The commentator's message was exactly the same as the message I received in the envelope.
Lu Rongfang put down the newspaper and looked at Song Tianyao. Song Tianyao smiled bitterly and said to Lu Rongfang, "I did consider buying Xizhen Properties shares, but it seems like someone is working against me. They deliberately leaked the news, sending anonymous letters to securities companies and some wealthy people who pay attention to the stock market, so that those who hold the shares would see the news and drive up the price. It's even been published in the newspapers. Almost all licensed brokerage firms on the exchange have received this anonymous message. How can I make a move under these circumstances? If I really do, wouldn't the stock price immediately skyrocket?"
"To be honest, Mr. Song, I also received an anonymous tip that you're planning to 'swallow up an elephant,' acquiring shares of Xizhen Properties in the stock market." Lu Rongfang, somewhat disheartened upon hearing that he hadn't actually received a secret tip and that the informant seemed to have cast a wide net, took out a cigarette and lit it.
He then placed the cigarette case and lighter next to his seat.
Fu Xinniang brought in three cups of coffee, then took out some of the miscellaneous items she had already tidied up for Song Tianyao by the bedside. After Fu Xinniang left, Song Tianyao finally spoke, "So it seems I'd better just stick to my faking hair business."
"I got too excited when I saw the news. I thought you, Mr. Song, were interested in Ngau Tau Shan. By the way, I heard that Causeway Bay Bird's Beak are planning to reclaim land from the sea in the next few years." As Lu Rongfang said this, her eyes were fixed on the stock commentary in the newspaper, but she was also paying attention to Song Tianyao's expression out of the corner of her eye.
Song Tianyao was taken aback, seemingly finding Lu Rongfang's question utterly ridiculous, "Ngau Tau Shan? That desolate mountain in Causeway Bay? Mr. Lu, you're overthinking it. My acquisition of Xizhen Properties shares was merely to vent my anger for my third aunt. She's Mr. Lin Xizhen's illegitimate daughter. Although she's not qualified to manage the Lin Family business, she should still have a share of the Lin Family's wealth. The Lin Family is unfair, so I'm preparing to help my third aunt seek justice by acquiring some Xizhen Properties shares so she can walk out of the Lin Family's door with dignity. It's such a simple matter, but now it's being spread like I'm overestimating myself by trying to swallow a giant. If I were truly overestimating myself, I wouldn't be in this situation today; I would have already capsized and drowned in the business world."
"That's true. If Mr. Song hadn't been so steady and pragmatic, it would have been difficult to achieve what we have today. I was too easily swayed by rumors, thinking that you, Mr. Song, had a lot of money, so I prepared to bring some pocket money to help you out." Lu Rongfang didn't feel embarrassed about her impulsive visit. She smiled self-deprecatingly, got up, and said goodbye with Pan Guoyang. As Song Tianyao saw the two off, the phone on the table rang.
Song Tianyao smiled apologetically at the two men, then said to Huang Liu outside the door, "Excuse me, please make yourself at home. We can have tea together sometime. A-Liu, please see Mr. Lu and Mr. Pan out. I need to take a phone call."
As he spoke, he answered the phone. Luo Zhuankun's voice on the other end of the line was calm, yet seemed to suppress a hint of tension. "Mr. Song, a mysterious buyer entered the market this afternoon and swept up the remaining 237 sell orders for Xizhen Properties that we had temporarily avoided due to the high price. The stock price of Xizhen Properties has been pushed up to Hong Kong dollars 0.96 per share because of their buying. We analyze that it is very likely that Xizhen Properties is repurchasing shares, and the price should rise rapidly in the near future."
"How much of the stock loan has been agreed upon yet?" Song Tianyao took two deep breaths upon hearing Luo Zhuankun's words. The Lin Family's reaction couldn't have been so quick. He was still planning to spread false information for a couple more days, crying wolf a few times. Why Xizhen Properties so agitated?
Two hundred and thirty-seven lots, with four hundred shares per lot, means that the other party has snapped up nearly 100,000 shares in the blink of an eye. If it weren't for Xizhen Properties, ordinary retail investors wouldn't have such a big appetite, especially when the news of the boy who cried wolf was still circulating. Everyone should have at least waited and seen for a few more days.
"Twelve million and ninety million shares of Xizhen Properties are held by several members of the Lin Family and managed by two Jardine Group with the Jardine Matheson Group. The total number of shares represents approximately 15% of Xizhen Properties's stock. The securities firms will lend them out at the current market price. However, Mr. Song, this 15% of the shares is borrowed. If any of the Lin Family's clients intend to sell the shares, and the securities firms do not have any other shares available for us to lend, they have the right to demand that we liquidate our positions at any time, with an interest rate of around 10%." Hearing Song Tianyao inquire about borrowing shares from the securities firms, Luo Zhuankun couldn't help but swallow hard. He knew what Song Tianyao wanted him to do with the borrowed shares.
Holding the phone, Song Tianyao calmly said, "The Lin Family won't sell their shares, so no one will force us to liquidate our positions. Regardless of whether these 100,000 shares are a buyback by Xizhen Properties, place buy orders to prop up Xizhen Properties's share price! Put in 20 million Hong Kong dollars, and dump all sell orders!"
He had barely uttered those words when Lu Rongfang pushed open the door and came in, overhearing everything.
"Understood, Mr. Song." Luo Zhuankun hung up the phone, while Song Tianyao, holding the phone, glared sharply at Lu Rongfang as she entered. After a moment, he suddenly smiled, "Mr. Lu, you're really lucky."
Lu Rongfang glanced at the pack of cigarettes and lighter she had forgotten on her seat, indicating that she had just come to retrieve the cigarette pack. Then, scratching her head at Song Tianyao, she said, "I really have always been lucky... Mr. Song, the anonymous news in the newspaper?"
"I had someone release them." Song Tianyao no longer hid the truth. Since he had already notified Luo Zhuankun to kill them all, there was no need to hide it anymore. "So, are you still going to use your pocket money to help them out?"
Now that he had spoken, he had to adopt a posture of ready to fight the Lin Family to the death.
Lu Rongfang excitedly slapped the table. "One word: Cheers!"
Chapter 319 Something More Delicious Than Fish
Hong Lai-sau was a very self-aware person. He knew his own limitations. A top student from the University of Hong Kong was definitely considered an outstanding talent by many in today's society. However, it depends on the industry. For example, in today's newspaper industry, his status as a top student was not very impressive. The editors-in-chief of those major newspapers were all Big Brother names in the newspaper, academic, and commentary circles. Even the editors-in-chief of some well-known small newspapers, while not prolific in their publications, were still far more accomplished than him, a top student.