In the VIP room, Zuri removed her coat and the facade she wore on her face, sitting down at the computer.
Damian was beside himself with excitement. "Zuri, you're incredible! I think it's more than just a sixth sense—you practically predict the future."
Over the past month, his skepticism had turned into complete admiration. Zuri was simply amazing. Take the "Palm Cloud" stock, for example. She consistently timed the market perfectly, knowing exactly when to buy and sell.
Following her lead, Damian had made a killing, his savings jumping from tens of thousands to over a million. The sudden influx of wealth had only deepened his obsession with the stock market and his respect for Zuri.
"Zuri, check out the Palm Cloud stock—how much longer will it keep rising?" Damian's face was flushed with excitement.
As she settled at the desk, he eagerly poured her tea and offered snacks.
Zuri focused on the screen, her eyes scanning intently.
Damian stood by, silent and anxious, not daring to make a sound for fear of disturbing her.
He thought Zuri was contemplating the stock, unaware that she was running through various ways to manipulate him.
Trust—the first step was complete.
Next, it was time for phase two. She could hardly wait.
Zuri smiled, her pleasant demeanor contagious enough to lift Damian's spirits as well.
Seeing her smile, Damian felt elated. He couldn't help but ask, "Is it going to rise again?"
If it did, his assets would increase by tens of thousands more.
With the stock market set to close for the Lunar New Year, the situation was uncertain. They needed precise judgment to decide whether to play it safe or take a risk.
Zuri took a sip of tea. "No. We'll sell all our shares before the market closes."
Damian felt a pang of reluctance and greed. "But the stock is so hot right now. If we sell, we might not get back in."
"Sell," Zuri said calmly, selling all her shares without hesitation. They were snapped up by eager investors as soon as they hit the market.
The stock had attracted a horde of speculators, even drawing in typically cautious investors.
Seeing her decisive action, Damian sold his shares too. The surge of cash in his account brought a smile to his face.
"So, what's our next move?" Damian asked eagerly.
Zuri shook her head. "I don't have a sense of it yet. We need to wait."
Once the time was right, the opportunity would present itself.
She glanced subtly toward the door. Suddenly, there was a knock. Zuri stood up to answer it, while Damian stayed at the desk, engrossed in his research.
Two staff members entered, heading straight for Damian.
"You must be the Little Stock God," one of them said, looking at Damian with awe.
"We've admired you for a long time. It's great to finally meet you."
The unexpected visitors, full of flattery, left Damian stunned. He looked at Zuri, who shook her head slightly.
Damian understood—she didn't want anyone to know she was the true "Little Stock God."
Damian turned to the two newcomers. "You've got the wrong person. I'm not the Little Stock God."
They didn't believe him.
"No need to lie to us. We know it's you. We've done our research; the Little Stock God is in this room, and it's not her." The man pointed at Zuri, dismissing her because of her young age.
Damian, unable to argue, insisted, "I really am not."
They laughed, unconvinced. "Come on, help us out. What's a good stock to invest in?"
"Just tell us, will you?"
"We know the drill—ten percent of the profits go to you."
Damian glanced at Zuri, who gave him a subtle signal. A month of working together had built a basic understanding between them.
He got the hint and pointed to the stock Zuri had been watching. "That one might rise."
The two men were thrilled, taking his suggestion as an indirect confirmation of his identity.
"Thanks a lot!"
"Yeah, thanks."
After getting what they wanted, they left but not before pestering Damian for his phone number.
Once they were gone, Damian breathed a sigh of relief, eyeing the cash on the table. "What do we do with this?"
"Keep it," Zuri said casually.
Damian shook his head. "I can't. It's meant for the Little Stock God, and that's not me."
Zuri sat across from him, looking sincere. "I never wanted to be a stock god. It was just a game. You saw what happened; they preferred to believe you. The stock market can only make so much money. The real profit lies elsewhere."
Her gaze shifted to the cash on the table.
Damian paused, understanding dawning on him.
"You're saying we should pool everyone's money and invest it, taking a cut of the profits?"
Zuri nodded. "That's what financial firms do, both at home and abroad. The profit-sharing varies, but the concept is the same. Why not do the same? With proper management, we could easily earn billions in a year."
The mention of billions ignited a fire in Damian, but a sliver of caution made him ask two questions.
"What if we lose?"
"How accurate do you think my sixth sense is?" Zuri countered.
"Very accurate, almost magical," Damian admitted. "But what if we slip up?"
"No one can guarantee a sure thing. Even financial firms don't. We just have to be upfront with our clients."
Damian nodded, understanding.
"But how can we convince people to trust us with their money?"
"Because you're the Little Stock God," Zuri smiled.
Damian realized they were planning to use the "Little Stock God" persona to attract investors.
"Those two who just left—if they make money, they'll spread the word. Once enough people follow you and profit, your reputation will be solid."
Damian nodded again. She was right; if twenty or thirty people made money, others would follow.
This was the butterfly effect in action.
Zuri watched his reaction and continued painting a grand vision, steering him toward her carefully laid-out plan.