Chapter 33: Hong Kong Rich Kids
A small, delicate beauty with flowing long hair, Huo Siqi, ran over with a look of delight and hugged Tang Qing's arm. She was the third daughter of the Huo family from Hong Kong, a musical prodigy who graduated from the Vienna Conservatory of Music in Austria. She studied under the renowned piano master Hugh Lederman and was already a young pianist of some renown, having held personal concerts in Sydney and the United States.
A man in his thirties, dressed in casual clothing and with a warm smile, was Bao Zixian, the second son of the shipbuilding Bao family. He graduated from the Saïd Business School at Oxford University and now runs his own company, Tom Media Group, which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He was an outstanding figure among the second generation of Hong Kong entrepreneurs.
Another young, handsome man with an elegant demeanor, dressed in a white Gucci suit, was Liu Zekai, the eldest son of the Hong Kong jewelry magnate Liu family. He studied in Paris and now holds a senior management position in the family business, being groomed to take over the family enterprise.
Of course, all this information was what Murong Feng later learned through chatting with them. He couldn't help but marvel at these young people who, with their strong family backgrounds and excellent education, had made significant achievements in their respective fields. They were true heirs of wealthy families. In comparison, many so-called wealthy heirs in the mainland were just kids playing house with large allowances.
During their introduction, Tang Qing casually introduced them to Murong Feng: "Huo Siqi, Bao Zixian, Liu Zekai—these are the friends I told you about, my buddies from Hong Kong." She then addressed them, "This is Murong Feng. Just call him Murong. He's like a brother to me, so you better not bully him, or you'll have to deal with me!" She playfully glared at them, making Bao Zixian and Liu Zekai nod eagerly and shake hands warmly with Murong Feng.
Huo Siqi, still holding onto Tang Qing's arm, curiously looked at the gentlemanly Murong Feng before whispering in Tang Qing's ear, "Janney, do you have a thing for him? I rarely see you treat a guy so well." Tang Qing affectionately patted this artistically gifted young girl she was so fond of and laughed, "Siqi, when did you become so gossipy? He's just like you, a good friend of mine. Besides, he already has a girlfriend. Otherwise, I might have introduced him to you!" Huo Siqi blushed instantly and pouted, "Janney, you're teasing me again!"
Tang Qing glanced at the Chang'an Club and hesitated before frowning, "Can we not go here? Since you guys are visiting Beijing, it's only right that you let me arrange the place as the host." Bao Zixian smiled politely and said, "Of course, Janney, we can go wherever you like. We don't mind." His eyes were warm but held a hidden fervor. Liu Zekai then laughed, "Janney, last time you took us to that Susie Wong bar. It was so dimly lit, the sofas were too soft, and the music was so dreary that I fell asleep soon after we arrived. I didn't even see any beauties. This time, you have to take us somewhere better!"
Tang Qing scoffed, "Liu, you have some nerve to complain. Last time, you didn't even stay long before you ran off with that girl from the Zhao family. Zhao Feng came and complained to me later that you almost corrupted his sister! Now she spends all her time buying famous jewelry at auctions, and he wants to settle the score with you." Liu Zekai chuckled awkwardly, "Really? I just showed Zhao Ni around our store in Beijing, gave her an emerald necklace, and talked about how beauties should wear jewelry. It can't be that serious." Tang Qing rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to continue arguing about their private lives. She wasn't interested in the relationship between the Zhao and Liu families either.
Tang Qing decided they would go to China Club for dinner and then find a good place to chat.
China Club, the only Chinese-style siheyuan (courtyard house) among the top four elite clubs, was located at 51 Xirongxian Hutong, Xicheng District. It was the residence of a Qing Dynasty prince, exuding a strong traditional Chinese flavor. The green bricks, gray tiles, painted beams, ancient lanterns, and old pagoda trees gave it a rich historical atmosphere. Although it was only a stone's throw from the bustling Xidan, it retained the silent and mottled appearance of the mansion of the 24 sons of Emperor Kangxi, making people feel like they had returned to ancient royal splendor.
