Chapter 55 Name Your Price

"Uncle Pao, please come in. The hallway is indeed not the best place for a conversation." Instead of directly answering Pao Yut-kong's remark, Lin Haoran politely extended his arm, making a welcoming gesture to invite Pao Yut-kong into the office for a detailed discussion.

Pao Yut-kong smiled and nodded, a hint of curiosity in his stride. As he walked in, he asked, "Your father should be in the office at this moment, right?"

Hearing this, a gentle smile played at the corners of Lin Haoran's mouth as he replied, "Actually no, Uncle Pao. At this moment, apart from my bodyguard standing guard outside the door, I am the only one here handling some matters."

"You are the only one here?" Pao Yut-kong's words carried a trace of surprise, and his pace involuntarily slowed down, as if he found this information unexpected.

Yet, he quickly adjusted his demeanor, nodded with understanding, and continued to follow Lin Haoran's lead, stepping into Lin Haoran's private office.

Once both of them were seated, Lin Haoran skillfully brewed some tea, and the fragrance instantly permeated the office.

He carefully poured a cup for Pao Yut-kong and one for himself, before finally turning his gaze toward Pao Yut-kong.

"Uncle Pao, regarding your question just now, I would like to make it clear to you directly. Universe Investment Company is actually a business I founded personally; it has no direct connection to my father, Mr. Lin Wan'an. In fact, he still does not even know that I have established this company." Lin Haoran explained with a frank and amicable smile.

At this moment, Lin Haoran displayed a confidence and poise that surpassed his years.

Sitting across from Pao Yut-kong, facing this renowned world-class shipping tycoon, there was not a shred of fear or tension in his eyes; instead, they revealed an attitude of egalitarian exchange.

Aside from the respect due to an elder, there seemed to be no difference in status or position between the two, leaving only pure dialogue and communication.

Upon seeing this, Pao Yut-kong paused slightly, the teacup in his hand hovering as a flash of surprise and shock crossed his eyes.

He gently placed the teacup back onto the coffee table, his gaze filled with disbelief. With a touch of astonishment, he asked, "Are you saying that this company was entirely founded by yourself, and your father knows nothing about it?"

His words conveyed a profound sense of shock. After all, in his view, a stock market operator capable of drawing such high attention from the stock exchange must possess formidable capital and a complex network behind them—and he had originally assumed the mastermind behind all this was a business giant like Lin Wan'an.

"Indeed so, Uncle Pao," Lin Haoran replied firmly once more, his gaze unwavering, filled entirely with confidence and candor. "This company is my personal enterprise. From its establishment to its operation, I have managed everything personally. My father truly had no hand in it, nor does he know that I have created such a company."

Hearing this, a complex wave of emotions surged within Pao Yut-kong's heart.

He was both astonished by Lin Haoran's independence and daring, and beginning to reassess the young man's capabilities.

After all, being able to single-handedly control a company in the stock market that commanded the attention of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was by no means an easy feat.

"Haoran, let me ask you, how many shares of Wharf Holdings does your Universe Investment Company actually hold? Can you give me the bottom line?" At this very moment, Pao Yut-kong could finally no longer hold back the question.

The very reason he had come here in person was precisely for the shares of Wharf Holdings held by Universe Investment Company.

"That is certainly not a problem, Uncle Pao. I currently hold over 1.47 million shares of Wharf Holdings, which accounts for approximately 1.4% of the total issued shares of Wharf Holdings." Lin Haoran did not conceal this at all, stating the exact figure directly.

After all, there was no need to hide or veil such matters.

Only by letting Pao Yut-kong, this titan of the industry, clearly see his strength and weight could the cooperative relationship between the two parties be further solidified.

"What? You actually hold over 1.47 million shares of Wharf Holdings?!" Hearing this, Pao Yut-kong was so shocked that he abruptly stood up from his seat, his tone brimming with utter disbelief.

Over 1.47 million shares, accounting for about 1.4% of the total issued shares of Wharf Holdings—under normal circumstances, this was enough to warrant an invitation to join the Board of Directors of Wharf Holdings.

He was well aware that in the fierce game of the Wharf Holdings stock battle, even industry giants like themselves, investing ten to twenty million Hong Kong dollars daily, could only manage to painstakingly absorb two to three hundred thousand shares.

Although the trading activity of Wharf Holdings' stock was extremely high on trading days, with daily turnover frequently reaching hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars, Pao Yut-kong understood that the ten to twenty million Hong Kong dollars his team could actually spend on absorbing shares was already a very considerable figure.

Behind this lay the contest and clash of numerous forces.

Aside from their own craving for Wharf Holdings stock, there were formidable opponents like Hongkong Land, as well as those market operators adept at seizing market opportunities to earn price differences, alongside countless retail investors—every single transaction of theirs influenced the delicate balance of the market.

Simply put, there were far too many competitors.

Therefore, when Lin Haoran revealed that Universe Investment Company held over 1.47 million shares of Wharf Holdings, accounting for about 1.4% of the market share, Pao Yut-kong's shock and the importance he attached to it were easily understandable.

Over this weekend, he had exhausted all his energy, maneuvering among multiple major market operators in Hong Kong, before barely managing to accumulate nearly two million shares of Wharf Holdings.

And now, Lin Haoran was telling him casually that Universe Investment Company alone controlled over 1.47 million shares of Wharf Holdings, accounting for 1.4% of the total issued shares. This undoubtedly brought him a tremendous sense of shock.

He realized that this seemingly youthful neighbor and junior was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

"Of course, these are the stock certificates for the Wharf Holdings shares we hold." Lin Haoran was very straightforward, directly taking out the Wharf Holdings shares he owned.

Gazing at the stock certificates before him, Pao Yut-kong was finally convinced beyond doubt.

From his perspective, ever since Wharf Holdings became the focus of the market, its stock price had soared rapidly, leaping from thirty or forty Hong Kong dollars to over seventy, approaching the high plateau of nearly eighty Hong Kong dollars per share.

The more than 1.47 million shares of Wharf Holdings in Lin Haoran's hands, even calculated at an average price of fifty Hong Kong dollars per share, meant an invested capital as high as over seventy million Hong Kong dollars.

This astronomical figure represented real, tangible cash flow rather than mere book assets, and its weight spoke for itself.

Though Pao Yut-kong's heart was filled with curiosity as to how Lin Haoran had managed to raise such a colossal sum of capital, he also knew that certain questions were best left unexamined. Thus, he changed the subject and said sincerely, "Haoran, both you and I know very well that I am here specifically for the Wharf Holdings shares. Name your price; as long as it is reasonable, I am willing to take over all these shares."

At this moment, Pao Yut-kong's mind was completely settled, and he was filled with confidence in successfully acquiring these shares.

After all, while they were not close friends, they could still be considered acquaintances with a certain foundation of trust.

As long as he spent slightly more funds than the market stock price, Haoran would presumably agree to sell the shares to him—otherwise, he wouldn't have granted him this meeting.

Therefore, Pao Yut-kong looked at Lin Haoran with hopeful eyes, eager to know what kind of price he would quote.

As long as Lin Haoran wasn't too greedy and didn't quote an exorbitant price, he would readily agree without hesitation.

Pao Yut-kong hadn't even intended to engage in much bargaining.