In a neighboring villa not far from Wang Haoranâs, the lights in Liu Yueâs study cast a soft golden hue across her poised figure. Sheâd just wrapped up a concise market analysis for tomorrowâs trends, typing out a few clean lines of professional insight. At the end of the message, she appended a cheeky line: âHusband, what do you think?â Her fingers hovered above the send button. This was meant for a private message to the one and only âPeerless Stock God.â
But just before she hit send, a red dot blinked on her screen.
Her idol had posted a new Weibo update.
She immediately tapped into his feed.
The moment she saw the post, Liu Yue gasped aloud. âHis bodyâs this good?!â
Compelled by admirationâand no small dose of curiosityâshe scrolled through the photos repeatedly. Her gaze lingered on the shot that showed off his defined abs. Eight perfect segments of muscle, not a single flaw. She stared for a long time, heartbeat faintly quickening.
ăDing, host, using the âPeerless Stock Godâ alias, has stirred the heart of female lead Liu Yue. Gained 100 Villain Points.ă
Only after indulging herself with the photos did she start reading the text. Judging from the postâs tone and content, she could tell âPeerless Stock Godâ was a man of intense discipline and tireless effort. Otherwise, how could he maintain such a flawless physique?
âNo wonder heâs so precise in predicting market movements⊠Seems like itâs not just talentâhe actually works for it,â she murmured to herself. âCompared to him, Iâve really been slacking off. I need to step up. Iâve got to learn from him.â
She clenched her fists and gave herself a silent pep talk.
âWow, Fifth Sister, I canât believe youâre ogling a hunk!â Qiu Qianweiâs teasing voice floated in as she bounded over.
Flustered, Liu Yue scrambled to explain. âSeventh Sister, stop spouting nonsense. I was just scrolling through Weibo.â
âOh yeah? Then let me take a look.â Qiu Qianwei snatched the phone and squinted at the photo. âHmm⊠this body looks fake.â
âHow is it fake?â Liu Yue retorted. âItâs practically perfect.â
âThatâs the problem,â Qiu Qianwei replied, deadpan. âItâs too perfect. It looks edited.â
Liu Yue frowned. âYouâre saying these are Photoshopped?â
Her sister nodded. âThereâs too much fake stuff online. Especially on social media. Havenât you heard of internet idols who look stunning until you see them in real life and they collapse like sandcastles in the sun?â
âFair,â Liu Yue muttered, slowly nodding. She had to admit Qiu Qianwei had a point. The internet was rife with deception.
Qiu Qianwei, still curious, glanced down and spotted the unsent message draft Liu Yue had written: âHusband, what do you think?â
âFifth Sister, donât tell me youâre in an online relationship?â she exclaimed.
âWhat? Fifth Sisterâs dating online?â Ji Shuiyao, who had been quietly reading nearby, immediately perked up and walked over.
Two pairs of sharp eyes locked onto Liu Yue, who grew flustered under their scrutiny.
âItâs not like that,â Liu Yue insisted. âI just wanted to ask him a few questions, but he insisted I call him âHusbandâ before heâd answer. Thatâs all.â
Ji Shuiyaoâs tone shifted ever so slightly into disapproval. âFifth Sister, youâre capable enough. Why go asking someone else for advice, especially if theyâre using it to take advantage of you?â
Qiu Qianwei chimed in as well. âExactly.â
Liu Yue sighed. âWell, Iâve made a couple of bad calls lately. I guess Iâm a little gun-shy now. I just wanted a second opinion from someone more skilled, to be safe.â
âBut youâre not relying on this for your livelihood,â Qiu Qianwei countered. âWhy let someone exploit you just to be slightly more accurate in your forecasts?â
âWell, Iâve been posting these forecasts for years nowâitâs just become second nature,â Liu Yue said with a helpless smile.
Ji Shuiyao softened a little. âYouâve always had a solid accuracy rateâseven or eight out of ten, right? Thatâs already exceptional. Thereâs no need to push for perfection.â
Qiu Qianwei added, âBesides, online people are better kept at armâs length. What if you meet someone for real one day, and this online stuff gets dug up? Youâll be the one paying the price.â
Liu Yue felt a bit helpless under their tag-team scolding. Still, they werenât entirely wrong. She sighed and relented, âAlright, alright, I wonât call anyone âhusbandâ on Weibo anymore.â
Ji Shuiyao handed her phone back. âThe internetâs a dangerous place. Be careful who you talk to. And stop staring at edited photos. Whatâs the point if itâs fake?â
Liu Yue accepted the phone, but her eyes couldnât help drifting back to the photo of the Peerless Stock Godâs godlike physique. There was clear disappointment in her gaze.
