Chapter 895
Not happy? What are you going to do about it?
Inside the Shangri-La Hotel's ballroom, the light from the crystal chandelier reflected off the gleaming marble floor, and the air was filled with the subtle aroma of champagne and an invisible, tense tension.
The Cyberport prime location auctioned today has captured the attention of almost everyone in the port city's real estate industry.
Lu Yang sat in the VIP seat reserved in the front row. The tailored dark gray suit fit his tall figure perfectly. He leaned back in his chair with a relaxed expression, but his fingertips unconsciously tapped a rhythm on his knee that only he understood.
Du Lingling sat beside him, her navy blue suit highlighting her fair skin and impeccable makeup. She held Lu An, who had calmed down, in her arms. The little guy opened his big, dark eyes and curiously observed this world of elegant clothes and turbulent undercurrents.
Xiao Jun slumped listlessly in the chair on the other side of Lu Yang, forcing his eyelids open. He occasionally yawned, but then forced it back down halfway through, clearly still suffering from the aftereffects of last night's "in-depth discussion of the script."
Directly in front of them, the auction stage stood tall.
The auctioneer, dressed in a sharp tuxedo, was introducing the first major item to be auctioned in a melodious and rhythmic voice:
"Distinguished guests, the next item on the agenda is the highlight of this auction, the heart of the Cyberport development: Plot A1! This plot is situated in the core hub of Cyberport, nestled against the mountains and facing the sea, boasting unparalleled scenic resources. It covers an area of 6 hectares (approximately 90 acres)! The starting price is HK$10 billion! Each bid must be at least HK$500 million!"
The auctioneer tapped the gavel lightly on the display stand, the crisp sound like a starting pistol.
"The auction begins!"
Almost the instant the word "start" was spoken, someone in the back row eagerly raised their number.
"11 billion!" A loud voice rang out, coming from a medium-sized real estate developer in the port city.
But this was just the beginning. License plates were raised one after another like mushrooms after rain.
"130 million!"
"12 billion!"
"13 billion!"
"14 billion!"
The price skyrocketed to HK$15 billion in just a few minutes.
A low gasp rippled through the crowd.
This price has exceeded many people's expectations. The bidding speed has slowed down significantly, with each bid accompanied by deeper thought and more careful consideration.
However, in this brief pause, a clear voice, filled with an air of confident arrogance, rang out from not far behind Lu Yang:
"130 million!"
All eyes immediately focused on the person holding the sign.
Li Zekai, PCCW.
He was dressed in a silver-gray suit today, his hair was neatly combed, and he wore a reserved smile, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle, fixed on the land plot model on the auction stage.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping intentionally or unintentionally over Lu Yang's back in the front row. Deep in his eyes was an uncontrollable resentment and a burning desire to win.
He has to get this land!
It's not just because of its irreplaceable commercial value, but also because of the Li family's reputation and Li Zekai's status in Hong Kong's real estate industry!
When the Cyberport project was first launched, the Hong Kong government originally favored the Li family and even intended to follow the "Original Timeline" model by waiving huge land prices to cooperate with the Li family in development.
This should have been a sure thing, an easy target!
But then, Lu Yang appeared out of nowhere!
This powerful dragon from the mainland not only emerged unscathed from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, but also, like the most ferocious predator, reaped unimaginable wealth in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea!
While local families in the port city were licking their wounds and shrinking their battle lines, Lu Yang, armed with the enviable cash he had obtained by trading others' bankruptcies and suicides, brazenly stormed into the Cyberport land auction. With an almost "sweeping" attitude, he acquired nearly half of the Cyberport land, including three core plots (including the current A1 plot) and three secondary core plots, at prices that seemed "high" at the time but later proved to be "bottom-fishing"!
Now, with the shadow of the financial crisis gradually dissipating, the property market in the port city has bottomed out and rebounded. As a technology industry hub strongly promoted by the government, Cyberport has seen its surrounding facilities become increasingly complete, and land prices are no longer what they used to be.
Lu Yang's decision to auction off a portion of his stockpiled land is tantamount to placing the most abundant fruit of the money tree he planted years ago on a chopping board, waiting to be sold.
