Chapter 89: "Keep the good stuff in the family"

From the moment Su Hao stepped into the opulent sales office, listening to the overly enthusiastic and effusive introductions from the saleswomen, a faint, unsettling signal began to stir within him.
But this signal was so faint, almost imperceptible, fleeting and uncertain.
He couldn't quite understand what this intuition was trying to tell him.
Could it be… that there was something wrong with the 'Changqing Tianxi' project itself?
'Damn! Could it be a shoddy construction project?' Su Hao's heart skipped a beat.
But then he thought again, and realized it was unlikely.
This was Changqing Group's flagship project in Shanghai. To dare cut corners on such a project would be suicidal.
So, if it wasn't a problem with the building itself, could it be that Changqing Group was about to cause some trouble?
"..."
While his family was still enthusiastically touring the model apartment, Su Hao quietly took out his phone and quickly searched for the latest news about Changqing Group on the screen.
[Changqing Group Chairman Shen Chengjia's successor arrangement has been finalized; his eldest son, Shen Zeju, will take full control of the business empire.]
[Changqing Group's next leader is locked in as eldest son Shen Zeju? Second son Shen Zekai focuses on his personal empire; smooth transition of family succession?]
Currently, Changqing Group is at a critical juncture in its power transition.
Although former Chairman Shen Chengjia announced his retirement several years ago, handing over the chairmanship to his eldest son, Shen Zeju, his influence remains, and it is widely believed that the handover has been successfully completed.
This is standard practice within Hong Kong's wealthy families; the eldest son inherits the family business, while the second son pursues other ventures—nothing unusual.
However, the following pieces of "old news rehashed" made Su Hao frown slightly.
These reports, while emphasizing a smooth transition of power, would inadvertently mention the second son, Shen Zekai's, consideration for the bigger picture.
He casually clicked on an interview with Shen Zekai, the second son of Shen Chengjia, the former chairman of Changqing Group—the same Shen Zekai who publicly stated he had "no intention of vying for power" and was "focused on emerging businesses."
However, the moment he clicked on the interview—
"!?!"
Buzz—!!!
An indescribable, incredibly intense tremor, like an electric current, suddenly surged through his entire body!
Su Hao shuddered violently, as if struck by lightning; he nearly dropped his phone onto the gleaming Italian marble floor!
"Ah Hao, what's wrong? You look terrible," his mother was the first to notice something was wrong with her son and asked with concern.
"It's nothing, Mom, I guess I was just seeing things."
Su Hao forced a smile, but the turmoil in his heart was far from calm.
That tremor was no accident; it was definitely his intuition telling him something!
Changqing Group…Shen Zekai…there must be something seriously wrong here!
He no longer had the mind to continue touring the showroom and told his family, "Dad, Mom, I have an urgent meeting at work, I have to go back first."
Although his family was somewhat puzzled, seeing his unusually serious expression, they didn't ask further.
He only had one thought in his mind now—to immediately find out what Changqing Group was hiding!
***
In the director's office at Fanghuan Investment, Su Hao was reviewing the information on Changqing Group that the R&D department had specially compiled for him.
Hundreds of billions of Hong Kong dollars...
This was only the financial statement of Changqing Group's listed companies; its underwater assets were immeasurable.
Changqing Group, a business behemoth that rose from the small island of Hong Kong, with operations spanning multiple countries globally, encompassing almost every conceivable lucrative industry—real estate, ports, retail, energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, etc.
Its listed companies are as numerous as stars in the sky, with its port real estate generating enormous profits daily.
"After the major restructuring of Changqing Group, the successor was already decided. The eldest son, Shen Zeju, is firmly in control.
The second son, Shen Zekai, although also highly capable, seems to be preferred by the old man to develop new businesses rather than getting involved in the core real estate and infrastructure projects."
"So far, it seems everyone's settled, and nothing's gone wrong."
Liang Haiyuan reported to Su Hao.
"So, things are calm at Changqing Group right now, no major issues?"
"Yes, Mr. Su. The succession arrangements are basically finalized, and their landmark 'Changqing' building project will be completed next year.
