"Wait... what exactly is it that you do?!"

“What kind?”
“This time it’s a bit more challenging—a mathematical model about the relationship between stock market prices and theoretical prices,” Dongguan Girl quickly typed a long message, mainly detailing the required data and various specifications.
“Generally, stock price mathematical models fall into three categories: random walk models, additive models, and integral models. I suggest you use the third type—the integral model—established through difference equations.”
Today, Dongguan Girl was unusually serious, but Fang Qingye felt a bit confused listening to her.
“Wait... what exactly do you do?!”
“Husband, I’ve told you before, I’m a finance student at Renmin University, about to graduate with my bachelor’s, and I’m working on my thesis.”
“Last time you said the mathematical modeling was for your thesis too, but now there’s another one?”
“Hehe, husband, to be honest, this model is actually for a classmate of mine. She’s also a girl, a very pretty girl...”
“Stop!” Fang Qingye quickly typed back.
“Who are you trying to fool? Writing a graduate thesis? Doing such a complicated model? Don’t forget, I also graduated with a finance degree!”
“Oh... alright, no more pretending, I’ll come clean.”
A flood of shy emojis appeared on the screen.
“Husband, have you heard of the Research Center of the Investment Banking Department at the Eastern Bank’s headquarters?”
“Yes, why?”
“They provide clients with targeted, high-quality investment banking research services, including macroeconomic trends, financial market movements, industry operation trends, and changes in company value. I collaborate with them through outsourcing. The model I asked you to help with is one of those outsourced projects.”
Damn! This Dongguan Girl was actually a middleman!
Fang Qingye was utterly shocked. What shocked him even more was: “You, an undergrad in finance—even if you are from Renmin University—how do you have any connection with the research center of Eastern Bank? Tell me, who are you really?!”
Fang Qingye quickly typed this line, and Dongguan Girl immediately replied: “Husband, I already said, I’m a Renmin University student... I didn’t lie to you.”
After typing, she sent several pitiful-looking emojis.
“As for my relationship with the research center, I’ll tell you later, hehe.”
Now Fang Qingye was certain—based on her expertise, she probably wasn’t from Dongguan. She might really be a Renmin University student.
But her identity seemed even more mysterious.
Forget it, what’s it to me?
“Husband, will you take the order? This time I won’t take a cut; the full 350,000 is yours!” Dongguan Girl typed again.
350,000?
Fang Qingye carefully reviewed the requirements. It was more complex than last time but still not too difficult.
“Alright, I’ll take it, but I’ll need more time this round,” he thought, then typed.
“One month.”
“No, at least two months!” Fang Qingye typed deliberately.

“Maximum!”
“Deal!”
Seeing Fang Qingye agree, Dongguan Girl immediately sent a string of smiling faces followed by a line of text:
“Come on, husband! Burn bright, Pikachu!”
Fang Qingye didn’t reply and logged off QQ.
As for the 200,000 Dongguan Girl transferred earlier, he certainly wouldn’t let it lie idle in his bank account; he promptly moved it into his stock account and opened the Tonghuashun software to increase his holdings!
Although Longping High-Tech had surged strongly over the past two days, it hadn’t recovered the losses from the previous dips, and Fang Qingye was still at a loss.
He examined today’s stock movement carefully and estimated that some shareholders would cash out tomorrow, causing intense market volatility.
But that didn’t matter—he knew exactly how high this stock’s speculative wave would reach and wasn’t bothered by minor losses.
With his business taken care of, Fang Qingye opened World of Warcraft for a game session.
Life drifted along like this until late April. Just as Fang Qingye expected, Longping High-Tech soared dramatically, ending the last trading day of April at 28.83 yuan!
That was double his average purchase price from two rounds.
A pure profit of 400,000!
Fang Qingye felt pleased but wasn’t in a hurry to sell. Another surge was coming, potentially doubling it again.
Tomorrow was Labor Day, a three-day holiday. Approaching the late afternoon, Fang Qingye pondered where to go for fun.
Jinghai?
Boring.
Shencheng?
Since Nanxin County was even closer to Shencheng than to Jinling City, the provincial capital, many preferred to visit Shencheng during holidays.
But Fang Qingye had no interest.
He had spent four years at university in Shencheng before rebirth and over a decade working there afterward—his best years were spent there.
He was tired of it.
Maybe Jinling?
He’d been several times.
Why not go farther, to Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou?
Been there too.
Or up to northern Jiangsu or Anhui Province?
Fang Qingye was lost in thought when Zhang Qunying called him from the door.
“Xiao Fang, come to my office for a moment.”

Fang Qingye agreed and walked into Zhang Qunying’s office, where she said, “Xiao Fang, there’s a social event at six tonight with a client. Director Xia will attend as well. I was told to bring you along. It’s at Spring Capital Hotel, private room 302.”
What the...?
Normally, a dinner between a director and a credit section chief wouldn’t include an intern like him.
Fang Qingye was puzzled.
What was Xia He up to?
But since the leader had instructed it, Fang Qingye had no choice but to agree and called Xia to ask about it.
After leaving Zhang Qunying’s office, he didn’t return to his room but went downstairs to a quiet spot and dialed Xia’s number.
“Senior, I heard from Section Chief Zhang that there’s a social event tonight, and I’m supposed to accompany you?” Fang Qingye asked bluntly.
“Yes, both of us ladies have limited tolerance for alcohol, so we need a gentleman like you to help drink,” came Xia’s coquettish laughter from the other end.
You can’t hold your liquor?
No way.
I heard you’re quite the drinker.
Of course, there was no need to argue with a superior on the phone, so he asked, “Senior, who’s hosting?”
“Song Qingdong, chairman of Kerry Real Estate Development Corporation.”
Damn!
Song Dahai’s father!
Fang Qingye roughly guessed what the dinner would be about and said,
“All right, after work I’ll go home, change, and come over.”
“No rush, just get there before six-thirty.”
Zhang Qunying said six; Xia said six-thirty?
Clearly, they intended to make an impression.
Of course, Fang Qingye wasn’t foolish enough to arrive at six-thirty sharp.
Xia could put on airs, but he had no such luxury.
Besides, the other party was Song Dahai’s father—whom he normally addressed as ‘uncle.’
After work, Fang Qingye rode his scooter home. No one was there. He changed into a T-shirt and casual pants and left home at 5:55.
This time, he didn’t ride his scooter but hailed a taxi.