80: Chapter 80 Returning to Hangzhou

The auction hammer struck in that tax-free paradise in the Caribbean, bringing a massive sum of two billion dollars for President Chen Ran and Deep Blue Nation.

This money was still flowing through various complex but legal channels into several newly established Deep Blue Nation development fund accounts, which were strictly monitored by Colt's team.

Almost at the same time, that four and a half billion dollars from Arthur Crawford and Lawrence Rockefeller—money that wasn't exactly "sunny"—had long since been thoroughly cleaned and dispersed under the assistance of the system and the operations of Victor's team.

It had been transformed into dozens of offshore investment returns and early-stage venture capital gains with clear sources and legitimate uses, lying quietly in multi-layered, protected encrypted accounts, ready to be called upon at any time.

President Chen Ran stood at the rudimentary pier in Funafuti, looking out at the horizon.

In the system interface, the sixty-day countdown was nearing its end.

There were only three days left until the predetermined land elevation event.

The first batch of equipment aided by China—two medium-sized coast guard patrol ships, a batch of radar and communication equipment, and an advisory group—was ready in China, and the security personnel going to take over were undergoing final handover and adaptive training.

Everything was proceeding according to plan, even faster than planned.

It was time to go back for a visit.

He needed to personally return to China, to return to Hangzhou.

His younger sister, Chen Yan, had experienced that scare, and although security and his family kept saying she was fine, he had to see for himself to be reassured.

That massive auction sum and the subsequent huge construction plan required deeper, higher-level communication with the Chinese side; for some matters, relying on Uncle Shen to pass messages wasn't enough.

The talent, technology, and equipment that Deep Blue Nation would need in the future would largely have to be imported from or developed in partnership with China, and he needed to negotiate this in person.

And... he thought of Shen Wanqing's eyes, which were as calm as autumn water, and a certain place in his heart stirred slightly.

He left Victor and Fortress behind to be responsible for the final days of defense and the emergency contingency plans for the elevation event in Deep Blue Nation.

He took the other eight members of the Heavy Hammer team and boarded the Gulfstream G650ER business jet, which had just been leased through Chinese channels and was suitable for long-distance flights.

The plane struggled to lift off from that rudimentary runway in Funafuti, soared into the clouds, and flew towards China in the northwest.

The journey was long.

President Chen Ran spent most of the time reading documents and thinking.

Occasionally, when he closed his eyes to rest, he would think of the silence and pressure beneath the deep sea, and think of the history and wealth sealed away in those shipwrecks.

Now, he was temporarily returning to that familiar, bustling land full of the fireworks of human life.

When the plane landed on the private tarmac at Hangzhou International Airport, it was already evening.

The familiar humid air rushed to meet him, carrying the scent unique to autumn in Jiangnan, where plants were neither fully withered nor fully alive.

There were no media waiting with cameras outside the passageway; the itinerary was strictly confidential.

Only a motorcade arranged by the Chinese side and a few plainclothes personnel were waiting.

President Chen Ran sat in a black domestic sedan, and the motorcade quietly drove out of the airport, merging into the evening traffic of Hangzhou.

He didn't go home first, but instead had the motorcade drive to the side of West Lake.

He had the motorcade and his entourage wait at a distance, got out of the car alone, and walked slowly along the pedestrian path by the lake.

The afterglow of the setting sun plated the lake, the distant Baochu Pagoda, and the layered mountains with a soft golden rim.

Tour boats were returning, and tourists and citizens were walking or sitting idly by the lake in twos and threes.

Everything was no different from when he left, yet it seemed completely changed.

He sat down on a bench under an old willow tree, watching the shimmering lake.

There was no all-consuming deep blue like the Pacific Ocean here, nor the dazzling emerald of an atoll lagoon, only a gentle, thousand-year-old dark green and pale gold.

The noise came from a distance, like background sound.

He needed a little of this tranquility to buffer the switch between two completely different life rhythms.

The private phone in his pocket vibrated; it was a message from Shen Wanqing, with just two simple words: "Arrived?"

President Chen Ran smiled and replied: "Arrived, by West Lake, just got off the plane, catching some breeze."

After a few minutes, Shen Wanqing replied: "It's chilly by the lake, be careful not to catch a cold. It's good that you're back."

A very ordinary concern, but it warmed President Chen Ran's heart.

"Yeah, are you free tomorrow? I'd like to see you, and by the way... I have some questions about the subsequent research and protection of the deep-sea salvage artifacts that I'd like to ask Professor Shen." He found a quite legitimate reason.

"I have no classes tomorrow afternoon. Let's meet at the Gushan Literature Garden at the school; it's quiet there." Shen Wanqing replied quickly and attached a location.

"Okay, two o'clock in the afternoon, see you there."

Ending the brief exchange of messages, President Chen Ran sat for a while longer, until the setting sun completely sank behind the mountains and the golden light on the lake faded into a deep indigo, only then did he get up and walk towards the waiting motorcade.

