Henglong Stabilizes

On Sunday, public discussion surrounding Henglong continued to ferment.

Zhao Chen's name and photograph appeared frequently across major financial websites and social media platforms.

His youthful face, still carrying a trace of student-like innocence, placed alongside the title "Acting Chairman of a Listed Company," was inherently dramatic and controversial.

Media narratives were sharply divided.

Some veteran financial commentators chose their words carefully, citing his "not yet graduated" background and expressing almost undisguised doubts about his ability to stabilize the company amid a complex financial and legal crisis.

Other, more traffic-driven new media outlets focused on his age and the drama of being entrusted with the role in a time of crisis, slapping on eye-catching labels like "youngest chairman" and "second-generation comeback" while praising his sense of responsibility.

A small number dug deeper, vaguely mentioning keywords such as "father-son falling out" and "financial Black Hole." Though they did not spell anything out, they left the public thoroughly intrigued.

No matter what kind of voice it was, they had pushed Zhao Chen and Henglong behind him beneath the unavoidable spotlight of the capital market's scrutiny on Monday.

The Class Group was no less restless.

After several days of silence, Chen Hao finally could not hold back. Taking advantage of the heated public discussion, he posted sarcastically in the group:

"Some people's families are in the middle of such a huge mess, yet they can still take the position with a clear conscience. Now that's some mental fortitude, tsk tsk."

"If you ask me, like father, like son. If the Father isn't clean, how clean can the son be? Putting on such a respectable act now—wasn't it all just connections?"

"The youngest chairman? More like the youngest Prodigal Son! With Henglong in his hands, it probably won't last three months!"

The malicious speculation and sour stench of jealousy nearly spilled through the screen.

When Shen Zhiyi saw it, her fingers trembled with rage. Before she could decide how to strike back, Zhou Xiaowen was already the first to explode.

"@Chen Hao Are you sick? Jealousy really makes people ugly! Has a court convicted him? Have the police arrested him? You keep calling him a criminal—are you more authoritative than the law?"

Li Jing followed immediately, concise and direct:

"Defaming others without evidence. Screenshotted. If necessary, it can be submitted to the school or handled through legal channels."

Chen Shuhua then tossed in a link—a positive analysis by a financial Blogger of how Zhao Chen had swiftly stabilized the situation after taking over—along with one sentence:

"If you can't understand financial reports and announcements, just shut up. Don't flaunt your ignorance."

Shen Zhiyi took a Deep Breath, suppressed her surging emotions, and Pressed out a line:

"@Chen Hao Please take responsibility for every word you say. Zhao Chen's ability and character are not for you to speculate about from some dark corner."

The four of them joining forces to fire back temporarily suppressed the toxic atmosphere in the group, but those words remained in Zhiyi's heart like thorns.

She knew that what Zhao Chen faced was far more than this childish malice.

Monday, 9:15 a.m.

Henglong Holdings entered the Call Auction period for Hong Kong Stocks.

Rather than sitting before the trading terminal as usual, Zhao Chen stood before the Floor-to-Ceiling Window in the Chairman's Office, looking down at the city awakening beneath his feet.

Chen Xi stood quietly behind and to the side of him, holding a tablet whose screen displayed real-time market data and a Monitoring Summary of public sentiment.

Zhang Qingxue was in the Legal Director's Office, equally on high alert as she monitored for any unusual sell orders or sudden developments on the legal front.

Su Wantang had not come to the company, but she sent him a short message: "I'm at home. Everything is well. Don't worry. Focus."

The air seemed frozen.

Every second stretched unbearably long.

The Call Auction ended, and the Opening Price appeared: -5.2%.

It was expected, yet still a number that made hearts sink.

The market was voting with its feet, expressing its doubts and wait-and-see attitude.

A large volume of sell orders began pouring out, and the intraday line plunged downward, with the decline at one point nearing 8%.

Selling Pressure weighed heavily on the market. Clearly, some funds were dumping shares regardless of cost.

"Their liquidation orders and repayment-related selling pressure have begun," Chen Xi said quietly, her tone calm.

Zhao Chen nodded without speaking.

He needed to see the strength and persistence of this wave of selling.

Throughout the morning, Henglong's share price struggled repeatedly between -6% and -8%, falling on heavy volume.

Market sentiment was sluggish. Negative public discussion continued to ferment during trading, drawing out some short-term traders and Panic Selling as well.

By the morning close, the share price stood at -7.3%, while trading volume had already more than doubled Friday's.

"The pressure is greater than expected," Chen Xi said as she compiled the data.

"But the characteristics of Panic Selling are obvious. It's mainly their forced selling and Follow-up Orders."

Zhao Chen turned and returned behind his desk.

"Wait until the afternoon. If their Selling Pressure weakens then, and the share price can hold steady without making new lows, it means the market's spontaneous buying support is strengthening."

At noon, Chen Xi brought even more crucial information.

She placed a compiled report before Zhao Chen. Its contents were the result of Zhang Qingxue and Chen Qiming working through the night.

"Director Zhang and Deputy Director Chen have basically figured it out,"

Chen Xi reported. "During Zhao Jianguo's earlier efforts to support the stock, his cumulative losses exceeded three hundred million.

Part of the funds came from a revocable Family Trust established by Lin Wanqing in the Cayman Islands, with an initial value of one billion Hong Kong Dollars. These losses have already been covered by withdrawals from the trust."

She paused and pointed to the report's key conclusion: