Chapter 7: Are You There?

Thursday slipped by in a flash.

Compared to the previous day, several more of Zhang Long’s clients had started to make moves; though the trading volume was modest, at least there was some activity, a gradual step in the right direction.

However, despite the increasing number of clients picking up his calls and listening to his analysis, most were still reluctant to add fresh funds.

He could only watch, helplessly, as regret set in.

—

“Sister Yu…”

Zhang Long’s tone was tinged with disappointment. “The week’s already over. You’ve been on the sidelines all this time, the stocks you’re stuck in are still stuck, and Tohai Energy’s already climbed 20%. If you won’t sell and won’t inject more capital, even a miracle worker can’t help you.”

“Brother Wang…”

“I’ve done my best! I analyzed your stocks with you on Monday and Tuesday—there’s no fundamental or technical reason for them to rise. There’s nothing more I can do.”

“Sister Liu…”

“I know no one likes to sell at a loss, but if you want to break even, you at least need funds to buy into new opportunities. Waiting for your stuck stocks to bounce back is going to take a long time.”

On Friday morning, Zhang Long called several clients who were now deeply regretting not seizing the Tohai Energy opportunity.

He’d already advised them on Monday and Tuesday, but they’d watched as their own locked positions remained unchanged while Tohai Energy surged by 20%. Now, anxiety had set in.

But anxiety was useless if they refused to cut losses or inject new capital. Without cash to buy Tohai Energy, there was nothing to be done.

“There should be more opportunities next week,” Zhang Long said, pausing for emphasis. “A jump from five to more than six yuan probably isn’t the end of the road, but it depends on how things close this afternoon, and whether any new fundamental news comes out over the weekend.”

“Technically, it still looks bullish.”

“But let’s be clear—if you don’t want to sell at a loss, then over the weekend, gather up any idle funds you can. If the opportunity is right on Monday, seize it immediately.”

“Miss it again, and there’s nothing more I can do.”

For these clients, Zhang Long always wrapped up his calls with the same advice. If they still refused to act next week, they’d just have to stay stuck, and he would focus his efforts elsewhere.

For those unwilling to sell and content to just wait for their holdings to recover, he would no longer waste his energy. If they insisted on holding on, there was nothing he could do.

—

“Zhang, are you sure you want me to sell...?”

Zhang Lizhen hesitated, feeling reluctant. With just half an hour left before the market closed for the weekend, Zhang Long had advised her not to hold positions over Saturday and Sunday and to sell now.

If the stock soared at Monday’s open, wouldn’t she have missed the perfect opportunity to get in? She was torn.

“Lizhen…”

Zhang Long drew a deep breath. “I know, nobody wants to sell before they’ve made enough. But holding stocks over the weekend exposes you to unpredictable fundamental risks, as you know. If any bad news comes out, at least we’ll have avoided losses. There are opportunities every day—better to take your gains and not be greedy.”

“But ultimately, it’s your decision.”

That was all Zhang Long could do—offer analysis and advice. The final call was Lizhen’s, and he wouldn’t push.

He’d already called Chen Youwei and a few other clients who had bought Tohai Energy, but none of them listened. If you’re trying to catch the bottom, you have to hold on for dear life.

If they didn’t have other stuck positions, they could have taken their profits and exited. But the path back to break-even was still a long one.

To sell after only a short-term gain—forget it.

“Alright then…”

Though she was reluctant, in the end, Zhang Lizhen heeded Zhang Long’s advice and sold, albeit painfully.

After all, she had managed to recover a fair bit of her losses and even turn a profit over the course of the week. Though she was still far from her original principal of three million, at least there was hope.

Her account, which had once dwindled to just one million in holdings, now stood at 1.3 million thanks to recent recoveries and profits.

Longpeng Technology and Weiyuan Biotech had both tanked miserably, but fortunately, she’d sold out in time.

The facts spoke for themselves, so she chose to listen.

However, she didn’t sell everything; she cashed in the 500,000 she’d used for averaging down, locking in profits, while continuing to hold the higher-priced stocks and waiting for a recovery.

She freed up about 650,000 in capital.

“Don’t worry, Lizhen…”

Zhang Long was genuinely touched. Lizhen was the only client that afternoon who trusted him enough to follow his advice and sell. “I’ll do my utmost to help you get back to break-even. Take care of yourself over the weekend, and we’ll fight again on Monday.”

