In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Time quickly passed, and evening arrived.

Forbes headquarters, Midtown Manhattan, New York.

Malcolm Forbes stood in his office, decorated in the style of a 19th-century English club, swirling a crystal glass containing a bottle of 1945 Château Mouton Rothschild.

Below him stretched the entire skyline of Midtown Manhattan, neon lights covering the whole city like a galaxy bowing down beneath his feet.

A color television set sat on a cabinet in the corner, currently replaying CNN's financial channel.

On the television screen, a CNN financial channel host was seriously discussing "the impact of Hong Kong's real estate bubble on Asia's emerging rich," with the camera occasionally cutting to photos of Lin Haoran giving a speech at MIT.
The guest sitting opposite him was none other than Malcolm Forbes himself.

This was a live interview he gave this afternoon, but CNN is just rebroadcasting it again tonight.

"Do you think it's possible for a young man from the East, not even thirty years old, to accumulate $113 billion in wealth in just three years?" Malcolm laughed.

He smiled confidently in front of the camera and said in his characteristic slow, aristocratic tone, "In the business world, transparency and sustainability are the real touchstones."

Some seemingly dazzling new stars, only when the tide goes out do we see who's been swimming naked.

After receiving an invitation for a financial interview from CNN, he readily accepted.

The effect would definitely be even better if it were combined with an article from Forbes magazine.

In this way, the Oriental Rich List naturally loses its authority.

When Forbes releases its list of America's richest people, it will still be the sole authoritative benchmark for global wealth.

Looking at himself speaking eloquently on the TV screen, Malcolm took a satisfied sip of red wine.

The 1945 Mouton Rothschild has tannins softened to the extreme, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar and a hint of tobacco, which unfold elegantly on the tongue.

Wines from this vintage have a global stock of only a few hundred bottles, and every sip is a symbol of power and taste.

He liked the feeling of sitting atop Manhattan, looking down on the masses, defining in words who was real gold and who was just a bubble.

Even if the other party is much wealthier than him, so what?

"Boss, I just got news that CNN's financial channel broke viewership records this afternoon!"

Assistant Jennifer burst through the door excitedly, holding the latest viewership data in her hand, and said, "Your interview has put CNN Business at the top of the ratings charts!"

Malcolm took a sip of red wine, his smile deepening.

This means that his interview has been seen by many people in the United States.

The wine melts on the tongue, carrying the rich aroma of blackcurrant and cedar, much like the taste of power.

"What's the reaction on Wall Street?" he asked casually.

"Wall Street has not reacted yet, but according to the results of our Forbes research department, Lin Haoran, who was originally thought to have become an idol for many young people by successfully predicting the decline of the US stock market, has now seen his reputation rapidly decline. The prestige of Forbes over the years is ultimately not something that those suddenly emerging nouveau riche can shake."

Jennifer's words carried a hint of flattery, but she quickly added, "However, boss, I just received some bad news."

Malcolm raised an eyebrow and gently placed his glass on the desk: "Speak."

“According to news from Hong Kong, Lin Haoran announced at the Governor’s Office in Hong Kong the establishment of a revival fund company with a scale of HK$200 billion, of which Mr. Lin’s companies will invest HK$183.2 billion!” Jennifer said somewhat seriously.

Malcolm was taken aback at first, then laughed and said, "HK$183.2 billion, do you believe it? I reckon it's just an empty promise to revitalize Hong Kong's real estate industry!"

"Boss, you're right. Our team's discussion also leads to this conclusion, because we haven't received any information yet about the actual payment of this money."

"And another piece of good news, boss: the latest issue of Forbes magazine, with 30 copies prepared in advance, sold out across the US in just one day."

Sold out?

Malcolm's lips curled into a deeper smile as he picked up his glass again, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the dazzling Manhattan skyline.

The neon lights danced in his eyes, reflecting a triumphant glow.

"When the truth is revealed, when the emperor's new clothes are torn off, people always yearn to see the body called 'wealth bubble,' whether the bubble is real or something we 'help' them 'see'."

Jennifer told the head of marketing, "Print an additional 500,000 copies—no, a million! I believe many more people will be eager to see the truth."

Jennifer quickly jotted down the instructions, her face beaming with the same smile, and said, "Boss, shouldn't we strike while the iron is hot and arrange for you to appear in more media outlets to further explore this topic?"
With the release of our list of America's richest people drawing ever closer, now is the time to crush them to the bone.