âFine. From now on, Iâll just assume every photo is edited,â she said with a hint of resignation.
Her two sisters nodded, satisfied, and returned to their own affairs.
Still, after being thoroughly lectured, Liu Yue didnât end up sending the message to the Peerless Stock God.
Instead, she relied on her own judgment and wrote a detailed market analysis article, which she posted on Weibo.
â
The next morning.
As soon as Liu Yue awoke, she instinctively opened her Weibo app to check comments.
Before she even scrolled to her post, she noticed something new.
The Peerless Stock God had posted again.
This time, it was a short video uploaded at 5 a.m.
That was before sunriseâLiu Yue was still asleep at that hour.
The clip was edited together from different scenes, but the recording device displayed real-time timestamps.
In the video, the Peerless Stock God woke at 5 a.m., washed up, then spent half an hour working out. Afterward, he prepared breakfast, put on a suit and tie, then exited his luxurious home and got into a McLaren P1 parked in an underground garage.
The camera cut again, this time showing him seated in an expansive, high-end office. Just judging from the sheer scale of the place, it was obvious his company was massiveâand his position, significant.
He wasnât just a market geniusâhe was a young titan of the business world.
âThis isnât a photo. Itâs a video. And I donât see any beauty filters. This canât be fake,â Liu Yue murmured, heart beating faster. âLooks like yesterdayâs pictures werenât edited after allâŠâ
But even as a glimmer of joy bloomed inside her, it quickly faded. In the end, he was just someone online. Even if he was truly that exceptional, what did it matter? They had no real-world connection.
â
In an upscale office across town, Tang Bingyun was giving Wang Haoran a puzzled look.
âWhy are you dressed like that today?â she asked, eyeing his tailored suit and neatly knotted tie.
Wang Haoran slipped his phone into his pocket. âJust felt like trying it out. What do you think? Not bad, right?â
Tang Bingyun gave him a sultry glance. âNot bad? You look devastatingly handsome.â
Wang Haoran noticed a trace of fatigue in her face. âDo you always get to work this early?â
âYeah. Iâm usually up by five, in the office by six-thirty. I donât leave until eight or nine at night. Even then, I still have documents to review. Iâm lucky if I get five hours of sleep.â She shot him a mock glare. âAnd ever since I started seeing you, even five hours is a luxury.â
Wang Haoran grinned. âThen next time we meet, weâll just chat and let you rest properly.â
âYou dare,â she said, eyes flashing.
â
That morning, Liu Yue arrived at an investment firm.
In addition to her position as a finance professor, she was also a special guest analyst for this company. Her hours were flexibleâshe came and went as she pleased.
With no classes today, she decided to stop by.
As she made her way through the building, she caught snatches of gossip among the female employees.
âWow, that guyâs eight-pack is insane. He looks so powerful.â
âDonât be such a thirsty hoe in broad daylight. You looking to get wrecked?â
âSo what if I am?â
âHonestly, Iâm tempted too.â
âMcLaren P1. Must be loaded.â
âObviously. Heâs the Stock God. That carâs probably his cheapest.â
âMy god, did you see that office? Massive.â
âHeâs so perfect. If only he were my boyfriendâŠâ
The topic of every conversation was the Peerless Stock God.
This was, after all, an investment firmâeveryone here kept a close eye on market news. His Weibo had exploded in popularity almost overnight. The posts heâd made were causing waves in their circles.
Listening to the infatuated chatter, Liu Yue couldnât help but smile to herself. She admired the man, too, but unlike these women, she hadnât lost all reason.
Still, someone like him surely had a girlfriend already, right?
These women were drooling over an internet personalityâwas that really necessary?
She brushed the thought aside and returned to her office.
At 9:30 a.m., the market opened.
Liu Yue stared intently at the fluctuations. Just as sheâd predicted in her Weibo analysis the night before, the movements played out exactly as sheâd anticipated.
Another accurate forecast. It helped restore some of her shaken confidence.