Li Zekai, who was once the most deserving of the fruits of his labor, now has to pay several times the cost that Lu Yang paid back then to compete for the lucrative prize that could have been obtained "for free"!
How can I swallow this insult?
"1.55 billion! Mr. Li Zekai has bid 1.55 billion!" The auctioneer's voice carried a hint of excitement. "Any higher bids?"
A brief silence fell over the room.
Li Zekai's lips curled slightly upwards, as if victory was assured.
He looked at Lu Yang again, his eyes filled with a hint of provocation and a mocking "what can you do to me?"
Just then, Lu Yang made a move.
He didn't turn around, but simply and casually raised the number plate in his hand.
The movement was small, but it instantly attracted everyone's attention.
The auctioneer's eyes lit up: "16 billion! Mr. Lu Yang in the front row has bid 16 billion!"
A huge commotion erupted at the scene. Lu Yang was auctioning off the land he was selling himself? Was he trying to... inflate the price?!
Although the original land-holding company is not allowed to participate in the bidding according to regulations, it is entirely feasible for an affiliated company to participate as a safety net.
Of course, this is on the premise that you are certain the other party will not give up; otherwise, you will not be able to reduce or waive the high transfer fees and other miscellaneous taxes you have in hand.
The smile on Li Zekai's face froze instantly, and his expression darkened visibly, turning ashen.
He gripped the number plate tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.
He stared intently at the back of Lu Yang's head, his eyes practically spitting fire! That bastard! He definitely did it on purpose!
As if he had eyes in the back of his head, just as Li Zekai's gaze pierced him like a knife, Lu Yang turned his head slightly, and a very faint but very clear smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. It was a pure and wonderful smile full of playfulness and the attitude of a victor.
That smile, like a red-hot needle, pierced Li Zekai's eyes and heart!
“1.65 billion!” Li Zekai practically spat out the offer through gritted teeth.
The voice had lost its previous composure, now filled with barely suppressed anger.
"17 billion." Lu Yang's voice remained calm, even tinged with a hint of laziness, as he casually raised the license plate again.
It was as if he wasn't shouting out 17 billion, but rather 17 yuan.
Every time he raised a sign, it was like an invisible slap in the face, landing hard on Li Zekai's cheek.
He clearly remembered that when Lu Yang acquired this land, the final transaction price was just over 10 billion! Now, every time he raises the price, he is adding bricks to Lu Yang's foresight and courage back then, and he is using his own real money to inject blood into Lu Yang's wealth empire!
The feeling of being publicly humiliated and forcibly "fed shit" made Li Zekai furious!
Their gazes clashed violently across several rows of seats in the heavy atmosphere of the auction hall!
Li Zekai's lips moved silently, clearly conveying three words: "Bastard!"
Lu Yang's response was faster and more direct.
His smile suddenly widened, filled with undisguised contempt and provocation. His lips moved silently, clearly retorting with two words: "Idiot!"
He even slightly raised his chin, his eyes clearly saying, "I'm talking about you, aren't you? Go ahead and bite me."
This silent verbal battle, full of tension and drama, was witnessed by Du Lingling, who had been keeping a close eye on her husband and nemesis.
"Pfft..."
Du Lingling, who had maintained her elegant demeanor throughout, could no longer contain herself when she saw Lu Yang's silent "idiot" lip movements, especially his arrogant "go ahead and bite me" expression. She abruptly lowered her head, burying her face in her son An'an's soft little clothes, her shoulders shaking violently, suppressed laughter escaping intermittently, laughing so hard she almost passed out, tears welling up in her eyes.
An'an, who was in her mother's arms, was a little confused by her mother's sudden action and reached out her little hand to touch Du Lingling's face.
Du Lingling's unrestrained and exhilarating laughter was like a bucket of boiling oil, completely igniting Li Zekai's raging fury! He abruptly turned his gaze to Du Lingling, his eyes filled with a terrifyingly sinister rage and the fury of being humiliated.
How dare a mistress so brazenly mock Li Zekai?!
