Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of Three Repulse Bay, the morning light barely pierced the gloomy haze over Victoria Harbour, but it couldn't dispel the dread lingering on the Central trading floor. The sharp ring of the telephone ripped through the stagnant air in the living room.
Gao Qiaohao shuddered, practically leaping from the shadows. He watched his boss, Lin Huowang—known to the outside world as the wealthy Japanese scion "Xiao Lin Tianwang"—pacing leisurely to the darkened dedicated telephone. Lin Huowang's face was expressionless, his gaze as deep as a bottomless well.
He picked up the receiver.
"Mr. Xiao Lin, this is Chen Bi from HSBC." The voice came through the receiver, deep and steady, with an unquestionable sense of control. No small talk, no probing, straight to the point: "I'm sure Sir Newbigin spoke to you last night. HSBC fully supports your takeover of Hong Kong Land Holdings. 20% of Hong Kong Land Holdings' shares are pledged, with a total value based on a market value of HK$7 billion. You only need to raise HK$400 million. HSBC will provide a loan for the remaining HK$1 billion, with interest rates below the best market rate."
Shen Bi's tone was firm, as if what he was handing over was not a priceless asset, but a deal that had already been finalized.
Lin Huowang's mouth curled down almost imperceptibly. What a big "gift" and what a high price.
"Boss Chen Bi," Lin Huowang's voice was lazy and distant, with a distinct Japanese accent, but clear and cold: "Thank you. But I'm really not interested. My pockets are empty, I can't even squeeze out a copper coin. Besides..."
He paused, speaking slowly, and delivering each word clearly and deliberately:
"Hong Kong? Right now, all of Hong Kong is selling off their shares like they're fleeing for their lives. You saw it too, the stock plummeted below HK$60 right after it opened! At best, how much is the entire Hong Kong Hong Kong Group worth now? Six billion? Five and eight billion? That's probably too much! You want me to buy it for seven billion? Over seventy Hong Kong dollars a share?"
Lin Huowang uttered a short sneer, not disguising the sarcasm in it:
"HSBC boss, even though I'm young and ignorant, do I look like a fool? To be honest, I can't even sell the 7.5% of the chips I hold at 60 yuan! No one wants them even at a loss! You want me to pay a high price to buy another mountain?"
There was silence on the other end of the phone for less than half a second. Chen Bi obviously did not expect that even if he showed up in person, Lin Huowang would refuse so directly.
"Mr. Xiao Lin," Shen Bi said, raising his voice slightly, with a subtle warning and inducement, "Huo Yingdong contacted us last night. The purchase price they offered was 75 yuan per share!"
The subtext is very straightforward - if you don’t take it, there are plenty of people who are eager to take it!
Lin Huowang sneered inwardly. As expected, he brought up the Huo family to put pressure on them. He immediately joined in, his voice even tinged with enthusiasm:
"Seventy-five dollars? A great price, boss! Then sell it to them quickly! I'm glad to see the Huo family willing to be the sucker! It won't make them think I'm against them. Let Huo Yingdong take on this hot potato, and I can even congratulate him in person on getting what he wanted!"
His tone was brisk, as if he was genuinely happy that the Huo family had "got a bargain." This nonchalant response was like a needle, piercing the point precisely.
The voice on the other end of the line was noticeably heavier, a ripple of anger emanating from the long-serving Shen Bi, who was being contradicted. But as expected of the head of HSBC, he possessed a profound cunning mind.
"Xiao Linsheng!" Shen Bi's voice suddenly dropped, carrying an unprecedented solemnity. "You and I both know what Hongkong Land Group represents in Hong Kong Island. It is the cornerstone of British capital in the Far East's commercial real estate sector, symbolizing the center of wealth and order! Once it falls into the hands of the Huo family..." He paused deliberately to emphasize the weight of the following words. "Given the feud between you and Huo Yingdong and his son, do you think that with Hongkong Land's sword of power, they will let go of your Hong Kong Island assets? 'Dragon Jump'? Those Chinese-funded companies you acquired? I'm afraid every step will be doubly difficult! Every step will be difficult!"
Shen Bi's words were as sharp as a knife, directly targeting Lin Huowang's fundamental interests and living space in Hong Kong Island.
"As for the risks..." Shen Bi changed the subject, his tone softened, with a rare hint of "openness":
"I know what you're worried about. Newbigin and I have both been in Hong Kong for decades and are by no means short-sighted. As a HSBC executive, I can guarantee you that this sale was not due to any 'northern winds'. It's purely a matter of adjusting Jardine Matheson's own business operations!"
As if the guarantee wasn't enough, Shen Bi's next words were like a bombshell:
"This can be written into the additional clauses of our formal loan contract. Within three years, if any event occurs that impacts Hong Kong's political stability, resulting in your inability to operate normally or a significant decrease in the value of your assets, you will not be required to pay a penny. The ten billion loan will be repaid solely with your then-current Hong Kong shares as final collateral. No matter how low the Hong Kong Hong Kong share price drops by then, even if it becomes worthless, the debt will be written off! Your losses will be limited to the four hundred million yuan you paid in advance."
This is Shen Bi representing HSBC, staking his credit and system as endorsement!
Gao Qiaohao listened with trepidation, his heart practically leaping into his throat. The HSBC boss personally guaranteeing the deal, even writing it into the contract? This was unheard of! The risks were truly largely eliminated! These terms... were too generous!
There was a brief silence on both ends of the line. Lin Huowang could sense Shen Bi's breathless anticipation. He was weighing the outcome.
The silence lasted long enough for the tension to build again.
Finally, Lin Huowang's voice sounded again, with a hint of hesitation in his tone, as if he was slightly moved by Shen Bi's trump card:
"Boss Shen Bi...what you said... makes some sense."
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