The moment these Hong Kong tycoon's second-generation sons rejoined Wei Chao's camp for the second time, Wei immediately decided to launch operations in the international oil futures market.
Wei explained to them how oil was an extremely scarce resource with profound influence on human civilization. Throughout history and into the future, it remained a strategic necessity that nations prioritized securing domestic supplies. Whoever controlled oil reserves could generate immense profits while simultaneously elevating their global standing through energy leverage - making oil futures speculation a surefire business opportunity.
Previously he had failed to penetrate this market due to its scarcity with most reserves locked in petroleum giants and state hands, leaving outsiders like himself excluded from the profit pool. Now circumstances changed when "Star City" suddenly flooded the market with massive futures orders that even combined corporate-state interests couldn't absorb, creating a perfect opening for their well-funded investment group.
After hearing Wei's systematic analysis, these young tycoons immediately connected it to oil prices remaining stubbornly high and recurring shortages, enthusiastically supporting his grand plan. They rapidly mobilized family capital through external borrowing, channeling billions into Wei's hands for the futures speculation.
When they first entered the market, oil had fallen near $60 per barrel - an opportunity they exploited by aggressively acquiring cheap contracts with confidence in future profits after absorbing all excess supply. But their euphoria turned to alarm when new orders kept emerging endlessly, forcing continuous capital injections. By this point Wei's total investment exceeded $80 billion, with the tycoons themselves contributing over $4 billion.
Their relief was short-lived as "Star City" suddenly announced breakthroughs in high-capacity battery technology and electric vehicle ventures. Through aggressive market strategies, they rapidly expanded EV adoption while flooding markets with cheap electricity. Just when panic set in, a new crisis erupted between "Star City" and Australia that escalated into near-nuclear war through US intervention.
Even before the tycoons could fully process this disaster, yet another twist emerged - after launching an intercontinental ballistic missile test, the crisis resolved peacefully through negotiations benefiting all three parties. But for oil speculators it was existential: the US had lost its leverage to resist "Star City's" electric revolution. Their hoarded oil reserves suddenly became worthless commodities no one wanted.
Desperate Hong Kong tycoons gathered at Wei Chao's office. Even his legendary "financial prodigy" reputation couldn't save them now as they left in pale-faced defeat, descending the elevator from 88th floor of Empire State Building where Wei stood gazing down at bustling crowds below.
Previously this vantage point would fuel his hubris, with smug declarations about being the masses' god. But today's grey dawn mirrored his despondency - oil futures had collapsed to $20 per barrel, his total investment lost over $8 trillion. The bank collateralization of Dream Group assets now threatened to make him lose everything.
Wei bitterly reflected on how greed blinded him to become trapped in this bottomless pit. "This world should have been mine," he muttered, blaming Liu Hui's emergence for disrupting historical trajectories that once gave him predictive advantages.
A sudden phone call shattered his despair: his Hong Kong allies had committed suicide from the rooftop. Staring down at their bodies through the window, Wei staggered back onto a sofa, muttering about their family gambles and inevitable downfall.
When his secretaries arrived in Manhattan for his final announcement, they found not just his women but unfamiliar men with intimate body language - all accompanied by lawyers. Linda's betrayal was most shocking as she proudly displayed her boyfriend's hand, accusing Wei of mere financial exploitation rather than true love.
The mature "business goddess" Xiaolei delivered the final blow, revealing her long affair with Han Junxi while condemning his polygamous lifestyle as vulgar. As shock turned to collapse, Wei's physical and emotional worlds imploded in parallel - spitting blood from sheer devastation at the sight of his shattered empire and broken relationships.
The women remained coldly silent even when he crumpled physically, only a few showing guilt through lowered gazes. Finally realizing their corporate takeover plot against him - leveraging combined minority shares to strip his control over Dream Group - Wei let out a mirthless laugh before collapsing further into this double tragedy of financial ruin and romantic betrayal.