Chapter 34: The Devil's Whispers!

An unusual, almost stagnant silence permeated the office.
This was a novel experience for Su Hao, who had just officially assumed the position of manager of Trading Department Seven.
'This is the first time...it's been so quiet.'
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze calmly sweeping across the empty office area, thinking to himself.
In his memory, the trading department, the moment the opening bell rang, instantly transformed into a battlefield filled with smoke, noise, tension, and fervor.
He even vividly recalled how, as a naive and inexperienced newcomer, he had countless times scurried back and forth like a busy worker bee in such a "battlefield."
Delivering mountains of documents, scalding coffee, and quick-energy snacks to the bloodshot-eyed, seemingly frantic veterans... and so on.
Those days, still vividly remembered, truly taught him things he could never learn from textbooks.
But now…
Looking around, the entire trading department was so quiet it didn't feel like a busy, high-pressure trading department; it resembled more of an ordinary, nine-to-five administrative office.
‘It seems everyone has poured all their funds into that overheated stock market and is now content to hold on without making any further moves.’
Su Hao understood.
Sometimes, when the market exhibits a clear and sustained one-sided trend, traders choose to temporarily suppress the urge to trade frequently, holding their positions for several days, or even longer.
Especially when, like now, the entire market is immersed in an irrational, short-term, rapid, and frenzied surge.
Knock knock—
Two crisp knocks broke the office's silence.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Li Huilin entered carrying a tray, a perfectly professional smile on her face.
On the tray sat a steaming cup of coffee and a small dish of rather delicate-looking cookies.
“Manager, I brought you some to perk you up. I noticed you haven't rested at all; eat while you work.”
“No need for that, Sister Huilin.”
“Hehe, it’s alright, Manager. Anyway, everyone’s got nothing urgent to do right now.”
Li Huilin gently placed the tray on a corner of Su Hao’s large desk, her voice still light and cheerful, but Su Hao keenly caught a fleeting, almost imperceptible tension in the depths of her eyes:
“Oh, right! Manager, these cookies… I tried making them myself last night! Would you like to try some?”
“Really? Thank you so much…”
“Well… please enjoy, Manager. I won’t bother you any longer.”
Li Huilin seemed a little uncomfortable, quickly bowed slightly, turned, and hurried out of the office.
The door closed softly behind her.
Su Hao picked up the coffee but didn’t drink it, simply watching the rising steam quietly.
He could sense it clearly and without hindrance.
Just now, Li Huilin…
had been carefully and subtly observing his reaction.
Trying to decipher something from his expression, his eyes, even his every subtle movement.
And it wasn't just her.
At this moment, in this eerily quiet office, all the members of the entire Trading Department VII, whether pretending to work diligently or talking in hushed tones, were engaged in their own conversations.
Each of them, to some extent, overtly or covertly, focused on him, the new manager.
'No wonder...they reacted that way.'
After all, just two days ago...
He, Su Hao, in an almost autocratic manner, led the newly formed Trading Department Seven to resolutely bet a massive sum of fifty million on—a short position in the stock market!
Short selling! A full-scale short selling!
Meanwhile, without exception, all other trading teams within the company held bullish long positions.
They remained unmoved, basking in the feast of ever-increasing profits as if sitting atop a mountain of gold.
Only their Trading Department 7!
On their account screens, the glaring green numbers representing losses flashed incessantly.
Although his team members outwardly feigned composure, none daring to openly question his decisions, not even a hint of discontent.
However, when he sat in the manager's seat, a symbol of power and responsibility, he could, more clearly and keenly than ever before, perceive the true emotions hidden beneath their respect and obedience in their eyes.
Those were eyes flickering with hesitation, confusion, and even a trace of fear!
Those eyes, seemingly silently, repeatedly asking the same question:
'Manager... is it too late for us to immediately cut our losses and exit the market to chase that seemingly endless upward train?'
'
But…the feeling back then was so clear…so intense…'
Su Hao frowned slightly, recalling the moment before making the decision.
That electric shock, an intense tremor that instantly coursed through his body!
That intuition that made him unhesitatingly overturn all rational analysis and defy all opinions!
Even now, that soul-shaking thrill still seemed to have a faint lingering echo, like a ghost remaining in his senses.
Moreover, when he selected the final investment target in front of Liang Haiyuan, based on the mountain of data submitted by the analysts in the research department, he hadn't made a random choice.
He only selected those targets—those capable of reigniting that intense 'feeling' within him!
Any option that caused him even the slightest hesitation, a vague feeling, or a weak 'feeling' was ruthlessly rejected!
He had no interest in even glancing at it!
However…
Reality, however, was like a bucket of ice-cold water poured over his head.
The stock market, far from showing any signs of collapse as he had expected, instead surged like it had been injected with stimulants, climbing relentlessly and frantically!
As if it were about to burst through the sky!
This caused Su Hao, despite possessing a composure and willpower far beyond that of ordinary people, to feel a…uncontrollable…tense tension.
After all, stripped of his "princeling" aura, he was ultimately just a mortal.
'Damn it... what if... the stock market doesn't crash immediately, but instead remains strong for... another six months? Or even longer? What then?!'
A flood of negative and uncertain thoughts began to overwhelm him.
This was the biggest and most fatal flaw of his almost "cheating" special "ability"—
all his judgments had to rely entirely on his own vague, unquantifiable, and inexplicable... so-called "feeling"!
Sigh!
Su Hao sighed silently in his heart.
If only he could have a clear and concise status window pop up before his eyes, or some kind of "system prompt," like the protagonists in those online novels!
At the very least, if only he could clearly see a crucial moment in the future, like some superhumans!
Unfortunately… in reality, none of that exists.
All he could rely on was that flickering, unreliable… 'feeling'.
Faced with immense pressure and the reality of continuous losses, a jumble of chaotic thoughts began to grow uncontrollably in his mind.
"Could it be… that I really made a mistake? I should… cut my losses now! Before the losses escalate to an irreversible point…"
This tempting thought had barely formed in his mind when Su Hao's eyes suddenly narrowed!
He shook his head violently, crushing that single, destructive wavering.
"No! That's not right!"
He forcefully suppressed the devilish temptation that was whispering in his heart and straightened his back again.
Yes, he was suddenly thrust into the managerial position, and the amount of funds under his control increased dramatically, several times over.
The immense, mountain-like pressure that followed seemed to have subtly affected his state of mind.
But!
Never forget!
He, Su Hao, rose from obscurity to his current position not because of any background! Not because of luck!
But because of this—unknown! Unique! Special [intuitive ability]!
Therefore, he must not waver!
No matter how bad reality seems!
No matter how many people doubt him!
He must believe in his [ability]!
He must carry this belief through to the end!
Even if… utter ruin!
*Snap!*
As if to bolster his courage and make his final decision, Su Hao suddenly reached out, picked up the cookie Li Huilin had "personally made" from the table, and without hesitation, took a big bite!
The movement was full of power!
"Ugh…"
The next second, an indescribable, mixed smell of burnt food and an indescribable strange taste exploded violently in his mouth.
The cookie crumbs were coarse, like grit, even a little hard to chew.
Su Hao paused slightly in his chewing motion.
His face remained impassive, but a faint, extremely subtle... bewilderment seemed to flicker in his eyes.
Sister Huilin...
It seems you have a deep understanding of the art of baking...
I'm a little...not very good at it...