However, for a collaboration of this scale, he first needed approval from the Russian government. After all, oil is a crucial strategic resource, and deciding whom to sell it to—or not sell it to—requires serious consideration.
Aside from discussing oil deals, Mavi also had other business in China. Last year, he had purchased a prime financial district plot in Lujiazui, Shanghai, and the first phase of construction had now been completed. He planned to visit to handle some formalities.
A week later, on a Wednesday afternoon, a pure white Airbus A380 was circling over Shanghai, preparing to land at Pudong International Airport.
Meanwhile, several Mercedes-Benz S320 sedans were neatly lined up near the airport tarmac, seemingly awaiting the arrival of a distinguished guest.
About three minutes later, the door of the lead Mercedes opened, and a middle-aged man in a black suit with a square-shaped face stepped out. This man was none other than Wu Guanyu, the Vice President of PetroChina.
He had brought his team to the airport specifically to welcome a newly rising Russian oil tycoon who was visiting China.
This Russian oil magnate had a truly legendary rise—his energy company had been established for less than three months, yet thanks to his immense financial power and keen business acumen, he had rapidly propelled it into the top five of Russia's oil industry. His meteoric success was both astonishing and admirable.
"Mr. Wu, the airport staff just informed us that the Russian guest's private jet is currently over Shanghai and should land within ten minutes," said Wu Guanyu's assistant respectfully.
"Understood," Wu Guanyu replied with a serious expression.
Just as he spoke, a convoy of black Volvo 960 sedans suddenly drove into the tarmac entrance. Their imposing presence rivaled that of PetroChina's Mercedes-Benz fleet—in fact, they had even more vehicles, clearly coming well-prepared.
"Mr. Wu, I think those cars belong to Sinopec's delegation," the assistant whispered a reminder.
"I figured they would show up," Wu Guanyu said, unsurprised.
After all, the newly discovered Russian oil field had an estimated value of a staggering $300 billion! With a deal of this magnitude, competition was inevitable.
As the Volvo convoy parked neatly beside the Mercedes fleet, the lead Volvo's door was opened by a driver. A middle-aged man with a lean build, dressed in a gray suit, stepped out. He appeared slightly younger than Wu Guanyu.
"Well, well! Mr. Wu, fancy seeing you here," the man greeted with his signature smile.
This was Ren Yuan, Vice President of Sinopec. The two were longtime business rivals and frequently encountered each other in various settings.
"Mr. Ren, long time no see. If I remember correctly, the last time we met was in Pakistan, wasn't it?" Wu Guanyu's tone lacked enthusiasm.
After all, during the bidding for an oil extraction project in Pakistan, PetroChina had lost to Sinopec.
This time, however, he was determined to turn the tables and secure the deal with the Russian guest. The Pakistan oil project had been worth around $30 billion, but the Ma V Energy project was valued at ten times that—$300 billion!
"That's right, Mr. Wu. You have an excellent memory. By the way, are you planning to check out the upcoming grand opening of Ziyuan Yipin in Lujiazui? I heard it's currently the most luxurious residential project in China, right by the Huangpu River. In fact, it ranks among the top three luxury properties in all of Asia," Ren Yuan said with a smile.
The so-called "most luxurious residence in China" was none other than the prime real estate Mavi had acquired last year. The first phase was about to be completed and opened for sale, attracting the attention of many wealthy buyers.
With its unbeatable location in Lujiazui's golden district and its title as "China's No.1 Luxury Residence," it was bound to entice high-end buyers.
"Of course, I'll go take a look. In fact, I was already planning to buy a new home in Shanghai," Wu Guanyu replied casually.
Though they were business competitors, he and Ren Yuan had known each other for years. Chatting while waiting for the Russian guest was no big deal.
"Mr. Wu, I heard that Ziyuan Yipin has some rather unusual purchasing restrictions," Ren Yuan said, hinting at insider information.
"Restrictions? Are you saying even if I have the money, they might not sell to me?" Wu Guanyu asked, puzzled.
What neither of them knew was that the Ziyuan Yipin project actually belonged to the very Russian guest they were waiting for. Since Mavi had not used Ma V Group's name when investing in the property, few people were aware of his involvement.
"I'm not entirely sure about the details. We'll just have to wait and see. But one thing is certain—the property will be top-tier, and the location is prime. The real question is how much it'll cost and what the purchasing terms will be," Ren Yuan replied, clearly intrigued by the upcoming sales event.
Given Mavi's vision as a reborn entrepreneur, he certainly wouldn't make it easy for just anyone to buy in…
Five minutes later, as Wu Guanyu and Ren Yuan stood in front of their respective fleets, they spotted a massive white aircraft descending steadily through the clear blue sky, landing smoothly on the runway at Pudong International Airport.
The moment the plane touched down, a wave of excitement rippled through the assembled oil executives, including Wu Guanyu and Ren Yuan.
"Wait… isn't that an Airbus A380? That's the Russian guest's private jet? That thing costs over a billion yuan!" a PetroChina executive exclaimed, instantly recognizing the aircraft model.
"An A380? That's even bigger than a Boeing 747! It's known as the 'superjumbo jet,' and someone actually bought one as a private plane? This level of extravagance is on another level!" a Sinopec executive marveled.
At that moment, everyone present felt the sheer magnitude of the Russian tycoon's wealth and influence.
(End of Chapter)