreign scrutiny. Mishandling the media could also cause complications in China, especially since both were naturalized American citizens, which might provoke unwanted public sentiment.
After pondering for a while, Chen Qing glanced at Lin Su, who was nearby, earnestly discussing choreography with the Guofeng Dance Troupe's team. Chen Qing quickly came to a decision.
They should gain this spotlight to leverage it back in China.
However, there was no need for both of them to appear on the list.
Their boss was on top of a pyramid of his own making, impossible to hide even if he wanted to, while their wealth at the bottom of the list left room to maneuver.
In the end, Chen Qing decided not to take the spotlight, leaving Lin Su to receive the recognition.
After making a few phone calls to set things in motion, Chen Qing approached the group. The room was the troupe's largest rehearsal space, and along the wall, young dancers were stretching by the barre.
Without joining the discussion about the dance inspired by Guan Ju, Chen Qing beckoned one of the instructors over to a window overlooking the lake. She asked, "Ms. Wang, has the boss been by here recently?"
Simon's schedule was always packed, and it was unlikely he'd share his comings and goings with Chen Qing.
Ms. Wang, Wang Dongyue, had previously been a dance teacher at the Shanghai Theater Academy. A professional dancer herself, she retained much of her charm despite approaching forty. Chen Qing had personally recruited her to head up the troupe's talent selection before bringing her to the US, and the two were quite close.
Understanding the discreet question, Wang replied in a low voice, "Mr. Westeros visited last Sunday with a young lady. They watched the girls rehearse
but only stayed for two hours."
Today was Wednesday, so that had been four days ago.
Back then, Chen Qing and Lin Su were still in China. Chen Qing didn't feel too disappointed. After a brief pause, she lowered her voice further. "Ms. Wang, I mean, among the girls here—did anyone catch his eye?"
Though Chen Qing's question wasn't entirely direct, Wang quickly understood and shook her head.
In truth, there was one.
And she was the one that all the instructors envied—a girl Chen Qing had arranged to be "sent away" with her mother. But other than that, in the few visits Simon had made, he had not spent much time or shown particular interest in any one girl.
Even so, Chen Qing sensed some tension among the dancers. Many of the girls held a certain expectation, especially after experiencing the luxury and comfort of this estate. For them, the opportunity to live like this, no matter the cost, was worth it.
Unfortunately, despite their hopeful anticipation, Simon showed little interest.
While he'd occasionally accept advances with a friendly demeanor, he never took things any further.
Chen Qing and Wang exchanged a look, confirming that Wang was telling the truth. She sighed in exasperation and turned her gaze back to the dancers.
Useless.
She did have her own intentions.
Though she understood that Simon's attention was spread thin, she had always hoped to improve her standing within his inner circle. If one of the Chinese dancers could build a relationship with him, it could also strengthen her and Lin Su's positions.
Yet these girls were simply not up to the task.
With this in mind, Chen Qing joined the choreographers. After a few minutes, she instructed, "Let's have them perform. Watching the dance is far more useful than discussing every detail."
That made sense.
The girls participating in Guan Ju soon noticed that Chen Qing was unusually strict that afternoon. Even those who received harsh criticism and were moved to tears weren't spared—they had to keep dancing.
Sensing Chen Qing's mood, the rest tread carefully, aware that something seemed amiss.
No one, however, dared ask.
In stark contrast to the tense atmosphere within the Guofeng troupe, the hot springs estate on the northern outskirts of Rivne, Ukraine, was a haven of tranquility.
Due to the estate's large private grounds, including the surrounding forests, the girls had ample space. Despite the presence of a large staff, it never felt crowded.
In fact, it felt almost empty.
One morning, unlike anyone else, Natalia Banshikova woke up in the luxurious bedroom of the estate, still feeling like she was dreaming. It seemed almost unreal that she belonged here. After all, among the dozen or so girls in the estate, she was the only one with her mother by her side.
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