Vol. 1 - Ch. 15 - Ability Upgrade

A month had passed, and Li Han's portfolio had grown impressively from 100,000 to 4 million. He had discovered an effective way to accumulate a substantial amount of data points, and the prospects seemed promising..Leaving the bank, he went directly to the Beichang City stock exchange, eager to test his latest ability, "Curve Calculation."

This feature was somewhat like "Danger Anticipation," but specialised for financial projects.

It enabled him to predict the future trajectory of a company's stock at the expense of a large number of data points. Viewing a month-long development curve, for example, required 50 DP.

Entering the stock exchange, Li Han observed a mix of elated and downcast faces.

He wasn't fond of the environment; his father had once dabbled in stocks and lost everything.

The atmosphere exuded an aura of confusion and despair. If not for his Big Data app, Li Han would never have considered entering the stock market.

"Let's give it a shot..." he muttered, selecting a stock that had hit its daily limit for two consecutive days. Using "Curve Calculation," a development curve appeared before him.

According to the curve, the stock would continue its upward trend for the next week. However, after that, it would nosedive, hitting one limit down after another. In just three weeks, it would fall below its initial price.

Li Han frowned. "Accuracy rate as high as 96%? It's frightening."

He couldn't help but think about the potential ruin awaiting those who didn't have access to something as predictive as "Curve Calculation."

But even with such a high accuracy rate, relying solely on "Curve Calculation" for stock investments warranted careful consideration.

The stock market wasn't just about the intrinsic value of things; it was also about people's willingness to pay.

It was like having a house priced at 3.5 million; it wouldn't convert into cash unless someone was willing to pay that amount. If the real estate market tanked and nobody was buying at that price, the value would have to be lowered.

Selling the house for 3 million would set a new value not just for that property but for others in the neighborhood.

This could trigger panic-selling, driving prices down even further.

The stock market had its own dynamics, similar in many ways to real estate.

Li Han knew he was not an experienced trader, and the market was full of pros. Perhaps he should rely more on his Big Data app for investment recommendations.

As for "Curve Calculation," its applications weren't limited to the stock market. There were other ways he could utilize this powerful ability.

Upon opening his trading account and selecting his stocks, Li Han noticed a seasoned trader eyeing him. It felt as though a top-tier player was scrutinizing a novice's gameplay.

In the eyes of others, his stock choices probably seemed ludicrous. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NøᴠᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"Let's see how this plays out," he thought, offering a simple smile to the observer.

Exiting the stock exchange, Li Han found himself in front of Baizhe Cake Shop once more. His relationship with Wang Man hadn't progressed much, largely because they didn't share many activities.

In that case, establishing some common interests seemed like a smart move.

"Curve Calculation..." Li Han mumbled to himself.

Instantly, a chart depicting the cake shop's profitability appeared in his mind.

So far, the curve was pretty stable, with minor ups and downs, but it maintained a consistent level overall.

However, two months from now, the shop's profitability was slated to drop by nearly half.

"Show me the customer data for this shop," Li Han mentally commanded.

The data revealed that 23% of the shop's customers were local residents, 42% were students from nearby schools, and the remaining 35% came from food delivery services.

"I see... students." Li Han realized. He quickly checked a map on his phone and found that two elementary schools and a junior high school were close by.

Given that these students mostly relied on pocket money, this affordable cake shop was their go-to place.

Yet, he noted, the shop's business took a hit when students went on holiday.

"Hey!" Just then, a tap on his shoulder jolted him from his thoughts.

He spun around to see Wang Man. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Daydreaming at the entrance? If you want to buy a cake, come on in."

"You startled me..." Li Han muttered, following Wang Man into the cake shop.

His mind was still preoccupied with the cake shop's profitability curve. Clearly, Wang Man was financially stretched, and her shop was headed for a significant downturn in two months.

Interestingly, investing in this shop could also serve as a way to build a relationship with her. Moreover, Li Han wanted to explore whether the shop could be a new avenue for collecting big data points.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Han decided to take the plunge. "How long have you been running this shop?"

"Over two years. Why do you ask?" Wang Man replied, her eyes meeting his with curiosity.

"Does the business usually slow down during the summer and winter vacations?" Li Han inquired.

"How did you know?" Li Jia seemed surprised.

"And how do you manage during those slow periods?" Li Han pressed on.

Wang Man shared a knowing glance with Li Jia before turning back to Li Han. "What can we do? If business is slow, we close up early and pick up some part-time work," she said, laughing lightly.

Her upbeat attitude made an impression on Li Han. If he were in her shoes, dealing with a parent's chronic illness, could he remain as optimistic and cheerful as Wang Man? The thought left him both impressed and contemplative.

In that moment, Li Han's heart quickened, a sudden sense of attraction flooding him.

"Whew," he sighed, regaining his composure before smiling at Wang Man. "Have you ever considered bringing in a new investor for your shop?"

"You don't have to do that..." Wang Man began, but Li Jia cut her off. Seizing Li Han's hand, she exclaimed, "Are you kidding? Of course, we do! How much are you thinking of investing?!"

After a moment of thought, Li Han weighed his options. "I can spare 500,000," he finally said, having considered his available capital and what he'd already invested in stocks.

"500,000!" Li Jia enthusiastically shook Li Han's hand. "Welcome aboard as a shareholder!"

Wang Man looked puzzled. "Where did you get that kind of money? Can car sales really be that lucrative?"

"It's all about financial management," Li Han answered nonchalantly. "Interested? I can show you the ropes. Profits are yours to keep, losses are on me."

Wang Man chuckled. "But don't you need money to start? You can't catch a wolf with your bare hands."

"It's not impossible," Li Han grinned, then turned his attention to Li Jia. "So, shall we discuss the investment details?"

"Absolutely, boss! You call the shots!" Li Jia gleefully responded.

Wang Man interrupted, covering Li Jia's mouth. "We don't really need that much money. The initial investment for this shop was just 200,000. If you're putting in that much, you might as well open a new store."

"I see potential in this shop," Li Han said, taking a seat. "How about I invest 200,000 for now?"