hotmtlnovel Chapter 1463: Listing?
Chapter 1463: Listing?
Chapter 1463: Listing?
Neon lights painted the night sky with a bizarre and dazzling display. In the "blues" dance halls of Kowloon, deafening disco music crashed against people's eardrums like waves. In the center of the dance floor, under the rotating red and green lights, countless figures twisted and turned wildly, releasing the passion and exhaustion suppressed during the day.
Qin Hao leaned back on a high stool by the bar, toying with a glass of whiskey on the rocks. The amber liquid refracted a hazy glow under the light, and the ice cubes clinked against the glass, their sounds drowned out by the deafening music.
His gaze swept past the frenzied crowd on the dance floor and landed on three figures in a booth not far away.
"What did you say? Xiaona and Shamao broke up?!"
Even in this noisy environment, Zhao Yajing's voice couldn't hide the shock she was experiencing. She was wearing a burgundy dress, her permed curls cascading over her shoulders, and her makeup was exquisite.
Sitting across from her, Fu Heming sighed and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. She wore a beige suit, which seemed somewhat out of place in the ballroom, yet she possessed a certain scholarly air. She took a sip of her brightly colored cocktail before speaking:
“It’s over, completely over. Yang Shuma is a good person, but his parents are simply…” She paused, as if searching for the right adjective: “Incomprehensible. In all my life, I’ve never seen parents who would stop their child from going to university just because they earn a meager twenty-odd yuan a month.”
Zhao Yajing opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what to say. She secretly glanced at Qin Hao at the bar, and saw that he was looking in their direction. When their eyes met, Qin Hao simply nodded slightly.
"So... Xiaona and Shamao are completely out of the running?" Zhao Yajing lowered her voice and confirmed again.
Fu Heming shrugged, picked up the cigarette case on the table, and lit a slender women's cigarette. Her expression was somewhat blurred by the swirling smoke.
"I guess it's hopeless. But to be honest, I think it's for the best. With in-laws like Yang Shumao's parents, Xiao Na would suffer a lot if she really married into the family. You haven't seen it, his mother's mouth is so sharp it could be used as a knife."
Zhao Yajing fell silent. She recalled her first visit to Yang Shumao's house, how mercenary Yang Shumao's parents and two older brothers were, and how they even ripped off the coat Qin Hao had given Yang Shumao the next day…
As the two were talking, Shi Xiaona, on the other side of the booth, suddenly slammed her wine glass on the table with a loud bang. The glass struck the wooden tabletop with a dull thud, drawing the attention of everyone around them.
"You idiot, you're such a fool!" Shi Xiaona's voice was clearly slurred with drunkenness, yet unusually loud: "If I ever speak to you again, I, Shi Xiaona, will change my surname!"
She was wearing a white shirt with a light blue knitted cardigan over it, and a dark long skirt. She was dressed elegantly and appropriately, but at this moment, due to the alcohol, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were glazed. Her usually meticulously combed long hair was also a little messy, with a few strands falling across her forehead.
She took another big gulp of wine, then slammed the glass down, turned to look in Qin Hao's direction, and shouted:
"Old Qin! I'm in this state, and you don't even come over to comfort me. You're so boring!"
As she spoke, she stood up unsteadily, walked to Qin Hao's side, and patted his shoulder forcefully. The force was so great that the wine in Qin Hao's glass sloshed around.
Qin Hao put down his wine glass and turned to look at Shi Xiaona. The changing lights of the ballroom cast flickering shadows on her face, and her eyes, which were usually full of smiles, were now misty, whether from drunkenness or tears, it was hard to tell.
"How should I comfort him? Tell him Yang Shumao isn't good enough for you? Or that his parents are bastards?" Qin Hao's voice was calm, revealing no emotion. "Don't you know the truth in your heart?"
Shi Xiaona was speechless for a moment, staring at him for a long time before suddenly bursting into laughter, though the laughter was full of bitterness:
"You really don't know how to make girls happy. No wonder you're still single."
Qin Hao shrugged and raised his glass: "Those who need to be coaxed aren't truly in love. Those who truly love will stay without needing to be coaxed."
