Chapter 955 The Perilous Implications
Rong Yi's office was rather ordinary, lacking any remarkable features. In fact, it appeared slightly worn down.
In addition to being a renowned pianist from a prestigious family, he was also a financial expert. However, his true passion lay in
teaching, which was his favorite occupation.
Here, he could fully relax and selflessly impart his knowledge to the younger generation, which brought him great joy.
“Please have a seat. The office is modest, and we don't have any fancy tea. I'll get you a glass of water,” Rong Yi said while
smiling warmly at Nan Chen.
There were no couches in the office, only two chairs—one positioned in front of the piano and the other by the desk.
Nan Chen took a seat without hesitation and accepted the glass of water Rong Yi offered.
“I've never received guests here before, so the conditions are not the best. I apologize for any inconvenience.” Rong Yi's smile
was gentle and apologetic.
Nan Chen nodded in understanding.
Certainly, Rong Yi would not receive guests here, as it would attract a swarm of female students from the entire school, causing
unnecessary crowding issues.
Both of them were remarkably astute individuals, and there were some things that did not require explicit explanation for them to
comprehend.
“How long have you been teaching here?” asked Nan Chen all of a sudden.
It was quite unusual for him, a rather introverted person, to initiate a conversation.
“It has been a while. I have been teaching here since before Prosperity Holdings moved its headquarters to Flower City.
However, I have a contract with the school that prevents them from leveraging my limited fame for advertising or increasing
enrollment,” Rong Yi explained sincerely.
“This music school, despite being low-profile, already holds a high rank among similar institutions, and I'm sure you played a role
in that,” Nan Chen uttered casually.
Rong Yi responded with a grin, “You investigated me before coming here, didn't you?”
Nan Chen did not deny it. “I have been investigating you for quite some time.”
Despite that, Rong Yi was not mad about it. “You didn't come here to listen to me play the piano, right?”
“Well, it's difficult to get your concert tickets,” Nan Chen said.
“In that case, I'll play a piece exclusively for you. What kind of composition do you prefer?” Rong Yi asked.
“Anything will do.”
Rong Yi approached the piano and gracefully took a seat. His slender fingers flew up and down the keys, creating a magnificent
melody that flowed effortlessly from his fingertips.
Nan Chen lowered his gaze slightly, immersing himself in the tranquil beauty of the piano music. Although he had never heard
this particular composition before, he found it captivating and incredibly serene. Music indeed demands innate talent. Becoming
a maestro is not a feat attainable through sheer diligence alone.
At that moment, Nan Chen felt as if he were standing beside a river, with vibrant red autumn leaves adorning the mountains on
both sides. The sky above was a gentle shade of blue, dotted with only a few wispy clouds. A cool breeze kissed his skin,
carrying the warmth of the sunlight.
As the piece came to a close, Nan Chen raised his head and took a sip of water.
“How did you find my performance?” Rong Yi inquired.
“Extraordinary.”
“This composition isn't widely known. I believe you are familiar with all the famous pieces. It's an original creation by my father,
and I've never performed it in public. I wonder if you liked it,” Rong Yi shared.
Nan Chen nodded once again. “Very much. I suppose the piece was composed during autumn.”
Rong Yi paused for a moment, his gaze shifting to Nan Chen, before breaking into a smile.
Noticing that, Nan Chen felt a bit perplexed. “Did I say something wrong? I'm not very knowledgeable about music, so it was just
a random comment.”
“No, I'm simply amazed by you. This piece is titled 'Autumn Hues.' My father composed the piece to describe the picturesque
autumn at Cloud Lake when he was there. That beautiful autumn was the happiest time of his life,” Rong Yi explained.
Nan Chen suddenly lifted his head, his eyes ablaze. “Autumn Hues? Cloud Lake?”
“Yes, but I'm unfamiliar with Cloud Lake. It doesn't seem to be a popular tourist destination. It's probably a small place my father
had visited. Is there something bothering you?” Rong Yi's curiosity grew as he observed Nan Chen's intense reaction.
Nan Chen quickly regained his composure, his face returning to its usual impassive state. In a casual tone, he responded,
“Nothing. It's a beautiful piece.”
“Thank you. It's quite remarkable that you could sense the autumnal essence of the music. I'm glad you appreciate my father's
work.” A look of delight flashed across Rong Yi's face.
