On the 29th.
Bao YuGang reached an agreement with Jardine Matheson: both sides would refrain from increasing their holdings in Wharf shares in the short term. Although this matter wasn't made public, Wharf's stock price still saw a slight dip that day.
Some people who had gotten the news from Bao YuGang the night before naturally sold off their Wharf shares in the morning. The only reason the price didn't fall harder was because many others, unaware of the situation, bought in, believing Wharf's stock would continue to rise. Otherwise, the price would have plunged more severely, swinging up and down like a roller coaster.
Bao YuGang had his reasons for spreading the news. Only if Wharf's stock price dropped would the funds he needed for further acquisitions be reduced, which was to his advantage. If it had truly been confidential information, he wasn't foolish enough to blurt it out at last night's gathering.
Some people escape at the peak, others take over — that's the stock market.
The fluctuations in Wharf's stock price had nothing to do with Lin BaoCheng. That day, he went to Asia Television and instructed Huang XiZhao to poach a few of the rising stars he was particularly interested in. As for the other popular celebrities, he told him not to pursue them, giving Shao YiFu enough face.
At the Repulse Bay villa, after dinner, Lin BaoCheng didn't go anywhere. He simply stayed home watching television dramas.
"Son, are you busy right now? Mom wants to talk to you."
As Lin BaoCheng watched TV, his mother Zhao HuiLan walked over.
"Go ahead, Mom. I'm just watching TV."
Lin BaoCheng turned his gaze away from the screen.
"It's like this," Zhao HuiLan said. "Your aunt's family moved to the United States years ago. Although we haven't kept in close contact, we've always stayed in touch. Your father recently reconnected with your aunt and told her about your situation. He invited her to bring her family back to Hong Kong for the New Year. She agreed, and they'll be back the day after tomorrow."
"Aunt is coming back? That's great," Lin BaoCheng said. In his memories, his aunt had treated him kindly when he was young. But since her family had moved to the U.S. more than ten years ago, contact had been rare.
In those days, for an ordinary family, traveling between the U.S. and Hong Kong was expensive. Unless it was something very important, reunions across continents were difficult.
"Son, because of you, our family has prospered. We're not inferior to Hong Kong's great clans anymore. So your father thinks… maybe you could take care of your aunt's family too, help them live a good life?"
Lin HaiShan himself felt embarrassed to say this. After all, it was his son who had made the money. To ask him to use that money to support his sister's family was hard to swallow. But saying nothing wasn't right either. Secretly using his son's money without a word would be even worse.
"Oh, that's all? No problem," Lin BaoCheng replied cheerfully. "Mom, how much do you think is appropriate to give Aunt's family?" As long as it was under ten million HKD, it was no issue. Even if it exceeded that, if his parents insisted, he wouldn't refuse.
"Money isn't suitable," Zhao HuiLan shook her head. "It would feel like charity, which could harm family relations. Your father and I think it's better if you arrange high-paying jobs for them, or set up small profitable businesses they can run. That way, they earn through their own efforts, and they'll feel comfortable accepting it."
"I understand," Lin BaoCheng nodded. "If Aunt's family prefers to stay in the U.S., I can arrange things there too. Leave it to me." For him, this was no difficulty — just a matter of giving instructions.
"You can arrange things in the U.S. too? That's even better. They've lived there for over a decade, and the children are used to life there," Zhao HuiLan said.
"Brother, it's a call from Sister LiJun," Lin Qin suddenly called out.
"Alright, Mom, don't worry. I'll handle this. When Aunt's family arrives, I'll ask their opinion first," Lin BaoCheng said, walking over to take the phone from Lin Qin.
"Good evening, Miss Deng."
"Good evening, Mr. Lin. Thank you for the gift you sent. I really like it."
"As long as you like it, Miss Deng. Happy birthday!"
It was Deng LiJun's birthday. Lin BaoCheng hadn't planned to go to Wan Island to celebrate with her, but sending a birthday gift was fine. The watch he had bought during his last shopping trip was the present he sent.
"I didn't expect you to know my birthday, let alone send me a gift. I'm so surprised and delighted."
"Haha, Miss Deng, don't forget my little sister is your super fan. With her around, it's impossible not to know your birthday. And since I knew, if I didn't send a gift, I wouldn't be much of a friend."
"If we're friends, then don't keep calling me Miss Deng. Just call me LiJun."
"Then I'll call you LiJun. And don't call me Mr. Lin — just use my name, BaoCheng."
Lin BaoCheng didn't let Deng LiJun call him "younger brother" or anything like that. They were friends, and he wasn't about to recognize her as an elder sister, lowering himself unnecessarily.
"Alright, BaoCheng," Deng LiJun agreed. For her, befriending a big boss like Lin BaoCheng was a good thing.
"LiJun, who are you talking to? Tonight you're the star — how can you sneak away to chat on the phone?" a woman's voice suddenly came from the other end. Lin BaoCheng was sure it wasn't Lin QingXia, but he didn't know who it was.
"I'll be right there," Deng LiJun replied to the woman, then said to Lin BaoCheng: "BaoCheng, I'm still at my birthday party, so I'll stop here. By the way, I don't know when your birthday is. Since you gave me a gift, when your birthday comes, I must return the favor. Don't you agree?"
"When my birthday is near, I'll contact you, LiJun, and invite you to my birthday party," Lin BaoCheng said with a smile. With his wealth now in the tens of billions, of course he would celebrate properly. What's the point of making so much money if not to enjoy it?
"Then it's settled," Deng LiJun said.
Since her friends were waiting, the two ended the call.
To Lin BaoCheng, Deng LiJun was simply a friend. He was happy to have such a superstar as one of his friends.