Chapter 415 Fully Leveraging a Top-Tier Social Platform
Lin Haoran shook his head and said seriously, "No, Bill, your actions have already surpassed most people's imagination. You dare to challenge authority and pursue dreams. That spirit itself is a tremendous success. I believe that as long as you persist, Microsoft will definitely become a leader in the tech world."
He was laying the groundwork, looking for an opportunity to invest in Microsoft.
Investing when Microsoft was still unknown, and then waiting until it went public or even became a giant in the future, would guarantee a terrifyingly high return.
Since he had coincidentally met the founder of Microsoft, missing this investment opportunity would be a waste.
"There's someone even more famous than me here tonight from the computer industry — Mr. Wang An. Bill, would you like me to introduce you to Mr. Wang An?" Lin Haoran said with a playful smile.
Bill Gates' eyes instantly lit up.
He was internally thrilled — he had gone through so much trouble sneaking into the gala exactly to meet giants like Wang An.
Although Microsoft had successfully partnered with IBM, and MS-DOS was confirmed as the operating system for IBM's new personal computer, Bill Gates' ambitions were far greater.
Wang Laboratories was a tech giant that had nearly rivaled IBM in the computer industry.
If he could successfully network with Wang An, and persuade him to bundle MS-DOS into Wang's computers, Microsoft's future would be even brighter.
Just thinking about it made Bill Gates' heart soar.
He was filled with excitement, like he was living a dream.
"Mr. Lin, that would be wonderful! I'd be extremely grateful for your introduction," Bill Gates said sincerely, barely able to hide his excitement.
Seeing the desire and ambition in Gates' eyes, Lin Haoran silently admired him. No wonder this man would become the world's richest man.
He nodded slightly and said, "Alright, I'll take you to meet Mr. Wang An."
Leading the way through the bustling crowd, Lin Haoran walked toward where Wang An was standing.
Bill Gates followed closely behind, feeling a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
He knew that except for the servers, everyone present was a heavyweight in New York's — and even America's — business circles.
Bill Gates felt like a small speck in a vast ocean.
Compared to these business giants, he was still a fledgling.
At that moment, he noticed Wang An chatting animatedly with Citibank Chairman Walter Wriston.
Their laughter filled the air, and the atmosphere was very relaxed.
As Lin Haoran and Bill Gates approached, the conversations became clearer.
They seemed to be discussing an exciting new business plan.
Bill Gates held his breath, careful not to disturb the conversation.
He was calculating how to insert himself appropriately to showcase Microsoft's value without appearing disrespectful.
But Lin Haoran's arrival had already been noticed by Wang An and Walter Wriston.
They turned their gazes toward Lin Haoran.
As for Bill Gates, they gave him only a casual glance — he was just another unknown young man to them.
"Everyone, I hope I'm not interrupting?" Lin Haoran said with a smile, picking up a glass of red wine from a passing server's tray.
Bill Gates imitated him, picking up a glass of red wine as well.
"Of course not, Mr. Lin. Please, join us," Wang An replied with a warm smile.
"I'd be honored," Lin Haoran said politely.
"Mr. Lin, is this gentleman really your friend?" Walter Wriston asked curiously, glancing at Gates.
"Yes. Allow me to introduce him: this is my friend, Mr. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, a company recently partnered with IBM. He's a young man with tremendous potential," Lin Haoran said, smiling.
"Partnered with IBM?" That immediately caught Wang An's attention.
After all, IBM was Wang Laboratories' biggest competitor.
"Mr. Wang, it's a great honor to meet you.
I'm Bill Gates, founder and CEO of Microsoft.
Our company specializes in developing computer software.
We were founded the same year as Apple and have achieved considerable success in the BASIC interpreter field, with Microsoft BASIC gradually becoming an industry standard.
Thanks to this reputation, IBM entrusted us with developing their new PC operating system," Bill Gates said, introducing himself and Microsoft enthusiastically.
"Microsoft? Hmm, I've heard of you," Wang An nodded lightly.
In the computer industry at that time, the circle was small.
Though Wang Laboratories focused on hardware and Microsoft on software, it wasn't surprising that Wang An had heard of them.
"You're both from the computer industry — one focusing on hardware, the other on software. Perhaps there's a chance to collaborate!" Lin Haoran said with a smile.
Although Microsoft was still small and relatively unknown, IBM's recognition alone indicated its potential.
Citibank's gala was, after all, also meant to be a platform for important clients to network and collaborate.
"Mr. Gates, could you share with us some of the unique advantages of your system in terms of compatibility and performance?" Wang An turned to Gates, smiling warmly.
Initially, Wang An hadn't intended to engage deeply with such a young entrepreneur — after all, the gap between their companies' size and influence was vast.
Wang Laboratories was already a tech giant.
Microsoft was still just a small, fledgling software company.
Yet, out of respect for Lin Haoran, and recognizing Gates' ambition and potential, Wang An decided to give him a chance.
This wasn't just for Lin Haoran — it was also an encouragement for young entrepreneurs.
Sensing Wang An's goodwill, Bill Gates took a deep breath and began explaining Microsoft DOS:
"Mr. Wang, our DOS system was designed with compatibility and performance as priorities.
It uses a modular architecture, making it easily adaptable to different hardware configurations, ensuring wide compatibility.
At the same time, we continuously optimize our code to maximize system efficiency even on limited hardware."
As Bill Gates and Wang An engaged in a deep technical discussion, Lin Haoran quietly stepped back.
He understood perfectly:
This Citibank gala was a rare top-tier social platform — a golden opportunity to expand his network and resources.
Although Lin Haoran's fame had skyrocketed recently due to Apple's IPO and the massive sale of his Apple shares,
he knew that, deep down, he still lacked deep, entrenched connections in America.
In many people's eyes, he was just a young foreign billionaire who had gotten lucky — not a true insider.
Only Citibank, because of their business ties, treated him with genuine respect.
Thus, Lin Haoran made it his mission tonight to fully leverage this platform.
As the night wore on, amid laughter and lively conversations, the gala gradually drew to a close around 8 p.m.
Lin Haoran hadn't paid much attention to the exquisite food and drink.
Instead, he had been laser-focused on networking.
By the end of the night, he had collected over thirty business cards —
and had handed out just as many.
Each card was a potential bridge to future collaboration and opportunity.
Many of the business elites present showed strong interest in getting to know this rapidly rising, foreign-born billionaire.
They were attracted by Lin Haoran's vision, sharp business instincts, and decisive actions.
And this —
this was exactly what Lin Haoran had hoped for.
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