I Can't Fall for My Own Wife Again After Reincarnation, Right? (GL) - Chapter 33

The moment the word “stocks” was mentioned, Xu Yingran suddenly felt as if she had been transported back ten years into the future.

She remembered how Yao Jin would huddle over her phone and computer back then, staring at the red and green fluctuations of the stock market. At first, Xu Yingran couldn’t make sense of it, but over time, she picked up bits and pieces from Yao Jin’s influence.

She had always assumed Yao Jin only developed an interest in investing after starting work, but it turned out she had already been dabbling in it during their senior year of high school.

“Why are you looking at this all of a sudden?” Xu Yingran blurted out without thinking.

Yao Jin’s previously relaxed expression darkened slightly. After a long pause, she finally looked up and asked, “Is it really that strange for me to be doing this?”

Truthfully, it wasn’t.

Xu Yingran knew Yao Jin was a rich second-generation heiress. Her family was extremely wealthy, her parents had made their fortune in real estate years ago, and their company had once been worth billions. But after her parents’ messy divorce, the company’s value plummeted to just a fraction of that, essentially gutting what had once been a thriving business.

Right now, it seemed to be around the time the Yao family was embroiled in their divorce lawsuit.

“It’s not strange, I’m just curious,” Xu Yingran said carefully, choosing her words with caution as she glanced at Yao Jin. “Can I take a look?”

Yao Jin gave her a sidelong glance. “Would you even understand it?”

Despite her words, she handed her phone over without hesitation.

Xu Yingran took the phone and examined it, only to realize that Yao Jin’s so-called “playing the stock market” consisted of having someone send her stock trend charts, which she then used to make her own buy and sell decisions.

Looking at the scattered gains and losses in Yao Jin’s account, most of them were in the red.

The sea of green made Yao Jin look like a textbook example of a rookie investor ripe for exploitation.

“Wait, so you’ve…” Xu Yingran studied it for a while before finally grasping the situation. Scratching her head, she asked, “You’ve lost over a hundred thousand this month alone? How are you even picking these?”

Yao Jin shrugged indifferently. “Everything I buy drops. What can I do about it?”

Xu Yingran fell silent.

Yao Jin added, “My dad said this money is just for me to practice with, to train my eye for spotting opportunities.”

Not that she had any idea what “spotting opportunities” even meant. All she knew was that whatever she bought would inevitably plummet, and the rare few that showed any gains would immediately turn red the moment she increased her investment.

Over time, Yao Jin had grown indifferent. She figured she just wasn’t cut out for business and might as well resign herself to inheriting the family fortune and living a life of idle luxury.

After discerning Yao Jin’s mindset, Xu Yingran sighed softly.

She scrolled through the stocks and spotted a few familiar company names, ones she knew would soar in value in the coming years. Glancing at their current stock prices, an idea suddenly struck her.

“Ah-Jin.”

Xu Yingran looked up at her and said, “I want to discuss something with you.”

Yao Jin gave her a bland look, signaling for her to continue.

“I know a few stocks that will perform really well in the future. Do you want to hear my suggestions?”

Yao Jin studied her for a moment before replying, “Do you know how many people have said the exact same thing to me?”

Xu Yingran grimaced. “Ah-Jin, you know I don’t mean it like that.”

“Fine.” Yao Jin smirked, propping her chin on her hand. “But if I follow your advice and actually make money, how do you want to split the profits?”

“You haven’t even heard my suggestions yet. How do you know they’ll make money?”

“If you can’t make money, why waste your breath with me?”

“…You have a point.”

Xu Yingran leaned against the headboard and explained future market trends to Yao Jin, selecting several stocks that were already showing promising signs. “These have already started rising and will multiply several times over in the coming days. Investing now would be a sure bet,” she told Yao Jin.

Yao Jin listened attentively as Xu Yingran outlined her future plans. When Xu Yingran finished, Yao Jin finally spoke up: “If what you say is true, then my money could multiply several times over.”

Several times? If luck was on their side, adding a zero wouldn’t be out of the question.

Xu Yingran knew this was the incubation period for internet fast-moving consumer goods and short video traffic, these sectors would undoubtedly experience exponential growth in the future. Those seemingly insignificant small stocks now would become bull stocks later, with returns beyond imagination.

“If you’re willing to trust me, your money will definitely multiply,” Xu Yingran stated firmly.

“Alright.” Yao Jin tapped her slender finger against her phone and said to Xu Yingran, “From now on, you’ll be my advisor. If I make money, you’ll get your share.”

Xu Yingran was curious. “Why do you trust me so easily? Aren’t you afraid I might scam you?”

Yao Jin chuckled. “I lose money no matter what I invest in, what could you possibly scam me out of? Besides, you’re just giving advice. The money is still in my hands.”

Xu Yingran knew Yao Jin was usually guarded. When they first met, she wouldn’t even acknowledge her. Now, she was willing to let Xu Yingran manage her money. This agreement wasn’t just a sign of their growing closeness, it was Yao Jin’s unconditional trust in her.

“But I don’t need you to give me a share,” Xu Yingran said, slightly embarrassed. “I just want to save up for Fu Qiao’s tuition. Her broadcasting course costs at least ten thousand yuan, and she doesn’t want to ask her parents for it. So, I’ll cover it.”