China Club preserved the essence of traditional Chinese architecture, with its antique courtyard, palace lanterns, old-style tables and chairs, and beds. The courtyard's lotus flowers, willow trees, peach trees, and ginkgo trees, combined with the traditional and natural elements, created a mysterious and noble atmosphere in the midst of the residential area.
Perhaps because she grew up in a siheyuan, Tang Qing loved the courtyard architecture and its restrained, elegant style, making her a member of the China Club. It was Murong Feng's first time there, and he couldn't help but be impressed. Dining under the trees in the courtyard, listening to the wind rustling through the leaves, and chatting while drinking in such an atmosphere, the night scene of Jinghu Lake outside the window shimmered. The bustling Xingba Road contrasted sharply with the tranquility of the private room on the second floor, and the gentle breeze made everyone feel pleasantly at ease.
Hearing Tang Qing mention Murong Feng's fencing skills, which had surpassed hers on the club's ranking board, the previously composed and elegant Liu Zekai was overjoyed and enthusiastically chatted with Murong Feng. It turned out that Liu Zekai was also a fencing enthusiast and had even represented the Hong Kong fencing team in competitions. Learning that Murong Feng also practiced sabre fencing, Liu Zekai was delighted, and they began discussing classic sabre tactics, eager to spar on the piste.
Talking about Murong Feng's work as an editor at Fashion Weekly, Bao Zixian became interested and laughed, "Oh, is that the magazine edited by Ouyang Lanruo? Peter has indeed found a good helper in the mainland!" His Tom Group and Ming Pao were both listed media groups in Hong Kong, and although they were competitors, their relationship was quite good. Seeing Murong Feng now, Bao Zixian began to wonder if there was an opportunity to implement his strategy to expand into mainland media.
When the conversation turned to Murong Feng's theater work and his starring role in the currently popular domestic TV show "Striving Youth," Huo Siqi suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! You... are you Huazi?" She had felt that Murong Feng looked somewhat familiar all along. The show was also airing in Hong Kong, and Huo Siqi loved watching it. However, Murong Feng's demeanor was so different from his character in the show that she hadn't recognized him immediately. Her eyes filled with stars of admiration—even as a piano virtuoso, she also loved watching TV dramas. Murong Feng could only feel awkwardly proud.
When the topic shifted to Murong Feng's investments in a wireless value-added service company and Huayou Films, the conversation grew even more engaging among the business heirs. Rich people, after all, prefer associating with others who are wealthy, and if they are not only rich but also tasteful, they are even more appreciated.
The subsequent conversation became very congenial. The three were already good friends with Tang Qing, and now, Murong Feng had touched on topics of their interest, leading them to genuinely accept him. The initial feeling of reserve quickly disappeared.
Bao Zixian, after listening to the lively conversation for a while, suddenly smiled and said, "By the way, Murong, are you interested in getting into the media industry? You don't have to be just an editor at the Fashion Weekly anymore. I own several magazines, and we're about to finalize the licenses and authorizations for the mainland. We're preparing to establish a subsidiary group in Beijing. If you're interested, you could invest some money to hold a stake, and I could entrust you with running it as the CEO!" He then smiled ambiguously and added, "Of course, if you could bring Ouyang Lanruo over, that would be even better!" Tang Qing rolled her eyes and said, "Bao Zixian, you're not being straightforward, you have ulterior motives, don't you. Don't try to fool Murong!" Bao Zixian quickly protested, "Janney, I'm genuinely impressed with Murong and want to partner with him. It's not just about Ouyang Lanruo!" Tang Qing scoffed, "Everyone knows your ulterior motives!"
Murong Feng was somewhat interested. He was starting to find his role at the Fashion Weekly, where he wrote one or two articles a week, quite unexciting. However, out of respect for Ouyang Lanruo, he hadn't left. The female editors would look at him with bright eyes, much like the demons in the Pansi Cave gazing at Tang Seng from the Monkey King movie. He really had little interest in going to the office. So he asked Bao Zixian how they could collaborate.
