I know a friend from Hangzhou who has been in this circle for a full ten years. Back then, he entered the market with 120,000, and now his account has grown to more than 68 million.

At 46 years old, he lives just like any ordinary citizen—rents a two-bedroom apartment in an old neighborhood, rides a shared bike all over the city, and haggles with aunties at the morning market for groceries on weekends. He told me that this grounded way of living helps him stay clear-headed and not get carried away.

His assets multiplied so many times not because of insider tips or dumb luck. He has a few survival rules that he has stuck to for years:

**Understand the rhythm of the big players**
A rapid price surge but a slow, grinding drop? That means they're accumulating chips. When you see this pattern, don't get scared off by minor fluctuations. After a sharp drop, if the rebound feels weak, it's likely big money is exiting; trying to buy the dip at this point is just helping others offload their positions.

**Volume tells the truth**
High volume at the top doesn't necessarily mean it's the peak; it could just be a change of hands. On the contrary, if volume shrinks while prices slowly decline, that's a warning sign the market is cooling off. If there’s only one surge in volume at the bottom, it’s probably a bull trap; you need several rounds of heavy volume to show real money is getting in.

**Human nature outweighs technicals**
Don’t put too much faith in fancy indicators. Ultimately, the market is a game of people, and trading volume is the one thing that never lies—it directly reflects sentiment.

**Being “empty” is the hardest discipline**
Don’t get attached, don’t be greedy, and don’t fear missing out. Only those who can patiently stay on the sidelines are fit to catch big opportunities. Itchy hands are a common retail investor problem; if you can’t control your hands, you can’t control your money.

The scariest opponent in this circle isn’t the market makers or the trend—it’s your own greed. There are opportunities every day, but only those who can keep a steady mindset, manage their positions, and endure loneliness will have the last laugh.