When I first entered the crypto world, I was young and confident, truly believing I could change my life with this.

My phone was never out of my hand, I’d call home via video chat, and whenever I caught someone, I’d boast: "The opportunity in the crypto world is right here, now’s the time to get in and make a profit!"

Bold enough to look at houses in the city center, my mind filled with visions of moving into a home with a balcony, where I could soak up the sun.

Then, suddenly, it all came crashing down with a slap.

The market rose for a few days and then turned around and fell. My money felt like it was leaking out of a hole in my pocket, slowly slipping away.

That Christmas night, I stared at my trading account, watching the numbers dwindle to less than 30,000 yuan.

Takeout boxes were scattered all over the room, the fan whirred loudly, but it couldn’t blow away the dull, numb feeling in my mind.

I started to reflect on my initial thoughts in the crypto world:

Can I hold on a little longer to break even? Maybe if I wait, I’ll double my money?

I finally realized, that wasn’t persistence — it was just fooling myself.

Every time I watched the K-line, every time I chased the hype, it was like pouring fuel on a fire, but I never thought I had already been roasted to a crisp.

From that moment on, I learned the most expensive lesson:

There are no fairy tales in the crypto world. The numbers in your account don’t equal real gold and silver;

Those "breaking even" thoughts are mostly just stories we tell ourselves.

Later, I learned to hit the brakes:

Don’t chase the trend, don’t go all-in, don’t treat luck as a plan.

It’s okay if your principal isn’t much; what matters is sticking to your bottom line. Even if you’re left with just some broth and scraps, it’s more reliable than daydreaming.