After all, she was an adult in mind, earning her wife’s tuition was the least she could do.

Yao Jin raised an eyebrow. “So, all this is for Fu Qiao?”

Xu Yingran blinked. “Who else would it be for?”

Yao Jin didn’t respond to that. Instead, she straightened her back against the chair and said, “Even if you want to pay for Fu Qiao’s tuition, it’ll take at least a month or two to earn the money. Have you thought about how she’ll manage in the meantime?”

Xu Yingran pondered for a moment. Though mentally an adult, her body was still only eighteen. Without startup capital and as a high school senior, where could she possibly earn money for Fu Qiao? Even if she pooled all her New Year’s money savings, it would only amount to a few thousand yuan, barely enough for one month of tuition.

It was still a drop in the bucket.

Seeing Xu Yingran’s troubled expression, Yao Jin finally said, “Ten thousand yuan is nothing to me. Consider it a loan.”

Xu Yingran looked up. “You’re serious?”

“But you’ll have to pay me back with monthly interest,” Yao Jin said matter-of-factly. “Starting with what you just suggested, help me make money first.”

Finally, the two of them came to an agreement: Xu Yingran would be responsible for helping Yao Jin select suitable stocks, and Yao Jin would share the profits with Xu Yingran at market rates. As for Fu Qiao’s tuition, Yao Jin would advance the money to Xu Yingran first, then have her repay it monthly with interest.

But once the money was secured, whether Fu Qiao was willing to attend school would be Xu Yingran’s responsibility.

After discussing for a while, Fu Qiao arrived with three lunch boxes. Seeing the two of them huddled together whispering, she couldn’t help but wonder what they were up to.

The news of Xu Yingran being hit by a ball during P.E. class and sent to the infirmary had spread quickly through the class. Although she had only felt dizzy for that one minute after being hit, homeroom teacher Li Yuwen was still concerned and insisted she rest in the infirmary.

Originally, Fu Qiao wanted to stay with her, but since it was their senior year, Li Yuwen didn’t want Fu Qiao to fall behind in her studies. Besides, the school nurse was there in the infirmary anyway.

Xu Yingran spent the entire afternoon resting on the infirmary bed, even catching up on the sleep she had missed recently.

After sleeping all afternoon, when she opened her eyes again, the setting sun was casting its glow through the window. The orange-red light spilled onto the white sheets, and the music playing over the school broadcast told her it was already dismissal time.

Just as she was about to get up, she heard Fu Qiao’s voice.

“Teacher, was Xu Yingran alright this afternoon?”

From behind a white curtain, Xu Yingran heard Fu Qiao talking to the school nurse outside.

“She’s fine. She slept for a while this afternoon and is probably still asleep now,” the nurse replied. “You can go check on her. If everything’s okay, you can both head home.”

“Alright, thank you, teacher.”

Hearing Fu Qiao’s footsteps approaching, Xu Yingran quickly closed her eyes and pretended to still be asleep.

Fu Qiao gently lifted the curtain and saw Xu Yingan lying peacefully on the bed. The orange light softly illuminated her, making her long, thick eyelashes look like delicate fans.

Fu Qiao walked over, trying to be as quiet as possible. She leaned down to look at Xu Yingran, debating whether to wake her, when suddenly the girl on the bed opened her eyes.

Their gazes locked, and Fu Qiao gasped in surprise, instinctively stepping back, only for Xu Yingran to swiftly grab her wrist.

With a soft creak, the infirmary bed wobbled slightly.

Fu Qiao braced one hand beside Xu Yingran’s pillow while the other remained tightly clasped in the other girl’s grip.

The moment had lasted less than a second, but now, as they regained their bearings, Fu Qiao realized she was practically lying on top of Xu Yingran.

Both their breaths quickened slightly. Fu Qiao’s face flushed uncontrollably, and Xu Yingran noticed her ears had turned bright red.

“What happened?”

The nurse, still seated outside, called out without getting up, unable to see past the curtain.

“Nothing,” Xu Yingran replied, still holding Fu Qiao’s hand. “I just bumped into a chair.”

“Oh,” the nurse acknowledged before turning back. She gathered her things and stood. “I’ll step out for a bit. You two can leave once you’re ready.”

“Okay, teacher.”

Hearing the school doctor’s footsteps fade into the distance, Xu Yingran turned her head to look at Fu Qiao’s flushed face and whispered, “The teacher’s gone.”

Fu Qiao’s cheeks were burning red, her heartbeat unusually fast.

Maintaining this position made Fu Qiao extremely uncomfortable. She twisted the wrist Xu Yingran was holding and said softly, “L-let go…”

Instead of releasing her, Xu Yingran placed her other hand on Fu Qiao’s waist, pulling her even closer.

Fu Qiao’s face grew even redder, too embarrassed to meet Xu Yingran’s gaze. Even the hand propped beside the pillow began trembling slightly.

She couldn’t understand what Xu Yingran was doing.

This position was far too intimate, any closer and it felt like they might kiss.

“L-let me go,” Fu Qiao pleaded, her arm sore. She shot Xu Yingran a reproachful look and said helplessly, “My arm’s going numb. Let me up.”