Chapter 276 Guo Henian's Request
After returning to the Shixun Road villa, Lin Haoran specifically arranged for the kitchen staff to buy more ingredients and prepare a lavish dinner.
Around six o'clock in the evening, Lin Haoran finally welcomed the Guo family.
They lived quite nearby, so coming over was very convenient.
Lin Haoran stood outside the villa, smiling warmly to greet them.
"Uncle Guo, it's been a long time."
"Mrs. Guo, good evening."
"Miss Guo, you look absolutely stunning today!"
...
Lin Haoran shook hands and greeted each of them. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he invited them inside the villa.
Standing in the first-floor hall, Guo Henian briefly surveyed the interior and said with a smile, "Haoran, your decoration style is quite minimalist."
"I'm not very particular about such things. There's no need to spend too much effort on decor—especially when I might move to another place within a year or two," Lin Haoran replied with a smile.
While his home wasn't extravagantly luxurious, it definitely wasn't cheap or basic either.
He had designed it with a modern minimalist style in mind.
Thanks to that, the renovation had been completed within just two months.
"True, with your wealth, you could live anywhere.
I'm actually planning to buy a villa in Deep Water Bay myself," Guo Henian laughed.
Deep Water Bay had become home to many wealthy Chinese tycoons, such as Bao Yugang and Li Jiacheng.
Clearly, moving there was ideal for someone like Guo Henian seeking to build relationships with Hong Kong's elite.
Currently, most residents around The Peak area were still foreign tycoons.
But as many foreigners lost confidence in Hong Kong and moved back to Britain, or relocated to Australia, the US, or Singapore, villas would become vacant.
In the future, Chinese tycoons would dominate both The Peak and Mid-Levels villa districts.
"Uncle Guo, moving to Deep Water Bay would be great—you'd still be my neighbor.
Though I don't stay there often, I do return once or twice a month.
The atmosphere among Chinese business elites there is indeed stronger," Lin Haoran said approvingly.
"My main motivation for buying villas is investment.
I don't just plan to buy one—I'll buy several.
Hong Kong will only see more and more tycoons, and villas are a rare resource.
Especially in areas like Mid-Levels, The Peak, Deep Water Bay, and Repulse Bay, I'm very optimistic.
I think it's wise to buy several while possible.
Although many foreigners—and even some Chinese—are pessimistic about Hong Kong's political future, I am the opposite.
I believe Hong Kong's prospects are extremely bright.
With a domestic market of over one billion people just across the border, as long as the mainland continues to develop, Hong Kong's future will be even greater.
Hong Kong's current prosperity owes much to the mainland's support.
I visited Beiping last month and met with senior leaders there—they gave me great confidence!" Guo Henian said, seemingly reminding Lin Haoran.
The fact that Guo Henian spoke so openly indicated how much he valued Lin Haoran.
"Uncle Guo, I'm also confident about Hong Kong's future.
However, I do have my own views:
I think Hong Kong's real estate market has developed somewhat blindly and excessively.
Corporations are aggressively investing in property, banks are relaxing loan requirements, and Southeast Asian tycoons are entering the market—all driving property prices to levels disconnected from reality.
Sooner or later, a crisis will come.
But after the crisis, prices will rise again—just like bull and bear cycles in the stock market.
Uncle Guo, you should be mentally prepared.
Of course, this is just my casual opinion—you have far more experience and judgment than I do," Lin Haoran said, laughing.
Saying it this way gave no offense.
Whether Guo Henian believed him or not was up to him.
Strictly speaking, as a junior, Lin Haoran shouldn't have said such things.
But because the Guo family had genuinely helped him a lot recently, he felt obligated to offer a friendly reminder.
While Lin Haoran chatted with Guo Henian, Guo Xiaohan quietly listened.
Today, she was dressed elegantly and charmingly, exuding the aura of a refined young lady.
Mrs. Guo sat on the sofa, amusing the child.
"Young Master, honored guests, dinner is ready," a servant came over and said with a respectful bow.
