Natural Disasters Arrive: Hoarding Supplies, Smashing Scums, and Eating Hotpot CH3
Chapter 3: Rebirth 03
"I’m short on cash, so I’m planning to dump the shares and head abroad for a bit. Why, are you interested? If you want them, I can give you a 'family discount'—how about 3.5 billion? Don’t say I don’t look out for you! That 500 million I’m knocking off can be my early retirement gift to you."
Jiang Mingrui took a deep breath, his voice dripping with forced gravity. "Nan Xi, you can't sell those shares. If a 20% stake hits the open market, it would be a fatal blow to the Nan Corporation."
A fatal blow to the company? Please. It was a fatal blow to Jiang Mingrui.
He only held 25% himself. Combined with the 20% under Nan Xi’s name, he barely maintained control over the corporation. If that 20% fell into someone else's hands, the Nan Corporation would no longer be Jiang Mingrui’s personal playground.
"But Uncle Tan already called me. He’s super interested. He’s even willing to go above the asking price!"
Jiang Mingrui: !!!
Tan Jiancheng! Another major shareholder who held a 15% stake, second only to Jiang Mingrui and Nan Xi. If he got his hands on that 20%, he’d have 35% total—enough to steamroll right over Jiang Mingrui.
"Look, I’m giving you a 500 million discount, selling them to you for just 3.5 billion. If you tried to buy that much from anyone else, imagine how much you'd have to pay!"
The market value was technically 4 billion, but in reality, trying to acquire a 20% block in one go would cost at least 5 billion. Nan Xi felt she was being quite generous.
Jiang Mingrui knew exactly how the math worked.
"Nan Xi, if you really want to let go of the shares, could you consider your father first?"
"I am considering you! That’s why I gave you the 500 million discount. See how nice I am?"
"But Dad doesn't have that much liquid cash on hand, and neither does the company."
Even if he did, he couldn't just drain it all; the company’s cash flow couldn't be allowed to break.
"That’s fine! You have plenty of other assets. I don’t mind if you use other things to make up the difference. Companies, properties, jewelry—that kind of stuff."
"Will you let me think about it?"
"You can think, but I might not wait. I’m currently looking at flights. I’m definitely selling the shares before I leave the country, otherwise, I won't have enough pocket money!"
"Nan Xi, don't touch those shares. Give me one day!"
"Sure! But you only have half a day. If you haven't made up your mind by 12:00 PM tomorrow, I’m going to start talking to Uncle Tan!"
Nan Xi patted the door with a bright smile. I was just waiting for you to take the bait.
Seeing that Nan Xi was dead set and knowing his daughter's "my way or the highway" temper, Jiang Mingrui realized there was no room for negotiation.
He had wanted those shares for a long time, but he’d never found the right opportunity and didn't want to spend the money. Now that the chance was here—even if he had to pay—he figured once the shares were in his name, he'd see if Nan Xi could actually manage to keep a hold of all that cash.
"And the villa? Why are you selling the villa? We’re living here perfectly fine."
"Oh, I checked. The villa is worth 100 million. But since I'm selling in a hurry, I'll probably only get about 80 million. Such a pity."
"Nan Xi, what exactly are you trying to do? Selling shares one minute, selling the house the next? Did something happen? Talk to me. Don’t just throw a tantrum, okay? The shares are important, and so is this villa. The shares are the company’s future, and this villa was your mother’s heart and soul. Are you really so willing to just throw them away?"
"Totally willing. Why wouldn't I be? Out with the old, in with the new! I can buy a new villa with the money. Mom always said she wanted me to be happy my whole life. Selling this stuff makes me happy!"
"Nan Xi, have you thought about where the rest of the family will live if you sell the villa?"
"Oh, where you live is your business! You’re a grown man; why are you still living in your daughter’s house? You’ve stayed so long you’ve started thinking it’s yours. How can you try to stop me from selling my own house? That’s just wrong."
"Nan Xi, you know that’s not what I meant."
"Whatever you meant doesn't really matter!"
Nan Xi couldn't care less.
By the time Sun Kexin returned in the middle of the night, Jiang Mingrui was still grinding away in his study.
"Mingrui, why aren't you resting yet?"
"It’s that brat Nan Xi. I don't know what kind of madness she's caught..."
"You noticed she's acting weird too? Did something happen to her outside? Have you asked her friends? I don't know what came over her when she got back, she just cracked Haoran’s head open for no reason."
"What? Nan Xi hit Haoran?"
"Oh, it's fine. Just a little scratch, a bit of blood. It’s just that Haoran is so young, he was terrified. He cried his eyes out at the hospital and only just fell asleep on the way back."
She spoke as if it were nothing, but every word dripped with "you should be angry".
"Don't blame Nan Xi. You know Haoran is spoiled and young. He wanted to be close to his sister but didn't know how to go about it, so he often makes her angry..."
