Reborn in Tokyo: From Heiress to Global Tycoon

Chapter 16 Heaven and Hell

In Tokyo at the end of September, it rained incessantly.

It wasn't a torrential downpour, but a cold, sticky autumn rain. Rain dripped from the eaves, forming small puddles on the bluestone slabs, reflecting the gray sky.

The air in the study of the Saionji main family was dry and warm.

Fine oak burned in the fireplace, its orange flames dancing and crackling softly on the brass fireguard.

Shuichi sat at his desk with a steaming cup of black tea beside him.

He didn't drink tea. His attention was entirely focused on the open ledger in front of him.

The numbers on it were written with black ink. The handwriting was neat and the ink penetrated the paper.

Total net assets: Increased by 180%

Working capital: ¥76 billion (excluding overseas US dollars)

In just one week.

From that signing ceremony at the Plaza Hotel onwards, the US dollar plummeted like a kite with a broken string.

240, 235, 230, 225...

This morning, the Tokyo foreign exchange market opened, and the exchange rate broke through the 220 mark, settling at 219.50.

This week, exporters across Japan are lamenting, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry's phone lines are ringing off the hook, and major newspapers are filled with terrifying predictions of "yen appreciation and recession."

But in the study of the Saionji family, all of this signifies a silent revelry.

Shuichi picked up his pen and drew a heavy circle after a number.

That was the amount of cash he had secured after closing out half of his short positions. This money not only covered all his previous bank loans and mortgage debts, but also left him with enough surplus to buy half a corner of Ginza.

"That's insane..."

Xiuichi put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long breath.

He stared at the exquisite crystal chandelier on the ceiling. Just two weeks ago, he had been losing sleep over it. Now, he even felt that the chandelier was too dim, unworthy of the Saionji family's current wealth.

This feeling of weightlessness, like stepping from hell into heaven, made him feel somewhat dizzy.

"Father."

The sound of turning pages came from the sofa in the corner of the study.

Satsuki was sitting cross-legged, holding a picture book in her hands. She was wearing a creamy white cotton dress, her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and she looked soft and harmless.

"You've circled that number five times already," she said without looking up. "The paper's practically torn."

Xiu Yi snapped out of his daze and closed the ledger somewhat awkwardly.

"Ahem... I'm just confirming." Xiu Yi picked up his teacup and took a sip as if to cover up his mistake. "After all, this is quite a sum of money."

"It's not small," Satsuki said calmly, turning a page of the picture book. "But it's only just begun."

She looked up at her father.

"Father, money is just bullets. If you don't use it, it will rust in the warehouse."

Xiu nodded. After this battle, his judgment of his daughter had reached the point of blind faith.

"Don't worry. I've already had the finance department set up an asset management department for 'Saionji Corporation.' Next, we'll proceed with the plan to 'pick up the trash.'"

When he said the words "picking up trash," Shuichi's eyes turned cold.

Those factories on the verge of bankruptcy, those plots of land auctioned off by banks because they couldn't repay their loans, and those once-prominent families now facing desperation...

In this approaching winter, the Saionji family will play the role of vultures.

"Bang!"

A loud bang suddenly came from downstairs.

Then came a cacophony of noise; even through the heavy oak doors and carpet, one could hear someone shouting hysterically.

Xiuichi frowned and put down his teacup.

"What happened?"

Before he could ring the bell to call the butler, the study door was suddenly kicked open.

"Big brother! Big brother, save me!"

A figure, soaking wet, stumbled in.

That's Kenjiro Saionji.

But at this moment, he probably looks worse than a beggar on the street.

The silver-gray suit that had once gleamed at the groundbreaking ceremony in Osaka was now covered in mud and wrinkles, and his tie was askew, making him look like a noose. His hair was wet and stuck to his scalp, and his face was a mixture of rain, tears, and grease that he had smeared on somewhere.

Even more pungent was the smell.

Even from a few meters away, Shuichi could smell the strong, fermenting stench of alcohol—the rotten smell of someone still hungover and having drunk more alcohol.

"Sir! We're sorry! We couldn't stop them..."

The old butler, Fujita, rushed in with two young male servants, looking panicked. Without a word, the servants tried to drag Kenshiro out.

