Chapter 916
Listen to your sister
Time ticked by, and soon it was half a month later.
New York, Manhattan.
The cheers in the Nasdaq trading floor almost lifted the dome, and the dazzling red light on the electronic screen jumped and finally settled at 5048.62.
A number destined to be recorded in financial history.
Champagne bubbles burst forth, confetti flew everywhere, and traders hysterically hugged and high-fived, celebrating yet another "peak moment" in the human capital market.
The tech stock frenzy has swept through the once unreachable "sacred mountain" of 5000 points with unstoppable force, and firmly established itself above it!
The feast of greed reached its boiling point at this moment.
"History! We made history!" A disheveled young trader jumped onto the table, waving his fists and roaring, his voice drowned out by an even more frenzied roar.
No one noticed that in the corner, a middle-aged man in an Armani suit was gripping a cold coffee cup tightly, his knuckles white. He stared at the still-firm stock price of the child prodigy on the screen, which was even slightly rising with the overall market ($69.75). His Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty, and he murmured in a voice only he could hear, "God... is this really reasonable?"
His response was another bottle of champagne that had been violently shaken open with a "bang," splashing foam all over him.
The frenzy of capital leaves no room for rational questioning.
Hong Kong, Victoria Peak.
The morning light streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a half-light and half-shadow on Li Zekai's young face, which appeared somewhat frivolous due to excessive indulgence.
The expensive Persian carpet was spotless, so naturally there wouldn't be any broken vases!
The butler of the Li family mansion would never allow such an "undignified" act to occur.
Li Zekai leaned back in the Italian leather sofa, a glass of amber-colored whiskey in his hand. He stared at the Nasdaq index at 5048.62 points on the screen, and at the stubbornly upward-sloping candlestick chart of the young prodigy. His grin widened, finally erupting into an uncontrollable, hearty laugh.
"Hahaha...Good! Good! What a brilliant 5137 points!"
He gulped down a mouthful of liquor, the spiciness shooting straight down his throat, but it only excited him more. Deep wrinkles, incongruous with his age, appeared on his forehead as he laughed. "You, surnamed Lu! You're a bumpkin from the mainland! You haven't even thoroughly studied 'Das Kapital,' have you? Code? You probably can't even write 'Hello World'! You think you're qualified to understand technology? To understand this massive wave of internet finance?"
He slammed the glass down on the ebony coffee table beside him with a "thud," the crystal glass striking the hard wood with a crisp sound.
“Reduce your holdings? Go ahead and reduce them! Keep reducing!” Li Zekai’s eyes gleamed with the shrewdness of a hunter seeing its prey step into a trap. “How does it feel to reduce your holdings halfway down the mountain? Are you regretting it to the core? Trying to scare me with such a little trick? Do you think I’m easily frightened?”
He stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the bustling Victoria Harbour, as if he had this financial mecca under his feet.
"The more you cut back, the more I'll accept! Not only will I accept, but I'll also sit openly and legitimately in your board of directors! Just wait, soon we'll be having a 'friendly' meeting at that little prodigy's conference table. Then, let's see if you can still keep your composure!"
This feels so good!
Ever since he suffered repeated setbacks at the hands of that guy surnamed Lu on the mainland, Li Zekai had been harboring a deep resentment.
Now, this impressive turnaround has swept away all the pent-up frustration he had been holding in for so long!
The turning point came from a key piece of information he had gleaned a few months earlier: the two major internet portal giants in mainland China—Sohu and Sina—were also conducting their final round of financing before going public in the United States, following NetEase, another Chinese portal website!
What delighted him even more was that the list of major shareholders of these two companies contained names that he hated to the core—although it wasn't Lu Yang himself, it was the most important right-hand man of this mainland bumpkin, that old fox surnamed Mou and that playboy surnamed Xiao!
"You choose the path to heaven but refuse to take it, while barging into the gates of hell when there are none!" Li Zekai made up his mind right then and there.
