Phi-Fic Chapter 680: Reporter Being Followed
Chapter 680: Reporter Being Followed
A stable tenant base not only brings a steady and substantial income to Pedder Building, but also serves as the cornerstone supporting the stable operation of the entire commercial building.
Moreover, in this highly competitive and ever-changing business world, honest business practices are the foundation of one's survival. Only by adhering to this principle can one ride the waves and gain a firm foothold in this turbulent and undercurrent-filled business ocean.
Afterwards, the senior lawyers brought by Huo Yingdong and the professional lawyers hired by the other party quickly engaged in intense and detailed negotiations.
The two of them went back and forth, and every clause and every detail was carefully considered over and over again, just like two extremely cautious chess players who were concentrating and placing their pieces carefully on an ingeniously laid out chessboard, striving to make every move accurate and correct, so as to gain the greatest benefits for their respective "camps".
He Yuzhu and Qin Jingru gathered the law firm team and took out all the lease contracts that Pedder had signed with its clients over the years. They piled them on the conference table, forming a small mountain.
Wearing reading glasses, they studied the contract terms word by word, circled key sentences with red pens from time to time, and discussed in low voices.
When they encounter obscure or ambiguous content, they stop what they are doing, check relevant laws and regulations, and frequently call industry experts for consultation, not missing any details that may lead to legal disputes.
After ensuring that everything complies with legal regulations, balances the interests of both parties, and eliminates potential legal loopholes, He Yuzhu's tense nerves finally relaxed. He took a long breath, sat down at his desk, and carefully began to draft the transfer contract. Every word was written neatly, full of solemnity and anticipation for this new career.
This was by no means an easy job. He sat in front of a desk piled with documents, his brow furrowed, and he seemed to be shrouded in invisible pressure.
A pen kept writing and drawing in his hand, and the rustling sound of the pen tip rubbing against the paper seemed like the drumbeat of his race against time.
He needs to consider various possible situations. Take the future changes in real estate policies as an example. This is like a sudden storm. It seems to have no warning, but it can change the entire situation in an instant.
Once the policy direction changes, the supply and demand relationship and price trends in the real estate market will undergo earth-shaking changes.
There are also force majeure factors that affect real estate, such as natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. These are crises hidden beneath the calm surface.
Earthquakes can reduce high-rise buildings to ruins in an instant, while floods can mercilessly submerge large areas of real estate, causing unexpected impacts on the properties.
He knew all this very well, so he had to carefully consider every word and repeatedly deliberate on it to ensure the rigor and completeness of the contract terms, without allowing any loopholes.
For two consecutive days and two nights, He Yuzhu devoted himself to the contract drafting work.
During this period, I only took a few short breaks, and each time I just swallowed a few bites of takeout.
The takeaways were still steaming when they were delivered, but he was too busy to care about the taste. He swallowed them hastily and came back again, his eyes fixed on the blackboard, his fingers tapping rapidly on the paper, carving out every detail of the contract word by word.
Finally, when the dawn light streamed into the room through the window, he breathed a sigh of relief, having completed the contract to which he had poured so much effort.
Next comes the formal transaction.
He Yuzhu carefully organized the documents and put them into a customized briefcase, as if it was a precious treasure map carrying all his hopes.
He came to the designated bank. The air-conditioning inside the bank was turned up high. The staff were wearing neat uniforms and their eyes were serious and professional.
He Yuzhu took a deep breath and opened the box full of cash. The neatly stacked cash in the box, each one embodied his years of hard work and sweat. It was the wealth he had accumulated through hard work.
He counted out the total of 250 million in cash and completed the payment under the witness of the bank staff. From then on, Pedder Bank was officially under his name.
However, this huge expenditure of tens of millions instantly put his liquidity into an unprecedented dilemma.
The company's account balance dropped sharply like a high-diving dive. The jumping of the numbers was like a countdown bell, which was distressing. It was almost on the verge of exhaustion, just like a dry riverbed that had been dry and cracked after a long drought.
However, it is fortunate that He Yuzhu has always adhered to the iron rule of special funds for special purposes. In past operations, he has been extremely cautious in allocating funds for various projects and has reserved sufficient operating funds for each project.
