Chapter 27: Your Sunflower Seed Shells Landed on My Shoes

"Hao'er, when you accompany your father to the banquet, please be sure to keep an eye on him and don't let him overindulge in drink. His health isn't what it used to be, and excessive alcohol is harmful; we must be careful." Mother Lin spoke gently while adjusting Father Lin's collar, carefully instructing Lin Haoran, who was sitting on the sofa nearby.

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll keep a close watch on Dad and make sure he doesn't drink too much," Lin Haoran replied with a smile.

He had changed into a more refined and well-fitted suit, seemingly transforming in an instant from an adolescent youth into a dashing young gentleman, exuding an air of maturity and composure. His naturally handsome face, framed by the sharp suit, appeared even more striking, making it difficult for anyone to look away.

Lin Wan'an did not voice any objection; he understood that his wife's intentions stemmed from deep care and concern. After returning from a business social engagement a few nights ago, Lin Wan'an had been forced to return to the hospital due to a sudden spike in blood pressure. The persistent headaches were agonizing, and despite numerous previous medical visits, most had only provided temporary relief rather than a permanent cure. However, there were always social obligations in life that Lin Wan'an could not avoid; though he might be reluctant, various considerations compelled him to participate.

Lin Haoran understood his father's hardships and the toll they took. Therefore, his current primary goal was to give his all and strive to become the successor of the Wan'an Group as soon as possible, allowing his father to retire from the position of Chairman and enjoy a peaceful and comfortable life in his later years.

In his memory, ever since his older brother, Lin Haoning, had married and established his own family, he had moved out of the house early on. Consequently, whenever there was a social engagement that required attendance, Lin Wan'an was always happy to bring Lin Haoran along whenever he was home. Such arrangements not only deepened the bond between father and son but also allowed Lin Haoran to be exposed to various levels of society at an earlier age.

Following his father, Lin Wan'an, into the backseat of the Rolls-Royce, Lin Haoran couldn't help but marvel that the comfort provided by this car was far superior to his own Mercedes; it was no wonder it was a favorite among the wealthy. Before leaving, Lin Haoran specifically instructed the brothers Li Weiguo and Li Weidong to remain at the villa, as his father's driver also served as a bodyguard with exceptional skills. The abilities he had displayed in the past filled Lin Haoran with confidence, enough to ensure their safety.

"Dad, where are we going this time?" Lin Haoran asked, his face full of curiosity as he sat in the spacious and comfortable backseat.

"We are going to the Joy Restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. The environment is elegant and the dishes are delicious; it’s quite well-known in the Tsim Sha Tsui area. You’ve been there before, so you should remember it," his father replied with a smile.

Lin Haoran nodded; according to his memories, he had indeed accompanied his father to this restaurant for business many times. Along the way, Lin Haoran gradually learned that the shareholders behind the film project his father had invested in were not industry professionals at all. They seemed to be participating in this modest investment with a casual, playful mindset.

The car slowly drove out of the quiet Deep Water Bay villa area, then wound its way up the twisting mountain road. After passing through a lush forest, it reached the bustling streets. The vehicle wove through the traffic, and after about half an hour, it pulled up steadily in front of the Joy Restaurant.

Entering the restaurant, they stepped into the pre-booked grand hall. The hall had been completely refurbished, with a prominent film celebration banner hanging overhead, signaling that tonight would be a unique celebratory event. Flowers and balloons were arranged in every corner. At this moment, the hall was already filled with quite a few people, though Lin Haoran recognized almost none of them.

"Mr. Lin, you're finally here! We've been waiting for you!"
"Old Lin, please, come this way. Let's take this rare opportunity to discuss our cooperation in depth."

As Lin Wan'an entered, the many gazes in the hall converged upon him. Although he was not a titan of industry, his name still carried significant weight and influence in the fertile business soil of Hong Kong. It was evident that many present, whether in terms of social status or economic strength, felt slightly inferior to Lin Wan'an. His arrival undoubtedly added a sense of gravity and anticipation to the gathering.

"Mr. Yang, Mr. Zheng, Mr. Li, long time no see. How have you all been lately?" Lin Wan'an smiled, shaking hands with each of them in turn, his ease and self-assurance clearly showing that he was well-versed in such business socializing.

"Taking this opportunity, I would like to formally introduce everyone to my son, Lin Haoran. Hao'er, come, say hello to your uncles." As he spoke, Lin Wan'an led Lin Haoran forward to introduce him to these senior figures in the business world.

"Hello, Uncle Yang, I've heard much about you. Hello, Uncle Zheng, it's a pleasure to meet you. Hello, Uncle Li, thank you for your support..." Lin Haoran offered greetings one by one, full of humility and politeness. Even though it was a formality, it appeared appropriate and graceful.

These businessmen, despite their respective achievements in their fields, were clearly a step below Lin Wan'an. Therefore, for Lin Haoran, deep interaction with them was not a top priority, so after the greetings, he quietly followed his father without saying another word.

However, this was exactly what many young people did; after all, the age gap was so large that there would inevitably be a generation gap in conversation. He had no interest in the topics they were discussing, so he felt a desire to leave and decided to find some desserts or snacks to relieve his boredom.

"Dad, I'm going to see what kind of desserts they have over there. You two please continue your chat." He politely excused himself to his father and then lightly moved away from the crowd.

In his memories, there were many stars among the people of the seventies who would later become giants, such as Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Chow Yun-fat, but it was clear that none of them were here. It was a miracle of sorts that these people, who didn't even count as part of the film industry, had pooled their money to make a movie that not only didn't lose money but actually turned a profit. Since the investment wasn't very high, they naturally hadn't hired many big-name celebrities.

He had arrived full of anticipation, hoping to run into a few familiar stars, but after searching, he couldn't help but feel a bit bored. Consequently, he simply walked to a table filled with snacks, sat down, and began to leisurely eat melon seeds to pass the time.

"Hey, your melon seed shells are falling on my shoes," a crisp, melodious female voice interrupted his thoughts.

Lin Haoran immediately realized his carelessness and quickly checked the shells in his hand. In fact, he had been careful to place them on the edge of the table, waiting for a waiter to clean them up. Apparently, a moment of neglect had caused a few shells to slip, and a young girl happened to be passing by.

He quickly looked up and said apologetically, "I am so sorry. I didn't notice, and it certainly wasn't intentional."

As their eyes met, Lin Haoran froze. The girl before him was someone he had never expected—the world-famous Guan Jiahui of later years. At this moment, she was in the prime of her youth, as beautiful as a blooming flower, and truly eye-catching.

"If a simple 'sorry' could solve every problem, what would we need the police for?" Guan Jiahui's words carried a touch of playfulness and wilfulness.

It was completely beyond Lin Haoran's expectations that she would be so forthright at this age.