He mobilized the Li family's deep connections and financial network in Hong Kong overnight, sparing no expense to assemble a high-level "interception scheme," and sent his most trusted and secretive operator to the mainland to bypass Lu Yang's Century Group and directly contact the founding teams and key shareholders of Sohu and Sina.
With money paving the way, promises of protection, and the natural appeal of the "Li family" brand in the capital market, after a thrilling battle and exchange of interests, he finally succeeded in prying a considerable share of these two lucrative assets from Mu Qizhong and Xiao Jun!
When Lu Yang announced the reduction of his holdings in Little Prodigy, Li Zekai's heart skipped a beat.
This is undoubtedly a strong signal, indicating that this opponent, who has an extremely keen sense of the capital market, may have anticipated some kind of risk and has begun to shrink its battle lines.
During those days, he closely monitored the stock price of the prodigy and the Nasdaq trend, and even prepared for the Nasdaq to crash and his newly acquired "ticket" to depreciate.
However, what happened next almost made him burst out laughing!
Although Chen Fan, the trader under Lu Yang, was aggressive in reducing his holdings, selling 200 million shares in a single day, the market's surging buying and the Nasdaq's continued strong upward trend acted like a giant sponge, easily absorbing the selling pressure.
Instead of collapsing, Little Prodigy's stock price continued to climb stubbornly after a brief adjustment!
"It's sold out! This mainland guy definitely sold out!" Li Zekai made the judgment on the spot. A feeling of extreme comfort, like being doused with ice water in the sweltering summer heat, ran from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, making him so excited that he almost jumped up.
This is hardly a risk warning.
This was clearly a misjudgment on the part of that man surnamed Lu, who personally threw away a bloodstained, still-appreciating bargaining chip into the market!
It was thrown to Young Master Li!
This is a golden opportunity! He immediately summoned the CFO, checked all available liquid funds in Yinke Digital's accounts, and even temporarily diverted reserves from several short-term projects. Without hesitation, he issued another order: "Secretly enter the market! Accumulate shares! Target—Little Prodigy! Price? As long as it's around $65, buy as much as you can! Be quick and discreet!"
His goal was clear: to reach the 5% threshold for disclosure! He wanted to rightfully enter the boardroom of the prodigy's company as a major shareholder.
He eagerly anticipated seeing what expressions would appear on the faces of Lu Yang, Mou Qizhong, and Xiao Jun when he casually appeared at the board meeting, sitting opposite them. Shock? Angry? Or feigned composure? Just imagining that scene was enough to make Li Zekai's blood boil.
"Old ghost Mou, white-faced Xiao, are you two cursing at the screen right now?" Li Zekai said to the air, as if mocking the two unseen opponents. "Serves you right! Who told you to follow the wrong person, to believe Lu Yang's nonsense, and stupidly follow him in reducing your holdings? Hmph! Once I've established myself at Little Prodigy, the next step..." The ambitious light in his eyes shone even brighter.
Of course, he did consider more radical methods.
They launched a surprise attack directly on the secondary market to seize control of the prodigy.
Unfortunately, this crazy plan was rejected by his father, Li Ka-shing, and his elder brother.
The old man's words were very direct: "The stock price is already at its peak, and the price-to-earnings ratio has overdrawn at least five years of future profits. At this time, a sky-high acquisition price is like snatching chestnuts from the fire, which is not the act of a wise person. Yinke's foundation is still shallow, and it is not advisable to take such a risky move. As for the Li family's foundation, Cheung Kong Holdings, it will not take the risk of providing you with financing."
The eldest brother, Li Zeju, also voiced his opposition from the perspective of the group's financial stability.
"Forget it! The old man is cautious, and my elder brother has many concerns. He treats me like a thief. If he doesn't support me, he doesn't support me!" Although Li Zekai was unhappy, he was not entirely unreasonable.
He quickly adjusted his strategy, turning his attention to the trump card he was about to cash in: "I still have Sohu and Sina! Sina will go public next month, and Sohu the month after that... As long as these two Chinese concept stocks can ride the Nasdaq wave for a few days, my shares, whether I mortgage them to banks to obtain massive amounts of funds or transfer them through off-exchange agreements with Wall Street vultures, will provide me with enough capital to leverage any target! Lu, Mou, Xiao... however many shares you release this time, I'll take them all! Then, with the support of foreign shareholders, whether the little prodigy is surnamed Li or Lu will not be up to you!"
