Rebirth of the Hong Kong Millennium Conglomerate

As dusk settled and the golden afterglow slowly faded, a black Rolls-Royce drove slowly through the lush trees on the winding mountain road of Hatton Road in Victoria Peak, finally stopping in front of a spacious detached villa.

The car door opened, and Zhou Xinian, dressed in a custom-made suit, stepped out. The well-fitting fabric accentuated his tall and straight figure. Although he was nearly fifty years old and had occasional gray hairs at his temples, his brows still carried a calm and dignified air of someone who had long held a high position.

After learning of Hongkong Land Chairman Henry Joseph's acquisition plans, Zhou Xinian made only one decision—to acquire all the Dairy Farm company shares available on the market, regardless of cost.

As for other countermeasures, he didn't even give them a second thought.

In his view, it was simply a pipe dream for that young Henry Joseph to think he could take over the dairy company he had painstakingly built up over decades with just a little bit of Jardine Matheson's wealth.

The butler was already waiting at the door. Upon seeing him return, he quickly bowed and greeted him, "Sir, Miss Chen has prepared dinner and is just waiting for your return."

Zhou Xinian nodded slightly, took off his coat and handed it to the butler, then stepped into the entryway. Warm yellow light poured down into the living room, illuminating the entire room, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of bird's nest soup.

Chen Baoqi was sitting on the sofa reading the evening paper when she heard footsteps. She immediately got up to greet them. She was wearing an elegant cheongsam, her figure was slender, and her eyes held a gentle smile that was just right: "You're back? You must be exhausted after working so late at the company today. Sit down and rest. The soup is still warm."

Zhou Xinian took her outstretched hand, his fingertips touching its warm surface. The slight irritation he had felt over the past few days due to the acquisition rumors dissipated somewhat.

His acquaintance with Chen Baoqi stemmed from a charity gala dinner. At that time, he had just experienced the pain of losing his wife Liu Qinggui, and Chen Baoqi's appearance was like a breath of fresh air, soothing his lonely heart.

Over the years, their feelings for each other have deepened, and they have become each other's closest people.

Liu Qinggui was a prominent figure in Hong Kong's business circles. She was the beloved daughter of Liu Zhaozhuo, a wealthy Vietnamese businessman, and her substantial dowry contributed significantly to Zhou Xinian's business success.

Before his death, Liu Qinggui made a will, merging all his estate with Zhou Xinian's property and entrusting it to Zhou Xinian and his two sons for joint management. Any transfer of property required the unanimous consent of all three. If Zhou Xinian passed away, this vast family business would be divided equally between his two sons.

However, ever since Zhou Xinian got together with Chen Baoqi, his favoritism towards Chen Baoqi has become a thorn in the side of his two sons.

Luxury cars, jewelry, and real estate were generously given to Chen Baoqi. In the eyes of her two sons, this woman was only after their father's money.

Over time, the rift between father and sons deepened. The two sons rarely set foot in the villa, and the large Zhou family old house was mostly occupied only by Zhou Xinian and Chen Baoqi.

Zhou Xinian never cared about this. He had been a powerful figure in his life, rising from an ordinary Chinese scion to the top of Hong Kong's political and business circles, becoming someone whom even the Queen and the Governor's House treated with deference. He never relied on the whims of others.

Moreover, in Hong Kong at that time, it was common for wealthy businessmen and celebrities to have multiple wives and concubines. He believed that his sincerity towards Chen Baoqi far surpassed that of those playboys who frequented brothels. It was already rare for him to be so devoted to her.

The two walked into the restaurant hand in hand, where exquisite dishes filled the table. Under the crystal chandelier, Chen Baoqi thoughtfully served Zhou Xinian, saying softly, "Today's newspapers are all saying that the Milk Company's stock price has gone crazy, and many retail investors are rushing to buy in."

