In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Guo Xiaohan bit her lower lip and lowered her voice: "Sometimes I wonder, you're so outstanding, do you feel that I'm not good enough for you? I can only help you with small things at home, and I can't help with the big things outside."

Lin Haoran's heart softened, knowing that this was her deep-seated unease.

He lifted her chin, looked directly into her eyes, his gaze sincere and solemn: "Xiaohan, you're wrong. To me, a stable, warm home where I can completely relax and trust is more important than winning a hundred business contracts outside."

Our tradition is that the man is in charge of external affairs and the woman is in charge of internal affairs. You are not bad at all. You take good care of this family so that I have no worries. That is the greatest help you can give me.

Moreover, you are also working hard to learn and grow. The charitable foundation and the current wedding planning are both stages where you can use your strengths. We have different roles, but they are equally important.

In Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, it is rare to find women leading business empires in wealthy families; most follow the traditional model of "men working outside the home and women working inside the home."

Guo Xiaohan was exposed to this concept from a young age and naturally accepted it.

What she pursued was not to become a powerful businesswoman, but to be her husband's strongest support, most respectable figure, and warmest haven.

Lin Haoran's words affirmed the value of her traditional role and encouraged her to expand and grow within her capabilities, which resonated with her deeply.

In particular, the phrase "more important than winning a hundred commercial contracts outside" completely reassured her and made her realize her irreplaceable position in Lin Haoran's heart.

He paused, his tone becoming even gentler: "You are my wife, the person I chose to spend my life with. This trust and intimacy is irreplaceable by any business partner or subordinate."

Therefore, never doubt your own worth.

Guo Xiaohan's eyes reddened slightly, and a huge surge of warmth and a sense of security welled up in her heart.

She nodded vigorously, buried her face in his chest, and said in a muffled voice, "Yes, I know. I will try my best to be a good wife to you, so that no matter how tired you are outside, you can come home feeling comfortable."

"That's right." Lin Haoran smiled and kissed the top of her head.

The atmosphere gradually became enchanting.

Guo Xiaohan's hands slipped restlessly inside his pajamas, and she tilted her head back to kiss his lips.

This kiss was filled with gratitude, affection, and deep love.

Lin Haoran responded to her enthusiasm, his hand stroking her smooth back, feeling the slight trembling of his lover in his arms.

The night outside the window seemed to soften, and the distant lights of Victoria Harbour became hazy points of light in the backdrop of their tender moment.

The noise in the bedroom gradually subsided more than an hour later.

As the passion subsided, the two embraced and calmed their breathing.

Guo Xiaohan, like a satisfied kitten, curled up in Lin Haoran's arms, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the buttons on his pajamas.

"Brother Haoran," she suddenly said softly.

"Ok?"

When do you think we'll have a child of our own?

Her voice was shy yet full of expectation: "A child as smart and capable as you, preferably a son, so he can help you in the future."

Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran was taken aback.

Just two days ago, Kwan Ka-wai told him she was pregnant.

He actually felt somewhat guilty towards Guo Xiaohan about this.

After all, Guo Xiaohan is ultimately the legal wife.

So he didn't take any contraceptive measures tonight.

This is perhaps why Guo Xiaohan suddenly asked the question.

He chuckled, slapped Guo Xiaohan's shapely bottom, and said, "Just one? How can that be? With so much wealth and fortune, how can one child be enough to inherit it all?"

Guo Xiaohan gasped softly when she was slapped, her face flushing red. She gave him a playful glare, but her heart was filled with sweetness.

Lin Haoran's words not only responded to her expectations for children, but also hinted at the future prosperity of the family and the importance he placed on her having children.

"Then, Haoran, how many do you want?" Her voice was even softer, tinged with shyness and curiosity.

Lin Haoran hugged her tighter and said with a smile, "Three or four is no problem, five or six would be even better!"

"Do you think I'm a pig?!" Guo Xiaohan lightly punched his chest, her face turning even redder, but she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes.

"Having children isn't easy, but if you really want that many, I'm willing to do it too."

In this day and age, having four, five, or even six children isn't really a rare thing.

Especially for these large families, the emphasis is on having many descendants and expanding their family line.

Guo Xiaohan comes from the Guo family in Southeast Asia, which has many uncles and brothers, and the concept of having many children and grandchildren is deeply rooted in their minds.

However, as a young woman with a modern education, she still felt that "five or six" was a bit exaggerated, but deep down, she was indeed willing to have more children for the man she loved and for the prosperity of the Lin family.

