Chapter 952 Doubt
When Ning Ran saw Nan Chen getting caught in an awkward position, she felt the urge to laugh. Still, she hurriedly
covered for him. “No. Your daddy was just discussing serious matters with me.”
Nan Chen took the opportunity to save himself from embarrassment. “That's right. We were discussing serious
matters. Ouyang Qi did request to meet me, but I didn't agree to see him. I have my reasons for doing so. I helped
him out of trouble when he was abroad, but now that we're back in the country, I don't want to meddle in the
Ouyang family's affairs too much. The grudges between the Ouyang and Nan families are well-known in Flower City.
If I get too involved, the outsiders will say that I'm trying to sow discord within Sunshine Corporation. I have no
interest in shouldering this blame, and there isn't a need for me to do so either.”
Ning Ran nodded in understanding.
Nan Chen had helped Ouyang Qi out of trouble this time due to their previous personal friendship.
However, Nan Chen was a prideful man. He was willing to face Sunshine Corporation and Prosperity Holdings in a
direct confrontation instead of resorting to schemes or sowing internal discord for personal gain.
“I know you are avoiding suspicion, but if Ouyang Li goes crazy, I'm afraid you can't stand idly by and watch either,”
Ning Ran said.
Nan Chen looked up. “What do you mean by that?”
“A large group of veterans within Sunshine Corporation support Ouyang Qi taking over the company. After all,
Ouyang Qi is Ouyang Duo's only son. Given China's strong conservative values, a son taking over the family
business is more easily accepted by others. Those supporting Ouyang Qi are currently being ostracized by Ouyang
Li. However, those veterans have been managing the company for so many years and can't be suppressed by
Ouyang Li as effortlessly as she wishes. To completely eliminate future threats, Ouyang Li is planning to negotiate
terms with Prosperity Holdings, with both sides holding each other's shares and showing a trend of merging. Using
this method, Ouyang Li wants to introduce an external force into Sunshine Corporation and overthrow those
veterans in one fell swoop.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNan Chen was shocked after listening to Ning Ran's speech.
After pondering briefly, he uttered tersely, “Impossible!”
“Why do you think it's impossible?” she asked.
“Sunshine Corporation's headquarters was originally in Pearl City but has now moved to Flower City. Prosperity
Holdings also moved away from Flower City decades ago and only returned this year. They are moving their
headquarters here not for a collaboration but because they want to dominate the city. So, how could two
companies that wish to become the dominant force merge? Who will become the boss after the merging, and who
will be willing to be second-in-command? Also, these two corporations and Nanshi Corporation all carry the element
of a family business. Although everyone has been seeking to go international in recent years, the element of a
family business remains. Perhaps the two companies' management teams may accept the merger, but how can
the two families agree? In that case, how can they possibly merge smoothly? It's like two families without any blood
ties suddenly agreeing to live under one roof. There's no way they can coexist harmoniously.”
Nan Chen's analysis was very accurate and took a sufficiently large picture into consideration. With his status, he
should indeed be viewing matters in that manner.
Nonetheless, Ning Ran didn't agree, so she shook her head.
Seeing that, Nan Chen was baffled. Ning Ran disagrees with my opinion and even questions my judgment? I'm the
CEO of Nanshi Corporation, the Nan family's person in charge. How dare she doubt me?
Acting-wise, Nan Chen admitted he was inferior because that was Ning Ran's profession, but when it came to
business, he was definitely an elite in the field while she was a complete layman.
Yet, at that moment, the amateur was doubting the specialist. A novice like Ning Ran was actually doubting an
expert like Nan Chen.
“I'll admit, I don't understand business as much as you do,” she chirped with a grin.
“Whether you admit it or not, that will remain a fact,” Nan Chen uttered indifferently.
Ning Ran was rendered speechless.
Sensing that she was stumped, he waved his hand, gesturing for her to continue.
“Okay. You're the one who wants me to continue, right?”
“Yes.”
“From a business perspective, you're absolutely correct. If two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind.
Prosperity Holdings and Sunshine Corporation are both ambitious companies, each aspiring to replace Nanshi
Corporation at the top. That is your position, and it determines your astuteness. And it is because you have such
insight that you can secure this position and manage Nanshi Corporation so well.”
Nan Chen had thought Ning Ran was going to refute him, but it sounded like she was praising him instead. What
exactly is she trying to say?
“Don't flatter me. I know I'm awesome,” Nan Chen replied impassively.
Even Erbao couldn't stand listening to Nan Chen and made a face at Ning Ran, implying that her father was
narcissistic for complimenting himself.
Nan Chen cleared his throat, and Erbao made another face.
Dabao, on the other hand, wore a poker face. He wasn't just listening to his parents' conversation for fun.
He could understand most of what Nan Chen and Ning Ran were talking about.
Hence, the environment in which a child grew up was crucial to their future. Some lessons were not deliberately
taught but instead imparted unconsciously.
Dabao agreed with his father's point of view and was now wondering what counterpoint his mother would proffer.
Ning Ran continued, “Nevertheless, you are you, and Ouyang Li is Ouyang Li. Although you're both leaders of a
company, she can't be compared to you. You are the radiant moon in the sky, while she can't even be considered
one of the stars. She's at most a firefly on the ground.”
Nan Chen gazed at Ning Ran. He was fond of her flattery but, at the same time, felt a little unaccustomed. Ning Ran
wouldn't bootlick others for no reason under normal circumstances. What's with her today?
She added, “Therefore, the perspective from which you view an issue differs from hers. You are capable of keeping
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmeverything under control, so you would want to maintain independence and wouldn't consider merging with other
companies. However, Ouyang Li is different. She's caught in a tight spot and precarious position in Sunshine
Corporation, to begin with. Moreover, her abilities are limited. She might be capable of managing a department,
but she can't handle overseeing such a large organization. She can't do it well, and that means she'll get dismissed
eventually. In that case, what's her current priority? Is it to maintain Sunshine Corporation's independence? No! It is
how to ensure she can continue to exert control over the corporation. Similar to how the great Empress Dowager
ruled the nation in the past, was she trying to make the Qing dynasty prosperous? Absolutely not. She was merely
focused on stabilizing her power and command over the country. Hence, women's thinking and men's are very
different. If Ouyang Li can guarantee her absolute control of the Ouyang family's assets through the merger with
Prosperity Holdings, do you think she will refuse the offer?”
Nan Chen fell silent. Different perspectives would indeed yield different conclusions.
He suddenly had a new understanding of Ning Ran. She wasn't just good at acting; her analysis of Ouyang Li's
character was also not bad.
Moreover, he found her flattery pleasant to his ears.
“Besides, Prosperity Holdings—”
Nan Chen interrupted Ning Ran, “That's enough. I understand what you're trying to say.” Ouyang Li is a fool. If she
agrees to merge with Prosperity Holdings, Sunshine Corporation will soon be emptied by Prosperity Holdings. Then,
the Rong family will effectively control the new conglomerate after the merger. Needless to say, the Rong family is
willing to discuss the merger with Ouyang Li since this will be an excellent opportunity for them to swallow up
Sunshine Corporation and become the most powerful force in Flower City.
Ning Ran gave him a thumbs-up. “As expected of Sir Chen. A hint is all you need to grasp the situation. What a fast
learner!”
Nan Chen frowned. What did she say? I'm a fast learner?
Ning Ran realized she had misspoken, so she quickly pointed at Erbao. “I meant her!”
Erbao pouted. Mommy's using me as a shield again.