He seemed to already see the day he would take over the Little Prodigy and kick Lu Yang out of the game, his face flushed with excitement.
"Knock knock." There was a gentle knock on the study door.
"Go in." Li Zekai restrained his overly outward emotions, but the smugness between his brows could not be hidden.
The door opened, and a young female secretary with a curvaceous figure, dressed in a well-tailored Chanel suit, walked in. Her makeup was exquisite, and her gait exuded professional competence, yet she also inadvertently revealed just the right amount of charm.
She gently placed a document that needed to be signed urgently on the large desk in front of Li Zekai.
"Young Master, this is the document confirming the final equity stake in Sohu's Pre-IPO round. The Legal Department has completed its review and needs your signature." Her voice was clear and pleasant.
Li Zekai picked up the gold pen, and without even looking closely, he signed his name at the end in a flamboyant manner.
The overall situation is settled; there's no need to worry about the details. "Alright," he said, handing the documents back.
The female secretary took the document, flashing a standard and sweet professional smile: "Thank you, young master. I'll go first..."
"Wait." Li Zekai suddenly called out to her. His gaze swept over the female secretary's curvaceous figure, filled with undisguised possessiveness.
He was in such a good mood today that he needed a proper "celebration".
A wicked smile curled at the corner of his lips as he patted his thigh, encased in expensive trousers. "What's the rush? I'm in a good mood today and have decided... to reward you properly."
The secretary's professional smile instantly became lively, and her eyes sparkled with a seductive charm.
She naturally understood the meaning of "reward".
"Oh? What does the young master intend to reward me with?" Her voice softened, carrying a hint of alluring huskiness, and she leaned forward subtly.
...The study was filled with a sweet, cloying atmosphere, a mixture of money and desire.
Shenzhen, Century Tower.
At five in the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten with a pale, fish-belly white.
The city was still asleep, but downstairs at the Century Tower, two luxury cars stopped almost simultaneously with a screeching sound of brakes.
The car door was pushed open forcefully, and Mu Qizhong and Xiao Jun crawled out one after the other.
Both of them looked haggard, with sunken eyes and bloodshot veins, resembling gamblers who had stayed up for several nights in a row.
Mu Qizhong's wrinkled Tang suit was buttoned up wrong, and Xiao Jun's hair was unkempt, with a few strands sticking out, his expensive suit jacket casually draped over his arm, and his tie crooked.
They didn't sleep all night.
From the moment the news broke that the Nasdaq had broken through the 5000-point mark to the moment it finally stabilized at 5137 points, every fluctuation felt like a red-hot branding iron, searing their anxious hearts.
On the computer screen, the stubbornly upward-trending candlestick chart of the little prodigy stung their eyes!
"We've lost out! We've lost a lot!" This thought gnawed at their nerves like a venomous snake.
Lu Yang reduced his holdings for strategic reserves. They followed suit, largely hoping to improve their cash flow or find new projects after cashing out. However, watching the wealth that "could have belonged to them" grow wildly on the screen, the huge psychological gap and regret made them restless.
Going out to sea to fish? Forget about it! Right now, all they wanted was to grab Lu Yang by the collar and demand an explanation!
The two men, their faces heavy with tension, rushed into the gleaming lobby of the Century Building, heading straight for the private elevator to the chairman's office on the top floor.
"Wait!" Xiao Jun suddenly shouted, abruptly stopping in his tracks, and looked at the familiar figure in the VIP waiting area with surprise and uncertainty.
Mu Qizhong followed his gaze and frowned deeply.
Qian Youyou was standing quietly at the elevator entrance.
She was dressed in a well-fitting off-white cashmere suit, her long hair was tied up, revealing her slender neck, and she held a thin folder in her hand. Her temperament was calm and composed, which contrasted sharply with the anxious and disheveled state of Mu and Xiao.