Zhou Xinian picked up a piece of abalone and chewed it slowly. Hearing this, he just smiled faintly and said, "They're just a bunch of followers. They'll never amount to anything." He didn't tell Chen Baoqi how much of the skyrocketing stock prices were actually manipulated by him.

After dinner, night fell. Zhou Xinian and Chen Baoqi strolled side by side in the courtyard. The evening breeze on Victoria Peak carried a touch of coolness, dispelling the daytime heat.

Looking up, the dazzling lights of Victoria Harbour are spread out before your eyes, with ferries shuttling across the water like a galaxy fallen to earth; the skyscrapers of Central Hong Kong stand side by side, their neon lights flashing, outlining the unique and prosperous silhouette of this city.

The maid brought over a Cuban cigar at just the right moment. Chen Baoqi took it, held the cigar between her slender fingers, lit it with a lighter, and then carefully offered it to Zhou Xinian's lips.

Zhou Xinian took a deep breath, the rich aroma filling his lungs. He comfortably squinted his eyes, leaned back in the wicker chair in the courtyard, and felt that at this point in his life, what more could he ask for?

Just then, the roar of a car engine outside the courtyard gate broke the tranquility.

Zhou Xinian frowned slightly and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a gleaming Rolls-Royce parked at the door. The door opened and a blond, blue-eyed young man got out, followed by a butler in a tuxedo.

The servant hurried forward to inquire, then quickly returned and respectfully said, "Sir, it is Mr. Henry Joseph of Jardine Matheson, who says he wishes to visit you."

Zhou Xinian's eyes instantly turned cold.

Henry Joseph?

This uninvited guest dared to show up uninvited.

It is important to know that in Eastern social etiquette, visiting friends always requires making an appointment in advance and presenting a visiting card. To arrive so abruptly is considered extremely impolite.

Moreover, he and Henry Joseph were never friends, but rivals.

Zhou Xinian sat up straight without changing his expression and ordered in a deep voice, "Let him in."

A moment later, Henry Joseph entered the courtyard, led by a servant. He was dressed in a sharp white suit, with a polite smile on his face, and looked very elegant.

But in Zhou Xinian's eyes, the scheming in that smile was blatantly obvious.

Back when Zhou Xinian was famous in Hong Kong, Henry Joseph was just a young boy studying in England.

At that time, he was a knight appointed by the Queen of England, a guest of honor at the Governor's House, and an undisputed leader in the Hong Kong Chinese community.

Unfortunately, after the turmoil of the 1960s, his standing in the eyes of the British government plummeted, which allowed Henry Joseph, a younger man, to dare to act recklessly towards him.

"Sir Zhou, I apologize for the intrusion and hope you will forgive me." Henry Joseph spoke fluent Cantonese, bowed slightly, and his butler immediately presented him with a beautifully wrapped gift.

Chen Baoqi stepped forward to accept the gift, then tactfully stepped aside, leaving the two men alone.

Only the two of them remained in the courtyard, and the atmosphere instantly became heavy. Zhou Xinian did not invite Henry Joseph to sit down; he simply leaned back in his wicker chair, a cigar between his fingers, looking at him indifferently without uttering a word.

Henry Joseph didn't mind and sat down in the chair opposite him, getting straight to the point: "Sir Zhou, I'm here today to discuss the merger between Hongkong Land and the Dairy Company."

He paused, his smile growing more earnest: "As you know, Hongkong Land is a top real estate company in Hong Kong and even globally, with extensive experience and strong capabilities in the real estate development field."

If we can successfully merge and jointly develop the land owned by Dairy Farm Company, it will definitely be a win-win situation, bringing you and Dairy Farm Company's shareholders a continuous stream of wealth.

Win-win?

Zhou Xinian sneered inwardly. Every piece of land under the Milk Company's name was incredibly valuable. It was his own company, his own land; why should he partner with Hongkong Land for development?

Henry Joseph seemed to have read his mind and dropped another bombshell: "Sir Zhou, I can assure you that once the merger is successful, the existing management team of the Milk Company will remain unchanged, you will still be the chairman of the board, and Hongkong Land will not interfere in the company's daily operations in the slightest."

