Chapter 25: A Pleasant Cooperation

Following Manager Zhang, Lin Haoran soon arrived at the Chairman's office of Hang Seng Bank on the third floor.

As he stepped inside, his gaze immediately fell upon Chairman He Shanheng, who sat upright behind his desk, appearing dignified and benevolent.

"Uncle He, hello! I apologize for the sudden visit and any disturbance I may have caused," Lin Haoran said, speaking as a junior.

This Uncle He was not only a titan of the industry but also an old friend of his father. Whenever Lin Haoran had accompanied his father here in the past, he had always addressed him as "Uncle He," so there was a certain level of familiarity between them.

At seventy-nine years old, He Shanheng bore the deep marks of time upon his face, and his silver hair appeared exceptionally bright under the glow of the lights.

However, Lin Haoran knew clearly in his heart that this seemingly elderly gentleman actually possessed extraordinary vitality and wisdom.

From what he knew of his previous life, Mr. He Shanheng would continue to lead Hang Seng Bank until the age of ninety-seven, when he would eventually pass away peacefully.

"Xiao Lin, you came to see me specifically—is there something you need help with?" He Shanheng asked curiously with a warm smile after Lin Haoran sat down.

He had just finished a busy working meeting and was preparing to take a short rest when Manager Zhang from the main lobby rushed in to announce that Lin Haoran requested an audience.

At first, he thought he had misheard; after all, as far as he knew, this young junior had only recently graduated. Why would he seek out an elder of the banking world like him?

But after Manager Zhang's second confirmation, his doubts vanished, replaced by intense curiosity and anticipation.

"Uncle He, I would like to discuss a partnership with you," Lin Haoran said seriously.

"Oh? What kind of partnership would bring you to me?" He Shanheng was slightly surprised, the corners of his mouth curling up as if he thought Lin Haoran was joking.

"Uncle He, there is something I need your help with, and it is extremely important to me. I hope that the contents of our conversation today, including the partnership proposal I am about to make, can be kept strictly confidential—even from my father, Lin Wan'an. Uncle He, can you promise me this?" Lin Haoran looked at He Shanheng with a solemn expression.

He knew this request was no small matter; it concerned whether his meticulously prepared plan could proceed smoothly. Therefore, he urgently needed He Shanheng's promise as a guarantee to ensure absolute confidentiality.

After all, if this matter were leaked, especially if his father Lin Wan'an found out, it could trigger a series of unnecessary interference and misunderstandings, causing immeasurable impact on his subsequent plans. Thus, Lin Haoran gazed at He Shanheng expectantly, waiting for his answer.

Until he secured sufficient profits from Wharf Holdings, Lin Haoran had no intention of disclosing to his father that he had already mastered a massive fortune.

Seeing Lin Haoran make such a serious request, a flash of curiosity crossed He Shanheng's eyes.

He smiled slightly, his tone tinged with curiosity: "Xiao Lin, since you are being so serious, I will promise you. I will keep the contents of our conversation today strictly under wraps; I won't reveal even a single word to your father, Lin Wan'an. Now, you can speak freely. I am very curious to know what important matter you have to discuss with me."

Seeing He Shanheng say this, Lin Haoran felt relieved.

He directly produced the stock certificates for Qingzhou Yingni, which held proof of a 12% stake in the company.

"Uncle He, I want to use these six million shares of Qingzhou Yingni as collateral to take out a loan of thirty million Hong Kong dollars from Hang Seng Bank," Lin Haoran stated solemnly.

"How did you manage to gather such a massive amount of Qingzhou Yingni stock?" He Shanheng looked at the stock certificates in his hand, his voice betraying disbelief and profound shock.

He knew very well that the market value of these six million shares of Qingzhou Yingni was more than enough to serve as a solid backing for a thirty-million-dollar loan.

However, what puzzled him was that Hang Seng Bank maintained a close cooperative relationship with the Wan'an Group and had a complete grasp of their financial situation.

Under these circumstances, how exactly had Lin Haoran managed to quietly amass such a huge amount of stock?

Thirty million Hong Kong dollars—the figure weighed heavily on his mind. Even as a financial giant, he had to admit this was a staggering sum.

He understood that even for the most prominent wealthy businessmen in Hong Kong, producing such a sum easily would be no simple feat.

Consequently, Lin Haoran's move undoubtedly sent ripples through He Shanheng's heart, filling him with curiosity and an urgent desire to uncover the secret behind it.

However, Lin Haoran certainly had no intention of explaining the details to him.

"Uncle He, as for the source of the stock, that is my own little secret, and I'm afraid I cannot share it with you yet. However, I believe there will be an opportunity for you to learn about it in the future. As for this loan, don't you think there should be no major problem?" Lin Haoran asked confidently with a smile.

Hearing this, He Shanheng nodded slightly in understanding. "Of course there is no problem, Nephew Lin. If you are willing to use this 12% stake as collateral, I can immediately approve a loan limit of thirty million Hong Kong dollars for you. However, I would like to know, how long do you plan to take the loan for?"

At this moment, He Shanheng's face beamed with an even warmer smile. His way of addressing Lin Haoran had quietly changed from "Xiao Lin" to "Nephew Lin," a subtle shift that revealed his recognition and respect for the young man.

"I plan to take the loan for two years, Uncle He. I hope to repay it in full after two years. Do you think such an arrangement is feasible? Also, regarding the interest rate, I wonder how much of a discount you can offer me?" Lin Haoran sincerely stated his requirements.

He Shanheng pondered for a moment, his eyes gleaming with deep thought.

In the financial industry, large companies often enjoy preferential interest rates. Therefore, after weighing his relationship with Lin Haoran against the unique nature of this loan, he offered a quite attractive condition.

"Nephew Lin, since we are acquaintances, I naturally won't let you suffer a loss. Regarding this thirty-million-dollar loan with a two-year term, I propose an annual interest rate of 5%. Over two years, that would be a total of 10% interest, meaning you would need to repay 33 million Hong Kong dollars upon maturity. Such terms are quite favorable in the industry; what do you think, Nephew?" He Shanheng's words were full of sincerity; he believed these terms were sufficient to demonstrate his trust and support for Lin Haoran.

It was similar to the interest rate at Yumin Finance Company—not bad. After all, Hang Seng Bank was a formal bank, and this rate was already quite good.

"No problem, let's sign the contract under these terms. I hope the funds can be available as soon as possible, ideally transferred to my account today," Lin Haoran agreed readily, feeling very satisfied with a loan that had the same interest rate as Yumin Finance but a longer term.

He believed that repaying the thirty-three million Hong Kong dollars within two years would be an easy task for him.

The reason he wanted a two-year loan was that he didn't want to face too much pressure once the loan from Yumin Finance Company matured.

"Nephew Lin, since you are so decisive, I won't delay you any further. I can grant special approval for this loan to ensure the funds arrive within the day. Now, I will have someone prepare the contract immediately," He Shanheng's smile was full of satisfaction and appreciation.

"Uncle He, a pleasure doing business with you!"

"A pleasure doing business with you!"