Chapter 11
Translator: Aafkee
Proofreader: Superclubs2
That night, Lu Chuiqing could not sleep until three in the morning. Even after falling asleep with great difficulty, it was not a good night’s sleep as he woke up several times throughout the night. The next morning, Lu Chuiqing leaves the bed, exhausted, for the nine o’clock flight. Distracted and empty-headed, Lu Chuiqing packs his luggage.
As he is preparing to leave his room, Lu Chuiqing suddenly sees the bouquet he brought back from yesterday night.
It is inconvenient to bring a fresh bouquet onto a flight, it can be easily bumped into other things and it can not be kept for long. Lu Chuiqing turns around, intending to walk away but he just can not bear to throw the bouquet away just like that.
A delicately wrapped bouquet costs at least a few hundred dollars, Lu Chuiqing finds it a pity to just throw it away. Besides, it was given to him by Xiao Zhan with good intentions, it feels really bad to trample on his good intentions by treating it as rubbish.
After some internal struggles, Lu Chuiqing decides to bring the bouquet with him in the end.
At one in the afternoon, Lu Chuiqing finally arrives home, travel-worn.
There is no one at home now. In addition to not being able to sleep properly last night, Lu Chuiqing has been travelling since morning so he can barely keep his eyes open. Unwrapping the bouquet he has been trying so hard to protect during his journey, Lu Chuiqing looks for a vase, washes it and fills it with clean water. He then puts the flowers in the vase and places the vase near the window that has ample sunlight.
After all that, Lu Chuiqing does not even bother with changing out his clothes before laying in bed and taking a nap.
Lu Chuiqing had a pretty good nap. It is almost five in the evening when Lu Chuiqing wakes up. He changes out of his clothes and plans to make something to eat.
Lu Chuiqing had nothing much to do at home when he was a full-time housewife in his previous life, allowing him to specially learn how to cook different types of home dishes. He is pretty decent at cooking, but it was not often that Chen Yuan stayed at home for meals, and he was not living with his in-laws either so he could only cook for himself.
As Lu Chuiqing was adding eggs into the pan, the door to their apartment opens. Xiaolu is back.
Guan Xiaolu can smell the aroma the moment he steps into the apartment. Surprised, he peeks into the kitchen and asks, “Big brother Lu, you are back? It smells so good, what are you making?”
“Just some normal egg fried rice.” Lu Chuiqing replies, “Do you want some?”
Guan Xiaolu nods immediately, quickly taking out two sets of utensils from the drawer and says, “Big brother Lu, do you have any extra relief sprays? It seems like my collar is broken.”
“Yeah, in the dresser next to my bed, go ahead and take it.”
Guan Xiaolu nods and walks out of the kitchen. Just as Lu Chuiqing finishes with his cooking, he suddenly remembers something. His expression turning solemn, he quickly puts down the cooking pan and rushes to his bedroom, “Xiaolu, wait! I’ll help you look…”
It was at that moment that Guan Xiaolu pulled out the lowest drawer of the dresser. There is a box of suppressants, a few bottles of relief sprays, a backup collar recharger, and a long massager in a rectangular box, a massager that Lu Chuiqing uses during his heats.
Lu Chuiqing stands at the entrance, his face flushed red and face filled with embarrassment.
On the other hand, Guan Xiaolu is easy-mannered with such topics. They are both omegas, after all, it is only natural for them, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Guan Xiaolu laughs, “So you’re using this brand, huh? I’ve used this brand before too, it’s pretty good, but I’ve changed to a different brand recently, feels even better than this one, do you want some recommendations?”
Lu Chuiqing walks over and takes the relief spray, passing it to Xiaolu. Regarding that question, he replies bashfully, “No need.”
The massager is indeed a very commonly used tool by omegas. Given that the omegas mature sexually much earlier than the others, a massager is the safest and cleanest choice for omegas in heat, especially for those without a partner.
The frequency of omegas’ heat cycle changes depending on the changes in their pheromones. An omega without a mate has an average of two to four heats in a year, each lasting from two to three days. Lu Chuiqing has a very average frequency of three heats per year. When omegas have their mates, there might be a slight increase in the frequency of their cycles.
Lu Chuiqing does not have a mate, so naturally, he has to rely on suppressants and massager during his heats. However, Lu Chuiqing is easily embarrassed and is therefore unable to talk about such topics as easily-mannered as Guan Xiaolu.
Lu Chuiqing stares at Guan Xiaolu for a second and asks hesitantly, “Xiaolu… don’t you have a boyfriend?”
