BBC Wales' internal interview at Swansea City had already co to an end.
Cath Carter had heard from Lynn about the Swans' grand rebuilding plan, and that was more than enough to satisfy the dia's appetite.
It was enough for them to produce a full feature program.
However, as noon approached, Carter still showed no intention of leaving.
Naturally, Lynn noticed this.
Although he had spent these years mainly studying football coaching, he had not lacked social experience in daily life.
When it ca to reading expressions and judging people's thoughts, he might not be a seasoned veteran, but he was certainly no beginner either.
If he saw through sothing, there was no need to point it out.
A tacit understanding was enough.
He invited Carter to lunch, and Carter accepted naturally.
The other staff left in the interview vehicle, while Carter got into Lynn's Bentley.
As soon as she got in, Carter smiled and asked, "Where are you taking for lunch?"
Lynn glanced at his phone, started the car, and said casually, "I have a lunch appointnt at noon, but there's no problem bringing you along. If you mind, I can drop you off wherever you want to go."
Carter thought to herself: So it's not a date?
Of course, she did not think a young rich heir like Lynn had fallen in love with her at first sight.
But young rich heirs like him were precisely the more dangerous type.
They knew how to use technique to seduce won, and creating romance was one of the most direct thods.
She had originally thought Lynn would take her to so romantic restaurant and, over lunch, gradually reveal how wealthy he was while they got to know each other.
Or perhaps he would display a gentlemanly and elegant side to prove that he was not rely rich.
But she had guessed wrong.
Even so, she beca even more curious.
What kind of lunch appointnt was Lynn taking her to?
She did not object.
...
Lynn drove to an ordinary street near Swansea Marina.
The surrounding area was full of single-storey houses and looked completely unremarkable.
After parking the car, Lynn brought Carter into a restaurant called Pant-y-Gwydr.
As soon as they entered, a waiter ca over and asked whether Lynn had a reservation.
Lynn said he had booked last night.
After confirming the reservation, the waiter led Lynn and Carter to a table in the northwest corner of the restaurant, beside a window with a pleasant view.
Carter looked around the restaurant.
The décor was warm, and the owner's care could be seen in the delicate interior design. Soft French music played inside.
It was a distinctive French restaurant.
While flipping through the nu, Lynn softly spoke, "The chef here used to be Margaret Thatcher's private chef. Swansea has many places where you can enjoy good food, places like this. Only people who don't understand Swansea would go to high-end hotels like the Hilton, or specifically look for Michelin-starred restaurants."
"Stay here for a few more years, and you'll realize that Swansea's dining scene is full of hidden talents. There are plenty of restaurants like this, completely unassuming from the outside."
Carter rested her chin on one hand.
Since Lynn had said this was a lunch appointnt, naturally other people would be coming as well, so she sat beside him.
Her chest was one-third exposed.
She had not known Lynn for long, but she liked the sound of his voice.
She also liked the way he spoke so seriously, yet occasionally let his eyes naturally glance at her chest.
Lynn handed the nu to Carter.
At that mont, the people he had been waiting for arrived together.
Two middle-aged n over forty, both wearing shirts and suit trousers, entered the restaurant together.
Led by the waiter, they ca to Lynn's table.
Lynn stood up to greet them and said to the two n respectively, "Uncle Leonard, Mr. Green, thank you for honoring with your presence."
When Carter saw the two n walk in, she was imdiately shocked, though she remained calm on the surface and stood up as well.
Of course she knew exactly who these two n were.
Benedict Leonard, the top person in charge of the British Investnt Group's Wales division.
Renault Green, one of the two major property magnates in Wales.
In South Wales, with Swansea as the dividing line, he was the biggest real-estate giant north of the city.
Carter still could not figure out why Lynn had brought her to this kind of social occasion.
Even if it was only lunch, the people you ate with could completely change the nature of the al.
These people would not gather together simply because they were bored and wanted to fill their stomachs.
Benedict Leonard ca forward and hugged Lynn, smiling as he said, "Seeing that you're still ntally normal puts at ease! Hahaha."
Leonard was obviously joking.
Lynn shrugged. "You should go check whether my dad has gone crazy. He suddenly bought Swansea City for !"
"Do I not know his personality? If you were bullied outside, of course he had to help you vent your anger. You've beco a star in the football world this sumr. Truly impressive!"
After saying this, Leonard sat down.
Lynn smiled bitterly.
Then he put away his smile, extended his hand to Renault Green, and said, "The vampire my father and Uncle Leonard used to talk about — today, I finally have the honor of eting you."
Renault Green showed no displeasure at all.
In Wales, his reputation was not particularly good, but it was certainly true that he was very good at making money.
"In the past, your father and I almost ca to blows. I hope you're not as annoying as your father."
After joking, Green also sat down.
The two of them seed to automatically ignore the woman beside Lynn.
They probably treated her as nothing more than a decorative vase accompanying a young rich heir.
Carter had no intention of stealing the spotlight.
