In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 976 The Invisible Man in the Headline Storm

On the morning of January 4th.

Inside a presidential suite at the Marriott Hotel next to the Citibank headquarters building.

Lin Haoran sat on the living room sofa with his legs crossed, leisurely eating breakfast and casually flipping through the newspaper.

Liu Xiaoli, who was standing nearby, was carefully peeling a boiled egg for him.

To Lin Haoran's surprise, he ended up making headlines on the front pages of major newspapers.

The Wall Street Journal's front-page headline: Lin Haoran: From adversary to ally, the vision of a Chinese businessman.

The New York Times front page: A Wall Street miracle: Lin Haoran tames Soros with his magnanimity.

The Washington Post wrote: "Treating evil with kindness: The feud between Lin Haoran and Soros."

Lin Haoran stared at the eye-catching headlines, a hint of surprise flashing across his brows.

In fact, he had learned from John Reed yesterday that Soros was going to hold a press conference today.

John Reed also asked him if he wanted to attend the press conference, but Lin Haoran was not interested and did not participate.

In his view, this was a matter between Soros and Citigroup. He was merely a shareholder and executive director of Citigroup, and he did not want to steal Soros's thunder or have his name overly associated with this press conference.

After all, someone like Soros is destined to become a notorious financial tycoon in the future.

He just didn't expect that at a Soros press conference, he would end up being the main character himself.

Moreover, the wording of these headlines is increasingly exaggerated, using terms like "vision," "miracle," and "tolerance," practically portraying him as a saint.

While journalists were certainly interested in Soros's comeback, they were even more interested in the young man behind it all.

It seems that it's hard to keep a low profile!

However, he was only recommending the other party to join Citibank, and whatever happened in the future would have nothing to do with him, so he wasn't worried.

"Boss, you're on the front page!" Liu Xiaoli said in surprise as she placed the peeled eggs on the plate in front of Lin Haoran.

Having followed Lin Haoran to the United States for some time now, she already knew what Wall Street represented globally, and was no longer the ignorant mainland dancer she once was.

"Yeah, I saw it." Lin Haoran picked up the egg, took a bite, and said unhurriedly, "So what if I'm on the front page? It's not the first time. I've become a regular on these media headlines."

Liu Xiaoli couldn't help but laugh and said, "Boss, you have a great attitude. If it were me, seeing myself on the front page of so many major newspapers would probably make me too nervous to sleep."

Lin Haoran picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and calmly looked at the photos of Soros and John Reed at the press conference in the newspaper. He said, "Xiaoli, you must remember that in this world, what can truly hurt you is not what others write about you, but how you see yourself."

What the reporters write is their business. I'll continue doing what I'm supposed to do and won't be swayed by these empty titles.

Whether in Hong Kong or the United States, he has been in the news headlines so many times that he has become somewhat immune to it, and one could even say that he is not moved at all.

Liu Xiaoli nodded thoughtfully.

Lin Haoran picked up the newspaper, flipped through it, and saw several commentary articles.

One columnist wrote: "Lin Haoran's behavior is rare on Wall Street. In this place of deceit and life-or-death struggle, most people would only kick someone when they're down, and very few would repay evil with kindness."

Lin Haoran not only didn't retaliate against Soros, but he also helped Soros when he was at his lowest point. This kind of magnanimity truly deserves the title of "great character."

Another columnist wrote: "Citibank has become one of the world's largest banks not only because of its asset size, but also because it can attract visionary and broad-minded shareholders like Lin Haoran."

Lin Haoran's recommendation allowed Citigroup to acquire a top-tier fund manager at a very low cost; this deal was a huge win for Citigroup.

Another columnist wrote: "Soros's comeback is one of the most noteworthy events on Wall Street this year, and his comeback is inseparable from Lin Haoran's promotion."

This young Chinese-American businessman is changing the rules of the game on Wall Street in his own way.

Almost all the words were praise; not a single negative word was used.

It seems that Citibank's PR team has been working hard behind the scenes. John Reed, that old fox, said "the reporters are interested themselves," but he must have been handing out a lot of materials behind the scenes.

However, this is quite normal.

Although Citigroup is an absolute giant among global commercial banks, the Wall Street financial industry has always been fiercely competitive and extremely cutthroat.

Morgan Stanley, First Boston, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Salomon Brothers—which of these investment banks isn't eyeing Citigroup's cake with covetous intent?

Citigroup needed a positive, newsworthy story to boost its brand image, and recruiting top talent like Soros and Lin Haoran's "repaying evil with kindness" provided just such an excellent opportunity.

After finishing breakfast, Lin Haoran did not go out.

I've already arranged with John Reed to leave for Las Vegas tomorrow morning to meet Kirk Koccorian, the current owner of MGM.

So, taking advantage of the fact that he had nothing to do today, he decided to rest at the hotel for the day.

There's a beach chair on the balcony, perfect for lounging in the sun while reading.

In the blink of an eye, two hours had passed, and it was already ten o'clock in the morning.

