CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 59 XI LUTING’S STRONG EXPECTATIONS

Xi Luting wasn’t wary of the "good stuff" Ham Brother mentioned.

However, she was cautious about revealing her address.

"What is it? Will it help my situation?"

"Tremendously."

Ham Brother vouched for it emphatically, making Little Cucumber hesitate.

A Lonely Cucumber: "Well then..."

Ham trades Cucumber: "Just give me a general address and your phone number. I’ll have the courier call you directly, and you can pick it up yourself."

Xi Luting thought it over carefully. Feeling this approach wasn’t too problematic, she agreed.

A Lonely Cucumber: "Alright, then mail it directly to the Shanghai International Studies University, Hongkou Campus. The recipient is Xi Mengjun, phone number 155..., and ask the courier to contact me in advance when delivering."

Ham trades Cucumber: "(Stunned)"

Ham trades Cucumber: "Wow! A top student from SISU? Awesome!"

Xi Luting’s cheeks flushed. I’m a 24K pure gold slacker, you just had to hit my sore spot!

However, out of caution and a tiny bit of vanity, she didn’t correct his mistake.

A Lonely Cucumber: "Just so-so!"

Brother Lie snickered to himself. Heh, kiddo, you actually dared to agree...

Xi Luting was in high spirits and politely asked in return, "By the way, where are you from?"

Ham trades Cucumber: "Quite a coincidence, I’m also studying in the Magic Capital."

A Lonely Cucumber: "Eh? That is quite a coincidence. Which school are you at?"

Ham trades Cucumber: "Me? I’m a slacker, just marking time at a private, third-tier college..."

(⊙ˍ⊙)!!!

Xi Luting instantly lost the desire to continue the conversation.

She felt an acute sense of shame.

Look how honest Ham Brother is! Why do you have to be so deceitful? It’s pathetic!

Actually, Xi Luting’s primary intention was still to conceal her personal information. But after Ham Brother’s comments, she was filled with guilt, and her mood suddenly soured.

A Lonely Cucumber: "Sorry, my classmate is calling me. Shall we end it here for today?"

Ham trades Cucumber: "Sure, goodnight~~~ top student!"

Xi Luting was completely flabbergasted.

She climbed into bed, ashamed, with a single thought dominating her mind: No, I have to work harder!

「...」

So, early the next morning, Han Lie was startled to see Xi Luting’s figure on the sports ground.

Little Cucumber was supposed to start working out next semester. Why had she started running ahead of schedule?

Despite their ongoing cold war, he took the initiative to greet her.

"Morning!"

"Morning."

Xi Luting responded coolly, embodying her tsundere attitude to the fullest.

Brother Lie didn’t care at all and continued to make idle chitchat.

"What made you suddenly decide to run?"

Xi Luting glanced at the scoundrel and sneered, "Someone despises my ’chopstick legs’ for having no meat on them, so I’ve decided to start working out and shove it in his face. Any problem with that?"

Even Han Lie, with his thick skin, couldn’t help but feel his old face flush.

Son of a bitch!

Which bastard sold me out?!

During their last trip to the zoo, Han Lie had indeed "criticized" Xi Luting’s physique.

However, trash-talking behind someone’s back was one thing; being exposed to your face was just too much.

"Haha... Even legs as beautiful as the class president’s are criticized? That guy really has no taste..."

Han Lie shamelessly tried to salvage the situation.

As long as I’m completely shameless, no one can hurt me!

Xi Luting’s eyes widened, gaining a new understanding of the scoundrel’s audacity.

"You’re really something... Forget it. Stay away from me; I don’t want to deal with you."

Brother Lie shrugged and said no more.

But he didn’t actually leave. Instead, he silently slowed his pace and ran a few laps with her.

Only when Xi Luting, drenched in fragrant sweat, stopped did he speak again.

"Don’t just stand there. Walk slowly for half a lap."

"Hmph!"

Xi Luting rolled her eyes but obediently began to walk slowly.

Han Lie walked beside her, quiet and calm.

Only after Xi Luting had caught her breath and left the sports ground did he resume his laps.

The long-legged beauty paused halfway and looked back. Watching the scoundrel’s retreating figure, she lightly bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with a complex, unreadable emotion.

「...」

After breakfast, Han Lie headed straight for the commercial street.

