Thunderbolt Settles

December 8th, 8:03 PM.

A brief news alert from the Finance Frontier website hit the calm waters like a boulder, instantly stirring up towering waves:

[Breaking: Zhao Jianguo, chairman of Henglong Holdings, was taken away by police for investigation after work today. The specific reason is unknown.]

At first, it circulated only within a small corner of the Finance Circle.

But Ten Minutes later, more influential media outlets began following up.

The top headline on the Securities Times Official Website changed to:

[Breaking! Zhao Jianguo, the actual controller of Yu-based Real Estate Enterprise Henglong Holdings, taken away by police; company says it has "not yet received notification"]

Immediately afterward, push notifications from major news apps flooded screens, each headline more alarming than the last:

[Exclusive First Report: Well-known real estate chairman Zhao Jianguo taken from company by Plainclothes Police; fully cooperative, expression grave]

[Another case under "Housing is for Living, Not Speculation"? Henglong Holdings' Zhao Jianguo under investigation, possibly involving multiple violations]

[Domestic Real Estate Stocks in Hong Kong Stocks hit by another bombshell! Henglong Holdings chief Zhao Jianguo suddenly investigated, stock price to face pressure tomorrow]

[The Story of Zhao Jianguo: From construction worker to real estate tycoon—what hidden dangers lay behind his aggressive expansion?]

On the Weibo Hot Search List, the hashtag "#HenglongChairmanTakenAway#" shot upward like a rocket, breaking into the top ten in barely half an hour.

Finance Bloggers, prominent real estate influencers, and gossip-hungry netizens all reposted, commented, and speculated.

"I always knew there was something wrong with that company. Their debt is ridiculously high!"

"Did their Capital Chain snap? Illegal fundraising?"

"Probably bribery to get land. Investigations are strict these days."

"Hong Kong Stocks are going to be a bloodbath tomorrow..."

Rumors and speculation spread like wildfire.

Before long, a video leaked out.

Though blurry, it was clear enough to identify him:

Zhao Jianguo was escorted out through the revolving doors of Henglong Headquarters by two Plainclothes Law Enforcement Officers, one on either side. He tried to hide his face behind the Briefcase in his hand, but the instant panic and stiffness on his face had already been captured by the camera.

The Henglong Group Public Relations Department was flooded with calls, but aside from its initial weak statement—"We have not yet received notification; company operations are entirely normal"—it could provide no useful information.

Because there was no way to suppress the news.

Zhao Jianguo had been taken away in the Company Lobby, in full view of everyone, by two plainclothes Police Officers who had shown their credentials.

It was the evening rush. Dozens of employees watched their chairman silently follow the police into a Regular License Plate Car and leave.

Shock, panic, whispered discussions... the scene descended into chaos for a time.

Like a virus, the news spread from within the company before spilling outside through every available channel.

Before countless pairs of eyes and phone cameras, any attempt to "control the news" looked futile and ridiculous.

In the Hotel Room, Zhao Chen closed the news page.

The last image frozen on the screen was his father's face—trying to remain composed, yet unable to conceal its ashen defeat.

In his Previous Life, he had been lost and terrified when he saw this news, as though the sky had fallen.

In this life, he felt only cold understanding, and the profound stillness before the dust settled.

His phone began vibrating continuously, names flashing across the screen one after another.

The first call came from Zhang Qingxue.

Once the call connected, there was none of her usual crisp opening, nor did she ask, "Did you know already?" or, "Was this you?"

After two seconds of silence, Zhang Qingxue spoke. Her voice held a rare tension, but she went straight to the heart of the matter:

"The news is out. When Hong Kong Stocks open tomorrow, Henglong's share price will crash straight through your Pledge Liquidation Line. I've already received an Urgent Inquiry Letter from Rock Capital's Risk Control Department. What are you planning to do? Close the short position?"

She did not ask a single question about why. She only asked how to respond.

That complete trust and absolute professional focus warmed Zhao Chen's heart slightly.

"Aunt Zhang," Zhao Chen said, his voice steady and utterly calm, "as for the pledge, make full use of those Five Days of Grace Period, no matter what."

"Tell them this is merely a short-term Liquidity Shock caused by a sudden incident. I'm coordinating resources to deal with it, so ask them for trust and time. If necessary, imply that we have the ability to support the price in the Secondary Market and stabilize them."

"Understood. The Grace Period is key." Zhang Qingxue quickly wrote it down.

"What about the Short Position? Should we close it tomorrow? If we do, the profits will already be extremely substantial. But if the price falls too deeply, beyond our projections..."

"We close at the right price." A cold glint flashed in Zhao Chen's eyes.

"I'll need you to watch the market personally. I won't feel at ease leaving it to anyone else. My Target Price is... around 6 Hong Kong Dollars per Share. Once it reaches that range, begin closing in batches. Don't chase the absolute bottom."

"Six dollars..." Zhang Qingxue calculated quickly. "That puts the Market Value Less Than 2.5 Billion, almost half of what it is now. Are you sure it'll fall that far? Market panic can sometimes exceed expectations."

"It will get there." Zhao Chen's tone was certain. "The market still doesn't know why Father was arrested. Panic will spread. Six dollars may not be the bottom, but it's safe enough. As for the specifics, use your judgment when the time comes."

"Alright, leave it to me." Zhang Qingxue paused, and her voice dropped slightly. "You... take care of yourself. Things are chaotic outside right now. A lot of people are looking for you..."