Why was time moving so slowly?

At the same moment, whether it was Xia Xiaolan, Lu Yunshi, or Xia Ziyu who had just stepped out of her car, they all shared this same thought.

Xia Xiaolan was eager for the market to open to verify if her memories were correct.

Lu Yunshi and Xia Ziyu were anxious to see Xia Xiaolan lose more money.

Lu Yunshi had always looked down on concubines, but regarding Xia Xiaolan’s shorting of ‘Lu Family Press’ stocks, Lu Yunshi and Xia Ziyu’s positions were perfectly aligned.

Standing on this common ground, the two could not only exchange friendly greetings but instantly become close friends.

Xia Xiaolan glanced at the two and muttered:

“Whoever retreats midway is a puppy. If you’ve got the guts, hold on until the end today!”

Lu Yunshi immediately retorted, “As long as you have enough money to lose, we’ll accompany you to the end. We’re not afraid of you.”

“Abby didn’t play stocks before, right? CR has a VIP room. Why don’t you come watch the stocks with me?”

Today, Xia Ziyu didn’t provoke Xia Xiaolan.

The situation with Liu Fen was still unknown; further provocation might drive Xia Xiaolan to desperate measures.

Xia Ziyu’s eyes swept across, already warmly extending an invitation to Lu Yunshi.

No need for provocation – her mere presence would force Xia Xiaolan to stubbornly continue without closing positions.

That was enough – the longer it dragged on, the more Xia Xiaolan would lose.

If stock prices rose again today, how long could Xia Xiaolan’s money last?

“Ms. Xia, look at her—”

Their eyes carried provocation – what kind of people were they?

Yu Li’s palms itched at the sight of Xia Ziyu. If she hadn’t known the other party was pregnant, she might have truly been unable to resist throwing a punch.

“Alright, the market’s opening, let’s go in. Little Yu, you’re still too impatient. Have more patience – the show’s just beginning.”

Xia Xiaolan strode into the exchange.

A crowd of investors entered with them.

Since the Hong Kong Stock Exchange adopted the computerized trading system, daily trading volume has increased significantly. Just at the beginning of this month, the Exchange Chairman had expressed high expectations for Hong Kong stocks in the opening of the “Securities Monthly.”

From the Exchange Chairman to ordinary investors, everyone was bullish on the stock market. Optimism was everywhere. The investors now flooding into the exchange were all excited, as if attending a wedding banquet – Xia Xiaolan thought somewhat sympathetically, laugh while you can because soon you won’t be able to.

10:00 AM sharp.

Xia Xiaolan had just settled into the VIP room when the exchange opened on time.

Xia Xiaolan spoke calmly:

“Continue selling 5 million shares of Lu Family Press. Someone will take them today – we must act quickly!”

Of course, there were counterparties – Lu Yunshi and Du Family’s Fifth Madam were here. CR Investment was the largest counterparty this time.

As for Lu Yunshi, Zhang Byron suspected that the mysterious major investor who suddenly bought 5 million shares of Lu Family Press on the 16th was Lu Yunshi herself.

Lu Yunshi represented the Lu family’s price support efforts.

The boss was determined to force down Lu Family Press’s stock price.

Zhang Byron couldn’t dissuade her, and he didn’t want to try anymore.

Once the bow was drawn, there was no turning back. Closing positions now would mean Qihang had lost at least 13 million Hong Kong dollars on Lu Family Press. Continuing to short might drive Lu Family Press’s price down further.

Let alone dropping by one dollar – even a 50-cent drop would mean Qihang would lose less.

This time, Zhang Byron was executed thoroughly.

The computerized trading system was fast. Quickly, the information about selling 5 million shares of Lu Family Press appeared on the exchange’s display screen.

In an instant, these 5 million shares were absorbed by buyers.

It was Xia Ziyu and Lu Yunshi.

Who knew how many shares each of them took?

Xia Xiaolan thought they suited splitting it evenly – 2.5 million shares each, perfectly matching their temperaments!

Xia Xiaolan checked her watch – it was 10:04.

In the previous three days, she had sold a total of 11 million shares of Lu Family Press.

“Continue, there are other companies…”

Zhang Byron mechanically executed the orders.

