Chapter 179: When the Opening Bell Rings, I Go Shopping; This Move Stuns Everyone!

In Li Fuying's Mid‑Levels villa, the morning light streamed through the finely carved louvered windows into the dining room.

On the table lay exquisite Hong Kong‑style dim sum tea, the bone‑white porcelain tea set reflecting a gentle sheen.

"Mr. Li, this Mr. Lu's maneuver is indeed… unexpected," Wang Qiting lifted his tea cup, his brows slightly furrowed, "Short‑selling the entire position in the last three minutes before close, wiping out HK$56 million with nothing left. Such boldness, in all my years, I've never seen before."

Li Fuying picked up a shrimp dumpling, the motion elegant and composed: "Old Wang, what do you think?"

"Short‑selling before the close?" Wang Qiting set down his tea cup, a flash of contemplation in his eyes, "Either he's a lunatic, or he sees something we don't. This young man… interesting, truly interesting."

"Old Wang, last night I had someone investigate Lu Qingshan's background."

"What did you find?" Wang Qiting immediately set down his tea cup, leaning forward.

"Strange, we can hardly find any useful information," Li Fuying frowned, "A mainland youngster suddenly appearing on Hong Kong Island, bringing massive capital, his trading tactics seasoned enough not to look like a novice. There must be something behind this that we don't know."

Wang Qiting seemed deep in thought.

"Regardless of who he is, today's market movement will give us the answer," Li Fuying's eyes flashed with a keen light, "If his judgment is correct, this person is not ordinary. Our Far East Chamber of Commerce may need to reassess the value of this cooperation."

"What if the judgment is wrong?"

"Then we'd have spent money on a lesson," Li Fuying's eyes flashed again, "But my intuition tells me Lu Qingshan isn't that simple."

Inside the Far East Exchange building, VIP Trading Room No. 7 had already become the focus of the entire tower.

Yesterday's earth‑shaking short‑selling order had already spread throughout the exchange, and even senior executives from other firms came specifically to "tour."

"I heard it was that mainland kid?"

"HK$56 million! Our company's annual net profit isn't even that much!"

"Short‑selling the whole position in the last three minutes before close— how big a heart does that take?"

A chorus of comments rose and fell in the corridor, filling the whole floor with a tense and excited atmosphere.

Half an hour before the opening, Lu Qingshan and his party arrived as scheduled.

But today's atmosphere was clearly different; from the moment they stepped into the building, countless gazes clung to them like maggots on a heel bone.

"Mr. Lu!" Huang Chaowen greeted him, his complexion somewhat complex, "Yesterday's maneuver caused a sensation throughout Hong Kong Island's financial circle; HSBC and Standard Chartered's trading heads are probing your identity, even senior officials of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange are paying attention!"

"Oh?" Lu Qingshan replied calmly, as if yesterday's HK$56 million was a trivial sum to him, "What did they say?"

"Everyone says you're daring, short‑selling the whole position at a time like this," Huang Chaowen observed Lu Qingshan's expression cautiously, "But some also say…"

"Say what?" Lu Qingjun leaned in, curiosity evident on his face.

"Some say it's a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger, others call it the act of a reckless gambler. Even…" Huang Chaowen said truthfully.

"Even what?"

"Some even suspect you might have insider information," Huang Chaowen lowered his voice, "Hong Kong Island's financial circle is that small; everyone is speculating about your background."

Lu Qingshan burst into laughter, his chuckle echoing in the lobby, "Let them talk. The facts will prove everything."

Entering the Trading Room, Li Zhi'an and Wang Yuyun were already setting up various equipment, the screens scrolling with dense data.

Both glanced at Lu Qingshan's entrance, their eyes carrying an indescribable complex emotion.

"Mr. Lu, what are today's directives?" Wang Yuyun asked, a hint of tension in her voice, "U. S. equities closed somewhat unstable last night, the Europe Market is also volatile; could that affect our positions?"

Lu Qingshan walked to the floor‑to‑ceiling window, gazing at Victoria Harbour in the distance, the sea surface glittering, everything appearing tranquil. Yet he knew that beneath the calm surface a cataclysmic wave was brewing.

"Ye Ning," Lu Qingshan suddenly turned, "Where on Hong Kong Island can we stroll?"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire Trading Room fell silent.

Everyone thought they had misheard.

Ye Ning stared blankly for several seconds before reacting, "You… what did you say?"

"I'm asking where on Hong Kong Island is good for shopping."

Lu Qingshan repeated it, his expression so serious it didn't seem like a joke, "We've been here for so many days, and apart from the exchange, brokerage firms, banks and the dock, we haven't seen any other places."

"Uh… Jianshazui, Kowloon are both great for strolling," Ye Ning answered mechanically, her mind a jumble.

The massive HK$56 million capital is still in the market, and this Mr. Lu is actually asking where to shop?

"Which places are you familiar with?" Lu Qingshan continued.

Ye Ning gave a wry smile, "I've worked on Hong Kong Island for over three years, immersed in the exchange daily, and honestly haven't done much sightseeing…"

"Then that's perfect," Lu Qingshan clapped his hands, "Consider yourself a guide who hasn't toured, and lead the two of us around."

"What?" Ye Ning could hardly believe her ears, "Now? Half an hour before the opening you want to go shopping?"

"Is there a problem?" Lu Qingshan retorted, his demeanor as relaxed as if heading for a park walk.

Lu Qingjun was also stunned by his elder brother's move: "Brother, our money is still in the market!"

"Don't worry, we can't run away," Lu Qingshan said, already heading out, "Let's go; it's rare to come to Hong Kong Island, we should see the local customs and scenery."

Everyone in the Trading Room exchanged bewildered looks; such a maneuver was unheard of.

HK$56 million sits in the market, yet the owner wants to go shopping?

"Lu… Mr. Lu," Huang Chaowen caught up, his voice trembling, "Are you really leaving now? What if the market changes…"

"If anything changes, just watch it," Lu Qingshan said without turning his head, "If it should rise, let it rise; if it should fall, let it fall. Whether I'm here or not makes no difference; we must hold steady."

Ye Ning watched Lu Qingshan's silhouette as he walked toward the door, a swirl of emotions in her heart.

Where does this man's confidence truly come from?

Facing such a huge sum, how can he remain so composed?

"Miss Ye, you… you really want to go with them?" Li Zhi'an whispered.

Ye Ning inhaled deeply, grabbed her bag, "Since Mr. Lu gave the order, let's go."

"But… but what about the opening?" Wang Yuyun cried out, on the verge of tears.

"You two just watch," Lu Qingshan stopped at the doorway, glanced back, "If any critical situation arises, call me. But I reckon today there won't be anything needing action."

Having said that, he truly led Lu Qingjun and Ye Ning out of the Trading Room, leaving Li Zhi'an and Wang Yuyun petrified in place.

In the corridor, people from other Trading Rooms stuck their heads out to watch, their eyes full of disbelief.

"That mainland kid really left?"

"Going shopping before the market opens, what kind of operation is that?"

"Either he's gone mad, or he's already confident."

"I think he's gone mad—over 50 million!"

The discussion rose and fell, and the whole floor boiled.