Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead: "Then, I'll stay home with you every day. We can go shopping, watch movies, go fishing at the beach, or go back to our hometown in the interior, buy a plot of land, and grow some vegetables, okay?"

Chen Xueru blushed, like the pomegranate blossoms outside the window. She gently pushed him away, her voice barely audible: "Who...who needs you to accompany them?"

He Damin laughed heartily, holding her tightly in his arms, feeling the warmth and softness of her body.

Outside the window, the sun shone brightly, warm and inviting. In the distance, Victoria Harbour shimmered like scattered gold. A massive cargo ship was slowly leaving the harbor, its stern churning white spray that gleamed silver in the sunlight as it gradually sailed toward the distant horizon.

Those ships carried chips he had shipped from the United States, prototype routers that he had secretly manufactured, bank cards bearing the words "Global Bank," and his boundless aspirations and ambitions for the future.

And he, He Damin, stands at the forefront of this era, like a patient chess player, watching the world gradually transform into the way he desires.

Around three or four in the afternoon, the sunlight began to soften, no longer so glaring. He Damin was in his study looking at an analysis report on the Southeast Asian rubber market when the phone rang again. It was Lawrence again.

"Mr. He, I have some incredibly good news!" Lawrence's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement, almost leaping out of the receiver. "Lotus is in huge trouble! The development of their new model, 'Elan,' has been a complete failure. A huge sum of money has gone down the drain, and now their cash flow is completely cut off! Several major banks are refusing to lend them any more money, and the shareholders are panicking, frantically selling their shares. The stock price has plummeted to rock bottom!"

He Damin's lips curled into a slight smile as he put down the report in his hand: "And the price? How much would it cost to acquire it now?"

"Cheap! Incredibly cheap!" Lawrence exclaimed excitedly. "Their company's market value is now only 60% of what we paid for that 5% stake! If we buy it now, I estimate it would only cost... a little over 20 million US dollars! This is practically a steal!"

"More than twenty million US dollars?" He Damin pondered for a moment. This price was lower than he had expected. "Buy it," he said decisively. "A full acquisition. But remember, do it cleanly. Don't use the name of Global Bank or any of our affiliated companies. Use an offshore company, preferably a shell company whose origin cannot be traced."

"Understood! I'll arrange for a lawyer and finance team right away! I guarantee it will be done without anyone knowing!" Lawrence's voice was full of enthusiasm.

"There's one more thing, Mr. He." Lawrence calmed his excitement slightly. "There's a newly established company in Silicon Valley called... Intel. It was founded by a few engineers who came from Fairchild Semiconductor, and they specialize in semiconductor memory. They're currently looking for investment everywhere. Should we...?"

"Intel?" He Damin paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he couldn't hide the smile on his lips. Intel! Of course he knew this company! Decades later, it would become the world's largest chip manufacturer, practically monopolizing the personal computer CPU market. This was a true giant! And it had come knocking on his door so early!

"Invest!" He Damin said almost without hesitation. "We'll give them whatever they want! But on one condition: we want shares, not debt, the more the better! Tell them money isn't an issue; what we value is their technology and team!"

"Okay! I understand! I'll send someone to contact them immediately!" Lawrence realized this might be another great opportunity, and his tone became even more excited.

After hanging up the phone, He Damin stood by the window, his smile deepening. Lotus, Intel, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ferrari… these names, which would become legendary in later generations, were now, bit by bit, transforming into tangible assets in his hands. It felt like a child collecting seashells on the beach, unexpectedly discovering pearls.

Outside the window, the sun shone brightly. Victoria Harbour in the distance remained bustling, cargo ships coming and going. Looking at that familiar sea, He Damin suddenly recalled his early days in Hong Kong many years ago. Back then, he wore faded coarse cloth clothes, had only a few Hong Kong dollars in his pocket, and stood on the Tsim Sha Tsui pier, gazing at this dazzling, bewildering world, filled with bewilderment and unease. He possessed only a cultivation technique honed in another world—practically useless here—and fragmented memories of the next few decades.