Her skills were solid. Occasional misjudgments were inevitable, but nothing to worry about.
To avoid any future reputation damage, Liu Yue had resolved: sheâd still post analysis, but never recommend specific stocks.
That way, even if she got something wrong, her credibility would remain intact.
After making a few purchases, she stepped away from her screen. Since she couldnât sell until tomorrow under the T+1 rule, there was no point in monitoring the market further.
She made a cup of coffee and headed to the rooftop terrace.
It was spacious, lined with tables and large umbrellasâan exclusive rest area mostly used by high-level staff.
Liu Yue settled into a chair, soaking up the gentle sunlight.
Across from her sat Li Rong, one of the firmâs lead traders. In her early thirties, attractive in a mature, businesslike way. The two women got along wellâmore than colleagues, less than best friends.
âThis Peerless Stock God seems like a real powerhouse in the finance world,â Li Rong remarked, scrolling through his Weibo. âI wonder who he is in real life.â
âYou tell me,â Liu Yue replied with a sigh. âI wish I knew.â
Li Rong teased, âI saw you call him âhusbandâ on Weibo. I thought you already had the inside track.â
Liu Yue flushed. âItâs exactly because I donât know him that I had no shame saying that. If I met him in real life, Iâd die of embarrassment.â
Li Rong chuckled, then suddenly grew focused as she typed something into her phone.
A few minutes later, she declared, âDone.â
âDone with what?â Liu Yue asked.
âI sent him a private message. Asked if he wants to meet up.â
âYou what?!â Liu Yue blinked in shock. âSister Rong, isnât that a bit⊠bold?â
With a calm, experienced tone, Li Rong replied, âOnce you reach my age, you stop beating around the bush. If you like someone, just go for it.â
Liu Yue paused, then remembered something. Her friend had always been eager to settle down.
Li Rong was talented, successful, with high standards. But the pool of eligible men in their industry was limited.
No wonder she was still single in her thirties.
âBut what if he already has a girlfriend?â Liu Yue asked.
Li Rong rolled her eyes. âThatâs your naivete talking. Whether he does or doesnât is still unknown. But thereâs nothing wrong with me making the first move. If he turns me down, Iâll just walk away.â
As she spoke, she refreshed the Peerless Stock Godâs Weibo.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. âLooks like Iâve got good timing!â
âWhat do you mean?â Liu Yue asked, curious.
âCheck his new post.â
Liu Yue quickly pulled out her phone.
It was a videoâhim playing guitar and singing a love ballad.
His skill was exceptional. The melody, the vocals, the feelingâevery note was intoxicating.
Beneath the video was a short caption: âIâve played this song a hundred times. When will I finally sing it for the one?â
âHeâs single,â Liu Yue whispered, pulling the crucial line from the text.
His follower count was already nearing seven million.
And now, the comments section was exploding.
âHope Daddy finds Mommy soon!â
âThat voice⊠Iâm meltingâŠâ
âLocation: XXXX. Hubby, come find me.â
â36-24-36, letâs date!â
âThank you, hubby. I love this!â
âHubby hubby, I want to bear your babies!â
Liu Yue couldnât help but laugh at the chaos.
Still⊠he really was too perfect. Genius stock predictions, a flawless physique, and now, a voice like a siren.
If someone like him became your boyfriend, youâd be over the moon.
ăDing, female lead Liu Yueâs Favorability toward hostâs âPeerless Stock Godâ persona has increased by 10. Current total: 50 (Budding Affection).ă
As Liu Yue drifted off into fantasy, Li Rong waved a hand in front of her. âYue? Come help me take a few photos.â
âHuh? What?â Liu Yue snapped back to reality.
Li Rong narrowed her eyes. âDonât tell me⊠youâve fallen for my dream guy too?â
âNo! Of course not!â Liu Yue protested.
Li Rong smirked. âUh-huh. Youâre a terrible liar.â
Blushing, Liu Yue mumbled, âSister RongâŠâ
âRelax, Iâm not mad. Iâm realisticâI know someone like him probably wouldnât look twice at me. Iâm just taking a shot.â
She looked Liu Yue up and down. âBut you? Youâve got a real chance, if you make a move.â
âMe? No way,â Liu Yue shook her head. âI could never be that forward. What if he rejects me? Iâd die of shame.â
Li Rong passed her the phone. âJust make sure I look gorgeous in these.â
âOkay, okay,â Liu Yue said, stifling a laugh as she began taking photos.
