Chapter 493 - 297: Brothers as Each Other’s Tools

Chapter 493: Chapter 297: Brothers as Each Other’s Tools

However, after co-hosting the Gold Professional Golf League with Mission Hills, his status at the Mission Hills course and with the Zhu Family had indeed improved significantly.

His relationship with his older brother also eased up quite a bit.

His affinity had been certified, so naturally, Lin Chu wasn’t going to give up on him.

Good brothers weren’t like girlfriends; you don’t grow distant or even break up just because you talk less. When it’s time to reconnect, you reconnect.

Zhu Yixian: "Haha, I’m in, definitely. I’m asking my big brother for time off right now. He wasn’t going to approve it, but when I said you were the one who invited me, he gave the okay. I’m heading back to Xiangjiang tonight to tell my dad, then I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning."

All set.

Seeing this message, a smile couldn’t help but appear on Lin Chu’s lips.

It was quite a coincidence, now that he thought about it.

Nine pieces of blue-and-white porcelain, and exactly nine brothers. One for each of them.

’But my core group of brothers hasn’t expanded in a long time. It seems to have solidified.’

Lin Chu had actually considered the reason for this.

As he got richer and richer, the people he met later on were increasingly mixed with ulterior motives. Even if the person was of good character—a pot of good rice, so to speak—it was too late, and the rice had gone cold.

Take You Shaoqiang, for example.

’I actually quite admire him.’

He had even thrown down a billion to support him, but he never received an affinity notification.

This data was determined by the panel; he couldn’t quantify the value himself, but he estimated it was around seventy or eighty.

’That’s actually quite high.’

’But deep down, I still feel it’s not perfect.’

Of course, he wasn’t pursuing perfection anymore.

Follow the course of nature; the moon wanes after it is full.

A large group of people would be arriving tomorrow and the day after.

His brothers, Bian Gaige and the people he was bringing, plus the company’s current executives...

Thinking about it, a touch of excitement quietly rose in Lin Chu’s heart.

’This is... the ideal life.’

...

「The underground parking garage.」

Lu Ming and the others were waiting there, surrounded by a few people who looked like reporters.

A microphone was shoved in Lu Ming’s face; he was clearly being interviewed.

The reporters, of course, knew nothing about what happened behind the scenes. At the auction site, Lu Ming was the star of the show.

—Having boldly spent one hundred million US Dollars to win the most expensive piece of blue-and-white porcelain of the entire event.

As Lin Chu stepped out of the elevator, he saw this scene and quickly realized what was happening. He shook his head with a smile, lit a cigarette, and strolled over leisurely.

Lu Ming looked a little nervous, his face slightly flushed.

The reporter was from Phoenix Finance. He had appeared out of nowhere and insisted on interviewing him.

This was the first time he had ever received this kind of treatment.

He’d just lost his interview virginity.

Seeing Lin Chu approach, he immediately ended the interview and had Ma Teng go turn off the camera.

"Shall we go?"

"All set."

Lin Chu walked over and said with a smile as the group got into the car.

’Wait, was that the real big shot?’ the reporter thought as he snapped back to his senses.

But the opportunity was already gone.

...

「In the car.」

Lu Ming took a sip of water, looking exasperated. He pulled out the gold business card. "Why do I feel like I took the fall for you this time?"

"Damn, being a celebrity is tough."

"Here," he said. "That guy, Old Hei, the one who was bidding against us, insisted on shoving his card into my hand. He even asked for my email. I bet he’s going to message me later..."

"I’m taking all the heat for you, for fuck’s sake!"

He complained weakly.

Lin Chu glanced over and couldn’t help but laugh. "But you also got to act like a big shot for me."

Lu Ming: ...

He rolled his eyes.

"Oh, I should really thank you, shouldn’t I?"

Lin Chu: "Don’t mention it. Next time an opportunity like this comes up, I’ll let you do it again. We’re brothers, aren’t we? Check the group chat. I just told everyone to come over for a couple of days."

He was busy with the interview just now, so of course he hadn’t had time to check his phone. Hearing Lin Chu’s reminder, Lu Ming opened his phone and saw the group chat was buzzing with everyone saying they were coming to Dubai. ℯ

His mood instantly brightened.

Yang Huixian was still in the car, so he didn’t say anything, just raising his eyebrows at Lin Chu. —Time to party?

