Chapter 413 Chinese Business Tycoon, The Young Man Who Burst In!
As he entered the crowd, Lin Haoran quickly blended into the discussions. His speech and manners were elegant and poised, and he offered unique insights on various economic topics, earning him admiration from those around him. Especially when the conversation shifted to future investment trends, Lin Haoran shared his views on technology, energy, and consumer sectors — his perspectives were novel and forward-looking, prompting frequent nods of agreement. Within just a month, Lin Haoran had already become a well-known figure, and his influence continued to rise. Thus, these people were very willing to get to know this astonishingly young billionaire standing before them.
In the grand hall, more guests continued to arrive, all invited by Citibank. Among the circle of predominantly white elites, Lin Haoran stood out sharply as the only Asian. At least, until now. Soon, the elevator doors opened again, and Lin Haoran glanced over, surprised to see another Asian.
"Come, Mr. Lin, let me introduce you," Walter Wriston said with a smile, leading Lin Haoran over. "This is Mr. Wang An, a highly respected figure in the American business world. Since you're both Chinese, I imagine you'll have much in common."
"Wang An?" Lin Haoran studied the man carefully. He had indeed heard of him — a renowned Chinese-American scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur. The inventor of magnetic core memory, no less. Wang's company, Wang Laboratories, was as famous as Apple at this time. He was called the "King of Computers," and Wang Laboratories had a longer history than Apple.
At its peak, Wang Laboratories generated $3 billion in annual revenue and ranked 146th among Fortune magazine's top 500 U.S. companies, employing 31,500 people worldwide. Wang An himself, with a personal fortune of $2 billion, was counted among America's top ten wealthiest individuals — although, of course, this didn't include hidden tycoons whose wealth was unknown. Similarly, no one could accurately calculate Lin Haoran's true wealth — and as he secretly accumulated shares in many of America's future giants, his fortune would only grow. But all of this would be hidden from public view.
"Mr. Lin, I've heard of your achievements recently. Seeing a fellow Chinese achieve such commercial success is truly inspiring — we are not alone!" Wang An said, stepping forward and speaking in Mandarin. In this era, top-tier American business circles had very few Chinese faces, and Wang An was one of the few outstanding exceptions.
Another notable figure was Zhang Zhongmou (Morris Chang) of Texas Instruments, but unlike Wang An, Zhang was a professional manager, not an entrepreneur. Wang An was the founder and owner of his company — a true entrepreneur with absolute decision-making authority. This distinction meant Wang An wielded more influence and independence in the business world.
"Mr. Wang, you are a senior I admire. The achievements of Wang Laboratories in America are truly enviable," Lin Haoran said modestly.
Looking at the sixty-year-old man before him, Lin Haoran couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. In the late 1980s, Wang An would fall ill with a terminal disease and pass away by 1990. Without his leadership, Wang Laboratories would soon spiral into decline. It would collapse shockingly quickly, filing for bankruptcy not long after Wang An's death — a truly tragic end. For now, though, Wang Laboratories was thriving, and no one could foresee its future downfall.
"Mr. Wang, your achievements have not only greatly encouraged the Chinese community but have also had a profound impact on the global technology sector. It is a tremendous honor for me to live and witness this transformative era alongside you," Lin Haoran said sincerely.
Wang An's contributions deserved the highest praise. Not only was he a technological pioneer, but his personal charisma and wisdom were equally admirable.
Wang An beamed at the compliment, his eyes flashing with genuine appreciation. "Mr. Lin, you are too modest. Your accomplishments in business are equally remarkable, especially your precision in investment and extraordinary foresight. Seeing such a talented young man among the Chinese community fills us all with pride."
Wang An did not look down on Lin Haoran because of his youth. Instead, he treated him as an equal — a peer.
The two spoke animatedly. Although the surrounding white guests couldn't understand Mandarin, the positive energy between them was palpable, drawing curious glances.
It was a pity that Wang Laboratories' fate was so closely tied to Wang An himself. Otherwise, Lin Haoran would have seriously considered investing to help the company grow even stronger. But knowing Wang Laboratories' future, Lin Haoran felt little interest. He also knew Wang An would die of a terminal illness, although the exact disease was unclear.
Thus, though he briefly considered giving a warning, he ultimately decided against it.
As the lively conversations continued, the door beside the elevators was suddenly pushed open. A young man rushed in, panting heavily. Behind him, a building security guard gave chase, but clearly failed to stop him.
Lin Haoran looked over and found the young man familiar.
Wasn't this the future world's richest man, Bill Gates?
Like Steve Jobs, Gates was born in 1955, making him 25 years old now. When Jobs founded Apple, Gates founded Microsoft. However, Microsoft's current strength was nowhere near Apple's.
Apple was now a public company worth nearly $3 billion.
Meanwhile, Microsoft was still a tiny, unknown startup.
However, they had recently been lucky — IBM had selected Microsoft to develop the operating system for its new personal computers.
Microsoft purchased rights to an existing system for $50,000, adapted it into MS-DOS, and licensed it to IBM — a huge turning point.
Even so, in 1980, Microsoft was still a minuscule player. Hardly anyone in America had heard of it.
What was Gates doing here?
Lin Haoran looked curiously at the young Bill Gates.
Gates' sudden appearance added a touch of drama to the gathering. Everyone turned to look.
He was panting hard, his eyes filled with determination and urgency, as if chasing something critical.
The security guard tried to grab him and haul him out.
But Lin Haoran stepped forward and stopped him.
"This is my friend. Let him stay," Lin Haoran said with a smile to the security guard.
"You may leave," Walter Wriston also spoke up.
Since Lin Haoran had vouched for the young man, Wriston respected that.
With the security guard dismissed, attention drifted away from Gates.
To these elite guests, Bill Gates was just an unknown young man — not worthy of much interest.
Even Wriston lost interest, turning back to his conversations with other important clients.
Meanwhile, Lin Haoran studied Bill Gates with great curiosity.
In Lin Haoran's mind, Gates was already a future tech titan.
Though still a nobody, his potential was undeniable.
This was the perfect time to establish a relationship and offer support.
"Mr. Lin, thank you so much. I never expected to meet you here, let alone have you help me," Gates said gratefully, extending his hand. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, a software development company.
You may not have heard of us yet, but your kindness means a great deal to me."
Lin Haoran smiled as he shook Gates' hand.
"Mr. Gates, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm surprised to find you here too.
And I believe that very soon, both Microsoft and your name will be known throughout the industry."
Gates' eyes flashed with surprise, but quickly filled with gratitude and pride.
"Mr. Lin, your encouragement means a lot. Microsoft is growing quickly.
We are working hard to show the world our true value," Gates said passionately.
Being chosen by IBM to develop their PC operating system was Gates' proudest achievement so far.
He often thought about it with joy and satisfaction during sleepless nights.
"I see in you the shadow of another young man," Lin Haoran said with a smile, his gaze full of expectation and appreciation.
"Really? Mr. Lin, may I ask — who is that young man?" Gates asked curiously.
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