Chapter 883
List of Heavyweight Figures!
This news was indeed sudden for Lin Haoran, but it was also a pleasant surprise!
After reviewing the pregnancy test results and confirming that all the data was good, Lin Haoran finally felt relieved, and at the same time, an unprecedented sense of responsibility welled up within him.
He is about to become a father, and a father of two.
Guan Jiahui's pregnancy started a little earlier than Guo Xiaohan's. She told him on New Year's Eve, and when he found out that Guan Jiahui was pregnant, she was already almost two months pregnant.
In other words, Kwan Ka-wai conceived in early October of last year.
Guo Xiaohan is nearly a month pregnant, which means that the due dates of the two children may be about two months apart.
However, everyone tacitly agreed not to tell Guo Xiaohan about Guan Jiahui's pregnancy.
The conversation quickly turned back to the upcoming wedding.
"Daddy, Mommy, Xiaohan, thank you for your hard work preparing these past few days. There are only two weeks left until the wedding. How are the preparations going?" Lin Haoran asked with a smile, sitting on the sofa and holding Guo Xiaohan's hand.
"Brother Haoran, everything is basically ready, don't worry, you don't need to worry about anything!" Guo Xiaohan said playfully.
Originally, she was in a good mood as her wedding date approached.
And since learning she was pregnant, her mood has been even better.
Lin Wan'an also said with a smile: "Hao'er, we are preparing for this together with our in-laws. We have finalized most of the details, including the scale, budget, planning, theme design, private customization, clothing design, jewelry and accessories, guest invitations, menu, wedding procession, registration ceremony, banquet, live performances, security, media, etc."
The in-laws were very supportive, utilizing almost all of Southeast Asia's best connections and resources, and everything progressed smoothly.
Lin's mother chimed in, "Yes, Hao'er, just focus on being the groom and be there on time. Now that Xiaohan is pregnant, we've made some minor adjustments to the process to ensure she won't be too tired."
For example, the wedding procession was shortened, and the dance after the banquet was cancelled, allowing Xiaohan to rest earlier.
"Oh, by the way, I have a list of the important people who were invited. I'll go to my study and get it for you," Lin Wan'an said with a smile, as if he had just remembered something.
"Thank you for your hard work, Daddy." Lin Haoran nodded.
He was also very curious.
To be honest, apart from personally inviting a few American business partners, he didn't personally represent the others.
Therefore, he still doesn't know who he invited or who has confirmed their participation.
Soon, Lin Wan'an came out of the study on the first floor, holding a thick, beautifully bound list with a gold-embossed cover.
He walked over and handed the list to Lin Haoran.
"Here, this is the preliminary list of main guests who will attend, and some are still being finalized." Lin Wan'an's tone carried a hint of pride. "It can be said that political and business elites from all over Hong Kong and half of Southeast Asia will be there to show their support."
Several prominent figures from Europe and America also attended, and those you invited all gave positive responses.
Lin Haoran took the list; it felt heavy, not just from the weight of the paper, but also from an intangible sense of weight.
He opened the cover, and lines of names and titles came into view.
The list is arranged according to region and importance.
The first thing that catches the eye is Hong Kong's local celebrities:
Governor Sir Murray MacLehose (confirmed)
Sir Laurence Kadoorie, tycoon of CLP Power (confirmed)
Standard Chartered Bank taipan Tyronn (confirmed)
Swire Group's taipan Schjork (confirmed)
John Madden, CEO of Wheelock Group (confirmed)
Bao Yugang, Chairman of Worldwide Shipping (confirmed)
Lee Hysan family's Lee Ming-tse (confirmed)
TVB Chairman Shaw Yat-fuk (confirmed)
Henderson Land Development's Li Zhaoji (confirmed)
Kwok Tak-seng of Sun Hung Kai Properties (confirmed)
Li Ka-shing of Cheung Kong Holdings (confirmed)
……
It includes almost all the top British and Chinese-owned conglomerates in Hong Kong, including their leaders or core members.
Next are the Southeast Asian countries:
The chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board and several political figures, the Lee family, the Wong family, and the Guo family (confirmed).
Representatives of the Sultan of Selangor, Malaysia, several Datuks, and giants in the rubber, tin, and palm oil industries (confirmed)
Representatives of the Thai royal family, several political figures, and Chinese business leaders (such as representatives of the Cheah family of the Charoen Pokphand Group) (confirmed)
Several Indonesian generals and their associates, including businessmen and representatives of Chinese conglomerates (confirmed).
Representatives of the Marcos family in the Philippines and several Chinese sugar tycoons and real estate moguls (confirmed)...
The list is so long and covers such a wide range of industries that it almost outlines half of the economy and politics of Southeast Asia.
Then there's the Taiwan region:
Several political veterans and business tycoons with deep ties to the Guo family (already quietly confirmed).