Just then, the mobile phone rang.

Liu Xiaoli quickly stopped peeling the grapes, ran into the living room to get her mobile phone, and then returned to the balcony to hand the phone to Lin Haoran.

Lin Haoran frowned slightly, put the book in his hand on the coffee table next to him, and took the mobile phone that Liu Xiaoli handed him.

He leaned back on a beach chair, the sun warming him, and the Manhattan skyline outside the window shimmered in the winter sun.

He pressed the answer button, but it was John Reed calling.

“Lin, there are many reporters downstairs who want to interview you. Do you want to meet them?” John Reed said directly.

"Reporters? What are they interviewing me for?" Lin Haoran asked, his tone tinged with disdain. "The main character at the press conference is Soros, not me."

They should go to Soros, not me.

John Reed laughed and said, "Lin, don't you know? The reporters aren't as interested in Soros anymore; they're more interested in you."

The story of a Chinese businessman who repays evil with kindness by helping his enemy when he is at his lowest point is more compelling than Soros's comeback.

Think about it, Soros' return to Wall Street, although it's news, is expected since he used to be a big shot on Wall Street.

But you're different. Your actions exceeded their expectations. They want to know why you did this, what exactly happened between you and Soros, and what you're really thinking.

Lin Haoran was silent for a moment, then said, "John, I don't want to be interviewed. I don't like to talk about my private affairs in front of the public."

I helped Soros because I felt he deserved it. He's a talented person, and talent shouldn't be overlooked. Citibank needs someone like him, and by bringing him in, we can create a lot of wealth for Citibank.

It's that simple, nothing more to say. John, just tell them I'm no longer in New York!

Lin Haoran was staying at the Marriott Hotel, where no reporters would bother him, and the hotel would not disclose the whereabouts of its guests. Otherwise, John Reed would not have called to ask for his opinion; he could have simply let the reporters come up.

Since the reporters could only contact him through Citibank, it means they didn't know which room he was staying in, let alone that he was in the Marriott Hotel next to Citibank's headquarters.

This is one of the advantages of top-tier hotels like Marriott; guests' privacy is protected at the highest level.

John Reed laughed and said, "Okay, I know how to reply to them, but Lin, are you sure you want to avoid meeting them? You don't need to say too much, just a few simple words will suffice and you'll be done with them."

Lin Haoran thought for a moment and said, "I won't see them. The more I explain, the more trouble it will cause. What I hate most is dealing with these reporters. Let them guess. Anyway, their guesses won't affect me."

I will continue to do what I need to do and will not be swayed by these empty titles.

He had no intention of giving any interviews; he just wanted to remain quietly out of the spotlight amidst the headlines.

John Reed said, “Okay, then I’ll have the PR people reply to them and say that you’re not in New York and you’re not giving interviews.”

"Also, I've already arranged a meeting with Mr. Kirk Koccorian, the owner of MGM, at the MGM Grand Hotel tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM. Lin, is everything alright on your end?"

Lin Haoran said, "No problem, let's go at the original time, departing at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."

New York is quite far from Las Vegas; even a direct flight takes nearly 6 hours. Departing at 8 a.m. was just the right time.

John Reed said, “Okay, then let’s meet at the airport before eight o’clock tomorrow morning, and we’ll travel together on a Citigroup private jet.”

Lin Haoran naturally had no questions.

His private jet had already taken Ho Sin-hang back to Hong Kong yesterday. Ho Sin-hang is too old, and he wasn't too comfortable with him taking a regular passenger plane back.

So he smiled and said, "Okay, see you tomorrow."

Lin Haoran hung up the phone, handed the mobile phone back to Liu Xiaoli, then stood up from the beach chair, walked to the balcony window, and looked towards the entrance of the Citibank headquarters building next door.

As expected, a number of reporters carrying cameras and microphones gathered below, loitering at the entrance and glancing into the lobby from time to time.

Citibank security had already set up a cordon at the main entrance, but the reporters were clearly unwilling to leave, gathering in twos and threes, seemingly discussing some countermeasures.

Lin Haoran looked at it for a while, shook his head, turned around and went back to the recliner, picking up the book again.

Liu Xiaoli asked from the side, "Boss, are those reporters still downstairs?"

Lin Haoran nodded and said, "They're still here, but don't worry about them. Citibank's security will handle it. They'll leave when they can't wait for me."

Liu Xiaoli hummed in agreement and didn't ask any more questions. She continued peeling grapes, and after peeling one, she put another into Lin Haoran's mouth.

Lin Haoran ate the peeled grapes, opened the book, his eyes were on the pages, but his mind was not entirely on the book.

He was thinking about his meeting with Kirk Kocorian tomorrow.

This person is the absolute leader at MGM.

According to Citibank's data, the other party itself had no interest in movies and only used MGM as a tool for capital operations.

He will definitely sell if the price is right.

Hopefully, this trip will go smoothly!

He didn't want to make a wasted trip.