Hearing the topic regarding his boyfriend being brought up, Guan Xiaolu’s anger rises, his face hardens and his voice cold, “Well, yeah I do, but I might as well not have one. He only knows how to work all day, every day. We can barely meet more than a few times in a month, and even when we do, he rarely stays over. He freaking went for a business trip the last time I had my heat! I could only settle it myself!”
Lu Chuiqing has heard from Xiaolu about this before. He has a boyfriend that has started working a couple of years ago, and that they have already been together for two years. Lu Chuiqing has even seen photos of Xiaolu’s boyfriend, a pretty handsome alpha, who also has quite a decent career in the financial industry.
Initially, one of the reasons why Guan Xiaolu contacted Lu Chuiqing when he was looking for a co-rental housemate, was because Lu Chuiqing is also in the financial industry. Since Guan Xiaolu’s boyfriend is also in the financial industry, he naturally has a positive impression of people who work in the same industry.
Lu Chuiqing gives a shoulder pat to the ruffled Guan Xiaolu, consoling him, “This is indeed his fault, you need to talk this through with him.”
Guan Xiaolu rants a while more before waving his hand, “Whatever, let’s not talk about him. Big brother Lu, did you buy those flowers at the window? They are so pretty.”
Lu Chuiqing rubs his slightly flushed ears, “No… Someone gave them to me.”
Seeing that Lu Chuiqing is avoiding eye contact, Guan Xiaolu figures that there must be something Lu Chuiqing is not saying. He moves closer and drags his voice, teasing, “Big brother Lu, is someone pursuing you? I knew it, you are so good looking and so outstanding, there is no way no one is wooing you. We’re friends, aren’t we? How can you not tell me about it…”
Listening to Guan Xiaolu’s words, Lu Chuiqing becomes extremely embarrassed and mumbles, “Isn’t that too much of an exaggeration?”
“Then who gave you these flowers?”
Lu Chuiqing purses his lips, not answering the question.
Since it seems like Lu Chuiqing feels reluctant to tell, Guan Xiaolu does not push either and moved on, “Big brother Lu, even if you don’t like that person now, you can still spend some time with them and decide afterwards. What if you fell in love in the end? Using suppressants all the time isn’t good for your body either.”
Using suppressants for so long has indeed caused some negative effects on Lu Chuiqing’s body. For example, instability of his pheromone secretion, occasional irregular heat cycles, pre and post heats becoming more mentally taxing, et cetera.
Guan Xiaolu, “Oh right, I’ll be going on a few days holiday with my boyfriend during the Labour Day holiday next month. His boss finally gave him the off days, he at least knows how to make it up to me. I won’t be returning here for those couple of days.”
“Gotcha.”
Lu Chuiqing’s heat is also during that period. He can take this opportunity to relax by himself at home.
It is soon his department’s monthly assessment. Their assessment result is highly dependent on whether or not their recommendations are chosen by the manager, and on how well they fare in the stock market. If their recommendations are chosen and do well in the stock market, that basically guarantees their assessment’s results.
Lu Chuiqing puts in a lot of effort organising the data he has gotten from the on-site visits. He genuinely thinks that his recommendations this round have a pretty good chance of getting chosen.
During the weekly meeting, the department has announced the list of newly chosen recommendations. Lu Chuiqing looks at the list with nervousness and anticipation. He scans down the list, reciting name after name in his mind.
Yun Xiang Stock (云祥股份), Tian He Concept (天河概念), Zhong Xin Technology (ä¸èŠ¯ç§‘技), Wei Er International (维尔国际)... most of them are concept stocks*.
(T/N*: “Concept stock refers to the stock with a special connotation, which is usually regarded as a kind of stock selection and speculation theme and becomes a hot spot in the stock market.” - Eagles Markets, retrieved in 2021)
Lu Chuiqing’s heart tightens bit by bit. Even until the very last line, he can not find the name of the companies he has so painstakingly researched.
Not even one of his researched stocks is chosen.
After the meeting, Lu Chuiqing stays in his seat, staring blankly for a while.
He does understand that there is no way his recommendations get chosen every round. Such failures are not surprising at all. However, Lu Chuiqing did also spend a lot of effort and time on these two stocks; business trip, investigation and research, organising the reports, burning the midnight oil for several nights. To have failed even after such effort and hard work, the disappointment and dejection are indeed overwhelming.
