63: Chapter 63 Telephone Storm

"Mom, don't worry, the language isn't an issue. English is commonly used here, and for now, I'm the only citizen, so the whole country speaks Xia Chinese."

"Public security... currently it's just my people, so it's very safe."

"The food is indeed average, but I won't go hungry."

"As for coming home," President Chen Ran paused, his voice softening a bit, "I'll always be your son, and Hangzhou will always be home."

"You can come whenever you want; someone will handle the paperwork."

"Buying this... place, I have my reasons."

"Think about it, your son is a President now. Even though it's a small country, isn't it a boost to our pride when we tell people?"

"Will Auntie Wang from next door still dare to nag you?"

"Besides, this place is rich in seafood. Once things are set up, I'll air-freight you the freshest tuna. It'll be a hundred times better than the frozen stuff from the supermarket!"

"That bluefin tuna belly, made into sashimi, it just melts in your mouth..."

He skillfully used his soothing skills, first addressing the safety and lifestyle issues his mother cared about most, then dangling concrete benefits like annoying Auntie Wang and eating seafood to shift her attention.

Sure enough, Qian Shuqing's anger subsided a little, but her worry remained: "You make it sound so easy! Is being a President that simple? You're managing a whole country!"

"How old are you? What do you know about governing a country? What if something happens..."

"Mom, you have to believe in your son."

"Look at how I salvaged that shipwreck and won those lawsuits before—didn't I get it all done?"

"Governing a country is similar to managing a company; there are just more people and the place is bigger."

"I have a professional team helping me, so don't worry."

"You and Dad just live peacefully in Hangzhou. Call me if you miss me, or wait until I've tidied things up here, and I'll bring you over for a vacation. You can stay in a sea-view house and look at the blue sky and ocean every day. How about that?" President Chen Ran continued to paint a rosy picture.

Qian Shuqing was silent for a moment. The sound of her sniffing came through the phone, and her tone softened, though it still carried a hint of complaint: "You always know how to coax me... I'm telling you, you must stay safe! I heard another big wind is coming. Can your place... hold up? If not, hurry up and find cover!"

"I know, I know, Mom. My place is very sturdy."

"You and Dad take care of your health, and don't worry about me." President Chen Ran offered a few more words of comfort before hanging up.

He let out a long sigh. Dealing with his mother was more exhausting than dealing with forty militants.

The rain was gradually easing, but the phone calls didn't stop.

The next caller's name was Shen Wanqing.

President Chen Ran looked at the name on the screen. His finger hovered over the answer button for a moment before he pressed it.

"Hello?" His voice unconsciously became gentler.

"President Chen Ran," Shen Wanqing's voice came through, as soft as ever, but clear surprise and many unspoken questions could be heard within. "I... saw the news. You... became the President of Tuvalu?"

"Yeah, I just took office. The rain is too heavy, and I'm the only citizen on the whole island, so I skipped the inauguration ceremony." President Chen Ran made a joke, trying to lighten the weight of the topic.

There was a silence on the other end, as if Shen Wanqing was digesting this overly surreal information.

"Why?" she asked, her voice very soft but striking at the core. "Isn't that... a place that's about to disappear?"

"I've looked up information. Rising sea levels, coral bleaching, freshwater crises... almost everyone there has left."

"You spent so much money to get an... empty country?"

President Chen Ran walked to the window, looking at the faintly visible, foamy surf line in the rain curtain outside, and said slowly, "It is about to disappear, but it hasn't completely vanished yet."

"Wanqing, do you know about the Pacific Ocean currents?"

"Tuvalu is near the area influenced by the convergence of the South Equatorial Current and the Equatorial Countercurrent."

"Complex currents bring rich nutrients, nourishing massive plankton populations, which is why it has a world-class tuna fishery."

"Its Exclusive Economic Zone covers nine hundred thousand square kilometers, which is larger than many European countries."

"Beneath this sea, there are not just fish, but perhaps things we don't even know about."

"As for the land... it is indeed small and dangerous."

"But sometimes, the smallest fulcrum can move the greatest possibilities."

He paused and continued, "The people here have left, taking enough relocation funds to start new lives."

"For me, what I've gained is a legal entity recognized by the United Nations with complete maritime rights—a starting point that I can try to protect, restore, and even build according to my ideas."

"Of course, the risk is high, like trying to build a castle on a beach at low tide, but... I want to try."

Shen Wanqing listened quietly. She could hear the seriousness in President Chen Ran's tone and that almost stubborn determination.

This didn't seem like an impulse; it was more like a well-thought-out, even somewhat desperate, strategic choice.

She remembered his calm arrangements on the streets of New York, his iron-fisted handling of cyberbullying, and the light that flickered in his eyes when he talked about the deep sea.

This man always seemed to be doing things that ordinary people couldn't understand, yet ultimately left them in awe.

"I understand," Shen Wanqing said softly. She didn't press for deeper motives, only asking, "So are you... all right now? Is it safe there? The news says there's a storm."

"I'm fine, the rain is almost stopping, and safety isn't an issue—my people are all here."

"The conditions are just a bit tough; it's not as comfortable as Hangzhou," President Chen Ran laughed.

