Bab 296: Chapter 296: “Can’t Move”
What is Monroe doing?
She was attending an acting class, aware of her lack of acting skills. To improve, Monroe sought help from the company and received a certificate of attendance from the Performance Department at Southern California University.
The professor lectured earnestly, and Monroe took notes just as seriously. Originally a country girl, she had long yearned for such a university experience. Now that her dream had come true, she was thrilled.
Monroe was a model student, but her presence attracted a lot of attention, particularly from male students. As the champion of "Super Idol" and America's sweetheart, she was admired by many. Her appearance in the classroom was a significant event for the students.
As class ended, Monroe packed up her things and left the classroom. The moment she stepped outside, she was surrounded by a crowd of admirers.
"Miss Monroe, could you please sign this for me?"
"Hello Miss Monroe, my name is Johnny. We've formed a small campus performance team. Would you be interested in joining us?"
"Miss Monroe…"
The crowd continued to chatter around her. Monroe smiled politely but didn't say much. Suddenly, she noticed a few cars parked on the road. The window of the middle car rolled down, and she saw someone she missed.
"Excuse me."
Monroe quickly descended the steps, her high heels clicking as she hurried over to the convoy. She got into the car, threw herself into the arms of a man, and the vehicle slowly drove away.
Many men watching felt a pang of envy. Monroe seemed unattainable, being the partner of Hardy, the big boss of the Hardy Group. They felt a vast gap between themselves and Hardy.
That evening, Monroe and Hardy returned to her apartment. Unlike Hardy Manor, where the women of Hardy typically resided, Monroe had her own place. Hardy had planned to buy her a small villa in Beverly Hills, but the right property wasn't available yet. For now, Monroe lived in a luxurious, 200-square-meter apartment in the heart of Hollywood.
As they entered the apartment, Monroe noticed a large box by the door and looked at Hardy with curiosity.
"It's a present for you."
"What is it?"
"Just open it and see."
Inside the box was a large Barbie doll, about 60 centimeters tall, with white blonde hair and dressed in a red, shiny gown—just like the one Monroe wore when she won "Super Idol."
"Is this... me?"
Monroe was delighted.
"Soon, there will be a 'Princess Monroe' Barbie. Do you like it?" Hardy asked.
"I love it! I love it so much!"
Monroe hugged the doll and gave Hardy a passionate kiss. Then she nestled in his arms, playing with the Barbie doll. Few girls could resist the allure of Barbie dolls.
The company had developed larger dolls over the past two years, with the biggest ones being over 60 centimeters tall. Made with a steel frame and soft rubber, their limbs were movable and more realistic than previous models. Naturally, these luxury dolls came with a hefty price tag, costing over a hundred dollars each.
Since Monroe was Hardy's woman, having a custom Barbie doll made sense. Hardy had arranged for the sample to be prepared and sent to him before his trip to the UK.
"You wait here."
Monroe dashed into the room and soon emerged wearing a red evening gown—the same dress she wore on "Super Idol." She looked like a living version of her Barbie doll.
With crystal high heels on, Monroe approached Hardy and whispered softly into his ear.
"Mr. Hardy, I am your Barbie tonight."
As her fingers traced down his chest, Hardy was clearly captivated.
The following day, Hardy arrived at the group headquarters to meet with Andy. Andy reported that the group's development was progressing well, with each company's president performing their duties effectively. Hardy had no reason to worry.
Henry and Lanster's recommended staff had been located. Hardy reviewed the files, which included color photos of the individuals.
- Brian Mills, the head of Hong Kong HD Security Company recommended by Lanster, appeared calm in his thirties.
- John Wick, the director of Hong Kong's intelligence department recommended by Henry, was a tall, thin man with a melancholy demeanor.
- Duncan Vizra, the director of the Japanese intelligence department, was in his forties with a cold gaze. His understanding of Japanese was a key factor in Henry's recommendation.
Upon reviewing their profiles, Hardy chuckled at the coincidence of collecting three "untouchable" figures.
"Alright, they're the ones. Have them bring their teams and come to Hong Kong with me," Hardy instructed.
On January 27, Hardy prepared to depart for Hong Kong. He met with Brian Mills, John Wick, and Duncan Vizra, who each brought five team members.
Hardy addressed Brian and John: "In Hong Kong, you'll need to establish a security branch and intelligence organization. There's a lot of work ahead."