“Unfortunately...” Nan Chen's voice trailed off into silence before he finished his sentence.
Rong Yi, too, kept mum. He knew what Nan Chen was trying to say.
Both of them were well aware of the deep-seated animosity between their families.
Despite Nan Chen's admiration for Rong Yi's father's work, both of them were aware that a close friendship between them would
never be feasible.
The fact that Nan Chen and Rong Yi could come together in this place to chat and enjoy the music was already a rare
occurrence.
Moreover, if Nan Chen had not had other motives for his visit, he would not have had the opportunity to hear Rong Yi's solo
performance.
“Mr. Chen, now that the music has ended, let's discuss the matter at hand, shall we? I assume you're here today regarding the
share exchange between Prosperity Holdings and Sunshine Corporation, right?” Rong Yi cut to the chase.
Instead of denying it, Nan Chen expressed his viewpoint openly. “I don't want Prosperity Holdings to merge with Sunshine
Corporation.”
Rong Yi was not surprised by Nan Chen's statement. They were both intelligent individuals, and it was within their expectations.
“Mr. Chen, you're not someone who's afraid of losing, so naturally, you wouldn't be concerned about our company merging and
posing a threat to Nanshi Corporation,” Rong Yi deduced.
For the first time, Nan Chen refuted, “No. I am afraid of losing; I just simply won't let it happen.”
Indeed, Nan Chen's statement exuded confidence despite his underlying fear of losing. He firmly believed in his ability to emerge
victorious and was determined not to let defeat befall him.
Rong Yi responded with a faint grin. “What makes you say that?”
“If Prosperity Holdings were to merge with Sunshine Corporation, it would essentially result in Prosperity Holdings devouring
Sunshine Corporation. While it may seem on the surface that Prosperity Holdings would double in size, potentially surpassing
Nanshi Corporation, a larger scale does not automatically guarantee stronger competition. In order for Prosperity Holdings to
successfully take control of Sunshine Corporation, they would need to exert considerable effort to overcome resistance from
within the opposing faction of Sunshine Corporation. Even under the most expedited timeline, this process would require a
minimum of two to three years. And to fully restructure, integrate, and establish competitive strength, it would take at least five
years. During this period, Prosperity Holdings would be consumed by internal conflicts and couldn't effectively compete with
Nanshi Corporation. Within these five years, I'll mobilize all of Nanshi Corporation's resources to crush Prosperity Holdings. I
must dismantle both Prosperity Holdings and Sunshine Corporation before their merger solidifies and poses a threat to me,” Nan
Chen uttered those words in a casual tone as if he was having a random conversation with Rong Yi.
However, only Rong Yi knew the truly shocking and perilous implications behind those words. He understood the gravity of the
situation, the bloodshed, and the chaos that lay ahead.
Furthermore, Rong Yi realized that Nan Chen was not merely threatening him.
Nan Chen's words were based on facts, and his viewpoint aligned closely with Rong Yi's own thoughts.
Rong Yi also recognized that while the act of Prosperity Holdings absorbing Sunshine Corporation into its conglomerate through
cunning schemes and strategies might seem like a significant achievement on the surface, the company might not be adequately
prepared to deal with the potential consequences that may arise.
If they were unable to effectively manage the repercussions and transform the acquisition into a beneficial endeavor, Prosperity
Holdings might find themselves in over their heads.
Rong Yi agreed with Nan Chen's assessment that the consolidation process would require a significant amount of time.
While Nan Chen believed it would take two to three years to complete, Rong Yi, having a deeper understanding of his own
family's circumstances, understood that the timeframe mentioned by Nan Chen was rather optimistic.
Considering the complexities involved within their family, Rong Yi believed it might actually take several more years to
successfully solidify the merger.
Furthermore, Nan Chen mentioned that he would mobilize all of Nanshi Corporation's resources to crush Prosperity Holdings
before the merger could reach a stable and secure state.
Rong Yi had indeed expressed similar concerns to the board of directors, but his worries were met with ridicule and dismissal.
His family members interpreted his evaluation of the situation from Nanshi Corporation's perspective as an expression of fear
toward the competitor, considering it a disgrace that would tarnish the family's prestige.