"Presumptuous! She’s the older sister, and she’s being petty with a little child? She actually dared to lay a hand on him! She’s gotten way too bold!"
Sun Kexin quickly tried to soothe him. "Alright, alright, Mingrui. Nan Xi is still just a child too."
"A child? Yiran is the same age, why is she so sensible?"
"Let's not talk about it. Tomorrow I'll ask Nan Xi what’s going on. That child sometimes feels wronged but doesn't like to tell us. Only Yiran looks out for her. If all else fails, I’ll ask Yiran—she cares so much about her sister, she’s bound to know. It’s so late; whatever work you have can wait until tomorrow. Take care of your health and get some sleep, okay?"
"Hah! What could she possibly feel wronged about? She spends all day eating, drinking, and playing—never even stays home! She’s so 'wronged' that she’s selling her shares and this villa, and she even has the nerve to hit people in this house! What does she have to be upset about?!"
"What!" Sun Kexin shrieked, nearly losing her "gentle and virtuous" mask. Her face twisted for a split second, though luckily a fuming Jiang Mingrui didn't notice. "Nan Xi wants to sell the shares? And the villa? Since when? Is that why you're still up?"
To be honest, Sun Kexin didn't want to believe it. Something as big as selling shares usually comes with warnings, not a sudden announcement. But knowing Nan Xi’s reckless personality, it was actually plausible.
"Mingrui... having so many shares in Nan Xi’s hands really isn't safe. Look at the people she hangs around with; they’re all just after her money. It’s not good for her growth at all. Besides, Nan Xi is going to marry out eventually. Even a 2% or 5% dowry would be a huge hit to the company, and she has 20%! Tang Chu Xiao is a decent young man, but the Tang family is ambitious and hungry—we can't let Nan Xi take those shares into their family..."
"I know." Jiang Mingrui waved her off irritably.
As if he didn't know that.
"But that brat posted it on her Moments, insisting she's selling. And that old fox Tan Jiancheng is already making moves. I barely managed to stall her, but she said if I want them, I have to have the money ready by tomorrow, or she sells to him."
Sun Kexin gasped. "How could she!"
Even if the Tang family was ambitious, they just wanted a piece of the pie. But Tan Jiancheng was different. He was the biggest shareholder after them and had always hated Jiang Mingrui. If it weren't for Tan Jiancheng keeping a close watch on him all these years, Jiang Mingrui would have probably swallowed Nan Xi's portion long ago.
If those shares went to Tan Jiancheng, the Chairman of the Nan Corporation would change names immediately!
"Are you really going to buy them?"
Jiang Mingrui sneered. "It was going to happen sooner or later. It’s just happening a bit early."
"But that’s... how much money?"
Sun Kexin knew the market value well. Jiang Mingrui definitely didn't have enough liquid cash unless he dipped into the company funds—but with Tan Jiancheng blocking him, he couldn't take much. That left Nan Xi’s suggestion: she didn't mind if he used other assets to pay her back.
However, Nan Xi had sent a follow-up message saying she wouldn't accept just any asset. Now Jiang Mingrui had to have his secretary compile a list of properties for Nan Xi to pick from.
"How much money do you have?" Jiang Mingrui suddenly asked, catching Sun Kexin off guard.
"Huh?"
"How much cash do you have? I remember you have quite a few properties and have saved up a lot?"
"I... yes, but..."
"I need to scrape together 3.5 billion for the shares. I don't have anything extra right now. You need to pull together what you can; we can't actually let her sell this villa."
It wasn't that Jiang Mingrui didn't have other places to live, but this villa was the symbol of the Nan family’s foundation. If Nan Xi sold it and they were forced to move, it would feel like being kicked out of their own home. Jiang Mingrui would never allow that humiliation!
"But... I..."
Sun Kexin knew how much Jiang Mingrui valued money. If she had no money of her own, she’d have no sense of security.
Jiang Mingrui glanced at her. "The villa will be in your name afterward. Aren't you happy?"
If the villa ended up in her name, Sun Kexin would obviously be thrilled. But having to pay for it herself? Why did it feel like she couldn't get happy about it?
Nan Xi had no idea what the two were plotting, and even if she did, she wouldn't care. She was already in a sweet, deep sleep.
At 5:00 AM, Nan Xi opened her eyes. For a split second, she didn't know if she was dreaming. She reached up to touch the wound on her forehead; the faint, stinging pain made her smile.
It wasn't a dream. She really was reborn.
One month before the apocalypse. It wasn't much time, but it was enough to get ready!
She checked her phone. A ton of people had been messaging her relentlessly since she fell asleep.
As for missed calls—there were mountains of them.
Jiang Mingrui, Sun Kexin, Jiang Yiran... it looked like the whole family had a terrible night's sleep. Now she could rest easy!