"We'll fulfill the boss's request," Brian Mills assured.
Turning to Duncan Vizra, Hardy said: "You'll be working in Japan. You can get help from the Global Times to settle in, but you'll need to pioneer your own path."
"Are there any legal restrictions on actions in Japan?" Duncan asked.
Hardy smiled.
"In Japan, you have more freedom. Just be careful and let me know if you're in trouble. I'll do my best to assist," Hardy replied.
Duncan appreciated the consideration.
As they flew to Hawaii for a brief stopover before heading to Japan, Hardy discussed plans with the three men. He outlined their roles and expectations for their work in the eastern market.
Duncan thought about the scope of Hardy's business ventures, which included casinos, gangs, security companies, media outlets, banks, movie companies, and more. It was a vast and complex network.
During the flight, Hardy conversed with each of them. He asked Brian Mills about his family.
"Are you married with children?" Hardy inquired.
"Yes, boss. I have a daughter," Brian replied, showing a photo of his beautiful eight-year-old girl.
"She's lovely. If you ever want her to try acting, I can have Edward arrange it," Hardy offered.
Brian appreciated the gesture but declined, wanting his daughter to have a normal life.
Hardy then asked John Wick about his personal life.
"Do you have any children?" Hardy asked.
"No," John replied, his tone somber. He recounted the tragic loss of his girlfriend and unborn child years ago and his subsequent time in the army.
Hardy sympathized and patted John on the shoulder. "I'll get you a dog when we're done here."
Finally, Hardy asked Duncan Vizra about his future plans.
"I'd like to buy a ranch and live out my retirement fishing and raising chickens," Duncan said.
Hardy promised that Duncan's pension would be secure and urged him to come to him directly if there were any issues.
As the plane landed in Japan, Hardy's team prepared to continue their journey to Hong Kong. Duncan, with his five team members and $100,000 in activity funds, was ready to start his work.
He planned to recruit local staff and control local gangs to ease his integration into the Japanese market. Inspired by Hardy's own beginnings with gangs, Duncan was set to begin with the local gangsters.
With the resources and freedom given to him, Duncan felt like a dragon ready to soar in a new domain.
Bab 297: Chapter 297: Gems and Medicine
Hardy's private jet B-29 landed at Hong Kong Airport. As soon as he disembarked, a crowd had gathered to welcome him.
"Hardy~!" Han Yezhen called out, trotting toward him.
With a warm smile, Hardy opened his arms and embraced Han Yezhen. She was dressed elegantly, and Hardy's broad chest almost enveloped her entirely.
"I've missed you so much," Han Yezhen said affectionately.
"I've missed you too. But I'm not here just to see you," Hardy replied with a smile.
The two parted, and others stepped forward.
Among the crowd were Sanders, the president of HSBC, several vice presidents, the president of Wells Fargo's Hong Kong branch, the president and editor-in-chief of the Global Times Hong Kong branch, and the head of ABC Radio.
ABC TV had set up a branch in Hong Kong the previous year, but with no TV users there, they only operated a radio station broadcasting in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. The Global Times and ABC Radio had become leading media outlets in Hong Kong, surpassing local competitors.
Hardy exchanged pleasantries with everyone and said, "Thank you for coming to meet me. It's quite late, so I'll head to rest now. I'll visit the various companies in the coming days."
"Welcome, Chairman. We look forward to your inspection," everyone responded in unison.
At this moment, Victor stepped forward respectfully. "Boss, the car is ready. Please get in, and I'll handle the rest."
Hardy nodded in satisfaction.
---
The following morning, Hardy awoke to find that Han Yezhen had already left.
"Yezhen? Yezhen?" Hardy called out.
"I'm here," Han Yezhen replied, hurrying over in an apron. "What's up?"
"I'm making breakfast for you. You always said you wanted an authentic breakfast. Aunt Wang and I have been learning for a long time, and today I made it for you," Han Yezhen said with a smile.
Hardy stood up, embraced her, and kissed her.
"Go take a bath first. Breakfast will be ready soon," Han Yezhen urged.
After Hardy bathed, he found a full set of clothes laid out for him. It was clear that traditional values still influenced Han Yezhen, who took pride in her role as a devoted partner.
He dressed and went to the dining room, where a sumptuous breakfast awaited him.
The table was laden with various dishes: barbecued pork buns, pineapple buns, shrimp dumplings, rice rolls, double-skin milk, egg tarts, wonton noodles, white porridge, and old fire porridge, among others.
