17: Chapter 17: Feelings Heat Up

Su Wanqing took the menu, her fingertips brushing across the leather cover. However, her gaze didn't immediately land on the dishes; instead, she looked up at Jiang Chen with a hint of seriousness in her tone.

"Let's get one thing straight first: today's meal should be 'within your means.' You just made some money, so don't think about being extravagant. I don't like those flashy, superficial things either."

Jiang Chen smiled and nodded in response.

"Don't worry, Teacher Su. I chose this place because I heard their home-style cooking is authentic, without any of those gaudy gimmicks. The price per person is moderate too, definitely within what I can afford."

He paused and added, "And I truly want to thank you. Not just for the account opening, but also for your reminder today. Any other teacher might have just criticized me for being opportunistic, but you were genuinely considering the risks for my sake."

Su Wanqing's hand flipping through the menu paused slightly. She looked up at him, a flicker of warmth flashing in her eyes.

"You are a finance student; it's my responsibility to help you maintain the right mindset. The capital market has too many temptations. Being able to stay true to your original intentions is more important than how much money you make at once."

She casually ordered two light vegetable dishes and pushed the menu back to Jiang Chen. "I'm not picky. Order what you like; don't just focus on accommodating me."

Jiang Chen didn't stand on ceremony. He ordered a signature black pepper beef tenderloin and added a mushroom soup, then finally looked at Su Wanqing.

"Teacher Su, would you like a drink? I heard the fresh-squeezed orange juice here is quite good."

"Sure, let's have two glasses," Su Wanqing nodded.

The waiter took the menu and quietly withdrew.

Only the two of them remained in the private room. The warm light hit the white porcelain tableware, casting a soft glow. The background music was a soothing piano piece, making the atmosphere exceptionally cozy.

"By the way," Su Wanqing was the first to break the silence, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity.

"You tracked Xinghan Jinyuan for three weeks. Besides the chip distribution and main capital, what else did you focus on? I saw your analysis was very logical; you seem like a veteran who has worked in an institution."

Jiang Chen picked up the warm water on the table, took a sip, and spoke calmly.

"There were also industry policies and the company's quarterly earnings forecasts."

He paused and continued, "Plus, with the technical breakout—the resonance of those three factors—I dared to place a heavy bet. Of course, the leverage was indeed a risk. I've taken your reminder to heart and won't use such a high ratio again in the future."

Su Wanqing looked at him, her eyes showing more appreciation. "You have more restraint than I imagined. Many people, after making money once, feel they are omnipotent and can't wait to max out their leverage, but you were able to realize the problem immediately."

The two of them chatted back and forth, moving from the stock market to professional courses, and then from courses to interesting anecdotes on campus.

Jiang Chen was quite eloquent, occasionally cracking a light joke that made Su Wanqing's expression soften, completely losing the seriousness she had in the office.

Su Wanqing also gradually opened up, talking about her embarrassing moments when she first started working. She mentioned how she was so nervous during her first class that she dropped her lesson notes on the floor, and the whole class held back their laughter while helping her pick them up.

"I didn't expect Teacher Su to get nervous too," Jiang Chen couldn't help but laugh.

"Who hasn't had a rookie phase?"

Su Wanqing gave him a mock glare with a hint of playful annoyance, but she quickly regained her composure. "But thanks to that time, I realized that sincerity is more important than putting on airs."

The dishes were served one after another, and the fresh-squeezed orange juice arrived, its sweet and sour fruit aroma filling the room.

They chatted as they ate. Jiang Chen would naturally serve a piece of beef to Su Wanqing, and she would remind him to drink more mushroom soup to warm his stomach.

Before they knew it, dinner was nearing its end.

Jiang Chen put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said sincerely, "Teacher Su, I really enjoyed talking with you today, and I've learned a lot."

Su Wanqing also put down her utensils. Just as she was about to speak, her gaze inadvertently fell upon Jiang Chen's face.

The warm yellow light happened to hit the side of his face, outlining a clear jawline. His eyelashes were long, casting a small shadow.

His eyes were bright and focused, carrying the sharp edge of a young man, yet possessing a steadiness that surpassed his age.

Perhaps because they had been so engrossed in conversation, or perhaps because the atmosphere was too soft, Su Wanqing actually dazed for a moment.

She suddenly remembered the first time she saw Jiang Chen. It was during the first class of the semester; he sat in the front row, and his appearance while taking notes seriously was particularly striking.

Later, when she helped him open his chinext account, he was also humble, asking questions in a very organized manner.

And now, this young man sat across from her—calm, certain, and possessing an indescribable charm that made it hard for her to look away.

The piano music in the room happened to play a soothing melody. The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and the atmosphere became somewhat subtle.

Jiang Chen noticed her gaze. His heart stirred slightly, but he didn't avoid it. Instead, he gently looked up and met her eyes.

As their eyes met, Su Wanqing felt as if her secret thoughts had been exposed. A faint, hard-to-detect blush instantly rose to her cheeks. She quickly looked away and took a sip of orange juice to hide her loss of composure.

"It's getting late."

Her voice was slightly lower than usual, carrying a trace of imperceptible panic. "It's time to go back. There are classes tomorrow."

Jiang Chen looked at the tips of her reddened ears, and a slight smile played at the corners of his mouth. He didn't point it out, only nodding. "Alright, I'll walk you to your car."

Jiang Chen settled the bill, and they walked out of the restaurant side by side.

In the elevator, the quiet atmosphere remained. Su Wanqing leaned against the elevator wall, watching the jumping numbers, not daring to look at Jiang Chen beside her.

When they reached the parking lot, Su Wanqing walked to her Mercedes-Benz C-Class and took out her car key to unlock it. However, she didn't get in immediately; instead, she turned to look at Jiang Chen.

"Thank you for dinner today."

Her tone had regained some calm, but her eyes still held a lingering softness.

"Also, regarding investment, I have a few good books that my mentor recommended when I was in grad school. The content on risk control is very detailed."

She paused and continued, "Before class tomorrow, come to my office. I'll give them to you."

Jiang Chen's eyes lit up, and he immediately responded, "Great! Thank you, Teacher Su. I'll head over first thing tomorrow morning."

"Mm."

Su Wanqing nodded, pulled open the car door, and looked back at him once more. "Be safe on the road. Send me a message when you get home."

With that, she sat in the car and started the engine.

As the car slowly drove out of the parking lot, Su Wanqing glanced in the rearview mirror. Jiang Chen was still standing there, waving at her car.

Her heart felt inexplicably warm, and a smile unconsciously spread across her lips.

In the parking lot, Jiang Chen only withdrew his gaze after the car disappeared from sight. He took out his phone and hailed a ride back.

After returning to his rental apartment, Jiang Chen's fingertips paused on the screen.

[Jiang Chen]: Teacher Su, I'm home. I'll go to your office to get the books tomorrow morning.

Not long after, the phone vibrated. It was Su Wanqing's reply.

[Su Wanqing]: Okay, get some rest early.

Jiang Chen looked at the message on the screen, the smile on his face deepening.

This dinner seemed to have brought his relationship with Su Wanqing a step closer.