Chapter 5 This kid definitely has something!
Li Huilin observed that when Su Hao looked at the screen, the expression on his face was somewhat subtle.
It wasn't quite surprise; a hint of understanding seemed to flash in the depths of his pupils.
And while it seemed like everything was under control, there was also a touch of unexpected minor surprise, even for him.
"...Ah, I just saw it too. That's strange... How could it have gone up...?"
His tone also carried an indescribable... unnaturalness.
It was as if he was trying hard to hide something.
Was it a misconception?
Li Huilin's heart was filled with doubt: "But... with so many gold stocks, how did he pick this one in particular?"
This coincidence was simply too... precise, wasn't it?
Like accurately grasping the only shining star in the darkness.
She couldn't help but press: "You really don't know?"
"Hmm?"
"Honestly," Li Huilin leaned closer, lowering her voice, "did you know it was going to go up today?"
"H-how could that be?" Su Hao's eyes flickered, and he quickly denied it, instinctively averting his gaze.
...Right.
Li Huilin composed herself, thinking her idea was a bit ridiculous.
At that time, the entire market believed that gold's earlier gains were too large, and with the significant reduction in long positions in US gold futures, even experienced traders predicted that gold stocks would undergo a correction.
How could a newcomer, who had only been employed for two days and couldn't even fully recognize K-line charts, know any inside information in advance?
She must have been overthinking it.
It must have been pure, explosive luck.
Just then—
"Su Hao."
A deep, highly penetrating voice rang out in the office; it was Manager Zhou Yi.
"Ah, yes, Manager." Su Hao quickly straightened up.
Manager Zhou Yi's gaze swept over Su Hao and Li Huilin, as well as the messy desk, but he showed no expression, merely raising his chin: "Come with me for a moment, I need to speak with you privately."
"Yes!"
Su Hao dared not delay, quickly responding and following him.
Watching Su Hao's slightly slender figure follow Manager Zhou Yi's sturdy back into the manager's office, Li Huilin carefully wiped coffee stains from her documents, unable to stop muttering to herself.
Calling him over so suddenly, it shouldn't be to scold him, right? He performed quite well yesterday...
Could it be... the Manager also saw that simulated account?
***
Following Manager Zhou Yi into his private office, Su Hao was actually a bit bewildered.
When he bought that stock, it was still firmly locked at the limit down, and he had thought his "ability" had completely failed, even feeling somewhat disheartened.
Plus, he had been so busy yesterday, spinning like a top, that he had no time to pay attention to its fate.
As a result... it actually went up? And hit the limit up?
"Su Hao," Manager Zhou Yi sat down in the chair opposite him, hands clasped on the table, his bulging biceps almost tearing his shirt sleeves, "You've been here for three days now, how do you feel? Are you getting used to it?"
"Ah, it's very good, Manager. My colleagues are all very helpful, and the work... I'm still learning and adapting."
"That's good. Originally, I wanted you to take it slow and not rush into too much specific work. But as you saw, yesterday's market conditions were too volatile, and the entire department was crazy busy, so I had no choice."
"No problem! No problem!" Su Hao quickly stated, "Manager, please give me any tasks you have, I'm willing to learn and do anything."
Manager Zhou Yi was silent for a moment, his sharp eyes scrutinizing him up and down for a good few seconds.
It made Su Hao feel a little uneasy.
Then, Manager Zhou Yi slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but every word clear:
"In our trading department, currently, only I know about this matter."
Su Hao was startled: "...What matter?"
"You were personally arranged by the Chairman to be directly parachuted into our department."
"Ah..." Su Hao immediately understood.
So the Manager already knew he was a "connected individual."
"Of course, something like this probably won't be kept secret for too long. In a few days, when word gets out, everyone in the department will likely know."
Manager Zhou Yi said, picking up a large shaker bottle with a gym logo on the table, twisting open the lid, and taking a sip.
The cup contained a cloudy, viscous liquid, emitting a peculiar sweet, cloying smell.
Su Hao had heard from Li Huilin gossiping that it was the high-protein muscle-building powder the Manager drank every day.
No wonder the Manager had such muscles...
"Originally, I'm not one to pry into other people's private matters, but since things have come to this, I'll ask. Are you and the Chairman... relatives?"
"No." Su Hao immediately shook his head in denial.
"No?" Manager Zhou Yi's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Then why did the Chairman personally arrange for someone with no experience or resume like you to be forced into our department? You should be very clear in your heart that, given your qualifications, there's absolutely no way you could get into Fang Huan Investment through normal channels."
The question was extremely direct, even merciless.