However, Du Lingling felt the malicious gaze directed at her.
She suddenly raised her head, the blush on her face from laughing had not yet faded, but her beautiful eyes were instantly filled with frost.
She met Li Zekai's gaze without fear, her eyes sharp as knives, even carrying a hint of fierce warning, and glared back fiercely! Her eyes clearly said: What are you looking at? Dare to glare again, and I'll gouge your eyes out!
Li Zekai was stunned by the fierce gaze of the mother leopard and instinctively avoided her eyes. The anger in his chest was about to explode, but he had nowhere to vent it. He could only clench the number plate in his hand tighter, as if he wanted to crush it.
Ultimately, with Lu Yang's "perfectly timed" price-raising efforts, this prime piece of land was acquired by another powerful Hong Kong consortium, equally determined to win, for a record-breaking HK$1.82 billion.
At the last moment, Li Zekai, his face ashen, gave up the bidding.
The subsequent auction unfolded in the same manner.
另一块核心地块和两块稍次的地块相继拍出。李则楷虽然最终咬牙以17亿8千万和9亿、8亿的价格拿下了其中一块核心地块（A3）和一块次核心地块（B2），但付出的代价远超预期。
Lu Yang, on the other hand, became the biggest winner of this feast.
When the auctioneer brought down the gavel and announced that the total transaction price of the four plots of land (two core plots A1 and A3, and two secondary core plots B1 and B2) reached HK$53 billion, the audience erupted in applause. However, it is impossible to know how much of it was genuine congratulations and how much was envy and resentment.
Lu Yang let out a soft sigh of relief, his fingers that had been tapping his knee stopped, and a sharp glint of relief flashed deep in his eyes.
53 billion!
This not only greatly alleviated his strained cash flow caused by continuous investment in wafer fabs (which are money-guzzling beasts worth 30 billion RMB) and the establishment of joint laboratories with top universities in various regions, but also provided solid ammunition for continued investment in the bottomless pit of chip research and development in the coming years.
The huge weight that had been pressing on my heart has finally been lifted a little.
As the event ended, the crowd surged.
As Lu Yang and his group stood up, they inevitably ran into Li Zekai, who was also standing up, in the narrow passageway.
Li Zekai's face was still unpleasant, and his eyes were so gloomy they could drip water.
He stared intently at Lu Yang, as if he wanted to cut a piece of flesh off him with his gaze.
Lu Yang, however, seemed oblivious to Li Zekai's murderous glare. He wore a calm, even "gentle," businesslike smile, and even nodded slightly to Li Zekai, as if he wasn't the one who had silently called him an "idiot" at the auction.
This hypocritical "victorious demeanor" made Li Zekai's blood boil, and he almost exploded on the spot. He suppressed the roar that was about to burst out of his throat, let out a heavy "humph" from his nose, and with a bodyguard surrounded by menacing energy, he strode away without looking back, his back view revealing resentment and venom.
"That bastard's holding a grudge this time." Xiao Jun scoffed, watching Li Zekai's retreating figure.
Du Lingling, holding An'an, glanced coldly in the direction where Li Zekai had disappeared. When she turned to look at Lu Yang, her eyes instantly softened, filled with undisguised admiration: "Now, we won't have to worry about the money for Luzhou and those labs at Tsinghua and Fudan, right?"
Lu Yang smiled, put his arm around her waist, and gently squeezed it: "You can catch your breath for now. Let's go home."
Back at the luxurious residence overlooking Victoria Harbour in Repulse Bay, Victoria Peak, the golden rays of the setting sun streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the interior in a warm hue.
The nanny gently took the sleeping An'an from Du Lingling's arms.
The moment the child left her hands, the armor of a strong woman that Du Lingling wore at the auction and in front of outsiders instantly melted away.
Like a weary bird finally returning to its nest, or a nimble, oversized koala, she threw herself onto Lu Yang without a care in the world, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and her legs around his waist, hanging herself entirely on him.
"Ugh... I'm so tired..." She buried her face in Lu Yang's neck, her voice muffled, filled with dependence and coquetry, completely unlike her usual sharp demeanor.