At first, the poses were normal. Casual, everyday shots.
But gradually, Li Rong started showing more cleavage.
âSister Rong⊠isnât this going a bit too far?â Liu Yue asked, unsure whether to laugh or scold.
âCome on, my face isnât flawless. Iâve got to play to my strengths. How else am I supposed to catch a manâs attention?â
Liu Yue couldnât argue with that logic.
Once the photos were done, Li Rong picked her favorites and sent them via private message, inviting the Peerless Stock God to meet in person. The location? His choice. The subtext was clearâshe was willing to go to him, no matter how far.
Liu Yue was shocked at how bold the message was.
Was she not worried sheâd travel all that way just to get⊠taken advantage of and left?
Sheâd read plenty of stories like that online.
Minutes later, Li Rong received a reply.
Sheâd been rejected.
Liu Yue felt an inexplicable sense of joy.
Li Rong was attractive and successful, yet she still got turned down.
That could only mean the Peerless Stock God wasnât the type to play around.
Given the nature of the invitation, any man wouldâve known what she was offering. Most would have jumped at the chance.
But he didnât.
In that moment, Liu Yue labeled him: a decent, honorable man.
Still, she was careful not to show her delight.
âDonât be too upset, Sister Rong. Youâll find someone even better,â she said gently.
Li Rong sighed but quickly bounced back. Sheâd known the odds werenât in her favor from the start.
âYue, Iâve got no shot. If youâre interested, you should make a move,â Li Rong nudged her, not wanting to see a good thing go to waste on an outsider.
âIâll think about it,â Liu Yue murmured. She still wanted to learn more about the man behind the persona.
â
That afternoon, Liu Yue returned to campus for a lecture.
After class ended, she packed her things and walked up to a desk near the front.
A figure lay sprawled across it, dozing.
âWake up,â she said, tapping the table.
Wang Haoran lifted his head, blinking sleepily. âProfessor Liu⊠youâre not here to take back my special privileges, are you?â
Her face remained cool. âNo. Follow me.â
Without another word, she turned and walked out.
Wang Haoran stood and followed.
Moments later, they arrived in a private office.
Liu Yue didnât bother with small talk. She opened Weibo on her phone and pulled up a familiar account.
âThis is your masterâs profile, isnât it?â
Wang Haoran feigned shock. âProfessor Liu, how did you know?!â
His reaction only confirmed her suspicion.
Only someone like the Peerless Stock God could have trained a disciple like Wang Haoran.
âTell me about him,â she said.
Wang Haoran, knowing her heart was already swaying, played along. âI told you beforeâI canât reveal his real identity.â
âIâm not asking for his name,â Liu Yue said smoothly. âJust his preferences. His personality. That doesnât violate your promise.â
âHmmâŠâ
Pretending to hesitate, he let the silence stretch.
âIf you donât talk,â she warned, âIâll make sure you get a failing grade every three days.â
Wang Haoran put on a pained expression. âProfessor, isnât that a bit much?â
She smiled faintly. âSo? Are you going to talk or not?â
He sighed. âFine. Ask away. Iâll tell you what I can.â
Liu Yueâs eyes glinted with triumph.
Got you, brat.
âWhat are his hobbies?â she asked.
âReading. Music. Fitness,â Wang Haoran replied.
âAnd his personality?â
âSunny, confident, broad-minded, generous, funny, focused, attentive, considerate, idealistic, responsible, moral, capableââ
Liu Yue blinked at the rapid-fire list. âIs he really that amazing?â
Wang Haoran nodded solemnly. âAbsolutely. Heâs a god-tier man. If I were a girl, Iâd be head over heels.â
Convinced by his sincerity, Liu Yue didnât question it.
âDoes he have a lot of women around him?â she asked, voice a little tight.
âOf course. Heâs incredibleâplenty of women chase after him. But heâs got high standards. Heâs not interested in just anyone.â
Liu Yue couldnât help but feel a flicker of joy. Without thinking, she asked, âDo you think someone like me⊠would be his type?â
The moment the words left her mouth, regret followed.
But it was too late to take them back.
And Wang Haoran was already smiling.