"Well, take care of yourself." Shen Wanqing paused, seemingly wanting to say more, but finally just said, "If you need help... I mean, if it involves ancient texts or cultural preservation, perhaps I can offer some suggestions."

"Tuvalu should have its own traditional culture as well."

"Definitely. Thank you in advance." President Chen Ran felt a slight warmth in his heart.

The call ended.

President Chen Ran knew that Shen Wanqing's doubts wouldn't disappear just like that, but her concern was genuine.

That was enough.

Almost a few minutes after Shen Wanqing's call ended, a request for an encrypted line from Xia came through, showing no number.

President Chen Ran's eyes narrowed slightly as he answered.

"President Chen Ran—no, I should call you President Chen now." A vigorous voice with a soldier's characteristic resonance came through; it was Uncle Shen, Shen Wanqing's uncle. "You kid, without a word, you've made such a huge scene! Not bad!"

"Uncle Shen, please don't tease me. It's just a small operation, nothing compared to you defending the country." President Chen Ran's tone was respectful and carried a smile.

"Don't give me that. Buying a presidency for two hundred million dollars is a 'small operation'?"

Shen Guomin laughed heartily, then his tone became more serious. "In all seriousness, this move of yours has startled quite a few people."

"Some people at the top are discussing it too."

"Before, Tuvalu was just a small dot on the map. Aside from fishing and climate conferences, no one gave it a second look."

"But now... things are different."

President Chen Ran understood.

A country with a UN seat, occupying key waters in the South Pacific and located near the shipping routes from Xia to South America and Australia—its control suddenly falling into the hands of a former Xia citizen with a complex relationship with the country would naturally lead to a reassessment of its strategic significance.

"Uncle Shen, I'm just a guy doing ocean exploration. Buying this place was purely for business convenience, to have my own base."

"Tuvalu adheres to the One-Xia principle and will continue to maintain friendly cooperation with all countries, especially Xia, in the future."

"Our territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone will always be open to peaceful use and scientific research activities." President Chen Ran gave a clear signal.

"Good, this attitude of yours is very good." Shen Guomin's tone softened. "Rest assured, as long as you stick to One-Xia, don't get involved in crooked ways, and don't let yourself be used as a pawn, no one will make things difficult for you. There might even be room for cooperation."

"By the way, your naval strength... how much do you have now?" he asked half-jokingly.

"Navy?" President Chen Ran also laughed. "Currently, it's just a few patrol speedboats left by my predecessor. Whether they can even start is a question."

"My bodyguards are fine on land, but they're not so great at sea."

"If we do fishery patrols or crack down on illegal fishing in the future, I might have to acquire some equipment. I might even have to ask for your advice then."

"Sure, contact me if you need anything. Remember, stand firm on your position and do a good job."

"I'll give you a heads-up: a storm is coming your way, so be careful."

"Once you pass this hurdle, even more eyes will be on you." Shen Guomin gave a few more instructions and hung up.

President Chen Ran put down the satellite phone and walked onto the simple balcony of the Presidential Palace.

The rain had completely stopped. The dark clouds had scattered a bit, revealing a corner of washed, azure sky.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting golden patches on the sea surface.

The water of the lagoon in the distance indeed showed distinct layers of blue and green, so beautiful it seemed unreal.

A flock of tropical boobies shrieked as they skimmed over the water, diving into the sea to catch small fish that had been disturbed into the shallows by the storm.

Almost at the same time Shen Guomin's call ended, President Chen Ran's phone began to vibrate wildly, pushing analysis articles and videos from major Xia social media, public accounts, and video platforms:

《In-depth Analysis: President Chen Ran Splurges 200 Million on Tuvalu—Genius Strategy or Ultimate Gambler?》

《From Programmer to President: President Chen Ran's 'Dimensional Strike' and Ambitions for a Maritime Empire》

Tuvalu's Strategic Location Fully Explained: Why This Sinking Island Suddenly Became a Hot Commodity?》

《Exclusive Interview with International Law Experts: Legal Loopholes and Shocking Risks of President Chen Ran's 'Island Purchase and Nation Building'》

《Learn Investing from 'President Ran': How to Use 200 Million in Leverage to Move a Country's Future?》

《On-the-Scene Report! Former Tuvalu Citizens Speak: Why We Left and Why President Chen Ran Took Over?》

The titles were each more sensational than the last, and the analysis angles were varied: some marveled at his boldness, some analyzed geopolitical strategy, some calculated the economic costs, and others questioned his motives and sustainability.

President Chen Ran's name once again swept across the entire Xia-language internet in an even more shocking way, even overshadowing all previous news trends.

He skimmed through them, smiled, and turned off the notifications.

The outside world's clamor, speculation, doubt, or expectation all seemed distant at this moment.

Before his eyes was a real territory that had just weathered a storm, a ruin in urgent need of reorganization, and a vast, boundless deep blue sea waiting to be explored and developed.

There was also the complex task list on the system interface that had just been unlocked, titled [Foundation of a Nation: New Chapter], along with the heart-pounding initial resource pack and technology blueprint previews.