These words, spoken casually, stunned Shi Xiaona. She stared blankly at Qin Hao, her gaze complex. After a long while, she finally looked away and muttered something under her breath:
"Crooked."
Then she raised her voice: "But you're right, who am I, Shi Xiaona? I don't need anyone to coax me! Come on, let's drink!"
She raised her glass again, and Qin Hao raised his to clink it with hers. The glass clinked crisply, and they both drank it down in one gulp.
As she put down her wine glass, Shi Xiaona suddenly leaned close to Qin Hao, her breath, reeking of alcohol, almost hitting his face.
"No man is any good. I don't know what Zhao Yajing likes about you."
Qin Hao looked at her face, so close to his own, his eyes gleaming with inquiry and curiosity. He opened his arms:
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Beautiful!"
"Pooh!"
"shameless."
Three female voices rang out almost simultaneously. The three women exchanged a glance and suddenly burst into laughter. The laughter wasn't particularly loud amidst the cacophony of music, but it carried a sense of cathartic release.
After laughing, Shi Xiaona raised her glass and loudly said to Zhao Yajing and Fu Heming:
"Sisters, do you see that? Not a single man can be trusted!"
“That’s right, they’re all unreliable!” Zhao Yajing also raised her glass in response.
Although Fu Heming was still sitting in the booth, he raised his glass and shouted with a smile, "Drink up! Let's drink until we're drunk tonight!"
The three glasses clinked in mid-air, then all three tilted their heads back and chugged their drinks. Their demeanor was far more unrestrained than usual.
Qin Hao watched this scene and shook his head helplessly:
"Isn't it a bit too arbitrary of you to generalize and condemn everyone based on a single example?"
"Hmph!" Shi Xiaona turned her head and made a face at him: "You're no better than me! Come on, Sister Yajing, Heming, let's go dancing and ignore him!"
Under the influence of alcohol, Shi Xiaona's pretty face was flushed, and she looked more wild than usual. She grabbed Zhao Yajing with one hand, waved to Fu Heming with the other, signaling her to follow, and then turned and walked towards the center of the dance floor.
Zhao Yajing stumbled as she was pulled, glancing back at Qin Hao with a look of apology and helplessness. Qin Hao nodded to her, put down his wine glass, and followed her.
The dance floor was teeming with people, and the deafening music seemed to tangibly strike everyone's heart. Flashing lights swept through the crowd, leaving brief streaks of light.
The moment Shi Xiaona stepped onto the dance floor, she seemed like a completely different person. She shook off Zhao Yajing's hand and began to sway her body to the rhythm of the music. Her gentle attire contrasted sharply with her wild dance moves, making her even more eye-catching.
Seeing this, Zhao Yajing also relaxed. She was an extroverted person by nature, and dancing wasn't difficult for her. Soon, she caught up with the rhythm and danced face-to-face with Shi Xiaona.
Fu Heming stood at the edge of the dance floor, looking somewhat hesitant. She adjusted her glasses, watching the frenzied men and women on the dance floor, her steps faltering. But Shi Xiaona and Zhao Yajing both waved to her, and under the influence of alcohol and the atmosphere, she finally stepped in.
Three young women with distinct styles quickly attracted the attention of those around them. Shi Xiaona's gentleness was tinged with wildness, Zhao Yajing's bright and flamboyant personality was striking, and Fu Heming's scholarly air contrasted sharply with his current unrestrained demeanor—they were like three different landscapes, standing out prominently on the dance floor.
More and more people of the opposite sex gathered around. Some whistled, some tried to get close enough to dance, and some raised their glasses to strike up a conversation. Qin Hao stood on the periphery of the three, like a barrier, blocking out all those ill-intentioned glances and actions.
"Hey pretty girl, wanna dance together?" A young man with dyed blond hair approached Zhao Yajing and said with a grin.
Qin Hao stepped aside, blocking his way, and looked at him expressionlessly. Seeing Qin Hao's tall stature and then looking at his own small frame, the blond-haired man sheepishly backed away.
But not everyone is so sensible.
"Hey kid, where are you from?"
Several men dressed in floral shirts and jeans, looking rather sleazy, surrounded Qin Hao. The leader was bald, with a thick gold chain around his neck and tattoos on his arms. He stared at Qin Hao with hostile eyes.
