Chapter 3: The stock hit its daily limit!

"Ouch—!!"
Li Huilin was startled by his sudden action and cried out,
"Su Hao! What are you doing?! Why did you suddenly click 'buy'?! I haven't finished explaining yet!"
Oh no!
First day at work, and he's already messed up before even starting!
Su Hao's heart sank; he knew he was in trouble.
"This is an ST stock! And look at the order book! There are only sell orders right now, are there any buy orders?"
"No..."
"Right! That means this stock is at its daily limit down, understand?"
"Then... what should we do?"
"Thank goodness, this is just a demo account! Not real money! If you dared to mess around like this in a real account, the manager would throw you out the window!"
Hearing this, Su Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing her scream in fright, he thought the company was really going to lose money.
“But the problem is, as I just mentioned, right? Our simulated trading counts towards our performance evaluation.”
Li Huilin muttered to herself, her tone filled with genuine worry, as if she were even more anxious than if she herself had made a mistake:
“Only with good simulated trading results can we hope to pass the evaluation. But now you’ve staked all your simulated funds on this ST stock…”
“I’m sorry!”
“Oh, what are you apologizing for!” Li Huilin chuckled,
“Who hasn’t been a newbie? Making small mistakes is perfectly normal. Back when I first started, my mistakes were even more outrageous than this.”
"Of course, because of this, my performance review might... well, be a little affected."
"But it's okay! I'll talk to the manager, no problem!"
Su Hao stared blankly at the sincere smile on her face.
She's such a good person!
Su Hao was deeply moved, silently giving Li Huilin a big "good person" card!
However, making such a basic mistake on his first day at work! It's a total disaster!
But... that intense feeling that made him tremble just now...
It was truly, incredibly clear, incredibly strong!
It was that almost fateful premonition that led him, in that instant, inexplicably, to press the "buy" button.
However, in a game, after pressing the button, the feedback is instantaneous—whether it's "god-tier gear" or "junk."
But the stock market… was like a bottomless quagmire, completely unpredictable.
On the screen, the ST stock remained firmly locked at its daily limit down, a chilling shade of green.
Could it be that his intuition was wrong?
Perhaps that so-called "gaming ability" and real-world stock investing were completely unrelated?
Or perhaps he didn't have any special abilities at all, and everything before was just a few strokes of luck…
Forget it, focus on the work at hand! Stop overthinking!
***
The official opening time for the stock market was 9:30 AM.
However, considering the existence of stock index futures and the opening auction, the silent battle had already begun at 9:15 AM.
It wouldn't end until 3:15 PM.
This is a financial war waged without gunfire or real bullets, but built on real money, capable of stopping hearts and sending blood pressure soaring!
And the trading department is undoubtedly the fastest-paced and most stressful place in the entire company.
And what do the people here believe in?
Quick in, quick out! Short-term trading is king!
When prices are volatile, you have to pounce like the hungriest wolf cubs, snatching chestnuts from the fire!
Squeeze every last drop of profit from those unpredictable candlestick charts!
Yes, this is indeed a ruthless and decisive battlefield!
Here, stock holding periods are extremely short, never exceeding a week.
Usually before the market closes, it's either short selling for hedging or locking in over-the-counter options positions—anything to lock in profits. In a sense, it's a form of T+0 trading.
"Cash is king, secure your profits"—these eight words are a creed etched into the department's DNA!
Those who subscribe to the "long-term holding" philosophy are destined to be incompatible with the atmosphere of this department.
They are better suited for the asset management or research departments, where value investing is truly pursued.
Zhou Yi, the manager in charge of the trading department, has a deep-seated disdain for slow-paced trading.
What he loves is this battlefield where adrenaline surges and dopamine surges to a fever pitch!
Here, every day, every minute, every second, the red and green candlesticks representing rises and falls are engaged in fierce combat!
Like soldiers on two opposing armies, the fighting is bloody and brutal, a fight to the death!
Traders, in this highly tense psychological war, throw smokescreens, launch sneak attacks, dig pits and plant mines, and then—wield their sickles to reap the rewards of their opponents!