MGM is currently the most suitable Hollywood giant for him to acquire. He has a lot to do during this trip to the United States, and his time is very precious. He doesn't want to drag things out to a second time if he can get things done in one go.

The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow on the balcony.

The Manhattan skyline gleamed in the winter sun, and the Hudson River shimmered in the distance.

Lin Haoran leaned back in his recliner, the book in his hand already turned to the last chapter, but his gaze was not on the pages, but on the two World Trade Center twin towers in the distance, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

The pulse of this city is strong and powerful, creating new legends every day.

However, he knew that these two twin towers would face a world-shaking disaster in the future.

Those are memories from another world, images seen on a television screen in a past life, tragedies of countless lives vanishing in an instant.

But those things haven't happened yet, and he can't do anything in advance just because he knows what will happen in the future.

That's something else entirely, and it has nothing to do with him right now.

Moreover, even if he knew, he wouldn't interfere.

Telling others in advance would be a very foolish thing to do.

This is America. He's not American, and he's not that great.

Lin Haoran withdrew his gaze and refocused his attention on the book in his hands.

This is Peter Drucker's "Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, and Practices," a culmination of Drucker's management philosophy.

He had read the last chapter, about organizational structure and innovation.

Drucker's point is clear: a good organization must be able to adapt to change and must find a balance between stability and innovation.

Lin Haoran wholeheartedly agreed.

His expansion in Hong Kong and the United States over the past few years has been a continuous search for this balance.

Although he rarely interferes in the management of his various companies, he must ensure that the management of each company understands his strategic intentions and can respond flexibly in their respective market environments.

This requires him to be extremely cautious when selecting management personnel, ensuring that they have both strong execution capabilities and the ability to think independently.

One must be loyal, but not blindly obedient.

Lin Haoran closed the book, placed it on the coffee table, leaned back in his recliner, and closed his eyes.

The sunlight on my face was warm and comforting, making me feel drowsy.

Seeing that he was resting with his eyes closed, Liu Xiaoli stopped disturbing him and quietly tidied up the fruit plate on the coffee table.

About half an hour later, Lin Haoran's mobile phone rang again.

He opened his eyes, picked up the phone, and glanced at it; it was an unfamiliar number.

Without any hesitation, he pressed the answer button.

John Reed got him this mobile phone; not many people know the number.

“Mr. Lin, this is George Soros. I got your phone number from Mr. Reed. I hope I haven’t disturbed you.” A steady voice came from the other end of the line.

Lin Haoran was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Mr. Soros, hello, the press conference was a great success, congratulations."

Soros paused for a moment, then said, "Mr. Lin, thank you. Without your recommendation, I wouldn't be where I am today. I'm calling specifically to thank you."

Lin Haoran replied with a smile, "Mr. Soros, you're too kind. I just did what I thought was right. You have talent, and Citibank needs people like you. I was just going with the flow."

Your relationship with Citibank is that you need a platform like Citibank to give you a chance to turn your life around; Citibank also needs talent like you to create greater value for Citibank.

I only persuaded Mr. John Reed to give you a chance, but the rest is up to you; I can't help you with anything else."

Soros said, "Mr. Lin, I know I won't let you down."

Lin Haoran smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll wait for your good news."

The two chatted for a few more minutes, and Soros again expressed his gratitude before hanging up.

Lin Haoran put his mobile phone aside, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

Although Soros had schemed against him before, he was essentially a smart man.

A wise person knows who is good to them and how to repay them.

Lin Haoran didn't expect Soros to be grateful to him. As long as Soros could work well at Citibank and create value for Citibank, that would be the best reward for him.

Moreover, in this way, Soros will never become his enemy.

After all, he had previously bankrupted the other party, and now he had pulled them out of the abyss.

This combination of kindness and severity was enough to instill a sense of awe in Soros, preventing him from harboring any further disloyalty.

In the cutthroat world of Wall Street, it's often more effective to be feared than loved.

Seeing that he had hung up the phone, Liu Xiaoli asked curiously, "Boss, was that Mr. Soros calling?"

Lin Haoran nodded and said, "Yes, he called to thank me."

Liu Xiaoli said, "Soros is quite thoughtful. He treated you like that back then, but you didn't hold a grudge against him and even helped him. Now he knows how to be grateful."

Lin Haoran smiled and said, "People change. After experiencing ups and downs, people's mentality will be different. Soros is no longer the Soros he used to be."

He now knows that on Wall Street, talent alone is not enough; you also need a platform, connections, and powerful backers. Citibank has given him these, so he will naturally cherish them.

Moreover, what he owes me now is not just a financial favor, but a turning point in his life—a favor he can never repay in his lifetime.

Liu Xiaoli nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

In the evening, Liu Xiaoli brought dinner to the balcony.

The two enjoyed a simple dinner while gazing at the Manhattan skyline at night.

As night fell, the city lights came on one by one, and faint music and cheers drifted from the direction of Times Square in the distance—the revelry that continued even after the New Year.

This city that never sleeps never truly quiets down. (End of Chapter)