Chapter 349: Before the Curtain Falls

'Today is Friday, April 2nd. We interrupt this broadcast to bring you stock market news. Yesterday, Dark Blue Airlines held a press conference at its headquarters, where it announced that it had received a 30 million dollar capital injection from Wharton Insurance. Due to this good news, Dark Blue Airlines' stock price has been rising all day, with a six percent increase in just one hour, making it the first airline to achieve growth among all airlines.'

As the TV announcer said this, there was an outburst of enthusiastic cheers and applause in the room. This was in the meeting room of Deep Blue Airlines, where Zhou Ming, Alan and Rogers were watching with Deep Blue Airlines' chairman Mark and other company shareholders.

'This is incredible. I have been in charge of Deep Blue Airlines for 30 years, and I have never heard of other companies' stocks skyrocketing. Is it finally my turn?' Mark muttered, his tone a little incredulous.

Of course, as a listed company that doesn't do much in the stock market, not everyone understood the meaning of the stock price rise. The vice-chairman of the trade union here asked curiously, 'Why are you so happy? As far as I know, the rise in the stock price doesn't mean that the company has made money, because these stocks were issued a long time ago, and the only people making money are you investors who bought the stocks and bonds.'

In the face of the union members' doubts, Rogers, the key account manager of the securities company, volunteered to explain: 'Although the stock price does not have a direct relationship with the listed company, stocks are the clothes of a listed company. We can imagine that if someone's clothes are tattered, we definitely would not want to be friends with him, and the same is true for companies.'

'If the stock of a listed company has been ignored or continues to fall, it obviously means that the market does not favour the company, and the company will definitely have financing difficulties or other operational problems. Just like the previous case of China Blue Airlines, I think Mr. Mark should have a lot to say about this, right?' Rogers said, turning his attention to Mark next to him.

In response to Rogers' question, Mark sighed and said, "It's true. Although Deep Blue Airlines had been developing independently, it had always had major financing problems, and it was difficult to find investors. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so difficult to face this major reshuffle in the civil aviation sector.'

'That's the point," Rogers said. 'A company's operating conditions can be easily reflected in its stock performance.'

'So now that the stock price is rising so well, it means that the business of Deep Blue Airlines is doing very well and it will be easy to raise funds?' Mark asked.

Rogers nodded and said, 'Generally speaking, this is the case. The financing of 30 million US dollars has given the market confidence, and the market will respond accordingly. Of course, the benefits of stock are not only shown here. More importantly, stock increases the market value of the company, which enables the company to issue more shares and get more investment from the market. Compared with other aspects, I believe this will be more intuitive.'

Mark still wanted to say something, but at that moment, Zhou Ming patted him on the shoulder and said, 'Mr. Mark, don't worry, I'm an investor, not a speculator. My goal is not to use 30 million US dollars to buy Deep Blue Airlines, and as proven, this is impossible. So what I hope for is to make Deep Blue Airlines better, so that my investment can bring me more returns.'

At the end of his speech, Zhou Ming thought for a moment and added, 'After this successful investment, I may add another 30 million US dollars.'

Mark and all the shareholders of Deep Blue Airlines let out a gasp of breath when they heard this. Mark excitedly shook Zhou Ming's hand and said, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, thank you, thank you so much. You trust Deep Blue Airlines so much that you are investing all of your assets. Deep Blue Airlines will definitely not let you down!'

Zhou Ming felt a little embarrassed when he saw Mark's determined expression, because he had no intention of investing the 30 million he had borrowed from his classmates in finance. He just had other speculative ideas in mind, especially since this speculation still had to use Deep Blue Airlines as the stake.

I'm afraid that if Mark knew about my plans, he wouldn't be so moved, but would feel as bad as if he had eaten a dead rat.

Zhou Ming thought to himself, then got up and said, 'I believe that the stock price will continue to rise, and every listed company must also know how to use the stock market. We won't stay here to see you off.'

Zhou Ming then left Dark Blue Airlines with Allen and Rogers. Mark personally saw them to the door, and as they were leaving, Mark said, 'We at Dark Blue Airlines have always regarded the company as a family, and every employee is an important family member. Now you, Mr. Zhou Ming, should also be added. You saved us in our most critical moment, and we will definitely remember you!'

'I fully believe that,' Zhou Ming said.

After bidding farewell to Mark, Ming Zhou and Alan Rogers got into the car. Ming Zhou had once again rented a long limousine.

Once in the car, Rogers said to Ming Zhou, 'From today's situation, it seems that Old Brook has been hooked.'

'If you want to say hooked, he has already been hooked for a long time. Manager Rogers, have you forgotten that even before the press conference, the stock price of Deep Blue Airlines had already started to rise?' Ming Zhou said.

'It seems that you were right, Mr. Zhou Ming, and Brook has indeed sent someone to follow you,' said Rogers.

