Chapter 35

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing arrived at the cafe opposite the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, choosing a window seat. Wang Yunlong sat across from them. Zhou Ming, noticing Wang Yunlong's agitated state and trembling hands, couldn't help but tease him, saying, "Mr. Wang, you're already this upset just because the Hong Kong stock index has started to fall. Your mental fortitude as the stock god of Hong Kong is really lacking!"

Wang Yunlong gave a bitter smile and said, "Mr. Zhou, please don't mock me. Who dares to call themselves a stock god in front of you? Moreover, after the Hong Kong stock market opened today, it was affected by the U.S. stock market and plummeted across the board. The Hong Kong stock index has already fallen by more than a hundred points, which no one could have predicted. Except for you, Mr. Zhou. Look outside, everyone is in despair, but only you can sit here so calmly. Your composure is truly admirable."

As Wang Yunlong spoke, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing turned their gaze to the window. They saw that the entrance to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was already crowded with people, all hoping for a rebound in the stock market. Unfortunately, the stock index continued to fall sharply, breaking everyone's hearts.

Desperate cries and heart-wrenching sobs echoed from the crowd, and Zhou Ming, sitting in the second-floor cafe, could hear them clearly through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The contrast between the cries from the stock exchange and Zhou Ming's calm, elevated gaze was stark. Wang Yunlong, seeing this, said subconsciously, "Mr. Zhou, you are like the emperor of the financial empire, looking down on those foolish speculators!"

Hearing Wang Yunlong's comment, Zhou Ming said, "You flatter me. In fact, by the usual standards, I am the speculator."

Wang Yunlong shook his head repeatedly, "No, Mr. Zhou, if you are a speculator, then there are no investors in the world. Do you remember when you told me about the fragility of the Hong Kong financial market and the impending global financial collapse? We, who thought we understood the financial market, laughed it off, thinking that the current global economic situation was so good that a collapse was impossible. But now, the facts have proven us wrong. We were all foolish speculators, while you, Mr. Zhou, are the wise one who truly understands the market!"

"Alright, let's stop with the unnecessary talk," Zhou Ming waved his hand, "Let's discuss your views on the future of the Hong Kong financial market."

"In front of you, Mr. Zhou, how can I dare to speak? That would be like showing off my skills in front of a master. I will do whatever you say," Wang Yunlong said.

Zhou Ming frowned and said sternly, "If I tell you to speak, you speak. Don't forget, you lost the bet to me and have to work as my trader. If I set up a fund in the future and you are my fund manager, do you think you can handle it? Can you bear the pressure and make market predictions? Of course, if you want to renege, that's a different story."

Wang Yunlong was speechless for a moment. Zhou Ming then said, "Do you think I'm joking? Do you think I'm being unrealistic? I'm telling you, that's my plan!"

Wang Yunlong looked at Zhou Ming's resolute face, feeling an overwhelming shock. He remembered when Zhou Ming first arrived in Hong Kong, opening an account with just a few ten thousand Hong Kong dollars and saying he wanted Wang Yunlong to be his fund manager. At the time, Wang Yunlong thought Zhou Ming was joking, and anyone who heard it would have thought the same, or even considered him a madman. But who could have imagined that Zhou Ming was serious and had the ability to make it happen?

Now that Zhou Ming had successfully predicted the stock market crash, it was easy to see that he could earn several million Hong Kong dollars, which would be enough to set up a fund.

Thinking about this, Wang Yunlong made up his mind: it was a great honor to follow such a great person as Zhou Ming!

"Mr. Zhou, I'm sorry for underestimating myself. Please rest assured, I will not renege. If you really set up a fund company in the future and trust me, I am willing to be your fund manager," Wang Yunlong said sincerely. "As for the future of the Hong Kong financial market, due to the impact of the U.S. stock market crash, I believe it will continue to fall for some time until the global economic situation stabilizes."

"Then, how much do you think the Hong Kong stock market will fall?" Zhou Ming asked.

Wang Yunlong thought for a moment and replied, "It's hard to predict, but conservatively, the Hong Kong stock index will fall by at least four to five hundred points in this crash."

"What if the market is suspended?" Zhou Ming suddenly asked a shocking question.

Faced with this question, Wang Yunlong's eyes widened, and he murmured, "No... no, although this crash is severe, it's not bad enough to suspend trading. But if that happens, it will definitely worsen the market sentiment, causing the Hong Kong stock index to fall even more, possibly by more than a thousand points."

Zhou Ming was very satisfied with Wang Yunlong's analysis. According to his memory, the Hong Kong stock index indeed fell by more than a thousand points, with a decline of over 50%.