Xiu raised his hand to stop the servant's actions.

He sat in the chair, not moving, just coldly watching his younger brother lying on the carpet.

That Persian carpet was left by his grandfather, and now a large part of it was stained with mud from Kenjiro's clothes.

"Get out," Xiu said to the servants. "Close the door."

Fujita glanced at Kenjiro on the ground, sighed, and led his men out, gently closing the door behind them.

The study fell silent again.

Only the fire in the fireplace was still crackling.

"Big brother..."

Kenjiro crawled on his hands and feet for a couple of steps and grabbed Shuichi's trouser leg. His hands were trembling, a spasm of extreme fear.

"Help me... It's really over... This time it's really over..."

Kenjiro's voice was hoarse and choked with sobs. "That American Smith... he's a devil! He sent a lawyer's letter to the factory! Penalty for breach of contract! Triple! And the bank... Mitsui and Sumitomo froze the branch's accounts this morning! They can't even pay the workers' wages!"

He raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Xiu Yi, like a drowning person grasping at a last straw.

"The exchange rate... the exchange rate has fallen below 220! I'm losing money every second! I've already mortgaged my house and car in Osaka, and it's still not enough! Big brother, the main family is rich, right? I heard you've made a fortune in Tokyo! Help me! Just 500 million... no, 1 billion! As long as you can shut Smith up, I can survive!"

Xiu looked down at the hand that was grabbing his trouser leg.

Two months ago, that hand had been waving arrogantly across a construction site in Osaka, pointing fingers and gesturing wildly.

Now, it's just a dirty beggar's hand.

Shuichi didn't say anything, but he moved his leg slightly, trying to pull his trouser leg out.

But Kenshiro held on too tightly.

"Let go." Shuichi's voice was very soft.

"I won't let go! I won't let go!" Kenjiro shook his head frantically. "I'm your own brother! I'm the only family member at your sister-in-law's funeral! If you don't save me, I'll die! I'll die right here at the Saionji family's doorstep! I'll let all of Tokyo see what a cold-blooded brother Saionji Shuichi is!"

This is a threat.

It was also the last act of a rogue throwing a tantrum.

Satsuki, sitting in the corner, closed the picture book in her hand.

She didn't make a sound, but simply watched the scene unfold.

If this were in his previous life, or a few months ago, Shuichi might have softened his heart. Because he was an old-fashioned nobleman who valued "decency" and "family ties" extremely highly.

But now, he should have already begun to become a qualified capitalist.

Satsuki was confident in her ability to train Shuichi and watched with great interest how Shuichi would respond.

Xiu turned his head and glanced at the clock on the wall.

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

Just an hour earlier, he had issued an order to purchase Swiss franc bonds.

"Kenjiro."

Shuichi took a document out of the drawer.

That was a few months earlier, at a family meeting, where Kenjiro signed an "Independent Management Agreement" in an effort to gain control of the new factory.

He threw the documents on the ground.

The white paper fluttered down onto the filthy carpet, covering the puddle of mud.

"Take a look for yourself." Shuichi pointed to the bright red stamp at the end of the document. "What does it say?"

Kenjiro was stunned. He stared at the familiar seal, the one he had so proudly stamped on back then.

"The branch office operates independently, assuming full responsibility for its own profits and losses. The parent company only provides limited liability for the initial start-up capital and does not assume joint liability for debts incurred in subsequent operations."

Shuichi coldly recited that clause.

"This is the freedom you wanted, this is the power you wanted."

"I gave you a choice before, but you just didn't choose the right one."

Kenjiro was stunned for a moment, then suddenly tore the document to shreds as if he had gone mad.

"That's worthless paper! That was a trap you set! You knew all along, didn't you?!" He pointed at Shuichi, screaming hysterically, "You knew back then that the yen was going to appreciate! You knew back then that contract was poison! You deliberately made me sign it! You wanted to kill me!"

Shuichi looked at his barking younger brother, but still showed no anger whatsoever.

"Did I hurt you?"

Shuichi stood up, walked to the fireplace, picked up the fire tongs, and poked at the embers.

