"Just keep walking in that direction, and you'll find it," Xiao Xiaoyu said crisply, pointing the way for Ye Feng.
"Thank you, senior. I'll be off now. Goodbye!" With the location of the wall confirmed, Ye Feng didn't linger. Time was tight—he only had two class periods to both explore Beihai City and find a tech company willing to buy the futuristic technology he had on hand. It was no simple task.
Xiao Xiaoyu watched Ye Feng's figure swiftly disappear into the distance, feeling a twinge of puzzlement. If it were anyone else, exchanging a few words with her would leave them ecstatic. Yet Ye Feng's reaction was unremarkably calm, leaving her with an odd sense of defeat. Was she not attractive enough? She quickly dismissed the thought, confident in her appearance. Instead, her curiosity about Ye Feng grew, a thought that quietly took root in her mind and refused to fade.
Little did she know, a great man once said: When a woman becomes curious about a man, she's not far from falling for him.
"What a strange guy. Forget him, let's go," Xiao Yu, her friend, said, taking Xiao Xiaoyu by the hand. Together, they left at a leisurely pace without glancing back at Ye Feng.
"Phew, finally made it out," Ye Feng muttered to himself as he climbed over the wall, landing on the bustling street outside. He couldn't help but marvel at his agility. The martial art of Tan Leg had proven to be a fine skill, perfect for scaling walls and skipping classes. He wondered what the founder of Tan Leg would think, knowing their art was being used for such purposes.
Hailing a taxi, Ye Feng began aimlessly exploring the city.
"Driver, where's the largest tech company in Beihai City?" he asked from the back seat during the ride.
"Ah, you're asking the right person! There's no corner of Beihai City I don't know. The largest tech company? That's undoubtedly our city's pride, Xiao Technology," the driver replied enthusiastically.
"Great. Take me there, and please hurry—I'm short on time." Ye Feng glanced at the time. Nearly half an hour had passed since he left school, and every minute counted.
"Got it!" The driver stepped on the gas, heading straight for Xiao Technology.
"What a grand sight," Ye Feng murmured, gazing at the towering skyscraper before him. Beside it stood a massive metallic plaque emblazoned with the bold words: Xiao Technology.
"Good afternoon, sir. Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist greeted Ye Feng politely as he entered.
"No appointment, but I've got some cutting-edge tech I'd like to sell to your company," Ye Feng replied, flashing a smile so charming it was practically lethal.
Thanks to his charisma score of 95, the receptionist didn't immediately call security. Anyone else would have likely been escorted out by now.
"Little brother, this isn't a place for jokes. If you're free, go home instead of playing around here," she said with a half-smile.
"Why does everyone keep calling me 'little brother'?" Ye Feng muttered, feeling a bit exasperated.
"Miss, I'm serious. I do have something worth selling," Ye Feng insisted, noticing her skeptical gaze. He thought to himself, Great, can't even get past the front desk. How am I supposed to sell anything?
"What's going on here, Xiao Li?" A middle-aged man entered from outside, noticing the commotion in the lobby and casting a curious glance at Ye Feng.
"President Xiao, this little brother says he has tech to sell to our company," the receptionist nervously explained.
"Is that so?" Xiao Yun, the man, turned to Ye Feng with interest. Over two decades, Xiao Yun had built his company from the ground up, rising from an unknown youth to the tech giant of Beihai City. His ability to read people was second to none.
Seeing Ye Feng's clear, fearless eyes, Xiao Yun's impression of him improved instantly. Few young men possessed such confidence and composure.
"Here it is." With the boss himself present, Ye Feng felt at ease. Pulling a USB drive from his pocket, he held it up confidently.
"Follow me," Xiao Yun said with a faint smile, intrigued by Ye Feng's demeanor. It reminded him of his younger self during the early days of his entrepreneurial journey—brimming with self-assurance.
"So, what do you think? Impressive, isn't it?" Ye Feng asked as they sat in front of a computer, the screen displaying the contents of the USB drive.
"Did you develop this yourself?" Xiao Yun asked, astonished. Though his company had dabbled in microwave technology before, what Ye Feng had presented was lightyears ahead—like comparing the Stone Age to the modern era.
"Authentic and original," Ye Feng replied, taking a sip of the premium Da Hong Pao tea the secretary had served.
"500,000. I'll buy it," Xiao Yun said decisively. He knew this technology could dominate the microwave field, leaving competitors far behind.
"500,000? Seriously? That's all it's worth?" Ye Feng nearly spat out his tea in shock.
"Not satisfied? Young man, don't be too greedy," Xiao Yun said, frowning slightly. In his eyes, Ye Feng was still just a kid, likely unaware of the intricacies of the business world. He believed 500,000 was more than enough to satisfy him.
"President Xiao, the profits this technology will bring you far exceed that figure. What you're offering isn't even a fraction of its value," Ye Feng countered, raising a single finger. This old fox thinks I'm just a clueless kid? he thought to himself.
"I want fifty percent of the net profits," Ye Feng stated firmly.
"Fifty percent? That's absurd!" Xiao Yun's expression darkened. Although he admired Ye Feng's confidence, he was a businessman at heart, and profit was paramount.
"Seems like President Xiao isn't serious about collaborating. Forget it then. I'm sure another company will see the value here. It's a pity—I was planning to bring more innovative tech to your company in the future, but I'll just take my business elsewhere." Ye Feng stood up, calmly unplugging the USB drive.
"You're saying you have more technology like this?" Xiao Yun's eyes widened, realizing his mistake. Even with a fifty-percent profit cut, the returns would still be tenfold. More importantly, having exclusivity on Ye Feng's tech could skyrocket his company's reputation. The thought of letting such an opportunity slip away made him hesitate.
(Chapter End)