Chapter 27: You Dropped Your Melon Seed Shells on My Shoes

“Hao'er, when you go to the banquet with your daddy, you must remember to keep an eye on him. Don't let him overindulge in alcohol. His health isn't what it used to be, and too much drinking is harmful to his body. We must be careful,” Mother Lin instructed Lin Haoran, who was sitting on the sofa, as she tenderly straightened her husband's collar.

“Don't worry, Mommy. I'll keep a close watch on Daddy and won't let him drink too much,” Lin Haoran replied with a smile.

By now, he had changed into a more exquisite and well-fitting suit, appearing as if he had instantly transformed from an adolescent boy into a sophisticated young gentleman, exuding an aura of mature and steady charm.

His already handsome features appeared even more heroic and striking against the backdrop of the suit, making it difficult for anyone to look away.

Lin Wan'an did not speak up to contradict her; he understood that his wife's intention stemmed from her deep care and affection for him.

After returning from social engagements a few nights ago, Lin Wan'an had been forced back into the hospital due to a sudden spike in blood pressure. The persistent headaches had been a source of great misery; although he had sought medical attention many times before, it usually only provided temporary relief rather than a permanent cure.

However, there were always certain social engagements in life that Lin Wan'an could not avoid. Despite his inner reluctance, he had to participate due to various considerations.

Lin Haoran understood his father's hard work and the difficulties he faced. Therefore, his current primary mission was to give his all to become the successor of the Wan'an Group as soon as possible, so that his father could retire from his position as Chairman with peace of mind and enjoy a quiet and comfortable old age.

In his memory, ever since his eldest brother, Lin Haoning, had married and started his own small family, he had moved out of the house early on.

Consequently, whenever there was a social engagement to attend, as long as Lin Haoran was still at home, Lin Wan'an was always happy to take him along.

This arrangement not only deepened the emotional bond between father and son but also allowed Lin Haoran to be exposed to various levels of society at an early age.

As he sat in the back of the Rolls-Royce following his father, Lin Haoran couldn't help but marvel at how the comfort provided by the Rolls-Royce far exceeded his own Mercedes; no wonder it was a favorite among many wealthy elites.

Before leaving, Lin Haoran specifically instructed the brothers Li Weiguo and Li Weidong to stay at the villa instead of following. This was because his father's driver also served as a bodyguard and possessed extraordinary skills. The abilities the driver had demonstrated many times in the past had earned Lin Haoran's deep trust, ensuring the safety of both father and son.

“Daddy, where are we going this time?” Lin Haoran asked his father with curiosity, turning around in the spacious and comfortable rear seat of the Rolls-Royce.

“We are going to the Joyous Lai Restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. That restaurant has an elegant environment and delicious food; it's quite famous in the Tsim Sha Tsui area. You've been there before, so you should remember it,” his father replied with a smile.

Lin Haoran nodded. From his memory, he indeed knew that he had accompanied his father to this restaurant for social engagements many times.

Along the way, Lin Haoran gradually learned that all the shareholders behind this film project his father was investing in were actually outsiders to the industry. They seemed to be participating in this minor investment with a casual, game-like attitude.

The car slowly drove out of the quiet Deep Water Bay villa area, then wound its way up the twisting mountain roads. After passing through a lush forest, they arrived at the bustling streets.

The vehicle wove through the traffic, and after driving for about half an hour, it finally came to a steady stop in front of the Joyous Lai Restaurant.

They entered the restaurant and walked into the pre-booked hall.

The hall had already been refreshed; a striking banner for a film celebration banquet hung high above, signaling that tonight would be a special celebratory event.

Flowers and balloons were arranged in every corner.

At this moment, many people had already arrived at the restaurant hall where the banquet was to be held.

However, Lin Haoran basically didn't know any of them.

“President Lin, you've finally arrived! You really kept us waiting!”

“Elder Lin, please, this way. Let's take this rare opportunity to discuss our cooperation in depth.”

...

As Lin Wan'an entered, many eyes in the hall focused on him simultaneously. Although he was not a titan of the business world, in the commercial fertile ground of Hong Kong, the name Lin Wan'an was still highly renowned, possessing significant and undeniable recognition and influence.