Lin Haoran took her hand, kissed it, and said with a gentle but serious look in his eyes, "Silly girl, I was just kidding. Having a baby is a big deal. It depends on your physical condition and our energy."

As I've said before, let nature take its course; health comes first.

Guo Xiaohan stroked Lin Haoran's chest muscles with her delicate hand and then said, "Brother Haoran, actually, I had this plan before you told me. Compared to our Guo family, the Lin family has far too few members. This is not in line with your status as the richest Chinese person, nor is it conducive to the long-term stability of the family."

She paused, her tone becoming more serious, even carrying a sense of planning: "I've thought about it. Now that I'm a daughter-in-law of the Lin family, I have this responsibility to have more children while I'm young and healthy."

This way, the children are close in age, can grow up together, have a good relationship, and in the future, whether they inherit the family business or develop their own careers, the siblings can support each other.

"Our Lin family can't continue like this, with you carrying the burden alone."

Lin Haoran looked at his fiancée in his arms with some surprise.

He didn't expect that Guo Xiaohan not only accepted the idea that having many children brings many blessings, but had even thought about it so deeply that she linked the issue of offspring with the long-term stability of the family and the development of her business.

These words went beyond the simple expectations of an ordinary wife regarding childbirth; they were more like a future matriarch planning the succession of her family.

"Xiaohan, I'm glad you think that way," Lin Haoran said sincerely, his eyes filled with admiration. "You're right, the prosperity of a family depends on its population."

No matter how capable I am, my energy is limited, and the risks are too great. Only with reliable brothers, sisters, nephews, and descendants can we form a united force to make our business more stable and expand into more fields.

However, this matter should be left to nature; we can't force it, and you shouldn't put too much pressure on yourself. He gently stroked her long hair, his tone tender.

Guo Xiaohan nodded, pressed her face against his chest, and felt incredibly at ease listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat.

“I know, Haoran. I just wanted to tell you my thoughts so that you know I’m not just thinking about myself. I’m also thinking about our family and the future of the Lin family.”

"I understand." Lin Haoran hugged her tighter, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

Guo Xiaohan's thoughtfulness and sense of responsibility made him feel that he had made the right choice.

A partner who can think from the perspective of the family's long-term future is far more valuable than a vase who only enjoys a luxurious life.

"Okay, go to sleep, it's late." I checked the time; it was already past midnight, so I turned off the bedside lamp.

"OK, good night!"

"good night!"

The two fell asleep in each other's arms.

That night, both of them slept exceptionally well.

Perhaps it was the open and honest conversation that dispelled the last trace of unease in Guo Xiaohan's heart, or perhaps it was Lin Haoran's firm promise that filled her with confidence in the future.

She nestled in his warm embrace, as if she had found the safest harbor. Her breathing was even, and she slept soundly, her dreams seemingly filled with a faint smile.

Lin Haoran also quickly fell asleep.

The fatigue from dealing with complicated matters during the day, and the mental exhaustion from this deep emotional conversation about future plans late at night, were both relieved at this moment.

Holding the soft body in his arms, feeling their intertwined body temperature and heartbeat, he felt a long-lost peace and fulfillment.

This calm is different from the brief respite after a fierce battle in the business world; it stems from the affirmation of close relationships and a clear understanding of the future path.

Night fell slowly over Victoria Peak, and the waves of Victoria Harbour gently lapped against the shore, as if humming a tranquil nocturne for the couple who were about to enter into marriage.

The moon sets and the sun rises; the sun sets and the moon rises.
Time passed by unnoticed, and a week went by, bringing us to January 10th.

Over the past week, the turmoil in Hong Kong's real estate market has gradually subsided.

There was no expected surge, nor a sharp drop like before; instead, it entered a relatively stable adjustment period.

Of course, market prices have fallen by about 20% to 30% compared to before, and trading volume has not increased.

Market sentiment gradually returned to rationality from the initial panic, with both buyers and sellers observing and testing the waters.

Following the public briefing, the Revitalization Fund acted swiftly and steadily.

Of the HK$200 billion in funding, HK$183.2 billion, managed by Lin Haoran, arrived within two days, while the remaining HK$16.8 billion promised by other forces also arrived gradually within five days.

Following strict screening criteria, these funds, under the control of the Hengsheng Group team, have begun to be systematically introduced into the market.

Instead of indiscriminately buying up properties, they selectively acquired several prime commercial and residential sites in key locations that were being forced to sell at low prices due to developers' broken cash flow. They also invested in two mid-sized real estate companies with sound fundamentals but struggling due to market conditions, injecting liquidity to help them complete their ongoing projects.

