Chapter 874
The Media Tycoon's Admission of Mistake
Chapter 874 The Media Tycoon's Admission of Mistake
“In addition,” Lin Haoran added, “we can take this opportunity to begin preparing to gradually open up the supply chain systems of 711-Eleven and Lawson to our other consumer goods businesses in South Korea, so as to create synergies.”
For specific details, your Southern branch can contact Langwei Group.
“Understood! This is a great opportunity for consolidation.” Toshifumi Suzuki understood his boss’s intention.
This is intended to further strengthen the control and efficiency of the Lim Group in the South Korean retail and consumer goods sector.
Lin Haoran felt a sense of relief after ending his call with Suzuki Toshifumi.
The convenience store business is now stable and has a promising future.
He naturally attached great importance to the Southern Company.
Don't be fooled by the fact that it's just the end of the sales industry and the overall profit margin may not seem high.
However, he completely controls the supply chain and even the supply of goods.
The more convenience stores there are, the greater the sales volume of Langwei Group's various daily necessities will be, and the more production orders will be placed in each factory!
This has almost become a self-reinforcing positive cycle.
The wider the convenience store network, the greater the demand for Langwei products, which allows Langwei to expand its production scale, reduce costs, and enhance its competitiveness.
Conversely, more competitive pricing and a wider product line can help convenience stores attract more customers and capture a larger market share.
At the same time, this vast retail network is itself a highly valuable source of consumer data and an advertising channel.
It can provide an excellent application scenario for Lin Haoran's other businesses, such as the promotion of financial products, the sale of telecommunications service packages, and even the media content distribution that he may enter in the future.
This is the ecological effect that Lin Haoran truly values.
The profits of a single business may be limited, but when these businesses are closely connected through capital, channels and data to form a closed-loop ecosystem, the synergistic value and barriers they generate will be unshakable.
Lin Haoran no longer needs to worry about signing the cooperation agreement with Samsung; his subordinates will handle it for him.
Samsung's Chairman Lee will not be returning to South Korea for the time being, as the 20% equity financing is extremely important and ultimately requires his personal signature.
For Lin Haoran, the $2 million in funds is readily available and not a major problem at all.
Once all the details and terms between the two parties are finalized, legal procedures such as capital injection, equity change, and board seat arrangement will be initiated quickly.
At that time, Lin Haoran's name will officially appear on Samsung Group's shareholder register, making him a significant "largest external shareholder" of this future giant.
……
Time flies, and another day has passed in the blink of an eye.
In a luxurious suite at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Central, a foreigner is making a phone call.
This man is Malcolm Forbes, chairman of the Forbes Group, who came all the way from New York, USA, to seek peace.
Today marks his third day in Hong Kong.
Previously, when he was in New York, he pleaded for reconciliation, but Lin Haoran's response was that if he did not see him in Hong Kong within three days, there was no need to contact him.
So he rushed over from New York.
As a result, when he arrived in Hong Kong, the other party refused to see him.
He could only endure such humiliation.
Because he knew that only Lin Haoran could save Forbes now.
Otherwise, the entire Forbes Group will collapse completely amid a series of lawsuits and a crisis of confidence.
The Forbes Group is the pride of the Forbes family, and he was unwilling to let that pride be ruined in his own hands.
Now, only Lin Haoran can stop the counterattack led by Citibank, and only if Citibank stops targeting Forbes will other organizations provide assistance to Forbes.
At that moment, his son, Steve Forbes, was on the phone, reporting the latest developments at the Forbes Group.
It was clear from Malcolm's expression that the situation for the Forbes Group was becoming increasingly dire.
“Father, the Department of Justice is taking a hard line and is demanding that we provide a formal explanation regarding the bias in our reporting and the potential for market manipulation, or they may initiate a formal investigation.”
The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has added three more questions to its inquiry letter, all concerning the correlation between several of our reports on technology stocks last year and the timing of certain funds' holdings.
The list of plaintiffs in the shareholder class action lawsuit has grown by 47, and the legal team says the situation is very bad.
Worst of all, this morning, both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times published commentaries in their business sections about the serious legal and credibility crisis we are facing. Although the wording was careful, the impact was very bad.
The advertising department just reported that three more major, long-term clients have indicated they will suspend advertising spending for the next quarter to reassess their partnerships…
On the other end of the phone, his son Steve Forbes' voice was filled with anxiety and exhaustion. Every message was like a heavy hammer blow to Malcolm Forbes' already fragile nerves.