That's why, in his view, those dopamine-fueled short videos that young people can't stop watching are utterly tasteless!
The thrills offered by those other things pale in comparison to the real-money, ever-changing battles of the trading arena—it's like child's play.
This is the true paradise that can send an adult's dopamine system exploding, sending them into a frenzy!
This is the core reason Zhou Yi chose to stay with this company.
Of course, people often ask him:
"Why not go solo and trade with your own money? Wouldn't that be more free and exciting?"
No, absolutely not!
Trading with company money subconsciously retains a sliver of "observer" clarity, allowing for more rational judgment.
But the moment he thinks about trading "his own hard-earned money," the innate greed and fear ingrained in human genes instantly destroy all reason and judgment like a virus.
It turns him into a drifting leaf, swept along by the turbulent waves of emotion.
Many once-renowned, brilliant traders in their companies have plummeted from grace and suffered devastating losses once they go solo and trade with their own money!
The reason lies precisely in this!
The closing bell has just sounded, and the air still seems to carry the lingering smell of battle.
“Xiao Wu, compile today’s position report and trading records and hand them to me. By the way, have you marked any special cases?”
“Ah, yes! The report is ready and will be sent to you along with the data shortly.”
"Very good. Quickly, I need to formulate tomorrow's market strategy based on this."
"Yes, sir!"
After assigning tasks to the traders, Zhou Yi, who had been sitting all day, seized the opportunity to stretch.
He pulled out dumbbells from under the table, rolled up his sleeves, and started training.
Every day after the market closed, he would do several sets of strength training with dumbbells to slow down muscle loss as much as possible, followed by a protein shake—this had become his unwavering ritual.
As for dinner tonight, it was the same as always: bland chicken breast…
Just then, he noticed a figure standing not far away, looking hesitant, as if unsure whether to interrupt.
"Huilin? Is there something you need?" Zhou Yi asked, still holding the dumbbells.
"Ah, yes, Manager. Sorry to interrupt your workout," Li Huilin said with a slight bow.
“It’s nothing, just stretching. Go ahead, what’s up?”
“Well… it’s about the new guy who came today…”
Li Huilin briefly recounted what happened while instructing the new employee.
“So… you mean, the new guy who just arrived today ‘accidentally’ used all the funds in his demo account to buy an ST stock? And at the limit-down price?”
Zhou Yi frowned slightly and stopped exercising.
“Yes… he probably accidentally clicked the wrong button when I was explaining the operation to him…
And that stock has been locked at the limit-down price all day. I’m worried that this might… affect his new employee evaluation…”
“I understand.” Zhou Yi interrupted her. “Don’t worry about the evaluation. Please continue to mentor the new guy.”
“Ah, okay, thank you, Manager.”
Zhou Yi watched Li Huilin’s departing figure, his heart filled with emotion.
Li Huilin…
Truly, her name reflects her character; her appearance reflects her heart. This saying couldn’t be more fitting for her.
Naturally beautiful, kind, and gentle.
But…
In this cruel world where value is measured only by cold numbers and the strong prey on the weak, she's like a white lotus flower lost in a concrete jungle, utterly out of place.
Zhou Yi initially wanted to put Su Hao out of his mind.
But the newcomer's "connected" status, along with his absurd trading maneuver, lingered like a persistent pop-up ad, constantly flashing on the edge of his consciousness.
Full position, limit down price, buy ST stock?
If he made any of these three moves in real trading, this kid would be out of a job today.
But in the demo account… there's no loss.
Even so, an inexplicable sense of unease lingered.
Even if it was a mistake, he should have personally clicked the "buy" button and confirmed it.
Could a mouse come to life and place orders on its own?
"Maybe there's something special about this stock?"
The stock Su Hao bought with all his funds was a gold-related stock—ST Zhongrun.
ST stocks, due to their inherent delisting risk and poor liquidity, are significantly riskier than ordinary stocks and are strictly prohibited from trading within the company.
What's more, today, due to a technical correction in gold prices, the entire gold sector is in dire straits, a sea of ​​red!
Could it be… a slip of the hand?
