Chapter 41: Both blissful and agonizing!

"Nonsense! How could we possibly know? Don't you know how dangerous it is to expose your positions in this industry?"
Huang Fengwen rolled his eyes, annoyed.
"What if someone targets you and teams up against you? That's like being targeted for 'targeted attacks,' isn't it? So who holds what positions is top secret in the industry!"
Indeed, in the brutal arena of finance, concealing one's true intentions and positions is a fundamental rule of survival.
Once your cards are revealed to your opponents, especially in such extreme market conditions, it could lead to utter destruction.
Therefore, who holds what positions, when, and how many of what instruments—these are the most crucial secrets.
"Hehe… do you know how things are going with our newly established Trading Department Seven?"
Liu Zhuo laughed even harder, like a weasel that had stolen a chicken:
"You probably haven't seen their performance report yet, have you?"
The newly established Trading Department Seven?
"You know what, I was worried too. Su Hao just got promoted to department manager and then this bad luck hit him. He's probably suffered heavy losses, right?"
Huang Fengwen's brow furrowed again, his tone becoming worried and regretful:
"Sigh, there's nothing you can do. In this market environment, whoever gets caught in it is unlucky."
Huang Fengwen was already planning in his mind that once this storm passed, he'd find an opportunity to properly comfort the young man.
After all, this was a natural disaster and a man-made one; he couldn't be blamed. He couldn't let this setback discourage him.
Young people have a long road ahead.
"Wait..."
As Huang Fengwen spoke, a string in his mind suddenly snapped!
Liu Zhuo's gloating, almost mocking expression...
He suddenly and inexplicably mentioned Su Hao...
That mysterious long buyer who drove all the short sellers crazy...
"Why...why are you suddenly bringing up Su Hao?"
Huang Fengwen's voice trembled slightly, an unbelievable thought beginning to frantically grow in his mind.
Liu Zhuo's lips curled into a wide grin, revealing a set of white teeth, a smile so bright it was almost blinding:
"Chairman Huang...that 'mysterious buyer' that everyone outside is desperately trying to find, that guy who holds almost all the option contracts that can kill short sellers..."
He paused, as if savoring the shock of the moment, then said, word by word, with perfect clarity:
"...It's Su Hao, the manager of our Fanghuan Investment Trading Department Seven."
"What?! You mean...that batch of goods...!"
Huang Fengwen felt as if an invisible hand had gripped his heart, causing it to stop beating instantly. He jumped up from his chair, his voice trembling.
“That’s right!”
Liu Zhuo nodded vigorously, his eyes brimming with undisguised excitement and pride:
“It’s the ‘ghost’ the entire industry is looking for! The bull that all the short sellers hate to death! It’s him!”
“Holy…crap?”
Huang Fengwen was completely stunned, his mouth agape, his mind blank, as if struck by lightning, standing there dumbfounded.
***
Isn’t today…the right time?
Su Hao sat upright in front of the monitor matrix on the table—a full nine screens!
Like a grid of nine lines arranged in battle formation, the densely packed candlestick charts and rapidly fluctuating numbers reflected on his young yet unusually calm face.
His gaze moved slowly between the colorful charts and data streams.
His right hand controlled the mouse, the pointer hovering aimlessly near the bright red "Sell" button on the screen, hesitant to move.
From the options his department had precisely bought before the crash, to the short positions in various sectors that were subsequently added in line with the trend…
Now, his account interface showed a sea of ​​red, as if he were in the midst of a grand fireworks display of wealth.
Among them, contributing the largest share of profits, the most breathtaking numbers, and the most dazzling!
Undoubtedly, it was those option contracts, like hot potatoes, yet containing astonishing profits.
To be honest, he was itching to close all the positions.
Reason told him that with just a click of the mouse, he could close them all.
Those astronomical profits could instantly transform from imaginary numbers into real cash in a bank account, and then, basking in this immense wealth, one could count money until their hands cramp!
The sheer number of profits—just imagining it is enough to make anyone's heart race and their blood boil!
But…no.