Qin Hao turned around to face the group, his expression remaining calm:
"And where do you guys come from?"
"We're from Dongxing. If you know what's good for you, get lost and stop interfering with my womanizing." The bald man pointed at Qin Hao's nose, his tone arrogant.
His henchmen behind him also started shouting:
"Did you hear that? Our boss told you to get lost!"
"You want to have three girls all to yourself? You've got quite the appetite!"
"Get out of my way, or you'll regret it!"
Seeing this, people around the dance floor quickly moved back, clearing a small area. The music continued, but the air in that spot seemed to freeze.
Qin Hao looked at the bald man's finger pointing at his nose and suddenly smiled. The smile was faint, but it sent a chill down the bald man's spine.
"No one has ever dared to call themselves 'I' in front of me before," Qin Hao said, his voice not loud, but clear enough to penetrate the music.
"Damn it, you're asking for it!" The bald man was enraged by his attitude and waved his hand, "Kill him!"
Just as the henchmen were about to make their move, a scream suddenly rang out—
It wasn't Qin Hao, but the bald man.
Qin Hao's movements were so fast they were almost invisible. He reached out and grabbed the bald man's index finger that was pointing at him, and snapped it downwards. With a soft "crack," the bald man squatted down, cold sweat beading on his forehead, his face contorted in pain.
"Ah—my hand! My hand!"
"What are you waiting for? Go!" the bald man yelled at his underlings as he screamed.
The henchmen then realized what was happening and rushed forward.
But their movements seemed as slow as a slow-motion video to Qin Hao. He released the bald man's fingers—the bald man immediately squatted on the ground clutching his hands and groaning—then dodged the first punch that rushed at him, grabbed the other man's wrist, and twisted it, causing the man to scream and fall to the ground.
The second one lunged from the side, and Qin Hao kicked him squarely in the stomach. The man groaned, clutching his stomach and collapsing to his knees.
The third person tried to attack from behind, but Qin Hao, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, didn't even turn around. He delivered an elbow strike backward, hitting the opponent squarely in the chest. The man staggered backward, knocking over a small round table nearby, spilling drinks all over the floor.
The whole process took only a dozen seconds. By the time the onlookers realized what was happening, there were already four people lying on the ground—including the bald man who was still groaning in pain, and his three henchmen who had been knocked unconscious.
The music stopped sometime ago, and the dance floor fell silent. All eyes were on Qin Hao, filled with shock, curiosity, and fear.
Shi Xiaona and the other two had gathered together and were standing behind Qin Hao. Zhao Yajing's face was a little pale, and Fu Heming was holding her hand tightly. Although Shi Xiaona was still a little drunk, her eyes were much clearer.
"You...you better not do anything reckless!" The bald man clutched his finger, wincing in pain, but still managed to threaten, "My boss is Handsome Bro! Let me go now, and I'll pretend nothing happened! Otherwise...otherwise, when my boss comes, you'll be sorry!"
Qin Hao paused slightly upon hearing the name "Xiaosai," then a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
Qin Hao walked up to the bald man, squatted down, and looked at him: "That's perfect, I'll give you a chance. Call him over."
The bald man was stunned, seemingly not expecting Qin Hao's reaction. But he quickly scrambled over and said repeatedly:
"Fine! Fine! Don't you dare run away! I'll call my boss right now!"
As he spoke, he scrambled to the public phone by the bar and inserted coins to dial. Several times, his hand ached, and he lost his grip on the coins.
Taking advantage of this moment, Shi Xiaona and the other two quickly surrounded Qin Hao.
"Old Qin, why don't we leave first?" Fu Heming said in a low voice, his voice tense. "There's no need to lower ourselves to the level of a bunch of thugs."
“I think it’s better to call the police,” Zhao Yajing suggested.
Shi Xiaona looked at Qin Hao with a complicated expression.
Qin Hao smiled at the three of them, a smile that carried a reassuring power:
"Don't worry, there won't be a fight."
"You know their boss?"
"We had a chance encounter."
Fifteen minutes later, a commotion arose at the entrance of the dance hall. A dozen or so men dressed in black, looking menacing, stormed in. The leader was a man in his forties with a burly face and a hideous tattoo on his neck.