Although MediaCorp stole the opportunity to be the first to publish our rich list, as long as we completely suppress their authority and limit them to small places like Hong Kong or Southeast Asia, they will never be able to threaten us and will never amount to anything.

At that time, our Forbes Global Billionaires List will still be the sole standard for global wealth, the ultimate holy grail for judging business success and influence on this planet.

Upon hearing this, Malcolm glanced approvingly at his assistant and said, "You're right, Jennifer. This isn't just a report; it's a war, a war to defend our right to define wealth and success."

Oriental Media? A nouveau riche company established just over a decade ago, thinking it can challenge our seventy-year-old foundation with a few sensationalist tactics? Wishful thinking!

He could almost see the scene when the Forbes list of richest Americans was released, with global media scrambling to report on it and Wall Street looking on with awe.

And he, Malcolm Forbes, will reach the pinnacle of his reputation as a defender of the truth in the business world.

As a result, Forbes Group surpassed Fortune and BusinessWeek to become the king of financial media in the United States and even the world, possessing a supreme position and voice in this field.

With that thought in mind, Malcolm downed the rest of his red wine in one gulp, a surge of heat and exhilaration rising in his chest.

He walked to the wine cabinet, took out another bottle of Mouton Rothschild from the same vintage, skillfully opened it, and poured himself a fresh glass.

The dark red wine rippled in the crystal glass, just like his surging ambition at that moment.

Undeniably, if judged by company size, Forbes is not a giant.

However, Forbes' influence in the business world is no less than that of many giant companies.

As a financial media organization, Forbes' core asset is not its factories and production lines, but the "power to define success" that it has built up over seventy years.

It determines whose story is worth telling and what kind of business behavior will be labeled as "successful" or "failed".

This symbolic power has led countless entrepreneurs, bankers, and politicians to treat Forbes magazine with great respect, and has also made advertisers willing to pay exorbitant fees.

This is an invisible yet incredibly powerful form of capital.

Lin Haoran's Oriental Media Group is attempting to challenge the root of this power and seize the right to define the global rich list that originally belonged to Forbes.

This is a bottom line that Malcolm absolutely cannot tolerate.

Therefore, even if the other party is the so-called richest man in Hong Kong, he must completely suppress the other party's arrogance.

Ideally, it should be relegated to that "mysterious, suspicious, and wealth-ambiguous" Eastern symbol, forever confined to the Asian public discourse, unable to gain genuine recognition from the global business world, especially from mainstream American and European societies.

“Jennifer,” he turned around, his gaze intense, “not only to arrange more exclusive interviews, but also to contact some old friends on Capitol Hill, and people who have influence at the Securities and Exchange Commission.”

This suggests that some wealthy individuals in emerging markets are exploiting information asymmetry and lax regulation, through complex offshore structures and obscure asset disclosures, to distort the true picture of global wealth and potentially pose a risk to the credibility of U.S. capital markets.

We need a higher level of 'attention'.

Jennifer immediately understood, her eyes flashing with admiration: "Boss, you mean to elevate this incident from a simple business report to the level of 'regulatory compliance' and 'financial market transparency'?"

“That’s right.” Malcolm nodded in satisfaction and walked back to the window. “Media scrutiny alone is not enough. If it can trigger regulatory scrutiny, even if it’s just a symbolic hearing or inquiry, it will be a heavy blow to Lin Haoran and his companies’ international reputation and financing capabilities.”

By then, who would still believe a list of billionaires published by a company under the 'scrutiny' of US regulatory agencies? And we at Forbes have always been a 'responsible media' that upholds market transparency and assists in regulation.

This move can only be described as ruthless.

Once business competition is introduced into the gray area of ​​regulation and policy, its destructive power and subsequent impact will be amplified exponentially.

“I understand, boss! I’ll contact our PR team and lobbying firm in Washington first thing tomorrow morning!” Jennifer said enthusiastically.

It's already late at night, otherwise she would have acted immediately.

Malcolm Forbes glanced at the time; it was already 10 p.m., so he nodded and smiled, "Alright, Jennifer, you should go home now. It's getting late, and you'll have a lot to do tomorrow morning!"

"Boss, you should get some rest too. I'll head back now," Jennifer said respectfully, turning and leaving the office.

Malcolm Forbes lingered in the office for quite some time before leaving the company.

