The morning sun bathed Petraling Jaya in its golden light as Jiang Han adjusted his school tie in front of the mirror. The thrill of successfully persuading Tengku Hanafiah Zahid the night before had given him a renewed sense of purpose. Yet, as always, the system wasn't letting him bask in his victories for long.
System Notification:
New Mission: Handle a Direct Challenge from Rayyan Hakimi
Objective: Outwit Rayyan in a business negotiation staged at a student entrepreneurial forum.
Reward: Negotiation Skill (Advanced)
Bonus Hidden Reward: ???
Failure Consequence: Loss of credibility among influential peers and potential allies.
The notification left Jiang Han frozen for a moment. "A forum?" he muttered. "When did Rayyan Hakimi decide to become a student entrepreneur?"
His phone buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was Jun Kai.
"Jiang, you're not going to believe this!" Jun Kai exclaimed. "That snake Rayyan is hosting a student entrepreneurial event at his family's luxury resort this afternoon. Apparently, all the big names from our school and other high schools have been invited. Are you going?"
"I am now," Jiang replied his tone even but laced with determination.
By noon, Jiang found himself at the grand banquet hall of the Hakimi Resort. Chandeliers sparkled above, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the buzz of eager students and proud parents.
Rayyan Hakimi stood at the podium, radiating smug confidence. His perfectly tailored suit and polished delivery gave him the air of someone in complete control.
"Today," Rayyan announced, "we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Malayuna's youth. As aspiring leaders, we must seize every opportunity to prove our worth in the competitive world of business."
Jiang stayed at the back of the hall, quietly observing. He noticed the crowd's reactions to Rayyan—admiration mixed with begrudging respect. The Hakimi name carried immense weight, but Rayyan's arrogance was starting to alienate a few attendees.
"Perfect," Jiang thought.
After a few speeches, the event moved to its main highlight: a live business pitch competition. Participants were required to propose solutions to logistical challenges, with Tengku Hanafiah Zahid himself as the head judge.
Jiang smirked at the irony. "The system sure has a sense of humour," he muttered.
Rayyan, unsurprisingly, was the first to take the stage. His presentation focused on streamlining luxury goods distribution, peppered with buzzwords and flashy graphics. The crowd applauded enthusiastically, but Jiang noticed Tengku Hanafiah's slight frown.
When Rayyan finished, he turned to the audience with a flourish. "Who's next? Or shall I assume I've already won?"
The room buzzed with murmurs, but Jiang stepped forward, his expression calm.
"I'll go," he said, his voice cutting through the chatter.
All eyes turned to him, some curious, others sceptical. Rayyan's smirk widened. "Well, well, Jiang Han. I didn't realise you were interested in real business."
Jiang ignored the jab and took his place at the podium. He began his presentation without preamble, diving straight into practical solutions.
"While many focus on flashy concepts, the heart of logistics lies in solving real-world problems. For instance, ensuring last-mile delivery efficiency for SMEs in high-traffic urban areas like Petraling Jaya."
Jiang backed his claims with data from Ling Logistics, showcasing their ability to handle complex deliveries under tight deadlines. His solutions were grounded and actionable, earning nods of approval from the judges, including Tengku Hanafiah.
Rayyan, however, wasn't about to let Jiang steal the spotlight.
"Interesting ideas," he interrupted, feigning interest. "But tell me, Jiang, can a small-time family business like yours handle the scale of operations needed for large corporations?"
Jiang met Rayyan's gaze, his tone steady. "A fair question, but it's based on a flawed assumption. You see, scalability isn't about size—it's about adaptability. Our methods are designed to evolve with demand, ensuring seamless integration with clients of any scale."
The room murmured with approval, and even Tengku Hanafiah leaned forward, intrigued.
Rayyan's smirk faltered, but he quickly recovered. "Impressive rhetoric, Jiang. But business isn't just about logistics. It's about influence and connections. What can you offer that others can't?"