He spoke with such sincerity, as if he truly cared about the development of the dairy company. But Zhou Xinian had been navigating the business world for decades; what storms hadn't he weathered?

To Henry Joseph, this whole argument was nothing more than a trick to fool a three-year-old.

No matter how good the promises are today, once the Dairy Farm Company actually falls into the hands of Hongkong Land, whether it becomes a dragon or a worm will be up to them to decide.

Henry Joseph spoke at length, from the company's prospects to shareholder interests, and even occasionally offered a few words of flattery, praising Zhou Xinian as the pillar of stability in Hong Kong's business world.

Zhou Xinian remained expressionless throughout, quietly smoking his cigar and letting the ash fall onto his expensive suit trousers.

Henry Joseph's words gradually stopped, and the smile on his face began to fade.

He hadn't expected Zhou Xinian to be so unyielding. A surge of anger welled up inside him. Did this old man really think he was still the once-glorious Sir Zhou?

Just as Henry Joseph was preparing his next remarks, Zhou Xinian finally spoke slowly, his voice cold and devoid of any warmth: "Show him out."

Those two words, like ice being quenched, instantly shattered the hypocritical formalities in the courtyard.

The servant immediately stepped forward and gestured for him to enter. Henry Joseph's face turned pale and then flushed. He stared intently at Zhou Xinian, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately held back.

He stood up, forced a smile, and nodded slightly: "Since Sir Zhou has no intention of discussing this, then I will not disturb you any longer. I will visit you another day."

After saying that, he turned and left, his back view showing a hint of dishevelment.

Watching Henry Joseph's car disappear at the end of the mountain road, Chen Baoqi slowly walked over and asked softly, "Sir, what exactly does this Henry Joseph want to do?"

Zhou Xinian stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray, his eyes sharp as an eagle's: "He wants to swallow up my dairy company."

He paused, then scoffed, his tone full of disdain: "Him? He doesn't even deserve it!"

In Zhou Xinian's view, the Milk Company was an empire he had built from scratch, with deep roots and many shareholders. How could Henry Joseph be so easily swallowed up by a stock swap plan?

He firmly believed that as long as he held onto his shares, Henry Joseph's schemes would ultimately be nothing but a pipe dream.

Little did he know that he had already fallen into an invisible trap.

What appears to be a calm and composed response is actually a passive act of waiting for death; what appears to be a confident and disdainful attitude is actually an underestimation of the game of capital.

He was so focused on secretly accumulating shares that he forgot to manage public opinion, unite with other shareholders, and devise a counterattack plan.

A storm that would determine the fate of the milk company was brewing quietly, but he was still immersed in his own pipe dream.

Meanwhile, at the Repulse Bay villa, Zhang Zeyang was looking at a secret report in his hand, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

The secret report came from the Black Ice Guard, and it clearly stated: Henry Joseph visited Zhou Xinian at night to discuss the merger, but was expelled on the spot.

Zhang Zeyang put down the secret report and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

Just as he expected.

Henry Joseph was too arrogant, thinking that he could make Zhou Xinian submit with the name of the Landmark and a few empty promises.

Little did they know that Zhou Xinian, who had been a prominent figure in the political and business world for decades, valued face and control above all else. Such an arrogant attitude would only backfire.

Zhou Xinian underestimated his opponent. He thought that he could rest easy by increasing his shareholding, but he overlooked the most important point - at that time, Hong Kong's securities regulations were not yet perfect. Faced with such an acquisition, Dairy Farm Company neither issued a formal announcement nor applied for a trading suspension, which left huge room for capital operations.

Zhang Zeyang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night outside.

Zhou Xinian may not realize to this day that from the moment he chose to only increase his stock holdings without taking any other counterattacks, he had already lost.

The game of this business war was far more complex than he had imagined. And he, Zhang Zeyang, was destined to be the one who had the last laugh.

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