Chapter 445: Seraphina Elopes with Someone (Part 1)

Chapter 445: Chapter 445: Seraphina Elopes with Someone (Part 1)

Seraphina Sterling’s patience with Shelby Fenton had completely run out. ’Should I call her clever? Or just a meddler?’

"By your logic, then, wouldn’t it be fairer for Seraphina to pick first?" Marshal chimed in, trying to create a favorable position for Seraphina Sterling. "Director Patterson, you’re a seasoned veteran—you probably have the stocks you want to buy all figured out. If you choose first, wouldn’t that put Seraphina, who has no experience, at a serious disadvantage?"

"Marshal is right. I’m a club officer and an upperclassman. By that logic, it really isn’t right for me to choose first. I’ll leave the opportunity to Sterling. That way, no one can say I’m bullying a newcomer, and it wouldn’t be an honorable victory even if I win," Preston Patterson said, magnanimously relinquishing his right to choose first.

Whether it was because he was supremely confident that the competition was a foregone conclusion and it didn’t matter who went first, or because he genuinely felt it was unfair and decided to take a step back, his decision earned the praise of the club members. This was true gentlemanly conduct, the proper bearing of an upperclassman!

Seraphina Sterling didn’t stand on ceremony. She logged into her account and, without a second thought, casually pointed to three stocks. Everyone felt that Seraphina hadn’t put any effort into understanding the market or analyzing anything. She was far too casual; her approach was like flipping a coin—picking whichever stocks it happened to land on! The entire process took less than three minutes.

"You’re done just like that?" Even Marshal, who had some history with Seraphina Sterling, was too shocked to speak. This determined whether or not she could stay in the stock trading club! ’How can she be so nonchalant about this?’

Seraphina Sterling nodded, puzzled by the astonished expression on his face. "It’s just picking three stocks, isn’t it? How long is that supposed to take? You just buy the ones you like. Am I supposed to stare at the computer and research them for weeks on end?"

’Weeks on end? That would be cutting it short! You’re a complete novice! How can you pick good stocks without thoroughly understanding the market first?’ If the other club members weren’t there, Marshal really wanted to scream these words at her. Instead, he just rubbed his forehead in defeat. "You know, you could be a bit more careful. There’s plenty of time. Take a while longer to think it over. I’m sure Director Patterson won’t rush you."

Marshal walked over to Seraphina Sterling’s side. Compared to her, who had never set foot in the world of stock trading, he had at least some experience. And the three stocks she had chosen... they were really not good.

"Keystone Technologies used to be an industry leader, on par with Hale Corporation," Marshal began, trying to explain in the calmest terms possible. "But it’s gone through a massive upheaval recently. They say they’ve restructured, but no one knows what the effects will be. Its stock price is low, sure, but whether it will rise—and rise in the short term, at that—is anyone’s guess."

"And then there’s Apex Antique Collections. It’s a new stock that just had its IPO. Nothing about it is stable yet. Even though it made a splash at an appraisal convention with a record-breaking item, it’s really hard to judge how the company itself will perform. This stock isn’t a good choice either."

If the first two stocks were merely questionable, then the next one was the junk stock of all junk stocks. Marshal’s face fell when he saw she had picked it. "Telecom stocks are not a good choice right now. For the past year, this entire sector hasn’t seen any significant gains; in fact, they’ve all been slowly declining. If you buy this, you’re guaranteed to fail! This is an absolutely fatal move! The first two stocks might have a chance of turning a profit, but this one? Absolutely no way!"