The atmosphere right now was just right. If she insisted on introducing herself and making them know who she was, she would only look ridiculous.
One of them was the general manager of the British Investnt Group in Wales, a man who could practically cover the sky with one hand there.
The other was a real-estate tycoon.
She was only a small-ti reporter. Why should they look up to her?
Perhaps only when she beca an independent program presenter would she have a chance of being treated differently.
But she did not feel ignored.
Instead, she developed a strange new impression of Lynn. She could not figure out why Lynn had brought her here.
Perhaps Lynn had not taken it seriously at all.
The waiter served the first course.
Leonard said excitedly, "What a perfect timing. We can start eating right away! I haven't had the roast duck leg here in ages, it's absolutely delicious. Renault, you should try it too."
The group began eating together.
At first, they chatted about random, unrelated topics. Then, when everyone had eaten almost enough, Lynn finally got to the main subject.
"Mr. Green, here is a proposal for several Swansea City projects. Please take a look and tell what the total cost would be."
Lynn handed a docunt to Renault Green.
Green picked up a napkin with his left hand and wiped his mouth, then took the docunt with his right.
He casually flipped through it.
After running through the key information in his mind and calculating for a while, he said, "Expanding the club's training ground, plus the training centre building you want to construct, would be around ten million pounds.
"As for the residential area west of the club, apartnts of two hundred to three hundred square tres cost between three hundred thousand and four hundred thousand pounds each. It's near the city centre, after all, so you have to understand that the price is on the high side."
"You want fifty apartnts, so that would be roughly fifteen to twenty million pounds."
"Then there's the construction of a community area, including staff accommodation and player accommodation. For the whole project, I'll give you a fixed price of twenty million pounds. I'll also throw in a small basketball court, parking area, landscaped greenery, fountains, and other community facilities."
"Let calculate it. Everything you want cos to roughly forty-five to fifty million pounds in total. Considering my relationship with your father, I'll give you the lowest price: forty-five million pounds. And I guarantee you'll get the best."
Lynn nodded, then said to Green, "Very well. Considering that you know my father, and that you also have a cooperative relationship with my family's company, I'll give you a fixed price too: thirty-five million. And I still want the best!"
Renault Green imdiately spread his hands. "Lynn, that's not how business is done. I've already given you the most favorable price. From land acquisition, residential purchases, and project contracting, I'm providing a complete one-stop service. I'll also have to deal with interdiaries. And you're cutting the price by ten million pounds in one go? Impossible!"
Lynn nodded solemnly. "Fine. Then let's just say I treated you to lunch today. We can forget what we just discussed. I'm in a bit of a hurry. This afternoon, I'll talk to Alan Norton and see what kind of quote I can get from him."
Alan Norton was the other major property magnate in Wales.
His main businesses were in Cardiff and the surrounding areas of South Wales.
Renault Green imdiately beca flustered and exasperated.
"Forty million!"
"Thirty-five million."
Lynn smiled and shook his head.
"Thirty-nine million!"
"Co on, don't be like this. We're doing big business here. Show a little courage worthy of big business. Don't haggle back and forth like we're shopping on the street. What's the point?"
"Thirty-five million. You nod, and we can sign the contract this afternoon. Then we shake hands and beco good friends."
"Besides, if this cooperation goes smoothly, I can verbally promise that when Swansea builds a new stadium within the next five years, you'll also get a share of that contract."
Lynn kept smiling the entire ti.
His teasing almost made Carter laugh out loud.
Green's expression kept shifting between cloudy and clear.
In the end, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! Thirty-five million pounds! You little brat, you're just as punchable as your father!"
Lynn burst into laughter. "Many people think my father and I deserve a beating, but no one has ever truly dared to beat us!"
After finishing his discussion with Green, Lynn turned his gaze to Benedict Leonard.
Leonard seed to have already anticipated what was coming.
He said to Lynn, "Go on. If you want sponsorship, sorry. Swansea City is too small. The British Investnt Group won't advertise on Swansea's shirt or around the club. If you want a loan, then bring out sothing valuable as collateral. For example, your shares in Lin Investnt Company."
Leonard naturally knew the purpose behind Lynn inviting him to lunch.
Lynn said with an innocent expression, "I'll use Swansea City as collateral."
Leonard frowned slightly.
Swansea City was not worth much.
He asked, "How much do you want to borrow?"
Lynn glanced at Green and said, "Forty-five million pounds."
Leonard's eyes widened. "Your father only spent three million pounds to buy Swansea City! You're using Swansea as collateral and asking for a forty-five-million-pound loan? On what basis?"
"On the basis that we have club assets worth more than fifty million pounds!"
"Fifty apartnts, a small community for staff and player accommodation — you heard it too, complete with supporting community facilities. If the club goes bankrupt, the bank can take those assets and sell them off. It would absolutely recover the investnt!"
"But you don't have any of that yet!"
"If you lend the money, I'll pay Green. Within half a year, we'll have all of it!"
Only then did Leonard finally react.
This brat Lynn was trying to pull off a no-money-down deal!
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