"Never mind… don't think about it anymore," he told himself.
He's just a nepotism hire, most likely here to experience the company life, get some experience, and leave.
As for the new employee assessment, that's impossible.
Promote a complete novice who can't even understand candlestick charts as a full-fledged trader, and put real money in his hands?
Zhou Yi wasn't that naive, and the company's higher-ups probably weren't that foolish either.
So, let him be, let him do whatever he wants, let's see what tricks he can pull.
***
"Time flies, it's already this late..."
Unconsciously, the clock hands had already pointed to seven in the evening.
Su Hao had entered the company at seven in the morning and had been imprisoned in this small space for a full twelve hours.
But strangely, the day seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye.
“Time really does speed up here,” Li Huilin said with a smile as she packed her things.
“It’s probably because everything here is about speed; everyone’s running like crazy.”
In the initial period after the market opened, the two of them, being relatively free, didn’t have many specific tasks.
But once trading entered its most intense phase, instructions and errands poured in from all directions:
“Go print this report!”
“Send that data to the forex trading team!”
“Coffee! Coffee! I need to stay alive!”
…
Su Hao was completely bewildered, only able to follow Li Huilin like a little follower, learning as he ran.
“But seriously, Su Hao,” Li Huilin encouraged with a smile, “as a newcomer on your first day, you did quite well. Well then, see you tomorrow, Su Hao.”
“Ah, thank you, Sister Huilin! Okay! See you tomorrow!”
Su Hao watched Li Huilin’s retreating figure, standing there somewhat lost in thought.
To be honest, today's workload far exceeded his expectations.
But thinking about it, it was understandable. This was a top-tier private equity firm that countless financial talents would kill for!
However, complaining on the very first day was simply unacceptable.
Thinking about his parents, who were still working tirelessly to support him—his former freeloader son—their hardships were undoubtedly far greater than his air-conditioned office job.
Besides, with Li Huilin guiding him, it was already a very good start!
What right did he have to complain?
Keep going! Keep pushing!
He checked the time.
"Oh no, it's time for the dungeon run! The guild leader and the others are still waiting for me in the game!"
Su Hao immediately quickened his pace, almost running towards the subway station…
***
At six or seven in the morning, the city was still not fully awake. Office workers, yawning and sighing, began their daily commute.
This is the fast-paced life of modern professionals!
But there's always a group of outliers. Far from complaining, they arrive at the office early with an almost reverent pilgrimage-like devotion.
They are—traders.
These people become restless on weekends when the stock market is closed. Their fingers tremble involuntarily, as if experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Their anxious, uneasy state is no different from that of gamblers eager to rush into a casino and spin the roulette wheel.
Of course, generalizations aren't always accurate. Not all traders are like that.
But at least in Zhou Yi's career so far, more than half of the traders he's encountered exhibit this "dopamine addiction" trait.
Zhou Yi was, as usual, the first person to arrive at the office.
He meticulously reviewed the overwhelming amount of documents and reports. He needed to understand what events, powerful enough to stir up global capital markets, were unfolding on the other side of the world, in those dormant markets.
He sipped his…protein powder mixed with water while quickly filtering through the information.
Coffee? That's something only mortals drink.
"Good morning, Manager." One after another, his team members, like precisely wound gears, began arriving at the office right on time.
"Get ready, everyone. Morning meeting in fifteen minutes."
"Yes, sir!"
The brief morning meeting mainly reviewed yesterday's market performance, analyzed the current situation, and, based on the latest information, fine-tuned and confirmed the initial trading strategy formulated yesterday.
After issuing a series of instructions, Zhou Yi returned to his desk, which featured multiple monitors.
One minute remained until the market opened.
Despite years of experience in this industry, this moment still filled him with a palpable tension and an indescribable excitement.
An irresistible urge to tap the keyboard surged through his fingertips—the signal to engage in battle.
*Beep beep beep beep—!*
The opening bell rang like a starting gun, instantly shattering the stillness.
Zhou Yi's fingers immediately transformed into fluttering butterflies, dancing rapidly between the keyboard and mouse.
