Chapter 20

「What kind?」

「This time it’s a bit harder—it’s a mathematical model on the relationship between stock market prices and theoretical prices,」 Dongguan girl typed out a flood of text, mostly data requirements and various specifications.

「Generally, stock price models fall into three types: random walk, cumulative, and integral models. I recommend the third—the integral model—built using difference equations.」

Today, Dongguan girl spoke with rare seriousness, but Fang Qingye found himself confused.

「Wait... what exactly do you do?！」

「Husband, I already told you—I’m a finance major at Renmin University, about to graduate with my bachelor’s, and I’m working on my thesis.」

「Didn’t you say last time that the model was for your own thesis? Now another one pops up?」

「Hehe, husband, I’ll be honest then—this model is for one of my classmates, also a girl, a very pretty girl...」

「Stop!」 Fang Qingye typed back immediately.

「Who are you fooling? Do you think you’re writing a graduate thesis? And this complicated a model? Don’t forget—I’m also a finance undergrad graduate!」

「Oh come on... fine, I’m done pretending. I’m owning up.」

The screen filled with a barrage of shy emojis.

「Husband, have you heard of the Investment Banking Research Center at the headquarters of Oriental Bank?」

「I’ve heard of it. What about it?」

「They provide tailored, high-quality investment banking research services for clients—covering macroeconomic trends, financial market movements, industry trends, corporate value changes, and more. I collaborate with them through outsourcing—I take on projects and subcontract them to you. This model is one of those outsourced tasks.」

Holy shit! This Dongguan girl is a middleman!

Fang Qingye was stunned—though what stunned him more was: 「You’re a finance undergrad, even from Renmin University—how are you connected to Oriental Bank’s Research Center? Tell me, who are you really?！」

Fang Qingye typed the question quickly; Dongguan girl replied instantly: 「Husband, I already told you—I’m just a Renmin student... I didn’t lie to you.」

After typing, Dongguan girl sent several pitiful emojis.

「As for how I’m connected to the Research Center, I’ll tell you later, hehe.」

Now Fang Qingye was certain: based on her expertise, she couldn’t possibly be from Dongguan—she was likely a real Renmin student.

But her identity seemed even more mysterious.

Whatever. Forget it. None of my business.

「Husband, you taking the job? This time I won’t take a cut—350,000 yuan goes entirely to you!」 Dongguan girl typed again.

350,000 yuan?

Fang Qingye carefully reviewed the requirements again—it was slightly more complex than last time, but not too difficult.

「Alright, I’ll take it—but I need more time.」 Fang Qingye typed after thinking.

「One month!」

「No—at least two months!」 Fang Qingye typed slowly.

「Maximum!」

「Deal!」

Seeing Fang Qingye agree, Dongguan girl immediately sent a string of smiling faces, followed by a line of text.

「Husband, go for it! Burn, Pikachu!」

Fang Qingye didn’t reply. He closed QQ and went offline.

As for the 200,000 yuan Dongguan girl transferred, he certainly wouldn’t let it sit idle in his bank account—he immediately moved it into his stock account, opened Tonghuashun, and added to his position.

Although Longping High-Tech had surged yesterday and today, it still hadn’t recovered from its earlier steep drop—Fang Qingye was still in the red.

He studied today’s price movement again, estimating that tomorrow some retail investors would take profits, causing sharp market volatility.

But it didn’t matter—he knew exactly how high this speculative wave would ultimately go, so a little gain or loss meant nothing.

Alright, business done. Time for a game. Fang Qingye opened Warcraft.

Days passed lazily, and by late April, as Fang Qingye had predicted, Longping High-Tech surged relentlessly—on the last trading day of April, its price reached 28.83 yuan!

Double the average price of his two purchases.

Net profit: 400,000 yuan!

Fang Qingye was pleased, but he didn’t rush to sell—another surge was coming, and the price could still double again.

Tomorrow was Labor Day, a three-day holiday. As afternoon neared closing time, Fang Qingye wondered where to go.

Jinghai?

Boring.

Shanghai?

Since Nanxin County was closer to Shanghai than to the provincial capital Jinling, many people headed to Shanghai during short holidays.

But Fang Qingye had zero interest.

Before his rebirth, he’d spent four years in Shanghai for university, then worked there for over a decade—his most cherished life memories were all tied to Shanghai.

He was sick of it.

What about Jinling?

Fang Qingye had been there several times.

Why not go farther—to Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou?

He’d been there too.

What about Subei or Anhui Province?

As Fang Qingye was daydreaming, Zhang Qunying called out from the doorway.

「Xiao Fang, come to my office.」

Fang Qingye replied and went to Zhang Qunying’s office next door, where Zhang said: 「Xiao Fang, there’s a dinner tonight at six. We’re meeting a client—Director Xia is also attending. He asked me to invite you. Venue: Chundu Hotel, Room 302.」

Me?

Logically, this is a dinner between a bank director and a credit department head—why would a trainee like me be invited?

Fang Qingye was puzzled.

What’s Xia He playing at?

But the boss had spoken—he had no choice but to agree and called to check.

After leaving Zhang Qunying’s office, Fang Qingye didn’t return to his own room—he went downstairs to a quiet spot and called Xia He.

「Senior, I just heard from Director Zhang that you’re having dinner tonight and want me to join?」 Fang Qingye got straight to the point.

「Yes, we’re both women with limited alcohol tolerance—you’re the man, so you’ll have to drink for us.」 Xia He’s laughter came through the phone.

You can’t drink?

No way.

I heard you’re a heavy drinker.

Of course, he didn’t argue with his superior over the phone—he asked instead: 「Senior, who’s hosting?」

「Song Qingdong, Chairman of Kairui Real Estate Development Corporation.」

Holy shit!

Song Dahai’s father!

Fang Qingye could guess what this dinner was about, so he said:

「Alright, after work I’ll go home, change clothes, and head over.」

「No rush—just make it by 6:30.」

Zhang Qunying said six, Xia He said 6:30?

Clearly, they were putting on airs.

But Fang Qingye wasn’t stupid enough to arrive at 6:30.

Xia He could play the high-and-mighty game—he couldn’t.

Besides, this was Song Dahai’s father—the man he always called Uncle.

After work, Fang Qingye rode his scooter home—no one was there. He changed into a T-shirt and casual pants, and didn’t leave until 5:55.

This time, he didn’t ride his scooter—he took a taxi.