Chapter 20: From Three Hundred Thousand to Thirty Million?

“You should focus; school is about to start!” Liang Jiyong sat on the edge of the bed.

“Suddenly, university feels so boring. Maybe I should just retake the year with you guys!”

“Take that up with Uncle Chen!”

Di Yutong quickly shook her head. “My dad wouldn’t agree at all. He wants me to work hard at school, at least get a master’s degree. Oh my, I’m not cut out for that.”

“Uncle Chen was the very first college graduate from our Red Flag Factory. As his daughter, you ought to at least graduate with a master’s; that’s what carries weight!”

“Hmph! Brother Shaoan was the first top scorer in the province from Red Flag Factory. As his younger brother, you only got 275 on the college entrance exam. What weight does that carry for you?”

“Bringing up old embarrassments, huh? Remember when you were ten…”

As childhood sweethearts growing up together, they all knew each other's little embarrassments.

“Liang Jiyong, is this your attitude toward studying?” Su Wanqing’s voice came through.

Liang Jiyong smiled sheepishly. “Studying—studying! Actually, I have some grammar questions. Could you help me with them?”

“Let me see…” Di Yutong took the book and glanced over it. It was really simple, just middle school material.

But knowing Liang Jiyong’s weak foundation, she patiently explained.

“Go back to your room; don’t distract Wanqing from her reading!” Di Yutong said and got up, putting on her shoes before leaving.

Liang Jiyong glanced at Su Wanqing, but she ignored him.

…

Liang Jiyong and Di Yutong left, and Su Wanqing resumed reading.

Ten minutes passed, and a wave of restlessness washed over her. The reading was less effective than she’d hoped.

For some reason, she couldn’t help but imagine whether Di Yutong was intentionally or unintentionally seducing Liang Jiyong in his room.

Because she knew Di Yutong had always harbored improper feelings for Liang Jiyong.

She realized she was actually a bit jealous.

Su Wanqing covered her slightly flushed face. Previously, she had never cared about such things.

But now, she truly did. Though she could speak casually, her heart was no longer calm and composed as before.

“You jerk, it’s all your fault—I can’t concentrate on reading!”

“If you can’t handle the test, I won’t bother with you…”

Though she thought this, she still felt uneasy.

She picked up her water cup only to find it empty.

She grabbed the thermos beside it, but it was empty as well.

“Even you are against me!” Su Wanqing said angrily as she put down the cup.

But soon, she picked it up again.

Standing, she headed to the door.

“I’m just going to get some hot water, not… not to spy…”

At the door, just as she was about to knock, on impulse she pushed it open.

The door didn’t budge. Her heart tightened slightly—why was the door bolted?

A strange discomfort rose within her.

At that moment, the bolt inside was released and the door opened.

Su Wanqing stood stunned. Di Yutong opened the door, fastening the buttons of her blouse—she had just taken off her clothes.

Su Wanqing felt her breath quicken, tears forming in her eyes.

Is this what love is? How could she have believed his lies?

A man’s words are as reliable as a flying pig.

“Wanqing, come in!” Di Yutong said, unaware of Su Wanqing’s expression in the dim light outside.

Su Wanqing pressed her lips together, said nothing, and held back her tears.

What right did she have to blame Yutong?

She had said she didn’t like Liang Jiyong, yet kept playing matchmaker for them.

But…

Perhaps this kind of man, who couldn’t resist temptation or endure trials, wasn’t worth keeping. Her choice seemed right after all.

Without a word, Su Wanqing turned away, only to see Liang Jiyong coming up the stairs carrying a thermos.

“You want some water too? Come in!” Liang Jiyong said.

Tears immediately streamed down Su Wanqing’s face.

This time, it wasn’t anger or grievance, but tears of joy—and a realization that she had been worrying over nothing. Liang Jiyong had not even been in the room.

But she didn’t want them to see her crying.

“I’m… going to the bathroom…” Su Wanqing hurried downstairs.

---

Back in her room, Su Wanqing lay on her bed, a clear realization dawning in her mind.