That inexplicable, electric-like tingling sensation, that mysterious, almost mystical intuition that "the perfect time has arrived," hasn't come yet.
So, since the market storm triggered by the stock market crash began, he's been like a meditating monk, sitting day after day in front of his desk screen.
Most of the time, he simply stares silently at the frantically fluctuating numbers on the screen.
Aside from occasionally moving the mouse or adjusting his posture, he makes almost no other movements.
He's purely killing time in silence and waiting, a time that drives countless people outside crazy.
Knock, knock, knock.
A gentle knock comes at the office door.
"Ah, please come in."
The door opened, and Li Huilin peeked in.
What made Su Hao's eye twitch almost imperceptibly was...
Li Huilin was carrying a plate with a few... cookies on it.
"Manager, you've been staring at the plate for so long, you must be tired, right? Have some snacks, rest a bit, and replenish your energy."
Li Huilin walked in with a smile and gently placed the plate on the large desk.
Perhaps catching the fleeting, extremely subtle stiffness on Su Hao's face, Li Huilin put her hands on her hips:
"Don't worry, Manager! I really didn't make these! I bought them from the coffee shop downstairs! Can you please stop making that 'death wish' look every time you see me get food?"
"Hahaha... No, no!"
Su Hao quickly chuckled, trying to hide his subconscious, horrified reaction to Li Huilin's "disastrous" baking skills.
The "devastating blow" her taste buds had suffered before—that unforgettable memory—only those who have experienced it truly understand!
Then, Li Huilin cautiously steered the conversation to the main point:
"Um...Manager, should we...continue holding, right? Keep the position... unchanged for now?"
Su Hao understood the team members' current feelings.
These guys are probably going crazy from the sheer amount of unrealized profits on their accounts.
As traders, aren't they all short-term maniacs who want to make hundreds of trades a day?
They're used to the adrenaline rush and suffocating tension of high-frequency battles with the market, pursuing that predatory thrill.
Look at the other trading departments in the company; aren't they all frantically trading like they're on steroids, trying to recoup their previous losses in this wildly volatile market?
But what about Trading Department Seven?
They're practically an anomaly in the entire Fanghuan Investment!
Ever since Su Hao gave the order to stay put, everyone's collectively entered "lying down" mode!
Doing absolutely nothing, like retired officials, staring blankly at their computer screens all day.
Watching their account profits balloon like an inflating balloon, time slips away second by second in the waiting.
This feeling was both blissful and agonizing!
“I’ve said before, trading is free. If any of you feel that now is the best time to sell, you can sell at any time without asking me.”
Su Hao’s tone remained calm, without the slightest hint of emotion:
“After all, with our current costs and market prices, selling anytime would be incredibly profitable.”
“However… personally, I also think it’s better to hold on for now.”
Li Huilin shook her head, a thoughtful look on her face:
“You see, so far, it seems the higher-ups haven’t come up with any measures to completely reverse market confidence, and the overall market panic is still very strong. So… thanks to them, our profits are still soaring.”
Su Hao nodded slightly.
His damned, almost mystical “intuition” had probably been delayed in issuing a final sell signal for this very reason.
The "stabilizing force" that could truly quell this market-sweeping storm, the decisive factor, seems... yet to have appeared.
"Don't worry, I'll inform everyone immediately when 'that time' arrives."
"Wow! Great! Then we'll follow your instructions, Manager!"
Li Huilin immediately beamed, as if she had received the most reliable assurance, and briskly retreated.
With warm coffee and these rare, delicious cookies, Su Hao's spirits lifted slightly from the fatigue of days of waiting.
He turned his gaze back to the screen, his right hand habitually moving the mouse pointer once again to the bright red, tempting "Sell" button.
Just then—
"...!"
His fingertip trembled violently!
An indescribable, extremely clear, electric-like signal suddenly surged from his fingertip holding the mouse, traveling along the nerves in his arm, instantly piercing his spinal cord like lightning, striking straight to his brain!
It was an indescribable, mysterious intuition!
It was his most acute, instinctive grasp of the market's pulse, hidden deep within his soul!
It's here!
Now!!