The next evening, the couple arrived at Xucheng Academy's east gate.
"Here's the key to 0418. Put my suitcase in the living room. I'm going to the startup park." Chen Yansen handed her the key.
"I'm not your assistant..." She glared, but seeing him mouth "deduct pay," she smiled. "Okay, boss."
They parted ways.
On the startup park's second floor, Wang Zihao spotted him first. "Brother Sen!"
"Brother Sen!" "Boss!" The team gathered around.
"Brother Sen, did Tencent really invest ten million?" Zhang Wenbo asked excitedly.
"Yeah, just ten million." Chen Yansen sounded almost dismissive.
"We're rich!" Zhuang Rui grinned.
"Quiet! Two announcements," Chen Yansen said. "First, Tencent's ten-million investment arrives in three days. Second, increase the prize inventory tenfold and boost the daily ad budget to 100,000!"
"Yay! You're awesome, class monitor!" Xu Xingxing jumped, then quieted under everyone's gaze.
"Alright! Payday!" Chen Yansen tossed a bag of money on the table.
He called names, starting with Zhang Wenbo, who received 6,000 yuan for salary, overtime, and bonus.
*Humanitarian Salary +0.6.* Chen Yansen noted this was probably the last cash payout. Once Tencent's finance team arrived, everything would be formalized.
The team had doubled, but only 70,000 yuan was paid out, as many new hires were lower-paid customer service staff.
"System, give me points." Chen Yansen focused. A chill swept through him as his body absorbed energy.
His physique stat rose to 1.49. The ordinary human limit was 3. He was nearly halfway there, feeling stronger and more energetic.
"Team leaders, submit recruitment plans tomorrow. Also, due to investor requirements, we need a list of employees with social insurance and housing fund. Seniors not taking exams can register with their team leads." Chen Yansen paused.
"By Friday, I'll adjust salaries based on October performance. Prepare your self-reviews."
"Class monitor, what's a self-review?" Xu Xingxing asked. Others looked confused.
"Summarize what you did in October, your achievements, shortcomings, and suggestions for improving your work. FoxTao is growing fast. Treat it as a career, not a part-time job." Chen Yansen's tone was sincere.
Salary adjustments! Social insurance! A ten-million investment! The team was buzzing with excitement.
Zhuang Rui and the other seniors were deeply moved. They knew post-graduation salaries elsewhere likely wouldn't match FoxTao's, especially with its six-hour workday and overtime pay.
Their belief in FoxTao burned brighter than ever.
After dropping off Chen Yansen's luggage, an exhausted Song Yuncheng returned to her dorm.
"Little Orange, you're back! How was Shenzhen?" her roommate asked.
"Wow! That suit is Ports' new autumn line. It costs 5,000 yuan!" another roommate exclaimed, spotting the label.
"Five thousand?" Song Yuncheng jolted awake. Chen Yansen had said it was a few hundred.
"See? It's listed online for 4,999. And that's just the jacket. The whole set is nearly a thousand more."
"Chen Yansen, you spendthrift! Just give me the cash!" She was furious. The suit cost two months of her salary. And the shoes probably weren't cheap either!
"Little Orange, you didn't buy this yourself, right?" her roommate probed. Song Yuncheng was known for being frugal.
"Chen Yansen bought it. He said my clothes were an embarrassment at Tencent."
"Tell us about Tencent!"
"It was okay. We met the head of Paipai.com, then Ma Wenteng and someone named Liu Zhiping."
"You met Ma Wenteng?!" Her roommates were stunned.
"Liu Zhiping is a top executive at Tencent! I'm so jealous!" one said, looking it up on her laptop.
"Hey, is FoxTao still hiring? Put in a good word for us!"
"The decision isn't mine. It's up to Chen Yansen," Song Yuncheng said, embarrassed. Seeing their disappointment, she added, "If there are openings, I'll let you know to apply."
Ding. A text from Chen Yansen: "Remember to wash my shirt. Submit recruitment plans for design, ops, and customer service tomorrow."
"You can start preparing your resumes now," Song Yuncheng told her roommates with a smile.
Under the autumn sky, a few boys played basketball under dim lights.
Swish. A three-pointer.
"Nice shot! Again!" The boy under the basket passed the ball back to Chen Yansen.
Swish. Another one.
Chen Yansen pointed to Meng Jie and shook his head, declining more shots.
"I'm Zhang Yifeng, a Business School senior. What's your name? Let's add QQ and play sometime." Impressed, Zhang Yifeng introduced himself.
"Chen Yansen, Journalism, class of '10." They exchanged contacts, and Chen Yansen left with Meng Jie.
After he was gone, Zhang Yifeng realized who he was. "That was the FoxTao guy! My roommate works there and makes four thousand a month, with weekends off!"
"No way!"
"FoxTao is hiring soon. I'm applying." Zhang Yifeng was determined.
Meanwhile, news of the ten-million investment spread across campus.
"Ten million? From Tencent?" Counselor Guo Dongchen was bewildered. He checked with FoxTao's student employees and confirmed the unbelievable news was true.