His hand holding the receiver trembled slightly, while his other hand unconsciously rubbed his aching temples.
The luxurious décor of the suite and the beautiful view of Victoria Harbour outside the window lost their color in his eyes at this moment, leaving only boundless gloom and oppression.
During his time in Hong Kong, aside from being left waiting in the lobby of the Kang Le Building by Lin Haoran on the day of his arrival, only to receive the reply that his schedule was full, he never got to see the young Hong Kong tycoon again.
The other party seemed to have completely forgotten about him, or rather, deliberately made him taste fear and despair while he waited.
Meanwhile, the Forbes Group's situation in the United States is deteriorating at an alarming rate.
The Ministry of Justice, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, shareholder lawsuits, media pessimism, advertisers leaving...
All of this is intertwined into an increasingly tight noose, slowly but surely tightening around the Forbes family's throat.
Time is no longer on his side.
“I understand, Steve.” Malcolm Forbes’ voice was hoarse and dry, as if he hadn’t drunk water for days.
"Try to stabilize the situation, reassure the major shareholders and core employees, tell the lawyers to delay the legal process at all costs, and offer the advertisers a bigger discount to retain them. I'm working on a solution myself."
His so-called "solution" was to beg Lin Haoran for forgiveness and help.
Although Lin Haoran did not propose any reconciliation plan, Malcolm believed that since the other party had called him to Hong Kong, there was an opportunity for reconciliation.
Now it seems that this has become the only lifeline for the Forbes Group.
However, he didn't know what price he would have to pay.
After hanging up the phone, Malcolm Forbes slumped onto the sofa, his expensive silk shirt soaked with cold sweat.
He had never felt so powerless, so terrified.
Forbes magazine was once his kingdom; he was the uncrowned king of this business media empire, able to judge people and dictate events.
But now, the kingdom is crumbling before his eyes, and the only person who could save him is coldly turning him away.
"I can't wait any longer," he muttered to himself, struggling to his feet and walking to the mirror.
The old man in the mirror had sunken eyes and a sallow complexion; his former vigor was nowhere to be seen.
He straightened his tie, took a few deep breaths, trying to make himself look presentable, then picked up the room phone and dialed the number for the Kang Le Building reception.
“Hello, I am Malcolm Forbes. I visited your area yesterday morning. Does Mr. Lin Haoran have time to meet with me today? I have something very important and urgent that I need to discuss with him in person.” His tone was almost pleading.
The receptionist on the other end of the phone spoke in a sweet and professional voice: "Mr. Forbes, please wait a moment. I need to check Mr. Lin's schedule."
The short wait felt like an eternity to Malcolm Forbes.
"Mr. Forbes, I'm sorry, Mr. Lin's schedule is completely full today, and we cannot arrange a meeting at the moment."
Mr. Lin's assistant asked me to tell you that if you have specific cooperation plans or ideas, you can submit a written summary, and they will consider whether to schedule a time for collaboration.
Another excuse!
Written summary?
He has neither the inclination nor the time to write a written summary!
Every minute, every second, Forbes Group is bleeding!
"Please, please help me convey this message again. My matter is extremely urgent. If Mr. Lin can spare even ten minutes, no, five minutes! I only need five minutes!" Malcolm Forbes was practically begging, setting aside all his pride and dignity.
Once upon a time, when he was in the United States, even the bosses of those top conglomerates treated him with great respect. He had never been treated like this before.
But now, he can only endure it.
"Mr. Forbes, I understand your feelings very well, but Mr. Lin's schedule is indeed strictly managed by his assistant team."
I will relay your urgent request again, but I cannot guarantee the outcome. Please wait patiently. The receptionist's voice remained polite, yet carried an undeniable sense of distance.
However, Malcolm Forbes knew perfectly well that this was just polite talk.
In the past, many people visited him, and when he refused them, he would have his assistant use similar wording.
Back then, he never imagined he would be where he is today.
The call was disconnected.
Malcolm Forbes helplessly put down the receiver, overwhelmed by a profound sense of despair.
Wait patiently?
How much patience does he have left?
How much longer can Forbes Group wait?
He looked out the window; the Hong Kong sun shone brightly, but it couldn't penetrate his cold heart.
He knew that he had completely fallen into Lin Haoran's control.
The other party is like an experienced cat; it won't easily deliver a fatal blow or show mercy until it has thoroughly toyed with its prey.
He has to give up everything the other party wants in order to have any chance of survival.
But the price...
The independence of Forbes, the family's control, and even his personal reputation will be completely trampled on.