By 10:06, counting the previous week, Xia Xiaolan had shorted a total of 24 million shares across five listed companies.

If the five companies’ share prices rose by an average of 10 cents, Qihang would lose 2.4 million; if they rose by one dollar, they’d lose 24 million… Adding the previous 40 million loss, even with leveraged operations, Qihang’s money wouldn’t last long.

In another VIP room.

Lu Yunshi was puzzled:

“What madness has gotten into Xia Xiaolan?”

Selling 5 million shares right at the opening – was she afraid of losing too little?

Of those 5 million shares just now, Xia Ziyu had taken 3 million shares, leaving 2 million for Lu Yunshi – though it wasn’t Lu Yunshi’s account buying, but He Zhitong’s.

He Zhitong couldn’t appear in person, so Lu Yunshi acted as the front.

Lu Yunshi wanted to personally witness Xia Xiaolan lose everything and then see her pitiful state as she was forced out of Hong Kong.

Northern girls should go back to the mainland – what business did they have crowding Hong Kong?

Knowing two rich young men didn’t mean she could enter Hong Kong’s high society.

Xia Ziyu smiled without speaking.

She knew what was driving Xia Xiaolan mad.

Liu Fen’s condition must be very bad – was Xia Xiaolan going all in?

At 10:07, just as Xia Ziyu was about to speak, Lu Family Press’s stock price fluctuated.

From 22.1 dollars per share, it fell to 21.9.

A 20-cent drop in one minute?

How was that possible?

The daily opening price was the previous trading day’s closing price. Lu Family Press had closed at 22.3 on Friday. When Xia Xiaolan sold 5 million shares at market open, it immediately showed in the stock price, dropping from 22.3 to 22.1, a 20-cent fall.

But Xia Ziyu and Lu Yunshi immediately bought those 5 million shares, clearly absorbing Xia Xiaolan’s sell order.

The price should stabilize at 22.1.

If investors followed the trend and bought, it would gradually rise back to 22.3, maybe even higher – it didn’t even need to go higher. Just returning to 22.3 would mean Xia Ziyu and Lu Yunshi’s 5 million shares would profit 20 cents each, making 1 million total.

Money was that easy to make in the stock market – it was lying on the ground, just waiting for someone with vision to pick it up!

Conversely, as the price fell from 22.1 to 21.9, Xia Ziyu and Lu Yunshi lost 1 million in one minute.

On Xia Xiaolan’s side, selling 5 million shares at 22.3 meant an instant profit of 2 million!

Xia Ziyu smiled:

“It’s fine, this is normal fluctuation. Stock prices are like this, up and down by 10 or 20 cents. We’ll see the real picture at closing. Besides, Qihang’s boss previously lost 40 million – this small drop is just a drop in the bucket—”

Xia Ziyu’s words cut off abruptly.

Because before she finished speaking, Lu Family Press’s stock price dropped another 10 cents.

It was now 10:09, and Lu Family Press’s stock price had plummeted from the opening 22.3 to 21.8.

Less than 10 minutes after the market opened, it had dropped 50 cents.

Lu Yunshi grabbed a nearby trader, “What’s going on?”

The trader couldn’t explain either.

What was happening? The investors in the trading hall were all bewildered.

Minutes ago, everyone had been chatting cheerfully, seriously studying stock trading secrets, considering whether to sell or increase their holdings, calculating if today’s profits would cover a month’s living expenses. But at the market opening, all blue-chip stocks opened low, and other second and third-tier stocks were also being sold at low prices… Not just Lu Family Press – other stocks were falling too!

In the trading hall, all investors shared the same question as stock market novice Lu Yunshi:

What was happening?

What had occurred in just these few minutes?

It seemed like the stock market was full of sellers, with no buyers!

Everyone was selling!

At 10:10, in the VIP room, Zhang Byron rubbed his eyes, his voice uncertain:

“Ms. Xia, Lu Family Press has fallen to 21.7.”

Ten minutes, and it had dropped 60 cents.

Heaven truly was on Qihang’s side today!

Xia Xiaolan’s tension eased, and she softly responded:

“I can see that.”

The stock market crash had begun…