Chapter 888
What More Could a Man Ask For?
Soros eventually left the Concord Building in a bad mood.
Clearly, he had not achieved his purpose in visiting Lin Haoran.
Standing at the foot of the Connaught Building, Soros looked up at this landmark building that symbolized Hong Kong's wealth and power, his eyes behind his glasses cold and complex.
Disappointment, along with a hint of annoyance at being rejected, mingled in his heart.
He originally thought that, based on his judgment that Lin Haoran was "a kindred spirit" and the clear prospect of huge profits from the Mexican crisis, this cooperation should be a natural outcome.
He had even envisioned the waves that the two would create in the international financial world if they succeeded in shorting the stock together.
However, Lin Haoran's reaction was like an impenetrable wall, blocking all the tests and temptations.
Those high-sounding reasons, such as unfamiliarity with the market, business ethics, and partnerships, sounded both hypocritical and laughable to Soros.
In his view, true market predators are never bound by these rules and regulations.
Lin Haoran's refusal either indicates that he is not truly one of them, or that he is hiding something deeper and has other motives.
"What an unpredictable fellow," Soros muttered to himself as he got into the waiting car.
His admiration for Lin Haoran had not completely disappeared, but at this moment he felt more regret at being a worthy opponent but unable to cooperate, as well as displeasure at being looked down upon or misunderstood.
Soros took the initiative to seek cooperation. How many people in the world could refuse that offer?
However, in reality, Lin Haoran directly rejected his request for cooperation.
They didn't even leave him much room for bargaining or deep persuasion.
This decisive rejection was like a punch to Soros's confidence and expectations.
"Mr. Soros, there are reporters taking pictures!" the driver in front warned.
Upon hearing this, Soros not only did not avoid it, but instead slightly turned his head, looked in the direction the driver indicated, and revealed a confident smile.
Sure enough, near the flowerbed at the corner of the building and near the bus stop not far away, several young men with telephoto lenses were secretly taking pictures of him.
The Hong Kong Building is a favorite spot for paparazzi in Hong Kong, as they can frequently photograph Hong Kong's top tycoons and celebrities.
Lin Haoran, Hong Kong's richest man who is about to hold a wedding of the century, has been the focus of all media recently, and the Kang Le Building where his office is located has naturally become a "battleground" for paparazzi.
The car slowly drove away from the Connaught Building and merged into the busy afternoon traffic in Central.
Meanwhile, Lin Haoran, on the 51st floor, stood in front of the oval window, looking down at the black sedan carrying Soros slowly merging into the traffic and finally disappearing into the distance.
His face remained calm, but his mind was perfectly clear.
After Soros left, the recorder pressed the stop button.
However, the evidence inside is sufficient to clear him of any possible improper connection with Soros.
This clear recording documented his cautious attitude towards Soros's proposal from beginning to end, his reasons for rejecting it based on commercial principles, and his clear stance of not participating in high-risk international speculation and focusing on the development of Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region.
In the future, no matter how much trouble Soros stirs up in Mexico, and no matter how the outside world speculates about his meeting with Soros, this recording will be his best shield and clarification.
Lin Haoran walked under the coffee table, took out the small recorder, and after confirming that it was working properly, locked it in another hidden drawer in the office.
"I hope I won't need it, and I hope Soros doesn't do anything foolish!" Lin Haoran thought to himself.
He recorded the conversation beforehand, just in case.
If the other party still tries to drag him down even after he has clearly refused to cooperate, then this recording is the most powerful weapon to fight back.
It can not only prove his innocence, but also expose Soros's possible malicious framing or misleading behavior.
Although he didn't want it to come to that, it's always good to be prepared when facing an opponent like Soros who will stop at nothing.
After carefully putting the recorder away, Lin Haoran stopped worrying about it.
Although the meeting was not tense, the clash of ideas and positions was more direct and thorough than expected.
Soros is undoubtedly an extremely intelligent and perceptive man. His assessment of the Mexican crisis perfectly matches the historical moments in Lin Haoran's memory.
This also indirectly confirms that international financial giants like Soros do indeed have a unique understanding of global macroeconomic risks.
"He wants to drag me into this mess, partly to share the risks and strengthen his own power, but he probably also wants to use this opportunity to tie me to his chariot so that he can stir up the waters even more and make even greater profits!" Lin Haoran returned to his seat, crossed his legs, and muttered to himself.
There are still six months until the Mexican debt crisis erupts.
Therefore, although Soros discovered that Mexico was in financial trouble, he could not guarantee that the Mexican government would not take effective measures to stabilize the situation or obtain external assistance to avoid eventual default.
The market is constantly changing, and anything is possible.
Soros is not a time traveler like Lin Haoran, so he naturally cannot guarantee that Mexico's debt crisis will actually erupt.
He even needs to constantly collect data, adjust models, and observe market sentiment and government actions before he can finally confirm his judgment and decide on the timing and scale of his bets.
This process is fraught with uncertainty and carries the risk of misjudgment or poor timing.
Lin Haoran, on the other hand, was completely different.
His historical memories told him that the Mexican debt crisis would not only erupt, but would have far greater impact than many people anticipated, especially in August of this year.
