novellhall Chapter 1 Crossing the River Dragon
Chapter 1 Crossing the River Dragon
Hong Kong, March 1998.
The sea breeze of Victoria Harbour, carrying the chill of spring and the smell of fish, blows through the century-old arcade buildings in Central.
The aftershocks of the Asian financial crisis still linger over Hong Kong Island – the Hang Seng Index has fallen by nearly half from last year’s high, the property market has shrunk by more than 50%, and the unemployment rate is soaring.
Meanwhile, at newsstands large and small throughout Hong Kong, newspapers rustled and sputtered in the wind.
The front page headline of the Oriental Daily News:
"American-born Chinese stock market genius Lin Dong renounces citizenship! He settles in Hong Kong with a net worth of two billion US dollars! This newspaper has learned that Lin Dong, a legendary Wall Street investor at only 26 years old, has officially completed the procedures for renunciation of his citizenship and, through a top American law firm, has settled in Hong Kong, becoming a Hong Kong citizen. According to sources, his personal assets amount to a staggering two billion US dollars!"
Ming Pao Financial Section:
"Stock King Talks: Bullish on Hong Kong Film Industry Against Market Trend! On the eve of his arrival in Hong Kong, Lin Dong gave an overseas interview to this newspaper, saying that Hong Kong films are a treasure of Chinese culture and he will invest heavily in local films."
Hong Kong cinema entered a period of decline amid the financial crisis, with total box office revenue for Hong Kong films falling below HK$200 million last year, and only 48 films released throughout the year, marking its lowest point since World War II. At this critical juncture, betting heavily on gold against the market trend, what exactly did this Wall Street genius see?
Apple Daily front page headline:
"A billion-dollar investment from Wall Street! Wall Street stock king Lin Dong boldly declares: Hong Kong cinema is not dead, I'm here to revive it! Major film companies lined up overnight to meet with him, Hong Kong film industry may be welcoming its strongest investor!"
According to industry sources, Golden Harvest, Win's Entertainment, China Star, and Media Asia have all extended offers, with Charles Heung being the quickest to act, having already sent someone to pick him up at the airport!
Sing Tao Daily:
"A review of the assets of the genius stock market king, Lin Dong: Where did his two billion US dollars come from? According to sources, he has accurately bought into the US technology sector in recent years, and his keen insight has caught the attention of Wall Street. His return with this huge sum of money has already sparked a fierce competition in Hong Kong's entertainment industry..."
Sing Tao Daily Entertainment Section Headline:
"The Lin Dong Effect! Win's Entertainment and China Star Entertainment launch a two-pronged attack! Rumors suggest that Mr. and Mrs. Xiang Yeqiang have arranged for them to be received at the Peninsula Hotel. Could a new landscape for Hong Kong cinema be about to begin?"
Newspapers covered the entire coffee table.
Lin Dong sat on the leather sofa in the living room of the hotel suite, crossed his legs, and flipped through the documents one by one, becoming more and more satisfied and nodding with each look.
The floor-to-ceiling windows offer an unparalleled view of Victoria Harbour—Xiang Yeqiang arranged for the Peninsula Hotel, facing Victoria Harbour in a prime location, where the nightly room rate was enough to buy half a year's salary in his previous life.
Of course, he doesn't need to pay for it now.
He tossed the last copy of the Oriental Daily News back onto the table, picked up his coffee, took a sip, and a barely perceptible smile played on his lips.
To be honest, he himself hasn't fully processed what's happened in the past few days.
In his previous life, he lived for decades, a true-blue Chinese, working a nine-to-five job every day, his biggest investment being in Yu'ebao (a popular Chinese online money market fund). Then a car accident happened, and in the blink of an eye—hey, America in 1998.
As I opened my eyes, something new appeared in my mind.
Special support system for Chinese-language films.
The system's functionality is both complex and simple: it allows him to invest in any Chinese-language film project using dedicated funds. Two billion US dollars can only be invested in Chinese-language films. If the investment fails—the system will return ten times the amount to his personal account.
Lin Dong was stunned.
What is this? Encouraging him to squander money?
However, before he could figure it out, a phone call from a top American law firm pulled him out of his daze—his renunciation of citizenship had been completed, along with a huge tax avoidance scheme.