He picked out a suitable gift box, placed the [Set] the system had previously given him inside, and added a printed user manual.

Then he hurried to the Fudan University courier station to mail the package.

He filled in the sender’s name as Han Lieye and used the number from his P6 burner phone.

Imagining Little Cucumber’s surprised expression upon receiving the gift, a warm smile spread across Brother Lie’s face.

Good girl, Daddy loves you~

「...」

With that settled, Han Lie returned to his dorm to grab his laptop and then headed to the classroom.

The first class this morning happened to be Securities Investment, and Brother Lie planned to officially start his simulated trading practice today.

The investment studies teacher, Mr. Wu, was a genial and responsible middle-aged man with a receding hairline.

His sense of responsibility was evident: he rarely just read from the textbook. He had his own interpretations of the material and tirelessly reminded students—

"Theory is theory; the market is the market."

To realize this was remarkable enough; to be willing to admit it to students was even more commendable.

Today, Mr. Wu was once again holding forth eloquently.

"Many laypeople, and even finance students, misunderstand this course.

It has never been a practical course for guiding investment; it’s a theoretical course for understanding investment.

Investment ability cannot be taught by any textbook; it requires a great deal of practice... Eh? You, student at the back, what are you doing with your laptop?"

All eyes instantly turned towards Han Lie.

Countless students played on their phones or read novels in class, but Han Lie was truly the first to bring a laptop.

Everyone was surprised.

Han Lie was even more surprised. Mr. Wu, I thought you’d be encouraging this?

After a moment’s confusion, he suddenly recalled that Mr. Wu only started encouraging students to bring laptops to class—to combine textbook learning with real-time market data—after they reached Chapter Fourteen.

Damn, I got the timeline mixed up...

But Han Lie remained unruffled, calmly replying, "Teacher, I’m practicing."

"Hahaha!"

Han Lie’s answer provoked a roar of laughter from the classroom.

Mr. Wu pushed up his glasses and asked with a smile, "Actual trading?"

Han Lie shook his head. "A simulation."

"Not bad. A bit overambitious, perhaps, but at least you recognize there are limits..."

Mr. Wu nodded, then asked, "Then do you think operating a simulation, completely without pressure, has any practical meaning?"

"It does."

"And that is?"

"Exploring trading models."

"Oh? Quite ambitious, aren’t we..."

Mr. Wu raised his eyebrows in surprise. He deliberately set down his laser pointer and pulled out the class roster. "What’s your name?"

"Han Lie."

"’H-A-N, Han... Found you.’"

The students were somewhat bewildered by Mr. Wu’s actions, but Han Lie remained calm.

Mr. Wu took out a fountain pen, hovering it over the roster.

"Alright, Student Han, explain to the class what components make up a complete and mature trading model.

If you explain it well, I’ll give you full marks for participation, regardless of whether you attend class or not.

But if you talk nonsense... I’ll deduct 30 points from your grade for today."

"Wow..."

The clamor from the students below instantly rose by several decibels.

Another sign of his conscientiousness was that Mr. Wu took attendance every class and frequently checked homework; those few participation points were never enough to cover deductions.

Many envied Han Lie for getting such an opportunity, but not everyone did.

Lou Zhi sneered and muttered, "Explain? He couldn’t explain shit!"

His voice was low, but Duan Xiaoyi heard him clearly.

Xiaoyi nodded in fervent agreement, feeling quite smug. So what if your family’s rich? That’s your parents’ achievement. What the hell do you know about trading models!

Compared to the jealousy and schadenfreude of the male students, Yu Yun and Fang Feifei were more worried.

What was a trading model?

The two slackers had never even heard of the term, but it sounded incredibly profound.

Can Han Lie really do it?

Although losing 30 points wasn’t a huge deal, they didn’t want to see Han Lie ridiculed.

Their open pursuit of him had already linked their reputations with Han Lie’s. If he were humiliated, they would lose face too.

The one with the most complex feelings was undoubtedly Xi Luting.

She couldn’t understand her own mindset at all right now.

She was torn: part of her wanted Han Lie to make a fool of himself, which would soothe her own irritation; yet, another part hoped he would continue his string of successes and maintain his "domineering CEO" persona.

You’re seriously messed up...

She silently berated herself, her beautiful eyes shimmering as she fixed her gaze intently on Han Lie’s profile.

A strong sense of anticipation welled up inside her.