In the blink of an eye, a night had passed.

New York City has entered a new day.

Malcolm Forbes woke up refreshed from his dream.

I looked up at the alarm clock on the bedside table; it was already seven in the morning.

He had a wonderful dream all night.

In my dream, Forbes magazine successfully published its list of America's richest people, causing a huge sensation around the world and completely crushing the insignificant Hong Kong list of the Oriental Media Group.

Wall Street giants called to congratulate him, and the White House even invited him to a dinner to discuss "how to maintain the truthfulness and transparency of global business information."

He, Malcolm Forbes, was hailed as the "night watchman of the business world" and the "defender of the truth about wealth," enjoying immense prestige.

Forbes magazine's sales hit a new record high, advertising contracts poured in, and its stock price soared, leaving Fortune and BusinessWeek far behind.

He got up with a smile, drew back the heavy curtains, and let the morning sunlight flood the luxurious bedroom.

The outline of Manhattan becomes clear in the morning light, full of endless possibilities.

He hummed a little tune, carefully selecting a well-tailored dark blue suit and a bright tie, making him look energetic and radiant.

He glanced at the landline at home and saw several missed calls. The numbers were all from the company's public relations manager, who had called around midnight. However, his bedroom door was so soundproof that he hadn't heard them at all.

However, he didn't rush to call back. He figured the other party was probably just reporting news from Hong Kong, and he could have his subordinates report it when he got to the company.

The driver was already waiting downstairs.

Once seated in the back of the limousine, Malcolm Forbes even had the driver turn on the car radio and tune it to a financial news channel.

He looks forward to hearing more about the follow-up reactions to yesterday's CNN interview, or the market's anticipation for Forbes' upcoming rich list.

However, the sound coming from the radio instantly froze the smile on his lips.

"Breaking news: According to reports from newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, and Silicon Valley Today, Citibank has publicly released a statement."

The statement strongly condemned Forbes' reporting for seriously violating basic principles of fact-checking, and announced a complete halt to all cooperation with Forbes.

In addition to Citigroup, several other financial companies have also issued statements saying that Forbes' report was "seriously misleading," "violates business ethics," and "damages the authenticity of industry information," and that they will reassess their partnership with Forbes.

Experts predict that, as a result, the stock price of Forbes' parent company will plummet by more than 40% in after-hours trading today. Citizens holding Forbes stock are advised to pay close attention…

Malcolm Forbes was stunned.

The host's voice was clear and calm, yet it was like a cold awl, piercing Malcolm's eardrums and shattering all his good mood and the lingering sweet dreams he had just woken up from.

"Turn it off! Turn it off right now!"

Malcolm shouted sharply, his voice becoming shrill with extreme shock and a hint of barely perceptible panic.

The driver was startled and quickly turned off the radio.

The carriage fell into an eerie silence, with only the low rumble of the engine and the faint sounds of the city outside the window.

Malcolm's face turned ashen, and his hands, resting on his knees, clenched involuntarily.

Citibank?

Public condemnation?

Stop cooperating?

Is the stock price expected to plummet by 40%?

How can this be?

Yesterday, everything was still under his control. The CNN interview was a great success, the magazine sold out, and he was preparing to capitalize on his momentum!

Overnight, everything changed?

He naturally knew that Lin Haoran was an executive director of Citibank.

However, Citibank has more than a dozen executive directors.

Therefore, he felt that Citibank would definitely not interfere with his report, which he considered very "close to the truth".

After all, the "facts" reported are the "facts" that Forbes itself believes to be true, and they are targeting a wealthy man in Hong Kong. Citigroup has no reason to go to great lengths to challenge another influential American media outlet for the sake of a so-called "executive director" in Hong Kong.

This is inconsistent with Wall Street's consistent approach of prioritizing interests and being cautious about getting involved in media disputes.

At most, they would make a private phone call to express their dissatisfaction, or have a message relayed through a third party.

He never expected that Citibank would not only intervene, but also in such an open, thorough, ruthless, and even costly manner!

This is not just an ordinary "expression of dissatisfaction." This is the use of the authority of the entire board of directors to publicly pronounce a "death sentence" on the Forbes report and personally press the "business isolation" button!

Malcolm Forbes also has a habit of reading newspapers, and the newspapers he mentioned on the radio, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, and Silicon Valley Today, are all newspapers he reads every day.

However, he didn't read it at home; instead, he preferred to read it slowly in his office chair after arriving at the company.

Therefore, at this moment, he had no idea what was going on.

"Hurry! To the company! As fast as you can!" Malcolm yelled at the driver, his voice filled with an unprecedented urgency and panic.

The car sped along the relatively empty streets in the early morning, the scenery outside the window rushing past, but Malcolm felt that every second was incredibly long.

His palms began to sweat, his heart pounded in his chest, and the sweet dreams of last night and the smug satisfaction of this morning had been shattered by the cold broadcast on the radio, replaced by a cold, ever-spreading fear.

He tried to convince himself that it was just a rumor, an exaggeration.

But reason told him that such consistent reporting by multiple top media outlets, with specific newspaper names mentioned, could not possibly be baseless.

Looking back now, the missed call from the PR manager in the early hours of the morning felt more like a desperate warning.

The car finally arrived at the Forbes headquarters building.

The sight before him plunged Malcolm's heart into an icy abyss.

The scene at the building entrance was chaotic, resembling a disaster zone.

An astonishing number of reporters nearly blocked the entrance, with cameras, microphones, and other equipment forming a jungle of metal and glass.

The flashes of light were like a never-ending thunderbolt, blinding even in daylight.

The security guards linked arms to form a human wall, struggling to hold back the ever-pushing crowd, their faces showing tension and strain.

Some reporters even tried to break through the defenses, shouting their questions:

"Mr. Forbes! Please respond to Citibank's statement!"

"Mr. Forbes, do you admit that the report is inaccurate?"

Has Forbes' authority collapsed?

Did Forbes fabricate fake news to suppress its competitors?

"Citigroup has provided conclusive evidence. What explanation does Forbes Group have?"

……

Although the glass window wasn't lowered, the questions from the other side of the door still reached Malcolm Forbes' ears.

His face turned ashen, and he didn't know what to do.

Just then, someone spotted Malcolm Forbes' car.

“Look, Mr. Malcolm is here.”

That shout instantly ignited the entire stadium!
The already crowded and chaotic group of reporters was suddenly shoved by an invisible giant hand, turning towards Malcolm's car!
Long lenses, recording equipment, and countless eager eyes were all pointed at the black luxury car!

The flashbulbs went off again, creating a blinding white light that almost turned the car's black paint a ghastly white!
"It's Malcolm Forbes!"

He's in the car!

"Stop him! Don't let him in!"

"Mr. Forbes! Please get out of the car and respond!"

What is your explanation for the allegations against Citibank?

Has Forbes lost its credibility?

Reporters swarmed the car, banging on the windows and body, shouting out all sorts of pointed questions.

Caught off guard, the security guards' defenses were breached in an instant, and the crowd surged toward the car like a tidal wave.

The driver, pale with fright, gripped the steering wheel tightly and looked helplessly at Malcolm in the rearview mirror: "Boss, what do we do? Drive in? We'll get stuck!"

Malcolm's heart was pounding, and his blood was rushing to his head.

Looking out the car window at the faces almost pressed against the glass, filled with doubt and excitement, and listening to the piercing shouts that still penetrated the soundproof glass, he felt a strong sense of suffocation and shame.

When has Malcolm Forbes ever been treated like this?
In the past, wherever he appeared, he was greeted with respectful smiles, admiring gazes, and cautious questions.

He is the uncrowned king of the business world and a darling of the media spotlight!

But now, he's like a criminal being watched, swarmed by a bunch of buzzing flies!

"Reverse! Go through the back door! Quickly!" Malcolm gritted his teeth and forced out the order.

He absolutely cannot be cornered by these reporters at this time and in this way!
That would be disastrous, a scene that would completely nail him to the pillar of shame!
He cannot give an interview until he has clarified all the facts.

Otherwise, if you accidentally say the wrong thing, there will be no way to salvage the situation.

He needs to return to his office immediately, figure out the whole situation, and formulate a counterattack strategy before he can face the public in a relatively decent manner.

The driver frantically shifted into reverse and slammed on the gas.

The black sedan screeched as its tires screeched and it reversed sharply.

The reporters who were blocking the way screamed and dodged to the sides, but a few were too slow to react and were almost grazed, which caused an even more intense commotion and shouts of abuse.

He's running away!

"Don't let him get away!"

"Follow me!"

...(End of chapter)