The other party also told him that they had helped him apply for Hong Kong residency, and if all goes well, he would soon be a formal Hong Kong citizen.
It took Lin Dong a full three minutes to process this information.
From Chinese American to Hong Kong resident?
It suits his taste perfectly!
But then, a real problem immediately confronted him—
He opened the system panel and glanced at it.
Personal account balance: US$5000.
Five... thousand.
Lin Dong remained silent for a long time.
The $2 billion special fund can only be invested, not spent.
His own pockets were even cleaner than his face.
Five thousand US dollars. To put it bluntly, you have to think twice before even treating someone to a meal, let alone trying to act like a "two billion dollar bigwig" in front of those entertainment industry bigwigs.
So he dialed the law firm's number again.
"Hey, it's me. You guys did a great job—do me another favor."
"Spread the word. Say that I, Lin Dong, am bringing two billion US dollars back to China to invest in movies, and my first stop will be Hong Kong."
The lawyer on the other end was silent for a few seconds, probably processing the request.
But the other party quickly agreed.
It's probably because the system had previously paid them generous legal fees that they were willing to provide this "extra service".
After the news was released, Lin Dong's phone kept ringing.
Before he even boarded the plane back to Hong Kong, his number was bombarded with calls.
The callers came from all walks of life—some claimed to be the boss of a film company, some said they were famous directors, some claimed to have excellent scripts, and many others had nothing to do with film but wanted to invest in real estate, open casinos, or do import and export trade.
Lin Dong neither refused nor agreed to any of them.
He only said one thing: "We'll talk about it when I get to Hong Kong. But I can tell you all that I have a very positive outlook on the film industry and will definitely invest a lot of money in it."
He repeated this sentence over and over again, no less than fifty times, until his lips were practically calloused from saying it.
Then, the plane landed.
Hong Kong International Airport, March 15, 1998.
As soon as he exited the airport, a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses walked towards him with seven or eight burly men in black suits. The men then bowed and scraped respectfully as they addressed him:
"Mr. Lin, Mr. Xiang sent us to pick you up. Mr. Xiang said that since you are new to Hong Kong, we will arrange everything."
Xiang Sheng.
Xiang Yeqiang.
Lin Dong knew what was going on.
He wasn't being pretentious. Having lived for so many years in his previous life, although he hadn't experienced any grand occasions, he understood basic principles—if someone is being polite, and you make excuses, that's truly being unreasonable.
Besides, despite having $20 billion in his account, he can't afford to hire bodyguards.
Therefore, he needs someone like this to protect him temporarily—Hong Kong isn't exactly safe at this point!
So he nodded and got into the car.
The convoy drove directly to the Peninsula Hotel.
The man with gold-rimmed glasses led him into a presidential suite facing Victoria Harbour and said respectfully, "Mr. Lin, please rest first. I will come to pick you up later."
Then he left.
Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the Victoria Harbour skyline, Lin Dong suddenly felt a little unreal.
In his past life, he was someone who wouldn't even dare to step into a five-star hotel. Now, on the other hand, he's staying in the presidential suite at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, and people are even vying to pay the bill.
People really never know which cloud will bring rain.
That concludes the recollection.
Lin Dong finished the last sip of his coffee and stood up to stretch his muscles.
The person in the mirror was dressed in an ordinary white shirt and black casual pants, with a total cost of no more than three hundred Hong Kong dollars.
With this outfit, you'd be no different from any other passerby on the streets of Causeway Bay.
But so what?
The two billion US dollars backed by top American law firms is his best cover.
What more brand names do we need? What more style do we need?
No need.
Besides—
He can't afford it.
But who knows?
Doorbell rang.
Lin Dong opened the door, and the man with gold-rimmed glasses—Xiang Yeqiang's secretary—stood outside, his attitude even more respectful than in the afternoon: "Mr. Lin, the banquet is about to begin. Mr. and Mrs. Xiang are already waiting for you in the banquet hall."
"Okay, let's go."
Lin Dong followed his secretary downstairs with an air of nonchalance.
His reflection appeared in the elevator mirror—an ordinary white shirt, ordinary black pants, and an ordinary appearance.
But the secretary walking beside him was bowing lower than ever before.