Jiang's smile widened. "Results."
He gestured to a slide showing client testimonials and case studies. "Influence may open doors, but results keep them open. That's why our clients stay with us."
The audience erupted in applause, and even Tengku Hanafiah clapped politely.
System Notification:
Mission Completed: Handle a Direct Challenge from Rayyan Hakimi
Reward: Negotiation Skill (Advanced)
Bonus Hidden Reward Unlocked: Increased Credibility Among Influential Peers
Rayyan's face darkened, but he masked it with a forced smile. As the event concluded, attendees approached Jiang, congratulating him on his performance.
Tengku Hanafiah himself stopped by, giving Jiang a rare nod of approval. "You've got potential, young man. Keep it up."
As Tengku Hanafiah walked away, Rayyan cornered Jiang near the exit.
"This isn't over," Rayyan hissed.
Jiang raised an eyebrow, his tone cool. "It never is, Rayyan. But that's what makes it fun."
The weight of the encounter lingered on Jiang Han as he left the event hall, his mind buzzing with a mix of satisfaction and caution. While he had successfully outmanoeuvred Rayyan Hakimi during the competition, he knew this victory was only the beginning of a larger game.
As he stepped out into the resort's beautifully landscaped gardens, the gentle rustling of leaves offered a brief respite. His phone buzzed in his pocket.
System Notification:
New Quest Unlocked: Anticipate and Counter Rayyan Hakimi's Retaliation
Objective: Strategically prepare for Rayyan's inevitable counterattack in both the academic and business realms.
Reward: Strategy Skill (Intermediate)
Bonus Hidden Reward: ???
Failure Consequence: Risk of sabotage to family business operations and tarnished reputation among peers.
Jiang sighed, sliding his phone back into his pocket. The system clearly didn't believe in breaks.
A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. "You handled yourself well back there, Jiang."
Turning, Jiang found himself face-to-face with Tengku Hanafiah Zahid. The man's imposing figure was softened slightly by the faint smile on his face, but his sharp eyes betrayed an unrelenting scrutiny.
"Thank you, Tengku Hanafiah," Jiang said, bowing respectfully. "Your feedback during the judging panel was insightful."
Tengku Hanafiah chuckled. "Polite and perceptive. You're full of surprises, young man. But tell me, what's your real goal here? Outshining Rayyan, or something more?"
Jiang met his gaze, his tone steady. "My primary goal is to stabilise my family's logistics business. Everything else is a stepping stone."
Tengku Hanafiah's smile widened slightly. "A pragmatic answer. I like that. But be careful—people like Rayyan don't take kindly to being outwitted, especially on their own turf."
"I understand," Jiang replied. "But I believe challenges are meant to be faced, not avoided."
Tengku Hanafiah nodded approvingly before extending a hand. "If you ever need advice—or a connection—don't hesitate to reach out. You've earned my interest, Jiang Han."
As Jiang shook the man's hand, he couldn't help but feel a surge of optimism.
Back at home, Jiang sat at his desk, poring over his notes from the day's event. His mind raced with ideas, countermeasures, and contingencies.
"Rayyan's next move will likely target something I hold dear," he muttered. "The question is, will it be academic, personal, or business-related?"
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his bedroom door. His younger sister, Jiang Mei, peeked in.
"Gege, you're still up?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
Jiang smiled. "Just planning ahead. What's up?"
"I heard about the competition today. Mama said you were amazing," Jiang Mei said, stepping into the room. "But… are you okay? You've been pushing yourself a lot lately."
Jiang's smile softened. "I'm fine, Mei. Everything I'm doing is for us—for the family. But thank you for checking on me."
Jiang Mei nodded, her expression still worried. "Just… don't forget to take care of yourself too, okay?"
"I promise," Jiang said.
As Jiang Mei left, Jiang felt a renewed sense of determination. The stakes were high, but so were the rewards. He pulled out his notebook and began drafting a detailed plan to handle whatever Rayyan threw his way.