He shouted loudly as soon as he entered the door:
"Who the hell is it? Who the hell dares to touch my dashing man? Are you tired of living?"
The people in the dance hall quickly moved aside, making way for him. The manager tried to step forward to say something, but was shoved aside by one of Xiao Sa's henchmen, leaving him standing to the side with a bitter expression.
Seeing his boss arrive, the bald man suddenly felt emboldened and pointed at Qin Hao by the dance floor, shouting loudly:
"Boss! It's this kid! He..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was slapped hard across the face by Xiao Sa.
A crisp "snap" sounded exceptionally clear in the otherwise silent dance hall.
The bald man was stunned by the beating. He covered his face, looking at Xiaosai with a mixture of grievance and confusion.
"Boss, why did you hit me?"
"Hit you? I want to fucking kill you right now!" Xiao Sa gritted his teeth, his eyes fierce as if he wanted to devour someone: "Why did you provoke him?!"
The bald man's mind went blank for a moment. He looked at Qin Hao, then at his boss, and suddenly realized something, his face turning pale instantly.
Xiao Sa was also feeling a chill run down his spine. He looked at the tall, calm young man by the dance floor, the one who had beaten his dozens of underlings to a pulp like a war god. He often dreamed about it in his sleep, and he couldn't even avoid him. This bald guy dared to provoke him. The few men he brought today wouldn't even be enough to fill the other man's teeth.
With a forced smile, he walked to the edge of the dance floor amidst everyone's astonished gazes. He tried to force a smile, but it looked more like a grimace.
"Mr. Qin... Mr. Qin."
Qin Hao looked at him, a half-smile on his face:
"You only brought this few people to stand up for your little brother?"
Xiao Sa was immediately drenched in cold sweat and waved his hands repeatedly:
"Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! This kid is blind and doesn't recognize your importance. He offended Mr. Qin. I... I'll definitely teach him a lesson when I get back!"
This scene stunned everyone, including Shi Xiaona and her two companions—their hearts had been in their throats when they saw Xiao Sa barge in with so many people. Zhao Yajing was still inwardly blaming Qin Hao for being a hero and not letting them call the police, while Fu Heming had already quietly crept to the phone at the bar to dial 999.
And what happened? This seemingly fierce man, whom the bald man called "boss," became like a mouse before a cat when he saw Qin Hao, his attitude so respectful it was almost humble.
Shi Xiaona looked at Qin Hao's profile. Under the light, his features were distinct, and his expression was as calm as if he were dealing with a trivial matter. She suddenly thought of Yang Shumo—Yang Shumo was also very good at fighting, able to take on several people by himself. But he often fought impulsively, resorting to violence at the slightest disagreement. After a fight, he would either be punished or have the other party's parents come knocking on his door, for which he had received many beatings from his parents.
As for Qin Hao… Shi Xiaona recalled everything since she met Qin Hao. He rarely caused trouble, but once he did, he was always decisive and efficient, and he always handled things properly afterwards, never leaving any lingering problems.
"How you teach your underlings is your business." Qin Hao's voice interrupted Shi Xiaona's thoughts: "Just don't let me see him again, okay?"
Xiao Sa was stunned for a moment, seemingly unable to believe that the other party had let him go so easily. He nodded quickly, his voice tinged with gratitude:
"Okay! Don't worry, Mr. Qin, I will definitely discipline him properly and make sure he never appears in front of you again!"
Qin Hao waved his hand, as if shooing away flies.
As if granted a pardon, Xiao Sa quickly led his men away. Before leaving, he glared fiercely at the bald man, the warning in his eyes sending a shiver down the bald man's spine.
The silence was broken only after Xiao Sa and his group disappeared from the dance hall entrance. The music started again, but few people were in the mood to dance anymore. Everyone's eyes kept glancing at Qin Hao, and they whispered among themselves.
"Let's go, it's getting late. I'll take you home," Qin Hao said, turning to the three girls.
Shi Xiaona looked at him, her eyes filled with curiosity, inquiry, and something else she couldn't quite define. After a long while, she whispered:
"Old Qin, do you know him?"
