Chapter 5: Journey to Hong Kong
Morning sunlight crept through the cracked blinds of Lin Hao's apartment, spilling across the floor where his newly purchased suit lay neatly folded. The Rolex gleamed faintly on his wrist as he checked the time.
His flight to Hong Kong was at ten. Xu Yaqin's message had been precise: a ticket booked in his name, a hotel reserved, and a driver waiting on arrival. Everything sounded like the life of a man born into wealth, except Lin Hao was very aware of the mold on his ceiling and the peeling paint on his walls.
He dressed carefully, slipping into the navy Armani suit for the first time outside his bedroom. The fabric hugged his frame, the polished shoes clicked against the cracked floor tiles. For a moment, as he adjusted the tie in the mirror, he almost didn't recognize the man staring back.
"This person is really handsome,I didn't know I was this handsome.hehe"he thought.
He picked up his single suitcase, stuffed with the rest of his clothes—cheap shirts and trousers mixed with the new luxury purchases—and stepped out of the door.
The taxi ride to the airport was quiet. The driver glanced at him once in the rearview mirror, eyes flicking from the Rolex on his wrist to the sharp suit on his frame. For once, Lin Hao wasn't mistaken for just another struggling twenty-something.
At the airport, he handed over his passport and ticket number at the counter. The attendant's expression shifted instantly when the system flagged his booking.
"Mr. Lin, welcome," she said with a professional smile. "Your ticket is first class. Please allow me to escort you to the lounge."
Lin Hao blinked, caught off guard. First class.
He had flown once before in his life—economy class on a cramped domestic flight. The memory of sticky seats and instant noodles as an in-flight meal flashed in his mind. And now…
"Th-thank you," he managed.
The lounge was another world. Plush leather chairs, dim lighting, waiters gliding between tables carrying trays of fruit and champagne. Businessmen in suits sat tapping on laptops, while a family with designer luggage whispered in hushed tones.
Lin Hao lowered himself into a chair, feeling the softness swallow him whole. He set his phone on the table and adjusted his tie nervously.
A waiter appeared. "May I bring you something, sir? Juice, wine, coffee?"
Lin Hao hesitated, then said quietly, "Coffee."
The man returned with a porcelain cup and saucer. Lin Hao lifted it carefully, sipping the rich brew. It wasn't the bitter instant coffee he once gulped from plastic cups. This was smooth, complex, and fragrant. Even the warmth of the cup in his hand felt like a message: This is the life you're entering now.
The life of the rich.
He couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips.
First class was beyond anything Lin Hao imagined.
As he boarded, the stewardess greeted him by name. His seat was wide enough to stretch out fully, with a touchscreen in front, slippers and a blanket neatly folded at the side. When he sat down, she handed him a glass of champagne as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Lin Hao touched the rim of the glass, staring at the pale bubbles rising inside. Just two months ago, he had counted coins at a street vendor to see if he could afford a bowl of noodles. Now, champagne came to him without asking.
The stewardess smiled. "Mr. Lin, if you need anything, please call me."
"Thank you," he said, trying not to sound as awkward as he felt.
The plane soared above the clouds, and Lin Hao reclined his seat, staring out at the endless sky. He wasn't just traveling to Hong Kong. He was traveling to a new world altogether.
When the plane landed, Lin Hao followed the signs toward the exit, his suitcase rolling behind him. He half expected confusion, a delay, someone telling him there had been a mistake.
Instead, just past the customs gate, a man in a black suit stood holding a sign: Mr. Lin Hao.
Lin Hao swallowed hard and walked over.
The man inclined his head politely. "Welcome to Hong Kong, Mr. Lin. I am here to escort you to your hotel."
(Well,the man is named Karl,he is not in the story but still at least we should give him a name)
He led Lin Hao outside to a sleek black Mercedes waiting at the curb. The driver opened the door, and Lin Hao slid inside, the leather interior soft beneath him.
The car glided through the streets of Hong Kong, past towering glass skyscrapers and neon-lit signs. Lin Hao watched the city flash by, his heart thumping with every turn.
Just days ago, he had been invisible in a run-down corner of the mainland. Now he was being chauffeured like a VIP.
If his ex was to see him now she would refuse to even believe that this is him.
The car finally pulled up to the front of the Four Seasons Hotel. Doormen in crisp uniforms stood at the entrance, bowing slightly as Lin Hao stepped out.
Inside, the lobby gleamed with marble floors, golden chandeliers, and polished counters. Guests in designer clothes strolled past, their luggage wheeled by attendants.
After telling his name at the desk.
At the reception desk, the staff greeted him instantly.
"Good evening, Mr. Lin. Welcome to the Four Seasons. Your suite has been prepared."
A bellboy appeared to take his luggage. Lin Hao followed into an elevator lined with mirrors and brass rails, his own reflection staring back at him from every side.
This is the service when you have high class suite.
(When people like me go to a hotel,they don't even bother to cast a second glance after giving the room key)
The suite was breathtaking. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over Victoria Harbour, the city lights glittering on the water. A king-sized bed with crisp white sheets dominated the room, and a fruit basket with a handwritten welcome card sat on the table.
Lin Hao stepped inside slowly, setting his suitcase down. His heart thumped in his chest.
"This… is really mine?" he whispered to himself.
He really is excited about tomorrow's meeting.
He walked to the window, pressing his hands against the glass as he looked out at the skyline. His throat tightened. From the moldy walls of his old apartment to this… it felt like living in a dream.
But it wasn't a dream. The Rolex on his wrist ticked softly, grounding him.
He turned, his gaze landing on the navy Armani suit hung neatly on the rack. Tomorrow, he would wear it to the shareholder meeting. Tomorrow, he would walk into a room where billionaires shook hands, where decisions worth billions were made.
His pulse quickened. Excitement, nerves, fear, ambition—everything tangled together inside him.
Tomorrow, he thought. Tomorrow, I begin my new life.
The next morning came quickly.
Lin Hao woke early, the city still hazy with dawn. He showered, shaved carefully, and dressed in the Armani suit. The polished shoes clicked against the marble floor as he walked to the elevator.
Downstairs, the same black Mercedes waited. The driver opened the door silently, and Lin Hao slid inside.
As the car pulled away, he glanced once more at his reflection in the tinted window. The suit, the watch, the calm expression—it all fit.
No one seeing him now would ever guess he had once been a nobody.
The car slowed as it turned onto a long, private drive. Ahead loomed the venue for Lamborghini's annual shareholder meeting: a sleek tower of glass and steel, its logo shining proudly at the top.
A row of luxury cars lined the entrance—Rolls-Royce, Maybach, Lamborghini models gleaming in the sun. Tycoons in tailored suits stepped out of the cars, their entourages following closely behind. Photographers snapped pictures at the entrance.
Lin Hao's throat tightened. This was it. The true test.
The car came to a stop. The driver turned to him with a polite smile.
"Mr. Lin, we've arrived."
Lin Hao inhaled slowly, adjusting his tie. His fingers brushed against the Rolex on his wrist, the weight steadying him.
The door opened.
For a brief moment, he hesitated. Then he stepped out onto the red-carpeted path, the eyes of staff and photographers turning toward him.
Lin Hao squared his shoulders, lifted his chin, and walked forward.
The life of an ordinary man was behind him.
Ahead lay the world of power, wealth, and prestige.
And he was ready to claim his place.