The Heartless Alpha Just Wants to Follow the Plot - Chapter 62

“That may be true,” Pu Ying countered, “but you know as well as I do that in this circle, kindness isn’t always met with gratitude. Interests usually move people far more than pure goodwill.”

“If he were the type to be swayed by mere interests, would he still need to come back to work?”

Su Mo had noticed the moment she saw him: the style of his clothes dated back seven or eight years. Though they were impeccably clean, they showed signs of wear rather than careful preservation. It was likely that every credit he owned went toward his granddaughter’s care, leaving him to live a life of extreme frugality.

His return to the screen was partly to fulfill his granddaughter’s wish, but more likely, it was a necessity driven by financial strain. For a legend of his stature, the fan base remained massive. Even after years of retirement, his name was still a mythic presence in the industry.

“He needs money,” Su Mo added concisely. That was all Pu Ying needed to hear.

Pu Ying nodded. “I’ll find a way to get it to him discreetly. I’m heading out for a bit; keep your wits about you.”

“Don’t worry, I have the bodyguards,” Su Mo said with a wave of her hand. She was confident that no one would make a move against her just yet. After all, the “heroine” of this story, Tan Ya, hadn’t fully matured. It would take a few more years, plenty of time.

Su Mo reached into her pocket but failed to find what she was looking for. She then remembered she was in costume; naturally, it wouldn’t have her usual belongings. Any personal items might cause a “wardrobe malfunction” or a continuity error in the film.

Meanwhile, Tan Ya was demonstrating an extraordinary talent for finance. Even Kevin felt a mounting pressure when teaching her. He sensed he wouldn’t be able to teach this child for much longer before his role shifted from tutor to practical mentor.

Closing his terminal, Kevin spoke calmly. “You’ve mastered the theory well. However, in finance, knowledge alone isn’t enough. In a couple of days, I’ll start your practical training. We’ll begin with small-cap stocks, and once you—”

“No need. I have the funds; we can start now.”

Tan Ya couldn’t wait. Even a short delay felt like an eternity. She craved the rush of the market; she needed to prove her worth immediately. She intended to become the one indispensable presence by Su Mo’s side.

Kevin shook his head, advising against such an aggressive entry into the market. “Playing the stock market isn’t as simple as your studies. Take the stocks I’ve discussed with you recently each has its advantages, but their weaknesses are just as glaring. Before you dive in, you must think clearly about what you need most and how to obtain it as quickly as possible.”

“Market movements are rarely 100% predictable unless you have absolute certainty,” he said gently. “I know you are gifted, but talent alone isn’t the solution. You need absolute intuition and sufficient information to judge which stock will deliver what you want.”

“I can do it,” Tan Ya insisted, her voice firm. “I can do it, Teacher Kevin.”

Seeing she wouldn’t be swayed, Kevin decided to let her try. A little experience even a failure wouldn’t hurt.

“Fine. Pick an initial stock and show me.” Kevin ruffled her hair. “If the stock you choose doesn’t show growth within a month, it proves you’re wrong. You’ll need to calm your heart and follow my pace instead of rushing ahead. Deal?”

One month was the deadline. As long as it rose even slightly above the initial price, he would trust her intuition. Success in the market required courage, strength, information, and judgment but most importantly, it required luck.

Tan Ya transmitted some files to Kevin. “I’ve been comparing the markets since before you arrived. I’ve selected three stocks I believe are viable.”

Kevin: “…”

No wonder she had brought it up; she had been prepared all along.

He took the opportunity to raise the stakes. “If you’re picking three, at least two must exceed their purchase price. Furthermore, the total profit must outweigh any losses from the third.” He didn’t expect all three to rise that was a tall order he just didn’t want her to lose money.

“I can do it,” Tan Ya said, her eyes fixed.

As Kevin looked over her three choices, he felt a headache coming on. The first was excellent—a steady, solid choice based on his teachings, perfect for a beginner. The second, while not yet a breakout, was clearly in an uptrend.

But the third.

“This one has been consistently losing money and is still in a downward spiral. This industry has no future. If you invest in this, you’ll lose a fortune. I strongly advise against such a blind purchase.”

In the stock market, “buying the dip” didn’t always mean a rebound was coming; sometimes, it was just a “value trap” of continuous loss.

Tan Ya looked at the most inconspicuous stock of the three and smiled faintly. “Teacher, never underestimate a stock.”

Any stock had the potential to become a dark horse. Just like her, she might not be the most dazzling person around Su Mo right now, but she would eventually become the most useful. She would make everyone regret not choosing her sooner.

