Chapter 475 This Is the Price of Crossing Lin Haoran!
It wasn't just Bao Yugang and Li Jiacheng who were shocked—every top tycoon in Hong Kong was left utterly stunned.
What Lin Haoran had done this time was simply too ruthless.
He had completely gutted Jardines Securities from the inside out.
At this moment, everyone had the same thought:
This young man is too fierce. He must not be provoked, absolutely must not be provoked!
A listed company worth more than HKD 1 billion had been dismantled by him almost overnight.
Who knew how many years it would take for Jardines Securities to climb back up—if ever.
At Jardine House, the lobby on the first floor was teeming with people.
Normally, being a Saturday, there shouldn't have been many people at work, but the situation was chaotic.
On one side, Jardine House's security staff struggled to hold back the crowd.
On the other, there were two or three hundred reporters trying to rush inside.
"Let us in! If not, at least have Mr. Simon come down to answer questions!"
"Exactly! As a listed company, Jardines Securities owes its shareholders an explanation!"
"We represent the voice of the investors!
Jardines Securities' stock price has collapsed—this isn't just financial damage, it's damage to all investors' rights!
Does Jardines Matheson have nothing to say?"
A journalist holding a microphone shouted passionately, his voice echoing among the crowd and rousing more calls.
"We demand transparent information!
What caused this disaster?
Mr. Simon, as the taipan of Jardines Matheson, should give the public a reasonable explanation!"
"What about the safety of client assets at Jardines Securities?
Are there any concrete plans to compensate shareholders?"
The crowd grew more agitated, pressing harder against the security line.
The scene was pure chaos—something unimaginable in the past.
In the past, Hong Kong's reporters had always shown restraint and professionalism when dealing with British conglomerates.
Few dared confront giants like Jardines Matheson so directly.
Offending them meant being blacklisted, something even mainstream outlets feared.
But now, Jardines Matheson's glory had faded.
After the recent string of scandals, their influence had waned.
Reporters no longer feared them—they only cared about chasing sensational news.
"Why hasn't the police shown up yet?"
Security chief Fran wiped cold sweat from his forehead, staring at the surging black mass outside.
"The police said they'll come soon, but apparently, there's some gang activity reported on Garden Road, so they might be delayed.
Boss, it's obvious they're just stalling.
Who would dare cause gang trouble in broad daylight in Central?
This is just an excuse," a security officer said bitterly.
In the old days, if Jardines Matheson had called the police, they would've been there in three minutes flat.
Now, ten minutes had passed—still no sign of law enforcement.
Everyone on-site understood the reason.
Jardines Matheson's influence was no longer what it once was.
Fran's face turned grim.
Gone were the days when Jardines Matheson could command the city.
"I really don't understand why the executives had to provoke Lin Haoran.
Now that Jardines Matheson is preparing to relocate, our future is uncertain!"
A security team leader muttered while watching his colleagues struggle to hold back the reporters.
"Leon, shut up!"
Fran quickly nudged him, warning in a low voice,
"Mr. Simon told me—Jardine House won't be sold even if they move.
Those willing to go can follow them to London.
If the higher-ups hear you badmouthing them, you'll lose your job."
Leon immediately clammed up.
For them, this job—with decent pay and little stress—was worth keeping.
At that moment, Fran's radio crackled to life:
"Fran, tell the reporters we'll hold a press conference downstairs in twenty minutes."
Relieved, Fran quickly approached the crowd and shouted the announcement.
Twenty minutes later, a simple makeshift press conference was set up in the Jardine House lobby.
Henry Keswick, Simon Keswick, and other senior executives of Jardines Matheson appeared.
Even Shen Bi from Wardley Bank showed up, sitting quietly at the side.
As a major shareholder, Wardley Bank couldn't stay aloof anymore.
Clearly, much discussion had already taken place behind closed doors.
The reporters were buzzing with excitement.
Even TVB was broadcasting the conference live citywide.
At Lin Haoran's villa on Sassoon Road, just as he was about to leave, Cui Zilong called.
"Boss, Jardines Matheson is holding a press conference, and TVB is broadcasting it live!"
"Good. Well done, Zilong," Lin Haoran replied with a smile, pleased by his staff's attentiveness.
He casually turned on the TV in the living room.
On the screen, Henry Keswick, Simon Keswick, and Shen Bi could be seen under the glare of spotlights.
Lin Haoran leaned back, crossing his legs, watching the live broadcast with amusement.
Simon Keswick took the microphone.
"Dear reporters and friends, I am Simon Keswick.
Today, I have a few important announcements to make."
"First, after careful deliberation, Jardines Matheson has decided to suspend the sale of Jardines Securities."
"Second, regarding the unfair competition practices of Jardines Property Group and Huanyu Investment, Jardines Matheson will pursue legal action to defend our rights."
"Third, we assure all investors and clients that the current fluctuations in Jardines Securities' stock price are temporary.
We remain committed to maintaining stability and protecting every stakeholder's interests."
"Finally, I wish to announce that Jardines Matheson will relocate its headquarters to London by the end of this month, marking a strategic shift towards international markets.
With our extensive network and resources, we are confident in achieving even greater success abroad.
We ask all investors to continue trusting and supporting us. Thank you."
Simon bowed deeply to the reporters.
Such a sight would have been unimaginable in the past—Jardines Matheson's executives had always been haughty, never humble.
But after so many setbacks, even they had to swallow their pride.
They had once tried to seek help from the Governor's Office.
But after nearly crashing Hong Kong's property market, they had burned that bridge.
Now they could only reap what they had sown.
As for Jardines Matheson suspending the sale of Jardines Securities, Lin Haoran wasn't surprised.
Come Monday, Jardines Securities' stock price would plummet again.
Their announcement was merely a tactic to delay the inevitable collapse.
As for their threat of legal action?
Lin Haoran couldn't care less.
Even if sued, all he'd have to do was pay a few breach penalties—around HKD 30 million.
For having acquired so many financial elites, it was a price he gladly paid.
Just then, the phone in Lin Haoran's study rang again.
It was Ma Shimin.
"Boss, Allen just reported something important.
This morning, another hundred Jardines Securities employees approached him, hoping to jump ship to our side."
"Now, fewer than a hundred elite employees remain at Jardines Securities!"
Ma Shimin's voice was trembling with excitement.
He knew full well what this meant:
they had absorbed almost the entire backbone of Jardines Securities.
Soon, Huanyu Investment would fully digest these resources.
With Lin Haoran's support, Huanyu would rise to become one of Hong Kong's financial giants.
How could he not be ecstatic?
"Excellent.
You've all done outstanding work.
Give me half an hour—I'm heading to Connaught Centre now," Lin Haoran said happily.
He hadn't expected that even as Jardines Matheson's executives were hosting their press conference,
the heart of Jardines Securities was being ripped out behind their backs.
Henry Keswick and Simon Keswick would surely explode with rage when they found out.
But there would be nothing they could do.
This—this was the price of offending Lin Haoran.
They thought they could bully him just because he was young?
How wrong they were.
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