Liu Yue glared coldly at the disobedient student seated below the podium. The classroom fell into a tense silence, with the other students as quiet as cicadas in winter, too apprehensive to make a sound.

Suddenly, exclamations erupted from the computer lab.

“It’s dropping, it’s really dropping!”

“Oh my, it’s not just dropping; it’s diving off a cliff!”

…

Hearing the commotion, Liu Yue looked from Wang Haoran to the main computer monitor, which displayed the view from Wang Haoran’s computer. The stock he had invested in was indeed plummeting and rapidly at that. Within minutes, it fell sharply to a virtual crash. The speculative bubble that had been forming finally burst.

Liu Yue raised her head slightly, stared at Wang Haoran incredulously, and asked:

“How did you predict this bubble stock would drop so soon?!”

With her expertise, she could foresee a significant drop but couldn’t pinpoint the exact timing like Wang Haoran. The other students also turned to Wang Haoran, eager for his explanation.

Wang Haoran, not wanting to divulge too much, casually called it a guess.

Liu Yue was unconvinced, “That’s impossible, absolutely impossible to guess. Tell me how you figured it out,” she proposed enticingly, “If you tell me, you can do as you please in my class; I’ll allow you to be late or leave early!”

Intrigued by the offer, Wang Haoran replied slowly:

“With the rise of energy vehicles, subsidies from M side have been substantial. However, the companies receiving these subsidies haven’t developed anything significant, leading to a bubble. Cutting these subsidies is only a matter of time.”

Liu Yue nodded, “I deduced that too, but how did you precisely determine the timing of the M side’s subsidy cuts for energy vehicles? There’s been no specific news yet. You don’t have connections with M side leaders to get early warnings, do you?”

Wang Haoran smiled, “I don’t need inside contacts. A large oil field was recently discovered in a contested area. Given the M side’s pattern, they’ll surely get involved. This intervention means increased military expenditure, which they can’t afford currently. The best solution is reallocating funds from elsewhere, such as cutting the inflated subsidies for energy vehicles.”

He continued, indicating the stock chart on the computer:

“Once it’s clear they’ll make this move soon, it’s straightforward. When the decision is made in their meetings, insiders inevitably leak information to capitalists. To avoid losses, they’ll offload their stocks.

Initially, capitalists inflate stock prices. When prices soar, attracting countless hopeful investors, the bubble reaches its peak. Determining when to sell becomes easy; during mass sell-offs by capitalists.”

The 24-hour stock market foresight ability not only shows market trends but also their root causes, making these insights simple for Wang Haoran.

Liu Yue, stunned by Wang Haoran’s logical analysis, was left speechless for a moment. She had seen similar news yet hadn’t connected it to the stock situation.

Clap!

Recovering from her shock, Liu Yue began to applaud.

[Ding, the heroine Liu Yue’s favorability towards the host increased by 10, current total favorability is 30 (very friendly).]

[Ding, the host influenced the plot direction, gaining 500 villain points!]

Most students, feeling both admiration and shame, followed with applause. Despite being freshmen together, the gap between them and Wang Haoran was glaringly evident.

Among the applauding crowd, Lin Chen felt a growing discomfort. This was supposed to be his moment, but Wang Haoran had stolen the limelight yet again. Since encountering Wang Haoran, Lin Chen’s usually smooth adventures had hit countless snags.

He pondered, questioning if he was truly the protagonist. Could Wang Haoran be the real one?

This unsettling thought lingered in Lin Chen’s mind.

Meanwhile, from the podium, Liu Yue concluded, “This practical class ends here. Students with negative profits will handle all class chores in the future. Those with 1% to 6% profits will stand during class. Special commendations to Mu Zhaozhao and Wen Jing for their excellent performance.”

Her approving gaze landed on Wang Haoran, “Wang Haoran achieved a 104.6% profit rate, a new high since I started teaching practicals, and surpassing my highest hourly profit rate. Special commendation to you, Wang Haoran. You now have the privilege of being late or leaving early, but…”

Her tone turned cautious, “Don’t get complacent. A temporary win doesn’t guarantee long-term success in this field. You’re far from being a peak trader.”

Curious, Wang Haoran asked, “Professor Liu, what qualifies as a peak trader?”

Liu Yue paused before responding, “You currently have just over ten thousand in your account. If you can turn that into a million in a month, then you’ll be considered a peak trader.”

She added, “Of course, this is challenging. Even at my start, it took me half a month to turn ten thousand into a million.”

Her implication was clear: achieving half of her skill would classify one as a peak trader.

Understanding the subtext, Wang Haoran confidently stated, “Professor Liu, I don’t need a month. Half a month is enough.”

“If you can’t, I’ll revoke all privileges and have you stand during class,” Liu Yue challenged, looking Wang Haoran in the eyes:

“Now tell me again, is it a month or half a month?”

Wang Haoran considered and smoothly replied, “I’ve thought it over and changed my mind.”

Liu Yue, thinking she had succeeded, said, “That’s the spirit. Young people shouldn’t be overconfident.”

However, as Liu Yue smiled, satisfied, Wang Haoran completed his previous thought, “I only need a week.”

Liu Yue, a proud woman herself, had taken half a month for the same feat. Wang Haoran’s claim suggested that two of her were equivalent to just one of him.

Her eyes narrowed, “Are you serious?”

Wang Haoran nodded, “More serious than gold.”

Skeptical but intrigued, Liu Yue retorted, “If you succeed, I’ll no longer be your teacher; I’ll call you my teacher.”

Wang Haoran accepted with a nod, “If you wish, that’s fine with me.”

Liu Yue treated it as a joke, hiding her surprise, and coldly declared, “Class dismissed!”