"As my fund manager, what do you think I should do?" Zhou Ming asked again.

Wang Yunlong smiled bitterly and said, "Although I think my answer is redundant, I suggest you continue to hold the futures contracts on the Hong Kong stock index until it hits the bottom."

Zhou Ming nodded, just as he was about to say something, he saw a familiar figure rushing into the cafe. It was none other than Zhou Ming's futures client manager, Sun Wei.

Sun Wei approached Zhou Ming's table and pleaded, "Mr. Zhou, please save me. Only you can save me. I beg you!"

Zhou Ming glanced at Wang Yunlong, who lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Zhou, I told him you were here."

Zhou Ming hummed and then turned to Sun Wei, asking, "If I'm not mistaken, the ten short positions you placed, a lot of the money wasn't yours, right?"

Hearing this question, Sun Wei's face turned pale. Wang Yunlong explained, "To be honest, Mr. Zhou, the ten thousand Hong Kong dollars Sun Wei used to place the order were not his. He was helping a big brother from Causeway Bay. Now that the Hong Kong stock market has crashed, he can't close the position. At this rate, the ten thousand Hong Kong dollars will be lost, and the big brother won't let him off. So, although it's presumptuous, I beg you, Mr. Zhou, to help."

"Causeway Bay big brother? Is it Brother Hao Nan?" Zhou Ming asked.

Hearing this, Sun Wei immediately felt a glimmer of hope, "Yes, it's Brother Hao Nan. Do you know him, Mr. Zhou?"

Sun Wei's words almost made Zhou Ming laugh. He had just asked out of habit, as the movie series was so popular that it left a deep impression on him. He couldn't help but think of Brother Hao Nan when he heard Causeway Bay, but he never expected there to be a real Brother Hao Nan in Causeway Bay.

As for Sun Wei helping Brother Hao Nan with futures trading, this wasn't unusual in the financial industry. In those days, the financial market was not regulated, and many client managers would operate on behalf of their clients to earn commissions.

Although client managers usually signed risk agreements with their clients, warning them of market risks and stating that they would not be responsible for losses, once significant losses occurred, clients would always blame the client managers, especially someone like Brother Hao Nan. If he found out that his ten thousand Hong Kong dollars were lost, he would definitely send a group of henchmen to kill Sun Wei.

Zhou Ming shook his head, "I don't know him, but I've heard of him. Perhaps in a few years, he will become quite famous."

"Mr. Zhou, since you've heard of Brother Hao Nan, you know he has a bad temper. He will definitely kill me! I beg you, Mr. Zhou, save me, I beg you!" Sun Wei pleaded, tears streaming down his face.

Lin Muqing, who had always disliked Sun Wei, was even more irritated by his behavior, "Mr. Sun, what are you doing? Do you remember how you insulted us before? You even placed a bet against us. Zhou Ming advised you not to place the short position, but you didn't listen. Now you're using other people's money, and it's only right that they come after you. Why are you begging us like this?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhou, Miss Lin. I know I was a jerk. I was blind. I beg you not to hold it against me. You must save me, or Brother Hao Nan will really kill me! I beg you, I'll kneel to you!"

Sun Wei wailed and actually knelt down in front of Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing.

Lin Muqing's eyebrows furrowed, and she said angrily, "Are you trying to blackmail us? I'm not afraid of you. This is a high-end cafe. If you cause a disturbance, the management will call the police!"

Under Lin Muqing's pressure, Sun Wei was stunned, his eyes filled with despair, "It's over, I'm dead..."

Seeing the cafe staff approaching, Zhou Ming gestured for them to wait, then patted Lin Muqing's hand to calm her down before asking Sun Wei, "Do you really know you were wrong?"

Hearing this, Sun Wei's hope was rekindled, and he nodded frantically, "I know, I really know I was wrong!"

"Your life and death have nothing to do with me. I'm not a philanthropist, and I have no obligation to give ten thousand Hong Kong dollars to a stranger," Zhou Ming said, then changed his tone, "But since you are a friend of Wang Yunlong, and I have a good relationship with him, and you have sincerely apologized to me and Miss Lin, I will give you a way out."

Sun Wei thanked Zhou Ming profusely.

Zhou Ming pressed his hand down to calm him, then said, "You're like a blind man in a dark room. You just helped Brother Hao Nan lose ten thousand Hong Kong dollars. Why don't you help him make it up?"

"But I don't have ten thousand Hong Kong dollars," Sun Wei said.

"That's why I say you're stupid!" Zhou Ming said, "Tell me, how do client managers in your futures company earn commissions? And how many contracts have I traded in the futures market, and how much has my capital grown?"

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