'Right?' Zhou Ming shook his head and smiled, 'With Mr. Wharton's tracking skills, I don't need to guess, because every move he makes is under the control of my driver.'

'I see. It seems that I underestimated you, Mr. Zhou Ming,' said Rogers, shrugging his shoulders.

Zhou Ming waved his hand to indicate that it didn't matter: 'But Manager Rogers, since we've got off to such a good start, I'm sure it'll be easy for you to convince other clients to join in, right?'

Rogers nodded and said, "Of course, as long as you give me a call in advance when you want to withdraw your investment at the end.'

Zhou Ming gave him an OK sign, and then the car arrived at the Brighton Bank Building. Rogers got out of the car, and Zhou Ming asked the lawyer Alan, "Doesn't this kind of thing smell a bit like insider trading?'

Alan nodded and said, 'There is a bit, but Rogers, the key account manager, has the power to guide investments, so it can be considered a kind of investment guidance, which can be removed from insider trading. If charged, I have a 90% chance of getting off.'

Zhou Ming had full confidence in Alan's answer, and in fact, Zhou Ming did not worry about it, he was just asking casually.

After dropping Alan off at the law firm, Zhou Ming went to the car rental company to return the car, and finally returned to his Harvard dormitory in his Buick.

It was already 7:00 pm, just the time when his classmates returned from dinner. Ye Ning saw Zhou Ming come back and immediately said, 'Teacher, I have already seen the news. Yesterday, you announced a high-profile capital injection of 30 million at the press conference of Deep Blue Airlines, and today the stock market is doing well!'

Zhou Ming did not answer at first, but smiled at her instead. Ye Ning knew what Zhou Ming meant and immediately said, 'Don't worry, teacher. I didn't buy any shares of Deep Blue Airlines at your command. And I stopped other students from buying shares of Deep Blue Airlines. I already told them that they must act together in terms of whether to buy and when to buy.'

'Ye Ning's execution is still very strong,' Zhou Ming praised Ye Ning.

Although it was just a very ordinary compliment, Ye Ning was overjoyed as long as it came from Zhou Ming. Then Ye Ning suddenly thought of something and asked Zhou Ming very carefully, 'Teacher, what's going on between you and Teacher Jie La? Are you two in a relationship?'

This question took Zhou Ming by surprise: 'Of course not. Ye Ning, why would you ask that? Didn't I tell you that Westerners have different concepts from ours about subtlety? For them, some kisses are just the most ordinary teacher-student kisses?'

'But no matter how open-minded they are, there are still some bottom lines. I've asked many American classmates, and they all say...'

Ye Ning couldn't continue after saying this, and Zhou Ming couldn't bear to see him so troubled, so he gently explained to her, 'Ye Ning, remember, there really is nothing between me and Teacher Jie La. Since you know that Americans have a bottom line for everything, you should also know that Harvard University, where we are, is a church school, and he has his own bottom line. How could he allow a teacher-student romance?'

'Teacher, are you telling the truth?' Ye Ning looked up at Zhou Ming with what seemed to be her last glimmer of hope.

'I'm sure, absolutely sure, it's true,' Zhou Ming said, and added at the end, 'And compared to American women, I prefer girls from my own country.'

Upon hearing this, Ye Ning's face flushed red, and she lowered her head, afraid to look at Zhou Ming. Zhou Ming then realised that he had said the wrong thing, but it was too late to change his words, because Ye Ning had shyly run away, leaving Zhou Ming with only the words 'Teacher is really bad'.

This made Zhou Ming feel like crying without tears: heaven and earth, I have never had any interest in being a rogue teacher who molests his female students!

Meanwhile, in the office of Old Brook in the centre of Brighton, he had just put down the phone when his old butler sat in front of him and asked him, 'Sir, was that Wharton on the phone just now, telling you news about the Chinese?'

Old Brook nodded and said, "He said that Mr. Zhou Ming has returned to the school dormitory.'

'This Mr. Wharton is really diligent enough. If he had this kind of spirit when running the company before, why would he have been swallowed up by Zhou Ming?" the old butler said disdainfully.

'You can't succeed in the business world just by working hard. You need to be absolutely smart,' said the old butler, pointing to his own head. "Unfortunately, this Mr. Wharton happens to be brainless.'

After saying this, the old butler waved his hand and changed the subject, saying, "Well, enough about that. In a few days, your and Brook's cases will go to court, and you will have to go back to the detention center. In these last few days outside, I will take revenge for you first.'

The old butler's eyes lit up: 'Sir, are you going to take action?'

'Next week, I will continue to push up the stock price of Deep Blue Airlines, and then help him burst this bubble,' answered Brook smiling. 'I know that he is waiting to use Wharton to plot against me, but I will show him with practical actions that the game of finance is not something that stupid Chinese people can afford. Let him gloat for a while before the curtain opens.'