Chapter 47: World Cup Planning

Huo Wenxi was stunned. Was this a hint for her?

Lu Kuan stopped teasing her: "Don't mind it, I was just joking around. The atmosphere was too tense just now, just trying to lighten the mood."

Huo Wenxi smiled along, waved goodbye to him, and walked through the veranda in her high heels.

The veranda was long. Huo Wenxi was wearing a tight professional skirt suit today, which perfectly showcased the excellent hip-to-leg ratio of a beautiful young woman.

The "click-clack" of her high heels rose and fell rhythmically. She felt her back and hips being invaded by a gaze, causing a slight burning sensation.

Taking the opportunity of getting into the car, she snuck a glance back. The sharp-featured young man was smiling and waving at her. Huo Wenxi’s pretty face flushed slightly, and she quickly looked away.

Anita Mui was currently basically on leave. The cure rate for early-stage cervical cancer is very high, but there is a certain risk of recurrence.

She had to go through more than a year of initial treatment; this was the minimum duration required for a potential cure.

Lu Kuan had basically achieved the purpose of this trip. After spending two days relaxing in international waters with Anita Mui, he urged her to rest with peace of mind and then set off on his journey north.

It was still Wang Minhui who personally saw him off to the airport.

"Sister Hui, do you know any sports betting bosses in Xiangjiang?"

Wang Minhui was so shocked she almost rear-ended the car in front. She hadn't expected him to ask such a question.

"Mr. Lu, the risks of gambling are too high, and it's a bad habit. Sister Mui will be angry if she finds out."

Lu Kuan laughed: "A little bet is just for fun. Have you forgotten I'm a little immortal?"

Wang Minhui was noncommittal, thinking to herself that even if you were the Jade Emperor descended to earth, you wouldn't necessarily be able to outplay those big bookmakers.

There is currently no legal sports betting market in Xiangjiang. This might shatter everyone's perception, but it is indeed the case.

Xiangjiang even revised its gambling ordinances before the 2002 World Cup kicked off, so as to prevent a large volume of illegal betting markets from affecting the revenue of their horse racing industry.

It wasn't until July 2003, realizing that blocking is not as effective as channeling, that the SAR government issued an exclusive license to the Jockey Club to compete against the massive underground market.

The reason Boss Lu asked her if she knew anyone in Xiangjiang involved in gambling was because he wanted to use a large sum of capital to participate in World Cup betting; the pools in the mainland were still a bit too small.

Secondly, it was also to avoid suspicion. In the future, he would be a public figure appearing both in front of and behind the scenes, launching works and building a persona as an actor and director; it wouldn't be very suitable for news to break that he had participated in large-scale gambling.

Therefore, placing moderate bets through an intermediary in Xiangjiang was the best choice.

Furthermore, being reborn doesn't automatically mean you'll definitely get rich buying sports bets or stocks.

Take the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, for example. Even if the Koreans had planned in advance to eliminate Spain in the quarterfinals through off-the-pitch tactics, the referees carrying out the mission still had to assess the situation.

The football pitch is full of uncertainty and randomness. A defender's clearance error or a striker's offside misjudgment will drastically change the course of a match.

This would cause bookmakers to change their corresponding actions on the fly. The saying that a man cannot step into the same river twice means exactly this.

Therefore, Lu Kuan decided to observe in secret first, see if the Koreans could successfully reach the quarterfinals, and then make a decision based on the point spreads and odds at that time.

Of course, before that, he had to find a stable and safe betting channel that could quietly convert these gains into legal income.

Wang Minhui felt a bit helpless, but since they had started working together, his sophistication and maturity—including the calmness and professionalism he showed during negotiations—convinced her that Lu Kuan was a person who knew how to balance entertainment and moderation.

"I'll ask around, and I'll let you know if I have any news."

Lu Kuan had originally intended to plan this hidden path to gold through sports betting in Xiangjiang before returning to Jingcheng, but a phone call from Zhuang Xu changed his itinerary.

According to the traits of the manager his junior brother said the blog needed most, he had contacted a startup-oriented talent who was almost tailor-made to Lu Kuan's requirements.

A university graduate with connections, who understands computer technology, and is young with a strong ability to accept new things.

"What's his name? Wang Xing?"

Zhuang Xu said impatiently: "Hurry up, I've already made an appointment to meet him at 6 PM tonight, he has to go back to the United States tomorrow."

He was also a graduate of Huaching. After being entrusted by his junior brother before the New Year, he had posted "hero notices" on well-known BBS forums like Shui Mu Qing Hua and Wei Ming Lake, but they had always fallen on deaf ears.

Established managers in the industry had absolutely no possibility of abandoning mature portals to come and struggle in his small, broken workshop.

This time, it was Wang Xing, who had the urge to start a business, who took the initiative to get to know this investment banking elite through a friend's introduction; this was a connection he could use for future financing.

"Brother Xu, when is Boss Lu arriving?"

"Don't be impatient, Little Wang. He went to Xiangjiang for business and is just rushing back this afternoon."

Wang Xing had just graduated last year and had entered the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Delaware in the United States on a full scholarship; he was currently only a freshman.

There is no Spring Festival holiday abroad; this was his first time returning home to visit relatives since the previous semester.

"Xiangjiang? All the opportunities are in the mainland now; going to Xiangjiang is a waste."

Wang Xing habitually criticized everything.

Zhuang Xu frowned. He was used to observing clients from an investor's perspective, and it was obvious that Wang Xing was not his preferred type.

He had been complaining to him all the way until now—complaining about the US, complaining about Huaching, complaining about investors, talking to himself...

It takes a villain to deal with a villain; this kind of fly should be left for that little bastard Lu Kuan to properly discipline.

Lu Kuan walked into the restaurant and clearly spotted a young man with thinning hair and round-rimmed glasses spouting off, while his senior brother Zhuang Xu looked like he had lost the will to live.

"Hello, you're Little Wang, right?"

Wang Xing looked up, furious. Who is this? Calling him a little bastard right off the bat!

Zhuang Xu almost couldn't hold back his laughter and chimed in at the right moment: "Hello, Boss Lu. This is student Wang Xing."

In front of Wang Xing, he had built a persona for Lu Kuan as a second-generation elite from the film and television circle who was dabbling in the internet industry just for fun.

Lu Kuan did this intentionally; he knew these self-proclaimed lofty Huaching engineering guys too well.

Full of ideals and ambitions, having just graduated, they couldn't wait to start pointing fingers at the world.

You have to strike down their psychological superiority and destroy their Maginot Line before they can better sell their lives for you later.

Wang Xing couldn't even be bothered with small talk and went straight to the point: "Hello, Boss Lu! I heard Brother Xu introduce the Web 2.0 concept you proposed, but I think there are still many flaws."

Lu Kuan almost spat his tea in his face. You really are a contrarian, you're a total ETC—an automatic contrarian!

In later generations, Wang Xing would argue with Ma Yun, argue with Lei Jun, argue with Ren Zhenfei, arguing across the world without a rival...

Things like saying the national football team couldn't beat the Huaching school team, subtly mocking Huawei, and repeatedly making wrong predictions about Meituan, led to him being jokingly called the internet's most sharp-tongued commentator.

Lu Kuan was noncommittal: "Tell me your thoughts."

Wang Xing’s eyes lit up, ready to sell his internet ideas to these two investors—one public, one private—Lu Kuan and Zhuang Xu.

(End of chapter)