Forging Connections
We headed to school together. My clothes were at Eun-joo's place, as were hers, so Heerin had no trouble changing into something suitable. The sizes matched pretty well, so she picked out an outfit herself. Of course, she asked why there were so many women's clothes at the house, but I brushed it off vaguely.
I called Ye-rin that morning and told her to meet us at the library. She was waiting out front when we arrived. Spotting me walking with Heerin, Ye-rin gave her a knowing smile. She didn't seem too fazed by our relationship.
It was 9 a.m., time to buy stocks. None of us had morning classes on Tuesdays, so we gathered at the library to make our purchases. Heerin didn't have a laptop, so she just watched us trade.
"Ah~ I need to get myself a laptop. Watching you two make money without me is killing me."
Ye-rin burst out laughing at Heerin's playful whine. I used 3 billion won to buy 1 billion worth each in three stocks. As I spent two hours executing the trades, Ye-rin picked one of them and bought in—the mid-range performer among the three.
After buying, we headed to a restaurant. I was craving something hearty like kimchi jjigae, so we went to our old favorite spot. It held lots of memories with Heerin too—a cheap place with generous portions that I loved. Back then, she complained it was too shabby, but now she raved about how delicious it was. She seemed like a completely different person.
After lunch, the three of us walked into the lecture hall, and our classmates gave us weird looks. They were green with envy seeing me with the two top queens of the business department. Park Woo-jin’s glare was especially intense. I’d have to step on that guy someday.
The week passed like that. On Wednesday, I spent time with Soo-min for the first time in ages. Otherwise, I hung out with Eun-joo, Hyun-sook, and Ga-young. Ga-young had fully embraced her role as a slave now. When I wasn’t around, she was basically Hyun-sook’s plaything. At least Eun-joo looked after her well, so it was manageable.
Finally, the big Friday arrived. There was a professors' gathering that evening—the first time I'd attend as a student. Thinking back to the humiliation I suffered in the time loop week when I went in clueless still gave me chills. People who know a little always puff themselves up and tear others down. They pounce at the slightest opening.
But I'd prepared perfectly this time, so I wasn't afraid anymore. Dressed sharply in a suit, I entered the upscale restaurant where the professors were gathered.
"Ah! Come on in, Cha Hyun-su."
Professor Im Dong-min greeted me warmly.
"This is the Cha Hyun-su I told you about—the guy who proved our theory right away."
There were about ten professors inside, some older, some in their forties. All from top universities in Korea.
"Hello. I'm Cha Hyun-su, a freshman in the business department at Korea University."
I bowed deeply at ninety degrees.
"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Kim Jong-pyeong, a professor emeritus, and I serve as chairman of this group."
The elderly professor in his seventies approached first.
"Chairman, it's an honor."
"Good, good. So you solved our math theory? How'd you do it?"
"Yes. The moment I saw the problem, I had a hunch we'd need Euclidean proofs."
"A hunch?"
"Yes. I haven't studied math formally, so I can't explain in detail, but when I look at a problem, I get this instinct about how to approach it. I follow that intuition, and the answer comes."
"Wow... If that's true, you're a real genius."
Professor Kim Jong-pyeong marveled. Then a middle-aged man who'd been watching me intently spoke up—the one who'd given me hell in the previous time loop. Professor Yoo Seung-hyun from KAIST.
"Professor, I'm actually a bit skeptical about this. How could someone without proper math training prove that?"
"What? Are you saying I lied?"
Professor Im Dong-min jumped to my defense. He took my humiliation personally, since he'd introduced me.
"No, not that, but... it's just hard to believe."
Professor Im glared, and Professor Yoo backed off a bit, but his suspicion lingered.
"Could I give Cha Hyun-su a problem to test his skills?"
Here it came. Nail this, and we're golden. Last time, I failed it, begged Professor Im for the solution, and barely scraped by. It was the same problem as before.
I pretended to ponder, then snapped my fingers like enlightenment struck and wrote down the answer. Simple, precise, piercing the core of the issue.
"My goodness... Incredible. You really never studied math?"
The professors instantly gauged my skill as near their level from that one problem. It was tricky—you could overcomplicate it endlessly, but at a certain point, a simpler proof made it elegant. I'd learned the optimal solution from Professor Im.
I explained as he'd taught me.
"Actually, this problem is pretty straightforward. My initial struggle was all the possible paths to a solution. Once I found the optimal one, I went with it."
"Oh! Exactly. You even spotted that. Amazing..."
From there, it was smooth sailing. Even Professor Yoo, who'd eyed me suspiciously, couldn't stop praising my genius.
Professor Im's shoulders swelled with pride.
"Heh heh, I told you—a real genius appeared. Now we just need to build theories and proofs with Cha Hyun-su. Haha."
"Seriously, where did you find this talent?"
The professors flattered Professor Im too. His cheeks practically ascended to the heavens.
As the mood warmed up, I pulled out my laptop and logged into my trading site. Professors glanced over casually at first, then crowded around my screen.
My account balance: 8 billion won. I'd made about 1 billion a day all week, except Monday.
"How do you have that much in your account?"
They all checked it out.
"8 billion? Are you some chaebol heir?"
They were calling me a rich kid indirectly.
"Haha, no. I'm investing in stocks. I take funds from people sometimes and invest for them. Planning to start an investment firm soon."
Some asked to see my trades. I showed modest 20-30% gains, sporadically. Couldn't reveal too much skill.
"How do you get returns like that?"
"Stocks are a lot like math, especially charts and financial statements."
"Hmm, true..."
"I treat financials like math—calculate growth rates. Charts tell me if it's a manipulated stock or one with big players, pinpointing buy/sell lines. That's how I rack up profits."
Total bullshit, of course. If it were that easy, mathematicians would all be billionaires. But they bought it hook, line, and sinker. They'd seen my genius already—who wouldn't trust my path?
"Oh ho, you mentioned running an investment firm. Could we invest too?"
They reached out before I did.
"With you professors?"
"Not huge amounts, but entrusting some assets to you sounds good."
I pretended to mull it over. Make 'em squirm.
"Hmm... What return rate were you thinking?"
They huddled, whispering.
"Investment firms vary—annual 5-15%. But it should match what you can deliver."
Decision time. I'd offered the stock club 30% annual. For these guys, to leash them properly, more was needed.
"Up to 100 million won per person, 5% monthly return. No compounding."
5% monthly? 60% annual. Insane. Max I could handle was 3 billion; stretching to 5 billion. Twelve professors at 100 million each: 1.2 billion already. I'd be paying them from my daily profits like tribute.
But pocket change. I make 30% daily—600% monthly. 5% skimmed off is nothing. And I wouldn't stop at these twelve. More funds meant more networks. Technically, burning my money to buy connections, but their networks were worth way more than pure profits.
"Ooh, for real?"
Simple math: principal back in 20 months on interest alone, then 5 million monthly fixed. They might doubt if it's real, but that return? Undeniable.
"Yes. I think 5% monthly is very doable."
Professor Im signed first. I pulled out pre-made contracts from my bag—blanks only for amount and rate.
They scrutinized them; solid docs.
"Normally no, but for people you recommend, I'll accept their investments too."
They'd think family first—no sharing the golden goose.
"But family limited. Can't let too much pile on one person."
I'd blocked that to harvest their networks pure.
Just like that, twelve contracts and 1.2 billion wired in. These were people for whom 100 million was chump change.
One step further in my plan.