Chapter 9: A Busy Monday Morning

Moving in with nothing but a suitcase and a backpack, Zhang Long settled into his new home with remarkable ease. By the time he arrived, it was already noon. He ate a simple meal to satisfy his hunger, then launched into a spree of shopping for household essentials, refreshing his wardrobe from head to toe. Money flowed like water. From today, he embarked on a new chapter: embracing a new life.

Night fell. After arranging and decorating his new place, Zhang Long stood in the living room, gazing out the window. The Bund teemed with crowds, neon-lit ferries glided slowly across the river, their horns occasionally echoing in the distance. Beyond, the dazzling lights of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the grandeur of Lujiazui’s skyscrapers unfolded. The breathtaking, radiant atmosphere of the modern metropolis was so close it seemed within reach. His heart surged, as if he stood at the pinnacle of life, utterly content.

“Too bad…” Zhang Long stretched lazily. If this apartment weren’t rented but fully owned, and if he had a girlfriend to share the view with, the experience would be more profound, more memorable. At this thought, the image of Luo Man, with whom he had dined the night before, flashed through his mind. She was well-built and attractive. He knew that if it weren’t for the millions in his bank account, Luo Man would never have been so polite and friendly—at most, she’d be a distant acquaintance.

Applying for a credit card was no big deal. Despite his sizable deposit, using a credit card was convenient. With mobile payments not yet popular, shopping and daily expenses could be handled with a swipe, and setting up automatic monthly repayments was easy. So he agreed to Luo Man’s request to visit her company for the application. He’d go to Shengxin—not to be misunderstood. He’d visit the company to apply for a credit card and see if any colleagues were interested as well.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated. Zhang Long glanced down, raising an eyebrow. Was this telepathy? Just as he thought of Luo Man, her message arrived. He exhaled softly and typed a reply: “About to sleep.” On the other end, Luo Man responded with a resigned emoji.

Monday, September 10, Shengxin Finance.

Living nearby was a blessing. Zhang Long slept in until eight, then stepped out of the complex, boarded the ferry—a two-yuan ticket, a few minutes’ ride—making his cross-river commute a breeze. “Meeting time.”

At nine, the meeting was hosted by Liang Xue. Shengxin Finance didn’t have the tradition of morning calisthenics to boost morale; each team simply met at their scheduled times, avoiding unnecessary theatrics.

Before bed last night, Zhang Long had reviewed the fundamentals of some clients’ stock holdings. Most were uneventful—no changes in company reports or industry policies—meaning little fluctuation in stock prices. In a bear market, there was no momentum for a rise, leaving holdings trapped.

But Takahai Energy was in trouble. It had surged over 20% the previous week, and the reason became clear from weekend news: Takahai Energy was negotiating an acquisition with an industry leader. The news hadn’t gone public, but the outcome was now revealed—failure. Consequently, the stock was expected to fall.

Sure enough, after the meeting, Zhang Long immediately checked Takahai Energy’s market performance—opening at the daily limit down, a frightening drop. The stock continued to open at limit down on Tuesday, fell 7% at Wednesday’s opening but rallied to close up 5%, and then hit the daily limit up again on Thursday and Friday. The volatility was impressive.

Analyzing after the fact, Zhang Long speculated the acquisition talks weren’t entirely dead. Retail investors were always the last to hear the news. The real players, institutions and capital, competed for large sums. Retail investors could only sip the leftovers or be cut down, as was the case with Takahai Energy—picking off those who panic-sold in a slump and those who blindly chased as the price soared.

“Opportunity knocks.” Zhang Long’s expression brightened. Nice.

Before the formal opening at 9:30, two clients who hadn’t added funds last week deposited money, meaning they’d follow Zhang Long’s advice this week. Though Takahai Energy opened at limit down on Monday and Tuesday, Zhang Long felt no pressure. His clients held a diverse portfolio—over a hundred stocks. Most remained stagnant, but a few were poised for gains. The company’s analyst team occasionally recommended stocks that performed well, so he had no shortage of options for clients seeking volatile trades, ensuring steady commissions.

Having gained considerable client trust last week, this week was about strengthening that trust, with next week poised for a breakthrough. Trust in Long, and let’s profit together.

He called Zhang Lizhen first. “Don’t worry about Takahai Energy’s limit-down opening. Wait and observe for a day or two. Last week, we closed with a 650,000 yuan profit. Keep an eye on XX Pharma—it’s a key recommendation in the company report today.”

Zhang Long, using his foresight, predicted XX Pharma would rise 10% over Monday and Tuesday, sell before Tuesday’s close, and buy back into Takahai Energy on Wednesday morning.

“Alright,” Zhang Lizhen replied. The plunge in Takahai Energy had hit her hard. Last week, she’d locked in some profit, but the part that remained trapped effectively wiped out her gains. If losses continued, last week’s earnings would vanish, leaving her anxious. Still, Zhang Long’s advice offered hope. If Takahai Energy was underperforming, she’d buy something else. Clinging to a single stock was futile—following the expert was best. She promptly invested 650,000 yuan in XX Pharma, awaiting further instructions.

Next, Zhang Long sighed as he called Chen. “No one could have predicted Takahai Energy’s limit-down opening. The news of the failed acquisition was released yesterday, so we can only wait and see. But the price is what it is, and the acquisition isn’t off the table yet. Opportunities remain. My advice: if you have idle funds, prepare them now. Once the decline stops, we’ll catch the rebound and exit with profit.”

He reassured Yu, “It’s a failed acquisition, not an abandoned one. Takahai Energy’s founding team won’t give up easily. Wait for the rebound. Have idle funds ready; once the downturn halts and there’s a hint of recovery, that’s your chance.”

He called Wang next. “Hold off on Takahai Energy for now. Wait for stability, then act. Today, our analysts recommend XX Pharma as a key pick—worth a look.”

Thus Zhang Long made call after call, tailoring his advice to each client’s situation. He stabilized those who’d bought into Takahai Energy but hadn’t cashed out, and recommended XX Pharma and other stocks to those with available funds. The two who added funds before the opening, plus two more after, intuitively bought into XX Pharma.

Using his foresight, Zhang Long assisted clients according to their holdings and fund status, gradually entering a steady rhythm. Of course, encouraging clients to add funds was always part of the plan; without money, trapped stocks couldn’t be traded, and the game would end.

By noon, the results were evident. Six clients had added funds, over ten had completed trades—a promising start to the week.

“Supervisor Zhang…” Suddenly, Liang Xue called out. Something was up.