Free Web NovelChapter 93: Chapter 92: 1 Link After Another, Age Breeds Cunning
The convoy passed through the bustling streets of Paris. Gradually, the tall buildings thinned out, replaced by a growing number of trees, as if they were driving into the suburbs.
"Mr. Su, we are about to arrive at a luxury manor just twenty kilometers from downtown Paris. It is a gift specially prepared for you by Chairman Arno!"
Before Su Chen could even ask, Shuraya, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, spoke up.
’A gift for me?’ Su Chen never imagined the chairman of the Louis Vuitton Group would be so on the ball, gifting him a luxurious manor the moment he landed in Paris.
He just wondered exactly how luxurious this manor would be.
After about half an hour, the convoy slowly pulled into a luxurious manor.
The entire estate was magnificent. The main building was typical European-style architecture; its blue roof and white walls gave off a refreshing feel.
Su Chen had expected an old manor to look rather rundown.
But when he stepped inside, he discovered the interior was completely modern, yet it had also preserved its original European style.
Su Chen was very satisfied with the overall style. Even Sicong, who was used to grand scenes, nodded repeatedly in approval.
"Mr. Su, the main building of the manor covers 1,500 square meters, and the annex is 750 square meters. Behind them, there’s a garden of nearly five acres and a sixteen-and-a-half-acre vineyard!"
Shuraya, standing to the side, gave a brief overview of the property, implicitly conveying that Chairman Arno had specially arranged for its renovation.
Su Chen nodded thoughtfully.
The manor came fully staffed with a professional butler and housekeepers. After Su Chen and the others had settled in, Shuraya took her leave.
As she was leaving, she handed Su Chen a contract—the transfer agreement for the manor.
"Wanna go for a look around?" After putting his things away, Sicong was eager to explore the manor.
Su Chen nodded. He was also curious about the manor, wondering just how big a five-acre garden would be!
And how spectacular a sixteen-and-a-half-acre vineyard must look!
After handing the contract to Jiang Hui, he followed the manor’s butler toward the garden.
The moment they stepped out of the main building, the view of the garden captured their gaze.
"Wow~ It’s absolutely beautiful!"
Seeing the garden’s artfully shaped flowers and trees, Sicong’s girlfriend, Coco, couldn’t resist pulling out her phone to take pictures.
Sicong frowned slightly at the sight...
The entire garden’s layout was distinctly Versailles-style; it felt like a maze you could easily get lost in.
At the very center of the garden was a lake of nearly two acres, where a dozen or so black swans played on the water.
After a brief stroll, the group headed back to their rooms.
The flight from the Imperial Capital to Paris had been about ten hours long, and everyone was feeling tired. Once the novelty of the garden tour wore off, all that remained was profound exhaustion.
"Sir~"
Su Chen had just gotten back to his room and was about to take a shower when Chen Mengyan walked in, having changed into a maid outfit.
She wore a black-and-white, miniskirt-style maid outfit, its hem ending a third of the way down her thigh. A black bow sat in her hair, and the look was paired with gradient Balenciaga sneakers, an altogether tempting sight.
"Sir, let me help you!" Chen Mengyan walked to Su Chen’s side, her face flushed.
Su Chen gently lifted her chin, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Well then, let’s see what you’re really capable of!"
With that, he stood and headed for the bathroom. Chen Mengyan followed, her eyes shimmering with desire.
As the saying goes: "A little boat pushes through the surf, rocking and swaying... stirring the waters, wave after wave."
The sound of splashing from the bathroom went on for a full two hours before finally subsiding.
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「The manor’s rear garden.」
Su Chen was enjoying a leisurely coffee with a middle-aged man.
"Mr. Su, I didn’t expect you to be so young!" The middle-aged man had still not recovered from his surprise.
When he first saw Su Chen, he couldn’t believe his eyes. To think that a young man like this held a 10% stake in the entire Louis Vuitton Group!
"Hahaha~ Mr. Arno, you flatter me!"
The man drinking coffee with Su Chen was none other than Arno, the chairman of the Louis Vuitton Group. He had come straight to see Su Chen the moment he returned to Paris.
And he had every reason to be anxious. Although the Louis Vuitton Group appeared to dominate the luxury industry, it was rife with internal competition.
On top of that, with the end of the year approaching, the group was about to hold its annual shareholders’ meeting... to discuss the group’s direction for the coming year, as well as some personnel changes.
You see, the Louis Vuitton Group was hardly a monolith. Aside from the Arno family’s 45% stake, the remaining shares were held by various major investment firms.
The voting rights Su Chen held were therefore crucial. He was, arguably, the single largest shareholder outside of the Arno family itself.
Otherwise, Arno wouldn’t have gifted Su Chen a manor worth over thirty million euros.
What’s more, the Arno family itself wasn’t united; it was split into several factions. For now, as the family patriarch, he was still able to keep things under control.
And Su Chen was the wild card in all of this. If he failed to get on good terms with Su Chen, there was no telling what kind of trouble might erupt.
......
They say with age comes cunning, and Arno was no exception. The moment they met, Su Chen could see it—this old man was the profoundly calculating type.
He looked honest enough on the surface, but who knew what schemes were running through his mind.
