Chapter 1: Buying Out Hong Kong
It was a tense meeting between Chinese Communist Party leader and President Ru Chen and billionaire Gabriel Lau. It had been at least thirty years since the pandemic had struck mainland China, and things haven’t been improving since. Not even with the change of leadership had improved the economy whatsoever. The subject matter of buying out Hong Kong came to the minds of the rest of the Chinese Communist party leaders.
“What do you have to bring to the table?” asked President Ru.
The Chinese President was suspicious, the meeting itself was taking place in a disclosed location in Beijing. Gabriel laughed, he felt confident he could convince the Chinese leader to hand over Hong Kong. Though he was an American, it didn’t seem to matter to Gabriel.
“Listen, I can do great things for both China and Hong Kong” continued Gabriel, “if you just let me hear out my proposal.”
The Chinese President rolled his eyes in disbelief that this meeting was ever approved by the politburo of the party. But the mainland economy was in shambles, they needed help from the outside to pump money into the economy. President Ru sighed with a heavy heart.
“Go ahead, I am listening” sighed President Ru.
“Gladly” continued Gabriel.
Gabriel explained to the Chinese President that a warlord who had so much wealth like him through his family’s investments ranging from manufacturing to the medical industry would put both his country and China on good standing. He also stated about the radical opposition to the ruling pro-Beijing outfits in Hong Kong would also be subdued.
“How would you be able to be any different from the ruling pro-Beijing leaders?” asked President Ru.
“I am not from the Communist party, I am an American-Chinese billionaire willing to make Hong Kong a better place to live for everyone” continued Gabriel.
The Chinese President froze over the thought of handing over Hong Kong to someone as inexperience as Gabriel Lau to run the island. But when President Ru gazed at his phone, he noticed the Chinese stock market taking another dive.
“Alright, alright, I will sigh your proposal in selling the island to you” continued President Ru, “just promise me one thing. You will not allow your own country to setup a military base.”
“Do I look like I am someone who works for the military industrial complex to you?” laughed Gabriel.
President Ru shook his head and soon signed the agreement.
“Pleasure doing business with you Mister President” said Gabriel as the two men shook hands.
A flurry of news outlets soon began to cover Gabriel Lau buying out Hong Kong. It was so much of a big deal to everyone around the globe. Gabriel was no doubt the talk of the news cycle. Everywhere anyone went, there was his image signing the agreement with the Chinese President Ru Chen. Gabriel decided to check them all out on social media as he was heading back to his hotel.
“There has been mixed reactions around the world over billionaire Gabriel Lau buying out Hong Kong” said a female reporter.
Soon he switched to another video that was highly critical of him – titled “Gabriel Lau Billionaire Warlord!” Gabriel laughed at the title as he began to watch. A local Hong Konger Dustin Xu spoke adamantly against the purchase of Hong Kong. Gabriel shrugged it off, he didn’t seem to have time to watch the entire video. But Dustin’s video soon began to garner over several million views and a following! Gabriel knew all sides were up and arms over buying out Hong Kong.
