Chapter 447 - 277: You Just Have Too Much Time on Your Hands

Chapter 447: Chapter 277: You Just Have Too Much Time on Your Hands

The grand opening ceremony drew to a close for now.

On Course 2 and Course 3, the first matches for the men’s and women’s Group A kicked off simultaneously, serving as the inaugural battles of this professional golf open.

Thanks to the hefty prize money, the tournament had attracted a field of exceptionally talented professional players, including several ranked in the global top twenty.

Wealth is a powerful motivator.

Prize money in the tens of millions was an irresistible temptation, even for them.

Lin Chu, however, didn’t know much about the roster of star golfers.

Still, watching the live broadcast of the tournament on the big screen, he did recognize a few faces.

Right now, a striking figure stood on the course—Zhang Zishu, a local player from Peng City, one of the LC Club’s current spokespeople, also known as the "Violent Loli."

Most of the female players were tanned from constant outdoor activity, but she was so fair-skinned she seemed to glow, making her stand out. Her sweet face, curvaceous figure, and petite frame created a stark contrast with her aggressive, powerful hitting style.

Her selection as one of the inaugural players was, of course, an internal decision—after all, she represented the club.

As for the men’s group, the players in the opening match were all renowned, top-tier competitors.

Dou Cheng, a member of the national team at the last Olympics.

Adam Scott, ranked seventeenth in the world.

Ren Chengzai, ranked twentieth in the world.

However, after watching for just a short while, Lin Chu lost interest.

’This... this is a level of skill I can only dream of reaching.’

’I’ll probably never get this good in my entire life.’

’So I don’t want to watch anymore.’

’Besides...’

’I’m a goddamn amateur who sucks at golf, and yet I somehow bought a golf course and organized a professional open?’

The thought floated into his mind, and Lin Chu couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle. It felt a little absurd, almost comical. It reminded him of a phrase he often used back when he had a job—the world is just one big slapdash operation.

’Oh, wait.’

’That’s not the one.’

’It’s—my apologies, but when you have money, you really can do whatever you want.’

...

「Today」

Zhou Ming was dressed in a sharp suit, his once slightly graying hair now dyed a glossy black. He walked beside Lin Chu, looking utterly invigorated, yet there was a hint of inexplicable wistfulness in his eyes.

When the LC Club was in the hands of the Famous Group, it had always been a lackluster affair.

Lin Chu had only acquired it a few months ago, and he had already created such a massive stir.

This left him with somewhat complicated feelings.

’Was I... just not capable enough?’

’Not entirely.’

’The main issue was that our pockets weren’t deep enough.’

’Theoretically, with enough money, organizing a tournament like this is no problem at all. You could even get Tiger Woods to come.’

’It’s just that there’s no need to spend that kind of money for no good reason.’

Just then, he noticed that Lin Chu didn’t seem particularly happy. He looked lost in thought.

"I thought you were going to play in the opening match..."

He teased with a smile.

He still believed that someone like Lin Chu, who went to all the trouble of putting this whole thing together, had to have done it mainly to get a kick out of it himself.

Lin Chu waved a hand with a smile. "This is just business. There’s no personal thrill for me to get out of it."

A flicker went through Zhou Ming’s eyes as he smiled and nodded.

’Fair enough.’

’It’s all about making money, after all.’

"How are the prospects for the Famous Group’s IPO?"

Lin Chu casually changed the subject. Seeing an entrepreneur who had resisted going public for decades suddenly eat his words was rather interesting.

However, regardless of whether Zhou Ming wanted it or what he truly felt, it was at least a move that followed the objective laws of the market.

And objective laws are, by definition, independent of human will.

To be fair, while his refusal to go public earlier meant missing out on the golden age of real estate development, it also saved him from any major disasters. The company’s capital gap wasn’t especially large, and at least it didn’t suffer a catastrophic collapse.

And now, catching the tail end of that golden age, his move to take the company public was likely his way of putting a satisfying capstone on the business he had managed for half his life.

’Old Zhou wants to retire.’

"There shouldn’t be any issues. I’m just about ready to retire anyway."

With no one else around, Zhou Ming sighed and spoke frankly.

’I’m getting old.’

’Might as well take the company public while the market is good and then retire. That’s the plan. There’s no point in struggling anymore.’

Seeing that his guess was correct, the corners of Lin Chu’s mouth lifted into a slight smile.

’Lately, I’ve had this faint feeling, an almost intuitive judgment about people and events. Maybe it’s because I have a larger sample size to draw from, or maybe it’s because I’m standing on higher ground now...’

’It’s like a shooter’s touch in basketball; the moment the ball leaves your hand, you know if it’s going in.’

"That’s great. Time to enjoy life."

"If you’re bored after you retire, you can come be the club president for me. All you’d have to do is play golf every day."

Lin Chu patted his shoulder, making a joke.

Zhou Ming was left speechless.

He couldn’t bring himself to say something flippant like, "Oh, thanks a bunch." Instead, he just gave an elegant, helpless smile. "Ziming is alright, I hope?"

"He’s fine. Let’s not talk about that. What I said just now was just a casual remark."

Lin Chu breezily brushed the topic aside once again.

Just as the two were speaking...

You Shaoqiang approached from the other side with a few friends in tow. Wearing an exaggerated smile, he opened his arms and gave Lin Chu a hug.

"What a power move, truly a power move! This player lineup is almost on par with the Pre-si-dents Cup. Congratulations, congratulations."

Lin Chu laughed and patted his shoulder, then nodded to the people behind You Shaoqiang. "You guys should come by and play more often."

Zhou Ming recognized You Shaoqiang and his companions at a glance. They were all young talents from the United Youth Association, likely the future successors of their respective families. He couldn’t help but be secretly astounded.