"This..."
The Chairman's repeated instructions flashed through Su Hao's mind instantly—
Under no circumstances should he tell anyone in the company that they met in an online game!
Absolutely! Absolutely not!
As for why he couldn't say?
Su Hao now vaguely understood.
If people in the company knew that the esteemed Chairman of Fang Huan Investment!
Actually forced a kid he met in a game, with no relevant background, into the core trading department like a connected individual...
Wouldn't that cause an uproar?
It would probably instantly become the laughingstock of the entire company, or even the entire financial industry!
Taking a deep breath, Su Hao looked up, meeting Manager Zhou Yi's gaze, trying to make his tone sound sincere and firm:
"Sorry, Manager, this... I can't say."
"...Alright."
Manager Zhou Yi looked at him deeply, seemingly not surprised, but his gaze became even more meaningful.
"Since you can't say, I won't press further."
He changed the subject: "However, there's another matter, what's the deal with ST Zhongrun that you bought in your simulated account?"
As expected!
Su Hao's heart sank; the Manager was indeed talking to him about this!
He could only bite the bullet and continue with his previous explanation: "That... it was just... good luck, purely a coincidence."
"Luck?
"Su Hao, do you know what our traders' single-day target return rate is?
It's usually 0.1% to 1%.
In market conditions like yesterday's, with violent fluctuations, top traders might seize the opportunity to achieve 3% to 5% returns.
But at the same time, they might also bear equally huge, or even greater, risks of loss!
That's why we set our daily targets so conservatively and steadily! What are we most afraid of?
We're afraid of someone being reckless, pursuing high returns and instead causing greater losses."
Li Huilin had also mentioned these things to him yesterday; the entire team's monthly target was roughly between 3% and 10%, which was already top-tier in the industry.
"But yesterday, in just one day, you completed the targets most traders achieve in a month. Not to mention, this stock might even hit several consecutive limit ups."
Manager Zhou Yi leaned slightly forward, his gaze like a torch,
"To be honest, this level of precision is already beyond what our regular analysis can achieve.
Hmm, with all due respect, have you perhaps obtained some 'information' that we at this level don't have access to? Or is it merely luck?"
"..."
Su Hao fell silent again; he couldn't answer.
He had no understanding of fundamental analysis, news analysis, or technical analysis.
Every time there was a department meeting, he guaranteed he didn't understand a single punctuation mark of the discussions filled with various professional jargon and industry slang!
Although he was desperately trying to learn, he had bought several textbooks for qualification exams and crammed whenever he had free time.
But a pure newcomer who had only been there for three days, facing this volatile and treacherous financial world, was no different from a baby who had just learned to walk.
He couldn't possibly confess to the Manager here:
Actually, Manager, the reason I picked that stock is because I seem to have a superpower from a game world that can predict low-probability events...
Wouldn't that be suicidal?
It would be a miracle if he wasn't sent to a mental hospital!
"Hmm... this is also inconvenient to answer, isn't it?"
Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Manager Zhou Yi nodded knowingly, as if he had already anticipated this outcome.
"That..." Su Hao hesitated.
"Alright, I won't ask anymore." Manager Zhou Yi waved his hand, his tone carrying the understanding of a seasoned veteran,
"To survive in this cruel market, everyone has their own hidden skills.
Revealing them easily is what only a fool would do, especially in our industry where performance is everything; true abilities must be kept hidden.
Traders, especially, should be like this."
He even gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Consider this my loose tongue; I shouldn't have been so rash in prying into your affairs, my apologies."
"Ah, no, no. You're too kind!"
"Alright, keep up the good work today.
Once the news of you being a 'connected individual' spreads in the department, there will inevitably be people who look at you with colored glasses or whisper behind your back.
But none of that matters."
He tapped the desk with his finger, "As long as you can demonstrate your true abilities and prove your worth with solid performance and diligent effort, everyone's opinion will naturally change."
"Yes! I will work hard!"
"Go on. On your way out, ask Li Huilin to come in for a moment."
"Yes!"
Although he hadn't been scolded once throughout the entire process, and the Manager even said a few encouraging words at the end.
Yet, as Su Hao walked out of the office, he still felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest, and a layer of cold sweat even seeped from his back.
Manager Zhou Yi had an aura about him; it wasn't intentional, but it made people involuntarily feel awe and pressure.
Perhaps it was because of those almost explosive muscles... full of power.
"But what if..."
As he walked to his workstation, a thought involuntarily popped into his mind.
"What if... this ability really works?"
His own unique ability, unknown to others, from the game!