However, the price of not paying this price could be the destruction of the entire Forbes empire.
This multiple-choice question was so cruel that it almost suffocated him.
If he were still in the United States, given the intelligence network he controlled, he would have more than a hundred ways to meet Lin Haoran in person.
But this is Hong Kong, a market that Forbes hasn't entered yet, an Eastern land where Forbes' influence is practically zero. His connections, methods, and media influence, which were invincible in the United States, have all become ineffective magic here.
Lin Haoran is the king here, while he is just an intruder who can't even see the king's face.
He slumped back onto the sofa, the expensive velvet fabric now only making him feel sticky and uncomfortable.
Countless thoughts flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern.
Looking for other major powers?
But who would dare risk offending Citibank to help him?
Did he leak the story to the media that Lin Haoran "coerced" him?
That would only completely destroy Forbes' already precarious reputation and enrage this unpredictable young man, making reconciliation impossible and with unimaginable consequences.
Fly directly back to the United States?
That would mean completely abandoning any possibility of reconciliation, and Forbes would have to face the onslaught of lawsuits and regulatory storms alone, with its demise almost a foreseeable outcome.
Just then, the hotel phone rang again.
He grabbed the telephone receiver as if it were a lifeline.
"Hello, is this Mr. Malcolm Forbes?" A young woman's voice came from the other end of the phone; her voice was very pleasant.
It was Liu Xiaoli, Lin Haoran's personal secretary.
“I am Malcolm.”
“I am Mr. Lin Haoran’s secretary. My boss asked me to tell you that he is free now. If you are available, he is waiting for you in his meeting room on the 51st floor of the Kang Le Building. When you get to the Kang Le Building, someone will take you up,” Liu Xiaoli said.
Malcolm Forbes' heart skipped a beat, and his blood seemed to rush to his head, making him feel dizzy.
He gripped the receiver tightly, afraid of missing a single word.
"Now? You're free? Great! Great, I'll be right there! Immediately!"
He didn't even wait for the other person to finish saying "Someone will lead you upstairs" before he eagerly replied.
After hanging up the phone, he sprang up from the sofa as if he had been electrocuted, and his vision even went black for a moment because of the sudden movement.
He steadied himself on the table, took a few quick breaths, and then hurriedly straightened his suit and tie.
The old man in the mirror was still disheveled, but a glint of almost madness ignited in his eyes. The opportunity had finally arrived!
He grabbed the "cooperation draft" that he had prepared long ago and the "letter of repentance" that he had just painstakingly drafted, and stuffed them into his briefcase.
Then, he practically rushed out of the suite and shouted to his assistant waiting outside, "Quick! Prepare the car! To the Kang Le Building! Mr. Lin is willing to see me!"
If American business tycoons saw this scene, they would be astonished.
The renowned media mogul was so distraught and undignified when he learned that Lin Haoran had finally agreed to meet with him.
But Malcolm Forbes didn't care about any of that.
Dignity and dignity become insignificant in the face of the fear that the family business might collapse.
He was like a dying man in the desert who had finally seen a glimmer of water. Even if it was just a mirage, he would do everything in his power to rush towards it.
The assistant was startled by his unprecedented excitement and dishevelment, but quickly recovered and called the hotel to arrange a vehicle.
Throughout the journey, Malcolm Forbes sat in the back seat of the limousine, leaning slightly forward, his hands gripping his briefcase tightly, his brow furrowed.
The Hong Kong street scene outside the window rushed past, neon lights flashing, and traffic flowing.
The prosperity and vitality of this Eastern capital seemed to be separated from him by a layer of frosted glass.
He had no interest in appreciating the scene; his mind was racing, rehearsing the upcoming meeting over and over again.
What should I say?
How to start?
How can one express sufficient sincerity and remorse without appearing too humble and losing any remaining confidence in negotiations?
What will Lin Haoran's attitude be?
Will they coldly and directly state their price, or continue to humiliate them like a cat playing with a mouse?
Every possibility made him tense, and cold sweat kept seeping from his palms.
He knew that this might be his only chance to save his family business, or it might be the end of his career and even his personal dignity being completely crushed.
The "draft for cooperation" felt light in the briefcase, seemingly unable to bear the weight of the Forbes empire.
The car soon arrived at the Kang Le Building.
Malcolm Forbes took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, straightened his slightly disheveled clothes and tie, and stepped out of the car.
Sure enough, a well-dressed young Chinese receptionist was already waiting at the door.