This "God's-eye view" of certainty is his greatest advantage and the source of his confidence in refusing Soros.
Given the Mexican debt crisis, he naturally wouldn't miss such a good opportunity.
He doesn't need to enter the market too early and bear the uncertainty; he just needs to wait patiently and make a precise entry when the eye of the storm is clearest and the profits are highest.
Moreover, he wouldn't let anyone know that he was also involved in this short-selling operation against Mexico.
He wanted to ensure the entire process was absolutely secretive, and to completely sever ties with Soros and any international capital that might attract attention.
This is not just for safety, but also to maintain his carefully cultivated image as a respected and outspoken business leader.
Someone like Soros would definitely use market manipulation to short the Mexican peso, which is strictly illegal and is one of the reasons why Soros is notorious.
Soros's actions are destined to be widely regarded as malicious attacks and financial plunder, exacerbating the economic difficulties and social unrest in the countries involved.
Lin Haoran had no intention of having his name associated with such illegal activities.
His wealth accumulation is certainly inseparable from capital operation and grasp of trends, but he has always positioned himself within a legal and compliant framework, at least on the surface.
Profiting through complex but legitimate financial instruments and exploiting information asymmetry and trend analysis is fundamentally different from suppressing a country's currency and sovereign credit through malicious manipulation, spreading rumors, and colluding to manipulate the market.
The former are savvy investors, while the latter are financial market disruptors, or even economic war criminals.
Next, Lin Haoran met with several political and business leaders.
He didn't return to the Shi Xun Road villa until 9 p.m.
The brightly lit villas on Shi Xun Road resemble a tranquil harbor, isolated from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
On the third floor of the villa, Lin Haoran pushed open the door and entered. Only a warm yellow floor lamp was lit in the living room.
Guo Xiaohan was curled up on the sofa reading a book. Hearing the noise, she immediately looked up and smiled gently: "You're back. Have you had dinner yet?"
"I had a quick bite with some VIPs at the Joyful Restaurant, so I'm not hungry now." Lin Haoran took off his coat, walked over and sat down next to her, naturally taking her hand.
"And you? You were busy at the Peninsula Hotel all day. Are you tired?" "Not tired. It was just some trivial stuff. Besides, I was just supervising. I didn't have to do anything." Guo Xiaohan gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen, her eyes crinkling.
"But you, you've been working non-stop all day, and you look a bit tired. I'll have the kitchen serve you some soup, so you can drink some to warm your stomach."
Lin Haoran did not reject this thoughtfulness.
After drinking the hot soup, the fatigue in my body seemed to dissipate quite a bit.
He leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes, and savored the peaceful atmosphere of his home.
Today, all those thoughts about the global situation, financial markets, and strategic planning quietly fade away, leaving only the gentle breathing of those around me and the warmth filling the room.
"Brother Haoran," Guo Xiaohan asked softly, with a hint of curiosity, "did everyone you met today go well?"
Lin Haoran opened his eyes, smiled, and said, "Yes, everything went smoothly."
He didn't want these complicated, even somewhat dark, matters to disturb the rare tranquility of the eve of the wedding, and he certainly didn't want to add to his pregnant wife's worries.
Guo Xiaohan, observing his expression, saw that he didn't want to talk about it anymore, so she considerately stopped asking and instead talked about the details of today's wedding rehearsal, her tone full of anticipation: "My dad and mom, as well as your parents, were all there for the rehearsal this afternoon. Just thinking about tomorrow makes my heart pound."
"Nervous?" Lin Haoran turned to the side, cupped her slightly cool hand in his palm, and gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
The warm yellow light shone on her face, and the soft glow brought on by pregnancy made her look even more gentle and graceful than usual.
"A little, but more than that, it feels unreal," Guo Xiaohan said softly, resting her head on his shoulder.
“I still remember the first time I met you. It was at my uncle’s house. Your father had just taken you to talk to my uncle about a business deal. In the blink of an eye, only three years have passed, and tomorrow you will be standing in the wedding hall of the Peninsula Hotel, in front of so many big names from around the world, including the Queen of England.”
As she spoke, she found it somewhat unbelievable and chuckled softly.
As Lin Haoran listened to her words, the scene from four years ago seemed to flash before his eyes.
At that time, he was introduced by his father, Lin Wan'an, to participate in business talks with Guo Henan, and had a vague impression of that stunning girl he glimpsed.
At that time, Guo Xiaohan was young and quiet, sitting next to her uncle Guo Henian, with clear and bright eyes, occasionally stealing glances over, with the shyness and curiosity of a young girl.
Who could have imagined that in just three years, the world would change so dramatically, and he would rise from an unknown member of the Lin family to the pinnacle of Hong Kong, with the once shy young woman beside him soon to become his rightful wife, facing the world together.
"Yes, three years." Lin Haoran sighed softly, pulling her closer.
“Sometimes when I look back, it feels like a dream, but every step we took was real.”
In this relationship, Guo Xiaohan was actually the one taking the initiative, but Lin Haoran never let her down.
