Chapter 219: The Style of a Stock Market Genius  

Nightfall. 

Ring, ring, ring. 

Adam was watching a videotape when the phone rang. 

"Hello?" 

"Adam, I have a question for you!" 

Monica's excited voice came from the other end of the line. 

"Mm-hmm." 

Adam gestured for her to continue. 

"Do you invest in stocks?" 

Monica fired off a series of questions without a pause: "Which ones? How are they performing? How much money have you made?" 

"Slow down, slow down." 

Adam pulled the phone away from his ear for a moment, waiting for her voice to quiet down before teasing, "Why are you suddenly into stocks again?" 

"What's so hard about stock trading?" 

Monica dismissed his concern. "Isn't it just buying low and selling high? Bull market, bear market—I see the trend is good right now. Everyone says it's a bull market!" 

"Heh." 

Adam couldn't help but laugh. 

That sounded way too familiar. 

In his past life, there was a time when he kept hearing about a bull market everywhere. Stocks were hitting their upper limits daily, and even someone like him—who had never dabbled in stocks—felt tempted to open an account and get in on the action. 

But back then, he didn't have an account, and opening one felt like a hassle. So, he remained on the sidelines, just watching. 

Every day, he saw people just like him—completely inexperienced in stock trading—jumping in, randomly picking stocks, and making big profits. 

Adam started studying candlestick charts and researching market rules. Eventually, he couldn't resist the urge any longer. 

And then... nothing happened. 

Because overnight, all the talk of stocks hitting their upper limits disappeared. Instead, the conversation shifted to people getting stuck, trapped in losses, and watching their investments shrink. 

Newbies, who had once been euphoric, were now in despair. That's when they learned what it meant to be "harvested" like fresh crops by the market. 

The phrase "The stock market carries risks; invest cautiously" wasn't just empty talk—it was built on countless tears and losses. 

Adam felt incredibly lucky. 

If he hadn't been so lazy—if he had actually gone through the hassle of opening an account—one market downturn could have wiped out months of his hard work. If he'd gotten stuck in a falling stock, his entire year's effort could have vanished in an instant. 

From that point on, he stopped paying attention to the stock market. 

After traveling to this new life, he only started investing because making money had become absurdly easy for him. Plus, he knew that holding long-term positions in companies like Apple and Google would guarantee massive returns. That was the only reason he put most of his money into stocks. 

Even so, to play it safe, he kept over a million dollars in cash for emergencies. 

As for leverage, futures, and other high-risk investments—no matter how much those brokers hyped them up—he never touched them. 

That was a straight-up elevator ride to financial ruin. 

"I invest in Apple, Google, Amazon..." 

Adam listed the stocks he held. 

If his friends had the patience and discipline, he didn't mind helping them make money too. 

But clearly, not everyone had that kind of patience. 

"Those stocks?" 

Monica sounded unimpressed, as if she had done some "research" of her own. She frowned and said, "They're too slow! None of them increase by 10% in a day. Investing in those is boring—you can't make real money that way!" 

"What do you want to invest in?" 

Adam twitched at the corner of his mouth. 

10% in a day? 

For a stock worth millions, a 10% gain meant earning $100,000 in a single day. That was billionaire territory. 

Newbie investors always had this romantic notion of getting rich overnight. 

Adam knew the feeling all too well. 

"MEG!" 

Monica declared with confidence. 

"What company is that?" 

Adam asked, confused. 

"I have no idea." 

Monica grinned proudly. "But don't you think its name sounds a lot like mine?" 

"So?" 

Adam was speechless. 

"So, of course, I'm investing in it!" 

Monica said firmly. "I believe it'll bring me good luck." 

"Then why are you even asking me?" 

Adam quipped. "Clearly, you have more experience than I do." 

"I'm just discussing it with you." 

Monica huffed. "Being well-informed is an important part of stock trading, you know!" 

"I don't trade stocks." 

Adam chuckled. "I invest in them." 

"Whatever." 

Monica wasn't interested in hearing the difference. She changed the topic: "I feel great about this—this is exactly the career I've been looking for! Adam, do you support me?" 

Adam simply laughed. 

"…" 

Monica paused, then regained her confidence. "The only regret I have right now is that I don't have enough capital. Even if my stock gains 10% in a day, I only make $12.70—that's nowhere near what I deserve with my luck. So… can you lend me some money? I'll pay you back when I make big bucks—with interest, of course!" 

"Remember that intervention in Las Vegas?" 

Adam laughed, reminding her. "You want to go through that again?" 

"This is totally different!" 

Monica protested. "That time was my mistake—it was gambling. But this is investing! This is my new career!" 

"Holding stocks long-term is investing." 

Adam corrected her. "Short-term trading is gambling—an even riskier kind than Vegas. In Vegas, at least you roll the dice yourself, relying on your own luck. But in the stock market, you're surrounded by fake information and manipulation. One bad trade, and you'll be wiped out." 

"Fine! If you don't want to lend me money, just say so. No need to scare me." 

Monica first sounded guilty, then pouted. "If I don't do this, do you really expect me to work at that terrible restaurant? Where I have to dance and wear a costume? I don't want to wear that ridiculous, fireproof fake chest piece!" 

"Real ones aren't flammable either." 

Adam couldn't resist pointing out. 

Click! 

The call ended abruptly. 

Adam walked to the window and saw Monica freaking out in her apartment across the street. 

He just chuckled and let her be. 

Right now, she was upset about missing out on making money. 

But soon enough, she'd be grateful she didn't borrow any. 

And she wouldn't have to wait long. 

The next day. 

After class, Adam skipped the library and went straight to Apartment 520. 

"I want to buy five shares of SGJ! Right now! Hurry up—time is money, my friend! Thanks!" 

Monica was on the phone, shouting excitedly. "Wow!" 

"Ha! Adam, you're here!" 

Seeing Adam enter, Monica grinned proudly. "I made $17 before breakfast—how awesome is that? I'm clearly a stock market genius!" 

"Weren't you investing in MEG?" 

Adam asked, curious. 

"That's old news." 

Monica waved dismissively. "It made me some money, but I ditched it. My new motto is: Get out before the dip!" 

"That really suits you guys." 

Adam smirked. "Men definitely wouldn't think that way." 

"…" 

Monica caught the innuendo and rolled her eyes. 

She had no time for dirty jokes—or anything else for that matter. 

Adam watched as Monica kept making calls, spouting phrases like 'Money makes money' and 'Don't make me kick Wall Street's ass!' 

He could almost see her in full-blown 'I make tens of thousands in minutes' stock guru mode. 

Until… 

"NOOO!!!" 

Monica's scream echoed through the entire building.