Chapter 41: A Collective Surge in Loyalty

Given the pressing nature of the current situation, Lin Haoran chose to remain in Central even over the weekend, never once considering the comfort of returning to the Lin family villa.

This office space seemed tailor-made for him, seamlessly blending his work and personal life. The front half was spacious and bright, serving as a highly efficient workspace equipped with desks, bookcases, and all necessary office amenities, arranged to ensure both comfort and productivity. The cleverly designed back half was a cozy, private retreat; a small bedroom of just over ten square meters had been meticulously furnished to be both warm and elegant. Inside, the large Simmons mattress that Lin Haoran had recently selected provided a soft, comfortable rest. Adjacent to the bed was a compact, fully functional bathroom that catered to all his daily needs. Most delightful of all, with a gentle pull of the curtains, the magnificent view of Victoria Harbour on both sides would come into full view, a breathtaking sight that seemed to cheer on this diligent striver. The office and bedroom were separated by a wall, ensuring focus and privacy while allowing for a quick transition to relaxation when needed.

Lin Haoran had also properly arranged accommodation for the brothers Li Weiguo and Li Weidong in an adjacent department office. As that office was currently unused, he had simply had an iron bunk bed moved in, providing a place for the two to stay whenever Lin Haoran was working late at the company.

Throughout the weekend, while keeping a close watch on the unfolding events in Hong Kong, Lin Haoran did not neglect the details of company operations. He personally navigated the human resources market to carefully select and hire a new female receptionist. The new member, Zhao Lin, was twenty-three years old and had just graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong with a degree in Human Resources. Though not a classic beauty, her gentle and pleasant temperament, combined with her poised and graceful manner, made her perfectly suited for the vital role of receptionist, acting as a bright and welcoming face for the company. Lin Haoran was quite satisfied with Zhao Lin’s performance; he had already officially signed an employment contract with her on behalf of Universal Investment and arranged for her to begin work on Monday.

As the weekend slipped away, another work week, filled with both challenges and opportunities, arrived. It was Monday, October 9th. By the time Lin Haoran finished breakfast with his two bodyguards and stepped into the office, the time had already ticked past 8:50 AM.

At this moment, every corner of the company hummed with vitality, with all staff, both new and old, already at their posts. Today, Universal Investment was vastly different from the past, appearing exceptionally bustling. A week ago, aside from Lin Haoran and his bodyguards, there were only Su Zhixue and Dai Shi, leaving the office feeling empty and quiet. Today, however, the arrival of new members breathed fresh life into the space. Zhao Lin added a bright touch to the front desk, while the trading team welcomed three new members: Han Zixing, Shi Zhensheng, and Qi Fen, whose arrival undoubtedly injected fresh energy into the firm’s operations.

"Good morning, Mr. Lin!"
"Good morning, sir!"

As Lin Haoran entered, a chorus of greetings echoed through the office. He smiled and greeted everyone cordially. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Since everyone is here, I will briefly cover a few matters. First, I would like to introduce our new team member, Zhao Lin, who will handle guest reception, daily administrative tasks, and the procurement of office supplies. Given that the reception duties are currently relatively light, you will also be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the office for the time being. We discussed this in detail during your interview, Zhao Lin; you have no issues with that, do you?"

Zhao Lin nodded with a smile, answering confidently, "No issues at all. I will do my absolute best in every task."

"Excellent. Then please take your place at the front desk, and I will inform you of further arrangements later," Lin Haoran said with a nod of satisfaction before turning his attention to Su Zhixue and the others. "Additionally, our trading team has grown today with the addition of three experienced members. We have half an hour before the stock market opens, so I would like to use this time for a brief meeting to help the new staff understand our work and our primary objectives moving forward."

With that, Lin Haoran led the group to the conference room. This room had been converted from what was originally the accounting office; while not large, it was perfectly adequate for a meeting of six. Since founding Universal Investment, Lin Haoran had not established a dedicated finance position because the company's transaction process remained relatively simple and transparent. He personally oversaw the company's finances to ensure that every transaction was clear and accurate.

Of course, as the company's business continued to expand and grow more complex, Lin Haoran had long-term plans to add a finance role at the appropriate time to further standardize and perfect the company's financial management system. Including himself, the trading team now consisted of six people.

"Zhixue, please give everyone a detailed introduction to our previous work," Lin Haoran said gently as he took his seat at the head of the conference table.

"Certainly, Mr. Lin," Su Zhixue replied, rising to provide a clear and organized overview.

Previously, due to the need for confidentiality, the specific details of the team's work had not been disclosed to the three new members. Now that they had officially joined, it was time to share this vital information. Su Zhixue reviewed every key step and achievement of the team, ensuring that every member had a comprehensive and deep understanding of the team's history and current state.

Following Su Zhixue's thorough explanation, the three new members—Han Zixing, Shi Zhensheng, and Qi Fen—gained a much clearer understanding of the work they were about to undertake and the strength of the company. A growing light shone in their eyes, and their inner excitement and sense of fortune were beyond words. Recalling their first interview in that somewhat cramped small office, where they had held some reservations and doubts about the position, all their concerns had now vanished into thin air.

The spaciousness, brightness, and prime location of the new office not only lifted their spirits but also subtly increased their confidence in and sense of belonging to the company. And the trade volumes in the tens of millions that Su Zhixue spoke of made them realize the extraordinary strength and vast potential of this investment firm.

At that moment, Lin Haoran noticed that their loyalty had increased to varying degrees:

Han Zixing: [Loyalty: 72/100]
Shi Zhensheng: [Loyalty: 70/100]
Qi Fen: [Loyalty: 71/100]