"Mr. Forbes, please come with me. Mr. Lin is already waiting for you." The assistant's tone was polite but flat, without any extra expression or small talk, as if he were just carrying out an ordinary task.
Malcolm nodded, wanting to say "thank you" but unable to utter a sound, simply following silently behind his assistant.
In January, Hong Kong still had a daytime temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.
Perhaps due to excessive tension, he felt somewhat agitated.
As he entered the building, a blast of cold air hit him, making him shiver and clear his head.
The elevator goes directly to the 51st floor. After the doors open, you are greeted by a spacious, modern office space that exudes understated luxury.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the dazzling night view of Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon Peninsula is like a flowing painting, offering a more breathtaking view than his suite in the Mandarin Oriental.
It's so quiet here that you can almost hear your own heartbeat and footsteps, a stark contrast to the bustling city outside the window. Only the faint sounds of telephone ringing and discussions about plans in the distance hint at the busyness and efficiency here.
The assistant led him to a heavy solid wood door, knocked lightly, and then pushed the door open: "Boss, Mr. Forbes has arrived."
Malcolm Forbes went inside.
The reception room was more spacious than he had imagined, with a minimalist yet sophisticated decor. The oval windows offered a panoramic view of the bustling city of Hong Kong.
The world map on the wall, in particular, and the numerous group photos are especially eye-catching.
He knew almost everyone in the photo; they were all top figures in the global political and business world.
From European royalty and political leaders to American mayors, senators, and Wall Street tycoons, and then to financial giants in various Asian countries.
Some of these are important connections that even Malcolm Forbes himself needs to carefully maintain.
In the photos, Lin Haoran always stands in a relatively central or composed position, smiling and chatting with these powerful figures.
These group photos silently proclaim the owner's vast and unfathomable global network and influence, more impactful than any words.
Lin Haoran sat casually on a single sofa by the window, with an exquisite set of purple clay teaware in front of him. Liu Xiaoli was patiently brewing Kung Fu tea for him.
Hearing the sound, he looked up and calmly gazed toward the doorway.
very young.
This was Malcolm Forbes' first impression, but the depth and calmness in those eyes instantly made him feel immense, invisible pressure.
It's an aura that comes naturally from long-term high positions, the control of vast capital empires, and a deep understanding of people's hearts and rules; it has nothing to do with age.
To have offended such a person is simply courting death.
This thought extinguished the last trace of resentment and hope in his heart like ice water.
"Mr. Forbes, please have a seat." Lin Haoran's voice was soft and his tone was steady, revealing no emotion.
He pointed to the sofa opposite him, signaling his secretary, Liu Xiaoli, to step back.
Liu Xiaoli nodded slightly, left quietly, and gently closed the door behind her.
Only the two of them remained in the reception room; the air seemed to freeze.
Malcolm Forbes tried to remain calm as he walked to the sofa, sat down somewhat stiffly, and carefully placed his briefcase at his feet.
In the past, he always appeared calm and composed when facing business tycoons and political bigwigs.
But now, for some reason, when facing this young Chinese tycoon, he couldn't help but feel an indescribable, almost instinctive awe and fear.
This feeling was extremely rare in his long career.
Perhaps it was the other person's composure beyond their years, or perhaps it was the unfathomable network of connections revealed by the photos on the wall.
Or perhaps it was because he himself knew how precise, efficient, and ruthless the other party's retaliation was, driving this once invincible media tycoon to the brink of despair, leaving him sitting here like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.
“Mr. Lin, thank you so much for taking the time to meet me.” He tried to make his voice sound calm and sincere.
Lin Haoran didn't reply, but simply picked up the small purple clay cup and slowly took a sip of tea.
But his gaze remained fixed on Malcolm's face, a gaze calm and serene, yet seemingly able to pierce through all pretense and reach the most vulnerable part of the heart.
This silent scrutiny is more agonizing than any interrogation.
This scene is like a child who has done something wrong and is at a loss when facing his father.
He knew he couldn't wait any longer.
The initiative is entirely in the other party's hands. The only thing you can do is to show as much "sincerity" as possible in order to gain a little pity, or rather, a less demanding condition.
“Mr. Lin.” Malcolm took a deep breath, deciding to discard all unnecessary embellishments.
"On behalf of Forbes Group, I would like to once again express my sincerest and deepest apologies for the previous seriously inaccurate report and for the trouble and reputational damage it caused you."
This is an unforgivable and grave mistake. We are willing to take full responsibility and take all possible measures to correct and rectify it.
(End of this chapter)