?
Amidst the sea of surprised gazes fixated upon him, Liu Yong's lips curled into a faint smile, carrying an air of confidence. "Indeed, I am none other than Liu Yong, hailing from the illustrious Global Shipping Group that you just mentioned," he calmly affirmed.
In an instant, an uproar erupted!
"You are truly Liu Yong!"
"The CEO of the esteemed Global Shipping Group!"
The astonishment on everyone's faces deepened, and some even stood there with gaping mouths, utterly dumbfounded by the revelation. Meng Hengsheng, too, found himself struck dumb, his face gradually reddening.
After all, he had just boasted about having met the CEO of the Global Shipping Group on multiple occasions, emphasizing his age as being in his thirties. Yet, here stood Liu Yong, who had only recently graduated from university and was not even twenty-five years old yet.
Silence engulfed the scene.
Each individual was immersed in a state of profound shock.
"My classmate is the CEO of the Global Shipping Group... it's beyond belief!"
Breaking the silence, Lu Xiujie was the first to find his voice. "Liu Yong, you are absolutely incredible! A young magnate with billions of dollars under your command."
"Liu Yong, hand out some red envelopes! We'd love to snatch them."
"Yes, present us with those generous red envelopes once more."
Liu Yong nodded, his response resolute. "No problem, everyone, get ready. I shall bestow upon you red envelopes aplenty."
In an instant, nearly twenty individuals whipped out their smartphones. Someone even excitedly announced in the group, urging everyone to prepare themselves for the impending shower of red envelopes courtesy of Mr Liu.
Liu Yong retrieved his mobile phone and promptly sent out thirty red envelopes worth 2,000 yuan each.
Within a mere five seconds, all thirty red envelopes were claimed, snatched by eager hands.
"Haha! Luck favors me today! I managed to seize 182 yuan!"
"I grabbed over a hundred as well!"
Inside Mr Zhang's room, the recipients of the red envelopes rejoiced, their faces alight with joy.
Meng Hengsheng, on the other hand, stood there with an embarrassed expression, realizing that the tables had turned completely. No longer the centre of attention, he watched as Liu Yong, the absolute focal point, basked in adoration.
"What in the world is happening?"
"I feel like I've missed out on a fortune!"
"Whoa! I didn't receive such a grand red envelope..."
"Mr. Liu, please send another one! Send another round!"
The voices in the group clamoured for another wave of red envelopes, and Liu Yong, ever generous, responded to their call. "Pay heed, everyone! I am prepared to bestow upon you another round of red envelopes."
Upon Liu Yong's announcement, the entire group fell into instant silence. The twenty or so students by Liu Yong's side swiftly whipped out their smartphones, and their guard raised high, fearful of missing out on the impending shower of generosity.
Liu Yong once again sent out thirty red envelopes, each worth 2,000 yuan. Should anyone fail to seize one, it would be their own doing.
Within a mere three seconds, all thirty red envelopes were snatched away.
The group erupted into a frenzy once more.
Ms Zhang checked the time, her face beaming with a smile. "Everyone, let's refrain from requesting more red envelopes from Liu Yong. We shall now head to the hotel."
"Oh, let's proceed to the hotel then."
Everyone rose from their seats, one after another, and made their way downstairs. They were now en route to the hotel, where preparations for the celebratory dinner were underway.
As they descended, several classmates arrived in their vehicles. Meng Hengsheng, for instance, drove an excellent off-road vehicle worth over 300,000 yuan, while Mao Yiming opted for a modest domestic sedan.
Had it not been for Liu Yong's presence, Meng Hengsheng would have undoubtedly been the centre of attention. His off-road vehicle, boasting a price tag surpassing 300,000 yuan, was undeniably the most impressive among the cars. However, at this very moment, all eyes were captivated by the sight of a Rolls-Royce.
"Wow, a Rolls-Royce!"
"Liu Yong, is this your car?"
Liu Yong nodded, opening the car door with grace. "Teacher, and Teacher's wife, please grace my car with your presence."
