The little cousin really knows how to stab where it hurts.
The rich second-generation friend pretended to be optimistic. “What is there to regret? On 1 February the market rebounded. I kept half my shares unsold, waiting for the market to warm up again!”
On 1 February, the index rose from over 4100 points to more than 4600 points. There really was a recovery, which gave investors a great deal of confidence. Some people optimistically believed that after the Spring Festival, the market would slowly climb back up.
The little cousin had no interest in stock trading. Her only interest was Wen Kai, and she trusted his reminders very much.
“Believe it or not!”
The rich second-generation friend let out an “ouch”. “You have not even won him over yet, and already your elbow is turning outwards?”
The brother and sister bickered noisily all the way to the hospital. As soon as they got out of the car, their expressions changed instantly. The rich second-generation friend became polite and courteous, while the little cousin turned gentle and sweet. Carrying their supplements, they entered the ward.
Wen Kai introduced them to Chen Ru. “This is my classmate Leng Jun, and his cousin Gan Tao.”
Leng Jun’s personality was completely the opposite of his surname. He was outgoing and warm. After Wen Kai made the introductions, Leng Jun immediately began chatting easily with Chen Ru.
Gan Tao lived up to her name. The girl had a sweet appearance and looked completely guileless.
Grandmother Wen only spoke in dialect. Gan Tao was exceptionally patient in communicating with her. One spoke dialect, the other Mandarin, yet slowly they found a way to connect.
Gan Tao kept praising how outstanding Wen Kai was, making Grandmother Wen beam with smiles.
Chen Ru could see the situation clearly: this was not just a casual sightseeing trip with a visit to the sick thrown in. Clearly, they had flown here specifically to visit the patient, with sightseeing as a side activity.
This girl named Gan Tao liked Wen Kai!
And what about Wen Kai? Did he have any feelings for the girl?
To be willing to spend tens of thousands on a specially numbered novel, Gan Tao’s family background must be very comfortable. Wen Kai was excellent in every way, but his pride was particularly strong. Before he had built a sufficient economic foundation of his own, he would not accept a girl from such a privileged background like Gan Tao.
Chen Ru saw through it but said nothing. In her capacity as Wen Kai’s elder, she invited Leng Jun and Gan Tao for a meal. During the meal, when Leng Jun learned that Chen Ru was the second aunt Wen Kai often mentioned as being very good at stock trading, he could not help asking for her opinion on the market.
Chen Ru was direct. “If you do not want to hold long-term, sell quickly if you can. I think the market situation will not be optimistic for the entire year.”
Leng Jun was surprised. “But it rose a bit before the New Year, did it not?”
Chen Ru smiled confidently. “Most likely just a last burst of light before the end. Reaching 6000 points again is impossible. The risk of continuing to fall is very high. Of course, this is only my personal opinion. You can make your own judgement.”
Chen Ru would not even force her own clients, let alone Leng Jun.
She simply stated her view. Whether to cut losses or not was entirely up to Leng Jun.
In any case, Leng Jun’s family was wealthy. Even if he lost some money in the stock market, it would not hurt him seriously. It could serve as a learning opportunity for him. Besides, Chen Ru was not the type to meddle in other people’s affairs. If Wen Kai had not said that Leng Jun had taken good care of him at school, she would not have offered even this much advice!
Chen Ru did not force him, but her whole demeanour was full of confidence. In Leng Jun’s eyes, she seemed far more reliable than those so-called stock market experts.
Could the market really continue to fall?
If he had known, he would have sold the remaining half of his shares as well. Then he would not be so conflicted now!
Leng Jun glanced at his little cousin Gan Tao and took the opportunity to climb up the ladder. “Second Aunt, could you give me your contact information? I know far too little about the financial markets. I would like to ask you for more advice. Rest assured, I will not bother you all the time.”
Just a moment ago he had called her “Aunt Chen”. Now he had already upgraded to “Second Aunt”. Leng Jun’s thick skin left Wen Kai speechless.