This prudent financial strategy prevented other businesses from suffering a fatal blow from Pedder Bank's huge investment, and allowed them to continue operating normally and in an orderly manner, rather than falling into the quagmire of complete paralysis.
The entire company is like a ship that encounters strong winds and huge waves in a rough sea. Although the ship is shaking violently and waves constantly hit the deck, it can still sail forward firmly in the wind and rain thanks to its strong and thick hull and abundant supplies.
After completing the purchase of Pedder Bank, He Yuzhu did not slack off or stop his progress.
He knew that time was running out and business opportunities were fleeting, so he immediately launched a series of drastic adjustments and transformation plans for Pedder Bank.
Another traitor is Zheng Yaoguang, who is mainly responsible for intelligence gathering. On the surface, his work scope is limited to screening content from public information, such as newspaper news and government public reports. He buries himself in mountains of information every day, carrying out seemingly routine collection and collation work.
But Pan Qun knew very well that they were just pawns pushed to the front, and there must be a pair of dark hands behind the scenes manipulating and directing them, trying to dig out valuable content from these complicated information and destroy the newspaper's intelligence network.
Pan Qun planned to find a suitable time to talk to the two men privately.
When talking, he would cleverly test the waters with a calm tone, pretending to be completely unaware of their true identities, just like having an ordinary chat without alerting the other party.
On this basis, they arranged for them to go out and contact each other under the pretext of work arrangements at the newspaper, setting traps, hoping that the other party would relax their vigilance and reveal their true colors, so as to uncover the mysterious organization behind them and more traitors lurking in the dark.
“Is this really feasible?”
He Yuzhu frowned, his forehead etched with deep worry. He repeatedly weighed the various unexpected situations that might arise during the implementation of the plan, and the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
"We have to try it to see if it works."
Pan Qun looked calm, his eyes were full of determination, and he patiently explained to He Yuzhu,
"After all, their identities haven't been fully exposed yet. They remain hidden in the shadows, like reefs lurking in the deep sea, their danger difficult to detect. Send them out on more missions and help them navigate complex and ever-changing situations. Perhaps they'll stumble upon valuable clues at some unexpected moment, potentially breaking the current impasse."
After Ho Yu-chu took over Pedder House, he set about transforming Calvin Drummond’s top-floor office into his own executive office.
He carefully planned the layout and selected top-quality desks and chairs, whose calm luster reveals an extraordinary texture.
Advanced communication equipment, such as telephone switches and telegraph machines, were installed and debugged one by one to ensure efficient operation, helping him better manage and operate this commercial landmark.
The main business model of Pedder House is leasing. The leasing fees fluctuate with the market conditions in Hong Kong Island. During economic booms, the rents will rise significantly; and during economic downturns, there will be appropriate reductions, but generally remain in a stable range.
After deducting maintenance and management funds such as regular exterior wall painting, facility maintenance, and property staff salaries, the annual net profit is approximately 50.
He Yuzhu secretly calculated in his mind that based on this income, he could conservatively recover the funds for purchasing Pedder Bank in 10 years.
Moreover, with the booming development of Hong Kong Island and increasingly frequent business activities, the demand for office space continues to grow. Rent increases are a high probability event, and the payback time will be significantly shortened.
Just two days after settling the affairs of Pedder Bank, He Yuzhu sat upright in his spacious and bright office. The chandelier above his head cast soft light, illuminating the large desk piled with documents.
He frowned and concentrated on reviewing the documents in his hands, sometimes picking up a red pen to circle and mark, and sometimes falling into a brief contemplation.
Suddenly, the phone on the desk rang abruptly and rapidly, breaking the silence in the office.
He was slightly startled, put down the pen in his hand, and reached out to pick up the receiver.
"Hello, who are you?" He Yuzhu asked politely.
The familiar voice of Pan Qun, the head of the newspaper's security department, came from the receiver. The voice was low and urgent, talking about some suspicious signs around the newspaper recently.