Radiating happiness, Teacher Zhang hopped into the car while envy consumed the rest of the students, their eyes brimming with longing.
A brave female classmate said, "Liu Yong, can I also join you in your car? Is that alright?"
Having never experienced the luxury of a Rolls-Royce before, it was only natural for her to desire such an opportunity. To her immense delight, Liu Yong agreed. "Step inside, there's still room. Whoever gets here first."
Before his words could fully settle, another female classmate gleefully boarded the vehicle. The remaining students stood there, a mix of envy, regret, and mild disappointment.
Mao Yiming, however, stood there dumbfounded, as if he had seen this Rolls-Royce before.
The journey to the hotel commenced.
Within the hotel premises, Liu Yong was the undeniable centre of attention. Many classmates grew closer to him, while some even inquired about potential employment opportunities within his company.
After the sumptuous meal, Liu Yong decided against returning home immediately. Instead, he headed to the residence of his future in-laws, joining them for dinner before eventually making his way back.
The following day dawned.
Liu Yong returned to the bustling city of Huahai, leaving Liu Hongfu and his wife behind as they opted to prolong their stay in their hometown—an arrangement that met no objections from Liu Yong.
Days turned into weeks.
The Global Shipping Group proudly unveiled yet another massive vessel, freshly delivered from the Qidong Shipyard. This time, it was a colossal oil tanker boasting a capacity exceeding 200,000 tons.
With each new addition to their fleet, the Global Shipping Group's prowess in crude oil transportation soared to greater heights, paralleled by an expansion in their overall scale.
Off the Persian Gulf, in the heart of the Middle East.
An oil tanker glided steadily toward the Persian Gulf, its destination fixed on one of the crude oil ports nestled within the expansive gulf. The vessel, belonging to the Proton Group, weighed a staggering 100,000 tons.
Onboard, Captain Guan Yuankai contemplated the voyage ahead. "In just one more day, we shall enter the Persian Gulf," he mused silently.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, his gaze froze.
His attention snapped to the distant horizon, where three minuscule black dots gradually grew more prominent against the vast expanse of the sea—three speedboats racing toward their location.
Could it be pirates?
A slight unease swept over him, and he promptly reached for the binoculars, training his sights on the approaching vessels. Within moments, his expression shifted drastically.
Yes, they were undoubtedly pirates.
Through the telescope's lens, Guan Yuankai could discern the menacing figures aboard those speedboats, brandishing weapons in their hands. There was no mistaking their intent—they were pirates.
"Man the battle stations! Pirates spotted!"
His thunderous cry sent shockwaves through the ship, spreading panic among the crew. No one had anticipated encountering pirates in these supposedly safe waters—a stroke of highly ill fortune.
The three pirate speedboats closed in at breakneck speed, quickly encircling the oil tanker. The outcome seemed inevitable.
After approximately thirty minutes of resistance, the pirates successfully took control of the vessel, changing its course to an undisclosed destination.
The crew, including Captain Guan Yuankai, were rounded up and detained. They had been members of the Proton Group a mere thirty minutes prior, but now they found themselves captives in the pirates' clutches.
In Liu Yong's office, he sat sipping his coffee while perusing through some documents until a knock on the door interrupted his focus.
Hu Shijun, his subordinate, entered the room. "Brother Yong, we've just received news that a Proton Group oil tanker has been hijacked by pirates off the Persian Gulf. The pirates are demanding a ransom of 50 million US dollars."
Liu Yong's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you certain it's the Persian Gulf? It's always been a relatively safe region."
Hu Shijun affirmed, "Brother Yong, it's indeed the sea off the Persian Gulf, approximately 300 nautical miles away."
As the weight of the situation settled upon Liu Yong, his expression grew grave. The sea area in question was one that Global Shipping Group vessels frequently traversed, and now, there were pirates present.
Fully aware of the gravity of the matter, Hu Shijun reported, "I've already sent a situation report to all our ships, urging everyone to stay vigilant and be on guard against pirates."
...
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