Lin Chu sniffed.

—Yep!

Lu Ming grinned.

Their understanding was tacit and unspoken.

"How much did you spend in total this time?"

Yang Huixian hadn’t noticed the two men’s subtle exchange. Still lost in her mental calculations, she asked softly.

She was also quite stunned.

Utterly stunned.

She knew Lin Chu was rich, but it wasn’t until the auction was completely over and she did a rough mental calculation that she suddenly understood just how rich he was.

Across the entire event, nine collection pieces, adding up to a total of 2.2 billion!

Twenty-two "small goals"!

What did that even mean?

That was almost as much as the LC Group’s entire building was worth.

’But how could collectibles compare to a building?’

’A building was a hard asset, commercial real estate, while collectibles were nothing more than trinkets.’

’When the cash flow got tight, you could mortgage the real estate at any time for a large sum of money. But collectibles, once acquired, wouldn’t be sold anytime soon.’

’One was an asset.’

’The other was a toy.’

Thinking about such spendthrift behavior made her heart race, and she even felt a little terrified.

’It was too scary.’

"Around 2.2 billion, I suppose. It’s already bought, so why bother counting?"

Lin Chu glanced at her. Seeing her expression was on the verge of "overheating," he replied with a casual smile.

’It wasn’t that she was petty; she just didn’t know his secret.’

Yang Huixian: ...

For a moment, she was speechless.

Lu Ming’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, also feeling rather lost for words.

"This time, my eyes have been truly opened. Like a small knife to the ass."

Ma Teng, who was driving, suddenly couldn’t help but burst out laughing when he heard this.

He really couldn’t hold it in.

"What are you laughing at!"

Lu Ming asked irritably.

"Cough... ahem, sorry, sorry, Brother Ming, I couldn’t help it. I was just thinking about that guy, Old Hei, who gave you the business card."

Hearing this, Lin Chu paused for a second, then suddenly burst out laughing as well.

Even Yang Huixian’s lips couldn’t help but curve up slightly. She looked out the window, trying hard to suppress her laughter.

’Three men really do make a drama!’

’The scale of this conversation... how inappropriate!’

Lu Ming looked at them with a "wounded" expression, then patted himself and started laughing too.

"Damn it!"

"This incident! Don’t bring it up again! Nobody is allowed to bring it up!"

Lin Chu nodded with a smile. Just then, he felt his phone vibrate. A glance showed it was a call from Rashid.

He answered.

"The auction’s over? Congratulations, Chu! You took all nine pieces."

He was quite moved by Lin Chu’s sentiment. For a person to so deeply love their own country and its historical civilization was naturally a very noble act. He even felt it was a kind of Chinese romance.

’As for... money?’

’What was money?’

"Thanks,"

Lin Chu replied casually.

"Are you free tonight? One of my brothers just invited you to his party tonight. It’s going to be a huge party!"

"I just told them about your plan, and they’re quite interested."

"We can talk about it seriously."

"In the Public Investment Fund, the PIF, we all have corresponding investment recommendation quotas. If you’re willing, we can cooperate."

He said, his tone quite excited.

’This Little Prince seemed a bit naïve and simple, but of course, that was just on the surface. He definitely had his own thoughts deep down.’

This auction had, in fact, completely proven Lin Chu’s financial strength.

There were several sovereign wealth funds, and they all had fixed investment quotas. They were just too lazy to look for projects worth investing in.

The quotas from the previous few years had even gone unused.

They had absolutely no motivation to get things done.

’After all...’

’Compared to spending money, what was so interesting about making it?’

Professional matters could be completely handed over to professionals.

For now, it was more of an intention. First, throw the party; first, make friends. As for whether a deal could be made, they’d talk about it first and see.

It was just a matter of a little money, after all.

"Sure, no problem. I’ll be there on time."

Hearing his words, Lin Chu smiled and agreed.

’Business always starts with making friends.’

The sovereign wealth fund here was a true behemoth. Moreover, its investment style had always been primarily about giving money and collecting returns. Their reputation and credibility were excellent, they spent money freely, and they didn’t waste time.

The Little Prince had also mentioned before that they seemed to hold a few percentage points of LV Group’s shares.

’If...’

’...they could join forces, it wasn’t out of the question.’

...

...