206: Chapter 207 Chinese Bigwigs Join Forces to Help

At 13:20, ten minutes before the A-share market opened, the air in Singularity Technology's trading room seemed to freeze. Song Zhiwei stared at the scrolling financial news on the screen, her brow furrowed.

During the lunch break, Black Rock Capital released more fake news: "A major state-owned bank has suspended a 20 billion credit line to Singularity Technology and is currently assessing its repayment ability." The accompanying image was a blurry "internal bank notice" with the date deliberately obscured, but it was enough to worsen the situation for the already panicked retail investors.

"These people really have no bottom line!" Trader Xiao Zhang slammed the table hard. "We just finished reassuring some investors, and they pull this trick! Now the stock forums are full of rumors that 'Singularity's loans are being pulled by the bank and the capital chain is about to break.' Many retail investors are saying they'll cut their losses as soon as the market opens this afternoon!"

Just as Song Zhiwei was about to issue orders to respond, the dedicated line on her desk suddenly rang—it was Qin Xue. Her voice carried a hint of urgency but was exceptionally firm: "Zhiwei, the third-quarter core business report and the bank credit certificate are ready. The PR team is simultaneously sending them to all mainstream financial media, and they will be released across the entire network in ten minutes! Additionally, the ICBC head office just called me back. They are willing to make a public statement that 'the 20 billion credit renewal has been approved and there is no suspension.' They will issue the announcement immediately!"

"Great!" Song Zhiwei's heart instantly settled. She immediately shouted into the intercom: "Attention everyone! At 13:25, as soon as the ICBC announcement is released, immediately pin our third-quarter report on all major investment forums and stock bars. Highlight in red data points like 'revenue up 45% year-on-year,' 'cash flow of 28 billion,' and 'Photon Chip orders scheduled until Q2 next year.' Don't leave any room for rumors to spread!"

At 13:25, the ICBC head office's official website took the lead in releasing an announcement. In black and white, it stated, "Singularity Technology's 20 billion comprehensive credit renewal application has been approved. Our bank will continue to support its technological innovation business," with a bright red official bank seal at the bottom. Immediately following, Singularity Technology's third-quarter report was released across the web. The PDF file not only contained detailed financial data but also included actual videos of the Photon Chip mass production workshop and on-site photos of the "brave peace and health" global aid stations, using solid imagery to shatter rumors of "technical failure" and "business stagnation."

In the trading room, Xiao Zhang watched the sentiment on the forums gradually shift and shouted excitedly, "President Song! It's working! Many netizens are starting to question Black Rock's fake news. Someone pointed out that the 'bank notice' was Photoshopped—even the font in the signature is wrong! Institutional analysts are also reposting our third-quarter report, saying 'Singularity's fundamentals are fine; the stock price crash is just over-panic!'"

At 13:30, the A-share market opened for the afternoon. Unlike the morning's crash, although there were still retail sell-offs after the opening, the volume of sell orders significantly decreased. The stock price fluctuated slightly around 101 yuan. Song Zhiwei kept a close eye on the "main capital flow" in the bottom right corner of the screen—the red "net inflow" number was slowly increasing. She knew that the "short-selling followers closing their positions" node predicted by the system had arrived.

"Is there any news from Gu Jingshen's side?" Song Zhiwei dialed Zhang Fan's number, her voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

"I just received intelligence that Black Rock's capital chain has run into problems." Zhang Fan's voice came through the receiver, calm and powerful. "Of the 5 billion they used to smash the market this morning, 3 billion was 'high-interest capital' from short-term borrowing. Now the lenders are pressing for repayment, and they simply can't produce more money to continue smashing the market. Moreover, several small short-sellers who followed suit have already started to secretly close their positions, hoping to reduce losses before the stock price rebounds too much."

"The time has come!" Song Zhiwei's eyes lit up, and she immediately issued instructions over the intercom: "Start Phase Two of the plan! The first batch of market-support funds is 3 billion, prioritizing the absorption of the short-sellers' closing orders. Notify our partner social security funds and insurance institutions to enter the market simultaneously. Target stock price: 110 yuan!"

The moment the command was given, the sound of intense keyboard clicking filled the trading room. On the screen, the previously scattered buy orders suddenly became dense—102 yuan, 103 yuan, 105 yuan... The stock price rose steadily as if supported by an invisible hand. Seeing this, the following short-sellers became even more panicked and accelerated their position closing. The massive "passive buy orders" instead became a booster for the stock price increase.

