Chapter 357 Haoran, Do You Know Mr. Buffett?
Lin Haoran spoke so candidly to Guo Henian mainly because the Guo family had helped him significantly. If it had been someone he only had a casual relationship with, he wouldn't have revealed anything at all. As for the potential real estate crisis looming in the future, Lin Haoran had no intention of warning Guo Henian about that. Considering Guo Henian's capabilities and the Guo family's investment layout in Hong Kong, even if the property market collapsed, the impact on the Guo family would be limited. After all, property investment was not yet the Guo family's main business focus. Even when collaborating with other developers and acquiring several plots in Tsim Sha Tsui, their goal had been to build hotels for their own use, not speculative property projects. The Guo family had plenty of cash flow; they could afford to be cautious and selective.
Of course, the Guo family would eventually invest heavily in Hong Kong real estate, but that was still in the future. "Really? If that's true, then we definitely shouldn't go ahead with this project. I'll have my people investigate further based on what you've said," Guo Henian said, frowning. He knew very well that if Carnation Group's development was indeed built on a foundation of revolving loans, partnering with them would be extremely risky. Should Carnation Group collapse due to a broken funding chain, the Guo family's investment in the project would suffer devastating losses. After all, Carnation Group was the main operator; if they went bankrupt, funding would dry up, and a mountain of debt issues would follow. The project would become a toxic asset. Thus, investing without proper investigation would be reckless.
"Whether it's true or not, Uncle Guo, you'll know after your own deeper investigation. But my advice is to stay away from Chen Songqing and Carnation Group. If you study carefully, you'll notice that savvy businessmen like Bao Yugang and Li Jiacheng have never partnered with him. That alone should tell you something," Lin Haoran said sincerely. Guo Henian nodded gravely. "The project looks so good that I almost rushed into signing. Thank goodness I talked to you first. Haoran, if your warning proves accurate, I'll owe you a big favor."
Lin Haoran laughed. "Uncle Guo, no need to mention favors between us. You've helped me before, so it's only right I help you now." Hearing this, Guo Xiaohan, who was making tea, paused and turned to look at Lin Haoran, her eyes full of expectation. She had obviously misunderstood the meaning behind their conversation. Guo Henian noticed the atmosphere and chuckled heartily. "Haoran, you should know Xiaohan's feelings for you by now. Isn't it time you gave us a clear answer?"
"Uncle Guo, you're being too direct," Lin Haoran said with a wry smile. "If I'm not direct, you'll keep dragging this out forever! Look, Xiaohan was so worried about you after hearing about the car bomb incident that she couldn't sit still all afternoon. She rushed me to bring her over here immediately. Her sincerity is obvious. Besides, our families are perfectly matched, and Xiaohan is beautiful and outstanding. What are you hesitating for?" Guo Henian said half-jokingly.
"Uncle Guo, you know I'm only 26. I have no plans to marry so young. Xiaohan is 24; we're both still young. Marriage is a serious matter, not something to be rushed into. How about this: if Xiaohan is willing to wait, give me two years. After that, no matter what, I'll give a definitive answer. By then, Xiaohan will still be young. I hope you understand," Lin Haoran said solemnly. He turned his gaze to Guo Xiaohan, his tone earnest.
Lin Haoran did like Guo Xiaohan. She was beautiful, talented, and came from a distinguished family—an ideal match. However, he wasn't ready to settle down yet. He also didn't want to treat her lightly, as he might with other women. Giving her two years was both a test and a commitment. If she waited, he would treasure her.
Playing around with celebrities was just for fun. Marrying one was a different story. Guo Xiaohan wasn't someone he wanted to treat casually. Today was the first time Lin Haoran openly expressed his feelings, giving Guo Xiaohan a clear answer. "Since you put it that way, I won't push further. It's your choice," Guo Henian said, understanding.
Although he wasn't completely satisfied with the answer, at least there was now a clear timeline instead of vague avoidance. After a moment of silence, Guo Xiaohan looked directly at Lin Haoran and said seriously, "Haoran-ge, I'm willing to wait for you!" Lin Haoran felt a headache coming on. He was still young, still wanted to enjoy life, and didn't want to be tied down too early. Marrying meant restrictions. Even if he could still have fun secretly, it would be complicated if discovered.
In the early '80s, truly outstanding actresses were few—maybe Guan Jiayi and Zhong Chuhong caught his eye. But he knew very well that in a few years, women like Zhou Huimin, Wang Zuxian, Qiu Shuzhen, Li Jiaxin, and Ye Yuqing would rise like dazzling stars. Each of them would be breathtakingly beautiful and irresistibly charming. As part-owner of TVB, how could he miss the chance to enjoy that golden era?
If he didn't live freely and indulgently after being reborn, wouldn't that be a waste? Perhaps because their feelings were now clear, Guo Xiaohan chatted more enthusiastically. Two years might seem long, but she was determined to wait. Once Lin Haoran entered her heart, there was no room for anyone else.
"By the way, Haoran, do you know Mr. Buffett?" Guo Henian suddenly asked. "Mr. Buffett? Of course! You mean Warren Buffett, the famous American investment guru?" Lin Haoran replied, puzzled by the sudden question. "Yes, Mr. Buffett has invested in one of my companies listed in Singapore. He's one of my partners. He called me earlier—he'll be visiting Hong Kong next week. I'll be meeting him. If you want, you can join us," Guo Henian said.
"Thank you, Uncle Guo. I'd love to meet the legendary Warren Buffett," Lin Haoran said with a smile. Deep down, he was quite excited. After all, he knew exactly how much influence Buffett would wield in the coming decades.
The three continued chatting until 9 p.m. before calling it a night. As they left, Guo Xiaohan lingered, reluctant to say goodbye. For her, Lin Haoran's promise—though not a proposal—gave her something to hope for. Even though she felt a bit wronged, she had chosen to wait.
"Uncle, isn't there a saying: 'when a girl chases a boy, it's like a thin veil'? Why is Haoran-ge so hard to win over?" Guo Xiaohan complained softly in the car. "Because that only applies to ordinary men," Guo Henian laughed. "Outstanding men like Haoran have many admirers. If he doesn't easily agree, it shows he's serious about you. That's a good thing."
Hearing this, Guo Xiaohan brightened up immediately. "So that means Haoran-ge really cares about me!" she said happily. Watching his niece, so deeply entranced by love that her intelligence seemed to plummet, Guo Henian sighed silently. Whether this was a blessing or a curse for her future, only time would tell.
The car's headlights stretched into the distance along Shixun Road, disappearing into the night.
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