[September 18, New Energy Index: 2985 points] “What’s going on here? It’s more than doubled in just half a month!” Lu Liang pulled up the New Energy Index and was instantly shocked. As of the end of the previous trading day, the index was at only 1458 points. Composed of 54 stocks, the total market value was 785.3 billion yuan. For the index to double, it theoretically meant that the market value of all 54 component stocks had also doubled. Lu Liang could hardly imagine what kind of incredible news had triggered this phenomenon where everything, from chickens to dogs, seemed to soar together. After all, even the impressive gains of the Shanghai Composite Index earlier this year had pushed it up by less than 2000 points to 5178. But here, the New Energy Index had climbed from 1458 points to 2985 points in just 26 days. “SAIC, Yutong, BYD, LeTV, Zhongtong, GAC...” Lu Liang sifted through the 54 component stocks and temporarily settled on six to investigate further. He planned to have Wen Chao look into them tomorrow to identify which were genuine and which were just riding the wave. A doubling of the index didn’t mean the gains were evenly distributed among the stocks. Some likely rose significantly, others less so, and some might even have gone against the trend and declined. Selecting several stocks increased the chance of picking an industry leader and achieving returns of three to five times—or more. Xiao Wang felt a wave of frustration choking him, gritting his teeth as he replied, “Working so late into the night—careful, or you’ll keel over from exhaustion.” “Ha! You’re mad. You’ve lost your cool. You’re even resorting to personal attacks now,” Lu Liang teased, clearly in a good mood. “Hmph. I’m going to sleep,” Xiao Wang snapped before hanging up. Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Lu Liang’s lips curled into a smile. He glanced outside; the sky was already tinged with the pale light of dawn. Just then, a faint knock sounded at the door, hesitant and furtive. Li Manli whispered as though she were a thief, “Brother Liang, are you asleep?” Lu Liang walked over and opened the door, only to see Li Manli squatting down in an eavesdropping pose. The sudden opening startled her so much that she fell onto the floor. “The mosquitoes are louder than you,” Lu Liang teased with a laugh. “I was afraid you were sleeping, so I didn’t dare disturb you,” Li Manli said with a giggle, sticking out her tongue like a mischievous kitten. “Come on, let’s go out for a walk.” After changing clothes, the two boarded a hotel-provided boat and headed toward Taihu’s Fairy Island to watch the sunrise. Before dawn, the surface of the lake was shrouded in mist. The faint water vapor clung to their faces, refreshing and delicate like a gentle drizzle. Standing at the bow of the boat, Lu Liang took a deep breath. It felt as if his lungs, like parched earth, were finally quenched by a nourishing rain. Letting out a long exhale, he seemed to cast away the exhaustion of staying up all night. Before long, the boat arrived at Taihu's Fairy Island. In the east, the pale light of dawn gradually turned red, illuminating Taihu Lake's surface, which shimmered like an enormous silver mirror. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the boundless white lake stretched endlessly, giving an unparalleled sense of openness and serenity. “This place is so beautiful!” Li Manli exclaimed, her voice filled with childlike excitement as she darted around taking photos to capture the moment. She was mindful of the fact that Lu Liang didn’t like having his face photographed, so she discreetly snapped pictures of his back or his profile instead. The sunrise during summer is brief. From the first hint of the sun’s edge to its full emergence above the horizon, it took just a little over three minutes. “Let’s head back and catch up on some sleep,” Lu Liang said with a yawn. Having pulled another all-nighter, he figured it was time to return to the hotel and rest before deciding what to do in the afternoon. Li Manli murmured her agreement, her gaze unfocused and her eyelids drooping, clearly struggling to stay awake. The excitement from earlier had long faded. After hours of driving the previous night and playing games for several more, she had finally witnessed the Taihu sunrise she’d been dreaming of. Her mission was complete. As the boat rocked gently on the water, her head grew heavier until she couldn’t resist anymore. She leaned against Lu Liang’s shoulder and fell asleep. Lu Liang chuckled softly and adjusted her position, letting her rest more comfortably in his arms. The weekend passed as they explored Taihu, enjoying the tranquil scenery. On Sunday evening, they drove back to Magic City. On Monday morning, Lu Liang and Tang Caidie arrived on the 32nd floor of the New International Building. The available space spanned 3,800 square meters, nearly a third of the entire floor. Over the weekend, the cleanup crew had worked overtime to complete the final touches.