Chapter 7

◎Unprovoked Kindness◎

After hanging up, Fan Qi resumed her research, flipping between general news and financial reports. Around 10 PM, the phone rang again.

“Hello?”

“Miss Fan.”

“Miss He.” Fan Qi immediately recognized He Xiumin’s voice.

“Would you like to know more about that Changxing stockbroker?”

“What kind of background?” Fan Qi asked.

“Xu Miao’er, the daughter of Xu Xia, the owner of Changxing.”

“Oh, I see.”

“By the way, your interview was aired on an 8 PM live program on the radio today.”

“I don’t own a radio, so I had no idea!” Fan Qi replied to He Xiumin.

“No worries. Come downstairs at 7 AM tomorrow, and we’ll meet in the courtyard—I’ll let you listen to the recording. There’s a surprise for you!”

“Really? Can’t you just tell me now? I feel like I won’t be able to sleep!” Fan Qi, perhaps feeling at ease with He Xiumin, found herself talking as if they were old friends.

“Tomorrow at 7 AM, I’ll be waiting for you in the courtyard downstairs.”

Fine, if she wanted to keep it a mystery, what else could she do?

Checking the time, Fan Qi tidied up her notes and went to bed. This tiny room—just yesterday, she would have thought it was too cramped for even one person. Who would have imagined that last night, there were actually two people lying here?

After a day of running around, Fan Qi fell asleep the moment she hit the bed. When she woke up, she instinctively reached for her phone. Opening her eyes, she was reminded of her tiny, cramped room. She reached for the old Shanghai-brand wristwatch by her pillow. It showed 5:30 AM—still early. She didn’t want to get up yet but couldn’t fall back asleep either. Leaning against the headboard, she glanced at the pillow beside her.

One day, she would actually share a bed with a man, and to her surprise, she had been so well-behaved that she hadn’t even made a move.

Speaking of making a move—she raised her hand. Wait! What did she mean by not making a move?

A whole day had passed before it finally dawned on her—memories of that drowsy, half-asleep night resurfaced. She had grabbed something in her sleep!

She stretched out her hand, mimicking the motion from that night. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks—so embarrassing that she wanted to ram her head against the wall…

She spent the next half hour drowning in secondhand embarrassment before finally getting out of bed to brush her teeth and wash her face. Making herself a simple breakfast, she toasted some bread, fried an egg, and made a sandwich, washing it down with a glass of milk.

Taking the elevator downstairs, she entered the courtyard garden. Between the trees, clotheslines were strung up, already packed with colorful laundry at this early hour—fluttering like a sea of international flags.

Space was always tight in Hong Kong. Most homes didn’t even have balconies, making laundry drying a headache. Some families used dryers, while others squeezed clothes into any available sunlit space.

“Miss Fan.”

Hearing her name, Fan Qi turned to see He Xiumin approaching.

“Miss He.”

He Xiumin pressed play on a cassette recorder, and the radio program began. It was a discussion about the current state of the stock market, hosted by a male presenter with several stockbrokers as guests.

Right at the start, they played the recording of Fan Qi’s impromptu speech on the subway.

The host then posed a sharp question: What gives stock brokerage firms the audacity to openly mock potential clients seeking consultation?

“If Miss Fan wasn’t exaggerating, then Changxing’s attitude isn’t just arrogant—it’s downright crude. No matter what industry a person comes from, even if a girl from Portland Street’s red-light district walks into your firm to open an account, isn’t she still your client?”

This statement from one of the guests turned the program into a full-blown critique of brokerage firms’ poor service.

Fan Qi’s face turned green when she heard it. In her past experiences, she knew that Portland Street was Hong Kong’s notorious red-light district. What kind of comparison was that?!

Retail investors had long harbored grievances against these brokerage firms. Fan Qi had merely gone to Changxing for a consultation, yet the firm had responded with arrogance and even tipped off tabloid reporters to smear her.

“Miss Fan speaks with remarkable clarity and logic. Whether she invests twenty thousand or just two thousand, I’d gladly take her as a client. Yuan Chao, contact Miss Fan for me—I’d be honored to be her stockbroker.”

One of the guests made this bold statement.

“Mr. Liao, always the chivalrous one. Alright, I’ll ask Xiumin to help get in touch.”

Hearing this, Fan Qi looked up as He Xiumin explained, “Liao Jiqing is a well-known stockbroker in Hong Kong, the owner of Yaohua Brokerage. He’s famous for his ‘same-day trading’ strategy. Also, he and Xu Xia from Changxing are arch-rivals.”

“Same-day trading?”

“Yes, it means buying and selling stocks within the same day.”

So, it was just another name for ultra-short-term trading? Fan Qi chuckled. “I see.”

He Xiumin smiled. “Mr. Liao said you can visit his brokerage anytime. Their office is right next to Changxing.”

“I know. I went there yesterday too—their counters are right beside Changxing’s. I’ll head over this afternoon; I have some things to take care of in the morning.” Unable to suppress her excitement, Fan Qi beamed. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. This episode was just the beginning. Our real target is those high-commission firms with terrible attitudes. I’ll arrange a time with Mr. Liao for you.”

Was this what they called a blessing in disguise? As He Xiumin left, Fan Qi felt so elated that she nearly skipped all the way home.

By 9 AM, He Xiumin called, saying Mr. Liao would be available at his office at 2 PM.

Since this was a business meeting, she couldn’t dress too casually. Rummaging through her wardrobe, she realized she had only bought clothes based on comfort, without considering formal occasions.

Deciding to head out early, she went to the Heli Building, where the lower three floors were the same shopping mall she had browsed two days ago. Before meeting Mr. Liao, she needed a semi-formal blazer.

