Reborn in Tokyo: From Heiress to Global Tycoon

Chapter 66 Auspicious Snow for a Bountiful Year

January 14, 1988.

On the third day after returning to Tokyo from Karuizawa, a rare cold wave swept across the Kanto Plain.

As dusk fell, the sky turned a heavy, iron-gray, and the snow poured down like torn cotton. The neon lights of Ginza appeared hazy and desolate in the white snowstorm, and the traffic on the road almost came to a standstill. The red taillights, refracted by the snow, were stretched into solidified streaks of blood.

Minato, Azabu Juban.

The heavy cast-iron gate was tightly closed, blocking out the wind, snow, and noise from outside.

Inside the Club's main building, the underfloor heating system was running at full capacity, the air was warm and dry, and filled with the aroma of old sandalwood and aged whisky.

This place is not open to the public tonight.

The vast Deer Cry Hall was empty, with only the crackling of the fire in the fireplace. All the waiters had been dismissed to the perimeter, leaving only the old butler, Fujita, standing guard at the top of the stairs on the second floor.

On the second floor, there is the "Listening to the Pines" tea room.

There are no superfluous decorations here. In the niche, a fragment of Sesshu's "Autumn and Winter Landscape" hangs quietly.

The Duke of the Guard knelt in the main seat.

This elder of the former nobility, dressed in a black patterned haori hakama, was thin, but his cloudy old eyes still retained the majesty of the head of the "Five Regent Families".

To his left sat Shuichi Saionji.

And in the guest seat sat the only protagonist of the night—Yoshiaki Tsutsumi.

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi was not as casual as he had been at the ski resort. He wore an impeccably tailored dark gray three-piece suit, his tie perfectly tied. He also came alone, without his ever-present secretary, Shimada.

Even in this tea room filled with the atmosphere of the "old era," the "Emperor Seibu," who controlled one-sixth of Japan's land, still exuded an oppressive aura that was impossible to ignore.

It was the aura of someone in real power.

"A beautiful painting."

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi put down his teacup and his gaze fell on the painting in the alcove.

"His brushstrokes are vigorous and powerful, and his artistic conception is unique and unparalleled. He truly deserves to be called the painting master, Sesshū."

"Chairman Tsutsumi also knows painting?" Konoe's voice was hoarse, with a hint of arrogance.

I know a little bit about it.

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi nodded slightly, his tone calm and neither humble nor arrogant.

"My father also collected a few of these paintings during his lifetime. However, compared to this masterpiece by the Konoe family, they were all just ordinary pieces."

He turned his head and looked at the Duke of the Guard.

"Paintings are national treasures. But in museums, they are just cultural relics. Only when they are hung in the study of someone who understands them do they truly possess 'spirit'."

This is a very skillful statement. It not only elevates the value of the painting but also subtly expresses the artist's own status—the current Seibu Group deserves this "fortune."

A subtle, enigmatic smile appeared on the wrinkled face of the Prince of Konoe.

"Luck...heh."

The old man stretched out his withered hand and pointed to the painting.

"Since Chairman Tsutsumi likes it, let's move it to a different place. This painting has been hanging in the Konoe family for three hundred years; it's time to see what the new era looks like."

The deal is done.

Money was not discussed.

In a conversation at this level, talking about money is impolite. Whether it's two hundred million yen or three hundred million yen, it's just a number to the three people present.

Shuichi picked up the teapot at the right moment and refilled the teapot for the two of them.

"Chairman Tsutsumi, my lawyer will handle the formalities with Mr. Shimada. You just need to take the painting with you."

Thank you for your trouble.

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi nodded.

He looked at the painting as if it were a piece of a puzzle about to be added to his own territory. With this painting, and with the endorsement of the Konoe family, the Seibu Group was no longer just a huge commercial machine, but possessed a certain "orthodox" cultural foundation.

This is an indispensable calling card for Seibu, which is about to go public and even expand globally.

"but……"

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi withdrew his gaze, picked up his teacup, and gently blew away the foam.

"Besides painting, there's something else I wanted to talk to Shuichi-kun about today."

Xiuyi's hand was very steady, and not a single drop of tea spilled.

"Speaking."

Odaiba.

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi uttered those two words.

Shuichi's eyelid twitched slightly.

Although it was expected, the weight of the name still carried significant weight when it came from the mouth of this real estate tycoon.

"I heard that Daito Construction is now a subsidiary of Saionji Industrial?" Tsutsumi Yoshiaki's gaze was sharp as a knife. "And Daito Construction holds a key piece of land in the Odaiba reclamation site No. 13."

"That's true." Xiu put down the teapot, remaining calm. "However, it's a wasteland and is currently unused."

"That won't be the case for long."

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi took out a neatly folded drawing from the inside pocket of his suit and spread it out on the tea table.

