"I want an 80% commission on the recharge bonus!"
Chen Yansen stopped in his tracks, locking eyes with Zhao Maolin. His tone was deliberate, each word carefully enunciated.
"Impossible. Nowhere in Huian Province will you find such a high commission rate. At most… I can manage 50%," Zhao Maolin replied firmly, shaking his head without hesitation.
"70% is my bottom line," Chen Yansen said, his expression darkening slightly. He studied Zhao Maolin carefully, reading every subtle twitch of his features.
"Little Chen, my maximum is 60%. Don't push me. Honestly, the other two companies won't go any higher either," Zhao Maolin admitted, his tone carrying a mix of reluctance and seriousness.
Chen Yansen relaxed slightly, a faint smile appearing. "Manager Zhao, it's a pleasure to cooperate." He extended his hand, flashing a grin that revealed his confidence—and charm.
In truth, a 90% commission would exist years from now, when mobile network competition reached its peak. For now, this early stage of the industry meant operators were far from desperate—but Chen Yansen knew how to leverage ambition and pressure.
Zhao Maolin's expression softened, curiosity flickering across his face. "Now… you can finally tell me which school you're from, right?"
"Xucheng Academy, 2010 freshman, Chen Yansen."
"Xucheng Academy, 2010 freshman, Wang Zihao."
The two exchanged glances and laughed simultaneously, introducing themselves honestly for the first time.
Zhao Maolin froze mid-smile. Just ten minutes ago, they had used false identities, claiming to be Chen Heyu and Wang Zhengxuan. Over a thousand freshmen could have been fooled, and once their true identities were revealed, the consequences could have been severe—disciplinary action at best, expulsion at worst.
"Manager Zhao, will the materials be ready by tomorrow?" Chen Yansen asked casually, though his mind was already racing ahead. Posters, banners, flyers—everything needed adjustments for the slightly altered campus card packages.
"Why call me Manager Zhao? That's too formal. Call me Brother Zhao from now on. Don't worry about the materials—we have our own printing plant. Everything will be ready tonight," Zhao Maolin said, smiling with admiration.
He had seen courage and intelligence in their eyes—qualities he hadn't possessed at their age. Coupled with their refined appearance, it was clear they came from influential families. Zhao Maolin felt an undeniable urge to ally himself with them.
Chen Yansen and Wang Zihao echoed the honorific immediately, "Brother Zhao," and for a brief moment, the three men shared the camaraderie of long-lost brothers.
Zhao Linmao, the regional coordinator, then called over a girl in uniform.
"Xiao Gu, for the next few days, you'll assist Xiao Chen in coordinating the staffing for the campus service center," he instructed.
Even though Chen Yansen and Wang Zihao appeared confident, they were still freshmen. Their interpersonal skills weren't fully honed, and conflicts with regional agents could impact the campus card launch. Assigning Gu Wenwen ensured smooth operations and accountability.
"Okay, Manager Zhao," Gu Wenwen replied, eyes flicking toward Chen Yansen. Internally, she mused, The prettier they are, the more dangerous… same with men.
They exchanged contact information before Zhao Linmao warmly escorted them out.
Chen Yansen retrieved his car keys and pressed a button. The Mercedes E300 unlocked and headlights flicked on.
Zhao Maolin's eyes widened in subtle surprise. "Brother Chen, you're already driving a Mercedes as a freshman? Truly impressive."
"Brother Zhao, to be honest, I rented it," Chen Yansen admitted with a sly squint.
Zhao Maolin laughed heartily. "Young people, so modest! Once we finish these few days, I'll take you on a relaxing trip to Galaxy Star."
Gu Wenwen's inner voice seethed: Old scoundrel… Galaxy Star is famous around here. Anyone who's been there knows it's… well, remarkable.
"See you tomorrow, Sister Gu," Chen Yansen said smoothly, sizing her up. Her light gray uniform clung to her curves, and though her stockings were flesh-colored, he preferred white.
Big liar! Little hooligan! Gu Wenwen cursed inwardly, but she smiled politely. "Little brother, focus on driving."
"Little?" Chen Yansen muttered to himself, rolling his eyes, waving at Zhao Maolin, and rolling up the window. He drove toward Xucheng Academy's East Campus.
"West Campus will be handled by the secondary agent. No more running back and forth. We can focus on expanding the East Campus market," Chen Yansen explained to Wang Zihao.
"Brother Sen… these past few days feel like a dream. From reselling MP3s and MP4s to running a campus card business… If not for you, I'd still be wasting time in internet cafes playing CrossFire," Wang Zihao sighed, a nostalgic smile on his face.
"If you want to play games, I won't stop you," Chen Yansen teased.
"Hehe, money beats games every time," Wang Zihao said, reclining into the soft leather seat.
After a few minutes, Wang Zihao's excitement faded, replaced by concern. "Brother Sen… are we on the wrong road? It feels like we're heading farther into nowhere."
The scenery outside grew increasingly rural and desolate. Wheat fields stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with distant villages.
"Do you know the alternate name for Xucheng Academy?" Chen Yansen asked with a grin.
"No," Wang Zihao replied, puzzled.
"Zhuxian Town University… Dong Erpu University, hahaha!" Chen Yansen burst into laughter, gripping the steering wheel.
Half an hour later, heavy rain suddenly fell, dark clouds blotting out the sun. Visibility dropped as sheets of water pounded the windshield.
Finally, the East Campus gate appeared, faint through the storm. Chen Yansen parked, only for urgent knocks to echo against the car.
"Who is it? Are you crazy?!"
He instinctively rolled down the window, his frown deepening.
Standing there was a girl, soaked to the skin. Her tattered white raincoat clung to her slender frame, hair plastered to her cheeks, and her eyes were red from either cold, anger, or exhaustion. In one hand, she held a brick high; in the other, she struggled with a rolling suitcase.
"You're insane! Driving without looking and splashing muddy water all over me!" she shouted, voice dripping with indignation.