Guan Yao walked out of the internet café, where the soft morning sunlight washed over her, yet failed to dispel the lingering tension and exhaustion deep in her heart.
She had just made an all-in gamble in the stock market, pouring her entire savings into it. Though the notification of a successful trade temporarily offered her a sliver of comfort, the unpredictable fluctuations of the market in the coming days still weighed on her so heavily that she could barely breathe.
With heavy steps, she walked home, the hustle and bustle of the street sounding like a silent movie to her ears. Inside her mind, the stock market's candlestick charts, flashing numbers, and potential profits and losses flickered like a revolving lantern.
Returning home, she lacked even the energy to wash up. She threw herself onto the bed and quickly sank into a deep sleep. Her sleep was thoroughly restless; in her dream, the interlaced red and green numbers danced frantically. One moment it was a hallucinatory vision of wealth rolling in, and the next it turned into a nightmare of losing everything. The ferocious faces of He Junkang and his family flashed across her mind from time to time, scaring her into a cold sweat.
Over the next few days, Guan Yao seemed to be recuperating, but in reality, she was waiting in trepidation for the verdict of fate. She slept in every day until she woke up naturally, ate a simple meal, and then sat by the window in a daze. As she watched the crowds of people passing by outside, her thoughts drifted far away.
The wounds on her body gradually healed over these few days, and the itching from the scabs constantly reminded her of that thrilling experience. Occasionally, she would think of Meng Fanyu and the warm scene of eating barbecue together, and the corners of her mouth would curve upward unconsciously, only to be yanked back to reality by her anxiety over the stock market.
June 11 marked three days since she bought the stocks. Tomorrow would be the crucial day when the Shanghai Composite Index reached 5,166 points, as she remembered it. She clearly remembered that a piece of financial policy news would suddenly break on that day, after which the stock market would plunge into an avalanche. Therefore, she had to sell all her holdings today.
That morning, Guan Yao got up early. After washing up, she put on a clean T-shirt and jeans, stood in front of the mirror, and scrutinized herself carefully. The girl in the mirror had a resolute gaze, yet it revealed both tension and anticipation. She took a deep breath and stepped out the door.
Arriving at that familiar alley once more, the internet café remained permeated with a peculiar blend of cigarette smoke and instant noodle odors. Pushing open the door, she found the dim lighting, the noisy environment, and the customers immersed in the gaming world all exactly the same as last time.
She walked toward the counter. Upon seeing her, the internet café owner immediately piled a flattering smile on his face:
"You're here, miss! I've saved that exact same seat from last time for you!"
Guan Yao nodded silently and walked straight to her spot.
Sitting in front of that familiar computer, Guan Yao took a deep breath and opened the stock trading software. Watching the numbers constantly flickering on the screen, her heart instantly tightened, and her eyes locked onto the monitor, refusing to miss the slightest change. The trend of the Shanghai Composite Index was roughly the same as in her memory, but she dared not let her guard down in the slightest.
As time passed, the internet café grew more and more crowded, and the clamor was endless, but Guan Yao felt as though she existed in another world, her entire focus concentrated on those flashing numbers.
Her shareholdings had already reached 8,000 yuan!
Tension surged like a tidal wave. Her palms were slick with sweat, and she almost dropped the mouse. Without the slightest hesitation, with trembling fingers, Guan Yao quickly clicked on the sell option and entered her entire fund balance. Her hands shook slightly from nervousness.
The moment she confirmed the sale, her heart seemed to stop beating, and the noise of the entire internet café appeared to vanish, leaving only the sound of her own pounding heart.
Finally, the notification words "Trade Successful" appeared on the screen. Guan Yao let out a slow breath and leaned back against the chair, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. The exhaustion following the tension, the joy of success, and the anticipation for the future intertwined within her. She knew she had successfully seized this opportunity; the gears of fate had already begun to turn.
"Ding!"
A crisp sound rang out—it was a text message on her mobile phone. To Guan Yao, this sound was practically like heavenly music.
She quickly unlocked her phone. Seeing the account balance of 8,000 yuan, she finally let out a breath of relief. There was a saying in the stock market: locking in profits is the safest bet. Only what is actually in your hands truly belongs to you. Before that moment, regardless of which software or website you used, if you didn't sell, no matter how much you gained, it was merely paper profit. Only what you actually collected was hard cash.
At this moment, her savings had doubled through this single operation, and she was finally beginning to forge a path different from her past life.
Guan Yao walked out of the internet café, and the sunlight washed over her. This time, she felt an unprecedented warmth and hope.
She hurried back home and quickly fell asleep. To make money, she needed to keep up her energy every single day!
...
Since she had started making money, she couldn't stop!
The next morning, Guan Yao slept until she woke up naturally. Today, there was one thing on her mind—the 2015 NBA Finals. She clearly remembered that the competing teams were the Warriors and the Cavaliers. Before today's game, the Cavaliers had already won two games, while the Warriors had only won one. According to the rules of the NBA Finals, it was a best-of-seven series, and the first team to win four games claimed the championship.
Actually, Guan Yao hadn't been very interested in basketball before. However, the boy she had a secret crush on during high school was obsessed with basketball, so Guan Yao naturally went out of her way to study it deeply. Of course, as everyone went their separate ways after the college entrance examination, Guan Yao naturally stopped paying attention to basketball. The boy she had a crush on never knew that Guan Yao had liked him, let alone that there had once been a girl who put in countless hours of effort for his sake, simply in case they ever had some common topic of conversation during a casual chat someday.
Yet, judging by the current situation, Guan Yao's efforts had been well worth it. They hadn't been of any use with the boy, but through a twist of fate, they had provided Guan Yao with an opportunity to get rich!
Today, the Warriors would win their second victory, tying the series at 2-2.
Guan Yao arrived at the entrance of a sports lottery shop, took a deep breath, and walked inside. The lighting inside was somewhat dim, and various match odds tables hung on the walls while a few bettors gathered around discussing them. She walked toward the counter, her heartbeat accelerating involuntarily.
"I want to buy a lottery ticket for today's NBA Finals, betting on the Warriors to win." She tried her best to make her voice sound steady.
The owner looked up at her, somewhat surprised that such a young girl had come to buy NBA lottery tickets, but he still operated the machine skillfully.
"The odds are 1 to 1.45. How much do you want to bet?" the owner asked.
Guan Yao gritted her teeth. Steel-hearted, she decided to bet all the money she had on her!
"8,000 yuan."
The owner was stunned for a moment and confirmed again, "Young lady, you better think this through. This is no small amount, and lottery tickets always carry risks."
Guan Yao nodded firmly. "I've thought it through."
Watching the owner print out the ticket, Guan Yao felt both nervous and excited. This was another adventure for her, and she was pinning all her hopes on this game.
Stepping out of the lottery shop, she felt the sunlight grow even more dazzling. Every step she took felt a bit light and airy, as if she were walking on the clouds.
Back home, Guan Yao turned on the television and guarded the screen early, waiting for the game to begin.