The early spring in the Magic Capital was brutally cold, especially in the early morning.
As soon as Jiang Han and Zhang Chongan stepped outside, they were hit by the freezing air. Zhang Chongan shivered, wrapping his arms around himself like a miserable stray dog.
Jiang Han, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. Spotting a fur shop nearby, he walked in without a word and came out minutes later wrapped in a luxurious mink coat.
Zhang Chongan rolled his eyes. "Must be nice being rich."
Jiang Han smirked. "What? You think I'd let myself suffer in this cold?"
Zhang Chongan exhaled a long breath, his irritation barely masked. "Do you think I want to be out here this early? Mr. Tong from the exchange's board called before dawn. Apparently, there might be some changes in the futures market today."
Jiang Han raised an eyebrow. "That serious?"
Zhang Chongan gave him a knowing look, squeezing his eyes twice. "Relax. Everything's under the board's control."
Jiang Han caught the subtle message. If his senior brother wasn't panicked, then this wasn't bad news.
It was an opportunity.
"Alright, you're on your own today. I'm going to be busy."
They reached the exchange, and Zhang Chongan quickly dragged Jiang Han inside.
"I need to change first. You go ahead to the cafeteria."
"Got it."
—
Compared to the rush and noise of lunchtime, the cafeteria in the early morning was nearly deserted. Only a few windows were open, and even fewer employees were present.
Jiang Han grabbed his meal and turned to find a seat—only to be met with a sudden figure blocking his path.
In that split second, he halted abruptly, but the sudden movement caused his hot porridge to slosh over the edge of his plate. A burning sensation spread across his hand.
He frowned.
"Ah!"
The girl in front of him gasped, looking horrified.
Su Qingyi immediately recognized her mistake. She had been walking behind Jiang Han but didn't expect him to stop so suddenly, leading to their near collision.
"Sorry, sir! I didn't mean to!" she apologized softly, quickly pulling out a wet wipe from her bag to clean his hand.
Jiang Han glanced at her, slightly surprised.
She wore the uniform of the exchange's staff, yet she didn't seem like a regular employee. The delicate features, the alert eyes—he recognized her instantly.
"Su Qingyi?"
Her reaction was instant. Her wide eyes filled with shock as she took a step back.
"Jiang Han?! Why are you here?!"
Jiang Han raised an eyebrow. "Why are you reacting like I'm some kind of ghost?"
Su Qingyi blinked, struggling to process the situation. "You… You went home last month. What are you doing here?"
"Can't a man have breakfast?" Jiang Han teased, but his casual tone didn't match the curiosity in his gaze.
"This is the staff cafeteria," Su Qingyi pointed out, glancing at the food tray in his hands. "You're not supposed to be here unless…"
She trailed off, her sharp mind piecing together the possibilities.
Jiang Han chuckled, smoothly sidestepping the topic. "Let's eat first. The market opens soon, or do you plan to work on an empty stomach?"
Su Qingyi narrowed her eyes but eventually nodded. "Fine."
As she turned to get her meal, Jiang Han smirked and found a seat.
Just then, Zhang Chongan walked into the cafeteria, spotting him immediately.
"Yo, are you checking out girls now?"