Clearly, many people present, whether in terms of social status or economic strength, felt they were slightly inferior to Lin Wan'an. His arrival undoubtedly added weight and anticipation to the gathering.

“President Yang, President Zheng, President Li, it has been a long time. How have you all been lately?” Lin Wan'an greeted them one by one with a smile and a handshake, his composure and ease clearly showing he was well-versed in such business socialites.

“Taking this opportunity, I would like to formally introduce my son, Lin Haoran. Hao'er, come, say hello to your uncles,” Lin Wan'an said as he led Lin Haoran forward, introducing his son to the business elders.

“Hello, Uncle Yang, I have long heard of your great reputation; Hello, Uncle Zheng, a pleasure to meet you; Hello, Uncle Li, thank you for your care...” Lin Haoran greeted them one by one, his entire demeanor filled with humility and politeness. Although it was a formality, he appeared poised and dignified.

Although these businesspeople had achieved success in their respective fields, their status was clearly a step below Lin Wan'an's.

Therefore, for Lin Haoran, deep interaction with them was perhaps not a priority. After greeting them, he quietly followed beside his father without saying another word.

But this was also how many young people acted; after all, with such a large age gap, there would always be a communication gap.

Lin Haoran had absolutely no interest in the topics they were discussing, so he felt the urge to leave and decided to find some desserts and snacks to stave off the boredom.

“Daddy, I'm going to go over there to see if there are any good desserts. You guys continue chatting,” he politely addressed his father before lightly leaving the group of conversing people.

In his memory, among the many stars of the 1970s, there were many who would later become superstars, such as Chen Long, Sammo Hung, Chow Yun-fat, and others, but clearly, none of them were here.

For these people, who weren't even considered part of the film industry, to co-invest in a movie and not only avoid a loss but actually make a decent profit was quite a miracle.

Since the investment wasn't particularly high, they naturally hadn't invited many big names.

He had originally come with high expectations, hoping to run into a few familiar stars, but after a search, a sense of boredom inevitably set in.

So, he simply walked over to a table filled with snacks, sat down, and leisurely cracked sunflower seeds to pass the time.

“Hey, your sunflower seed shells fell on my shoes.” Just then, a crisp and pleasant female voice interrupted his thoughts.

Lin Haoran immediately realized his carelessness and hurriedly checked the shells in his hand. In fact, he had been carefully placing them on the edge of the table, waiting for a waiter to clean them up.

Clearly, an occasional lapse caused a few shells to accidentally slide off just as a young girl happened to pass by.

He quickly looked up and said with a face full of apology, “I am so sorry, I didn't notice. It really wasn't intentional.”

As their eyes met, Lin Haoran froze. The young woman before him was someone he never expected—the future famous Guan Jiahui. At this moment, she was in the prime of her youth, beautiful as a blooming flower, making one's eyes light up.

“If a simple 'sorry' could solve everything, then what would we need the police for?” Guan Jiahui's words carried a hint of playfulness and sassiness.

Completely contrary to Lin Haoran's expectations, her personality at this age was so straightforward.

***

*The new book is being updated continuously; readers are cordially invited to keep reading. This book focuses on business affairs, with occasional encounters with female stars from the entertainment industry interspersed as embellishments, aiming to provide readers with a richer reading experience while ensuring these elements do not overshadow the main plot. Readers can rest assured.*

*Given the unique historical background of 1978, the number of brilliant female stars in the entertainment industry is indeed limited. Therefore, I have ultimately chosen Guan Meiren as the first female supporting character to appear, believing her presence will add a touch of color to this book.*

*Of course, to make the content of this book even more colorful, readers are very welcome to suggest female stars that could be added in subsequent chapters in the review section. Every one of your suggestions is precious creative inspiration for me, and I will carefully consider and incorporate them into the book as appropriate.*

*Here, I sincerely thank all readers for your continuous support and love. I am deeply gratified that the book's performance is steadily rising. Thank you~*

*(End of Chapter)*