Episode 2 – (Part 1)

The Day She First Talked About Investing

Our daily conversations on LINE had become a natural part of my routine.
She told me she lived in Hong Kong, with a Japanese mother and a Chinese father. According to her, she worked in China as a piano teacher.

Sometimes she sent short videos—playing the piano, or clips from her lessons.
She often talked about the challenges of living in China, the long work hours, and the stress of teaching. She also mentioned that her mother lived alone in Japan and worked as a music instructor.

As these exchanges continued, I found myself trusting her more and more.
Nothing felt unusual. Nothing felt dangerous.

Then one day, during a normal conversation, she suddenly said:

“I was studying investment today.”

Until that moment, she had never brought up anything related to investing.
I had done a little stock trading in the past, so I casually asked:

“What kind of investment?”

At the time, it felt like harmless small talk.
But looking back now, that simple question was the beginning of everything.

This was the moment the story truly started.

Reflection

Scammers rarely begin with money.
They start with daily conversations, shared routines, and emotional closeness.
Only after trust is built do they introduce the topic of investment—quietly, naturally, and without pressure.

By recording this experience, I hope others can recognize these early signs before they become something more serious.

Back to English top