Lin Feng sat across from Chairman Wu Zhennan in the chairman's office.
Between them, a single check rested on the desk.
The chairman stared at it.
"500,000 yuan?"
"Consider it repayment," Lin Feng said. "You invested 250,000 in me. This is double that amount."
The chairman leaned back in his chair.
"You don't owe me anything, you know."
"If you want to sell a narrative you need to believe it yourself." Lin Feng said. "Besides, we're in this together, it'd be a shame if either of us got the shorter end of the stick."
The chairman studied him for a long moment.
Then he chuckled.
"You really are something else."
He picked up the check and examined it. Then he set the check down.
Lin Feng shrugged. "There's no need to think so much about it. It's just good business."
"Is it?"
Lin Feng didn't respond.
The chairman smiled and tucked the check into his drawer.
"Well thank you."
"Thank you, Chairman."
The chairman nodded. Then his expression shifted slightly.
"Actually, there's something I wanted to discuss with you."
Lin Feng waited.
"There's an auction coming up in two weeks," the chairman said. "The Hangzhou Cultural Heritage Auction. Various antiques, art pieces, collectibles. Many of the city's business elite will be attending."
He folded his hands on the desk.
"I've been invited, and I think you should come as well."
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. "An auction?"
"Think of it as a networking opportunity." The chairman leaned forward. "We've established our cover story - the mentor and the protégé. The university chairman who invested in a promising young entrepreneur."
He paused.
"But a story only works if people believe it. And people believe what they see."
Lin Feng understood immediately.
"You want us to be seen together in public."
"Exactly." The chairman nodded. "The more we appear at events together, the more natural our relationship seems. The more natural it seems, the less people will question it."
He's right, Lin Feng thought. Our arrangement only works if we maintain appearances.
The chairman continued. "Besides, it wouldn't hurt for you to start making connections with Hangzhou's business circle. You're going to need allies as you expand."
Lin Feng considered this.
An auction with the city's elite. Networking opportunities. A chance to solidify their cover story.
It made sense.
"I'll think about it," he said.
…
A few days later.
Lin Feng checked his phone.
A new message had arrived - from Madam Zhao.
He opened it.
"Mr. Lin, I hope this message finds you well. My husband and I would like to invite you to my father-in-law's 73rd birthday banquet, which will be held three weeks from now. We would be honored if you could attend."
Lin Feng stared at the message.
Then a slow smile spread across his face.
They took the bait.
He had been hoping his performance during the call would leave a good impression. But he hadn't expected results this quickly.
The grandfather's birthday banquet. An invitation into the Zhao family's inner circle.
This was exactly what he needed.
The Zhao family's connections... if I can get into their circle, it opens up entirely new possibilities.
He thought about the chairman's invitation to the auction.
This one was an opportunity as well.
The auction is in two weeks. The birthday is in three.
His mind began working.
Maybe I can find the right gift at that auction... something that would impress an old man who probably appreciates tradition...
He checked his system.
[Infinite Money System]
[Total System Balance: ¥98,154.00]
[Available System Balance: ¥94,154.00]
[Personal Balance: ¥581.00]
He sighed.
Unfortunately, after giving that 500,000 yuan to the chairman, he was now completely broke.
Well, it should be fine, he still had time. And his system balance was about to grow soon.
He typed out a reply to Madam Zhao.
"Thank you for the invitation. I would be honored to attend."
Then he sent another message - to Chairman Wu.
"Chairman, I've thought about it. I'll attend the auction with you."
…
Monday, November 30th.
Su Yue's apartment.
The three of them sat together as Mengqi opened her laptop.
"Today was payout day for our digital sources," she said. "They pay out monthly at the end of each month, so I've compiled everything."
Lin Feng and Su Yue leaned in to listen.
Mengqi pulled up a spreadsheet.
"Let's start with digital audio streams."
She pointed at the screen.
"The title track accumulated forty-five million streams. The accompanying tracks got a combined total of ten million. That brings our total album streams to fifty-five million."
Su Yue's eyes sparkled. "That's a lot!"
Mengqi nodded, though her expression remained measured.
"It is. Unfortunately, music streaming doesn't pay all that much."
She scrolled down.
"From all those streams, we earned 165,000 yuan."
Su Yue blinked. "That's... not a lot."
"It's the nature of the industry." Mengqi shrugged. "However, the platform also supports gifts. We received an additional 100,000 yuan from that."
She tapped her finger on the table.
"Total revenue from audio streams: 265,000 yuan."
She moved on.
"Next is digital album sales."
Her tone shifted slightly.
"This was our most profitable source. Well, apart from your streaming revenue."
She glanced at Su Yue.
"We sold over 300,000 copies. After platform cuts, that came to five million yuan."
Su Yue's jaw dropped.
Lin Feng smiled faintly.
As expected. Digital album sales are where the real money is.
He wasn't giving up on farming simps for physical sales though.
Mengqi continued.
"Lastly, revenue from the music video."
She pulled up another set of numbers.
"The MV has accumulated a total of seventy-two million views since it was posted."
She paused.
"While video content pays slightly more than audio, the difference isn't significant. From those views, we earned 216,000 yuan."
She scrolled further.
"This platform also supports gifts. We received an additional 100,000 yuan from that, bringing the total MV revenue to 316,000 yuan."
She leaned back and looked at the two of them.
"When we add everything together..."
She typed a few keystrokes.
"It comes to approximately 5.5 million yuan."
Silence filled the room.
Mengqi turned to Su Yue.
"As per our contract, you receive eighty percent. That's 4.4 million yuan. The agency keeps the remaining 1.1 million."
Su Yue's mouth hung open.
"F-four million?"
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
Lin Feng nodded, his smile widening.
This lady keeps getting richer.
As for the agency, 1.1 million plus the 700,000 from their previous earnings should be enough to run things smoothly for the next month.
He glanced between the two women.
Since he wasn't earning any personal money from this venture, there wasn't much reason for him to stay.
Let's go where I'm actually going to earn personal money.