Chapter 347 The Relentless Chen Songqing
Two years later, Jardines Matheson would find itself tightly bound to Carnation Group, and by then, it would be impossible to shake off the disaster.
If Carnation Group collapsed — like poking a hornet's nest — the consequences would be catastrophic.
All the projects jointly promoted with Carnation Group would collapse, and the burden would instantly shift to Jardines Matheson alone.
Worse still, once Carnation Group's funding chain completely broke, it would drag Jardines Matheson into the abyss with it, costing the company its last lifeline and plunging it into an unprecedented crisis.
It was only thanks to the real estate crisis lasting just two years — and the Keswick family ruthlessly selling off assets like cutting flesh — that Jardines Matheson narrowly survived.
Even so, Jardines Matheson suffered massive losses, never fully regaining its former glory.
Meanwhile, tycoons like Li Jiacheng and Bao Yugang, who had avoided involvement with Carnation Group, remained largely unaffected and continued to thrive.
This is why many later said: Chen Songqing was a curse — whoever worked with him ended up in disaster.
Thus, ever since arriving in this world, Lin Haoran had never considered cooperating with Chen Songqing.
And now that Chen was actively seeking a partnership, Lin Haoran naturally planned to reject him.
Still, rejecting him outright without a meeting would cause rumors — that Lin Haoran, after taking over Jardines Matheson, had grown too arrogant even to meet important figures like Chen Songqing.
Thus, Lin Haoran agreed to a meeting.
"Let him come," Lin Haoran said.
"I just spoke to him on the phone. He should be on his way," Niu Bijian replied.
"Mm."
Lin Haoran said no more and began reviewing Jardines Matheson's future project plans.
Looking over the numbers, he realized that in the next six months alone, Jardines Matheson had already lined up more than a dozen cooperative projects with Carnation Group.
The total project value exceeded HKD 5 billion.
The largest among them was the Tsim Sha Tsui project Niu Bijian had just mentioned:
A massive commercial complex intended to resemble Landmark, with a total investment of HKD 3 billion.
Jardines Matheson was set to invest HKD 1 billion for a 35% stake.
Lin Haoran didn't even have to think about it — he would never continue with it.
If Carnation Group collapsed, Jardines Matheson would be stuck covering the massive costs and debt.
This type of partnership was a guaranteed disaster.
Before long, Chen Songqing arrived at Connaught Centre.
Led by staff, he was brought into Lin Haoran's office.
"Mr. Lin, congratulations! Congratulations on acquiring Jardines Matheson and Jardines Matheson! Such achievements truly make me envious!" Chen Songqing said, shaking Lin Haoran's hand warmly.
After learning of Lin Haoran's stunning takeover, Chen Songqing's first reaction was jealousy.
In the eyes of outsiders, Chen's fortune seemed vast, yet few knew where his money actually came from.
Chen often boasted of having powerful financial backers from Southeast Asia, although the truth remained murky.
Thus, seeing Lin Haoran's sudden rise, Chen mistakenly believed Lin's fortune had been amassed in the same dubious way as his own.
This misjudgment fueled his desire to accelerate his own expansion.
If Lin Haoran could pull it off, why couldn't he?
Originally, the Tsim Sha Tsui project was scheduled for finalization next year.
But after seeing Lin Haoran's rapid series of acquisitions, Chen grew anxious to push it through immediately.
He believed that securing this project would enable him to borrow another HKD 2 billion from the banks.
Moreover, Chen believed that Lin Haoran, being young, would be easier to manipulate than the old British professional managers.
After all, he had successfully purchased Aimego Company from Lin Haoran earlier.
Since then, Carnation Group had essentially taken over Aimego, with Liu Luanxiong exiting and selling off all his shares.
Initially, Aimego's stock price plummeted by over 40% within a week after Liu's exit.
However, Chen skillfully manipulated rumors, and the stock quickly rebounded and even surpassed its previous highs.
Thanks to this, he secured more financing from the banks.
Thus, Chen had no regrets about acquiring Aimego.
And now, facing Lin Haoran again, Chen mistakenly believed he could persuade him easily.
"Please sit, Mr. Chen. What brings you here today?" Lin Haoran asked, feigning ignorance.
"Mr. Lin, it's like this:
You might not know, but Jardines Matheson previously reached a preliminary agreement with us to jointly develop a major commercial project in Tsim Sha Tsui East.
Mr. Niu Bijian knows about it. We discussed it two months ago, and Jardines Matheson even sent a team for site inspection and evaluation.
The agreement is practically finalized — it just needs your signature now.
Given that you're now in charge, I hoped we could discuss it.
This project has huge potential. If successful, it could double profits within three years," Chen explained earnestly, hoping to lure Lin Haoran with promises of profits.
But Lin Haoran would not be so easily swayed.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chen, but we're not interested in proceeding with this project," Lin Haoran said directly.
"Why not?" Chen asked, stunned.
"After taking over Jardines Matheson, I realized its debt ratio is far higher than I anticipated — already at dangerous levels.
I've decided that for the next two years, Jardines Matheson will adopt a cautious development strategy and cease all aggressive expansion.
The real estate sector involves enormous sums, and I cannot risk jeopardizing the group's stability," Lin Haoran replied calmly.
Chen, hearing the repeated rejections, finally realized that Lin Haoran truly had no intention of cooperating.
All the groundwork he had laid was now wasted.
"Since you currently have no intention of cooperating, let's leave it here.
But I am willing to wait.
If you ever change your mind, Jardines Matheson will remain our preferred partner.
I'll also send you a report highlighting the advantages of the Tsim Sha Tsui project for your consideration," Chen said, unwilling to give up hope.
Even now, Chen Songqing had not given up on establishing a partnership with Jardines Matheson.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1