The charity gala that evening drew some of the most influential figures in Hong Kong — the heads of the four major foreign trading houses, the four shipping kings, representatives of the four great Hong Kong families, and famous names like Run Run Shaw, Lam Pak-yan, Cheng Yutong, and Lee Chiu-kee.
Lin Baicheng had thought arriving early would give him a head start, but to his surprise, many of these elites were already there.
He noticed that the attendees naturally formed several distinct circles of conversation. Even among the British and Chinese business groups, divisions existed within their own circles rather than along ethnic lines.
Of course, there were exceptions — a few Chinese businessmen mingled in the British circles, and a few Westerners stood among the Chinese ones. Whether these people were merely engaging in business or subtly aligning themselves with other factions, Lin Baicheng couldn't tell.
He recognized many faces but had met none of them in person. The only familiar one was Hor Yiu Wah of Standard Chartered, who was deep in conversation with several foreigners. Lin decided not to interrupt and stood quietly to one side.
Without powerful connections or an impressive status, this kind of gathering could be somewhat awkward.
"Mr. Lin!"
Thankfully, he wasn't left alone for long. After finishing his conversation, Hor Yiu Wah spotted him and walked over with a warm smile.
"Mr. Hor."
Lin greeted him politely.
"Mr. Lin," Hor said, "I imagine this is your first time attending such an event. You probably don't know many people here. Would you like me to introduce you to a few?"
"That would be great, thank you." Lin nodded appreciatively. He knew some of the names present, but not everyone.
Hor began pointing discreetly around the room, introducing each prominent guest one by one.
Meanwhile, several others had started whispering among themselves, trying to guess Lin's identity. After all, Hor Yiu Wah was the Taipan of Standard Chartered. Though the bank's main focus was international business and its local operations didn't rival HSBC's, Hor's standing in Hong Kong was still formidable. The fact that he would personally approach a young, unfamiliar man made Lin Baicheng's presence all the more intriguing.
"Mr. Hor, long time no see."
A deep, confident voice interrupted them. Lin turned to see a man whose name was known not only across Hong Kong but around the world.
"Mr. Bao!" Hor greeted him respectfully and shook his hand before turning to Lin. "Mr. Lin, I suppose this gentleman needs no introduction."
"Of course not," Lin smiled. "The world-renowned shipping king, Mr. Bao Yugang — how could I not recognize him?"
It was indeed the legendary King of the Seas, Bao Yugang. Since his rebirth in Hong Kong, Lin had seen Bao's face countless times on television and in newspapers.
"Haha, I'm getting old," Bao said with a genial laugh. "The future belongs to young men like you, Mr. Lin. I've heard your Xinghe Games company is thriving — the factory's expanded several times, nearly a thousand employees now, isn't it?"
Hor raised his brows in surprise. "Mr. Bao, you're remarkably well-informed."
Bao chuckled. "Hardly. It's simply because Mr. Lin has been kind enough to use my ships for his exports."
In truth, Bao had only learned about Lin a month or two earlier. As Xinghe Games began shipping more and more arcade machines overseas, reports from his subordinates caught his attention, and he decided to look into this rising company and its ambitious founder.
Lin laughed lightly. "Mr. Bao gives me too much credit. It wasn't favoritism — your freight rates are the lowest, and your service is the best. For small businesses like ours, every dollar counts."
"Haha, if your business counts as small, then there aren't many big businesses left in Hong Kong," Bao replied sincerely.
He wasn't exaggerating. Xinghe Games had already exported around 30,000 arcade machines. At roughly USD 1,500 each, that meant close to USD 50 million in revenue within just half a year. Even a 10% profit margin would bring in five million dollars — around twenty million Hong Kong dollars — and Bao suspected the real profits were even higher.
After investigating further, Bao discovered that Lin was only recently out of secondary school. In barely a year, he had gone from writing popular novels to founding a thriving tech-manufacturing company. "Young and capable" didn't even begin to describe him. Bao admired such talent and had come tonight intending to befriend him.
The three men chatted amiably until Governor Murray MacLehose arrived with several colonial officials, signaling the official start of the charity gala.
The host began by introducing the evening's fundraising theme, followed by Governor MacLehose's speech. He spoke of Hong Kong's struggling elderly and orphans, appealing to the city's business leaders to donate generously and show compassion.
Then came the donation segment. The governor exchanged brief words with each guest; the wealthier the person, the longer the conversation — and the larger the expected donation.
Lin eventually had his turn to speak with MacLehose. The governor commended Xinghe Games for contributing to Hong Kong's economy, urging Lin to continue expanding his business and hiring more local workers.
But as their conversation drew to a close, MacLehose's tone shifted slightly. "Of course," he added with a measured smile, "when hiring, one must always ensure fairness — avoid favoring certain groups."
Lin's eyes flickered. Though the words were vague, the meaning was clear enough. He understood perfectly what the governor was hinting at. Some issues, it seemed, could no longer be ignored.
After the fundraising concluded, the gala transitioned into a more relaxed social party. With Bao Yugang's introductions, Lin met several other figures, though most interactions remained polite and distant.
When the evening finally wound down, Lin left with his bodyguards, returning quietly to his villa in Repulse Bay — his mind already turning over what the governor's subtle warning might mean for the future.