Chapter 11 Wandering Waves?

"That... Brother Meng, short selling in such a major market trend, I'm afraid the risk is quite substantial..."

He didn't dare to be too direct; what if he upset this young master and he just turned and walked away in a huff?

"No problem, I just like the thrill. Small-time deals don't suit my character. Isn't there a saying in your financial circles, 'The greater the risk, the higher the profit'?"

Meng Lang, determined to ignore all advice, left Tony feeling somewhat at a loss for words.

Do all second-generation rich have such a huge gambling streak… Money really does let you do whatever you want!

"Short selling, huh... It's not impossible. You have 500,000 in funds, which basically meets the threshold for margin trading. You could short sell using margin trading methods, and at most you can use 2 times leverage.

But to start margin trading services, you'll need at least six months of account activity on record, plus this... "

"Not possible? Then I'll ask around elsewhere... The place next door is called 'Jinhua Securities,' right?" Meng Lang made as if to leave.

Six months? By then, opportunities will have passed! Stock disasters wait for no one, Teacher!

"Wait wait wait!" Tony hurriedly stopped Meng Lang.

Biting the bullet, he said, "Actually, there's another way, which is to buy 'put options'."

"Put options?"

"Yes! Options are a type of matched trade, essentially a wager between you and our securities firm.

To buy put options, you only need to pay a premium. If during the agreed exercise period the stock falls, then you'll be entitled to that portion of the decline in profit, minus the premium, which would be your profit.

Of course, if the stock goes up, then you can pretty much kiss that premium goodbye."

"Oh~" Meng Lang listened half-understanding, but as long as he could short sell, that was all that mattered.

"How high can the leverage go?" He asked again.

"Leverage? That depends on the extent of the stock's fall, because the premium is fixed. The more the stock plunges, the higher the profit you stand to make.

Some people have seen their funds go up by dozens of times."

"Great! I'll take it then!"

"Uh... how much do you want to buy?" Tony asked cautiously.

"What do you mean how much? Of course, buy it all!"

"Hiss~"

500,000 spent on put options, if the stock rises, then that really would all go down the drain without leaving a penny!

Madman! This is definitely a madman!

But... what does it have to do with me? The commission on 500,000 in options isn't small!

"Okay! I'll go and apply with my superiors right now. With the current market trends... it shouldn't be too difficult, but it will take some time."

"Great! I'll be off then; I'll wait for your news."

"Brother Meng, do you have other business this morning?"

"Not really, just going for a stroll next door."

Tony: "..."

...

Watching Tony's hurried departure, Meng Lang cracked a slight smile.

The internal struggle within the finance industry seems not too optimistic either...

Going next door was naturally on the agenda, after all, it's wise to shop around.

As an investment newbie with no time to learn, he also needed to compare and check if Tony really wasn't trying to dig a hole for him.

After browsing the nearby securities firms, the information he obtained was pretty much the same as what Tony had outlined.

Checking the time, Meng Lang directly headed to a nearby large trade center.

After asking around a bit, Meng Lang found a store called "Rui Xin Security Equipment" and walked in.

The equipment store occupied more than two hundred square meters, with various outdoor and indoor security devices hanging on the wall. Judging by the decoration, their capabilities seemed quite decent.

"What would you like to purchase, young man?"

The owner, a balding man in his fifties wearing a vest that resembled a director's, asked.

"Oh, I'm looking to buy some self-defense gear."

"Self-defense gear? Are you looking for protective equipment like helmets and shields, or handheld gear like rubber batons?" The owner thought Meng Lang was a security professional of some sort and enthusiastically started his pitch.

"Hmm... do you have anti-wolf spray?"

"Anti-wolf spray?" The owner looked Meng Lang up and down in surprise. "For whom?"

"For my... girlfriend.

She said she's been feeling like a stalker has been following her lately, and she wants something for self-defense."

"Oh! I see..."

The owner didn't question further, went into the back room, and soon returned with several palm-sized items.

"While I can't sell the police-grade anti-wolf spray here—that would be illegal—there's a whole range of civilian versions available, varying in capsaicin content for differing levels of potency.

Once sprayed towards the mouth and nose, within 10 minutes the other party won't be able to open their eyes."

Meng Lang picked each up for inspection, "Which one has the highest potency?"

"This one." The owner picked up one of the bottles.

"The Meixi Bear Spray is a brand of anti-wolf spray with a high capsaicin content of 10%!

It can penetrate the skin within 1 second, and skin contact will immediately result in a painful burning sensation as if on fire for up to 10 minutes.

If it gets into the eyes, it can cause blindness for 15-30 minutes, and if inhaled, it leads to persistent coughing and breathing difficulties lasting also 15-30 minutes. The more is used, the more painful it is.

Additionally, this spray contains a UV dye that cannot be cleaned from the skin or clothes within a week, aiding police identification and search later."

"Perfect! I'll take it!" Meng Lang's eyes sparkled.