“I’ve really fallen in love with him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so anxious, so sentimental!”

Yet now was not the time for romance, and she truly didn’t want to hurt Di Yutong.

Perhaps once at university, Di Yutong would meet a classmate she liked, and all these troubles would vanish.

Before eleven, Di Yutong was already yawning.

“You’re tired; go to bed early,” Liang Jiyong said, lowering his head back to his book.

“Okay, bye…” Di Yutong was truly sleepy and stretched.

Liang Jiyong looked up to say goodbye but froze instantly.

While Liang Jiyong was dumbfounded, Di Yutong had already left.

She must have gone down for water—probably felt hot.

Di Yutong usually wore loungewear at home…

Maybe something fell into her pocket, though that seemed unlikely.

Suddenly, Liang Jiyong noticed a slender strap beneath his pillow…

He felt unable to focus on reading.

One moment, the fleeting glimpse of Di Yutong in the bathroom; the next, the infinite allure revealed when she bent over in the music room.

But the tender moments with Su Wanqing in Pingzhou dispelled all those thoughts.

“This is torture. That temptress—is she doing this on purpose?”

He stood, took a few sips of water, breathed deeply to calm himself, and resumed reading.

By one o’clock, his eyelids drooped, and he finally went to sleep.

The next morning at six, Liang Jiyong rose promptly.

As a child, his father had put him through military drills daily, in all seasons; six o’clock was always the wake-up time.

After washing up, Liang Jiyong went out and bought three breakfasts from a nearby stall.

Returning, he knocked on Su Wanqing’s door.

She opened it, still in her nightgown, hair a bit messy from just waking—no longer ethereal, but somehow more endearing.

“I bought breakfast. Come eat. Has Yutong gotten up yet?”

Liang Jiyong peeked inside but was immediately blocked by Su Wanqing’s hand.

“Don’t look…”

Liang Jiyong was speechless but thought he caught sight of a flawless white leg and instantly understood: Yutong didn’t like wearing clothes to bed.

He quickly stepped back as Su Wanqing scowled.

Then suddenly, Liang Jiyong leaned forward and kissed Su Wanqing on the cheek before turning back to his room.

Su Wanqing lowered her small fist and her angry expression swiftly melted into a sweet smile.

Women are always contradictory. She had said that after returning to Yunzhou, Liang Jiyong was forbidden to get close to her.

Yet after that little surprise kiss, her heart felt warm and tender.

Liang Jiyong finished breakfast and solved a couple of math problems before Su Wanqing came out.

She wore a blue long skirt and a white floral-patterned blouse with mid-length sleeves—a definite fashion statement in the nineties.

Liang Jiyong opened his arms to embrace her.

Though hesitant, Su Wanqing was soon enveloped in his arms.

Neither spoke, savoring the sweet moment.

But after a minute, Su Wanqing pushed him away.

“I’m hungry!”

“We have porridge, soy milk, and fried dough sticks. What would you like?” Liang Jiyong asked.

“Soy milk, please.”

Su Wanqing ate steamed buns while drinking soy milk; Liang Jiyong returned to his reading.

Minutes later, Di Yutong came in, yawning and stretching. Liang Jiyong quickly averted his gaze.

“Where’s my bra?” Di Yutong asked.

“Go find it yourself. Why shout here?” Su Wanqing blushed a little.

“I took it off right here last night!” Di Yutong’s words made the atmosphere awkward.

Only then did Liang Jiyong remember—Di Yutong’s bra was still hidden under his pillow. Of course, he hadn’t hidden it himself.

“Oh, I remember now. Here it is.” Di Yutong found the strap under the pillow, retrieved the bra, yawned, and went back into Su Wanqing’s room.

Liang Jiyong looked at Su Wanqing, about to speak, but her voice stopped him.

“No need to explain. I know…”

“Phew, long live understanding!” Liang Jiyong exhaled deeply.

“Did you use it for bad things?” Su Wanqing’s voice made him speechless.