"I've met him once," Qin Hao replied casually, seemingly unwilling to elaborate.
But Zhao Yajing suddenly remembered something. She recalled the night six months ago when Qin Hao left with HK$100,000 in cash.
Looking back now, perhaps Qin Hao's seemingly joking remark wasn't entirely a joke.
It was late at night when the four left the dance hall. The streets were deserted, with only neon lights flashing tirelessly. A cool breeze blew by, carrying the salty scent of the sea and dispelling the effects of the alcohol.
Qin Hao hailed a taxi and first took Fu Heming and Shi Xiaona back to the Shi family home.
Even in the night, the grandeur of the Shi family villa was evident. The wrought-iron gate slowly opened.
Mr. and Mrs. Shi were clearly still awake, and came out to greet them upon hearing the car. They were both taken aback when they saw their daughter and Fu Heming get out of the car—although Shi Xiaona and Fu Heming were much more sober, the strong smell of alcohol on them was still undeniable.
Upon smelling the alcohol, Mr. Shi's brows furrowed and his face darkened.
"Drinking so much alcohol so late at night, what kind of behavior is this!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. Shi Xiaona had always been afraid of her father, and hearing him speak like that, she couldn't help but shrink back, completely sobering up.
Seeing this, Mrs. Shi quickly tried to smooth things over. She stepped forward to support her daughter, whose steps were still unsteady, and said to her husband:
"Oh dear, what's wrong with my daughter going out for a drink because she's feeling down? Besides, Xiao Qin is here with us. She's back safe and sound, so don't be so picky."
As she spoke, she called out into the house. A middle-aged woman dressed as a maid hurried out and, together with Shi's mother, helped Shi Xiaona and Fu Heming inside.
After the two girls went inside, Shi's mother turned to look at Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing, apologetic smile on her face:
"Xiao Qin, Ya Jing, I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Qin Hao smiled and spoke gently:
"Auntie, what are you saying? Xiaona and I are revolutionary friends who went up to the countryside together. This is nothing. It's getting late, so we'll be going now. You and Uncle should get some rest too."
Mrs. Shi nodded and said a few more words of thanks. Although Mr. Shi's expression was still not very good, he also nodded to Qin Hao as a way of thanking him.
Only when the taxi's taillights disappeared around the corner did Mr. and Mrs. Shi turn away and walk back into the house.
"What do you think of this Xiao Qin?" Father Shi suddenly asked, his voice now calm as usual.
Mrs. Shi took her husband's arm and, as they walked, pondered, saying:
"He's pretty good. At least much better than that Yang Shumao. His family situation is simple; he only has an elderly mother who is still alive, so he doesn't have any burdens. He's smart and ambitious. Xiaona told me that Burger King has already opened 18 branches. Among the younger generation, very few can start from scratch."
Father Shi nodded, a meaningful smile appearing on his face:
"Exactly what I thought."
Mother Shi shook her head:
“I think differently. Although Xiao Qin is good in every way, he has Zhao Yajing by his side. They are friends and business partners, and it’s obvious to everyone that Zhao Yajing has feelings for Xiao Qin…”
"That's why I say you don't understand men," Mr. Shi interrupted her, saying confidently, "A woman like Zhao Yajing is too shrewd and too assertive. She's good as a business partner, but not so suitable for starting a family. As the saying goes, it's easy for a woman to pursue a man. If Xiao Qin had the same feelings for her, wouldn't they have been together long ago? Why have they dragged it out until now?"
Mrs. Shi paused for a moment, then thought about it carefully and realized it made sense. She looked up at her husband:
"Then you mean..."
"Let Xiaona get to know him first," Mr. Shi said. "We're the woman, so we can't rush things. Let the young people handle their own affairs. As parents, we just need to give them some space and opportunities."
"You've thought of everything so thoroughly," Mrs. Shi nodded, a smile spreading across her face.
……
Time flies, and another six months have passed in the blink of an eye.
Over the past six months, the streets of Hong Kong seem to have remained largely unchanged, but observant people have noticed an increasing number of Burger King signs. From just a few stores initially, to 18, and now to 32, those red and yellow signs have covered most of Hong Kong's bustling commercial areas.