Maybe yesterday was truly a stroke of incredible luck, hitting a one-in-a-billion chance, but... what if?
What if this ability, originating from the game, is also effective in this cold, cruel real world?
Ultimately, this so-called stock market is full of all sorts of data, analyses, and models.
But isn't its ultimate direction also influenced by a massive amount of randomness, sudden events, and unpredictable human factors?
In a sense, isn't it also like a lottery game, but on a much grander scale, with more complex rules, and far more astonishing stakes?
Even if someone thoroughly analyzes all the data they can find, and masters various technical indicators to perfection.
A sudden black swan event, or the collective irrational fervor of a group of investors, could render all analyses and predictions useless.
Who can guarantee the final outcome one hundred percent?
"I hope... today will be a bit quieter."
Su Hao sat back in his seat, silently praying in his heart.
That way, he could properly test whether this "ability" of his, from the game world, was a fleeting illusion, or... a reality capable of changing his destiny!
***
"Indeed... this kid has secrets."
Manager Zhou Yi sat in his spacious office chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping the smooth mahogany desk, producing dull "thudding" sounds, his thoughts already drifting far away.
He had always been puzzled by Su Hao, this "connected individual."
Huang Fengwen, the founder and Chairman of Fang Huan Investment, was known in the industry for his meritocratic approach.
He started from scratch and developed a little-known private equity firm into its current industry-leading position in just a few years, relying on far more than just luck.
It was widely acknowledged in the industry that Huang Fengwen's most formidable weapon was his keen eye for recognizing and utilizing talent!
He always managed to unearth hidden geniuses and provide them with full trust and resources, enabling them to create astonishing value for the company.
That's why Manager Zhou Yi had always been unable to understand.
How could such a person, who deeply believed in strength and despised all forms of nepotism, suddenly act so out of character and personally arrange for an inexperienced young man with an unremarkable resume to enter his most valued core trading department?
Originally, he had been deeply disappointed that his respected Chairman was also beginning to engage in such "favoritism."
But then he asked just now, and it turned out the two weren't even relatives!
"And... he even refused to disclose the reason why he was given an exceptional admission, using 'I can't say' as an excuse?"
Interesting.
This kid has guts; he's been tight-lipped.
Furthermore, through that seemingly ordinary but actually subtly sharp brief conversation just now, Manager Zhou Yi could almost certainly conclude—
"Su Hao absolutely! Absolutely knew in advance that ST Zhongrun would surge!"
Although the kid claimed it was luck, and his expression was well-acted.
But those subtle changes in expression and tone, that momentary flicker in his eyes, couldn't escape his own eyes, which had navigated the treacherous financial workplace for many years.
So that means... yesterday's simulated trade might actually have been accomplished by his own ability?
To dare to go all-in on a single ST stock, and when everyone else was bearish, like his life depended on it!
...Such almost insane, illogical decisiveness and courage!
And, when the entire market believed gold stocks were due for a major correction, he alone could see through the fog and seize that sole counter-example... such incredible insight!
Could it be that... this kid...
A glint flashed in Manager Zhou Yi's eyes.
"Manager, you called for me?" Li Huilin's voice at the doorway interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh, Huilin." Manager Zhou Yi looked up, "Are the materials for this morning's meeting ready?"
"Yes, they're all ready."
"Hmm. Alright," Manager Zhou Yi pondered for a moment, as if making a decision, then tapped the desk firmly with his finger,
"Go tell our department, and other relevant departments as well. Today, you and Su Hao don't need to go anywhere; just stay at your desks."
Li Huilin was startled: "...Huh?"
"It's been too busy lately, and you haven't had much time to practice with the simulated account, have you? Perfect, today let him focus on practicing and getting familiar with trading. You can guide him from the side."
"Ah... Yes, I understand." Li Huilin was a little surprised but immediately agreed.
Manager Zhou Yi still didn't understand why Chairman Huang Fengwen insisted on forcing that kid named Su Hao into his team.
Perhaps it was some unknown high-level strategic move.
But, Su Hao.
This kid definitely has something.
Whatever that something is—whether it's access to incredibly influential information channels, or almost monstrous insight, or even just a mad gambler who hides behind audacity and is extremely addicted to risk and dopamine...
Whatever it is.
From now on, observing carefully and scrutinizing thoroughly will eventually reveal the truth.
Of course, there might be one last possibility—that the kid truly just had explosive luck, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.
But in the stock market, what's that old, timeless saying?
[Three parts effort, seven parts destiny.]
Those truly blessed with incredible luck can do whatever they please!