When the car drove into the residential complex where his home was, it was already completely dark.

The familiar hallway, the familiar door number.

He had just taken out his key when the door opened from the inside.

His mother, Qian Shuqing, stood at the door wearing an apron, still holding a spatula, her eyes a little red as she looked him up and down, then lightly slapped his arm: "You stinky brat! You finally know to come back! You've lost weight! Didn't you have anything to eat over there?"

His father, Chen Jianwei, followed behind, rubbing his hands and smiling honestly: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. Come inside quickly, your mother made a table full of dishes, just waiting for you."

Chen Yan bounced out of the room like a little rabbit, pounced on him, and hugged his waist, her voice muffled: "Brother! Why did you only come back now!" When she looked up, her eyes were also red, but there was a happy smile on her face.

The scent of home, mixed with the aroma of food, instantly enveloped him.

The deep-sea salvaging, the tension of the auction, and the undercurrents in the international arena seemed to be shut outside the door at this moment.

He ruffled his sister's hair and smiled at his parents: "Mom, Dad, I'm back. I'm starving, I have to eat three big bowls today."

At the dinner table, Qian Shuqing kept putting food in his bowl, nagging about how he must not have eaten well outside, and cursing those blind bastards who dared to bully Chen Yan.

Chen Jianwei asked cautiously about the situation in Deep Blue Nation, hearing that they were doing construction, and kept reminding him to pay attention to safety because there were many typhoons there.

Chen Yan chattered about interesting things at school, not mentioning the encounter that night, but President Chen Ran could feel that his sister was more clingy to him than before, with more dependence and lingering fear in her eyes.

President Chen Ran listened patiently, answering, talking about the colorful coral fish in the Deep Blue Nation lagoon, and talking about the strange old objects salvaged, deliberately downplaying the dangers and hardships.

He knew that what his parents and sister wanted wasn't for him to be powerful, but for him to be safe.

After dinner, President Chen Ran called Chen Yan into the study and closed the door.

He looked at his sister seriously: "Xiao Yan, that night, are you really okay? Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable? Or, are you still scared inside?"

Chen Yan shook her head and leaned against her brother: "I was scared at the time, it was pitch black, and those people rushed over... But Sister Lin Wei and Sister Zhou Qing were so cool! They knocked them all down in a few moves! Later, the police came, and the school leaders came too... Brother, did I cause you trouble?" She asked with some unease.

"Silly talk." President Chen Ran wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulder, "It was brother who didn't protect you well, but don't worry, those two people, and the thugs they found, none of them will get away; Chinese law will severely punish them. There won't be such things in the future, brother promises you."

"Yeah, I believe you, brother." Chen Yan nodded vigorously, then asked curiously, "Brother, when can you take me to see your Deep Blue Nation? I saw the news saying you auctioned off lots of treasures! Are you super rich now? Are there really fish that glow there?"

President Chen Ran was amused by his sister and began to tell her about the wonderful glowing creatures in the deep sea, such as how anglerfish use small lanterns to lure prey, and how certain jellyfish emit dreamy blue light.

Chen Yan listened, fascinated, her eyes shining.

For the next two days, President Chen Ran was very busy.

He first met with several senior officials from relevant Chinese departments introduced by Shen Guomin; the location was a quiet tea room at the West Lake State Guest House.

The atmosphere of the talks was friendly and pragmatic.

President Chen Ran first expressed his gratitude again for the rapid response and fair handling by China regarding the Chen Yan incident, and also expressed his complete trust in Chinese law and the government.

The other side expressed concern about Chen Yan's encounter and stated clearly that they would strictly punish it according to the law and maintain a good public security environment in China.

The topic quickly turned to business.

President Chen Ran introduced the future development plan of Deep Blue Nation, focusing on infrastructure construction, marine environmental protection, especially coral reef restoration, and marine economic development.

He expressed his willingness to cooperate deeply with relevant Chinese enterprises and research institutions in fields such as port construction, seawater desalination, renewable energy, and marine scientific research.

Of course, he also implicitly mentioned the need for certain basic defense equipment to maintain maritime rights and interests and channel safety.

The Chinese side appreciated President Chen Ran's approach, believing that the development plan of Deep Blue Nation was in line with the theme of peaceful development, and was also willing to explore the possibility of cooperation in various fields on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Regarding the equipment needs, the other side expressed understanding and suggested that it could be explored through normal commercial channels and international maritime cooperation frameworks.

Both sides agreed to set up a joint working group as soon as possible to connect on specific cooperation projects.

After the meeting, Shen Guomin stayed behind for a while and patted President Chen Ran on the shoulder: "Kid, well done, steady and solid, build the foundation first. Don't worry about things at home, we are here. If you need to coordinate anything, contact me directly."

"Thank you, Uncle Shen." President Chen Ran thanked him sincerely.