The reception room on the top floor of the TVB building.
Huo Zhenting reclined on a spacious leather sofa, the cigar smoke between his fingers swirling like his surging ambition. Beyond the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lay the port owned by the Huo family. To him, the bustling scene was like moving pieces on a chessboard. His chief assistant, Ah Rong, stood respectfully beside him, his folder open, his voice tinged with uncontrollable excitement.
"…As of now, Mr. Huo, at least twenty-three influential Chinese companies or chambers of commerce have issued public statements, announcing their response to your call to immediately sever all business ties with Hongkong Land and its affiliates! Even Mr. Li, an independent director of HSBC, has personally called to express his full understanding and support for the Huo family's stance on upholding 'business ethics.' There's also Mr. Liang of Hengda Textiles and the Chen family of Yongtai Construction..."
Huo Zhenting raised his hand slightly, interrupting Ah Rong's report. He didn't need to know every name. What mattered was that he raised his hand and everyone responded. This situation was even better than he had expected.
"What about the stock exchange?" There was a barely perceptible hint of complacency in Huo Zhenting's voice.
"The crowd is furious, Mr. Huo!" Ah Rong quickly replied, his face flushed. "Especially the small investor lobby, it's going crazy! As soon as your TV speech 'Chinese capital shouldn't be pawns of British capital' was broadcast on the radio, someone immediately started shouting slogans. The voices accusing Xiaolin Tianwang of being a ruthless cannibal and colluding with British capital to profit from it never stopped! The share price of Hong Kong Holdings opened with a gap down and is still falling..."
A cold curve curved Huo Zhenting's lips. This was exactly the effect he wanted. Once panic spread, it would be difficult to contain. How could ordinary investors understand the true operation of capital?
They believed only the anger they had been indoctrinated with: a "foreigner" who had just made a fortune by plundering the stock market was turning around and using his vast real estate empire to suck the blood and sweat of the people of Hong Kong! This anger was the flame carefully nurtured by Ho Chun-ting, enough to burn down the foundation that Xiaolin Tianwang had just established.
At this time, Liu Mingsheng, a production director of TVB, walked in quickly with a hunched back, a shrewd smile on his face and an almost flattering respect.
"Mr. Huo! You truly are... a genius! The effect is like thunder from a clear sky!" Liu Mingsheng's voice was low, but full of admiration. "The monitoring room down below shows that the real-time ratings for your speech just now have soared to the highest level since our program started! The hotline is almost overwhelmed with calls, all supporting you, Mr. Huo! Public opinion is on your side!"
Huo Zhen nodded reservedly, his eyes glancing towards the huge TV in the corner of the reception room. The screen was silently replaying the scene of him speaking righteously in the studio not long ago. In the picture, he had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and spoke in a sonorous tone, like a Chinese leader who could turn the tide.
"Where is Xiao Lin Tian Wang...? Hasn't he arrived yet?" Huo Zhenting flicked the ash from his cigar and asked casually.
"The reporters who were waiting over at the Jardine Matheson property claim they saw Kobayashi Tenmo come out, and the motorcade had just left," Liu Mingsheng replied immediately, a calculating glint in his eyes. "Don't worry, Mr. Huo, everything has been arranged as you instructed. The studio is broadcasting live, and the lighting and camera positions are optimized. As soon as he enters and sits down to announce his so-called 'future plan for taking over Jardine Matheson,' our cameras will be trained on you!"
Liu Mingsheng took a step closer, his voice lowered, with the excitement of foreseeing victory: "Mr. Huo, when the time comes, you must stand up and interrupt him mercilessly! In front of the cameras broadcast live to the entire Hong Kong audience, criticize his history of making a fortune! Question the hard-earned money of those retail investors who were sucked dry in the stock market! And expose that now that he controls Hong Kong Holdings, his next step will inevitably be to use the land and properties to madly increase rents and prices, squeeze the blood and sweat of countless ordinary people and merchants in Hong Kong Island, and turn him into a completely profit-driven vampire capitalist! This thunderous blow..."
He paused, emphasizing, "...Kobayashi Tenmo could never have imagined this! He was so full of confidence, waiting to announce his 'grand plan,' he never dreamed that you, Mr. Huo, were sitting in the audience, waiting to deliver this blow! Regardless of whether he panicked, tried to make excuses, or feigned composure, the image he had just built up in the hearts of the Hong Kong people would be completely shattered! There would be no chance of recovery! He has no hope of winning over people's hearts at all."
Huo Zhenting narrowed his eyes. Liu Mingsheng's description perfectly matched his inner storyline. He could even imagine Xiaolin Tianwang's face, stunned, embarrassed, and speechless. That image was enough to dispel the frustration he'd felt for days of being overshadowed.
"Very good." Huo Zhenting's voice was steady and powerful. He stood up, walked to the bright French window, and adjusted the collar and cuffs of his straight Italian handmade suit. The figure in the mirror was confident, sharp, and in control of everything.
At this moment, he caught a glimpse of a white bus with a striking TVB logo slowly stopping at the main entrance downstairs.
The car door opened.
A familiar figure walked into the car first.
It’s Liu Rumeng.
She was dressed in a light-colored casual outfit today, looking fresh and neat, with an upright posture, and her temperament still stood out among the other contestants. Soon after, several popular contestants such as Zhu Lingling, Shi Jiayi, and Lu Ruirong also boarded the car. In the sunshine, their youthful and beautiful figures instantly attracted the attention of many passers-by.
Huo Zhenting's eyes were instantly attracted by Liu Rumeng.
The scene of Mandarin Oriental last night inevitably flashed through my mind, and the remaining pain and unwillingness in my heart surged again.
Liu Mingsheng also came to the window, followed Huo Zhenting's gaze, and immediately put on a smile: "Oh! Huo Shao, today is the day when the Miss Hong Kong contestants go to Shek O Beach to shoot a swimsuit promotional video. The sea and the sky are connected, the scenery is superb."
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