In the top-floor office of an office building in Central, Zhao Yajing stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling traffic below. She was wearing a dark gray business suit, her long hair was neatly tied up in a bun, and her makeup was exquisite; she looked every bit the successful businesswoman.
"So, does that mean we can relax a bit next year?"
She turned around and looked at Qin Hao, who was sitting behind his desk.
Qin Hao was looking at a report when he heard this. He looked up and smiled.
"Dream on. Next year will be the real test."
"What kind of test?" Zhao Yajing walked to the desk and sat down in the chair.
Qin Hao put down the report in his hand, leaned back in his chair, and placed his hands on his abdomen.
Do you know about stocks?
Zhao Yajing rolled her eyes at him:
"Nonsense. Every day, the TV and newspapers are full of news about the stock market crash. I can't help but know about it. The Hang Seng Index has fallen from more than 1700 points at the beginning of the year to less than 700 points now. I don't know how many people have jumped off buildings."
She said this with a hint of regret in her voice.
Qin Hao nodded:
"That's right. The stock market crash has caused many people to lose everything. But that's precisely our opportunity."
"Opportunity?" Zhao Yajing asked, puzzled. "With the stock market in this state, what opportunities are there? Are we supposed to speculate in stocks? Lao Qin, that's too risky."
"It's not about stock trading." Qin Hao shook his head, leaned forward, placed his hands on the table, looked into Zhao Yajing's eyes, and said, word by word:
"Our goal within the next three years is to take Burger King public."
A brief silence fell over the office.
Zhao Yajing's eyes widened, as if she hadn't heard what Qin Hao said:
"Going public? Us?"
"Yes, it's us." Qin Hao's tone was certain: "The stock market is sluggish right now, so the listing threshold is relatively low. Once we have prepared the materials and completed the procedures, the economy will begin to recover, which will be a good time to go public."
Zhao Yajing opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found herself at a loss for words. Going public… that was a completely unattainable concept for her. Her biggest dream was simply to expand her business, open more stores, earn enough money to provide a better life for her family.
And now, Qin Hao actually says he wants to take the company public?
"Old Qin, are you... are you serious?" Zhao Yajing's voice was a little hoarse.
Qin Hao smiled:
"When have I ever made such a joke?"
Zhao Yajing fell silent. She thought about it carefully; indeed, although Qin Hao sometimes spoke casually, he never joked about serious matters. If he said he would do something, he would definitely do it.
"But... going public requires a lot of money, right? What do you need... sponsors, underwriters, audits, reports..." Zhao Yajing tried hard to recall the knowledge about going public that she had read in the newspaper, but those terms were still too unfamiliar to her.
"Don't worry about the money," Qin Hao said. "Burger King's profits are quite substantial, enough to cover the initial costs. As for the rest... I'll find professionals to handle it."
He stood up, walked to the window, and stood side by side with Zhao Yajing, overlooking the bustling city:
"Ya Jing, do you know why so many companies want to go public?"
Zhao Yajing thought for a moment and said:
"Financing? With money, you can expand your operations?"
“That’s one aspect.” Qin Hao nodded. “But more importantly, going public means standardization and transparency. Moreover, after going public, our brand value will be greatly enhanced, and ‘Burger King’ will no longer be just a fast food restaurant, but a catering company.”
He turned around and looked at Zhao Yajing:
“Have you thought about this? Once Burger King successfully goes public, we will become shareholders of the listed company. At that time, when we return to the mainland, we will no longer be individual business owners, but owners of a Hong Kong listed company. This will bring us many advantages in doing business in the mainland in the future.”
Zhao Yajing's eyes lit up, but she was still a little worried, after all, Burger King had only been established for a year.
"Can...can we really do this?"
Qin Hao patted her on the shoulder:
"Why not? Even a garbage company like Hong Kong Antenna can go public, let alone us? Don't forget that Burger King's annual net profit exceeds HK$20 million, which alone surpasses many listed companies."
“Okay!” Zhao Yajing took a deep breath, her eyes hardening. “Old Qin, I’ll listen to you. Whatever you say, I’ll do. Let’s work together to take Burger King public!”
Qin Hao smiled, a smile that contained both relief and trust:
"This is the Zhao Yajing I know."