After she finished, Chen Xueer turned to Jiang Cheng again. "Lately Ling'er and I have been debating whether to invest in real estate. Honestly, our company was founded a bit late; if we'd started two years earlier, property would have been the main target. The sector still looks booming, but the margins are already thinner than a few years ago."
Chen Xueer's analysis was spot-on. Had Jiang Cheng been reborn before 2015, the first thing he would have done was grab land like crazy, then cash out like mad right about now.
In one move he could have become a local property titan—just like Richest Man Wang.
But it was already 2017, and real-estate investment still seemed to be on fire.
Wave after wave of buyers kept rushing in, yet that was merely the dazzling scene before the collapse.
Any sector, once it reaches a certain point, turns into overcapacity.
Real estate was no exception.
After 2018, the oversaturated market would start its downhill slide.
By then capital would scramble to exit.
Even Richest Man Wang began dumping real-estate assets at top speed.
Many tycoons who couldn't get out in time started piling up debt.
The most famous case came in 2021: Evergrande declared bankruptcy and Country Garden left projects unfinished.
These two giants couldn't withstand the economic shockwaves.
Evergrande's bankruptcy caught countless people off-guard; because ordinary citizens were so widely affected, the state stepped in and blocked the formal bankruptcy.
Otherwise the pair would have quietly run off with the money long ago.
Rather than enter real estate now for measly profits, better to invest directly in TikTok and become a ByteDance shareholder.
The future belongs to the internet.
Only that way can money breed money and build bigger capital.
After all, his system only nets a bit over sixty million a year.
Still far from the one or two "small targets" of Richest Man Wang.
Though the balance in his account could never be spent in a lifetime,
people always look forward—and one never dislikes having too much money.
"Forget property. The margins are fat, but we're too late to the game."
Seeing Jiang Cheng say so, Chen Xueer nodded in agreement. "That's exactly what I think. Apart from some hotel projects, we've steered clear of housing. From Chairman Jiang's tone, you seem very bullish on the internet sector?"
Jiang Cheng nodded. "The 4G era has begun, and 5G will follow. When the economy slows, the internet will sprint ahead; short-form video and live-streaming will become mainstream in the next few years."
"5G?? Live-streaming??" Chen Xueer asked, puzzled. "5G shouldn't be that easy—4G only just arrived. Isn't live-streaming what Huya and Shark do?"
Jiang Cheng shook his head, offering no explanation about 5G.
He spoke only of the issues at hand.
"Live-streaming will fuse with short-form video and become its monetization tool. The sector looks hazy now, but in six months everything will be crystal clear."
Listening to his answer, Chen Xueer stared straight into Jiang Cheng's eyes.
His market instincts far exceeded her expectations.
She even felt he knew things he shouldn't.
The way she looked at him now was completely different.
Her favorability value toward Jiang Cheng jumped straight to 88.
Seeing her gaze burn into him, Jiang Cheng calmly met her eyes.
When it came to market investing, Jiang Cheng naturally couldn't match Chen Xueer.
But on future foresight, he left her in the dust.
Simple—Jiang Cheng was a reborn cheat.
With memories of the next few years, he could predict trends effortlessly.
Chen Xueer could only rely on deduction.
Investing is a gamble—win and you climb higher,
lose and you hit rock bottom.
Jiang Cheng, at least for the next six years, was guaranteed to win every bet.
"I get it. No major capital has touched this yet; if we bring money, nine percent is possible—maybe even ten." Chen Xueer smiled.
Jiang Cheng nodded. "I trust you to handle it."
Right now those nine percent cost Jiang Cheng only two billion U.S. dollars.
But in four years that stake would soar to over thirty billion.
If Chen Xueer could push it to ten percent, that single extra point would be worth tens of billions of RMB.
Jiang Cheng added, "Luo Jia came in while you were away."
At the mention of Luo Jia, Chen Xueer's expression turned teasing. "She… didn't try the beauty trap, did she?"
Jiang Cheng nodded. "She tried a bit, but with you in the company it was useless."
Hearing that, Chen Xueer's cheeks flushed; she hid her delight. "So will Luo Jia stay?"
"I just approved her project—let her run with it if she wants."
Chen Xueer blinked. "But earlier you said…"
"Dragging it out wastes time. Without giving her a taste of success, how do we lure out the people behind her? Pretend you know nothing; I'll arrange the rest."
Looking at Jiang Cheng's icy gaze, Chen Xueer shivered inside.
She knew he was no ordinary man.
He seemed to have inside sources everywhere.
So she had nothing to worry about.
She simply nodded. "Got it. I'll approve it in a moment."
After the briefing, Jiang Cheng headed for the underground garage.
At that moment the Danger Perception Skill triggered.
Jiang Cheng frowned at the red exclamation mark the system flashed!
He felt a faint sense of danger in his mind.
Perhaps because no direct threat was visible this time,
only an instinct warning him not to go toward the parking lot.
Last time, when he saw Luo Jia, the skill had replayed the entire plot in his head.
Not so now.
But right then the system chimed.
"Ding! Danger Perception has detected Hao Liang's resentment. Someone has tampered with the Host's car. Stay away from dangerous objects and ensure safety."
Reading the alert, Jiang Cheng's eyes turned cold.
So it was Hao Liang—messing with his super-car.
If a sports car fails at speed, the result is severe injury or death.
Since it had come to this, Hao Liang had only himself to blame.
Jiang Cheng lifted his phone and quietly issued a task to the Security Team.
He told them the condition of the car in the lot
and set the mission requirement: Terminate Target.
After sending it, he returned to the lounge in his office and calmly waited for the Security Team to finish.
Now that his life was threatened, Jiang Cheng would show no mercy.
Last time he'd only taught Hao Liang a small lesson over the website smear; apparently the man hadn't learned.