Rumor has it that they faced a cash flow problem during construction, but it was probably resolved through internal borrowing."
Su Hao flipped through the publicly available information about Changqing Group and the in-depth report compiled by his team. The complex shareholding structure diagram made his eyes twitch.
Fortunately, the R&D department had worked overnight to create a detailed mind map, which he could barely understand:
This is a typical Hong Kong tycoon's strategy—circular shareholding.
To put it bluntly, it's a web of subsidiaries, sub-subsidiaries, and great-grandchildren holding shares in each other, weaving a stock market network a hundred times more complex than a spider's web.
The ultimate goal is to leverage tiny, insignificant shares to gain control of the entire business empire.
Such an ingenious, or rather, ruthless structure is probably possessed by only a handful within the entire Changqing Group.
However, as Su Hao's gaze continued to dig deeper, he discovered something amiss:
"Currently, Changqing Group operates its global business through its two flagship listed companies, 'Cheung Kong Holdings' and 'Cheung Kong Holdings,' right?
But above these two platforms, there's a 'retired emperor' weighing heavily."
Su Hao's fingertip lightly tapped a spot on the document.
"You mean... this... registered in the Cayman Islands, 'Changqing Global Trust'?"
Liang Haiyuan leaned closer, following Su Hao's fingertip.
“Yes,” Su Hao’s lips curled into a meaningful smile.
“The true lifeline of the Changqing Group is actually held in the hands of this family trust and several key privately held companies controlled by it.”
To put it bluntly, the real decision-makers regarding the group’s fate don’t reside on the board of directors of the listed company, but rather in those family meetings that are not open to the public.
“This family trust plus multiple layers of offshore companies, and the circular shareholding scheme… the more I look at it, the more I wonder…
How do these top billionaires think? It’s so convoluted, more complicated than the Kowloon Walled City!”
Liang Haiyuan rubbed his temples, feeling like his CPU was about to burn out.
A meticulously designed legal framework allows for the firm control of a vast business empire.
This operation, devised by some top lawyers and trust experts, is practically an art form of modern capital operation, enough to confuse any outsider trying to understand the truth.
And among family businesses in Hong Kong and even globally that play this "Russian doll" game of equity, Changqing Group is undoubtedly the one with the most layers, the most complex structure, and the most breathtaking—truly the "King of Matryoshka Dolls"!
"But speaking of which, Mr. Su,"
Liang Haiyuan asked tentatively,
"Why are you suddenly so interested in Changqing Group... Perhaps you've sensed some great opportunity?"
"Oh, nothing, just taking a look."
Su Hao brushed it off lightly,
"I just saw the news that their family's succession issue, which was settled years ago, has been brought up again, so I'm just a little curious."
He wouldn't reveal that his sudden and intense interest in Changqing Group was...
It was because that day, in the magnificent, futuristic sales showroom of Changqing Group, that he was gathering information about the company online...
A seemingly ordinary news report triggered a long-dormant radar in his mind, making it beep incessantly. The feeling was so intense it sent chills down his spine!
It was an interview with Shen Zekai, the second son of Shen Chengjia, chairman of the Changqing Group, a man who had always presented himself as "humble and low-key," and "focused on innovation"...
He was giving a heartfelt and earnest speech in front of the camera, vowing to "fully support his elder brother Shen Zeju, and together to carry forward the Changqing Group and create new glories in emerging technology fields."
At that moment, Su Hao felt an inexplicable "current" shoot from his tailbone to the top of his head, sending a shiver down his spine!
'Something's not right...' he murmured, rubbing his chin.
'Of all the news about the Changqing Group, why is it this one that feels so off?'
The other reports, whether about Shen Zeju's leadership style or the Changqing Group's global business expansion, were all uneventful.
This seemingly harmonious and perfect report about "brotherly love" and "willingness to play a supporting role"...
made him feel as if beneath the calm surface of Victoria Harbour, turbulent currents were surging, ready to unleash a cataclysmic wave that could topple the entire corporation at any moment!
A thought, like a will-o'-the-wisp, flickered in his mind, growing clearer and clearer:
'Could it be... that this Shen Zekai has been lying all along? Or rather, that he's been acting!'