Before leaving, she applied a touch of lipstick in front of the mirror.

By the time she arrived, the mall had just begun to open for business. She went straight to WO and picked out a beige cotton-linen blend blazer. It had a modern, sleek fit—no outdated shoulder pads—and was lightweight and breathable. Satisfied, she paid, cut off the tags, and put it on immediately, rolling up the sleeves to reveal a bit of her forearms.

As she turned around—what a coincidence—Feng Xueming was talking to a store clerk. She nodded at him before heading to the counter to complete her purchase.

Feng Xueming approached her. “Miss Fan, you’re out early today.”

“Good morning.” Fan Qi smiled slightly. “I have a meeting for a potential collaboration today. I suddenly realized a T-shirt wouldn’t be appropriate, so I rushed over to grab a blazer. Didn’t expect to run into you.”

Feng Xueming smirked. “Whenever I’m in Hong Kong, I have a morning meeting upstairs between 9 and 10 AM. Then, when the store opens at 10, I usually stop by here. So, it’s not really a coincidence. If you come around this time, the chances of seeing me are actually quite high.”

“Mr. Feng, you’re quite diligent,” Fan Qi complimented her business partner out of courtesy.

Feng Xueming studied her carefully. “Several of my friends say our brand’s clothing is too simple, too plain. But when you wear it, it has a completely different charm. I can’t wait to show them the commercial we shot with you—this is what true elegance and sophistication look like!”

“I’d call it the beauty of minimalism—stripped down to its core function, yet retaining a refined aesthetic that rivals any high-end brand.” As soon as she spoke, Fan Qi realized she might have overstepped. If she had said this in her previous life, with her financial standing, it would have been a genuine compliment. But in her current identity, it just sounded like she was sucking up—and not even subtly.

Feng Xueming didn’t seem to mind, smiling slightly. “Miss Fan, it’s you who brings the clothing to life.”

Fan Qi reminded herself—speak according to your position.

She changed the subject. “It’s about time. I should wait for my agent at the entrance.”

Feng Xueming, ever the gentleman, said, “I’ll go with you. The entrance to the office building is a bit tucked away. I’ll take you up myself.”

“Thank you!”

As they walked side by side, Feng Xueming asked, “Miss Fan, are you looking to invest?”

Fan Qi shook her head, exasperated. “I had a few bills to spare and simply asked a few questions. Who knew it would turn into such a public spectacle?”

“Isn’t wanting to invest perfectly normal? You met Liao Yazhe the other night—his family specializes in securities investment. If you’re truly interested, I have plans tonight, but I could arrange for him to join us for dinner tomorrow.”

A bit too enthusiastic, wasn’t he?

Fan Qi declined. “No need to trouble yourself. After yesterday’s gossip spread, someone introduced me to a broker, and I’ve already scheduled a meeting this afternoon.”

“I see. Well, if you need any help, just let me know.”

“Will do.”

Previously, Fan Qi thought he was just looking for a brand ambassador. Now, she wasn’t so sure. When someone is overly eager without reason, they must have ulterior motives.

In her past life, she had spent three years in investment banking doing industry research. The finance world was no less chaotic than the entertainment industry. If you were even slightly attractive, there were always sleazy men who assumed that if you sold your talent, you should also sell your body—some hinted at it, others outright tried. It was disgusting. That was one of the reasons she eventually switched to full-time trading.

According to the original owner’s memories, Feng Xueming was an unusual figure among Hong Kong’s wealthy second generation. He was the grandson of business tycoon Liu Xiangnian, groomed as a successor, essentially the crown prince of Tianhe Group. The mall they were in was one of Tianhe Group’s properties.

This young master had been linked to several top actresses—was he using this as an excuse to flirt with her? She would have to tread carefully with this business deal.

“Mr. Feng.” Someone called out to Feng Xueming.

Fan Qi spotted her agent at the entrance. She gestured to Feng Xueming, signaling that she had found her person. He nodded slightly and turned to speak with the newcomer.

As soon as her agent saw her, he glanced at his watch and frowned. “Do you even have a sense of time? It’s already 10:23.”

“Didn’t we agree on 10:30?” Fan Qi asked.

“Other people can be late. But you? Have you looked in a mirror? Look at your hairstyle, your makeup, and what you’re wearing!”

According to the original owner’s memories, she had moved to Hong Kong from Shanghai, and ever since she was assigned this agent, he had been hammering the idea that Hong Kong was fashionable and open, while the mainland was outdated and conservative. He insisted that she overhaul her aesthetic.

Her entire style—clothing, makeup—had been shaped under his influence. To be fair, he wasn’t wrong. His advice reflected the trends of the time. The glamorous, polished 1980s Hong Kong look had a distinctive charm.

But this attitude? The original owner had only been in her early twenties. It was hard to say whether she had been outright manipulated.

Fan Qi coldly eyed him. “Now I understand why so many of your clients have refused to work with you. Do you even have a brain? You blindly follow trends—if everyone’s sporting voluminous curls, you tell me to perm my hair; if bold eye makeup is in, you tell me to pile it on. Have you even researched the brand? WO stands for authenticity, simplicity, and effortless living.”

“Exactly. That’s the style we want Miss Fan to embody,” Feng Xueming said from behind her.

The agent looked at them both, his expression shifting as if he had suddenly figured something out. He extended his hand. “Mr. Feng, pleasure to meet you. I’m Cai Jiadong, Miss Fan’s agent.”

Feng Xueming didn’t acknowledge him at all.

Cai Jiadong awkwardly withdrew his hand.

“Miss Fan, let’s head upstairs to discuss the details,” Feng Xueming said.

“Alright. After you, Mr. Feng.”