Chapter 262 Are You Afraid I'll Compete for Control of TVB?
About forty minutes later, Run Run Shaw arrived right on time.
By then, Lin Haoran had already returned to his private reception room.
"Mr. Shaw, welcome! It's an honor to have you here," Lin Haoran said warmly, personally coming to the door to greet the seventy-something-year-old Shaw.
Out of respect for what Shaw would later do for education and hospitals across mainland China—regardless of criticisms about how he accumulated his wealth—Lin Haoran genuinely respected him.
After all, capitalists exploiting workers was hardly unusual.
"Mr. Lin, sorry to bother you like this," Run Run Shaw chuckled politely.
"Please come in, Mr. Shaw," Lin Haoran smiled, gesturing toward the luxurious and spacious reception room.
The two entered together.
Run Run Shaw walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, admiring the Central skyline and Victoria Harbour.
He couldn't help but show a trace of envy.
Because of the unique nature of the film and television industry, it was rare for entertainment companies to be headquartered in prime business districts like Central.
Even now, despite decades in the entertainment business, Shaw's assets still fell short of being able to easily buy such premium property.
To buy a building like this, he would practically have to sell everything he owned.
Lin Haoran had bought United Building and International Building from Wheelock at the beginning of the year, and now their combined value had already risen significantly.
Today's real estate market was crazily inflated, as was the stock market.
Lin Haoran could have dumped his billions into real estate and doubled his money, then re-entered the stock market.
But he had chosen instead to buy up listed companies early, before competition intensified.
"Nowadays, a building like this must be worth at least HK$800 or HK$900 million," Run Run Shaw sighed.
"At today's market rates, that's about right. But I'm not planning to sell, so its value doesn't mean much to me," Lin Haoran laughed.
Indeed, he wasn't planning to sell Wanqing Building.
Such premium real estate in Central was rare.
Although if necessary, he could consider selling International Building.
By early next year, the property market would peak, and after that, signs of crisis would appear, eventually crashing by late 1982.
Thus, if he wanted to sell, it would have to be at the peak.
The two men sat down.
Run Run Shaw looked at Lin Haoran with a complicated expression.
In terms of pure assets, he was no match for this young man.
He had worked tirelessly for decades and still had less than what Lin Haoran had amassed in just two years.
The gap was staggering.
Even someone as accomplished as Run Run Shaw couldn't help feeling it.
After all, compared to Noel Croucher, Shaw was nothing.
And Lin Haoran had forced Croucher to apologize publicly across all of Hong Kong.
Their disparity was clear.
Thus, Shaw didn't look down on Lin Haoran's youth at all.
"What would you like to drink, Mr. Shaw?" Lin Haoran asked.
"Tea, please. Thank you," Shaw replied without hesitation.
Soon, Zhao Lin, the VIP manager, brought two cups of hot tea and respectfully closed the door.
"You must be here about TVB, right?" Lin Haoran asked with a smile.
"Exactly.
Mr. Lin, may I ask—what are your intentions for acquiring TVB shares?
Do you plan to take over the station?" Run Run Shaw asked bluntly.
That was his greatest fear.
He knew the movie industry was stagnating.
Lee Siu Ho's death had created an opportunity to pivot into television.
While real estate was lucrative, Shaw wasn't interested—it was too unfamiliar.
Film and TV, on the other hand, were connected industries.
As one of TVB's founders, Shaw understood the television business well.
He hadn't seized control before because Lee Siu Ho had been firmly in place.
Now, however, it was his best chance.
The Lee family no longer cared about TVB.
Shaw saw television's bright future clearly.
Soon, he believed, every household in Hong Kong would own a television set.
Everyone would become a TV viewer.
The market potential was unimaginable.
Moreover, Shaw Brothers Pictures had nurtured many actors through TVB over the years, proving TVB's value.
Thus, he had to seize this opportunity to reposition Shaw Brothers for the future.
"Mr. Shaw, you're worried that I might fight you for TVB's leadership, aren't you?" Lin Haoran laughed heartily.
He understood Shaw's ambitions perfectly.
And as a TVB founder, Shaw certainly had the right to lead.
Run Run Shaw paused, feeling as if this young man could see straight through him.
"Yes.
I do intend to become TVB's new chairman," Shaw admitted frankly.
"Mr. Shaw, you have nothing to worry about.
I own many companies: Hongkong Electric, Yingzhou Cement, China Gas, Kowloon Bus, Wan On Properties...
All of them are much larger than TVB in terms of assets.
To be honest, I'm already overwhelmed.
Even HSBC's Shen Bi has invited me to join the bank's board, and I've agreed.
I simply don't have the time or energy to manage every investment.
Thus, I have little interest in running TVB myself.
In fact, I fully support you becoming the next chairman.
Your years of experience in the film industry are invaluable.
Film and television are essentially the same field.
You're the perfect person to lead TVB into a brighter future.
From every perspective, I see no reason to compete with you.
Rest assured, Mr. Shaw.
In my opinion, you're the only one fit to be TVB's chairman.
If anyone else tries to claim it, I would oppose them," Lin Haoran said, laying his cards on the table.
TVB's future growth would rely heavily on Shaw.
Under Shaw's leadership, TVB would thrive.
Otherwise, Lin Haoran would have genuine concerns.
After hearing Lin Haoran's assurances, Run Run Shaw finally relaxed.
If Lin Haoran said it so clearly, he wouldn't backstab him later.
Even though Lin Haoran was a newcomer to TVB's board, Shaw had been worried.
Given Lin Haoran's record of aggressively taking control of companies, Shaw feared he might be quietly building toward majority ownership.
If Lin Haoran wanted full control, no old connections would matter.
Money talks.
Thus, upon learning Lin Haoran had bought the Lee family's shares, Shaw had felt a deep sense of crisis.
Now, hearing Lin Haoran's genuine words, he truly felt relieved.
At least Lin Haoran wouldn't challenge him for the chairmanship.
"Mr. Lin, now that you've invested in TVB, clearly you see potential in the television industry.
Everyone knows TVB's ratings currently trail behind Rediffusion.
How do you think we should turn things around?" Shaw asked suddenly.
He didn't know much about Lin Haoran personally.
He only knew that in just two years, this young man had risen from nowhere to become one of Hong Kong's top tycoons—surpassing even old veterans like himself.
Many even believed Lin Haoran was secretly backed by Citibank.
But regardless of whether that was true, the fact remained that companies like Hongkong Electric and Kowloon Bus were now under Lin Haoran's name.
Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
Hurry up! The promotion ends on March 2, 2026.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1