Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 401 - 199: Value Investing_2

"No problem. I can sign at any time."

Jiao Fangyan reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a very feminine gesture, as she made a decision crucial to her career.

Liu Minghao handed the contract to Lü Shuli. "Little Lü, go and print three new copies with these revisions."

He then turned to Jiao Fangyan with a smile. "Let’s settle this today. It will become official tomorrow at the company once Old Zhao affixes the company seal."

The stunning Lü Shuli hurried out, presumably to find a print shop.

Jiao Fangyan looked a little embarrassed. "There’s no need to rush... Look at you, bossing the poor girl around."

"With your personality, it’s fortunate you became a trader and didn’t pursue anything else."

Liu Minghao laughed heartily, deliberately letting it be known that he and Jiao Fangyan were well-acquainted—clearly for Han Lie’s benefit.

Having made his point, he moved on.

"Your work is different from ours. It requires a high degree of independence. The influence of relationships and the power of authority are particularly weak, so there’s no need for external expansion or reliance on others. Our industry is different. Interns and assistants are there to run errands for their superiors, and they come prepared for that. If I didn’t bring her along or give her work, she’d actually feel uneasy. This is also a form of training!"

"You always have so many twisted justifications. I can never win an argument against you."

Jiao Fangyan smiled and then proactively explained to Han Lie, "Lawyer Liu’s wife and I studied under the same mentor; she’s my senior. We have a standing arrangement to meet twice a year. He suddenly called, asking if I’d be interested in working with you. It really startled me."

Her attitude was excellent; she knew how to position herself correctly.

"Please, don’t be so formal. Just call me by my name."

Han Lie replied with an understanding smile. "At work, we adhere to trading discipline. Outside of work, we’re all friends. And Old Liu and I get together more than just twice a year."

That was a very skillful statement. Jiao Fangyan, being an astute woman, felt a jolt of surprise.

For a moment, she couldn’t tell if it was a subtle warning or an attempt to put her at ease.

The main reason was Han Lie’s youth. It was already astounding for him to possess his current level of stock trading expertise at such an age. How could he possibly also have such terrifying shrewdness and emotional intelligence?

She remained skeptical.

But what if it truly was a reminder, a veiled warning?

She hesitated, unsure how to respond.

Liu Minghao, having had more extensive and profound interactions with Han Lie, didn’t dare underestimate this young man who was nearly half his age.

He immediately seized the moment to clarify his position. "Exactly. Work is work, and life is life. We don’t need to keep them entirely separate day-to-day, but the core boundaries must be clearly defined. Otherwise, both will become a mess. I’ve seen this far too often in my cases; it leaves a deep impression."

His words were veiled, sounding like a casual lament, but to an attentive ear, they conveyed a clear stance.

Jiao Fangyan finally understood, and a chill went down her spine.

The cases Liu Minghao handled were economic, highly relevant to the financial industry.

Bringing up his cases was clearly a reminder, and moreover, a declaration.

A declaration to Han Lie: I possess professional ethics. I can control my desires. I can correctly distinguish between professional matters and personal feelings.

So incredibly cautious...

What sort of hold did Han Lie have over him, to make Liu Minghao treat this with such solemnity?

Jiao Fangyan was puzzled and curious. At the same time, she reaffirmed her professional principles.

The position of trading manager for a major fund is extremely sensitive. Every operation involves hundreds of millions, even billions, in funds.

However, the money they manage isn’t theirs. No matter how much profit they generate, they only receive a commission within a predefined range.

Generating large profits yet personally receiving a smaller share can easily unsettle one’s mindset.

If greed isn’t controlled, it can very easily lead to reckless behavior.

In the trading room, there’s surveillance, no communication devices are allowed, and no documents can be taken out. However, stock trading differs from currency or futures trading. Large-scale stock operations are lengthy processes and cannot always be conducted in complete isolation.

Consequently, many opportunities arise for misconduct.

For instance, if the plan for next year involved trading the "North-South Railway" stocks, the trading manager would have access to all the account information for building positions. They would know Han Lie’s determination and the approximate target price range; the information would be almost completely transparent to them.

So, after work, they could discuss it with a relative, find an unrelated account, and mirror the trades. All profits would then be theirs, pure and clear.

Such incidents are almost inevitable. One can only rely on the trading manager’s professional ethics and their inherent respect for the gravity of their position.

Minor infractions are one thing. But orchestrating a rogue trading scheme involving tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions, would mean Han Lie was essentially working for someone else’s benefit, and it could even impact his own profits.

Liu Minghao was wealthy and influential, and Jiao Fangyan held a critical position. Given their personal connection, constant reminders were necessary.

A wise person never tests human nature with money.

A naive, "let’s all just get along and be happy" approach is irresponsible to everyone involved.

If you act like a fool, yet expect others not to harbor ulterior motives, to treat you with sincerity, and to ignore easily obtainable huge profits—is that realistic?!

If you’re an easy target, someone will inevitably take advantage of you. There are no exceptions.

You must demonstrate that you are not to be trifled with, constantly issuing reminders, keeping the alarm bells ringing.

Then, if someone still harbors ulterior motives, it’s purely because greed has clouded their judgment. In that case, sending them to jail directly would likely meet no objection.

The conversation among the three then turned mostly to small talk. Han Lie wouldn’t divulge the details of operations to Liu Minghao, and Liu Minghao wouldn’t ask. So, their only recourse was to broaden their topics of conversation and find common ground.