"That day in Osaka, didn't I remind you of the insufficient production capacity? Didn't Satsuki remind you that the penalty for breach of contract was too high? You were blinded by greed and wouldn't listen to reason."

"The Saionji family doesn't need gamblers, especially the kind who try to renege on their debts after losing."

Shuichi turned around, his back to the firelight, and his shadow was cast on Kenshiro, like an insurmountable mountain.

"Go back and wait for bankruptcy liquidation."

"For the sake of our brotherhood, I'll pay for the ruins of your factory. As for your mountain of debt... you can explain that to your creditors yourself."

"No--!"

Kenshiro let out a desperate howl.

He suddenly jumped up from the ground and rushed towards Xiu Yi. His reason had collapsed; he wanted to hit someone, to kill someone, and to drag this high and mighty person in front of him into the mire.

"Bang!"

Before he could even touch Shuichi, the study door was kicked open again.

Fujita, who had been waiting at the door, rushed in with two strong male servants and grabbed Kenshiro.

"Let me go! I'm the managing director! I'm from the Saionji family!"

Kenshiro struggled desperately, like a pig waiting to be slaughtered.

"Drag him out."

Shuichi waved his hand, as if shooing away a fly. He didn't even bother to look at his brother again, and sat back down in his chair, picking up the account book.

"From now on, this person is not allowed to enter the gate without an appointment."

"Yes, sir."

Fujita bowed and gave the male servant a wink.

Two male servants grabbed Kenshiro and dragged him out. Kenshiro's feet left two long muddy trails on the carpet as he continued to curse and cry.

The sound gradually faded into the distance.

The study finally quieted down.

Shuichi frowned as he looked at the stains on the carpet.

"Fujita, change the carpet."

"Yes."

Satsuki, who had been sitting in the corner, stood up at this moment.

She walked to her father's side and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Father, does it hurt your heart?"

Shuichi was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"It doesn't hurt."

He looked at the flickering flames in the fireplace.

"I just think... it's a bit noisy."

……

The main staircase of the Saionji main family is a large mahogany spiral staircase.

Kenshiro was dragged by two male servants all the way to the entrance.

He was still struggling and crying. He had lost one shoe, and his socks were soaking wet on the marble floor.

Just as he was about to be thrown out the door.

He looked up and saw a scene he would never forget.

On the second-floor corridor.

Satsuki was standing there.

She didn't turn on the lights. The corridor was somewhat dim, with only the crystal chandelier in the first-floor entryway shining obliquely, outlining her petite silhouette.

She was wearing a pristine white nightgown with delicate lace trim at the hem, spotless and without a speck of dust, and she was holding a brown teddy bear in her arms.

She looked down at Kenjiro, who was being held down in the mud.

Kenjiro could hardly detect any expression on her face.

That look was like looking at a frog that had been run over by a car wheel, or a crumpled piece of paper that had been thrown into the trash can.

calm.

Absolute, cruel calm.

Kenjiro made a gurgling sound in his throat. He wanted to call Satsuki's name, hoping that his usually well-behaved niece would say a word for him.

But he saw the corner of Satsuki's mouth.

It's slowly, little by little, being drawn out there.

It was a smile.

Sweet and innocent, yet it sent a chill down Kenshiro's spine from his tailbone to his head.

That smile is saying:

"Uncle, is hell cold?"

Satsuki raised one hand, grasped the teddy bear's little paw, and gently waved at Kenshiro.

It was like a final farewell.

"Throw him out!" Fujita's voice rang out.

The door opened.

The sound of wind and rain outside rushed in instantly.

Kenshiro was mercilessly thrown into the rain. He fell onto the muddy gravel road, and the icy rain instantly soaked him through.

"Bang!"

The heavy teak door slammed shut behind him.

The muffled thud sounded like the sound of a guillotine falling.

To completely separate heaven and hell.

……

Second floor corridor.

Satsuki withdrew her gaze.

She looked down at the teddy bear in her arms.

"Look, little bear."

She spoke softly, her voice echoing in the empty corridor.

"The trash has been cleaned up."

She turned around, her bare feet stepping onto the soft carpet, and walked towards her room.

The rain is still falling outside the window.