Gan Tao’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Second Aunt, please give me your contact information too. I am also interested in the stock market.”
Chen Ru could tell that Leng Jun was genuinely interested in the stock market, while Gan Tao was clearly interested in Wen Kai.
The girl had already worked hard in front of Grandmother Wen. Now she was even going after her second aunt.
Chen Ru laughed. “Alright. If you need to consult me, you can call. However, I can only offer suggestions.”
Wen Kai watched helplessly as the brother and sister used the pretext of “consulting about the stock market” to save Chen Ru’s number.
Something felt wrong!
Gan Tao’s behaviour did not look like she had given up at all.
Leng Jun was far too unreliable. Not only had he failed to make things clear to Gan Tao, he was even going along with her nonsense. Of course, Leng Jun had always doted on Gan Tao. When she wanted to buy a specially numbered copy of “Searching Yong”, he had accompanied her to Chengdu without a second thought.
Now that Gan Tao wanted to pursue Wen Kai, naturally Leng Jun would go along with his cousin’s wishes!
Wen Kai saw through the real reason the brother and sister had come to Chengdu, but he did not expose them. Instead, he quietly made a plan.
After the meal, Chen Ru told Wen Kai to take the brother and sister around the city. “They are guests from afar. You should accompany them properly. I will take care of things at the hospital.”
Wen Kai nodded. “Second Aunt, I understand.”
Gan Tao waved her hands repeatedly. “There is no need to specially accompany us. We can explore on our own.”
Wen Kai was not interning at the company this winter break. Clearly he wanted to spend more time with Grandmother Wen. Gan Tao did not want to take up his time.
But Wen Kai insisted on acting as their guide, and Gan Tao felt a little delighted.
After parting with Chen Ru, Wen Kai led the brother and sister out of the alley. When they passed the entrance, Wen Kai deliberately paused for a moment in front of his family’s fruit shop.
“Huh, this shop—”
Leng Jun suddenly remembered. “You said your family sells fruit. This would not be your family’s shop, would it?”
Wen Kai nodded. “Yes, this is our shop.”
Gan Tao’s eyes nearly popped out.
What a coincidence. This was exactly the shop where Gan Tao had wanted to stop and buy fruit earlier.
She had come so close to meeting Wen Kai’s parents ahead of time… Well, meeting the parents was fine. Gan Tao was not afraid. She had already met Wen Kai’s grandmother and even saved his second aunt’s phone number!
Wen Kai walked into the shop very calmly and called out to his parents.
Zhu Meiqun was so busy she was sweating all over. “Have you eaten? If not, take some money from the drawer and go eat something. We really do not have time to cook today.”
Zhu Meiqun and her husband had been busy selling fruit all day.
Boxes of fruit had to be carried in and out. Zhu Meiqun’s apron was covered in dust, and Wen Kai’s uncle was equally filthy.
Wen Kai introduced Leng Jun and Gan Tao to his parents. “This is my university classmate and his cousin. They just arrived from Beijing today.”
University classmate?
Both Zhu Meiqun and her husband were stunned.
This was the first time the couple had met one of their son’s university classmates. Seeing how well-dressed Leng Jun and Gan Tao were, they immediately worried about losing face for their son.
Wen Kai’s uncle was not good with words. Zhu Meiqun wiped her hands on her apron. “Please sit… Oh, have some fruit.”
Today, all the stools in the shop had been requisitioned for stacking fruit crates. There was not even a place for Leng Jun and Gan Tao to sit.
Zhu Meiqun sent her husband to fetch stools, then hurriedly washed several kinds of fruit and urged Leng Jun and Gan Tao to eat.
For one thing, she did not know what to say to the brother and sister. For another, business was too good, and customers were still waiting to pay. Zhu Meiqun and her husband could not spare the time to entertain guests properly.
Wen Kai had done this on purpose.
He did not avoid showing his family’s real circumstances to Leng Jun and Gan Tao at all.
Wen Kai hoped the brother and sister would wake up and realise that he and Gan Tao were simply not from the same world!
