By now, the only emotion left toward that student was gratitude.
Of course, he wasn't free of anger.
But that's how human hearts work—and as you get older, money is everything.
He had protected that money.
Maybe even the fate of enduring his wife's nagging until his dying breath.
'How on earth...'
That made him all the more curious.
The decision to buy Mirae Car.
He hadn't made it lightly; he'd agonized over it for days.
The company's fundamentals.
Consumer buying psychology.
On paper, it was clearly a buy.
'The chart had been suppressed for so long, too.'
But results speak for themselves.
The stock price had plummeted, with no sign of where the bottom might be.
And he'd nailed it.
Even the process.
The trigger? None other than Trump.
'Combining economic logic with political insight...'
Something impossible for him, who'd devoted his life to economics.
Not Korean politics, but American.
How could he think of that right away?
He'd ranted about it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
It gave him chills.
As if he knew the future.
Myeong-cheol found himself harboring something close to reverence for his student.
'How does stock move in his head?'
He couldn't help but admire that foresight piercing the future.
As a scholar.
Economics is the world's most complex and practical discipline.
He'd dedicated his life to studying its principles.
He wanted to know his perspective.
To see the world from the same vantage point.
Myeong-cheol decided to test Chan-wook's abilities.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Pick stocks like you'd pick a whore."
His recent routine.
As a college student, not much had changed.
"S-stock, like a whore?"
"Sex!"
"That's a bit sudden..."
"No, when you make bank, you've gotta hit up an office or a rap club once, right?"
Except for one thing.
More students were cozying up to him, acting all friendly.
'Followers, basically.'
Once you make a name in stocks, they always flock.
Money-hungry types looking for easy cash.
Gathering where I sit.
Pitiful souls begging for knowledge.
"Pick by photo—think she'll be hot?"
"Nah."
"They say the composites are fire!"
"Get a rec from the manager?"
"Uh, maybe?"
"He'll probably hook you up good..."
He gave them lessons.
On how not to get suckered into stocks like a mark.
'You think the manager assigns his top girls? Nah, he dumps the duds.'
Early-20s kids—innocent as expected.
When someone offers an easy path, suspect it first.
"Just filter out flashy stocks and ones analysts hype hard—you'll at least break even."
"Ooh!"
It applies to stocks too.
Even stocks follow "words return to their owner"—it's a human world.
'A battlefield of clashing psychologies.'
Name value alone.
Price surges predicted.
Those stocks are usually topped out.
That's the logic that rules real markets.
A famous tale is the "Shoeshine Boy Signal."
📰 Famous Tale: Shoeshine Boy Signal Joseph F. Kennedy, father of President John F. Kennedy and famed Wall Street investor, went to get his shoes shined one day. But the shoeshine boy started giving him stock tips. "If even the shoeshine boy is dipping into stocks, isn't the market overheated?" Joe Kennedy sold all his holdings—and escaped the 1929 Great Depression. Thirty years later, that fortune helped propel his son to the presidency.
Information everyone knows loses value as info.
Every investor must avoid becoming the "shoeshine boy."
The story he just told fits the same mold.
If it's reaching newbie ears, it's already over.
Hard-earned, paywall-level practical wisdom.
"Excuse me!"
Someone wasn't satisfied.
A girl strides up boldly, no shame.
"What the hell are you doing in this sacred school?!"
"What? Is this a cult?"
"Huh?"
"Yeah?"
Pokémon Trainer.
Busty as hell.
But her talk of "sacred power" might hold water.
My followers around me.
They slink away one by one, back to their seats.
'Pushing with those massive tits.'
No guy could stand firm against that intimidation.
Now I get "proudly ample bosom."
"Anyway, class starts soon—cut it out."
"Why should I?"
"You're saying weird stuff!"
"Like what weird stuff?"
"Th-that... sex-related talk."
Doesn't match her body.
She trails off shyly, averting her eyes like a prude.
'Built like a sex machine, though.'
Why the coy act?
Or maybe I was the naive one.
"Yeah, exactly!"
"How'd a Korean dude even get in here..."
"This isn't just for seniors—watch yourself."
She's stirring the pot.
Not just girls—even some guys are nodding along.
"Words were a bit much."
"If it's not just guys, be sensitive—y'know."
'What a vixen.'
That mismatched reaction earlier.
