The numbers referred to the stock trading codes for three companies: CTBC Financial Holding (2891), Hua Nan Financial Holdings (2880), and China Development Financial (2883). Ke Fei didn’t actually invest in stocks but was inexplicably obsessed with stock codes. For her, a stock code represented more than just a company—it signified its corporate culture and, possibly, the personality traits of its employees. Much like astrology or blood types, it was her shortcut to gauging a man’s socioeconomic status, income, and career prospects.
Ke Fei might be carefree in her social escapades, but she wasn’t foolish. As an employee of a well-known publicly traded company, she knew exactly how to protect her reputation. She would never compromise her company’s image. During her outings—whether mingling at parties or flirting at nightspots—Ke Fei never exchanged business cards. Instead, she’d hint at her company’s stock code. A playful guessing game of stock codes between newly acquainted men and women added intrigue while filtering out potential suitors from non-listed companies.
When it came to stock codes, Ke Fei had her own romantic anecdote. One time, she encountered a dashing, sophisticated man in an Armani suit. His Mandarin was impeccable, though his grammar betrayed a hint of foreign influence. Ke Fei guessed more than a dozen stock codes, but the man only chuckled and shook his head, saying none of them applied to him. Just as she rolled her eyes and prepared to leave, the man caught her hand and traced two letters into her palm—letters she would later describe as the sexiest she’d ever encountered: “MS.”
Morgan Stanley.
One of America’s top three investment banks.
He wasn’t lying—no Taiwanese stock code could capture his identity. He belonged to a multinational firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The dramatic leap from four-digit codes to two English letters was enough to make Ke Fei’s heart flutter. However, the higher salaries and more transient culture of foreign firms gave the “MS Man” an advantage in their fleeting romance. Inevitably, their beautiful encounter ended as a brief fling. When Ke Fei, caught off guard by her own feelings, pursued him for three days without success, she swore in frustration to focus on collecting one-night stands from local financial stocks instead.
“Men under 2883 could be your grandfathers, and the ones under 2880 aren’t your type either. Stop obsessing over collecting financial stocks! It’s not like completing the set will summon the MS guy back!”
“I stopped thinking about MS long ago. But the 2891 guy I stayed with tonight wasn’t my dream guy.”
“If he’s not your dream guy, why’d you book a room with him?” I frowned, tired of having this same conversation over and over again.
“Well, a traveler’s got to eat, right? Hey, are you free after work tomorrow?”
“If it’s for some group outing, just go by yourself! Don’t drag me into it—I don’t want my boyfriend yelling at me!” Over the past three years of my relationship with Hao Yi, we hadn’t moved in together, but we were already discussing marriage. Hao Yi never restricted my social life, but out of respect for our relationship, I hadn’t attended any social mixers or met male friends one-on-one since we started dating.
“Just say you’re having dinner with colleagues—it’s not even a lie! We’re just grabbing food first, and maybe drinks after...”
“I’m going to sleep. Goodnight.”
They say proximity breeds influence, and somehow, despite Ke Fei’s incessant temptations, I’d managed to maintain my loyalty. I probably deserved a medal for virtuous integrity by now.
“Zhou Wei Wei, in all the years you’ve known me, have I ever begged you as humbly as I am tonight?”
No, she hadn’t... Wait—does this count as humility?!
“And in all the years you’ve known me, have I ever told you I’ve met my dream guy?”
I mentally reviewed her history. Even the legendary MS guy had never been deemed her dream guy. She had me cornered this time—I had no rebuttal.
“Even if I go with you to meet this dream guy, what do you expect me to do? What’s your plan?”
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