United Kingdom:
Her Majesty the Queen (confirmed)
Prince of Wales (confirmed)
Several hereditary nobles, financial and business tycoons (confirmed)
……
United States:
Walter Riston, Chairman of Citibank (confirmed)
John Reid, Vice President of Citigroup (confirmed)
Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific Chairman (confirmed)
Motorola Chairman Robert Galvin (confirmed)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs (confirmed)
Sam Walton, Chairman of Walmart (confirmed)
Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway (confirmed)
George Soros, Chairman of the Quantum Foundation (confirmed)
……
Lin Haoran paused for a moment when he saw Soros's name, and asked Lin Wan'an, "Daddy, did you invite Mr. Soros from the Quantum Foundation?"
He had no recollection of ever having any interaction with this later-famous "financial tycoon," nor had he ever extended an invitation to him.
Lin Wan'an leaned over to take a look at the list and shook his head: "It wasn't us who invited him, nor was it Citibank or the Guo family. This chairman of the Quantum Foundation personally called to confirm his participation."
I've heard that he's very well-known on Wall Street and is considered a very influential figure, so we naturally and instinctively included him on our list of important guests.
Mr. Soros requested to participate, and he confirmed it through official channels, so we couldn't refuse. Hao'er, do you think there's a problem?
Lin Haoran's fingers tapped lightly on the name "George Soros" on the list, his mind racing.
Did they actively request to participate?
To be honest, Lin Haoran instinctively didn't want to have too much contact with this financial tycoon who would stop at nothing for profit, and he was extremely wary of him.
Especially in the early 80s, a time when the global economic landscape and financial order were undergoing profound changes, Soros's sudden and proactive "approach" seemed more like a preliminary inspection of a potential hunting ground.
“There may not be a problem, but there is definitely a purpose.” Lin Haoran said in a deep voice, pointing his finger at Soros’s name. “Daddy, this Mr. Soros is not an ordinary banker or investor.”
He excels at finding weaknesses in global economic systems, then mobilizing massive amounts of capital to exploit them and reap huge profits.
His philosophy is to discover bubbles and participate in them, and sometimes even actively help them burst.
The Forbes report that Hong Kong's real estate crisis was triggered prematurely—this kind of behavior, in my opinion, is exactly Mr. Soros's style. His request to attend my wedding was definitely not just to offer his blessings.
Lin Wan'an's expression also turned serious: "Hao'er, are you worried that he will target Hong Kong, or us, next?"
Lin Haoran shook his head and laughed, "It's not that bad. Soros isn't that capable right now. Let's ignore him. Since he's here, he's a guest. We'll find out his purpose later!"
He knew that the Quantum Fund was still in its early stages and was far from the behemoth that dominated the 1990s and could shake a country's monetary system.
In the early 80s, Soros had already made a name for himself on Wall Street with his unique theory of reflexivity and keen market insight, and his Quantum Fund had achieved remarkable returns. However, the size of his funds and his influence were incomparable to what they would be a decade or so later.
Today, he is more like a shrewd and hungry cheetah, searching the world for suitable prey, but he has not yet grown into a lion that can challenge an elephant.
Therefore, Lin Haoran was not worried at all that the other party could pose a substantial threat to Hong Kong or to him.
But being targeted by such a keen cheetah is ultimately not a pleasant experience.
“Dad is right, we should be cautious.” Lin Haoran continued looking at the list at the back, temporarily putting Soros’s question aside.
Next, there are many other well-known figures from the business and political spheres.
For example, Lee Byung-taek, chairman of Samsung Group; Yohei Mimura, president of Mitsubishi; and Taro Ando, president of Sumitomo.
In particular, many things were unexpected for him, such as the participation of some officials from Commonwealth countries who were inexplicably surprised.
However, Lin Haoran also knew the reason: the other party wasn't doing it for his sake, but for the sake of the Queen.
It took Lin Haoran almost half an hour to finish reading.
More than 600 people have already confirmed their participation!
It's important to understand that these are not unknown figures, but rather influential political and business leaders, industry giants, and royalty on a global or regional scale.
Each of them represents enormous resources, far-reaching influence, and a complex network of interests.
All of the 200 Hong Kong tycoons previously announced participated!
Lin Haoran closed the list and let out a long sigh.
The list was far more significant than he had anticipated.
It's more than just a wedding guest list; it's a miniature map of the global distribution of top power and capital, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region, which is poised for rapid growth.
Unexpectedly, this Hong Kong tycoon attracted so many important figures who are rarely seen to gather in Hong Kong.
"Daddy, this list is really unexpected," Lin Haoran exclaimed. "It seems that we can't keep our wedding low-key even if we want to."
That's what they say, but when the governor said that the Queen was also coming, he knew that this wedding would not be low-key.
After all, Her Majesty the Queen's presence, whether in private or on behalf of someone else, carries the same symbolic significance as the highest official honor, which in itself elevates the scale and attention of this wedding to an unparalleled level.
In the early 80s, the Queen's visit to the Commonwealth was major news in itself, let alone attending the wedding of a Chinese businessman.
The political, economic, and diplomatic signals conveyed behind this are enough for observers and analysts around the world to ponder repeatedly.
Lin Wan'an felt both pressure and pride: "Yes, Hao'er, after the news that Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince of Wales confirmed their attendance spread, many guests who were originally just giving polite replies or were still hesitant became unusually enthusiastic."
Uncle Guo's side has been receiving confirmation calls almost non-stop. This wedding has now become the most anticipated social event of the year in Hong Kong and even the Far East, bar none.
