Picking Up Fragments in PUBG

Chapter 150: I’m Serious

"xiao mingzi, how did you suddenly become so handsome? you're so handsome that even your class president is starting to swoon."

li yingzi sat across from jiang siming, half-joking as she spoke.

"you're not doing bad yourself, class president. the saying 'girls change at eighteen' really fits you. i bet many of the boys in our class regret not getting closer to you back then," jiang siming responded with a smile.

back in the day, li yingzi had a very plain appearance—she always wore her school uniform, was short, wore glasses and braces, and the boys would tease her when they saw her.

now, li yingzi had completely transformed. in jiang siming's eyes, she was definitely a beauty.

although she still couldn't compare to zhao xuan and wang xinyi, she was undeniably a rare beauty.

"pfft, i'm lucky they kept their distance. these guys freeze in their tracks when they see a pretty girl, but they avoid unattractive girls like the plague. it's disgusting!"

li yingzi took a sip of coffee before continuing, "do you remember the class beauty?"

"wang xue, right?"

"so you still think about her?" li yingzi looked at him with a teasing glint in her eyes.

"you've got it wrong. i remember everyone from our class," jiang siming explained, not really sure why he felt the need to explain.

"that's better—quick on your feet with words," li yingzi said, then went on to gossip, "at last year's class reunion, three guys from our class got into a brawl at the hotel, all because they were fighting over who would take wang xue home. it was so awkward for everyone."

"didn't anyone want to take you home? you're no less attractive than wang xue now," jiang siming asked, puzzled.

"i have my own car. i wouldn't bother with those perverts, whose minds are only filled with thoughts of women. every time we have a reunion, the guys just talk about nightclubs and bathhouses."

"the moment any girl in our class looks remotely good, those guys start fawning all over her. nowadays, class reunions are just about showing off who's more successful or trying to hook up with someone. it's disgusting. i'm actually thinking of skipping this year's reunion," li yingzi grumbled.

"then don't go. why force yourself?"

"easy for you to say. i'm the class president; i can't just not go," li yingzi shot jiang siming a side-eye.

"by the way, what did you need me for?"

jiang siming took a sip of coffee and said, "i heard that class president is an expert in stocks and securities, so i wanted to ask you for help."

"you're not thinking of investing in stocks, are you?"

"bingo."

"the initial moves won't be too big, about 30 million each time."

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"hiss!" li yingzi gasped.

thirty million was quite common during the bull market years ago—money was everywhere.

but in the past two years, the market had crashed. she'd only seen people lose tens of millions or even billions, but very few dared to invest tens of millions anymore.

"are you crazy?"

"i'm serious."

"you... fine. you're still as stubborn as you were in high school. i won't bother trying to convince you."

then, there was a brief silence as they both stirred their coffee with their spoons.

li yingzi broke the silence first.

"xiao mingzi, how have things been for you these past few years?"

li yingzi shifted away from the topic of stocks and started to chat with jiang siming.

"not bad, i've been hustling in shanghai, trying to achieve something to make my family proud."

"you can invest tens of millions in stocks now and still say you haven't achieved anything? that's too much of a blow to me," li yingzi joked.

"i only made a comeback recently; otherwise, i wouldn't have had the courage to meet you."

"you mean you wouldn't come to see me if you weren't doing well? have you forgotten that we were best friends in high school, practically siblings? right after graduation, you disappeared. that's so unfair."

"i've realized my mistakes now, so i've come to apologize to class president. i'll treat you to a big dinner tonight as a peace offering."

"that sounds fair enough. no need for a fancy dinner, just some crayfish will do!"

"no problem! let's hit up a late-night snack spot!"

"haha, then i'll make sure to really milk the rich guy tonight."

their laughter was so loud that it caught the attention of the other starbucks customers, prompting li yingzi to quickly stick out her tongue and lower her voice.