These transactions all adhered to the principles of openness and transparency, were reasonably valued, had complete procedures, and were audited by authoritative third-party institutions.

The Revival Fund's approach of "providing emergency relief rather than long-term support" and "supporting the superior and eliminating the inferior" has won much positive feedback from the market and dispelled some people's doubts about its "malicious bottom-fishing" or "creating a monopoly".

At least on the surface, it does seem to have played a role in stabilizing the market and preventing the disorderly sell-off of high-quality assets.

This incident has led to the collapse or near-bankruptcy of over sixty real estate companies in Hong Kong, so the impact has been quite significant.

Of course, compared to the total number of nearly a thousand real estate companies in Hong Kong, more than sixty is not a lot.

Among them, Jianing Group is the largest and the most severely insolvent, completely insolvent, and by a huge margin.

According to statistics, Caring Group owed nearly HK$20 billion in debt, making it the largest commercial fraud and bankruptcy case in Hong Kong's history, involving countless banks, suppliers, and investors, and the social shock it caused is still ongoing.

The estimated assets of Caring Group are just over HK$5 billion.

The values ​​are so different that there is no possibility of salvage.

Therefore, the Jianing Group naturally went directly into bankruptcy proceedings.

Today, the most valuable assets of the Jialing Group have been acquired by the Renaissance Fund at preferential prices.

The remaining scraps, problematic assets, and huge debts are left for the bankruptcy liquidation process and various creditors to slowly tear apart.

Meanwhile, the Governor's Office has already replied to Lin Haoran regarding whether the Queen will visit Hong Kong.

Buckingham Palace stated that Her Majesty's schedule was originally full, but considering this is a major life event for Mr. Lin, it was decided to adjust part of the itinerary and add a two-day informal visit to Hong Kong after visiting Australia and New Zealand.

He plans to attend Mr. Lin Haoran and Ms. Guo Xiaohan's wedding at the Peninsula Hotel on the afternoon of February 16th to offer his blessings to the newlyweds.

Her Majesty the Queen stated that this was both a personal tribute to Mr. Lin for his outstanding contributions to stabilizing Hong Kong's financial markets and a reflection of the Royal Family's continued concern for Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

This official reply from Buckingham Palace, delivered through Government House, was elegantly and affirmatively worded.

When Lin Haoran opened the document in his office, even with his calm demeanor, he was quite surprised.

It wasn't a prince representing the country, but the Queen herself who was present!

Prior to this, he thought the most likely scenario was that Britain might send a prince, just as it had done when it awarded him the CBE medal last time.

This should be considered as winning him over and giving him a lot of face.

Unexpectedly, the Queen actually adjusted her state visit schedule and came in person for his wedding.

This honor transcends the realms of commerce and politics, carrying a certain historical significance.

However, he was not happy about it.

Because he was very clear that while the Queen's presence was an unparalleled honor, it also meant that his wedding, and even he himself, would be more deeply involved in the grand narrative of great power rivalry and the future of Hong Kong.

This could be a talisman, or it could be a curse.

However, Lin Haoran also guessed that, from London's perspective, Hong Kong's stakes were even higher than he had anticipated.

The Queen's presence certainly reflects her appreciation for his personal contributions.

But more likely, the British government hopes to use this move, at this delicate moment in the negotiations on the future of Hong Kong, to send a signal that "Britain still values ​​and is deeply involved in Hong Kong affairs" and that "the Queen has a close relationship with outstanding people in Hong Kong," thereby offsetting the pressure from the north and appeasing the local elite in Hong Kong.

This is a brilliant political move.

Lin Haoran became a crucial piece in this game, or rather, a "living eye" on the chessboard that both sides were vying for.

However, Lin Haoran knew that Britain was simply wasting its time.

Hong Kong's return to the motherland is an inevitable trend.

The British authorities are merely making a last-ditch effort to retain more leverage at the negotiating table and maintain a degree of influence.

They wanted to use the "honor" of the Queen's personal presence to bind this newly emerging Chinese business leader more closely to the British side, and to show the world, especially to the north across the negotiating table, the image of "Hong Kong elites' hearts turning to Britain".

"Well done."

A faint sense of sarcasm stirred within Lin Haoran.

He was certainly not naive enough to think he could control the course of history, but he would never be willing to be treated as a pawn to be manipulated at will.

What he needs to do is become a chess player, or at least a key variable who can influence the course of a game.

