Chapter 104
A large number of investors, eagerly anticipating a new record high for the stock market, arrived early at the exchange. Zhan Zongqi, also impatient, dragged his grandson along, hoping to witness this moment that would mark a new chapter in their family's history.
Zhan Hantao originally didn't care about his grandfather's hobbies. He thought the old man always knew what he was doing, and even if he was learning to trade stocks, it would only be a small hobby. Besides, he had brought home every word that Iris and Zhuang Zhuoyuan talked about stocks and told his grandfather about it.
But early this morning, Zhan Zongqi had dragged him here. Seeing the same fervor on his grandfather's face as everyone else around him, Zhan Hantao sensed something was wrong and quickly asked, "Grandpa, which stock did you buy?"
"Of course it's Tier 1 energy!" Zhan Zongqi was still proud of his good judgment. "Ah Tao, I just entered the market late, otherwise I could have made even more! But it's okay, I invested heavily, and today I can make back all the money I didn't earn before. You know, to make money in stocks, you have to be bold..."
Zhan Zongqi wanted to boast about his experience, but Zhan Hantao had already lost patience: "Grandpa, how much capital did you invest?" He remembered the news and was most afraid that his grandfather had even mortgaged the house. With such a large investment, he was worried that if the stock market crashed, the old man wouldn't be able to bear it.
However, it was too late. His question was drowned out by the sound of a financial news broadcast, and a large area of crimson on the screen showed the old man's crushing defeat in this gambling game. "How, how could it have fallen so much?" Zhan Zongqi wondered if he had misheard, but the more he strained his ears, the colder his heart became. Just a few days ago, he had made a fortune, so how could he be brought back to square one at the very beginning of today? And even skinned alive.
Those around them still clung to a sliver of hope, reassuring each other that it was just a normal drop in stock price and would be fine in a few minutes or hours. But the news announcement ruthlessly shattered their hopes. Tier 1 Energy had lost its gas rights bid in Malaysia, and their previously touted cooperation plan had officially declared bankruptcy.
Zhan Zongqi felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and then he could hear nothing more.
When Iris received the news, Grandpa Zhan had already woken up in the hospital. She brought fruit and entered the room, only to see the old man sitting slumped on the bed, looking utterly devastated. She called out softly a few times, but Zhan Zongqi did not respond, not even glancing at her. Seeing this, Zhuang Zhuoyuan tugged at her hand and led her outside to find out what was happening from Zhan Hantao.
Zhan Hantao just sighed: "Grandpa mortgaged the house, but luckily, he listened to my advice and cut his losses in time. Although there are losses now, at least the house is saved. He just can't quite accept the fact yet."
This was already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. Zhuang Zhuoyuan patted Zhan Hantao on the shoulder and said, "How big was the loss? Just say the word if you need help."
"Don't worry, I can handle it." Seeing that Iris had already taken out her checkbook, Zhan Hantao pressed her down and declined her offer. "If you really need it, I won't be polite."
Iris wanted to help: "Should we find someone to take care of Grandpa Zhan?" Pauline and Uncle Chao are in mainland China, and Zhan Hantao has to go to work. Given the old man's current condition, it's really worrying.
“My parents are already on their way back to Hong Kong.” With such a big incident at home, they couldn’t leave without informing the two of them. But Zhan Hantao was also worried that the three of them would clash soon after meeting. He could ask Iris for help with this: “You know my parents chose to open a bar on the mainland because my grandfather came back. They’ve always had different views, and I’m afraid that if the three of them spend too much time together, they’ll start arguing again. If I’m not around, I’ll have to trouble you to mediate.”
These were all minor matters, Iris agreed. Peeking through the glass into the ward, she saw Zhan Zongqi take off his glasses, head bowed, silently wiping away tears. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness; how could an ordinary family withstand such a blow?
The unusually volatile stock price fluctuations of Tier 1 Energy had already attracted the attention of relevant departments. Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) received intelligence suggesting that Ng Cho-hing was involved in money laundering activities for terrorists. Ben, in collaboration with Inspector Tam of the CIB, launched an investigation, aiming to apprehend the mastermind behind it all.
Iris learned something unusual from her mother. She was worried about Jacob, but he still refused to answer her calls. So, after leaving the hospital, she asked Zhuang Zhuoyuan to take her to Larine's place to see just how badly her good-for-nothing brother had lost money.
As soon as the car entered the hotel parking lot, Yu Xueli and Su Wenqiang were unexpectedly waiting for them not far away. Iris's eyelids twitched, and she asked nervously, "What are you doing here?"
“Larine just called me and asked to meet immediately. She sounded panicked; she didn’t seem to be joking.” Yu Xueli gestured as he spoke, with Su Wenqiang following closely beside him. She added, “I was having lunch with Ali at a nearby mall, and I came over right after receiving the call.”