Lu Yang stumbled slightly from the bump, but he caught her with a mixture of helplessness and affection, patting her back: "You're such a grown-up, yet you act like a child."
Du Lingling raised her head, her face, still stunning in the setting sun, now etched with undisguised longing and a hint of barely perceptible vulnerability. She was nearly a decade older than Lu Yang, an age gap like an invisible thorn that, with the passage of time, pierced her deeper and deeper. She cherished every moment with Lu Yang, fearing that her aging beauty would outpace the fading of his affection for her.
Every separation after a reunion made her feel anxious.
"Can't we stay a few more days?" She looked up, her eyes pleading, her voice soft and sweet. "Just a few more days... An'an wants Daddy to spend more time with him..."
Lu Yang looked at the cautious expectation in her eyes, and his heart softened. He lowered his head, pressed his forehead against hers, and said gently, "Don't be silly. There are a lot of things back home that need my approval. The equipment installation and debugging at the wafer fab is in a critical period, and there are several important collaborations to discuss."
He paused, then said with a reassuring promise, "I said I would try my best to come see you and An'an again, and I will. It's been more than a week since I came out, and I can't delay any longer."
The light in Du Lingling's eyes dimmed for a moment, but soon shone with an almost stubborn brilliance.
She knew that Lu Yang was telling the truth, and she also knew the weight of his promise.
Since we can't keep them, then...
“Okay…” she responded softly, her voice filled with resigned disappointment, but the arms around Lu Yang’s neck tightened even more.
The next second, she suddenly raised her head, her eyes becoming extremely aggressive, like a female leopard eyeing its prey, with a domineering air of "If you're going to leave, then feed me first."
"Then feed me first!" Before she finished speaking, she kissed him passionately, urgently, and even with a hint of ferocity, as if she wanted to crush and swallow Lu Yang's breath, warmth, and even him as a person.
Caught off guard, Lu Yang was knocked back a step by her, his back hitting the cold floor-to-ceiling window.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows of the two intertwined figures.
He didn't push her away, but sighed helplessly. Then, he took the initiative, responding deeply to the almost suffocating kiss that carried the scent of parting. The price? The price was that the next morning, as he prepared to leave, he would occasionally need to support his lower back with his hand, his movements slightly stiff.
This subtle movement was caught by Xiao Jun, who had just finished breakfast and was full of energy, ready to return home together.
"Hehehe..." Xiao Jun leaned closer, a sly and lewd smile on his face. His eyes darted back and forth between Lu Yang's hand on his waist and his face. He deliberately dragged out his words, "Hey brother-in-law~~~ tsk tsk tsk, you... your body isn't doing so well, is it? You look even weaker than me. I haven't been idle these past few days either, I've been with several rising stars in Hong Kong, and I haven't seen you like this."
He raised his eyebrows smugly, showing off his "abundant" energy.
Lu Yang was bending down to pick up a lightweight suitcase when he heard this. He paused, straightened up, and glanced at Xiao Jun expressionlessly, his eyes filled with disdain for "caring for the mentally challenged."
"Get lost." He uttered a single word, too lazy to waste words with this lust-driven guy, and walked straight towards the car waiting at the door.
But I couldn't help but complain in my heart:
"Idiot! Don't you even use your brain? You sleep with those inexperienced, fresh-faced girls who haven't fully matured yet, while I sleep with mature women in their thirties, like ravenous wolves waiting for rain! Do you think our fighting power is the same?!"
With engines running, the black Mercedes convoy slowly drove away from the tranquility of Repulse Bay, merging into the busy morning traffic of Hong Kong Island, heading towards the airport.
In the rearview mirror, the seaside villa gradually shrank in the morning sun.
Lu Yang leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, his hand still unconsciously pressing on his slightly sore lower back.
Xiao Jun, standing to the side, was still pondering Lu Yang's use of the word "empty," winking and chuckling silently.
Du Lingling, holding An'an, stood at the villa entrance, her figure finally disappearing from view as the scenery outside the car window rushed past. (End of Chapter)