The Queen's presence is certainly a pressure, but isn't it also an opportunity?
An opportunity to turn the tables, expand one's influence, and clearly convey one's position to all parties.

Now that the British need him, why doesn't he take this opportunity to accelerate his development, ride this wave, lay the groundwork for his business empire and future, and seize more tangible benefits and resources?
Besides this incident, many other things closely related to him are also happening in the United States.

US stocks have continued to fall this week, just not by as much.

In other words, the stocks that Huanyu Investment Company was secretly shorting were still generating profits for Lin Haoran.

According to Su Zhixue's latest report from the previous day, based on the current stock price, Universal Investment Company has already earned $13.2 billion.

In other words, this represents an increase of $2.8 million compared to the $10.4 billion profit reported by Su Zhixue last time.

That's US dollars!

Converted to Hong Kong dollars, this US$13.2 billion is worth nearly HK$80 billion!

If this were to be exposed, it would absolutely shock the entire global financial community.

However, Huanyu Investment Company would naturally not leak this information.

John Reed's Foresight Capital also saw its profits increase significantly this week, rising from $3.62 million to $4.23 million.

This means that as long as the US stock market continues to fall for some time, Citibank will recoup the losses it incurred during this stock market downturn through its subsidiary, Foresight Capital.

As a major contributor to this effort, Lin Haoran naturally received even more attention and gratitude from Citibank's senior management.

In a recent encrypted call, John Reed's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement and admiration: "Lin! God bless you, your judgment is simply divine!"
Forward Capital's continued profit growth has successfully offset most of the group's losses in its traditional investment portfolio and has even begun to generate net income!

The old guys on the board look at me differently now. Chairman Walter told me privately, "You're practically Citibank's 'lucky star' and 'stabilizing force'!"
That rubbish article in Forbes has become a laughing stock internally!

Lin Haoran listened and simply smiled calmly.

He knew that this "achievement" was far more convincing than any words, deepening his alliance with Citibank from a partnership based on personal relationships and vision to a strategic bond based on substantial and tangible shared benefits.

His status and influence within Citibank were thus significantly enhanced.

The United States, a hegemonic country, is not a place where money can buy you a place.

If a wealthy person like Lin Haoran didn't have any powerful connections in the United States, he would easily become someone to be fattened up and slaughtered.

Citibank holds a very special position in the United States, wielding deep influence in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and having intricate connections with high-ranking officials of both parties, Wall Street, and even intelligence agencies.

Gaining such recognition and support from Citibank is tantamount to having a powerful protective shield and pass within the highest echelons of power and capital in the United States.

This not only means that his business activities will be more convenient, but also that when certain forces try to cause trouble for him under the guise of national security or financial scrutiny, Citibank is likely to use its vast resources and connections to mediate for him or even fight back.

This is the power of America's top financial giants.

Therefore, Lin Haoran gladly accepted the opportunity to establish such a close relationship with Citibank.

“John, this is the market rewarding our judgment,” Lin Haoran replied calmly. “However, every feast must come to an end. We need to start considering gradually closing out our positions, locking in profits, and preparing for the next stage.”

“Of course, of course!” John Reed replied immediately. “My team and I are already developing a phased exit strategy to maximize profits while avoiding significant market volatility. Lin, regardless, I am very grateful to you. Without you, I can hardly imagine how devastating the losses Citigroup would have suffered!”

This success has virtually cemented John Reed's position as his successor.

His gratitude towards Lin Haoran went beyond that of a typical business partner, bordering on a "favor of recognition" and a "rebirth of a person."

Besides these things, there is another matter that Lin Haoran should pay attention to.

That's the state of Forbes.

Since Citibank launched a full-scale counterattack against Forbes, and Warren Buffett followed suit with public support, this once-renowned business media giant has fallen into an unprecedented crisis of credibility and operational difficulties.

As the saying goes, "beat a dog when it's down," and even competitors like BusinessWeek and Fortune have joined in.

Recent reports have explicitly or implicitly criticized Forbes for its "serious dereliction of duty" and "violation of journalistic ethics," accusing it of taking the opportunity to seize market share and advertisers.

One financial commentator even wrote scathingly in his column: "When a media outlet abandons the most basic respect for the facts in order to attract attention or cater to certain biases, it is not far from losing the trust of its readers."

The lesson learned by Forbes Group should serve as a warning to all companies in the industry.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down; when a drum breaks, everyone beats it.

In the business world, especially in the highly competitive media industry, once a decline is revealed, former rivals will not hesitate to kick it while it's down.

This only worsened the already dire situation for the Forbes Group. (End of Chapter)