Han Yezhen had changed into a Western-style dress, showing off her youthful figure.
"What do you want to eat?" Han Yezhen asked softly as she sat next to him.
"No need, I'll help myself. Everything looks so appetizing," Hardy said, picking up some wonton noodles.
The wontons were delicious, immediately stimulating Hardy's taste buds. It had been a long time since he had such authentic food. He had been so busy lately that he sometimes forgot the flavors of his past.
Hardy ate heartily, savoring every dish on the table. Han Yezhen watched him with happiness in her eyes, knowing that his enjoyment of her cooking was a true sign of appreciation.
After finishing the meal, Hardy felt satisfied but a bit overwhelmed.
"That was amazing. It's been a long time since I've eaten so much," Hardy said with a smile.
"I'm glad you liked it. I'll make it for you every day if you want," Han Yezhen said.
"Sure," Hardy replied, touching Han Yezhen's face gently.
"By the way, is Aunt Wang the chef here?" Hardy inquired.
"No, she's the chef's wife. She mainly handles pastries and breakfast. Master Wang is the villa's chef. They both come from the north. I heard Master Wang used to be the head chef at a big restaurant," Han Yezhen explained.
"The meal was excellent. Please tell the housekeeper to reward Aunt Wang with 100 Hong Kong dollars," Hardy said.
"Okay, I'll let the housekeeper know," Han Yezhen agreed.
After breakfast, Victor was waiting in the living room. He stood up quickly when he saw Hardy approach. "How was your rest, boss?"
"It was fine," Hardy said.
"Boss, Governor Grantham is hosting a reception tonight to welcome you to Hong Kong. It will be at the Peninsula Hotel, and many officials and celebrities will attend," Victor informed.
Hardy nodded. "Make sure to invite representatives from HSBC, Wells Fargo, Global Times, and ABC Radio."
"Understood," Victor replied.
"There's one more thing," Victor added. "Regarding the $10 million in supplies we're selling to the East, the other party requested guarantee conditions. They provided a list for transaction repayment protection. Here it is."
Victor handed Hardy a list of potential guarantees, including securities, stocks, acceptance drafts, certificates of deposit, gems, medicinal materials, ore, crops, and livestock.
Hardy reviewed the list thoughtfully.
"Reply that we want securities from other countries' banks, and we'll use an 80:1 ratio," Hardy decided.
Victor nodded, making a note.
"There are also gems. We only need diamonds, rubies, sapphires, Hetian jade, and jadeite. Let the auction company handle the pricing," Hardy added.
Victor acknowledged the instructions. Gems would be handled through auction, and while China's gem production might not be the best, there were still many ancient gems and Hetian jade.
"As for medicinal materials, we'll set up a pharmaceutical factory here in Hong Kong and sell it internationally. We'll use traditional medicine to create health products," Hardy said.
He planned to collaborate with experienced herbalists to develop effective and palatable health products. By doing so, he hoped to promote traditional medicine and make it more accepted in the West.
"Forget about minerals, crops, and livestock for now. Focus on the other items," Hardy concluded.
Victor confirmed the plan and left to carry out the tasks.
After Victor departed, Han Yezhen entered the living room.
"Is Victor gone? Aren't you going out?" Han Yezhen asked, thinking Hardy might be shifting industries.
Hardy smiled. "Some things take time. Don't worry, Yezhen. Governor Grantham's reception is tonight. Come with me."
Han Yezhen was surprised. "You want me to attend?"
"Of course," Hardy confirmed.
"Then I'll prepare my clothes," Han Yezhen said, heading to her room.
Hardy stopped her. "No need to rush. The reception is at night. You don't need to worry about your outfit."
"But if I don't prepare in advance, I might not have the right clothes," Han Yezhen said.
Hardy chuckled. "No matter what you wear, no one will dare to look down on you. This is just a welcome reception for the Governor. Don't stress too much."
He reminisced about a recent high-profile event in the UK, where he had mingled with British royalty and dignitaries.
Han Yezhen looked at him with admiration. She remembered when he was just a businessman in Los Angeles, and now he had grown to such prominence.
Hardy touched her face gently. "There's no need to be nervous. Why don't you show me how the museum is coming along?"
Han Yezhen nodded obediently. "Okay."
With Hardy's encouragement, Han Yezhen felt reassured and ready for the evening's event.
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