From the initial scene of him chasing her to England, to being moved by her sincerity and perseverance, and then to fighting side by side and understanding each other, although there were considerations of marriage for mutual benefit, the feelings that accumulated little by little were also genuine.
"Do you remember our first official date?" Guo Xiaohan suddenly asked, a sly glint in her eyes. "We spent a full two hours strolling around London's Chinatown."
"Of course I remember." Lin Haoran smiled, his eyes softening.
That was one of the few decisions in his life that was somewhat "impulsive".
At that time, Lin Haoran was asked by the British government to accompany a Hong Kong business delegation organized by Governor Merrih to Britain for an inspection.
The reason for bringing Guo Xiaohan along was at the request of Guo Henan, who hoped that Lin Haoran could bring Guo Xiaohan to participate in this visit. The purpose was to give her some experience and broaden her knowledge, and also to represent the Guo family to inspect and supervise the progress of some of the Guo family's projects in the UK.
It was during this trip that Guo Xiaohan took the initiative on several occasions, which quickly warmed up their relationship.
That day in London's Chinatown was indeed the first time they set aside external factors such as family and business, and simply spent time together as Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan in private.
The drizzle, the flashing neon lights, and the crowded, bustling streets of this foreign land became a breeding ground for their budding romance.
“Back then, you would tell me about the interesting things that happened when you were studying in England,” Guo Xiaohan recalled, her voice filled with nostalgia.
“You talked about how you secretly went to lectures you shouldn’t have attended, how you made a small profit investing in the British stock market, and your views on the future of Hong Kong. You’re quite different from the overly composed person you are now.”
Lin Haoran remained silent.
That brief period of studying in the UK was a time when his soul from his past life began to merge with his body in this life, and also a period in which he observed the world and accumulated strength.
He had to carefully conceal his abnormality and act like a smart but not overly outrageous rich kid.
Those amusing anecdotes, half true and half false, were among the few moments he could relax a little and reveal a bit of his true self.
Guo Xiaohan was the first person he felt he could confide in without being scrutinized or over-interpreted.
"People change all the time. I was just starting out in the business world before, but now I've been standing at the forefront for several years. I can't help but be mature." Lin Haoran said in a relaxed tone, with a hint of teasing, cleverly avoiding a deeper explanation.
He couldn't tell Guo Xiaohan how many of those interesting stories from his time studying in England were genuine records of his deliberate observations and tests of the rules of this world, and how many were half-finished products mixed with memories of his past life and plans for this life.
Those views on the future of Hong Kong were based on prophetic insight. What may have sounded like the arrogance and ideals of young people at the time are now coming true one by one.
"Yes, Brother Haoran, your rise to prominence is truly legendary. I still remember the first time I met you. Although you had already made a name for yourself in Hong Kong's business world, you were just one of many talented young people, far from what you are now..."
Guo Xiaohan thought for a moment and found a suitable word, "Radiant, so much so that it was almost impossible to look directly at them."
Lin Haoran chuckled upon hearing this: "It's not that exaggerated. It's just that I've been lucky, a bit bolder, and have benefactors like you around to help me."
"It's not luck at all," Guo Xiaohan shook her head, her tone serious.
“I’ve seen it all. Every decision you make, though seemingly risky, has a deeper meaning that others can’t understand.”
Just like how everyone initially thought it was a big mistake for you to sell off so many real estate projects, but it turned out you were right.
And that recovery fund—everyone's praising you for taking responsibility and stabilizing the market, but I know you're not just doing it for 'stability'."
Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran couldn't help but smile and gently touch Guo Xiaohan's cheek.
This girl, usually so quiet, turns out she's very perceptive.
His eyes held a mixture of admiration and a barely perceptible hint of surprise.
Guo Xiaohan had always known of her intelligence, but her intuition and insight into business operations seemed even more acute than he had anticipated.
This may be the result of her upbringing in a business family, or it may be the result of her paying special attention to herself and experiencing things carefully.
Such a talented businesswoman was willing to give up the opportunity to make a name for herself in the business world and be the woman behind him, at most helping him manage his charitable work. This affection warmed Lin Haoran's heart and made him feel even more tender.
With a woman like this, what more could a husband ask for!
The night outside the window grew deeper, but the warmth inside the living room seemed to solidify into amber, enveloping the newlyweds who were about to celebrate the most important ceremony of their lives.
Lin Haoran withdrew his hand, his gaze falling gently on Guo Xiaohan's face.
Under the lamplight, her slightly rounded cheeks, a result of her pregnancy, glowed with a healthy rosy hue. Her eyes were filled with trust and affection, as well as a hint of determination as she prepared to become a wife and mother.
Such a woman entrusted her wisdom, tenderness, and even the potential for future development to him without reservation, seeking only stability and companionship.
“Silly girl,” he sighed softly, his voice filled with tenderness, “having you here makes me feel more at ease than any business success.”
Guo Xiaohan nestled against him without saying a word, but simply held his hand even tighter.
The two embraced quietly, as if trying to etch the peace and certainty of this moment deep into their hearts.
The antique wall clock ticked slowly and steadily, its sound particularly clear in the silence, like a final countdown to tomorrow's grand opening. (End of Chapter)