Chapter 28: Controlling Scores Costs Extra

"Hey Jie, have a cigarette."

"Brother Jie, these are specialty betel nuts my family sent from back home. Try one; I guarantee they'll give you a real rush!"

"Brother Jie, are you looking for a girlfriend? I have a younger sister who's still single."

In Room 302 of the Investment Studies dormitory, Lai Weijie, feigning composure while scanning the A-share market board, was surrounded by his three roommates, all of whom were vying for his favor with various offerings.

It wasn't just Room 302; several other classmates who usually hung out with Lai Weijie had also drifted in.

"Three consecutive limit-ups in three days, breaking into the top ten—who knew you were such a hidden master, Brother Jie? Can you pull your brothers up with you?"

"What are you buying tomorrow, Brother Jie?"

"Brother Jie, will Changan Automobile keep rising?"

Lai Weijie pulled his gaze away from the group chat and glanced at the roommates and friends who had hemmed him in. His scalp tingled. He had never imagined that one day he would become the center of attention for his major.

Furthermore, it was worth noting that five or six junior girls from the department had already added him on QQ, asking to discuss trading strategies together. It was no exaggeration to say that this level of initiative was something Lai Weijie had never experienced before.

Most importantly, even his girlfriend, hearing that he had reached the top ten, had proactively sent him a message suggesting they head to a hotel this weekend to "discuss finance."

The more proactive those around him became, the more flustered Lai Weijie grew. He was the only one who knew that the mock trading record of three limit-ups in three days was the work of Zhang Yang. He was nothing but a sheep in wolf’s clothing, one who would be exposed at the slightest misstep.

According to the agreement he signed with Zhang Yang, if he were the cause of the secret leaking, Zhang Yang would not refund a single cent and would still demand the remaining balance. If he factored in the bet, that would be sixty thousand yuan down the drain.

With no other choice, he had to bluster and bluff. "Based on the news," he analyzed, "Changan Automobile should still have room to grow. Besides, the market has already digested its first-quarter report; the net profit was used to expand production lines, which lays the groundwork for later gains."

"As expected of God Jie! A few words and I'm enlightened!"

"God Jie is awesome!"

"Then I'll chase the high tomorrow. I trust God Jie's judgment!"

The sycophancy of his roommates and friends made Lai Weijie feel a bit lightheaded. He hadn't realized that being a top student felt this good.

"Ahem." He coughed twice and added, "There's no need to chase the high on Changan Automobile anymore; it won't rise much further. Once I find a suitable target in a couple of days, I'll let you all know."

"Got it, thanks God Jie!"

"I want to treat you to dinner, God Jie!"

"Just trust God Jie, that's all there is to it. He’s a super-big shot with three limit-ups in three days. Even He Jing and Zhang Yang would have to bow down to him!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

The group continued their fawning, their flattery flying thick and fast. Lai Weijie enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention, but he remained keenly aware that he wasn't the one they were really admiring—he was simply basking in Zhang Yang’s reflected glory.

...

Meanwhile, in Room 201 of the Investment Studies girls' dormitory.

Lan Sisi, with her neat short hair and wheat-colored skin, stared at the name "Lai Weijie," which had climbed from outside the top hundred to the top ten in just three days. She couldn't help but exclaim, "This Lai Weijie is incredible. He made it into the top ten in just three days. If he hits another limit-up, I wonder if Sister Jing can keep her first-place throne."

"Are you feeling the pressure, Sister Jing?" Wei Yunshi asked, looking at He Jing.

"Burp~" Xu Zhiruo, clutching a large bottle of cola, took a deep gulp and let out a satisfied belch. "Sister Jing will definitely take first place. She’s the woman who’s about to hit a 50% return rate, unless Lai Weijie can pull off three more limit-ups."

"Hard to say," He Jing replied, feeling uncertain.

She was the only one who knew that her real opponent wasn't Lai Weijie, but the super-genius Zhang Yang—the one who had held the top spot in the major for four years and had been given a "direct pass" by Tao Yu'ang.

Over the past two days, He Jing had been repeatedly questioning whether she should become a fund manager. After overhearing the conversation between Zhang Yang and Tao Yu'ang, her worldview had begun to shift, as if a door to a new world had been opened. She had once wanted to be an independent speculator, but the shadows of the 2007 stock market crash still haunted her. She had entered the market with 2,000 yuan and grown it to 8,900, only for the subprime mortgage crisis to leave her deeply trapped. The high risks of the stock market had long since stopped her from wanting to go it alone; instead, she had started thinking about using other people's money to fill her own pockets.

Seeing He Jing so discouraged, Xu Zhiruo quickly stood up to cheer her on. "Don't boost others' morale and crush your own, Sister Jing! You're the best in my eyes!"

"45 days, 50% return rate—the number of students in previous years who could aim for that return is countable on one hand. Go for it, Sister Jing, hit 60%!" Lan Sisi added.

"If you hit 60%, that would be legendary. You'd definitely go down in school history. Go, Sister Jing, don't let him beat you!" Wei Yunshi chimed in.

Looking at the naivety of her three roommates, He Jing didn't want to bring them down. "I'll try my best," she promised, "to become the first student to reach a 50%, or even 60%, return rate."

"No!" Xu Zhiruo wagged her long, fair index finger and corrected her with a smile. "Not just a student, but a genius trader... no, that's not right—a genius trading beauty!"

...

The library, Finance Analysis Room.

Zhang Yang was sitting in his usual spot in the study area, looking at the market—it had become his exclusive seat.

"Almost 3:30; class isn't for another hour and a half. Time to get some coffee." Just as Zhang Yang was about to close his laptop, the classic QQ coughing notification sound rang out.

It was said there was a story behind this "classic cough": when Pony Ma was starting out, he grew tired of the "beep-beep" and "hiss" sounds used by competitors and wanted a sound that was both unique and capable of triggering a conditioned reflex in users. This demanding requirement stumped his developers. Later, due to the intense workload, one developer accidentally caught a cold. When he returned to his station and coughed, the development team lead immediately decided to use that cough as the alert sound.

Because of this classic cough, many early QQ users were often startled at night, though it was certainly effective at waking one up.

Seeing the flashing avatar, Zhang Yang recognized it immediately as Lai Weijie. He double-clicked to open the chat window.

[Lai Weijie]: Brother Yang, I need to discuss something with you. Can we sell off Changan Automobile? Hitting consecutive limit-ups is getting too much attention!

He used to fear the stock wouldn't rise; now, he feared it would rise too much. Even though being the center of attention felt great, he lacked the actual ability, and it was Zhang Yang pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Zhang Yang put himself in Lai Weijie's shoes and instantly understood why he would say that. He typed back: "Sure, but it'll cost you extra."

[Lai Weijie]: How much more?

[Zhang Yang]: 5,000 yuan.

[Lai Weijie]: Fine, I'll pay! But Brother Yang, you really need to tone it down. If I hit more limit-ups, I feel like I'm going to get called in for a talk by the professors.

[Lai Weijie]: If possible, a small loss for a day would be fine too, as long as it doesn't affect the final result.

[Zhang Yang]: Use the old account. Transfer the money to me first.