His gaze darted between the several large monitors, capturing the ever-changing market data. His brain, like an overclocked CPU, frantically performed calculations and judgments.
When the market movements confirmed his strategy, an indescribable sense of accomplishment and a powerful surge of dopamine would sweep through his body.
In just a few short hours, he might experience countless emotional rollercoasters, plummeting from heaven to hell and back again.
Immersed in such extreme emotional fluctuations, time often loses its meaning.
Unconsciously, six hours flew by, and before he knew it, it was closing time.
"Ah..." At times like this, Zhou Yi always felt a strange emptiness.
Like a child who had played wildly at an amusement park, facing the closing bell and the end of the fun, his heart was filled with endless loss and melancholy, unwilling to leave.
"Manager, today's report and data are ready. I'll send them to you immediately."
His subordinate's voice pulled him back from his brief reverie.
Reality didn't allow him to dwell on these emotions for too long.
Today's battle was over, but tomorrow's fighting was about to begin!
He had to immediately review the situation and prepare new ammunition!
"Okay, send it over. Is there anything unusual?"
"Several stocks saw unusually significant gains today. The relevant information has been compiled into a file and sent to you."
"Understood."
Zhou Yi opened the file and began reviewing today's market anomaly report.
He focused on stocks that had suddenly surged or unexpectedly suffered sharp declines.
Finding the reasons behind these "anomalies" is one of the core tasks of their daily market review.
He scrolled through the list of stocks with unusual price movements, line by line.
The list displayed the winners and losers of the day, the red and green numbers weaving a tragicomedy of capital.
Just then—
"...Hmm?"
A stock on the list, like a pop-up window, instantly caught his eye.
That name...was strangely familiar.
"Wait, this is..." An absurd thought flashed through his mind.
He quickly pulled up the demo trading account records of the newbie from yesterday.
The data that popped up on the screen confirmed his premonition, yet it still left him in disbelief!
【ST Zhongrun +5%】
ST Zhongrun was suspended from trading in the morning due to news, and immediately hit the daily limit up upon reopening in the afternoon.
"Heh." Zhou Yi involuntarily let out a short, strange chuckle, a mixture of disbelief and a hint of absurdity.
The reason for ST Zhongrun's limit-up price surge was quickly identified:
Zhaojin Group announced the acquisition of a 20% stake in ST Zhongrun, resulting in a change of control to the local government.
As a giant in China's gold industry, Zhaojin Group's acquisition triggered strong market expectations for asset injection and resource integration!
Based on Zhou Yi's experience, this stock, poised for a meteoric rise, offered no further opportunity to buy in midway!
It was certain to continue its limit-up streak!
However! This stock was held by that connected person!
And—fully invested!
Although it was just a demo account, missing out on real profits was regrettable, but a stronger thought began to swirl in his mind:
"How did this guy know the inside information beforehand?"
Recalling yesterday's morning meeting, the team had indeed discussed factors such as US non-farm payroll and CPI data, a stronger dollar, and technical pressure on gold.
At that time, almost all the traders in the company, including himself, predicted that gold stocks would continue to face downward pressure.
And indeed, the market's initial reaction proved to be correct.
But that newcomer, as if possessed by divine insight, precisely unearthed a single, hidden pearl from a junkyard!
Yet Li Huilin clearly stated that he bought it "by accident."
Zhou Yi found it increasingly suspicious. This was utterly illogical.
Amidst a market generally bearish on gold stocks, how could he accurately pick "ST Zhongrun" from thousands of stocks and then "go all in" at the daily limit down?
This operation couldn't be explained by a mere "mistake."
It seemed more like a deception.
Even... a provocation...
Then, Zhou Yi considered a utterly absurd possibility:
Could this kid be a powerful figure with deep connections and unparalleled access to information?
Because he felt the role of a trading assistant was beneath him, he deliberately chose a sector everyone was bearish on and picked the top-performing stock within it!
Then, he'd use extreme methods like going all-in, selling at the daily limit down price, and investing in ST stocks to retaliate against his dissatisfaction?
"Hiss~~~"
Thinking of this, Zhou Yi couldn't help but gasp.