The draft of the "Seaside Sub-Center Development Plan" is not yet publicly available within the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

"Next month, Governor Suzuki will officially announce this plan. Tokyo is going to expand into the bay, which will become the second metropolitan area in the future."

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi drew a line on the map with his finger.

"The Seibu Group plans to build a world-class convention center and hotel complex there. But..."

His finger stopped on the piece of land where Da Dong Construction was located.

"Shuichi-kun, your land is right on my planned route."

The air in the tea room seemed to freeze instantly.

Lord Konoe kept his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.

Shuichi looked at the map, then at Yoshiaki Tsutsumi.

"Does Chairman Tsutsumi want to acquire that land?"

"No."

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi shook his head.

He leaned back in his chair, a confident smile on his face befitting a strong person.

"Acquisitions are too boring. Besides, the Saionji family isn't short of money from selling land right now."

"We will cooperate."

"cooperate?"

"Yes. Joint development."

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's voice was deep and powerful.

"The Seibu Corporation provided the infrastructure and planning, and was responsible for obtaining all the approvals from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Construction. The Saionji family provided the land and the funds."

"Once the project is completed, the profits will be split 50/50."

This is an extremely tempting offer.

It was also an extremely dangerous hug.

This means that the Saionji family will officially board the giant warship of the Seibu Group and become its core ally. But at the same time, it also means that in the Odaiba project, the Saionji family will be deeply bound to Seibu, sharing both prosperity and adversity.

Shuichi remained silent for a moment.

He remembered what Satsuki had said that night when she stood on the terrace looking out over Tokyo Bay.

"We should take advantage of Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's momentum and inflate the bubble even further."

Shuichi raised his head and met Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's gaze.

"President Tsutsumi, this proposal is very generous. However, I have one condition."

Tell me about it.

"SA Investment hopes to become one of the cornerstone investors in Seibu Real Estate's IPO."

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi paused for a moment.

He then burst into laughter. His hearty laughter seemed to vibrate the air in the tea room.

"Hahaha! Good! Well done, Shuichi Saionji!"

He had originally thought that Shuichi would demand a larger share of the profits or haggle over the land valuation. But he hadn't expected Shuichi to have such a bigger appetite and a longer-term vision.

Becoming a cornerstone investor means that the Saionji family will directly share in the profits from the expansion of the Seibu Empire.

"It seems the rumors about you making a fortune on Wall Street aren't unfounded."

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi suppressed his laughter, and his eyes showed a newfound appreciation for his ally.

"Okay. I'll give you 5% of the quota."

"make a deal."

Xiuyi reached out his hand.

Their hands clasped together above the tea table.

One represents the revival of the old Chinese community and the sharp edge of overseas capital, while the other represents the hegemony of local conglomerates and the power of land.

At this moment, Tokyo's two largest foam manufacturers officially joined forces.

……

Half an hour later.

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi personally carried the sandalwood box containing the painting out of the main building.

The wind and snow were still very heavy.

The driver had already opened the car door and was waiting by his side.

Just before getting into the car, Yoshiaki Tsutsumi suddenly stopped.

He turned around and glanced at a window on the second floor. The curtains were drawn, and a faint light shone through.

"Shuichi-kun."

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi stood in the snow, without turning around, and simply said...

"You have a good daughter."

Xiu Yi stood at the door to see him off, and was slightly taken aback when he heard this.

"I noticed it that day at the ski resort."

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi got into the car, and the window slowly rolled up.

"Her eyes didn't look like she was looking at the snow."

The black Mercedes started up and disappeared at the end of the dark, snow-covered slope.

Shuichi stood there, staring at the tire tracks on the ground, without moving for a long time.

"Have we been discovered...?"

Shuichi gave a wry smile.

Also.

In the face of such ferocious beasts, any disguise would seem superfluous.

He turned and went back inside.

At the top of the stairs on the second floor, Satsuki was sitting on the steps, holding a photo album in her hand.

She was wearing pajamas and looked harmless.

"Gone?" Satsuki asked.

"I'm gone."

Xiuyi walked over and sat down next to her.

"The painting has been taken. The collaboration with Odaiba has also been finalized."

"very good."

Satsuki closed the photo album.

"With the Seibu Group's backing, the estimated value of our land in Odaiba will double tomorrow. The banks will be sending us even more money."

"and……"

Shuichi looked at his daughter, somewhat hesitant.

"He seems to have seen through you."

"So what if they see through it?"

Satsuki stood up and patted her nightgown.

"In this circle, there are no secrets that last forever. Letting him know that I'm the mastermind is good; at least he'll understand that the Saionji family's ship has not only a helmsman but also a navigator."

"As long as the interests align, he will pretend he knows nothing."

She walked to the window and looked at the snow falling heavily outside.

"Father, look."

"The snow is falling heavier and heavier."

"A timely snowfall promises a bumper harvest."