This phone call was like a bolt of lightning, striking deep into his memory and reminding him that there was still a crucial task pending - solving the thorny problem of the newspaper being monitored and infiltrated.
During this period, I devoted myself to the affairs of Pedder Bank, dealing with complex business negotiations and personnel scheduling every day. I was so nervous that I almost forgot about this matter.
At this moment, guilt and a sense of urgency surged into my heart like a tide.
The night is as dark as ink, slowly falling, the bright lights are like stars rising, and the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island during the day is gradually swallowed up by the caress of the night.
On the streets, neon lights flash wantonly, and colorful lights and shadows interweave, outlining the unique prosperity of this city.
Vehicles are like a swarm of fish crossing the river, shuttling back and forth in the crisscrossing streets, and the sounds of engines and horns interweave into a night melody.
He Yuzhu and Huang Zhirou walked side by side, their figures appearing particularly intimate amidst the bright lights and feasting.
They returned to the quaint and elegant two-story building in front of the newspaper office, which was the warm harbor they built together.
The small building is surrounded by lush flowers and plants. When the breeze blows, the branches and leaves sway gently, making rustling sounds, creating a quiet and peaceful atmosphere that isolates the noise from the outside world.
Huang Zhirou's father, Huang Zhihai, was sitting in the living room drinking tea. When he heard the noise, he looked up and saw them returning. A smile instantly broke out on his face and he walked forward enthusiastically.
Huang Zhihai has always admired He Yuzhu very much. In his eyes, this young man has outstanding abilities, has achieved great success in his work at the newspaper, and is a responsible person who never shirks his responsibilities.
At that moment, Huang Zhihai picked up the phone, dialed the number of a familiar restaurant nearby, and carefully instructed that a table of sumptuous dishes be delivered.
Soon, the waiters placed the dishes on the table one by one. The fresh and plump seafood had the unique fresh fragrance of the sea; the tempting roast meat had a shiny and oily skin that made people salivate; the delicate and small dim sum, with different shapes, each one looked like a carefully crafted work of art, filling the entire table to express their warm welcome to them.
After having a good meal and a good drink, He Yuzhu and Huang Zhirou walked hand in hand briskly into the bedroom on the second floor.
The bedroom is decorated in a warm and romantic style. The pink curtains sway gently in the breeze like a fairy, exuding a soft atmosphere.
The soft bed was spread out flatly, and the bedding on it exuded a faint scent of laundry detergent, full of the warm smell of home.
Huang Zhirou pouted slightly, her expression filled with a hint of anger and a hint of helplessness. She said softly, "Coming back with you always makes me feel weird. Look, my dad treats you better than me. Why do I feel like an outsider?"
He Yuzhu heard this, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted up, outlining a gentle arc, and he gently soothed: "You, you, are you jealous of your dad? Your dad really appreciates me. We will be a family in the future. He treats me well because he hopes that we can be sweet and happy."
In He Yuzhu's eyes, Huang Zhirou's childish reaction at this moment, every detail showed his little daughter's cuteness and adorableness, which made him very happy.
Huang Zhirou muttered softly, "I just said that casually."
As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes turned, and curiosity instantly appeared on her face. She then asked, "By the way, why did you suddenly want to come to my house today? Aren't you usually busy like a top, never even touching the ground?"
He Yuzhu slowly leaned against the headboard, his eyes as gentle as water as he looked at Huang Zhirou quietly. He said softly, "Look at what you said. Your family is my family, isn't it? Lying on this bed right now, I can't help but think of the past when we met and got to know each other. It's been so full of surprises and excitement along the way."
As he spoke, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, a look illuminated by memories.
When Huang Zhirou heard this, she was like being struck by an electric current, and a blush like the sunset instantly appeared on her face. The blush spread from her cheeks all the way to her ears, just like a beautiful flower blooming in spring, swaying gently in the breeze.
Her eyes became blurred and her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the time when she first met He Yuzhu.
At that time, she was young, proud and arrogant, and had her own unique and romantic vision of love.
Faced with He Yuzhu's pursuit that was as passionate as fire, her heart was like a calm lake, without any ripples, and she was even full of resistance.