“Larine won’t joke like that with you anymore.” Iris trusted her best friend’s resolve and quickened her pace, calling Larine again. She had arranged to meet Larine half an hour ago, and Larine had even said she could bring her brother to lunch with them. Given how quickly this had happened, Iris figured it was most likely related to Jacob.
The elevator hadn't arrived yet, so the four of them could only stand at the entrance and wait. In the empty parking lot, the ringing of the phone sounded especially loud. As soon as it connected, Larine's crying came through: "Iris, are you here yet? Jacob, Jacob just threatened me with a knife, I'm so scared, I've found Ali, come quickly, come with me!"
Iris felt a chill run down her spine; she couldn't believe Jacob would do such a thing. He was always all talk and no action, and now, driven to the point of harming his sister, the extent of the loss was unimaginable. As they were comforting him, the elevator doors opened, and the four of them bumped into a haggard-looking Jacob. Seeing him clutching a document tightly in his arms, Iris, without a second thought, quickly called for her husband and Ah Li to stop him just as he was about to run away.
Two fists can't fight four hands. Jacob only knew some rudimentary martial arts, and with just one move, he was knocked to the ground by Zhuang Zhuoyuan. While he was struggling, Iris quickly ran over and picked up the documents on the ground to examine them—it was Larine's share transfer document for Giant Oak Group. She immediately understood the situation: Jacob had probably lost all his money, and now, in an attempt to recoup his losses, he had decided to use his and his sister's shares as leverage to continue investing in primary energy stocks.
Upon reflection, Iris immediately tore up the transfer agreement.
"What are you doing! Iris! You're crazy!" Jacob, whose emotions were already unstable, became even more frantic, almost breaking free from Zhuang Zhuoyuan's control and lunging to bite Iris. How could Zhuang Zhuoyuan let him succeed? With a little force, Jacob cried out in pain. Yu Xueli quickly rushed to help, and Su Wenqiang also rushed in front of Iris to protect her.
Instead of backing down, Iris pressed on, staring into Jacob's red eyes and patiently reasoning with him: "Jacob, that Joe is lying. You can't trust him anymore. If you give him Giant Oak's shares, he'll use Giant Oak's name to drive up the stock price again, but whether he'll seriously cooperate with you then is uncertain. The stock's fluctuations are too bizarre. The Commercial Crime Investigation Department might get involved soon. By handing over shares now, you're essentially dragging Giant Oak down with you. Losing money is a minor issue; going to jail would really kill your father."
Jacob refused to believe it: "Iris, don't talk nonsense! I know, I know you all look down on me just like my daddy. Just wait and see, I'll prove you wrong! Joe said that as long as I give him the company shares, he'll definitely make money for me!"
“You don’t believe me? There are two policemen here, don’t you still believe me?” Iris winked at Zhuang Zhuoyuan, who understood and echoed, “That’s right, Jacob, Iris is right. If there’s nothing wrong with this stock, we won’t stop you from investing, and we would have pulled you in to join us long ago.”
“No, you’re lying to me, lying to me…” Jacob murmured, his hopeful gaze rekindling as he looked at Yu Xueli. “Ali, Joe is your friend. Tell me, he’s trustworthy, right?”
Yu Xueli certainly didn't want to admit that Wu Zuxing was a fraud, but he did feel that when they met again, Wu Zuxing was no longer the simple and ambitious college student he used to be; he had lost his moral compass.
The prolonged silence became the final straw for Jacob. Zhuang Zhuoyuan felt the force resisting him slowly dissipate. He dared not let go, but he no longer exerted the same force as before. The man before him seemed to have all his strength drained away, gradually collapsing to the ground. Seeing him like this, Iris couldn't bear it and knelt down to help him up. She heard him sobbing: "I just don't want to be looked down upon... Why... Why do I fail at everything I do?"
Iris tried to hug him: "No, Jacob, this time you didn't stick to your own way. You listened to our advice, and that's a success. Your daddy will see how much you've grown—ah—"
Mentioning Shu Qida caused Jacob to lose control again. He shoved Iris aside and, taking advantage of the others' momentary lapse in attention, forcefully broke free. Iris fell backward, dragging Su Wenqiang, who was beside her, along with her. Yu Xueli immediately chased after them, while Zhuang Zhuoyuan quickly checked on the two women. After helping them up and confirming they were unharmed, Yu Xueli returned carrying the unconscious Jacob.
"There was no other way; he was too emotional."
The group went up to a higher floor of the hotel. Jacob's room was a mess, so they had to temporarily house him in Larine's room. Her brother seemed like a completely different person. Shu Zili was already shaken, and now, with him back in this state, and Iris with abrasions on her hands, she panicked even more, not knowing what had happened. Yu Xueli quickly told her to calm down and suggested she call their father. He was worried that Larine wouldn't be able to manage the situation alone while they were away.
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