Looking at Li Yi’s smug expression, Zhou Xinghua couldn’t help but recall the scene that had unfolded in the living room two days earlier.
That day, this young man had made a bet with the Chairman with exactly the same expression!
As a result, the Chairman had no choice but to vacate Cloud Peak No. 1 and hand it over to him.
Now that this young man was clearly trying to trick his own young master again, Zhou Xinghua naturally couldn’t let his master fall for it.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he spoke up to warn Li Yunbao.
“Young Master…”
However, before he could finish, Li Futiao cut him off, saying, “Xinghua, go to the study and bring me the items on the desk!”
Zhou Xinghua was no fool; he could tell from the tone that the chairman didn’t want him to get involved in this matter.
He rose decisively and headed toward the study.
Meanwhile, Li Yunbao hadn’t noticed anything amiss at all; instead, he stared at Li Yi and asked, “How do you want to bet?”
Li Yi smiled and said, “It’ll take a long time to get below 700 points. How about this: you name a number, and I’ll guess when it’ll be reached. Let’s bet on that!”
“Hahaha, a bet like that? That’s truly a rarity. Do you really think of yourself as a stock market guru?” Li Yunbao said with a laugh.
He simply couldn’t believe anyone could predict stock market trends with such accuracy—let alone pinpoint the exact day a certain level would be reached—unless they were possessed by a divine being.
“I have no interest in being some ‘stock god,’ but I do trust my own judgment!” Li Yi said calmly.
Li Yunbao immediately replied, “Since you’re so confident, I’ll take you up on that bet. But what’s the stake? Just so you know, I don’t have much money.”
“Haha, betting money is so boring!”
Li Yi then added, “Here’s the deal: if you lose, you work for me for three years. After three years, you’re free to go!”
“You want me to work for you? Do you even know what I do?”
“I know—you’re a lawyer. As it happens, I’ve just set up an investment firm on Hong Kong Island, and I happen to need a legal counsel. You seem like the perfect fit!” Li Yi said.
“Interesting. But what if you lose? What can you offer in return?”
Li Yi smiled and said, “I’ve told you what I want as a prize. What do you want? You tell me.”
Li Yunbao frowned, then said, “I won’t take advantage of you. If you lose, you have to leave Hong Kong Island and aren’t allowed to set foot here for three years!”
Hearing this, Li Futiao’s expression shifted slightly; his son had gone a bit too far.
He’d intended for Li Yi to knock some of the arrogance out of his son, but he hadn’t expected the young man to dare propose such a wager.
“Yunbao…”
Before Li Fuzhao could finish his sentence, Li Yi said with a laugh, “Alright, I accept your wager!”
Li Yunbao looked at Li Yi and said, “1,200 points. You tell me when the Hang Seng Index will drop to that level. If you’re right, I lose; if you’re wrong, you lose!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Li Yi replied, “The second trading day of next week—August 4th!”
“Alright, then we’ll wait and see. I hope you don’t try to back out when the time comes!” Li Yunbao said.
“I’ll stand by my bet—I’ve got enough guts for that!”
Then Zhou Yang suddenly grinned and said to Li Yunbao, “Attorney Li, I’m looking forward to you joining us!”
Just as Li Yunbao was about to speak, he heard a series of heavy footsteps approaching from behind.
Turning around, he saw his father’s assistant, Zhou Xinghua, walking over with a stack of documents, which he respectfully placed on the dining table in front of his father.
“Chairman!”
Li Fu gave him a nod, then pushed the documents directly toward Li Yi, saying, “Mr. Li Yi, you’ve accepted the challenge—here are the property transfer documents for Villa No. 1 at Cloud Peak. From now on, that place is yours!”
Li Yi didn’t hesitate; he took the documents and put them away.
Standing nearby, Li Yunbao and Li Yunling were both stunned—they both knew exactly what the Cloud Peak Villa was.
Stunned, Li Yunbao immediately stood up and said, “Dad, didn’t you say that Villa No. 1 at Cloud Peak was Yunling’s dowry? Why are you giving it away?”
Li Fu gave his troublesome son a sidelong glance before replying, “A couple of days ago, I made a bet with this Mr. Li Yi—and I lost. The stakes were this property, Villa No. 1 at Yunding!”
“What…?”
Li Yunbao was instantly dumbfounded. Not only had his old man bet his sister’s dowry, but he’d actually lost!
“What did you bet on? Why such a big stake?”
“What we bet on doesn’t matter. What matters is that your old man lost!” Li Fuzhao said nonchalantly.
Li Yunbao, meanwhile, shook his fist at Li Yi and said defiantly, “This time, I’m definitely going to win!”
“Your dad said the same thing two days ago!”
“Uh…”
Seeing his son repeatedly get the short end of the stick at Li Yi’s hands, Li Futiao couldn’t help but nod.
Among his peers in the younger generation, there weren’t many who could keep his son in check. If Li Yi could really help him learn some patience, it might not be a bad thing.
As for the wager, Li Futiao hadn’t given it a second thought.
Setting aside whether Li Yi would actually hire his son at his company, what difference would it make even if he did?
His son had no intention of taking over the family business anyway. Working at that company wouldn’t make much of a difference—and who knows, maybe he’d learn more by working with Li Yi!
“Mr. Li Yi, from what you’ve said, it sounds like you plan to settle down and develop your business in Hong Kong for the long term. Is that correct?” Li Fuzhao asked, looking at Li Yi.
“That is my intention!”
“Then I’m curious—which industry do you plan to enter, Mr. Li Yi?”
“I haven’t quite figured that out yet, but for now, I’ve had Old Huang register two companies on my behalf!” Li Yi replied.
“Oh, what kind of companies are they?”
“One is a security firm, and the other is an investment firm!”
Upon hearing Li Yi’s words, Li Fu fell silent.
He could understand an investment firm, but he simply couldn’t fathom why Li Yi would set up a security company.
This was a murky business—even the local tycoons and powerful families on Hong Kong Island couldn’t navigate it easily. How could Li Yi, a young outsider, possibly break into this industry?
“We welcome Mr. Li Yi to Hong Kong. Once your company officially opens, the Far East Group looks forward to collaborating with you!”
Hearing this, Li Yi realized that Li Futao was conveying the Li family’s stance: they did not oppose him.
If Li Yi and his team could gain a foothold in Hong Kong, they would be more than happy to work with him!
“Hahaha, there will definitely be opportunities!”
Li Yi then added, “By the way, Chairman Li, I want Lan Xinyi and her trading team. Name your terms!”
Originally, Li Fuzhao hadn’t had much of an impression of Lan Xinyi and the others, but over the past few days, due to Li Yi’s short-selling of the Hang Seng Index, he had taken notice of those young women.
Hearing that Li Yi actually wanted to poach those young women, he smiled and said, “Since Mr. Li Yi has taken a liking to them, it’s their honor. I’ll have their contracts sent over tomorrow!”
“Thank you so much!”
Li Yi then glanced at Li Yunbao beside him and said to Li Fuzhao again, “Chairman Li, I, Li Yi, have never liked owing anyone anything, especially favors. How about this—let me cast a divination for you!”
“Divination? I had no idea Mr. Li Yi had such a hobby. However, I personally don’t place much stock in feng shui, so let’s just skip it,” said Li Futiao.
Standing nearby, Li Yunbao frowned and said, “Feng shui and divination are nothing but tricks to play on people’s fears. Our Li family doesn’t believe in that sort of thing!”
Huang Lixing, who was standing nearby and knew Li Yi’s capabilities, hurriedly interjected, “Mr. Li, it’s rare for Brother Li Yi to be in the mood to read someone’s fortune. Just treat it as a bit of fun—it certainly can’t hurt!”
Li Futiao noticed that Huang Lixing’s attitude seemed a bit off, so he knew something was amiss. After thinking for a moment, he said, “All right, then. We’ll trouble you, Mr. Li!”
Li Yi smiled and said, “Your son’s brow is dark, his forehead is ashen, his cheeks are dull, and his ears lack luster—all ominous signs. Barring any surprises, he’s in for a bloody disaster in the near future!”
Before Li Futiao could speak, Li Yunbao glared at Li Yi and said, “The ‘bloodshed’ Master Li speaks of—surely you don’t mean a nosebleed from a heat stroke?”
“A bloodshed disaster is a sign of great misfortune. Though his life will be spared, he will suffer a substantial financial loss. I have said all I need to say!”
With that, Li Yi said no more, rose immediately, and took his leave of Li Futiao.
He then left the Li family estate together with Huang Lixing, leaving behind a deeply furrowed Li Futiao and a huffing and puffing Li Yunbao…
………..