"Alright, that'll be 398 for you!"

So expensive? Meng Lang winced internally, but when it came to his own life, he knew he had to spend the money.

"Boss, do you have any other convenient protective gear?"

"What type are you looking for, young man? I have a lot of women's self-defense products," the owner said with an even brighter smile.

"Do you have stab-proof vests and electric shock devices?"

"Ah?" The store owner was a bit confused.

Electric shock devices could be understood, but stab-resistant clothing? These were also used for self-defense against attackers?

"Oh, my girlfriend just feels a lack of security, and isn't it the man's job to make a woman feel safe?"

Could this also be interpreted that way?

Then would my equipment store be packed on Valentine's Day?

The store owner scratched his head. However, with business coming to the door, there certainly was no reason to refuse.

"This mini handheld electric shock device delivers 3 million volts of electricity. Contact with human body for 3-5 seconds can cause unconsciousness, priced at 588."

"16-layer PVE fiber stab-resistant vest, this is the latest product we've got. The fabric is soft, weighing about 1.5 kilograms, light and flexible. It won't affect movement when worn, but it's a bit expensive, 1798."

"Okay, I'll take these two as well. Also, I want to buy something else." Meng Lang gritted his teeth, no pain, no gain!

"Young brother, please say!" The boss's face grew even more enthusiastic.

"Do you have cameras here?"

"Cameras?" The boss paused for a moment.

"Yes, we have all kinds of models for both home and outdoor use here, 'idiot-proof' operation, direct connection to a mobile APP."

"I need the small kind, the ones that aren't easy to detect. The more hidden after installation, the better!"

"Er... the small kind, the more hidden the better?"

"Yes! It would be best if it had night vision, and 4K HD if available!" Meng Lang thought and said.

Night vision? And wants 4K HD?

The boss's gaze suddenly became a bit peculiar...

...

Stepping out of the equipment store, Meng Lang felt the bag in his hand was heavy.

The few items, plus 2 cameras, actually cost me 6600 yuan!

And the cameras were 'three no's' products, no returns, no warranty—what a rip-off!

Just then, "Ding!" a text message arrived on his phone.

Meng Lang looked at his phone.

"I'm Xiao Yu's sister, Lin Haitang. I heard you have a matter to inquire about. I will be available in half an hour. You may come to Eastern Building, room 1106.

However, if you are selling insurance, please do not waste both our time. Thank you!"

"Uh..." Meng Lang was speechless.

This chilly tone, every word reeking of strictly business.

Should he say as expected of a lawyer?

Only then did he remember that his company and position were written on the business card he gave to Xiao Yu yesterday—was he being mistaken for an insurance salesperson?

Uh... He really was an insurance salesperson...

After a moment of thought, Meng Lang still decided to go and meet the person.

In "My Struggle," Xiao Yu's sister obviously saw him as a potential criminal. If he could give her a heads-up in advance, even though it might not be very useful, at least it could reduce some of the suspicion towards him, right?

And maybe, he could get some information about the identity of the criminal from her?

...

Finance Street is the most bustling core CBD area of Su City, with numerous skyscrapers. Many financial institutions and headquarters of foreign companies are located here.

Twenty minutes later, Meng Lang arrived at the Eastern Building.

Looking up at 60 degrees, the 42-story skyscraper stood like a luminous giant, surrounded by a stream of people, most of whom were city elites in suits and leather shoes.

To work here had once been Meng Lang's dream.

He let go of his reveries, registered in the lobby, and took the elevator to the 11th floor.

Checking the room number, he walked into "Zhongtian Law Firm," where the receptionist immediately stood up, greeting him with a charming smile and a slight bow.

"Good morning, sir. Do you have an appointment?"

Truly a Golden Lawyer...

The lawyers working here must have a decent social status, and their wages certainly wouldn't be bad either.

Meng Lang found it hard to connect these elite lawyers with his low-rent housing neighbors.

"Oh, yes. I'm looking for Lawyer Lin Haitang. We have an appointment at 11."

"Alright, please follow me."

The receptionist led Meng Lang to the front of an office.

"Knock, knock!" "Come in!"

The door opened.

"Mr. Lin, your visitor has arrived."

Lin Haitang behind the desk looked up and locked eyes with Meng Lang. Both were momentarily stunned.

"It's you!" x2

The atmosphere on scene suddenly froze...

...

"Meng Lang?" Lin Haitang sat behind the desk, hands crossed under her chin, studying Meng Lang, who was growing increasingly uneasy, with her icy gaze.

"Uh... that's me." Meng Lang couldn't help feeling a bit guilty.

Although it was a coincidental misunderstanding, in any case, he did feel somewhat in the wrong.

Lin Haitang had a look of disdain.

"The name suits you, 'Lang' as in reckless?"

"... 'Lang' as in waves."

"Aren't they both bad?"

Hey, hey! Don't pick on me just because I'm from the South and might not catch the nasal sounds in your pun!