After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future

Lu Liang has been in Xiangjiang for a few days, and every day there's fresh news, allowing the Hong Kong media to achieve their seasonal KPI without stepping out of their doors.

This is both a blessing and a curse.

Because the news updates too quickly, it's no longer counted by the days but rather by the hour, with major events happening incessantly.

Tokyo's Xingheng Investment made a second public gesture of acquiring shares; Lu Liang indirectly holds 20.37% of shares, becoming the largest shareholder of Huaren Real Estate.

This news hasn't even had the chance to spread.

Close to noon, someone took a photo.

Guo Bingsheng, the Chairman of New Hongji Group's Board, and Li Jiajie of Hengji Real Estate were seen one after the other at Phase 2 of Plaza Building. According to someone who wished to remain anonymous, they were there to visit Lu Liang.

While the battle for Huaren Real Estate has ended, the fight for New World, New Hongji, and Hengji Real Estate continues.

Now that the leaders of the two major groups have personally visited, their intentions are clear.

It's either admitting defeat or seeking peace.

"I mean, does it have to be this fast? Are we small investors just being played like puppets?"

"Look at the battle between Vanke and Baoneng before, with influence from the Vanke group, Baoneng group, the Securities and Futures Commission, the Silver Supervision Committee, local governments, and other major forces, it went on for several months, and small investors made a lot of money along the way.

But now with Lu Liang single-handedly challenging the four family giants, it looks like the outcome will be resolved within just a day and a half."

As soon as the news spread, investors in the Hong Kong stock market were devastated, feeling as if they just escaped the tiger's den only to fall into a wolf's lair.

Though the stock prices of the four major groups only averaged a 49% increase in the morning.

If you bought 1 million worth of shares yesterday at the close,

Today, you'd have earned 490,000.

However, those who managed to profit from the entire favorable market wave are very few; most small investors were hesitant and eventually decided to buy in at a high point.

Yet the news now suggests that one is surrendering and two are seeking peace, implying that this bidding war is highly likely to conclude this afternoon.

Once the bidding war ends,

The stock prices of the four major groups will definitely plummet.

Although Lu Liang's share purchase won't drop back to the original price, a correction of a dozen or twenty points is certainly unavoidable.

If lucky, they will earn less. If unlucky, facing such good conditions, they might even incur losses.

"Stock trading, even a dog wouldn't play with it."

They were exhausted and numb, suddenly feeling life had no meaning, and the sunlight outside was glaringly bright.

Saving hard and working tirelessly every day, only to lose several months or even years of savings in just a few days.

Either due to natural disasters or man-made catastrophes, is there even a need to play this trash market?

"Ah Zheng, are you still holding on?"

At Xiangjiang Central Financial Street, major groups were all paying attention to this affair, including the three members of the Li Family from Cheung Shing.

Superman Li had quietly returned to Hong Kong; the three were standing by the window, looking at the crowd in front of Phase 2 of Plaza Building not far away.

The place was crowded, with communications vehicles for the media parked all over, each waiting for the first-hand news.

"Lu Liang's goal shouldn't be just Huaren Real Estate, he can only persist." Superman Li smiled, standing with his hands behind his back.

"Does he have designs on New World Development too?" Li Zheju asked in surprise.

"It's not about having designs or not; the Zheng Family is trouble, so we must make them hurt." Li Zhikai chimed in.

Superman Li looked approvingly; the eldest son was steady yet lacking ambition, while the second son was more like him.

He paused and said, "Looking at the amount of funding Lu Liang has shown; his original target should have been HSBC, but who told Ah Zheng to act recklessly?"

"Liu Cixin is also an idiot, clearly making the wise choice to leave Hong Kong first, but then he still got involved later."

At this moment, Li Zheju's assistant knocked on the door and handed over a phone. He walked over to the window to answer.

"I'll call you back in ten minutes." Ending the call, Li Zheju came over and said, "A call from Ah Zheng."

"Borrowing money?" Superman Li asked with a smile, noticing Li Zheju nodding, Li Zhikai hurried to say, "We can't lend."

"Indeed, we can't lend."

Superman Li nodded slightly and added, "On the contrary, after the market closes this afternoon, you better take a trip to Tianxing. Cheung Shing should also hold some shares of Huaren Real Estate and New World Development. If Lu Liang wants them, just sell them to him."

Li Zheju frowned, "If Lu Liang controls Huaren Real Estate and New World Development, I'm afraid no one in Xiangjiang can restrain him."

"Does he even need to control them anymore? Nobody can do anything to him now." Superman Li chuckled helplessly.

Never mind the Zheng, Liu, Li, and Guo families, even if our Cheung Shing Li family joins in, I doubt we could do anything against Lu Liang.

Suddenly, Superman Li's expression turned serious, and he said coldly, "Chen Jiebin's attitude is Xiangjiang authorities' attitude, also the mainland's attitude, and more importantly, our attitude."

The Li Family may be fence-sitters, but to be fence-sitters for so many years without being penalized is all because of his political acumen, always managing to step on the line expertly.

If there's no problem, then continue with the plan; if there's any issue, then stop the losses immediately, show no hesitation.

The current situation is that fifty years is too long, international tensions are increasing day by day, next year is also the 70th anniversary, and Xiangjiang has been causing too much trouble lately.

There was no chance before, but now there is this opportunity, and it is Lu Liang's subjective idea; it can be said to be tacitly agreed and perfectly timed.

Therefore, they cannot resist, and they even need to cooperate.

Li Zheju remained silent; capital is indeed powerful, but it is as fragile as paper in front of the country.

Li Zhikai asked, "When do you plan to meet with Lu Liang?"

Superman Li replied, "Let's wait a bit longer. He's been quite busy lately."

"Isn't the situation at the port urgent?"

"After all these years, does urgency help?"

Superman Li sighed, as Li family's business in the Panama port has encountered some trouble.

They just want to make money, and the most profitable business is a monopoly, but a large monopoly tends to involve politics.

With Lu Liang's influence in the international market, perhaps he can help their Li family reduce some unnecessary troubles.

Meanwhile, on the 82nd floor of Phase 2 of Plaza Building.

"Mr. Guo, Mr. Li, we meet again. Apologies for keeping you waiting."

Lu Liang entered the adjacent meeting room energetically and full of smiles, meeting Guo Bingsheng and Li Jiajie who had been waiting for quite some time.

"No need to say that, we just arrived ourselves."

Both are old enough to be Lu Liang's father, but seeing Lu Liang enter, they quickly stood up, full of smiles.

Seeking reconciliation requires an attitude of reconciliation; although they haven't bowed and scraped like this in a long time, Liu Cixin has been beaten into submission, and Ah Zheng is incompetently furious, leaving them with no choice but to make friendly overtures.

"Have some tea."

Lu Liang brewed tea, took a sip, and asked, "I heard from Qisheng that you two have something to discuss with me?"

Guo and Li glanced at each other, and Li Jiajie spoke up, "Mr. Lu, lunch breaks are short, why not get straight to the point?"

"Sure, go ahead," Lu Liang nodded slightly.

"We want to know your intentions in acquiring shares in our New Hongji and Hengji Real Estate," Li Jiajie asked.

"Optimistic about the future development of both companies, just like being optimistic about Huaren Real Estate and New World," Lu Liang maintained his smile.

Guo Bingsheng showed a moment of speechlessness in his eyes, looking at Lu Liang's annoying look, wanting to leave a size 43 shoe imprint on his size 42 face.

They visited with obvious intentions of reconciliation, like a young woman in sexy lingerie wrote "do whatever you like" on her face, and Lu Liang, known for his love of beautiful women, still pretended to be a gentleman.

Old Guo took a deep breath and calmed his emotions: "Mr. Lu, it's an honor that you're optimistic about New Hongji and Hengji Real Estate, but the group recently has business needs and may need to buy back some stocks—don't know if you would be willing to part with some?"

Before coming, they had roughly calculated that without considering the shares held on behalf of Hengtai, Lu Liang indirectly holds about 8.2% of New Hongji and about 8.6% of Hengji Real Estate's shares.

Today, purchasing three-point-something floating shares in both companies probably took around 8 billion Hong Kong Dollars.

They are willing to offer a 30% premium and additional conditions to buy back the three-point-something floating shares to achieve the purpose of reconciliation and friendly relations.

Even though over 5% requires a declaration with a six-month lock-in period, they can draft a contract to make it effective immediately after the six-month period.

If Lu Liang's purpose is not to acquire them but to lay foundations for future investment banking, holding 5% of each company would be enough.

Lu Liang appeared to contemplate for a long time: "Since your company has this business need, as group shareholders, we should naturally cooperate. However, the price is negotiable; what are these additional conditions exactly?"

"What conditions do you hope for?" Li Jiajie asked.

By saying this, he essentially gave Lu Liang a blank check to write as he wishes.

Guo Bingsheng widened his eyes, realizing they had chewed the food fine enough, waiting for Lu Liang to swallow it down—being proactive was an understatement.

Lu Liang chuckled without hiding: "You two are seniors, I don't want to make it difficult for you, but I hope you can also part with your shares in New World."

Liu Mingwei was in the adjacent room, drafting a stock contract, intending to sell the Liu family's 18.75% shares in one go.

With this, counting Hengtai's shares, Lu Liang's holding in Huaren Real Estate would reach 39.12%.

With Liu Cixin ceasing resistance, Lu Liang's entry into Huaren Real Estate won't face further competitors; 39.12% shares are sufficient without needing further high-premium acquisitions.

Being frugal where needed, spending where necessary,

Once the news of privatization is spread later, the remaining shares would willingly come.

Lu Liang no longer needs Huaren Real Estate shares, but the Zheng Family still wants to make a last stand—he needs to cover Old Xu.

He and Old Xu are now grasshoppers on the same string; even if Hengtai fails to acquire New World, Lu Liang's plan can still be deemed successful.

Guo Bingsheng breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "No problem, New Hongji holds 6.32% of New World Development shares."

Li Jiajie also said, "Hengji Real Estate also holds 4.69% of New World Development shares; let's go with yesterday's closing price."

"Let's use today's closing price; with your support, we can't let you suffer losses."

Upon hearing Lu Liang's words, both suddenly felt that this young man isn't so bad—he didn't ask for a king's ransom, and perhaps they would get along well.