Now, he has a banking network spanning major cities worldwide, a nascent electronic payment system, his own satellite, a television station reaching hundreds of millions of viewers, and shares in some of the world's most valuable companies. Wealth, power, and influence—things he once dared not even imagine—are now firmly in his grasp.

"That's enough," he said to himself softly. "For now, that's enough." At least in this era, he already possessed the power to influence the world.

"Knock knock knock." A knocking sound came from behind.

John pushed open the door and came in. He was He Damin's new assistant, a young man who had recently graduated from Oxford University. He was intelligent, meticulous, and thorough in his work. He carried a thick stack of documents and walked in with light steps.

"Mr. He, this is the global business summary financial report for this month that you requested." John gently placed the document on the table, his movements meticulous.

He Damin waved his hand; he was getting a bit tired of these densely packed numbers. "I'm not looking anymore. Just tell me the important ones, a few key figures."

John nodded, opened the top report, cleared his throat, and reported in his standard Oxford accent: "Yes, Mr. He. As of the end of last month, the total global deposits of Worldwide Bank have exceeded US$15 billion. The total loan amount is US$9.2 billion, and the non-performing loan ratio is controlled at 0.3%, far below the industry average."

15 billion in deposits… He Damin nodded slightly. In this era, this figure was enough to make any country's central bank take it seriously.

"The number of bank card users," John continued, "has surpassed eight million globally. Monthly transaction volume remains stable at over $3.5 billion. As for Asia Satellite Television, the signal covers 37 countries and regions, with a conservative estimate of over 200 million viewers. Our ocean shipping company currently owns 42 cargo ships with a total tonnage of 1.2 million tons, ranking among the top three in the Southeast Asian freight market."

He Damin leaned back in his large leather seat, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. Eight million bank card users, two hundred million television viewers, forty-two cargo ships… these numbers, like chess pieces, gradually settled on his chessboard.

"What about investments?"

“Investment department report,” John turned to the next page, “Our holdings in Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Porsche, and other companies are valued at approximately $300 million based on current market valuations. As for Lotus Cars, we completed the full acquisition today through an offshore company for $18 million, saving nearly $2 million compared to our initial estimate.”

Acquiring Lotus for 18 million is a great deal. He Damin was very satisfied.

"Also, regarding the investment in Intel Corporation," John added, "Mr. Lawrence has made an initial call, and the founders, Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, have expressed their strong support for our investment. We have tentatively agreed to invest five million US dollars for a 40% stake. The relevant agreement is currently being drafted."

Five million, forty percent… He Damin smiled. How much would this money become in the future? Unimaginable. He could almost see Intel's money-printing machine-like profitability decades from now.

John closed the file and stood quietly to the side.

He Damin stared at the ceiling, his mind racing. $15 billion in deposits—his strongest backing, the leverage he used to manipulate the global economy. Eight million bank card users—the cornerstone of his future global payment network. Two hundred million television viewers—his mouthpiece for disseminating information and guiding public opinion. Forty-two cargo ships—his guarantee for controlling global logistics and reducing costs. And then there were the shares in top companies—the source of his future wealth. These figures, in 1963, were enough to make him one of the richest people in the world, and the most discreet of them all.

"John," he suddenly spoke, breaking the silence of the study, "have you ever thought about what we're doing all this for?"

John paused, clearly not expecting his boss to ask such a question. He frowned slightly, thought seriously for a moment, and then solemnly replied, "Mr. He, I've been with you for three years, since graduating from university. I've been thinking about this question. At first, I thought you were after money, to become the world's richest man. Later, I realized you didn't seem to have much interest in money itself; you rarely even looked at your personal accounts. Then, I slowly understood—"

He paused, a hint of awe in his eyes: "You are playing a very big game."

He Damin raised an eyebrow, a playful smile playing on his lips: "Playing chess?"