She seemed to have been waiting for a while, and was slightly turning her head to look at the gradually brightening sky outside the French windows.
"Hey girl?" Xiao Jun rushed over, his voice hoarse from staying up all night and excitement, "What are you doing here? So early in the morning..."
Qian Youyou turned her head at the sound, her gaze calmly sweeping over Xiao Jun's bloodshot eyes and Mu Qizhong's equally haggard face. Her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a knowing look flashed across her face.
She didn't answer Xiao Jun's question. Instead, she spoke calmly and clearly: "You've come to see Lu Yang? Judging from your appearance, you probably didn't sleep well last night. In that case, go back. If I were you, I would never come to visit at this time."
"Nonsense!" Xiao Jun retorted irritably. "Nasdaq has already surged past 5,000 points! The little prodigy is almost 70! How can we sleep well! You're my own sister! Your older brother has never mistreated you since you were little! What are you doing here? Did Lu Yang send you? If he can see you, why can't we go up to him and demand an explanation?"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice unconsciously rising, attracting the attention of the early shift security guard at the front desk.
Qian Youyou's face remained expressionless, but her gaze towards Xiao Jun held a hint of barely perceptible disappointment and...pity.
She gently shook her head, her tone still steady, yet carrying an undeniable force:
“Brother, Mr. Mou, take my advice.” Her gaze swept over the two of them. “The deed is done, the stakes have been reduced, and the cash is in hand. What’s done is done. If you rush up to question and complain now, what will you change besides exposing your shortsightedness, anxiety, and distrust?”
She paused, looked into Xiao Jun's eyes which were practically spitting fire, and emphasized each word: "If I were you, I would never choose to visit you at this moment, in this state."
"You...!" Xiao Jun was so angry at his younger sister's words, which were almost like "siding with outsiders," that he was speechless and his face turned red.
"I'm doing this for your own good, don't be ungrateful." Qian Youyou interrupted him, her tone suddenly turning cold, carrying a sense of oppressive authority that made Xiao Jun, who was on the verge of exploding with rage, and Mu Qizhong, whose expression was uncertain, instinctively feel a chill. "It won't be too late to see him when you've calmed down, adjusted your mindset, and truly understood the gains and losses. Now go upstairs..."
She paused slightly, her sharp gaze piercing Xiao Jun, "It will only backfire and bring shame upon yourself."
After speaking, she stopped looking at the two of them. Just then, with a soft "ding," the golden doors of the chairman's private elevator slid open silently. Without the slightest hesitation, Qian Youyou gracefully stepped inside.
"Hey! Wait a minute! Explain yourself!" Xiao Jun was not about to give up and was about to chase after him.
"Brother Xiao!" A thick, strong hand suddenly grabbed his arm.
It is Mu Qizhong.
Although the old hand still showed regret and resentment on his face, his eyes were much clearer than before.
He held Xiao Jun tightly, watching the elevator doors slowly close under Qian Youyou's calm and unwavering gaze, and said in a deep voice, "Screw you! Let's... go!"
"Old Mou! Why are you pulling me? She..." Xiao Jun struggled, wanting to say something more.
"Go!" Mu Qizhong shouted, increasing the pressure on his hands and almost dragging the unwilling Xiao Jun away from the elevator entrance.
He turned and took a deep look at the tightly closed golden elevator door leading to the top floor. Qian Youyou's last words, "bringing shame upon yourself," were like a bucket of cold water, finally cooling down his feverish head.
Yeah, what would we gain by rushing in now, besides throwing a tantrum like a sore loser? When has Lu Yang ever been successfully coerced by someone's emotions?
Xiao Jun was forcibly dragged out of the lobby by Mu Qizhong. The cool morning air hit him in the face, making him shiver before he calmed down a little.
Inside the elevator, Qian Youyou was alone. The elevator ascended smoothly and quickly, with only the faint sound of mechanical operation remaining in the small space.
She lowered her head, her pale fingers unconsciously stroking the thin folder in her hand, a hint of worry, unnoticed even by herself, flashing deep in her eyes. (End of Chapter)