It was to seduce the guys.
Such a temptress at her age.
"Got it? Be careful from now on."
"Nah."
"...Pardon?"
"Why not join in? Could get you closer to Pokémon Trainer dreams."
But I won't back down.
Gotta keep face in front of the followers.
'Plus, it'd be nice to get friendly.'
He has a small wish: happy campus life with a fresh co-ed.
The department's sole S-rank.
Aspiring trader, too.
Industry senior sharing wisdom, sneaking some private interest.
"Hmph! Don't need it."
"Really?"
"I'm doing great already. Up 20% this month."
She's got results.
Taps her phone to show proof.
'Not a total idiot, then.'
20% in a month is brag-worthy.
Possible in a day with risk, but standard investing? Solid.
No wonder she's disinterested.
Pity.
Was gonna bow out since my time's valuable.
💰 PORTFOLIO STATUS 💰
Total Assets: 120,010,892 KRW
+20,010,892 KRW (+20.01%)
"100 million? How's a student got 100 mil? Family donation?"
"M-mock investment!"
"Oh, paper trading."
Funniest thing he's heard since regressing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"The poor worry daily about what to eat."
Korea University.
Fresh sprouts just starting to grow.
Korea's next-gen elites.
"The rich worry daily about who to eat."
"Ooh~!!"
But they're green.
Clueless about the world.
'They'd die happy if they knew.'
Finance.
Fastest way to rake in big money.
Some financiers use it for personal excess.
Bluntly: luxury.
"Wanna get rich?"
"Yes!"
"I wanna be rich! How?!"
Against these fledglings?
Nothing hooks the masses like money.
He lets them taste it.
Baiting with capitalism's sweet fruit.
"I think I've gained weight."
"Yeah, you look plumper!"
"Knew it when you were slurping that frappu instead of black coffee~."
But they're missing their goal.
Across the way.
Girls chattering.
'Suck mine too. Zero calories.'
Actually crucial.
Wall Street legends agree.
"Wish I'd had more sex when young." — Ken Fisher
'Old age, you want but can't.'
Not pocket change—billionaires buying countries still regret life's loose ends.
Sex!
Why not more?
Wall Street legends' honest regret.
He, who shouldered the next gen, agrees with his seniors.
'Fucking bitch—shoulda gone to a women's college!'
They miss the deep meaning.
The busty one glares daggers.
The rest follow suit.
Feeling like an outcast.
Yes.
Department vibe's been like this lately.
"Hyung."
"Question?"
"So what's rising?"
"..."
Only useless ones stick.
Hyenas chasing pocket money via stocks.
'Just dickheads swarming.'
Low level too.
Questions any brainpower would've nixed.
Investing.
One mouse click nets billions.
Seems easy.
Buy and wait for gains?
Folks overlook the effort for that click.
'Common sense, really.'
One student to doctor: min 11 years.
Lawyer: 9.6 years.
Architect: 8.
MapleStory max level: 3 years 8 months.
Most jobs take ages.
Investor?
No slouch compared to "s"-word jobs.
Nah—earns what thousands of them couldn't combined.
Matching effort required.
'Obviously.'
I just want modest gains?
Even that's statistically brutal.
95% of retail investors lose and bail.
To profit: top 5%.
Pro level: 0.1%.
5% is tough sans experience/effort.
"I wanna make money in stocks too."
"Buy what Sora recommends."
"Guaranteed?"
"Hehe, wanna see what I bought last time?"
Thorns all the way.
Wants to help as senior, snag perks too.
'Can't even eat 'cause of her!'
Girl group's core.
Top admit, stands out looks-wise.
Some airheads got girl crush from our spat.
Cr crucially.
"Whoa, for real? Up 5%!"
"Hehe, bought on her tip right away."
"Sora's picks always rise if you hold."
Wasn't bluffing about trading.
Winning girls' hearts via stock advice.
'That was supposed to be my gig, fuck.'
Economics department.
Most students trade stocks.
YouTube incident lit the fuse more.
Prime catch stolen.
Stuck wasting time with dickheads, no flower field rolling.
"Hyung, what do we buy?"
"2x risers."
"I want 3x!"
"Go fixed deposit at Solomon Savings, you punks!"
No talent anyway.
Even Wall Street, talent magnet, counts 'em on fingers.