If Pu Ying could be Su Mo’s personal manager and most vital partner, then she could do the same. She would become the second Pu Ying.

Kevin didn’t quite understand who Tan Ya was competing with, but he felt that a sense of crisis and a rival were good for a child’s ambition. “Since you’re so confident, I won’t say more. I’ll wait for the results.”

For the next month, Kevin didn’t ask about the stocks, though he checked the charts in secret. One stock was climbing steadily, but the other two were slipping. One, in particular, was in a severe freefall.

He refrained from interfering, not wanting to break her spirit or cloud her judgment. However, by the third week, when the losses on that one stock exceeded the total gains of the other two combined, he finally spoke up.

“The margin on that stock is looking grim. Wouldn’t it be better to sell now? You might still be able to recoup the difference with the final surge of the other two.”

“As long as the deficit isn’t too extreme,” Kevin offered, “I might consider letting it slide as a draw.”

Tan Ya remained stubborn. “No. I have faith in it.”

“Teacher, it isn’t the final hour yet. We don’t know who will win or lose. Some things offer only a facade of prosperity, while others are built for a desperate comeback.”

Though Kevin remained skeptical, he was curious to see how far this student of his could go.

Then came the final three days of the week. The stock, which had been hitting its limit down for days, began a bizarre ascent. Its upward trend was nothing short of manic; in just two days, it didn’t just reclaim its peak it stayed deep in the green.

Kevin watched, eyes wide, as the stock’s growth trajectory outstripped every other ticker on the market over those seventy-eight hours. It surged ahead, leaving its peers in the dust.

“This, this.” He was at a loss. He had navigated the stock market for years and had never seen a pattern like this. Pushing up the frame of his glasses, he asked excitedly, “How did you find this one?”

Tan Ya replied with a mysterious smile: “Destiny.”

“Destiny? Did she really say that?”

Back at home after finishing her scenes for the day, Su Mo sipped her coffee and tilted her chin up. Pu Ying nodded. “Yes.”

“She seems to have an innate understanding of the market, unlike anything else. Kevin wants to study her further; he believes her future achievements will far surpass his. He even suggested she might become the new force controlling the entire market.”

Su Mo, who never doubted the competence of the story’s “heroine,” nodded. She spoke with calm certainty: “She will.”

Not only would she succeed, but she would become a singular existence in this world.

“But more than that,” Su Mo continued, “I’m curious, her Differentiation Period is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

Pu Ying’s expression turned strange. “Why are you so interested in her differentiation?” She emphasized, “She’s only eighteen.”

Though Su Mo was only twenty-six—a mere eight-year gap, Pu Ying didn’t believe Su Mo was the type to prey on a child. Unless she had another motive entirely. But Su Mo didn’t seem like that kind of person either, which left Pu Ying baffled.

“It’s nothing. You don’t need to be so guarded; I’m not some creep with ‘special’ hobbies.” Su Mo leaned her head on her hand. “I’m just concerned about her health. She hasn’t had it easy.”

The protagonist’s path was set in stone; Su Mo already knew what the girl would differentiate into, so there was no real mystery to her only the timing mattered.

“Assign more people to watch over her lately. She didn’t attend her uncle’s court hearing, and though she’s entrusted us with the management, it’s still her family business.”

Su Mo recalled a specific task from the system: one of the “harem” objectives was to protect Tan Ya and ensure her differentiation was successful. It seemed someone was planning to strike while she was at her most vulnerable during the process.

As for who, Su Mo’s eyes darkened. She hadn’t read the entire plot, but she knew the culprit couldn’t be good. Anyone willing to sabotage a person’s differentiation—an act as heinous as murdering a whole family had a heart of pure ice.

“Find the strongest guards available. And make sure they don’t have deep ties to the higher-ups or aren’t too heavily ‘brainwashed’ by the authorities.”

She was worried the government might be involved.

“I understand.” Pu Ying’s mind immediately went to Major Song. She hadn’t forgotten his investigation into Su Mo. If Tan Ya’s differentiation failed because of their association with Su Mo, Pu Ying would never find peace.

“Good. As for the Tan family.”

After the Old Master bought the shares, he hadn’t swallowed Tan Ya’s portion. Strictly speaking, the Tan Corporation was now split between the two of them. However, Su Mo had no interest in it.

This was Tan Ya’s empire, the foundation of her future power. If Su Mo tried to carve it up, she would likely throw the entire narrative into chaos. Since the original harem members were supposed to help Tan Ya revive her family business, Su Mo figured her current approach fulfilled the mission requirements well enough.