"Uncle Guo, Miss Guo, let's eat first. We can continue talking afterward in the study," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
He still didn't know why Guo Henian had come tonight.
But he was sure there must be a purpose—no one made a visit for no reason.
It was the same whenever he visited Bao Yugang or Governor Murray MacLehose—there was always a purpose.
If there were no business to discuss, a visit would feel awkward and brief.
"Alright, sorry to trouble you then," Guo Henian said cheerfully.
"Uncle Guo, you are always welcome here," Lin Haoran replied, making a welcoming gesture.
They moved from the hall to the dining room.
The table was already laden with more than a dozen sumptuous dishes, mostly local Hong Kong specialties.
Guo Henian was a native Malaysian Chinese; his father had been from Fujian.
Given his background, he should be accustomed to Hong Kong cuisine.
Last time he had visited Lin Wan'an's house, Lin Haoran noticed that both Guo Henian and Guo Xiaohan had enjoyed the local dishes very much.
"There's not much—please don't mind. Uncle Guo, Mrs. Guo, Miss Guo, please take a seat," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
"You call this not much? With so few of us and so many dishes, it's almost wasteful!" Guo Henian laughed heartily.
"Would you like some wine, Uncle Guo?" Lin Haoran asked.
"No need. I already drink enough at business banquets.
When visiting friends, I'd rather not drink if I can avoid it," Guo Henian replied, shaking his head.
"Uncle Guo, you sound like my father.
He used to drink too much at banquets and it hurt his health.
Since retiring, he's recovered well," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
Over half an hour later, the harmonious dinner came to an end.
After the meal, Lin Haoran invited them into the study to talk.
Mrs. Guo stayed in the living room to take care of the child and watch TV.
Only Guo Henian and Guo Xiaohan followed Lin Haoran into the study.
As the host, Lin Haoran made tea for them.
He had instructed the servants to clean the study and tea set earlier in the day.
Normally, he didn't bother making tea for himself, so the tea set was rarely used.
After preparing the tea and pouring a cup each for Guo Henian and Guo Xiaohan, Lin Haoran spoke directly:
"As the saying goes, no one visits the temple without a reason.
I assume Uncle Guo must have something to discuss with me?"
"Can't I visit just for the sake of visiting?" Guo Henian laughed.
"That's not what I meant.
I just think you surely have something in mind," Lin Haoran said confidently.
"Haha, you really can't be fooled.
Yes, I do have something to ask you.
You're going to the UK tomorrow, right?" Guo Henian asked.
"Yes, Uncle Guo.
Tomorrow, I'll join a delegation of Hong Kong business leaders for a one-week visit to Britain," Lin Haoran nodded.
It was understandable that Guo Henian knew about this.
Unfortunately, because the Guo family wasn't based in Hong Kong, they weren't invited.
Otherwise, given the Guo family's wealth, they would have certainly qualified—perhaps even richer than Li Jiacheng.
"Haoran, here's the thing:
I'd like to ask you to bring Xiaohan along on the trip.
The goal is to give her some real-world experience.
Xiaohan has shown exceptional business talent within our family and is very promising.
Moreover, the Guo family currently has a few ongoing projects in Britain.
Xiaohan could also visit and oversee those on our behalf.
Would this arrangement inconvenience you?" Guo Henian asked directly.
Lin Haoran glanced at Guo Xiaohan, who blushed and lowered her head shyly when their eyes met.
Smiling, he replied, "Uncle Guo, this is a small matter.
Miss Guo can meet me here tomorrow morning at 8:00, and we'll head to the airport together.
Once we arrive, there may be opportunities to meet British government officials, perhaps even the Queen.
Miss Guo can accompany me as my assistant during these events, if she doesn't mind."
"Mr. Lin, during my stay in Hong Kong, I've been serving as my uncle's assistant.
I believe I can handle this role well and won't cause you any trouble," Guo Xiaohan said confidently, lifting her head.
Guo Henian looked at Lin Haoran, then at his niece, a complex smile appearing on his face.
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