Seeing Murong Feng's interest, Bao Zixian explained with a smile, "Currently, Tom Group owns several magazines in Hong Kong, including those focused on fashion, automobiles, and health—these are the Chinese versions of British magazines. I'm in Beijing to finalize the mainland licenses. We're preparing to set up a subsidiary in Beijing, tentatively named Tom Beijing Media Company, under Hong Kong's Tom Group, meaning Tom Group would be the major shareholder. The registered capital will be around 80 million yuan. You could invest, say, 10 to 20 million, and I could appoint you as the CEO of the new company. Also, you have a wireless communications business, right? If possible, Tom Group would like to invest a portion in your company and engage in cross-shareholding. This way, you could integrate traditional media and create a new wireless media businesses, creating synergy. I believe this sector has great potential in China. What do you think?" Then he couldn't help but add, "And if Ouyang Lanruo can come over as the editor-in-chief, that would be perfect!"
Bao Zixian's sudden idea to partner with Murong Feng stemmed from Tang Qing's evident high regard for Murong Feng and her obvious willingness to protect him, making Bao Zixian see Murong Feng as valuable. Just their close relationship with Tang Qing was enough to warrant the investment. Moreover, from that evening's interaction, Bao Zixian recognized Murong Feng's magnanimous demeanor and refined elegance, considering him a noteworthy individual worth associating with. Additionally, from Tang Qing's tone, it seemed Murong Feng and Ouyang Lanruo had a very good relationship. Finding a suitable editor-in-chief for their new Beijing company had been a headache, and Ouyang Lanruo was the perfect choice. Partnering with Murong Feng to bring her on board would make the deal profitable no matter how it was calculated.
Murong Feng was quite intrigued, especially recalling Liu Xin's recent complaints about how though their momentum in the mobile gaming business was good. The overall business was lagging behind, due to a lack of content resources and high purchase costs, their growth was somewhat stagnant. Integrating Tom Media's content resources into their business seemed highly promising. With this thought, Murong Feng felt even more convinced of the potential.
Tang Qing smiled as she listened to Murong Feng and Bao Zixian discussing cross-shareholding, investment stakes, and valuations. She was happy to see Murong Feng motivated to reach new heights, feeling a sense of fulfillment. Perhaps she genuinely regarded Murong Feng as a younger brother, Tang Qing thought to herself.
In the end, it was decided that Murong Feng would invest 10 million yuan in cash into Tom Beijing Media Company and contribute another 10 million yuan worth of shares from Fengxing Company, equivalent to 10% of its shares. For a total investment of 20 million yuan, giving Murong Feng a 25% stake into Tom Beijing Media Company.
Tom Group would then invest 20 million yuan in Fengxing, increasing its stake to 30%. The specifics of the equity dilution and allocation plan would be handled by a specialized finance company. Through this investment, Fengxing Company's initial 10 million yuan investment had grown tenfold in a year.
Liu Zekai's jewelry company currently had no opportunities for collaboration. However, Liu Zekai, with his broad interests, arranged to meet Murong Feng the next day at the fencing club to spar and also gave Murong Feng a VIP card offering an 20% discount at his family's jewelry stores.
Huo Siqi, uninterested in business discussions, found their talk quite dull. Only at the end, when she mentioned her upcoming solo concert in Hong Kong next month, did Tang Qing and Murong Feng eagerly agree to attend. Murong Feng even thought about asking for leave for Ye Zi to take her to Hong Kong Disneyland, knowing it would make her very happy.
Additionally, Murong Feng had another idea. With the domestic stock market gradually recovering, could he persuade Ajun to manage his funds? If Ajun, whom even people like Bao Zixian held in such high regard, agreed to help, wouldn't it be highly beneficial?
That night, everyone had a great time chatting. Tang Qing was delighted to see Murong Feng maturing, gradually stepping into a higher social circle with a calm demeanor. Although her introductions helped, it was Murong Feng's own poise and charm that enabled him to gain acceptance in this elite circle.
This man, like the wind, was stepping onto an ever-expanding stage. Looking at Murong Feng's serene smile, Tang Qing silently mused.
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