The most interesting message came from Tang Chu Xiao: [You’re selling the shares? For real? 4 billion?]
"I’m short on cash, so I’m planning to dump the shares and head abroad for a bit. Why, are you interested? If you want them, I can give you a 'family discount'—how about 3.5 billion? Don’t say I don’t look out for you! That 500 million I’m knocking off can be my early retirement gift to you."
Jiang Mingrui took a deep breath, his voice dripping with forced gravity. "Nan Xi, you can't sell those shares. If a 20% stake hits the open market, it would be a fatal blow to the Nan Corporation."
A fatal blow to the company? Please. It was a fatal blow to Jiang Mingrui.
He only held 25% himself. Combined with the 20% under Nan Xi’s name, he barely maintained control over the corporation. If that 20% fell into someone else's hands, the Nan Corporation would no longer be Jiang Mingrui’s personal playground.
"But Uncle Tan already called me. He’s super interested. He’s even willing to go above the asking price!"
Jiang Mingrui: !!!
Tan Jiancheng! Another major shareholder who held a 15% stake, second only to Jiang Mingrui and Nan Xi. If he got his hands on that 20%, he’d have 35% total—enough to steamroll right over Jiang Mingrui.
"Look, I’m giving you a 500 million discount, selling them to you for just 3.5 billion. If you tried to buy that much from anyone else, imagine how much you'd have to pay!"
The market value was technically 4 billion, but in reality, trying to acquire a 20% block in one go would cost at least 5 billion. Nan Xi felt she was being quite generous.
Jiang Mingrui knew exactly how the math worked.
"Nan Xi, if you really want to let go of the shares, could you consider your father first?"
"I am considering you! That’s why I gave you the 500 million discount. See how nice I am?"
"But Dad doesn't have that much liquid cash on hand, and neither does the company."
Even if he did, he couldn't just drain it all; the company’s cash flow couldn't be allowed to break.
"That’s fine! You have plenty of other assets. I don’t mind if you use other things to make up the difference. Companies, properties, jewelry—that kind of stuff."
"Will you let me think about it?"
"You can think, but I might not wait. I’m currently looking at flights. I’m definitely selling the shares before I leave the country, otherwise, I won't have enough pocket money!"
"Nan Xi, don't touch those shares. Give me one day!"
"Sure! But you only have half a day. If you haven't made up your mind by 12:00 PM tomorrow, I’m going to start talking to Uncle Tan!"
Nan Xi patted the door with a bright smile. I was just waiting for you to take the bait.
Seeing that Nan Xi was dead set and knowing his daughter's "my way or the highway" temper, Jiang Mingrui realized there was no room for negotiation.
He had wanted those shares for a long time, but he’d never found the right opportunity and didn't want to spend the money. Now that the chance was here—even if he had to pay—he figured once the shares were in his name, he'd see if Nan Xi could actually manage to keep a hold of all that cash.
"And the villa? Why are you selling the villa? We’re living here perfectly fine."
"Oh, I checked. The villa is worth 100 million. But since I'm selling in a hurry, I'll probably only get about 80 million. Such a pity."
"Nan Xi, what exactly are you trying to do? Selling shares one minute, selling the house the next? Did something happen? Talk to me. Don’t just throw a tantrum, okay? The shares are important, and so is this villa. The shares are the company’s future, and this villa was your mother’s heart and soul. Are you really so willing to just throw them away?"
"Totally willing. Why wouldn't I be? Out with the old, in with the new! I can buy a new villa with the money. Mom always said she wanted me to be happy my whole life. Selling this stuff makes me happy!"
"Nan Xi, have you thought about where the rest of the family will live if you sell the villa?"
"Oh, where you live is your business! You’re a grown man; why are you still living in your daughter’s house? You’ve stayed so long you’ve started thinking it’s yours. How can you try to stop me from selling my own house? That’s just wrong."
"Nan Xi, you know that’s not what I meant."
"Whatever you meant doesn't really matter!"
Nan Xi couldn't care less.
By the time Sun Kexin returned in the middle of the night, Jiang Mingrui was still grinding away in his study.
"Mingrui, why aren't you resting yet?"
"It’s that brat Nan Xi. I don't know what kind of madness she's caught..."
"You noticed she's acting weird too? Did something happen to her outside? Have you asked her friends? I don't know what came over her when she got back, she just cracked Haoran’s head open for no reason."
"What? Nan Xi hit Haoran?"
"Oh, it's fine. Just a little scratch, a bit of blood. It’s just that Haoran is so young, he was terrified. He cried his eyes out at the hospital and only just fell asleep on the way back."
She spoke as if it were nothing, but every word dripped with "you should be angry".
"Don't blame Nan Xi. You know Haoran is spoiled and young. He wanted to be close to his sister but didn't know how to go about it, so he often makes her angry..."
