Chapter 27 The Teacher Gets Involved

With Wang Hao leading the way, many students followed suit and burst into laughter. Mockery and giggles echoed throughout the classroom.

"Hahaha, Wang Hao is right. Lin Chen's bragging is way too over the top; it's completely unrealistic."

"I think he's just trying to act like a Second-generation rich kid or some stock market expert. He probably doesn't even know how to buy a stock."

Sitting next to Lin Chen was his close friend from the same dormitory, Wu Gang.

He quickly put an arm around Lin Chen's shoulder and lowered his voice, trying to smooth things over with a smile:

"Brother Chen, your bragging is even wilder than mine!"

"But it's fine. It was just a casual remark anyway. Let them laugh however they want, don't take it to heart."

Lin Chen looked at Wu Gang and could only offer a slightly awkward, bitter smile while gently shaking his head.

He couldn't exactly say that he had a scumbag system and plenty of money, and that a tenfold return was actually no big deal for him, right?

If he said that out loud, nobody would believe him, and they'd probably think he was a lunatic.

The other two brothers in the dorm, Li Lei and Zhang Peng, didn't speak up or join in the laughter.

Instead, they both gave Lin Chen a subtle look, their eyes filled with comfort and support.

Clearly, at a time like this, they were still on Lin Chen's side.

This dormitory brotherhood made Lin Chen feel a little better.

The Classroom Bet: The Stock God's First Glimmer of Brilliance in Six Months

On the podium, Liu Minting's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, her long, slender fingertips unconsciously stroking the edge of her lesson plan.

Her gaze swept back and forth between Lin Chen and Xia Wanqing like a searchlight.

On one side was a boy sitting tall with a calm expression.

On the other was a girl with flushed cheeks and eyes full of defiance.

This strange confrontation piqued her curiosity.

She eventually fixed her gaze on Lin Chen, her tone laced with a bit of confusion mixed with playful curiosity.

She spoke softly, asking:

"Student Lin Chen, is what Xia Wanqing said true?"

"Did you really bet her that you could increase your stock investment tenfold in six months?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she couldn't help but chuckle, her disbelief blatant in her tone:

"Tenfold in six months?"

"Never mind newcomers like you who might not even recognize a full K-line chart."

"Even for veteran investors who have been struggling in the stock market for over a decade, being able to double their money in a year is considered an industry expert—truly 'impressive.'"

She took a half-step forward and crossed her arms, her expression becoming a bit more serious.

It was as if she were teaching common sense while also giving everyone a warning:

"Furthermore, there has always been an ironclad rule in the stock market."

"Seven lose, two break even, and one wins."

"Calculate it yourselves: out of ten people, seven lose everything, two break even and have nothing to show for their efforts, and only one person actually makes money. How low are those odds?"

She paused and glanced at the students whispering below the podium.

She slowed her tone, offering a word of advice:

"I know many of you come from well-off families and have no shortage of pocket money."

"But I still have to advise you: if you really want to try, just use a few thousand yuan of your living expenses to practice. Don't invest too much."

"Lest you end up crying from your losses—don't blame me then for not warning you in advance."

No one knew that at this moment, Liu Minting had already categorized Lin Chen as a "braggart trying to pick up girls."

She thought to herself:

This kid is actually quite handsome and decent-looking, but his mind isn't on the right path.

He's clearly coveting Xia Wanqing's beauty and deliberately telling these fantastical lies.

Trying to win a beauty's attention and favor like this is truly shallow.

Thinking of this, she felt a bit more disgusted.

She had dated three boyfriends before, and every single one of them relied on sweet talk and bragging.

Not long after they tricked her into being with them, they broke up. What she hated most were men who only talked big but did nothing practical.

Even though Lin Chen was her student and still young, she disliked this kind of personality from the bottom of her heart.

Liu Minting looked at Lin Chen again, her eyes showing more impatience and her tone turning cold.

She didn't hold back at all:

"Lin Chen, being handsome is an advantage, but using bragging to pick up girls is wrong!"

"Be a bit more down-to-earth; don't just say unrealistic, empty words."

As soon as she said this, the classroom fell mostly silent.

The intermittent laughter gradually dissipated, and all the students' eyes focused on Lin Chen like spotlights.

Their gazes held curiosity, mockery, and the playful anticipation of someone watching a show.

Everyone was waiting to see Lin Chen's reaction, waiting to see how he would wrap this up.

Would he lower his head, admit he was bragging, and dejectedly back down?

Or would he stubbornly deny it and keep up the front?

If he admitted it, the boast he made earlier would become a joke, and he'd likely be the laughingstock of the whole class from now on.

If he didn't, what kind of confidence could he possibly have to fulfill the fantastical promise of a "tenfold return in six months"?

Lin Chen stiffened all over at Liu Minting's words, and a surge of anger instantly rose in his chest.

He hadn't wanted to be too flashy; he just wanted to quietly complete the bet.

But now, being publicly questioned by the teacher and mocked by the whole class,

combined with Xia Wanqing's disdainful look, he could no longer sit still.

Under everyone's gaze, he slowly stood up.

His back was straight, without a trace of panic.

He looked calmly at Liu Minting on the podium, his voice clear and resonant:

"Teacher, what if I do it?"

"If I really can increase my principal tenfold within six months, what will you do?"

Liu Minting acted as if she had heard the world's biggest joke and couldn't help but laugh out loud, the mockery in her tone growing even stronger:

"If you do it?"

"Tenfold in six months—who do you think you are?"

"A stock market genius?"

"I've followed the stock market for so many years, and I've never seen such an incredible genius!"

"I didn't say I was a stock market genius,"

Lin Chen said neither humbly nor arrogantly, his eyes showing a bit more certainty as he asked again,

"I'm only asking you, if I really achieve a tenfold return in six months by the end of the semester, will you acknowledge it?"

"How about this: you join our bet as well. I've already made a bet with Xia Wanqing."

He paused and clearly stated the deadline of the bet:

"Starting from today until January 31, 2015. It's less than six months—enough time to witness it."

"Hehehe..."

Liu Minting laughed even harder, her eyes full of playfulness and disdain.

"I really didn't expect someone to be so shameless about bragging!"

"You're not very old, but you certainly talk big. You even dare to pull me into a bet?"

"Fine. Since Student Xia Wanqing dares to bet with you, as a teacher, could I possibly be afraid of a student?"

She slapped the podium and said decisively:

"It's a deal. Whatever she's betting, I'll bet too!"

"I'd like to see how you're going to back up your bragging when the time comes."

As soon as she said this, Xia Wanqing's face turned pale in an instant.

Like a sheet of bloodless paper, her whole body froze.

She wished she could find a crack in the floor to crawl into and never come out.

She was filled with deep regret.

In her moment of anger just now, she only thought about mocking Lin Chen and seeing him make a fool of himself. She hadn't given the bet much thought at all.

She certainly didn't expect Lin Chen to turn the tables on her and even pull the teacher in!

If the stakes were announced publicly, how could she ever show her face in class again?

She would probably be laughed at for the rest of her life!