“Yes, it’s like playing chess.” John nodded firmly. “The bank is your chessboard, the global network is your moves, and the shares, technology, and talent of those companies are your pieces. Everything you do seems to be for a longer-term goal, not for immediate gains. Ten years from now, twenty years from now, even fifty years from now.”

He Damin stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to John. He gazed at the distant sea, where a cargo ship was slowly entering the harbor, wisps of black smoke rising from its smokestack. "John, you're a smart man."

He remained silent for a long time, so long that John thought he would never speak again.

"Fifty years from now," He Damin began slowly, his voice calm yet carrying a penetrating power, "this world will be very different. Information will be as ubiquitous as air, known to everyone. Wealth will flow freely throughout the world like water, no longer restricted by geography or national borders. At that time, whoever controls the channels of information dissemination will control the world's discourse. Whoever controls the flow and settlement of wealth will control the destiny of humanity."

He slowly turned around, his gaze sharp as he looked at John: "What I want to do is become the one who controls the flow of information and wealth. I want to build an invisible empire, an empire that connects the entire world through information and capital."

John's heart skipped a beat, a chill and excitement washing over him simultaneously. He finally vaguely understood his boss's grand plan, a goal that could drive any ambitious person mad. He took a deep breath and solemnly bowed his head: "Mr. He, I understand. I will always follow you and serve you."

He Damin patted him on the shoulder, his tone softening: "Go ahead and get busy. Keep a close eye on Lotus Company, especially their technical team and R&D materials—make sure nothing is missing. And Intel, tell them money isn't an issue; let them hire boldly and conduct research boldly. What we need is world-leading technology."

"Yes, Mr. He, I understand!" John took the documents and walked out quickly.

Silence returned to the study. He Damin stood alone by the window, watching the sunset paint the sky a magnificent orange-red. His thoughts drifted once more to the distant future. At that time, the internet revolution would sweep the globe, and the tech giants that grew on the infrastructure he had built would become behemoths. And no matter how they developed, they would all be dependent on the "highways" he had laid, and would all have to "pay him tolls."

He chuckled softly, a hint of barely perceptible smugness in his voice. "This is much more interesting than simply harvesting souls." He recalled some of his initial thoughts when he first gained his abilities, which now seemed far too narrow-minded.

"Standing here in a daze again." A gentle voice came from the doorway.

Chen Xueru carried in a bowl of freshly stewed white fungus and lotus seed soup, the soup still steaming. "Drink it quickly, it won't taste good when it gets cold. I noticed you didn't eat much this afternoon."

He Damin turned around, a gentle smile on his face. He walked over, took the bowl, and scooped up a spoonful. The warm soup slid down his throat, sweet but not cloying, with soft and glutinous lotus seeds and smooth and tender white fungus—it was a familiar taste to him.

"Xue Ru," he put down his bowl, took her hand, and said, "once things are completely stable at Asia TV, I'll take you on a nice trip to Europe."

Chen Xueru's eyes lit up instantly, like stars in the night sky: "Really?" She had always wanted to see the outside world.

"Really." He Damin flicked her nose. "Go take a look at the companies we've invested in, the Rolls-Royce factory, the Ferrari headquarters, and Bentley... While you're at it, see if there's a car you like. If you see one you like, buy it and have your driver take you for a spin."

Chen Xueru was amused by him and lightly punched him: "All you know is how to waste money."

He Damin pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head: "Isn't the purpose of making money to make you happy? Otherwise, what's the point of me working so hard?"

Chen Xueru leaned against him, feeling warm inside, and whispered, "Then you have to keep your word and not lie to me."

"Don't worry, I mean what I say." He Damin hugged her tightly.

Outside the window, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto Victoria Harbour, the water shimmering and breathtaking. A cargo ship was slowly entering the harbor; its massive hull resembled a moving castle in the twilight.

He Damin held Chen Xueru in his arms, gazing at the ship with a satisfied smile. He knew his game had only just begun. Banks, the internet, satellites, chips, cars, airplanes, yachts… these were all just pieces on the chessboard.