Lu Chuiqing sucks in a deep breath, rubs his cheeks and starts to head out of the meeting room when the funding manager’s assistant comes in suddenly and calls for him, “Xiao-Lu, Manager Zhao is asking for you to meet him at his office.”
Lu Chuiqing’s heart tightens, answers, and follows the assistant.
Manager Zhao is Lu Chuiqing’s direct funding manager, who is mainly in charge of the management of stocks funding. He is about thirty-six, seven years old, and has been in this position for quite a few years.
Lu Chuiqing straightens his clothes and knocks on the manager’s office door.
Manager Zhao, “Come in.”
Just as he enters the office, Lu Chuiqing sees his report lying on Manager Zhao’s desk. Lu Chuiqing’s heart tightens momentarily, even his voice tensed up as he greets his manager.
“Have a seat. Xiao-Lu, you have seen the list, haven’t you?” Perhaps realising Lu Chuiqing’s nervousness, Manager Zhao’s voice is relaxed, “Xiao-Lu, honestly speaking, I have gone through your report thoroughly, and I do seriously think that your research is valuable. Don’t feel too dejected for not having your recommendations chosen this round. Our department has to target the concept stocks after all, unlike the Bond Department who has higher debt value. Value-type stocks are more suited for long-term investments. These two you have recommended still lacks a bit to be used as our main investment and guarantee. With the recent market trend, concept stocks will always be chosen, computer chips and new energy are probably the popular ones, you should pay extra attention to those as well. But I know you already understand all these.”
(T/N: All these talks about stocks… I tried my best I am sorry… T^T)
Lui Chuiqing nods his head carefully, “I understand, thank you, Manager.”
Manager Zhao, “Haa… I was once a researcher too, I know it is not easy for you guys. Most of the managers don’t even trust their researchers, they would just exchange their targets and recommendations amongst themselves. But I do think highly of you guys. The researchers have all done a good job. Seriously though, I can’t manage so many things at once. Look at me, I am not even forty years old, and I think I am already in need of hair implants.”
Zhong Ming Funding has a management rule that requires at least two funding manager to manage one fund, every funding manager will also be cross managing several different funds. A bigger fund will require at least a small group of managers.
All the funding managers in Zhong Ming Funding have an annual salary of at least one million dollars, the higher tiered funding managers have at least three million dollars, five to six million dollars is not that surprising either. During the years when the stock markets are doing well, and when they yield good results, ten million dollars is also not impossible. However, there are many risks involved in working as a funding manager, they are required to endure the enormous stress that comes with the position, a level of stress that a normal person would not have imagined.
Many funding managers will complain about their researchers being useless. Someone like Manager Zhao who is willing to talk to Lu Chuiqing even-tempered is extremely rare.
But just as Manager Zhao said, Lu Chuiqing can not insist on his own perspective without considering the market trends.
At eleven that night, Lu Chuiqing is in bed early, tossing and turning restlessly. Indeed, he has a personal preference for weighted and value stocks, but most of the stocks used for the funding pool are internally decided by the managers. As a small researcher, the chances of him changing their decision is decimal.
Although there are stocks that are doing extremely well right now, no one knows what the future would bring. Just like the currently suspended Qifu Provisions, who would have expected such an outcome?
And concept stocks have much higher risks, but with that comes higher potential profit.
It is a mess of knots in Lu Chuiqing’s heart, he can not fall asleep, hoping he has someone to talk to. His parents, Zhou Ruiyang and Guan Xiaolu will gladly listen to him, but his parents have been teaching all their lives, they have absolutely no knowledge of stocks and their markets. Zhou Ruiyang is in the intercommunication industry, while Guan Xiaolu is still a student, which has no relation to his industry at all. They can only offer him mental reassurance and encouragement, but would not be able to offer him any concrete job-related advice.
At that precise moment, Lu Chuiqing thinks of Xiao Zhan.
He stays silent for a while and reaches out his hand to give his cheeks a few strong pats, is he crazy? What the hell is he thinking?
The roses next to the window are still in bloom. If he pays attention, he can still smell the faint aroma from the flowers that have yet to wither.
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Translator’s note:
I apologise for all the inaccuracies in translation, especially those revolving around stocks and finances… I tried my best lmao.
noo you did your best and i understand a littld in it~ hahahaha thank u for the chapter!!
ReplyDeleteNo para nada. Tu traducción es muy limpia, entiendo todo
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the translation part about stocks. As long as the plot is understandable and the tl quality is good. I am happy! Hehe
ReplyDelete