While Iris was discussing her business proposition to open a Filipino branch of Orchidia Beauty with Linda Chua, Jin Liwei was also having a similar discussion with Marjorie’s husband.
Paul Ferrer was a rather successful senior real estate agent in the Philippines. The first time that Jin Liwei met the man was when the Chua family celebrated Christmas with them last year. He had already chatted with Paul about the real estate situation in the Philippines.
“Now that my wife wants to open a branch of her business in the Philippines, I think that it’s good for our family to buy a vacation property there,” Jin Liwei said. “Xiulan has been wanting to visit your country.”
“There are property ownership restrictions for foreigners in the Philippines,” Paul replied before explaining the rules.
Jin Liwei nodded. “I’m already aware of some of these rules. Although Jin Corporation doesn’t have a Filipino branch, we have partnerships with several well-established Filipino companies. Jin Corporation has quite a number of investments in the Philippines but they’re not that substantial compared to what we do in other countries where we have official branches. I never thought of buying a property there before this. But my wife’s close connection to your family has made me very interested.”
“I can help you if you’re really interested. But like I said, there are a lot of restrictions for foreigners like you. I think that the best option for you is to buy through a corporation but the only issue is that the corporation must be at least 60% Filipino-owned. If you’re willing to give up that much equity, then I’ll find you and Xiulan the best property in the Philippines that suits you.”
Jin Liwei glanced at Grandpa Lu who was chilling with the lazy Ice Cream on his lap.
“Up to you, my boy!” Grandpa Lu told him. “This old man is already retired! Your beloved grandpa just wants to enjoy the rest of my days and dote on all my precious great-grandbabies before my life in this world ends. You’ve been the head of Jin Corporation for many years now. Do what you think is best. I won’t interfere as long as you don’t send the company that your late grandfather, my brother—bless his soul—and I worked so hard to establish back in the days!”
“Alright, Grandpa Lu. Please don’t worry and leave everything to me.”
Grandpa Lu nodded but had a thoughtful expression while stroking his perfectly groomed white mustache with one hand and petting the napping Ice Cream with his other hand.
Then he said, “But I think that it’s better if you let Xiulan my girl do it instead. Jin Corporation has a board of directors that will want to feel involved in every major decision that you plan for the company to take. They’ll demand endless bloody meetings, voting, and deliberations. Bah! Who knows how much time those numpty-tumpties will waste until you can start with your actual plan? Hmph! This is why I was so against when your grandfather gave away a portion of his personal shares to so many others back then. Although those people deserved them, many of their heirs who inherited the shares don’t!
“If I didn’t continue to hold on to my original shares, then so many backstabbing vipers might have already succeeded in swallowing our company! Hah! As if I, Lu Jianhong, will allow that to happen! Over THEIR dead body, not mine!”
It didn’t take long for Jin Liwei to consider Grandpa Lu’s suggestion. He agreed with him. He glanced at his wife who was now smiling in satisfaction. It seemed that Iris succeeded in poaching Linda Chua.
“Indeed, it might be better for my wife to do it instead. All of her companies are private companies and don’t have board of directors for now. She has more freedom and flexibility to do what she wants as the owner. I’ll discuss this with her first.”
Grandpa Lu nodded and didn’t bother about any of their conversations anymore.
Jin Liwei told Paul Ferrer, “I’ll talk to you again when I have a more concrete plan after discussing with my wife.”
“No problem at all.”
Later that night, Iris was doing her night-time skincare routine (all Orchidia Beauty products, of course) in the walk-in closet while Jin Liwei was reading a digital pamphlet on his tablet that Paul Ferrer sent to him about foreign property ownership laws in the Philippines. She glanced at his reflection on the mirror.
“You’re having second thoughts?” she asked.
“En. The Philippines have strict prohibition of majority foreign ownership of businesses operated there and also of residential properties. Jin Corporation can bear the risk but as for your companies, they’re all still new. Well, except for Gold Heights which is previously owned by someone else.”
“I trust Dom’s family. I don’t mind giving them 60% equity. Almost all of them also have backgrounds in the business field. Besides, even if they have a change of heart for the worse someday, we still have Ketchup and Bacon who can monitor them and make sure that we’re up to date with what’s happening in the Filipino business. I’m sure Dom will also constantly remind them not to betray us. He knows about our AI children’s capabilities. He would never want his family to put themselves in a dangerous position against us.”
Jin Liwei put down the tablet on the vanity table, took a hairbrush, and started brushing his wife’s long, silky-smooth hair. Iris smiled at him while continuing to gently massage a serum into her face.
“Alright,” he said. “If that’s your decision. I’ll help you set up a new Filipino company with the Chuas. For now, you can just focus on your deal with Linda about opening a Filipino branch of Orchidia Beauty.”
“Okay, darling. Thanks.”
“If the new company with the Chuas is successful, then it will make it easier and more convenient for any of our businesses to enter the Filipino market from now on. We can just partner with the Chuas again and again. It saves time compared to trying to strike a deal with other Filipino companies that care more about getting more benefits from the foreign businesses interested in entering the local market.”
“True. Let’s do it soon. It’s better to finish everything before I give birth. We might become too busy if we wait after the twins arrive.”
“En.”
The husband and wife discussed their business plans together. It felt natural for them, as if they had been doing it for a long time. The trust they had for each other was clear in the way they respected each other’s ideas and opinions, despite their different business leadership styles.
After Iris finished her skincare routine, the couple headed straight to their bed. Jin Liwei started massaging her body to help promote blood circulation, and of course, to relax his wife who had been working hard in the past few days.
His movements were almost like that of an expert’s. He was already used to it from doing it almost every night when Iris was still in bed rest. Even though she already recovered, he still insisted on continuing the massage routine on her.
She sighed in satisfaction, moaning when he soothed a particular knot on her shoulder area. His eyes darkened at the sound of her moan.