At 13:45, when the stock price broke through 110 yuan, Black Rock Capital finally couldn't sit still. They tried to smash the market again, throwing out 500 million yuan worth of chips, only to be instantly swallowed by the market-support funds that had been waiting for them. Song Zhiwei had already used the system to predict their selling time and had placed large buy orders below 110 yuan in advance. As soon as Black Rock's sell orders appeared, they were wiped clean.

"President Song! Black Rock is canceling their orders! They're not selling anymore!" Xiao Zhang pointed at the screen and shouted excitedly.

Song Zhiwei sneered. "It's not that they don't want to sell; they don't dare to. Now that the stock price has returned to 112 yuan, their short positions are already starting to lose money. Selling more will only lead to greater losses. Besides, our market-support funds haven't been fully deployed yet. If they dare to continue smashing, we'll dare to take it until all their short positions are blown up!"

Sure enough, Black Rock Capital's sell orders completely disappeared after the 500 million. Without the suppression from the main short-sellers, the stock price rose even faster—113 yuan, 115 yuan, 118 yuan... At 14:30, when Song Zhiwei ordered the release of the final 2 billion in market-support funds, the stock price had broken 118 yuan. The decline narrowed to 8%, and the market value recovered to 552 billion, a rebound of 72 billion from the morning's low.

Meanwhile, in New York, the conference room at Black Rock Capital's headquarters was a mess. CEO John Wilson slammed the documents on his desk onto the floor and roared at the Tianming representative on the other end of the phone: "Didn't you say Singularity's cash flow couldn't hold out? Didn't you say the banks would pull their loans? And now? ICBC renewed a 20 billion credit line, and their third-quarter revenue grew by 45%! Our 5 billion for smashing the market has all gone down the drain, and we've even lost 800 million! You must give me an explanation!"

The Tianming representative on the other end was silent for a moment before saying coldly, "Don't panic; this is only temporary. The financial war is just the second step. Next, there are public opinion wars and supply chain wars waiting for them. What you need to do now is stabilize the remaining short positions and don't let Zhang Fan see our cards."

John hung up the phone, his face ashen. He knew that Tianming's words were just cold comfort. The current Singularity was no longer something they could easily crush.

At 15:00, the A-share market closed. Singularity Technology's stock price finally settled at 118 yuan, with the decline narrowing to 8%. The day's volatility was as high as 28%, setting a record for the largest volatility since the company's listing. In the trading room, the traders finally breathed a sigh of relief and stood up one after another to high-five and celebrate. They had won this thrilling market-support battle.

Song Zhiwei slumped back in her chair and took a sip of warm water from the desk, only then realizing her hands were still trembling slightly. She dialed Zhang Fan's number, her voice tinged with exhaustion but full of joy: "Boss, the market has closed. 118 yuan, 8% down. The market support was successful. Black Rock's short positions are already showing losses; they shouldn't make another move in the short term."

"Well done," Zhang Fan's voice carried praise. "But don't let your guard down. Tianming Group won't give up just because of one lost financial war. They will likely start with public opinion or the supply chain next. We need to prepare in advance. Notify Zhou Yurou to strengthen the risk inspection of the supply chain, especially for core component suppliers. Also, have Lawyer Wang prepare to sue Black Rock Capital for 'spreading rumors and defamation.' We not only want to win the war but also make them pay a legal price."

"Understood!" Song Zhiwei nodded in response.

Outside the trading room window, the setting sun spilled through the glass, dyeing the K-line chart on the screen a warm gold. In this financial strangulation war, although Singularity paid the price of short-term market value fluctuations, it successfully held the line. More importantly, they proved to everyone that with the support of Chinese capital and solid fundamentals, any malicious short-selling conspiracy would eventually collapse.

But Zhang Fan knew in his heart that this was not the end. Tianming Group was like a beast hidden in the shadows; one failure would only make it more alert. The next attack might be even more violent. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at Jiangcheng under the setting sun, his fingers lightly stroking the phone in his pocket. Li Yong's photo was stored there, as if reminding him that no matter how great the difficulties, he had to keep his original intention of "protection."

"Tianming, you've lost the financial war," Zhang Fan said softly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Next, it's our turn to fight back."