“I’ll let you go—take care.”

—

6.45 yuan, the closing price for Tohai Energy.

Whether it would rise or fall at next week’s open, Zhang Long couldn’t predict just yet; he’d have to wait until Monday.

With the markets closed over the weekend, Zhang Long wrapped up his work and it was finally time to clock out. Tonight, the team wasn’t working overtime; everyone could go home early to relax.

Over the past few days, Zhang Long had been in touch with an agent and had lined up a few promising one-bedroom apartments to view tomorrow.

If he liked one, he’d move on Sunday.

“Supervisor Zhang…”

As Zhang Long packed up to leave, Liang Xue handed him a piece of paper. “I’m giving you a bit more responsibility. I’m transferring these clients to you for Monday—give them your best shot. They’re all big clients with deep pockets. Good luck.”

“Uh, thanks, Xue.” Zhang Long broke into a sweat and nodded.

In fact, except for a select few clients, Liang Xue had already handed off most of her smaller or inactive accounts since the start of the year. Only a handful of clients with at least two million in assets remained under her personal care.

Lizhen was one of them.

This time, Liang Xue had noticed Zhang Long’s solid performance in recent days—more than a dozen clients had started trading again, even if only sporadically.

At least he displayed confidence, passion, and capability—qualities essential for managing major clients.

Giving him more responsibility was a way to push him forward.

Otherwise, if he only had clients who refused to sell at a loss or who had no spare capital, he’d spend hours trying to convince them but with little to show for it.

Now that it seemed he was no longer at risk of being eliminated, it was time to aim higher—go for a top-three spot.

Fortune turns; now it was his time to rise.

“Don’t forget about moving,” she said as she finished, “See you next week.”

—

Watching his manager stride out with her bag in hand, Zhang Long let out a quiet sigh. No matter how great the pressure, he’d never seen Liang Xue lose her cool. That woman—what a big heart.

She was almost too good to the team; it was spoiling them.

—

Zhang Long didn’t head straight home after work. Instead, he wandered into a nearby mall—not to shop, but figuring he could indulge in a spree and refresh his wardrobe after moving.

Sure enough, as he gazed at the jade, gold, and other jewelry on display, Zhang Long’s eyes remained unchanged, betraying no reaction even after several minutes. He felt a pang of regret.

Over the past few days, he’d downloaded forex and futures platforms at work, but still, there’d been no response.

His eyes only reacted to stocks—a bitter disappointment.

If only he could see profit margins in antiques or art, he’d quit his job on the spot and sweep through all the antique markets in town, buying low and selling high—he’d be rich in no time, living easy instead of scraping together commissions by guiding clients.

Life wasn’t going to let him earn money lying down, he thought gloomily.

“Forget it—go with the flow.”

With a sigh, Zhang Long decided to treat himself to a good meal as a reward for the hard work he’d put in all week. Tomorrow, he’d view apartments; the next day, he’d move. No point in overthinking.

He hadn’t tallied up his commissions for the week, but he estimated they’d total around ten thousand.

His cut… maybe two or three thousand.

He’d have to keep working hard next week.

“A bull market…”

As he ate dinner, Zhang Long’s mind drifted to the economic trajectories of the two worlds he’d experienced. If he remembered correctly, the last bear market had ended around the summer of 2014, giving way to a bull market that lasted barely a year—until the summer of 2015.

A single year of a bull market—a fleeting opportunity.

When the bear market returned, vast sums of money fled to real estate, sending prices skyrocketing.

It surged relentlessly—terrifyingly so.

“Two years left,” Zhang Long murmured, exhaling softly. With the power of his eyes, it didn’t really matter whether it was a bull or bear market; client activity varied, but as long as he had their trust, even in a bear market, he could generate plenty of trades.

But property prices wouldn’t wait for anyone. He had to buy a few more apartments before the bull market ended, using real estate as a safety net to achieve a kind of financial freedom.

After all, his mysterious eyes—sometimes reliable, sometimes not—could revert to normal at any time.

He needed to plan ahead and not become too dependent.

Buzz, buzz…

Suddenly, his phone vibrated.

Zhang Long’s train of thought was interrupted. He glanced down at the screen. To his surprise, he’d received a message on a chat app he hadn’t used in ages.

Class Leader Luo Man: Are you there?