We're really in a bind; we can only succeed, we can't afford to fail.
Having a son like you is perhaps the greatest success of my life, Lin Wan'an.
Back then, our Lin family wasn't just an ordinary wealthy family. Although we had some influence in Hong Kong, we were nothing special.
But now, you've elevated the Lin family to such heights that even the Queen of England is attending your wedding..."
Lin Wan'an's voice choked slightly, his eyes filled with indescribable pride, joy, and a touch of melancholy at the passing years as he looked at his son.
Because of Lin Haoran's appearance, the Lin family has now become the recognized number one family in Hong Kong!
These were things he never dared to imagine.
Lin's mother was also quietly wiping away tears, but her face was filled with a proud smile: "Hao'er, you are our pride. But with so many important people around, Mommy is always feeling uneasy. You must be careful and not overwork yourself."
Guo Xiaohan held Lin Haoran's hand tightly, her eyes filled with trust and support, but also unable to hide a trace of worry.
As the leading lady at this wedding, she was destined to be thrust into the very center of the spotlight and receive global attention.
Moreover, she was pregnant, which added to her physical and mental burden.
But she knew that this was part of the responsibility she had to bear for choosing Lin Haoran, and it was also her duty as the future mistress of the Lin family.
"Daddy, Mommy, Xiaohan, don't worry, we'll handle the procedures normally. There won't be any major problems. With so many important people here, who would dare to cause any trouble?" Lin Haoran's tone was firm, carrying a sense of confidence in controlling the situation.
"Moreover, with the Queen in attendance, the Governor General's House won't stand idly by. We've done what we should for security, and there's nothing else for us to worry about!"
Lin Haoran's words were like a shot in the arm, easing the furrowed brows of Lin Wan'an and his mother.
Indeed, the Queen's presence has automatically elevated the security level of the wedding to the national level.
Government House, the Police Force, the British Army in Hong Kong, and even MI5 may have already intervened or provided support to ensure Her Majesty's safety during her stay in Hong Kong.
From this perspective, Lin Haoran's role is more about coordination and cooperation, which naturally reduces the pressure on him.
"Hao'er is right!" Lin Wan'an slapped his thigh, his worries vanishing.
"The Hong Kong government is even more nervous than we are about Her Majesty's arrival! As for security, we just need to do our job and fully cooperate with the authorities, which saves us a lot of trouble!"
Lin's mother nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, how could I not have thought of that? With Her Majesty the Queen here, how dare those demons and monsters cause trouble? Now I can finally rest assured."
In that era, the Queen's influence was indeed unparalleled, especially in Hong Kong, which was still a British colony.
Her presence itself is a top-level "security endorsement" and "order guarantee".
Any attempt to create trouble here and now is tantamount to a direct challenge to the authority of the British Empire and will inevitably be met with a thunderous blow.
This is something that both local people from all walks of life and international forces with ulterior motives are well aware of.
Guo Xiaohan finally showed a completely relaxed smile and snuggled up to Lin Haoran: "Brother Haoran, after hearing what you said, I'm finally not nervous anymore. So, from now on, we just need to focus on making the wedding a success and entertaining the guests, right?"
"Yes, that's it." Lin Haoran gently stroked her hair. "Your task now is to maintain a good mood, take good care of your health, and be the most beautiful bride."
The rest can be handled by me, Mommy and Daddy, and so many other professionals. Don't worry too much about the charitable foundation.
Seeing that his family had calmed down, Lin Haoran knew that his strategy of reassuring them had succeeded.
He was not blindly optimistic, but rather made an accurate judgment based on the real advantages and disadvantages.
By appropriately transferring the security burden to the authorities, you and your team can focus more on the quality and experience of the wedding itself, and avoid making mistakes due to excessive tension.
Of course, he will not relax his vigilance in the slightest, especially in monitoring special figures like Soros, which will definitely be properly arranged.
"By the way, Hao'er, your eldest brother, second sister, and third sister have also put in a lot of effort. They've been coming back often to help us with the preparations," Lin's father added, a look of satisfaction on his face.
Guo Xiaohan nodded in agreement, clearly acknowledging her father-in-law's statement.
Lin Haoran heard this and, although he didn't say anything, he appreciated their kindness.
However, we're all family, so there's really nothing to say.
Next, the group talked about the steps and preparations for the wedding.
With only two weeks left until the wedding day, there are many details that need attention, and it is indeed necessary to clarify and finalize them again.
After all, the scale, scale, and attention of this wedding far exceeded that of ordinary weddings, and any oversight could be magnified.
Lin's mother took out a detailed process sheet from the side, put on her reading glasses, and began to check it with Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan one by one: "Hao'er, Xiaohan, take a look."
Starting tomorrow—no, the day after—according to our Chinese tradition, some pre-wedding ceremonies will begin. Although they've been simplified, the sentiments must still be expressed.
"Okay, Mommy, I understand. Just tell me what you need to do and I'll do it!" Lin Haoran nodded happily.
In the evening, Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan had dinner with their parents at their home before driving back to the villa on Shi Xun Road. (End of Chapter)