His eyes fell on her hand.

Her face immediately flushed.

…

After breakfast, Su Wanqing studied in the dormitory. Di Yutong was heading to Yun University to register.

Her parents would meet her there. Going to university was an important day.

This time, Di Yutong didn’t drag Su Wanqing along, as it might make Su Wa feel disheartened.

Liang Jiyong also left, but went directly to No. 1 High School.

In the faculty dormitory, he found his elder sister, Liang Shaoping, who had just finished jogging.

“Second sister, have you made your decision?”

“Basically, yes,” Liang Shaoping replied.

“Lingnan or Shanghai?”

“I’ll go to Shanghai to take a look. You said the stock market has some opportunities, but we don’t have capital. Then, I’ll spend six months at the sheep farm to get familiar first…”

“What if I can find you about 300,000 yuan as starting capital? I want you to go to Shanghai. Within a year, 300,000 could turn into three million, or even thirty million…”

Liang Shaoping smiled wryly. Too many people blindly believe in stocks; rumors can be deadly.

“In a month, I’ll have 100,000 yuan—my first pot of gold earned in the past two weeks!”

Liang Shaoping looked at her brother. “Are you sure it’s 100,000?”

Liang Jiyong told her in detail what he had done these past two weeks.

Liang Shaoping hadn’t been home and was unaware of these things.

She was a little stunned. Though she considered herself business-savvy, she had never thought of such a ‘making something out of nothing’ scheme.

Yet her brother had done it, though it involved many coincidences, it was truly extraordinary.

“How do you know this news about Shanghai? And are you sure it will make money?” Liang Shaoping asked.

Liang Jiyong rubbed his hands nervously.

“If there’s something you can’t say, just don’t. But tell me how confident you are!”

He exhaled. “Ninety-nine percent! All of this comes from a dream. Though unbelievable, I’ve proven my dreams are highly reliable.

In a way, I can foresee the future. Not everything is precise, but the overall direction is correct.

You should feel it too—I’m not the same since waking up. In the dream, I lived many years!”

Liang Shaoping felt both amused and helpless but found herself believing him.

Her brother’s sudden enlightenment was inexplicable.

“What kind of life did you have in that dream?”

Liang Jiyong shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Because of the dream and changes, it’s becoming less real. I need to seize the opportunity.

For grassroots like us, this is the only chance to get rich in a year!”

“Thirty thousand turning into three million or thirty million?” Liang Shaoping asked.

“About that. I’m not entirely sure about the market there now, but by next May, Yuyuan Mall will reach a peak price of 10,000 yuan. Now it’s only two or three hundred.”

“Just over two hundred!” Liang Shaoping’s eyes shone brightly.

“You said your business can make 100,000. Where’s the other 200,000 coming from?”

“Wanqing has about 160,000 to 170,000 yuan. Two classmates will probably put in 40,000 or 50,000. If we get big brother involved, the family money can be used too. That should total around 400,000.”

“A fundraising… With nine months left, at least half the investment will yield over 300% returns.

Four hundred thousand is too little. I’ll go to Shanghai first, then to Lingnan to raise funds. I’m confident I can increase the initial capital to ten million!”

Liang Jiyong was stunned—ten million!

“If I win the bet, I’ll earn at least a hundred million. If I lose, I’ll have no choice but to jump off a building!” Liang Shaoping said seriously.

“I have a 99% success rate. Even if I hit that 1%, I won’t jump because we’ll have many chances to turn things around—just not this crazy one!”

“Crazy indeed. I can’t believe I actually believe your nonsense. It’s madness!

Whatever happens, don’t ever mention this to anyone again!”

“I know. Even with you, this is the only time I’ll say it. If I miss this chance, I’ll regret it forever!”

Decisive as ever, Liang Shaoping flew to Shanghai at noon to save time.

Su Wanqing handed fifteen thousand to Liang Jiyong. Though he didn’t say what it was for, she didn’t hesitate.

Perhaps in this world, only Liang Jiyong could earn her complete trust.