"Presumptuous! She’s the older sister, and she’s being petty with a little child? She actually dared to lay a hand on him! She’s gotten way too bold!"
Sun Kexin quickly tried to soothe him. "Alright, alright, Mingrui. Nan Xi is still just a child too."
"A child? Yiran is the same age, why is she so sensible?"
"Let's not talk about it. Tomorrow I'll ask Nan Xi what’s going on. That child sometimes feels wronged but doesn't like to tell us. Only Yiran looks out for her. If all else fails, I’ll ask Yiran—she cares so much about her sister, she’s bound to know. It’s so late; whatever work you have can wait until tomorrow. Take care of your health and get some sleep, okay?"
"Hah! What could she possibly feel wronged about? She spends all day eating, drinking, and playing—never even stays home! She’s so 'wronged' that she’s selling her shares and this villa, and she even has the nerve to hit people in this house! What does she have to be upset about?!"
"What!" Sun Kexin shrieked, nearly losing her "gentle and virtuous" mask. Her face twisted for a split second, though luckily a fuming Jiang Mingrui didn't notice. "Nan Xi wants to sell the shares? And the villa? Since when? Is that why you're still up?"
To be honest, Sun Kexin didn't want to believe it. Something as big as selling shares usually comes with warnings, not a sudden announcement. But knowing Nan Xi’s reckless personality, it was actually plausible.
"Mingrui... having so many shares in Nan Xi’s hands really isn't safe. Look at the people she hangs around with; they’re all just after her money. It’s not good for her growth at all. Besides, Nan Xi is going to marry out eventually. Even a 2% or 5% dowry would be a huge hit to the company, and she has 20%! Tang Chu Xiao is a decent young man, but the Tang family is ambitious and hungry—we can't let Nan Xi take those shares into their family..."
"I know." Jiang Mingrui waved her off irritably.
As if he didn't know that.
"But that brat posted it on her Moments, insisting she's selling. And that old fox Tan Jiancheng is already making moves. I barely managed to stall her, but she said if I want them, I have to have the money ready by tomorrow, or she sells to him."
Sun Kexin gasped. "How could she!"
Even if the Tang family was ambitious, they just wanted a piece of the pie. But Tan Jiancheng was different. He was the biggest shareholder after them and had always hated Jiang Mingrui. If it weren't for Tan Jiancheng keeping a close watch on him all these years, Jiang Mingrui would have probably swallowed Nan Xi's portion long ago.
If those shares went to Tan Jiancheng, the Chairman of the Nan Corporation would change names immediately!
"Are you really going to buy them?"
Jiang Mingrui sneered. "It was going to happen sooner or later. It’s just happening a bit early."
"But that’s... how much money?"
Sun Kexin knew the market value well. Jiang Mingrui definitely didn't have enough liquid cash unless he dipped into the company funds—but with Tan Jiancheng blocking him, he couldn't take much. That left Nan Xi’s suggestion: she didn't mind if he used other assets to pay her back.
However, Nan Xi had sent a follow-up message saying she wouldn't accept just any asset. Now Jiang Mingrui had to have his secretary compile a list of properties for Nan Xi to pick from.
"How much money do you have?" Jiang Mingrui suddenly asked, catching Sun Kexin off guard.
"Huh?"
"How much cash do you have? I remember you have quite a few properties and have saved up a lot?"
"I... yes, but..."
"I need to scrape together 3.5 billion for the shares. I don't have anything extra right now. You need to pull together what you can; we can't actually let her sell this villa."
It wasn't that Jiang Mingrui didn't have other places to live, but this villa was the symbol of the Nan family’s foundation. If Nan Xi sold it and they were forced to move, it would feel like being kicked out of their own home. Jiang Mingrui would never allow that humiliation!
"But... I..."
Sun Kexin knew how much Jiang Mingrui valued money. If she had no money of her own, she’d have no sense of security.
Jiang Mingrui glanced at her. "The villa will be in your name afterward. Aren't you happy?"
If the villa ended up in her name, Sun Kexin would obviously be thrilled. But having to pay for it herself? Why did it feel like she couldn't get happy about it?
Nan Xi had no idea what the two were plotting, and even if she did, she wouldn't care. She was already in a sweet, deep sleep.
At 5:00 AM, Nan Xi opened her eyes. For a split second, she didn't know if she was dreaming. She reached up to touch the wound on her forehead; the faint, stinging pain made her smile.
It wasn't a dream. She really was reborn.
One month before the apocalypse. It wasn't much time, but it was enough to get ready!
She checked her phone. A ton of people had been messaging her relentlessly since she fell asleep.
As for missed calls—there were mountains of them.
Jiang Mingrui, Sun Kexin, Jiang Yiran... it looked like the whole family had a terrible night's sleep. Now she could rest easy!
The most interesting message came from Tang Chu Xiao: [You’re selling the shares? For real? 4 billion?]
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